International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of the quality of life before and after the onset of meningioma surgical resection

Braga O.O, Adriana K.S and Neymar F.N

Department of Surgery, FAMED - School of Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.

Accepted 03 August, 2018

Abstract

Evaluation of the quality of life before and after the development at three, six and twelve months intervals from meningioma resection was considered. A prospective study was carried out with 29 patients carrying benign meningioma, whose ages ranged from 28 to 76 years old. In order to evaluate the quality of life, two instruments were used: the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the Innsbruck Health Dimensions Questionnaire for Neurosurgical Patients (IHD-NS). Meaningful differences were found between the NHP and the IHD-NS total score, when comparing the evaluations before and after intervention. A significant improvement in pain, emotional reaction, physical ability, sleepiness, communication, physical condition, independence and the psychological condition domains was noticed. It was possible to observe that patients who had meningiomas in the left hemisphere have shown higher symptomatology, but those were also the ones who have shown significant reduction of the symptoms after the surgical intervention. Patients who undertook surgical intervention for the meningioma resection presented a significant improvement in their quality of life. A meaningful improvement took place up to the first three months. There was then a tendency to stabilize between three to six months (because of a rise in the Emotional Reactions Domain) and thereafter there was a reduction in new symptom taking place up to twelve months from intervention. Taking this study into to consideration it seems beneficial to recommend psychotherapy intervention after three months from surgery.

Key words: Quality of life, intracranial tumor, meningioma, psychology.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2019.  International Scholars Journals

Review

Contemporary application in orthognathic and reconstructive surgery – Craniofacial distraction osteogenesis

Chandragupta G.K, Maurya M.M, and Rama Rao

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Andhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Accepted 24 March, 2018

Abstract

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) techniques have been widely accepted and practiced in orthopaedics, traumatology, and craniofacial surgery. Over the last two decades, using DO methods, many previously untreatable conditions have been successfully managed with outstanding clinical outcome. Although the mechanism of DO is still not fully understood, it is generally accepted that mechanical stimulation is the key in promoting and maintaining tissues’ regenerating capacities. In the management of severe maxillomandibular deformities, orthognathic surgery produces less than optimum outcome with greater chances of relapse. Inadequate bone contact, insufficient fixation, stability and partial or total relapse due to excessive muscle stretching are often observed. To overcome these disadvantages a path breaking work in the field of distraction, osteogenesis occurred. The present article aims at highlighting the advantages of this newly developed technique over previous surgical remedies.

Key words: Distraction osteogenesis, orthopaedics, craniofacial surgery, orthognathic surgery.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A psychoanalytic intervention of patients undergoing surgery in order to overcome their anxiety

Gustavo S.M, Cardoso H.L and Miguel N.C

Department of surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.

Accepted 09 June, 2018

Abstract

The aim of this study is to propose patients a psycho educational intervention before, during and after a stay in a hospital to undergo a cataract surgery, in order to meet their doubts and fears. The objective is to find if by lowering the anxiety state, the suffering would be reduced and the quality in the rehabilitation process would be fostered (Hesbeen, 1996). The design chosen was a RCT (Randomised Control Trial). A group of 160 individuals was assigned randomly to one of the 2 conditions: 80 to the experimental/intervention condition following a specific care program aiming at lowering anxiety, and 80 to an “attention/routine care” condition. The sample consisted of individuals who had a mean age of 72, SD 10.33, ranging from 24 to 95 years old, and 63.1% were females. Anxiety state decreased significantly after surgery in both intervention and attention groups but more intensively in the intervention group. A regression model explained 80% of the anxiety state score after surgery. The most significant predictor of anxiety state score after surgery was “belonging to the intervention/experimental group” (B = 0.712). These results confirm the claims that a simple, costless and almost timeless psycho educational procedure can decrease anxiety and improve patients’ experience of cataract surgery and recovery.

Key words: Psycho educational interventions, hospital, cataract surgery, peri- and post-surgery anxiety.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of candesartan in Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension

Cui Wen-peng¹, Du Bing² and Qin Ling²*

¹Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.

