Nevin Manimala

Pol Przegl Chir. 2020 Sep 30;93(1):1-8. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.4207.

ABSTRACT

<b>Introduction:</b> Assessment of exercise tolerance (ET) plays an important role in qualifications for treatment and rehabilitation. <br><b>Aim: </b>The aim of the study was to assess ET in patients before and after inguinal hernia operations with Lichtenstein method. <br><b>Material and methods:</b> The cohort study included men with inguinal hernia divided into the study group (SG) (n = 50) and control (CG) (n = 50) undergone the Lichtenstein surgery. Patients from the SG met the criterion of coexistence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Day before and on the second day after surgery, patients performed 6MWT and subjectively rate the exertion according to Borg- RPE- Scale (before, immediately after and 10 minutes after the test). 6MWT distance, Borg scale ratings were analysed. On the second day after surgery 66% of patients from the SG and 58% from the CG did not complete the test. Patients from the SG before (500,07 ± 40,38 m) and on the second day after surgery (243,46 ± 18,18 m) achieved shorter distances compared to the CG (565,93 ± 20,41 m; 249,47 ± 26,66 m), p < 0,001 i p = 0,481. A statistically significant negative correlation between 6MWT distance before surgery and age of the patients was confirmed. Patients who did not develop complications achieved significantly longer distances on admission (p = 0,003 for SG, p = 0,004 for CG). For 6MWT before surgery and 2 days after surgery, patients from the SG showed a significantly higher level of fatigue compared to the CG after the test (before: p = 0,001, after: p = 0,001). Patients form the SG often discontinued 6MWT and less tolerated effort compared to the CG. Hence, 6MWT is useful tool for ascertaining physical capacity and ET.

PMID:33729176 | DOI:10.5604/01.3001.0014.4207

Pol Przegl Chir. 2020 Dec 28;93(1):25-33. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.5824.

ABSTRACT

<b>Background:</b> Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a catastrophic abdominal emergency characterized by sudden critical interruption to the intestinal blood flow which commonly leads to bowel infarction and death. AMI still has a poor prognosis with an in-hospital mortality rate of 50-69 %. This high mortality rate is related to the delay in diagnosis which is often diffucult and overlooked. Early intervention is crucial and the potential for intestinal viability. <br><b>Methods:</b> The charts of 140 patients who were hospitalazed with AMI between May 1997 and August 2013 in Ege University Faculty of Medicine, department of general surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Demographical and clinical features of patients determining the best predictors which effect on morbidity and mortality were evaluated by Multiple Logistic Regression analysis by Enter method after adjustment for all possible confounding factors. <br><b>Results:</b> After Multiple LR analysis by Enter method after adjustment for all possible confounding factors affecting morbidity; shock, exploration and stay in hospital were statistically significant. Age, cardiac comorbidities, ASA scores, the time delay between onset of acute abdominal pain to surgery, the presence of acidosis and shock, the involved organs (small bowel and both), type of surgery and medical treatment and small bowel length under 100 cm were statistically significant on mortality. <br><b>Conclusion:</b> Risk factors related to mortality and morbidity have been poorly analyzed due to lack of prospective studies and smaller number of patients. Early diagnosis generally depends on clinical awareness and suspicion. Age and time of delay between onset of acute abdominal pain to surgery longer than 24 hours are the most important parameters that predict the mortality for patients presenting with shock and acidosis.

