Publishing House of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University
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Visualization in Anatomical Sciences for Effective Teaching and Learning
Full text linkAnatomy is one of the basic subjects of medical science. Medical students gain detailed knowledge of human body by dissecting cadavers. Hence, cadaveric dissection has become an essential tool in teaching and learning anatomy. In anatomy, visualization plays an important role in understanding the spatial orientation of structures. Due to technological advancement and a shortage of cadavers, there is a need to look for various complementary tools which can provide an adequate visualization of bodily structures. This issue was very well understood and reflected during the recent pandemic when cadaveric dissection was substituted by experimenting with various teaching tools. In this paper, we have tried to briefly describe the various options that can complement/supplement dissection and assist in self-directed learning
Some Pathogenetic Aspects of Endocardial Endothelium Damage of Rats as a Result of Stress Effect Complicated by Hypercholesterolemia (original research)
No full textThe endothelial dysfunction is a predictor of occurrence for many diseases of cardiovascular system and a key link in their pathogenesis, formation and progression of clinical manifestations. Despite the large number of experimental and clinical researches, separate links of pathogenesis of heart endothelial cell damage under stress and in case of its combination with hypercholesterolemia require the further examination. The aim of the work was to investigate the role of nitric oxide, prostaglandins and antioxidants in the pathogenesis of endocardial endothelium damage (by the content of free fatty acids in it and the number of exfoliated cells) as a result of emotional and pain stress and stress complicated by hypercholesterolemia. An electro-impulse model was used to reproduce the stress. Alimentary hypercholesterolemia was modeled by keeping animals on an atherogenic diet for 2 months. To establish the role of individual pathogenetic links in the mechanisms of endotheliocyte damage, animals were administered the following pharmacological drugs: L-arginine (a substrate for the synthesis of nitric oxide), a prostaglandin synthesis blocker indomethacin, and prostenon (a synthetic analog of prostaglandin E2, which has an antioxidant effect). The state of endocardial endothelium was examined by using the light microscopy, analyzing the smears-imprints from macropreparations of ventricles by counting the number of endothelial cells in them. The content of free fatty acids was determined by the radiochemical method. It was shown that L-arginine significantly limits the damaging effect of the studied pathogenic factors on endocardial endothelium, reducing the number of exfoliated cells. The use of prostenon gives a slight, statistically unreliable positive effect. The use of indomethacin increases the damage of endothelial cells, which indicates the cytoprotective effect of prostaglandins under stress. All three studied preparations have no significant effect on the metabolism of free fatty acids both in case of “pure” emotional and pain stress and under stress complicated by hypercholesterolemia. The hypercholesterolemia of alimentary origin significantly limits the cytoprotective effect of L-arginine and prostenon on endocardial endothelium under stress action. In relation to indomethacin, in this situation, an increase of cell desquamation is observed, which indicates a decrease of prostaglandins protective effect
Improvement of the Endodontic Treatment Efficiency of the Maxillary First Molars Using Differentiated Instrumental Preparation of the Apical Part and Additional Sealing of Root Canal Orifices
Full text linkIntroduction. Endodontic treatment of maxillary first molars (MFMs) is very challenging due to the anatomical complexity of root canals which makes it difficult to do the proper cleaning, shaping, and obturation.
Aim was to study the effectiveness of a proposed endodontic treatment of maxillary first molars, compared to the traditional method, in patients with and without concomitant generalized periodontitis.
Methods. Endodontic treatment of 176 maxillary first molars was carried out according to the traditional method and proposed one, which included a differentiated approach to the instrumental preparation of the apical part of the root canal, and additional sealing of the root canals orifices using glass-ionomer cement. Obturation was conducted by lateral compaction of gutta-percha, combined with zinc-oxide-eugenol (ZOE) sealer and sealer based on epoxy resins. The effectiveness of endodontic treatment was evaluated based on the radiological comparison of the index, area of periapical destruction, and optical density of treated teeth roots immediately after, in 6 and 12 months.
Results. In 12 months after the endodontic treatment in the subgroups where the proposed technique was used, in patients with chronic apical periodontitis, better positive dynamics of the % increase in densitometric indicators, % increase of periapical bone destruction, and the decrease of PAI were noted. The % increase of the destruction area in the subgroup with the proposed treatment in combination with ZOE sealer was (79.21±2.41) %, that characterizes the decrease in the area from 14.03±0.7 mm2 to 2.65±0.26 mm2. It was established that the index of endodontic treatment effectiveness is significantly lower in patients with generalized periodontitis of 2nd degree, compared to patients with healthy periodontium(p<0.05).
