European Journal of Medical and Health Research
Not a member yet
578 research outputs found
Sort by
Clinical Features and Cardiac Anomalies of Children with Down Syndrome. A Literature Report
Get PDFBackground: Clinical diagnosis of Down syndrome is based on the characteristic features and associated malformations. Nonetheless, there is significant individual diversity in the clinical presentation. Not every physical characteristic may be present, particularly in infants. At the same, congenital heart abnormalities (CHD) remain a major predictor of death in children with Down syndrome (DS) despite improvements in surgical therapy for these conditions. The effects of DS vary from person to person, with some people having a significant impact while others are well and capable of living unassisted as adults. So, this study is done to understand the pattern of clinical features and cardiac anomalies in various research reports.Aim: This scoping review aims to describe the frequency and distribution of clinical features and cardiac anomalies in children with Down syndrome and to consider the clinical implications of this knowledge.Methods: Medline, CINHAL, and PubMed databases were searched electronically to identify pertinent articles from 2000 to 2023. Children with Down syndrome and cardiac comorbidities aged 18 years or younger met the inclusion criteria. Articles that were not peer-reviewed or written in English were disqualified at the title or abstract level.Results: Literature revealed that the common physical and dysmorphic features found in individuals with Down syndrome include flat facial profile, epicanthal folds, upward slanting eyes, hypotonia, small ears, short neck, protruding tongue, small hands and feet, brushfield spots, sandal gap, and short stature. It's important to note that while these physical features are commonly associated with Down syndrome, not all individuals will exhibit every characteristic, and the severity can vary greatly among individuals.A high prevalence of CHD was reported in DS children from a group where consanguinity was relatively frequent. The prevalence of congenital heart disease in children with Down syndrome is the highest reported, especially when the researchers have used diagnostic ultrasound. VSD and AVSD, followed by persistent ductus arteriosus, and tetralogy of Fallot are the most common CHD in DS children. Recent research suggests that though the incidence of CHD in DS children has remained stable over time, there may be trends in some forms of CHD, with a rise in isolated, less severe kinds and a reduction in complicated, more severe ones. Individuals with Down syndrome can lead fulfilling lives with appropriate support and resources.Conclusion: All neonates with a new diagnosis or suspicion of DS must undergo comprehensive screening, which includes clinical examination, ECG, and echocardiography in the second trimester combined with fetal echocardiography when the fetal ultrasonography raises the likelihood of an abnormality. Literature proves that regardless of the existence of DS, early CHD repair is advised for newborns susceptible to biventricular surgery. For the most part, DS is not linked to an increased perioperative risk for CHD.Understanding DS heterogeneity will help professionals provide better prenatal counseling, assist parents in establishing focused early interventions to improve daily activities and the quality of life for their children, and assist policy-makers in providing and allocating resources for disability services. A sustaining commitment to scientific and clinical research studies is necessary to enhance the quality of life and survival for DS patients from infancy into adulthood
Measuring the Impact of and Challenges in Using Psycho-Therapy Sessions in Primary Health Care, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Get PDFBackground: Raising awareness of the importance of integration of psychotherapy into primary care settings because it may increase access to mental health treatment and improve patient outcomes.Methodology: A retrospective case study was conducted using clinic performance reports and patient appointment data in 2023 and the Q1 of year 2024. Such data included appointment bookings, demographics of patients, discharge rates, and no-show rates.Results: These findings suggest that integrating psychotherapy improves service availability showed by lower wait times and more people being discharged, which could indicate successful therapy. However, challenges still exist such as high no-show rates that might result from appointment scheduling challenges or social determinants affecting health and a more holistic approach to dealing with psychological influences on mental health should be adopted.Conclusion: The consolidation of psychotherapy services in primary healthcare is optimistic for mental health care accessibility and patient wellbeing. Nonetheless, it is vital to address issues like no-shows and social determinants of illnesses if the program is to be further optimized. Program effectiveness and patient care are improved through continued cooperation with the primary care clinics and social services. as well as better data collection
Exploring the Potential of Stem Cell Therapy and Non-Opioid Anesthesia and Pain Reduction: Reducing the Negative Impact on the Individual and Society