PMID:33729172 | DOI:10.5604/01.3001.0014.5824

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2021 Feb;33(2):203-206. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201127-00733.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect and potential mechanism of cordycepin on renal proximal tubular cells injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS: Renal proximal tubular cells NRK-52E were incubated on a cell culture plated at a density of 1×10⁵/mL for experiment, then divided into control group (Ctrl group), LPS group (cells were stimulated with 1 mg/L LPS), 10 μmol/L or 20 μmol/L cordycep in intervention groups (LPS+C 10 group and LPS+C 20 group). Cell viability was measured using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) reagent. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. The protein expressions of inflammatory factors intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS: Compared with the Ctrl group, LPS significantly inhibited NRK-52E cell viability, increased intracellular ROS, and up-regulated the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-1β and NF-κB. Compared with LPS group, after treated with 10 μmol/L or 20 μmol/L cordycepin, NRK-52E cell viability was significantly increased (Ctrl group as 1: 0.717±0.017, 0.916±0.036 vs. 0.554±0.046) and intracellular ROS level was significantly decreased (Ctrl group as 1: 1.527±0.165, 1.098±0.168 vs. 2.543±0.127), meanwhile the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-1β and NF-κB were significantly down-regulated [Ctrl group as 1, ICAM-1/GAPDH: 2.364±0.097, 1.561±0.074 vs. 3.101±0.121; VCAM-1/GAPDH: 2.866±0.135, 1.920±0.098 vs. 4.170±0.119; IL-1β/GAPDH: 2.358±0.107, 1.563±0.179 vs. 3.301±0.210; phosphorylation NF-κB p65 (NF-κB p-p65)/GAPDH: 2.559±0.166, 1.596±0.148 vs. 3.183±0.098], the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Compared with the LPS+C 10 group, the cell activity of LPS+C 20 group was more significant (0.916±0.036 vs. 0.717±0.017, P < 0.01), and the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-1β, NF-κB were down-regulated more significantly (ICAM-1/GAPDH: 1.561±0.074 vs. 2.364±0.097, VCAM-1/GAPDH: 1.920±0.098 vs. 2.866±0.135, IL-1β/GAPDH: 1.563±0.179 vs. 2.358±0.107, NF-κB p-p65/GAPDH: 1.596±0.148 vs. 2.559±0.166, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Cordycepin could significantly increase the survival rate of NRK-52E cells, reduce intracellular ROS level, and inhibit inflammation, and the anti-inflammation effect can be related with NF-κB pathway.

PMID:33729140 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201127-00733

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2021 Feb;33(2):186-191. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201118-00627.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors and clinical characteristics of liver injury in patients with sepsis and to provide a reference for early recognition, early diagnosis, early intervention, and improve the survival rate of patients.