Conclusions. It was established that the combination of the proposed method of treatment and ZOE sealer showed high effectiveness of endodontic treatment, due to the radiological picture in 12 months. It was found that there can be a possible negative effect of tooth mobility on the prognosis of endodontic treatment
Assessment of the State of Macro- and Microelement Composition of Oral Fluid in Teenagers and Young Adults Smokers
Full text linkIt is known that minerals play an important role in the regulation of various functions of the body and each cell separately, their optimal content is necessary for the formation of the body's adaptive response, for maintaining human health, while some of them are involved in the development of pathological processes. The imbalance of trace elements is one of the causes of membranotoxic enzymatic effects of cell structure and function disorders, imbalance of the body's microflora, increased lipid peroxidation, activation of adhesion processes, disruption of intercellular homeostasis, etc. Changes in the elemental composition of the oral fluid play an important role in the development of dental pathology, such as dental caries and periodontal tissue diseases. Oral fluid is highly sensitive to the effects of adverse factors, is a convenient informative non-invasive medium for clinical, including early, diagnosis of human health, and can show macro- and microelemental imbalances, which can be used as an additional marker for assessing adverse effects, such as tobacco smoke.
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of smoking on the macro- and microelement composition of oral fluid in teenagers and young adults
Saving Lives Under Fire: The Extraordinary Efforts of ICU Health Professionals in the Ukrainian War
Full text linkAmid the Ukrainian War, the heroes of the intensive care unit (ICU) - doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and many others - valiantly confront unprecedented challenges, showcasing resilience and dedication in the face of adversity. Despite limited resources and electricity backup issues, these health professionals worked tirelessly to provide life-saving care to critically ill patients, including those with gunshot wounds, shrapnel injuries, burns, and traumatic brain injuries. The article highlights the need to denounce attacks on medical personnel during conflicts, and strategies for supporting ICU health professionals in war zones are suggested, including hazard pay, comprehensive insurance coverage, safety training and equipment, support networks and mental health services, and ongoing education and professional development. The heroic efforts of ICU health professionals during times of war highlight the crucial role they play in healthcare systems worldwide
“MedEd” on Twitter: A Social Network Analysis
Full text linkBackground. In the current era, Twitter is an increasingly popular tool for the dissemination of information as a social media voice. Social media is a valid, but underutilized, education tool at medical education institutions. Social media technologies provide opportunities for the presentation of information in alternative and multiple formats to enhance engagement, content creation, and motivation for individual and collaborative learning.
Objective. This study examined the type of social structure and sub-clusters do exist regarding “MedEd” on the Twitter network. Additionally, it determined the top opinion leaders in these networks and which type of topics generates users’ interest regarding “MedEd”.
Methods. This study applied NodeXL to analyze the results and retrieved Twitter data on November 1, 2022 by using the keywords “MedEd”. The data were saved and interpreted in the “vertices” and “edges” on the NodeXL worksheets.
Results. We found that the top opinion leader (vertex) “Cryptovitas” had the highest in- betweenness and out-degree centrality. “Innov_medicine” had the in-degree centrality for networks. “In-Degree” and “Out-Degree” are the count of Tweets an opinion leader gets and forwards messages out, correspondingly. The study found that although “Cryptovitas” had the highest in-betweenness centrality, “taylorswift13” had the maximum number of followers (91,523,045) with in-betweenness centrality of 0.0. This indicates that the vertex having maximum influence with the largest number of in-betweenness centrality has not linked with several followers.
Conclusions. Using Twitter embodies a potential prospect to engage the medical education community. The content of top networks’ tweets was around the number of “MedEd” innovations with the potential to significantly improve medical education delivery and innovative technologies in healthcare services. There is no link between the number of followers and in-betweenness centrality to influence the strength of social media voice. Although clinical and social tweets were there, not much was discussed regarding the curriculum reforms, continued professional development, technical issues in MedEd, and assessments. This triggers the insistence for rapid and innovative adaptations to the new learning environments and remarkable revolutions in medical education, including the encouragement of evidence-based education. The Twitter discussions promoted a research network circulating a wide range of informative innovations and collaborations
Visualizing Wearable Medical Device Research Trends: A Co-occurrence Network-Based Bibliometric Analysis
Full text linkBackground. One of the most crucial aspects of someone’s life is health. Therefore, individuals should be conscious about keeping themselves healthy by regular monitoring their health, which can be done with the help of modern medical technologies. Wearable medical devices using wearable sensors are the popular names of emerging technologies in the modern healthcare domain.
Aim. This work presents the results of a systematic investigation of extensive research that has occurred for the last two decades in these research streams to provide a comprehensive mapping and temporal distribution of wireless medical device research.
Methods. This study presents a relationship between the bibliographic items, their quality, and the quantity representing the most effective research topics on wearable medical devices. The analysis is performed using two useful parameters, namely a bibliometric network and a co-occurrence matrix. Data collection, data standardization, data mapping, and result analysis are the steps involved in the bibliometric analysis technique. In this study, VOSviewer software for bibliometric analysis is applied to the Scopus database.
