Student's Journal of Health Research Africa
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EFFECT OF CAFFEINE INTAKE AND ITS DURATION OF ACTION ON PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.
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Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant with bronchodilatory effects that may influence pulmonary function. This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of caffeine intake and its duration of action on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in healthy adults.
Materials and Methods
One hundred healthy adults aged 18–35 years were randomly assigned to two groups: caffeine (200 mg oral caffeine, n=50) and control (no intervention, n=50). Pulmonary function parameters—Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC ratio, and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)—were measured at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 hours post-intervention.
Results
Participants had a mean age of 25.4 ± 4.8 years, balanced gender distribution (52% male, 48% female), and comparable body mass index (22.5 ± 2.2 kg/m²). The caffeine group showed a significant increase in FEV₁ (3.42 ± 0.39 L to 3.58 ± 0.40 L) and PEFR (7.6 ± 0.9 L/s to 8.1 ± 1.0 L/s) at 1-hour post-intake (p < 0.05). Improvements diminished by 3 hours and returned to baseline by 6 hours. The control group showed no significant changes.
Conclusion
Caffeine intake transiently improves pulmonary function, peaking at 1 hour and subsiding by 6 hours. Abstaining from caffeine for at least 6 hours before PFTs is recommended to avoid confounding results.
Recommendations
Individuals should abstain from caffeine-containing products for at least 6 hours before undergoing pulmonary function testing to ensure accurate and reliable results.
HAZARDS OF MEDICAL GLAUCOMA THERAPY IN THE CATARACT PATIENT
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Cataracts and glaucoma are major causes of vision impairment worldwide, particularly among seniors. These disorders often coexist due to risk factors like aging and ocular hypertension. Anti-glaucoma medications are the main way to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), but prolonged use can damage the ocular surface, lens, and tissues, which can complicate cataract formation, progression, and surgery.
Objective: Examine the impact of long-term medical glaucoma treatment on cataract surgery outcomes, including preoperative status, intraoperative difficulty, and postoperative outcomes.
Methods
A total of 97 individuals with age-related cataracts and a history of chronic medical glaucoma therapy (≥6 months) were included. The eye exam included visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus evaluation, intraocular pressure measurement, gonioscopy, and ocular surface analysis. The classification, quantity, and duration of anti-glaucoma drugs were recorded. Intraoperative and postoperative issues occurred during phacoemulsification or SICS, as well as visual recovery.
Results
58.8% of 97 patients received multiple anti-glaucoma medications, with 76.3% receiving treatment for over 12 months. Ocular changes included conjunctival hyperemia (47.4%), superficial punctate keratitis (28.9%), pseudoexfoliation (25.8%), and lens subluxation (11.3%). In the procedure, 19.5% had inadequate pupillary dilatation, 12.4% had zonular weakness, and 8.2% needed capsular tension rings. Postoperative inflammation and delayed epithelial repair were more common in multi-drug users. Despite significant BCVA improvement for most patients, 13.4% had inadequate recovery due to pre-existing optic nerve injury and surgical issues.
Conclusion
Long-term glaucoma treatment, particularly with multiple drugs, can harm ocular tissues and complicate cataract surgery. Conjunctiva, lens capsule, corneal epithelium, and zonular apparatus changes may increase surgical risk and postoperative recovery. These risks must be identified early for preoperative planning and patient consultation. Ophthalmologists must weigh the risks and benefits of prolonged topical anti-glaucoma treatment for cataract patients with glaucoma
CROSS-SECTIONAL EVALUATION OF RETINAL CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION.
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Hypertension is a major global public health issue and a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Uncontrolled hypertension significantly affects microvascular structures, particularly in the retina, where visible alterations in the vasculature—termed hypertensive retinopathy—can serve as a non-invasive and early indicator of systemic vascular health. Regular retinal evaluations in hypertensive patients may offer vital clinical insights into the extent of end-organ damage and guide therapeutic interventions.