METHODS: The clinical data of sepsis patients admitted to the department of general intensive care unit (ICU) of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from July 2014 to October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the occurrence of acute liver injury, patients with sepsis were divided into the liver injury group and the non-liver injury group, and the differences of demographic data, history, history of primary diseases, laboratory indicators on the first time of admission, treatments, the severity of the disease and other indicators were compared and analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for sepsis-related liver injury.

RESULTS: A total of 527 patients with sepsis were enrolled, and 129 patients with acute liver injury, accounting for 24.48%. Compared with the non-liver injury group, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), serum MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), total bile acid (TBA), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactic acid (Lac), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) in liver injury group were significantly increased [APACHE II score: 23.00±10.40 vs. 16.10±8.10, SOFA score: 9.17±4.29 vs. 5.90±3.12, pro-BNP (ng/L): 5 500.0 (1 166.0, 16 865.0) vs. 1 377.2 (448.8, 6 136.5), CK-MB (U/L): 23.0 (13.0, 55.0) vs. 18.0 (13.0, 31.0), TBA (μmol/L): 5.0 (2.4, 12.9) vs. 2.6 (1.4, 4.9), SCr (μmol/L): 146.0 (75.0, 222.0) vs. 71.0 (52.0, 125.8), BUN (mmol/L): 13.4 (8.8, 20.2) vs. 7.9 (4.9, 11.6), Lac (mmol/L): 2.0 (1.4, 4.4) vs. 1.4 (1.0, 2.2), LDH (μmol×s^-1×L^-1): 6.43 (3.76, 11.99) vs. 4.55 (3.38, 6.63), CRP (mg/L): 113.0 (61.8, 201.0) vs. 95.0 (37.3, 170.1), PCT (μg/L): 3.8 (1.0, 23.3) vs. 0.8 (0.2, 6.4)], prothrombin time (PT), international standard ratio (INR) and activated partial thrombin time (APTT) were significantly longer [PT (s): 19.4±7.6 vs. 16.0±4.0, INR: 1.7±1.0 vs. 1.3±0.5, APTT (s): 54.0±25.8 vs. 44.1±15.1], plasma fibrinogen (FIB), platelet count (PLT), albumin (ALB), and cholesterol (CHOL) were decreased [FIB (g/L): 4.2±2.3 vs. 4.9±1.8, PLT (×10⁹/L): 116.3±74.3 vs. 182.7±108.6, ALB (g/L): 25.4±5.5 vs. 27.6±5.5, CHOL (mmol/L): 2.5±1.2 vs. 3.2±1.3], the probability of shock was significantly increased (91.47% vs. 59.19%), and the duration of shock was prolonged [days: 5.0 (2.0, 9.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 3.0)], positive rate of microbial culture (81.40% vs. 71.11%), probability of occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria (67.44% vs. 47.99%) were significantly higher, mechanical ventilation time [days: 6.0 (2.0, 12.7) vs. 2.4 (0.0, 6.9)], continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) time [days: 1.2 (0.0, 5.0) vs. 0.0 (0.0, 0.0)], the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay [days: 9.0 (5.0, 18.0) vs. 7.0 (3.0, 13.0)] were significantly longer, 28-day mortality was significantly higher (80.62% vs. 28.89%), and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Further Logistic regression analysis showed that PLT decline, PT prolongation, CRRT duration, shock duration and 28-day mortality were correlated with sepsis-related liver injury [odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 0.992 (0.987-0.998), 3.103 (1.507-6.387), 1.198 (1.074-1.336), 1.196 (1.049-1.362), and 0.213 (0.072-0.633), respectively, all P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged PT and decreased PLT are independent risk factors for sepsis complicated with liver injury. The long duration of CRRT, long duration of shock, and high mortality are independent clinical characteristics of patients with sepsis-related liver injury.