Results. By analysing bibliometric indicators from the Scopus database and using VOSviewer, we represent their distribution in countries, institutions, top researchers, and top journals. Furthermore, we analyse the co-citation of cited authors and the co-occurrence of keywords. The outcomes of the clustering and keyword analysis indicate that the research domain primarily focuses on the Internet of Things, machine learning, wearable sensors, mobile health, electrocardiogram, etc.
Conclusions. Statistical investigation in association with the visual exploration presented in this article provides more substantial information than either of them used separately. In the future, this article can illuminate researchers and practitioners to develop a different theory to look at the factors that influence predictability in the research domain of wearable medical devices
Self-Perceived Sources of Stress and Burnout Determinants in Dentistry - A Systematic Review
Full text linkIntroduction. In recent decades, under the influence of various factors, there has been a serious increase in psycho-emotional tension and stress. Furthermore, considering unprecedented times of global pandemic threat, stress levels can rise significantly. Dental profession is physically and mentally stressful as dentists encounter a number of occupational hazards of a biological, chemical, physical, and psycho-emotional nature.
Objective. The current review paper aimed to answer the question: what are the most important stressors and burnout determinants in daily dental practice?
Materials and Methods. The Web of Science Core Collection database was searched for according to the PRISMA guidelines in September 2022. Empirical studies - observational, experimental, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies published in English were considered for inclusion.
Results. The initial search yielded 355 articles. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria and were considered for the final analysis. Two articles reported identical data; therefore, they were not included in the current report. Finally, this review presented 16 reports with a total of 8, 824 subjects.
Conclusions. Both long-term and short-term stress can cause negative effects on practitioner’s physical, mental, and emotional functioning. As healthcare providers, dentists should be aware of these risk factors, as well as they need to be sufficiently motivated to know the risks and inconveniences of their profession, learning effective strategies how to deal with adverse conditions, factors, and relationships. Providing information on this issue will contribute to increasing dentists’ awareness and improving their personal and professional performance
Renin-Angiotensin System: A Review of Historical Perspectives
Full text linkThe article is a review of publications concerning historical perspectives of the renin-angiotensin system. The discovery of its components is presented in chronological order, beginning with the initial identification of renin and proceeding to the subsequent discoveries of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, angiotensin- (1-7), Mas receptor.
This paper presents a modern classification of the renin-angiotensin system, dividing it into classical and non-classical branches, based on the determination of the biological effects of its components. Significant attention is devoted to elucidating the biochemical cascade of the renin-angiotensin system, its physiological transformations, and its implications in human body processes. The detrimental cardiac effects of the classical renin-angiotensin system are highlighted, along with the crucial role played by its alternative axis in counteracting the development of cardiovascular diseases.
The article presents data on the involvement of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and its receptors in coronavirus infections, susceptibility to infection, and disease progression
Evaluation of the Tpeak-Tend Interval as an Arrhythmogenicity Index in Graves' Disease
Full text linkIntroduction.Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The mortality rate increases by 20% in hyperthyroid patients; cardiac problems are the leading cause of death and arrhythmia is the most common cardiac complication.
Our study aimed to evaluate the corrected QT interval (QTc), the Tpeak-Tend interval (Tp-e), and the Tp-e/QTc ratio to predict arrhythmia risk in patients with Graves’ disease.
Methods. The study included 64 patients with Graves’ disease and 57 euthyroid controls. The 12-lead electrocardiograms of the individuals under study were evaluated. The QTc interval, the Tp-e interval, and the Tp-e/QTc ratio of all participants were determined and statistically evaluated with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) values.
Results. Tp-e (p < 0.001) and QTc (p < 0.05) were significantly prolonged in the group of patients with Graves’ disease as compared to the control group. Heart rate was higher in patients with Graves’ disease as well (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis in patients with hyperthyroidism demonstrated that Tp-e (r=0.372, p=0.002), QTc (r=0.291, p=0.020), and fT3 levels were significantly and positively correlated. Similarly, Tp-e (r=0.271, p=0.030), QTc (r=0.259, p=0.039), and fT4 levels were significantly and positively correlated.
Conclusions. We observed a significant prolongation of the Tp-e and QTc intervals with the increase in fT3 and fT4 levels. On the other hand, our study demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of Tp-e in the prediction of hyperthyroidism were 70.3% and 70.1%, respectively (AUC=0.724 (CI: 0.629-0.818)), the optimal cut-off value=83.5 ms). The Tp-e interval, which has recently been used as one of the arrhythmogenicity indices, may be an indicator of arrhythmia risk in patients with Graves’ disease