Get PDFThe opioid epidemic poses a significant public health challenge, stemming from the widespread misuse and abuse of opioids for pain management. Stem cell therapy (SCT) and non-opioid anesthesia emerge as promising alternatives to traditional opioid-based treatments, offering effective pain relief while mitigating the risks of addiction and overdose. SCT involves undifferentiated cells, which can differentiate into various cell types to promote tissue repair and alleviate pain. Non-opioid anesthesia employs techniques such as regional anesthesia and multimodal analgesia to manage pain during surgeries without relying on opioids.Both SCT and non-opioid anesthesia demonstrate advantages in reducing opioid dependence and improving patient outcomes. SCT releases neurotrophic factors for neuropathic pain relief and can prevent opioid tolerance, while non-opioid anesthesia provides robust pain control with fewer side effects.Although further research is needed to optimize their use, the integration of SCT and non-opioid anesthesia affords a comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis. By reducing opioid prescriptions and promoting safer pain management practices, these interventions not only benefit individual patients but also alleviate the socioeconomic burden of opioid-related complications. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent and patient autonomy, are essential in ensuring these alternative treatments’ responsible and equitable implementation. SCT and non-opioid anesthesia represent significant advancements in combating the opioid epidemic and improving public health outcomes.Abbreviations: CPSP: Chronic Post-Surgical Pain; ESCs: Embryonic Stem Cells; HSCs: Hematopoietic Stem Cells; MSCs: Mesenchymal Stem Cells; NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs; OFA: Opioid-Free Anesthesia; PONV: Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; QoL: Quality of Life; SCT: Stem Cell Therapy; TKA: Total Knee Arthroplast
Spermocytogram: Comparison Between the Papanicolaou Staining and Modified May Grünwald Giemsa Staining
Get PDFIntroduction: The research and distribution of sperm abnormalities by the spermocytogram are an essential examination in the diagnosis of male infertility. The standard Papanicolaou staining method, recommended by the World Health Organization, for performing a spermocytogram, is too expensive in Congo. The work aimed to look for abnormalities in sperm forms by two comparative methods: Papanicolaou staining and modified May Grünwald Giemsa staining (less expensive), set up in our laboratories.Materials and methods: A series of one hundred spermocytograms were performed by two staining methods: the Papanicolaou method and the modified May Grünwald Giemsa method. The results of two techniques were compared qualitatively and quantitatively.Results: The mean detection of sperm form abnormalities was higher by the Papanicolaou method. However, the precision of the kind of abnormalities highlighted by the two techniques was superimposable.Conclusion: Despite the superiority of the Papanicolaou staining method, which is a reference technique of the spermocytogram, the modified May Grünwald Giemsa staining method can be a first-line technique in the male diagnosis of infertility, especially in the deep Congo. It is efficient, reliable, inexpensive and easily achievable
Amnesic Pathologies in Regulation of Dopamine as Supplement to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: A Limbic-Reticular Coupling View
Get PDFBackground: It was suggested by the limbic-reticular coupling theory that the hippocampus and amygdala regulate such descending limbic structures as the mammillary bodies, septum, hypothalamus and habenula, and in turn regulate the ascending noradrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic and cholinergic systems to consolidate and recall declarative memory, while the anterior and mediodorsal thalamic nuclei of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome beyond limbic-reticular coupling be related else to familiarity. Aim: It was aimed to highlight a portion of limbic-reticular coupling structures in alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome, including the dopaminergic system, habenula, mammillary bodies, etc. Methods: It was searched the papers from Pubmed and Baidu. Results and Discussions: It is highlighted that, (a) the mesolimbic dopamine, liable to be affected by alcohol, induces the hippocampal theta rhythm via septum, helping encode and consolidate new memories, such as dopaminergic enhancement of motivational declarative memory in young human adults; (b) dopamine can activate cortical gamma wave and help recall; (c) joint damage of habenula and mammillary bodies, both sending efferents to ventral tegmental area(VTA) rich in dopaminergic neurons, is sufficient to cause Korsakoff’s amnesia; (d) the loop of hippocampal CA3 to lateral septum(LS) to VTA(CA3-LS-VTA) activates dopamine for contextual memory in animals, consistent with dopaminergic antagonist impairing declarative memory recall in humans; (e) whereas thiamine deficiency, the major nutritional deficit causing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, impairs noradrenergic but spares dopaminergic system. Conclusion: It is supplemented the integrative dysfunctions in regulation of such neglected dopaminergic system, including the habenula, mammillary bodies and VTA dopamine, as partial contribution to memory impairments in Korsakoff’s syndrome