PMID:33729138 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201118-00627

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2021 Feb;33(2):174-179. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201009-00660.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore high-risk factors of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to compare the clinical efficacy of calf pulmonary surfactant (PS) combined with budesonide suspension and poractant alfa injection in the treatment of RDS in premature infants.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted. Preterm infants who were born in the obstetrics department of Liaocheng People’s Hospital and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within 24 hours from July 2016 to July 2020 were enrolled. The clinical data of these patients including perinatal conditions, clinical features, therapeutic regimens of PS and outcomes were collected and analyzed. According to the diagnostic criteria of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), premature infants were divided into NRDS group and non-NRDS group. First, the clinical data of the two groups were compared to analyze the related factors of NRDS. Then the related factors of NRDS were confirmed by Logistic regression analysis. In addition, according to the trapeutic regimens of PS, the children were divided into calf PS combined with budesonide suspension group and poractant alfa injection group, and the efficacy of the two PS was compared.

RESULTS: (1) A total of 1 690 preterm infants were included, including 297 preterm infants were diagnosed with NRDS which accounted for 17.6% of live preterm infants. There were significant differences in gender, gestational age (GA), birth parity, birth weight (BW), asphyxia of newborn, caesarean section, premature rupture of membrane, placental abruption, gestational diabetes and father’s smoking addiction (maternal exposure to smoke during pregnancy) between NRDS group and non-NRDS group (male: 71.0% vs. 59.0%; GA: < 28 weeks was 4.1% vs. 0.1%, 28 weeks ≤ GA < 34 weeks was 70.0% vs. 29.9%, 34 weeks ≤ GA < 37 weeks was 25.9% vs.70.0%; birth parity: 2 (1, 3) vs. 2 (1, 3); BW: < 1 000 g was 4.1% vs. 0.4%, 1 000 g ≤ BW < 1 500 g was 31.3% vs. 6.5%, 1 500 g ≤ BW < 2 500 g was 51.5% vs. 58.9%, 2 500 g ≤ BW < 4 000 g was 12.8% vs. 33.1%, BW ≥ 4 000 g was 0.3% vs. 1.1%; asphyxia of newborn: 50.8% vs. 14.6%; caesarean section: 71.7% vs. 65.0%; premature rupture of membrane: 66.7% vs. 42.2%; premature rupture of fetal membranes: 11.4% vs. 5.2%; gestational diabetes: 12.1% vs. 7.0%; father’s smoking addiction: 80.8% vs. 71.5%, all P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in prenatal use of dexamethasone (DEX) between NRDS group and non-NRDS group (80.1% vs. 84.1%, P > 0.05). Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that GA, gender, cesarean section, premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes, father’s smoking addiction and neonatal asphyxia were the risk factors of RDS [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 0.621 (0.557-0.693), 2.043 (1.478-2.825), 1.365 (1.036-1.797), 0.697 (0.506-0.961), 3.223 (1.906-5.449), 1.836 (1.261-2.673), 3.596 (2.622-4.933), all P < 0.05]. (2) A total of 160 patients diagnosed with grade III/IV NRDS were included to analyze the efficacy of PS. Among them, 42 cases were treated with calf PS combined with budesonide suspension, and 118 cases were treated with poractant alfa injection. Compared with the poractant alfa injection group, the total oxygen consumption time of the calf PS group was shorter [days: 9.0 (5.0, 19.0) vs. 13.0 (6.0, 26.0)], the hospitalization expenses were lower [ten thousand Yuan: 3.46 (2.88, 5.18) vs. 4.58 (3.08, 6.06)], and the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was lower (11.9% vs. 28.8%), with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In addition to GA, gender, cesarean section, premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes, and neonatal asphyxia, the father’s smoking addiction (maternal smoke exposure during pregnancy) is an important risk factor of RDS in premature infants. The efficacy of prenatal use of DEX for prevention of RDS in preterm infants is affected by many factors, such as prenatal smoke exposure, timing of use, multiple fetuses, etc. Calf PS combined with budesonide suspension is better than poractant alfa injection in reducing the incidence of BPD.

PMID:33729136 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201009-00660

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2021 Feb;33(2):169-173. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201010-00662.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and correlation of intestinal and pulmonary microecological structures in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. Thirty-one patients with VAP admitted to the department of critical care medicine of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from May 1st 2019 to May 1st 2020 were enrolled. Feces and alveolar lavage fluid samples from patients with the same day, feces and alveolar lavage specimen flora composition and the structure of biological information analysis by 16S rRNA sequencing technologies, the comprehensive sequencing results, and clinical data of patients were analyzed.

RESULTS: (1) The diversity (abundance and diversity) of flora in the alveolar lavage fluid of VAP patients was higher than that of fecal flora. Among them, Ace index, Chao index and Shannon index describing the abundance of flora showed statistically significant differences [Ace index: 305.89 (214.39, 458.66) vs. 204.51 (165.15, 247.61), Chao index: 259.83 (194.20, 459.31) vs. 187.67 (153.28, 234.01), Shannon index: 3.01 (2.39, 3.54) vs. 2.55 (1.86, 2.95), all P < 0.05], but there was no significant difference in Simpson index describing diversity [0.14 (0.08, 0.27) vs. 0.19 (0.10, 0.33), P > 0.05]. (2) In the sequencing results of feces and alveolar lavage fluid of VAP patients, there were some intestinal related bacteria groups with high abundance, such as Escherichia-Shigella, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, and Lachnospira, etc. (3) In 31 VAP patients, suspicious pathogenic bacteria was found in 20 cases (6 cases of Streptococcus viridans, 5 cases of Escherichia coli, 3 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3 cases of Acinetobacter baumannii, 2 cases of Staphylococcus aureus, 1 case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and the same suspected pathogens also existed in the 17 patients’ alveolar lavage and waste sequencing. (4) Fourteen VAP patients combined with sepsis, 14 patients without sepsis were selected for sample size matching. The results showed that, Jaccard similarity index to describe lung-correlation of intestinal flora in VAP with sepsis group was significantly elevated, and the difference was statistically significant (0.24±0.08 vs. 0.19±0.06, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a certain correlation between pulmonary and intestinal flora in VAP patients. In addition to the exclusion of pulmonary infection caused by environmental and upper respiratory micro-inhalation, the lower digestive tract may also be source of infection.