Objective
This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of retinal changes in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and examine correlations with clinical parameters such as age, duration of hypertension, and blood pressure severity.
Methods
A one-year cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 100 patients diagnosed with uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP >140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP >90 mmHg despite treatment). Fundus examinations were performed using both direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, and retinal changes were classified according to the Keith-Wagener-Barker grading system. Clinical data including patient demographics, blood pressure readings, and duration of hypertension were collected and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results
Of the 100 participants, 62% were male, with the highest proportion (34%) aged between 51–60 years. The mean age was 58.2 ± 10.3 years, and the mean duration of hypertension was 8.6 ± 4.2 years. Retinal changes were present in 82% of the patients: 28% had Grade I, 32% Grade II, 18% had Grade III, and 4% had Grade IV hypertensive retinopathy. Significant associations were found between the severity of retinal changes and increasing age, longer disease duration, and higher blood pressure levels (p < 0.05).
Conclusion and Recommendation
The study highlights a strong correlation between hypertensive retinopathy and disease severity. Routine fundoscopic examinations should be integrated into hypertension management protocols to facilitate early detection of complications and improve patient outcomes
Anticipating the future of Hindu crematoria in urban India – A cross-sectional study.
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India’s rapid urbanization has led to urban isolation and a weakening of traditional community support systems, particularly noticeable during bereavement. This isolation impacts emotional well-being and highlights the need for thoughtfully designed grieving spaces. Traditional Indian crematoria, often utilitarian and emotionally stark, lack elements that support healing and remembrance.
Objectives: This study explores the potential of integrating passive recreation spaces within crematorium premises as a means to support the bereaved. It focuses on understanding perceptions of mourners and how such spaces can promote emotional well-being through the lens of Indian philosophy.
Methodology
A qualitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey using Google Forms. A total of 31 participants who had experienced bereavement between six months and one year before the survey, and had exposure to Nigambodh Ghat crematorium in Delhi, were included. The questionnaire assessed their emotional responses and views on the inclusion of passive recreational spaces within crematorium grounds.
Results
The majority of participants expressed support for incorporating passive recreational spaces in crematoria. These were perceived as valuable in providing emotional relief, supporting mourning processes, and offering a serene setting for remembrance and future visits. Many participants emphasized that such spaces could reduce emotional distress and foster a sense of continuity and peace.
Conclusion
The study reveals that mourners are receptive to the idea of enhancing crematorium environments with therapeutic landscapes. Such integration could address emotional needs often overlooked in conventional cremation settings.
Recommendation
To address the identified urban issues that have become a reality of the contemporary urban situation, appropriate solutions in the form of integrated therapeutic passive recreational spaces should be considered by involving landscape architects and urban policymakers to integrate contemplative and therapeutic ambience within crematoria. This would allow inclusive urban public spaces and align with cultural philosophies of remembrance
Influence of tumor characteristics (Lesion type, stage, grade) on postoperative outcomes following holmium laser resection – A cross-sectional observational study.
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Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) is the usual treatment for these tumors, which is followed by further intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy. But problems, including bleeding, obturator nerve reflex (ONR), and bladder perforation, are linked to TURBT.
Objectives- The study primarily evaluated the impact of tumor attributes, including lesion kind, stage, and grade, on the results of surgery after Holmium laser resection.
Materials and methods
It was a cross-sectional, observational study. The study was carried out in the Department of Urology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India. The study was conducted for one and a half years, that is, from December 2021 to Jun 2023. In all, 24 patients were enrolled.
Results
Seven patients (29.2%) had numerous lesions, compared to the majority of 17 patients (70.8%) who had single lesions. Ten (41.7%) patients had high-grade cancers, whereas 14 (58.3%) patients had low-grade tumors. With a p-value of 0.017, patients with many lesions needed many more analgesic vials after surgery. Catheterization time, hospital stay, analgesic use, and operation time did not significantly change between the T1 and Ta stages.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that among the various tumor characteristics evaluated, only the presence of multiple lesions significantly influenced postoperative outcomes, specifically resulting in increased analgesic requirements.