Advances in Psoriasis Treatment: Emerging Therapeutic Strategies Underlying Histopathological Changes in Psoriasis
Get PDFThe mechanisms responsible for the development of psoriasis have not yet been fully elucidated. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease driven by the cytokine-mediated link between innate and adaptive immune pathways. The field of psoriasis research has expanded enormously in recent years, with the advent of biological treatments that ameliorate significant disease burden. Here, we outline recent advances, including the development of biologics, the search for new genes, the way in which genetics can inform therapies, and emerging strategies such as RNA and CRISPR interference, as well as bioprinting. We have described these advancements in an attempt to convey the current form of this rapidly evolving area of clinical science. Moreover, we believe that awareness of these advances among dermatologists will help clinicians manage psoriasis inexpensively, quickly, and effectively in the future. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with substantial physical and psychological burden. Genetic risk loci and a genome-wide association study have disclosed more than 60 genetic loci associated with psoriasis. Most of these loci are associated with immune system function. The genetic heterogeneity between patients gives rise to various pathogenic mechanisms. Numerous reports have mentioned the associations of psoriasis with other diseases, suggesting that psoriasis may synchronize the host immune system. A study performed later showed that administering biologic drugs to key immune system components will help alleviate psoriasis. In this review, we address quite recent emergence as novel advances of psoriasis: biologic drugs, genetics knowledge-derived for treatment, and novel approaches, and technologies in the field. These advancement has significantly contributed to elucidation of multifactorial nature of psoriasis and has provided the basis to develop newer and improved treatments. For instance, separate molecular genetics research emerging in the last decade determined definite gene and genetic polymorphisms incriminated in the pareogenesis and evolution of psoriasis. This knowledge could be useful in generating new intercessions in treatment that would directly involve these genetic predispositions to ensure efficient treatments, which are lacking at the moment. Also, the latest available RNA interference technique and CRISPR present new hope for the treatment psoriasis. RNA interference targets genes which contribute to disease development and CRISPR-CAS9 provides an opportunity to modify the genes which are responsible for disease development or progression. These newly developed form of treatment strategies are especially promising for the future of treating psoriasis. The principles of bioprinting or the generation of three-dimensional skin tissue by means of biocompatible materials and progenitor cells is another active area of psoriasis investigation. This technology has great potencial to change the treatment of psoriasis because the skin tissue will always be at hand thus minimizing the use of donor grafts and the danger of rejection. In a similar way it is possible to produce organs with certain properties of interest for their functionality, for instance with an increased barrier function or an improved immune response of the transplant recipient, that would make treatment even more effective. In conclusion, the recent developments in understanding of pathophysiology of psoriasis have considerably brightened the choices of treatment and significantly enhance the quality of life of persons with this severe skin disease. Further research into the nature of the disease and the creation of new approaches for treating it can be considered as steps toward cure of psoriasis and improving the quality of life for the millions of people it affects. The histopathological improvements correspond with clinical improvement, as patients often experience reduced scaling, erythema, and thickness of lesions. While complete histological normalization may not always occur, a significant improvement is typically observed
A Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Program on Cervical Cancer Prevention for Urban Women
Get PDFThis study aims to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program on the prevention of cervical cancer among urban women in chikkabanavara, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet remains a significant public health concern, especially in developing regions. The study employed a pre-test and post-test design to evaluate the knowledge of urban women regarding cervical cancer prevention before and after the teaching intervention. A total of 40 participants where participants were selected through random sampling.A structured questionnaire was used to measure their knowledge on topics such as risk factors, early detection methods, and prevention strategies, including screening and vaccination. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of the teaching program. The findings indicated a significant improvement in knowledge among participants post-intervention, demonstrating the value of structured education in raising awareness and promoting preventive behaviors. This study underscores the importance of educational programs in empowering women to take proactive steps in preventing cervical cancer