PMID:33729135 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20201010-00662

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2021 Feb;33(2):155-160. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20200923-00647.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of andrographolide (AD) on the expression of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitory factors in rat type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC II) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS: The AEC II cells RLE-6TN in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into 5 groups: the normal control (NC) group, the LPS group, and the 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/L AD groups (AD 6.25 group, AD 12.5 group, AD 25 group). The NC group was cultured with RPMI 1640 conventional medium. In the LPS group, 5 mg/L LPS was added to the RPMI 1640 conventional medium for stimulation. Cells in the AD groups were treated with 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/L AD in advance for 1 hour and then given LPS to stimulate the culture. The cells and cell culture supernatant were collected 24 hours after LPS stimulation. The protein and mRNA expressions of tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and plasminogen activator inhibition-1 (PAI-1) in cells were detected by Western blotting and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The levels of procollagen III peptide (PIIIP), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), antithrombin III (AT-III) and activated protein C (APC) in the cell supernatant were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, the protein and mRNA expressions of TF and PAI-1 in the LPS group were significantly increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of TFPI were significantly reduced. At the same time, the levels of PIIIP and TAT in the cell supernatant were significantly increased, the levels of AT-III, APC were significantly reduced. Compared with the LPS group, the protein and mRNA expressions of TF and PAI-1 in AD 6.25 group, AD 12.5 group, AD 25 group were significantly reduced [TF/GAPDH: 0.86±0.08, 0.45±0.04, 0.44±0.04 vs. 1.32±0.10, TF mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 2.59±0.25, 2.27±0.05, 1.95±0.04 vs. 4.60±0.26, PAI-1/GAPDH: 2.11±0.07, 1.45±0.04, 0.86±0.09 vs. 2.56±0.09, PAI-1 mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 3.50±0.22, 2.23±0.29, 1.84±0.09 vs. 6.60±0.27, all P < 0.05], while the protein and mRNA expressions of TFPI were significantly increased [TFPI/GAPDH: 0.78±0.05, 0.81±0.03, 0.84±0.07 vs. 0.36±0.02, TFPI mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 0.46±0.09, 0.69±0.07, 0.91±0.08 vs. 0.44±0.06, all P < 0.05]. Also the levels of PIIIP and TAT in the cell supernatant were significantly reduced, and the levels of AT-III and APC were significantly increased [PIIIP (μg/L): 13.59±0.23, 12.66±0.23, 10.59±0.30 vs. 15.82±0.29, TAT (ng/L): 211.57±6.41, 205.69±4.04, 200.56±9.85 vs. 288.67±9.84, AT-III (μg/L): 102.95±3.86, 123.92±2.63, 128.67±1.67 vs. 92.93±3.36, APC (μg/L): 1 188.95±14.99, 1 366.12±39.93, 1 451.15±29.69 vs. 1 145.55±21.07, all P < 0.05]. With the increase of the dose of AD, the above-mentioned promotion and inhibition effects became more obvious. In the AD 25 group, TF, PAI-1 protein and mRNA expressions decreased, TFPI mRNA expression increased, PIIIP level in the supernatant decreased and AT-III, APC levels increased compared with AD 6.25 group, the difference was statistically significant, and the decrease of PAI-1 protein expression and PIIIP level in the supernatant were also statistically significant compared with AD 12.5 group.

CONCLUSIONS: Andrographolide in the dose range of 6.25-25 mg/L can dose-dependently inhibit the expression and secretion of procoagulant and fibrinolytic inhibitor-related factors in AEC II cells RLE-6TN stimulated by LPS, and promote the secretion of anticoagulant factors. 25 mg/L has the most obvious effect.

PMID:33729132 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20200923-00647

J Interpers Violence. 2021 Apr;36(7-8):2959-2985. doi: 10.1177/0886260521991271.