Recommendations
Larger, multicenter studies are recommended to validate these findings and assess long-term outcomes
A Cross-sectional study of glycosylated hemoglobin in different trimesters of normal pregnancy.
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Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is widely accepted as a reliable indicator of long-term glycemic control. Unlike oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), which are the standard diagnostic tool for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) but often poorly tolerated during pregnancy, “HbA1c testing offers a non-fasting, convenient, and stable measure of blood glucose control over the previous 2–3 months. This study aims to assess the physiological variations in HbA1c levels across different trimesters of normal pregnancy in comparison with non-pregnant women of the same age group.
Methods
The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, RIMS, Ranchi, from January 2016 to February 2017. A total of 60 female subjects, aged between 18 and 30 years, were included: 15 non-pregnant women (controls) and 45 pregnant women, distributed equally across the three trimesters. HbA1c levels were measured using the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. Statistical analysis was performed using MedCalc software to determine the significance levels between groups.
Results
The mean HbA1c level in non-pregnant women was 5.55% ± 0.30, which was higher than in all trimesters of pregnancy. In the first, second, and third trimesters, the mean HbA1c levels were 5.12% ± 0.32, 5.33% ± 0.32, and 5.03% ± 0.28, respectively. A significant reduction in HbA1c was observed in the first and third trimesters compared to the non-pregnant group (p = 0.0007 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The increase in the second trimester was not statistically significant when compared to the first.
Conclusion
HbA1c levels fluctuate during pregnancy due to physiological changes and should be interpreted with trimester-specific references. These findings support the potential utility of HbA1c as a complementary tool for glycemic assessment during pregnancy.
Recommendation
Clinicians consider using trimester-specific HbA1c reference ranges in routine prenatal care to improve monitoring of maternal glycemic status, especially when OGTT is not feasible
Impact of retrograde intrarenal surgery, miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy on renal damage biomarkers- A cross-sectional study.
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A frequent urological illness that has a significant socioeconomic burden and a high recurrence rate is nephrolithiasis. With endourological operations being the standard of care, choosing the right treatment is crucial. Patients with nephrolithiasis can find relief from these big stones by undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL), a well-established, minimally invasive surgical treatment.
Objectives- The purpose of the study was to assess how biomarkers of renal injury were affected by standard PCNL, miniature PCNL, and retrograde intrarenal surgery.
Materials and methods
It was a cross-sectional study. The study was carried out in the Department of Urology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India. The study was conducted for one and a half years, that is, from October 2022 to April 2024. In all, 40 patients were enrolled. Participants have to be patients who had undergone PCNL for renal calculus at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute in Puducherry between 2022 and 2024.
Results
29 (72.5%) of participants were male, while the other 11 (27.5%) of the participants were female in the study. There were 22 stones on the left side (55%) compared to 18 on the right (45%). Thirty-three (82.5%) patients had sterile urine cultures, while seven (17.5%) had positive urine cultures. Serum Creatinine was found to be 1.14 ± 0.42 mg/dL. Renal parenchymal thickness of the operated kidney was found to be 16.07±1.04 mm, while that of the opposite kidney was 16.07±0.95 mm.
Conclusion
Urolithiasis is a complex illness that is impacted by several metabolic and clinical risk factors.
Recommendations
To validate these results, larger trials with longer follow-up are required. It is recommended to include more sensitive kidney biomarkers and standardize surgical factors
Impact of Body Mass Index on renal outcomes following Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A cross-sectional study.
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Observation, medication, or procedures that are invasive, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), ureteroscopy, or even laparoscopic surgeries for instances that are severe, are among the management protocols for kidney stones. Body mass index (BMI) has a variable effect on PCNL outcome, despite obesity being linked to higher rates of perioperative complications and all-cause mortality.