Schizophrenia: Studying the Influence of Various Factors on the Occurrence and Progression of Disease
Get PDFSchizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by the breakdown of thought processes and emotional disorders. This disease is characterized by a combination of disorders: cognitive (impaired attention, memory, thinking) and behavioral, productive (hallucinatory, delusional, affective, etc.) and negative (apathy, abulia, emotional and social detachment, etc.) symptoms. Schizophrenia causes psychosis, can be accompanied by disability and negatively affect all areas of life, including personal, social life, family and work activities. This disease is also characterized by changes in emotions, loss of concentration, autism, asociality ("immersion in oneself", unusual thoughts and fantasies), a drop in energy state and a violation of the will. The sick person does not understand that he is ill, and this complicates treatment. Psychoses become more frequent over time and this leads to frequent hallucinations, and they can affect all the senses. The most common are auditory hallucinations in the form of voices and a person's subordination to voices, which can make the situation dangerous. The absence of treatment for schizophrenia leads to an absolute loss of one's own "I", loss of a person's personality, and during an exacerbation of the disease, a person can harm first of all himself and then others. The following research article examines all the factors that can influence the onset and progression of the disease
Study of Cognitive Associated with Diabetes Induced by Alloxane Monohydrate in Wistar Rats
Get PDFIntroduction: Untreated diabetes can accelerate brain ageing and increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Objective: To assess the cognitive decline associated with alloxan monohydrate-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. Material and methods: This study involved 24 Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 300 g. They were divided into three groups: (1) normal rats, (2) untreated diabetic rats and (3) diabetic rats treated with D-erythrodihydrosphingosine (inhibitors of SPK1 and SPK2). The rats were given glucose and food overnight to prevent hypoglycaemia. Behavioural experiments were carried out using object recognition and radial arm maze tests. Results: Behavioural analysis revealed significant differences in the time spent exploring familiar and novel objects in the rats. The study also assessed the cognitive impact of diabetes by evaluating spatial learning in an eight-branch radial maze. The results showed that diabetes affects working memory and that SPK1 and 2 inhibitors do not improve it in diabetic rats. Conclusion Our results show that diabetes induces an alteration in working memory and spatial learning difficulties
Motivators and Barriers of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Uptake among Adults, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Get PDFBackground: Understanding the specific barriers for uptaking seasonal influenza vaccine, faced by different demographic groups, can lead to targeted communication strategies that resonate with the community’s values and beliefs.Objectives: To estimateof the rate of uptaking seasonal influenza vaccine in the last season and vaccine acceptance rate in the current season as well as defining motivators for uptaking as well as barriers for not uptaking the vaccine aamong adult general population.Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional population-based online survey was conducted among adult population of all natinalities, aged over 18 years and currently living in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. An electronic Arabic/English questionnaire was utilized for collecting data. It included four main sections: Socio-demographic, habitual and medical characteristics of the participants, awareness about the importance of seasonal influenza vaccine and source of information about that, attitude towards seasonal influenza vaccine, motivators and barriers of uptaking seasonal influenza vaccine.Results: A total of 361 participantss were included in the study. The age of almost a third of them (36%) ranged between 25 and 34 years whereas that of 9.7% was 65 years and above. Males represented 54.8% of the participants. Overall, 49% of the participants expressed neutral attitude towards seasonal influenza vaccine whereas 34.1% and 16.9% expressed either positive or negative attitude, resspectively. The commonly reported motivator to uptake the seasonal influenza vaccine was to prevent illness and reduce influenza complications (78.7%), followed by protection during Umrah and Hajj (37.1%), social responsibility and collective immunity (33.5%) and positive past experience with the vaccine (27.7%) while the most frequenmtly reported barriers of not to uptake the vaccine was fear of side effects (75.9%), followed by misinformation or myths (41%), prior negative experience with the vaccine (29.4%), perceived natural immunity (27.1%) and lack of knowledge or awareness (25.2%).Conclusion: Majority of adult population in Riyadh expressed either neutral or positive attitude towards seasonal influenza vaccine. The commonly reported motivator to uptake the seasonal influenza vaccine was prevention of illness and reduction of influenza complications while the most frequently reported barrier was fear of side effects