Varna Medical University Press: Journals
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Physiotherapy in Children With Cri Du Chat Syndrome: A Clinical Case
Get PDFCri du chat syndrome is a rare genetic abnormality characterized by a specific set of symptoms. It occurs as a result of the deletion of the short arm of the fifth chromosome. The syndrome can be inherited or congenital. Children suffering from this genetic disease have characteristic signs: low birth weight, microcephaly, short fingers, clinodactyly, muscular hypotonia, congenital heart defects, mental retardation, delayed psychomotor development, a characteristic cry resembling a cat`s meow, etc. The timely inclusion of physiotherapy and consistency in the implementation of the physiotherapeutic complexes would help prevent or limit the development of certain deficits, both in the physical development and in the neurological status of the child. This, in turn, will help the parents in their care of the child, ensuring greater independence and socialization within society.The aim of this report is to prepare and present a physiotherapeutic protocol whose purpose is to improve coordination and concentration while helping the patient adapt to activities of daily living.Materials and methods: A case study involving a five-year-old girl with congenital cri du chat syndrome.Results and discussion: Long-term physiotherapy, employing a range of methods and tools at each stage, combined with interdisciplinary collaboration with specialists such as speech therapists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. All of them contribute to the development and adaptation of the patient to the surrounding environment
RNA therapies and medicines – general overview and pharmacological challenges
Get PDFRecent advances in the science of RNA production, purification, and intracellular delivery have enabled the development of RNA therapeutics. RNA therapies represent a rapidly expanding category of medicinal products that will change the standard treatment of many diseases, redefining the concept of personalized medicine. They may have great therapeutic potential in hereditary, oncological, and neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, etc. RNA therapies may provide better opportunities to target the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases, which in turn may lead to better therapeutic results. These medications are cost-effective to develop, relatively easy to manufacture, and hold potential for many presently incurable conditions. They are rapidly gaining traction in clinical practice.In this comprehensive review, we discuss the general concepts of the different classes of RNA drugs and their pharmacological properties. Furthermore, we provide an overview of RNA drugs that have already received approval from regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EMA, shedding light on their pivotal role in modern medicine
Surgically induced necrotizing scleritis
Get PDFAim: The aim of this article is to present a clinical case of a postoperative complication of pterygium surgery—surgically induced necrotizing scleritis with corneal ulcer, and to propose a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm.Materials and Methods: The case refers to a woman with pterygium who underwent a thorough preoperative ophthalmological examination. We examined: visual acuity, tonometry, biomicroscopy, funduscopy, corneal topography, and performed frontal photography of the anterior segment and nasal abduction of the eye bulb. A technique of simple closure of the conjunctiva without antiproliferative agent was used. Postoperatively, the patient was followed up on the first and tenth days, as well as the first, second, and third months. The accompanying documentation was analyzed—video documentation, paraclinical examinatiоn, B-scan, and photo documentation.Results: On the tenth postoperative day, we found corneal and scleral ulcer. On the 28th postoperative day, a development in the condition was observed—an increase in the area and depth, mainly of the scleral ulcer. A diagnosis of necrotizing scleritis was made. An effective treatment was done, with the so-called soft steroid—loteprednol etabonate, and epithelializing eye drops and gels. It resulted in halting the necrosis and preventing the risk of bulbar perforation.Conclusion: Although a rare complication after pterygium surgery, necrotizing scleritis should be considered in any surgery and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent this sight-threatening postsurgical complication.