ABSTRACT

Religious beliefs play a significant role in the lives of victims of domestic violence. Victims find strength in their faith and would rather endure the violence at all costs to keep a family or a marriage together, than to compromise their faith by leaving. This 10 -year study explored the climate of support for victims of domestic violence among Christian clergy and church members between 2005 and 2015. Using a convenience sample, surveys were sent out to congregations in the Upper Midwest in 2005 and 2015. The survey included demographics; two items measuring perception of domestic violence in the congregation and community; six Likert Scale items regarding agreement with statements concerning leaving an abusive marriage; four “Yes-No” items regarding the impact of faith in leaving, support of the congregation, community resources, and clergy as counselors. The clergy’s survey had the same questions plus open-ended questions about their skills in counseling victims, their congregation’s support for victims, community resources, and beliefs that could impact a victim’s choice in leaving. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple frequencies, and bivariate correlations. Narrative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results of this study indicated that change is slow. Members want their clergy to become more educated in counseling and in speaking about domestic violence from the pulpit. Clergy felt comfortable in making referrals for professional counseling, while the majority of members would prefer counseling with their pastor if they were in a violent relationship. Both clergy and members want to create a safe and supportive environment for victims/survivors of violent relationships. Findings from this study exemplify the need for pastors to remove the silence about domestic violence in their congregations and address the misunderstood social religious beliefs that may bind a victim to the violence.

PMID:33729071 | DOI:10.1177/0886260521991271

Urologia. 2021 Mar 17:391560320911526. doi: 10.1177/0391560320911526. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To objective of this study was to investigate poor scar appearance of the circumcision line and scar wrinkling caused by the sutures placed during the circumcision in primary school age circumcised children.

METHODS: A total of 455 children aged between 6 and 9 years, circumcised by four different specialists in our hospital between 2009 and 2018 were evaluated. Circumcisions performed due to balanitis, phimosis, secondary phimosis, and paraphimosis were excluded from the study. Only routine religious circumcisions performed on request of the family were included in the study. Children underwent a second procedure and those receiving treatment after the circumcision due to infection were excluded from the study. About 363 patients included the study. Patients were evaluated according to the Fitzpatrick skin type classification, independent observer scale, Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale, and Dunn-Bonferroni test.

RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between distributions of scar wrinkling levels in children according to the circumcision (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between age of circumcision according to scare wrinkling levels (p = 0.001). According to the Dunn-Bonferroni test; the circumcision age was found to be significantly lower in children with severe scar wrinkling compared to the children with no or mild scar wrinkling (p = 0.001; p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION: The tense, short-interval sutures placed away from the wound margin during circumcision in order to control subcutaneous bleeding lead to scar wrinkling and a poor cosmetic appearance. Knowing the risk factors leading to scar wrinkling and taking appropriate measures will provide acceptable cosmetic outcomes after the circumcision.

PMID:33729060 | DOI:10.1177/0391560320911526

Telemed J E Health. 2021 Mar 15. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2020.0533. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Diabetes distress is underrecognized and associated with poor outcomes. This study tested whether a 12-month collaborative, goal-setting, and behavioral telehealth intervention reduced diabetes distress levels. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Healthy Outcomes through Patient Empowerment (HOPE) study that included individuals (N = 225) with uncontrolled diabetes and depression living at least 20 miles from a Veteran’s Affairs medical center. Participants were randomized to HOPE (intervention) or Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) with education. We evaluated diabetes distress levels as measured by the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) Questionnaire and its four subscales (emotional, diabetes management, social, and treatment distress) at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Results: Between-group analysis revealed greater improvements in HOPE versus EUC for: 6-month PAID total score (p = 0.04), emotional (p = 0.03), and social (p = 0.04) subscales; 12-month PAID total score (p = 0.07) and emotional subscale (p = 0.07). Within-group comparisons showed larger effect sizes for HOPE compared with EUC: 12-month PAID total scores (0.82 vs. 0.54), 6-month emotional burden (0.54 vs. 0.31), and 6-month (0.32 vs. 0.08) and 12-month (0.41 vs. 0.12) social burdens. Repeated-measures analysis evaluating treatment group and time trended toward improvement in PAID overall for HOPE compared with EUC participants, but was not statistically significant (β = 6.96; SE = 4.35; p = 0.13). Discussion: Clinically meaningful reductions in PAID overall and the emotional and social subscales were observed in HOPE compared with EUC participants. Conclusion: Further evaluation of diabetes telehealth interventions that include other facets related to diabetes distress, including treatment, diabetes management, social, and emotional burdens, is warranted. Clinical Trial Number. NCT01572389; Clinical Trial Registry. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01572389.

PMID:33728989 | DOI:10.1089/tmj.2020.0533