²Department of Cardiology, the second part of First Hospital, Jilin University, No. 71 of the XinMin Road, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China.

Accepted 20 May, 2017

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Candesartan in treating Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Medical databases and review articles were screened with prespecified criteria for randomized controlled trials that reported the effects of and adverse reactions to Candesartan and other antihypertensive drugs in treating of Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. The quality of included studies was critically evaluated. A total of 735 articles were found and 19 articles were finally included. Heterogeneity test: efficacy analysis (Q statistic = 4.60, p = 1.00, I2 = 0%), safety analysis (Q statistic = 12.19, p = 0.84, I2 = 0%). The results of Meta-analysis confessed that there were no significant differences either in efficacy or safety between Candesartan and other active antihypertensive agents. Funnel-plot displayed a symmetrical figure, indicating there was no publication bias. In an analysis excluding the 6 low quality trials, our results were unchanged indicating the sensitivity of the Meta-analysis was fine. The evidence currently available shows that Candesartan has the similar efficacy and safety compared with other active antihypertensive agents with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Key words: Candesartan, essential hypertension, systemic review, meta-analysis.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Reducing queues in a Nigerian hospital pharmacy

Ndukwe H. C.¹*, Omale S.¹ and Opanuga O. O.²

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

²Outpatient Pharmacy Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 12003, Idiaraba, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 September, 2017

Abstract

Queues are characterized structures formed to maintain order and create a hold on time, money and human contribution towards development and efficient performance of any system. The aim of this work was to characterize the queue, describe the queue discipline of the outpatient pharmacy, to institute a cross-sectional intervention by streamlining queue behaviour and to measure the impact of streamlining queue characteristics and queue discipline on waiting time of patients. Results showed that queue characteristics existing at the pharmacy during the situation analysis was a single server-multiple queue model. However, after the intervention was done involving staff re-orientation, the streamlined process reduced waiting time from 167.0 to 55.1 min. Queue discipline was strictly instituted by designed tally cards that were serially numbered. The characterization and discipline that was instituted handled and/or eliminated the challenge of shunting, balking or jockeying and reduced reneging. The workflow chart was sketched and drawn to scale, aiding the collation of baseline data and for proposed structural modifications. Other results obtained include the waiting area to pharmacy space ratio, which gave a good result of 1:9. Effort should therefore be intensified by hospital pharmacists to reduce patient queues and improve efficiency of services, following the results of snapshots from this work.

Key words: Queue characteristics, queue discipline, outpatient pharmacy.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of estrogen-like activity of Nigella sativa in ovariectomized rats

Saadat Parhizkar¹^,²*, Latiffah Abdul Latiff^2,3, Sabariah Abdul Rahman^2,3 and Mohammad Aziz Dollah³

¹Faculty of Health, Yasouj University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

²Institute of Biosciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.

³Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia

Accepted 12 April, 2017

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate estrogenic activity of Nigella sativa using ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty OVX rats divided into five groups. N. sativa was administered orally as a supplement to chaw palate at different doses of 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg for 21 days to OVX rats and were compared to either positive (0.2 mg/kg conjugated equine estrogen- CEE) or negative control (1 ml distilled water). Histopathological changes of the rats’ uterus such as epithelial proliferation and endometrial glandular hyperplasia were assessed as well as uterus weight and serum estradiol level. Supplementation with N. sativa resulted in a significant increase in uterine weight as compared to the OVX controls accompanied by altering the serum estrogen levels. Histopathological evaluation of the uterine section revealed changes characterized by atrophy of the uterus in the OVX controls, while the OVX rats supplemented with N. sativa showed increased endometrial response as indicated by proliferation of the endometrial glands and epithelial hyperplasia as well as epithelial proliferation and endometrial glandular hyperplasia. The effects of N. sativa were comparable to that in the CEE group. N. sativa showed the desired effects on the physical, histological and biochemical parameters of the uterine tissue in OVX rats, thereby indicating its probable beneficial role in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms.

Key words: Nigella sativa, estrogenic effect, uterotrophic assay, ovariectomized rat.