Dietary Recommendations In Chronic Kidney Disease (A Practical Guide For The Patient)
Get PDFChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a permanent impairment of kidney function and/or structure with a duration of more than 3 months. It affects more than 10% of the global population, amounting to more than 800 million people. According to the Bul-garian Society of Nephrology, nearly 13% of Bulgarian citizens have chronic kidney disease. It is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and is one of the few non-communicable diseases that have seen an increase in associated deaths over the past two decades. The role of diet therapy is to slow the progression of CKD and uremia has been recommended for more than a century. As renal function declines, waste products and excessive amounts of electrolytes accumulate, which can significantly impair patients‘ health. Diet in these patients controls uremic symptoms and provides a beneficial effect on the progression of renal dysfunction. Restricting protein intake is advisable, as excessive consumption can aggravate kidney disease. Excessive sodium intake may be associated with disease progression and increased mortality in patients, therefore salt restriction is necessary. Low po-tassium is associated with muscle weakness and hypertension, while high potassium levels lead to cardiac arrhythmia. Individ-ualization of potassium intake is recommended to keep serum levels within normal limits. Proper dietary intake of calcium and phosphorus is involved in the regulation of calcium-phosphorus balance, especially in patients with advanced CKD. An energy intake in the range of 25-35 kcal/kg/24h is necessary, as well as what percentage of calories during the day will be obtained from fats and carbohydrates. It is also important to pay attention to regular physical activity in patients with CKD, reducing stress and limiting risk factors such as alcohol and smoking.Compliance with dietary recommendations in chronic kidney disease and its effective management is challenging. Individ-ualized strategies are needed to ensure the best outcome for patients with kidney disease
Patient Safety In Health Care
Get PDFPatient safety and well-being are key to the overall quality of healthcare. Much of the literature on the issue defines safe care as a process aimed at protecting the patient from unnecessary or potential harm associated with the delivery of health care.Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify operational steps to better ensure safe care.Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted that summarised the current available scientific evidence on the impact of different indicators on improving patient safety outcomes. Sources analysed were for the period 2013-2023 with a cumulative index of health, health care, safety, quality in PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCO medical literature databases. A monitoring protocol was developed with the primary task of monitoring to track and measure the achievement of goals and effectiveness of health care delivered.Results and Discussion: A priority of any health system is to maintain and improve the quality and integration of health care. Patient safety is one of the most important components of health care delivery which is essential to achieving quality medical care. A systematic review of the available literature outlines the dimensions of patient safety. Health care is multifactorial and depends on many factors - the patient, the model of management and decision making, the quality of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the availability of human and material resources. Understanding the scope of patient safety in medical professionals is the first step towards reducing the risk of medical errors. Finding an effective way to implement evidence-based methods to improve patient safety across different organizations is difficult because care delivery processes almost always differ between healthcare settings. Nursing practice requires skills in applying evidence-based practice to problem solving and outcomes management.Conclusion: Рatient safety is one of the primary responsibilities in health care delivery. The role of healthcare professionals in ensuring patient safety is significant and can be influenced by a number of factors, such as the working environment and the level of leadership support they receive. By managing these factors, patient safety activities can be promoted, improving clinical outcomes in the health care process
Influence Of Fear Of Transmitting Cancer To Relatives On Quality Of Life In Breast Cancer Patients
Get PDFResearch has shown that some cancers such as breast, endometrial, colorectal and gastric cancers are associated with a genetic risk factor. In particular, people who are first-degree biological relatives are at higher risk of being diagnosed with carcinoma compared with those without a family history of malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fear of transmitting cancer to loved ones on quality of life in patients with breast cancer. Material and Methods: 37 breast cancer patients with a mean age of 55.8 years (32-88 years) who completed a specific quality assessment questionnaire (FACT-B) were studied and followed. Results were processed with SPSS v. 20.0 using analysis of variance, comparative, analysis of variance and correlation. Results: There was a strong correlation between a diagnosis of breast cancer and patients' anxiety that another member of their family might get the same disease (r=0.622; p<0.001). Patients' anxiety that another member of their family might have the same disease was found to have a negative impact on overall quality of life scores (r=-0.433; p=0.008). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that fear is an integral part of cancer patients' remaining life, negatively affecting overall quality of life, and is unrelated to age
Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Bozhilov turns 90!
No full textThe Editorial team congratulates Assoc. Prof. Bojilov on his anniversary
The Relationship between PSA and Gleason Score in Prostate Cancer Patients: Our Clinical Experience
Get PDFFrom January 2013 to May 2021, a single-center, non-interventional study was conducted in order to examine patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at the Clinic of Urology at St. Anna Hospital in Varna. The two key parameters of prostate carcinoma—the prostate-specific antigen and the Gleason score—were studied. It was proven that there is a close relationship between them. When the prostate-specific antigen increases, the Gleason score increases accordingly; this corresponds to a worsening of the differentiation of the prostate cancer. Furthermore, this correlation existed both for the Gleason score from the biopsy and that determined after the surgical treatment