Objectives- The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of BMI on renal outcomes following PCNL.
Materials and methods
It was a cross-sectional study. The study was carried out at the Department of Urology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India. The study was conducted for one and a half years, that is, from October 2022 to April 2024. In all, 40 patients were enrolled.
Results
In comparison to the normal BMI group, which had a mean serum creatinine level of 1.13 ± 0.40 mg/dL, the increased BMI group had a slightly higher mean level of 1.22 ± 0.49 mg/dL. Thirty-five (97.2%) patients in the normal BMI group exhibited normal echogenicity, whereas three (75%) of the participants in the increased BMI group did the same.
Conclusion
Patients with elevated BMI had slightly higher serum creatinine levels, higher resistive index values, and a lower incidence of normal renal echogenicity, suggesting early morphological changes, even though overall renal function and vascular resistance stayed within normal limits in both groups.
Recommendation
Patients with elevated BMI undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) should be closely monitored for early renal morphological changes and subtle functional alterations to prevent long-term renal complications
A study of the prevalence and evaluation of metabolic syndrome in reproductive age women with polycystic ovarian syndrome – A cross-sectional study.
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multisystem endocrinopathy predominantly affecting women of reproductive age. It is frequently associated with metabolic abnormalities and carries a high risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and infertility if left unmanaged.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 200 PCOS women in the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department of PGIMER and Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Detailed history, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical investigations were performed. The data were subsequently analysed using appropriate statistical methods.
Results
The incidence rates of metabolic syndrome in PCOS women were 34.5% showing an increasing trend with increasing age and obesity. Women with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher weight, BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, LDL, and fasting glucose, and lower HDL than those without. Waist circumference (92%) and HDL (95%) were the most sensitive indicators of metabolic abnormalities. LDL (100%) and triglycerides (96%) were highly specific in identifying metabolic syndrome in PCOS.
Conclusion
The study highlights a strong association between obesity, unfavourable metabolic abnormalities, and PCOS. Waist circumference and HDL can serve as useful, non-invasive indicators for identifying metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS.
Recommendation
Future studies should include larger, diverse samples, longitudinal follow-up, hormonal profiling, lifestyle factors, and intervention-based assessments to strengthen findings
Assessing University Students’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Sexually Transmitted Infections: Sources of Information, Risk Awareness, and Educational Implications
Get PDFIntroductionThere are over 376 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) annually, with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and human papillomavirus being the most common. Investigating STIs among university students is vital due to high-risk behaviour, characteristic of university students, which increases the risk of transmission along with their long-term health risk. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and perceptions about STIs and their prevalence among students at Mangosuthu University of Technology.
MethodA total of 284 students participated in this study. Data collection was conducted using electronic and paper-based surveys depending on participant preference. The survey comprised of questions focused on demographics and practices, evaluating on STI knowledge, and students’ perceived risk of infection with STIs. STI prevalence statistics were obtained from the university clinic.
Results
The majority of participants perceived their STI knowledge as either "Good" (44.37%) or "Excellent" (25%), with a small proportion rating their knowledge as "Scarce" (19.72%). Sources of information included the internet (35.56%), teachers (28.17%), and healthcare professionals (22.18%). In terms of risk awareness, most students perceived themselves at "Moderate" (42.9%) or "A lot" (37%) risk of contracting an STI. Notably, no statistically significant differences in STI knowledge were found across gender or age groups. More female students were treated for STIs than their male counterparts.
ConclusionThe findings emphasize the need for more targeted educational approaches, particularly gender-sensitive interventions, and underscore the importance of combining multiple educational sources, including formal curricula, peer education, and digital platforms, to improve STI knowledge and risk awareness.
RecommendationsFuture studies should explore the intersection between self-perceived knowledge, actual awareness, and testing behaviours to better understand how STI education can be optimized for diverse student populations