Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Aim To evaluate the case series of the patients operated with percutaneous fixation by the navigation system based on 3D fluoroscopic images, to assess the precision of a surgical implant and functional outcome of patients. Methods A retrospective study of pelvic ring fractures in a 2-year period included those treated with the use of the O-Arm 2 in combination with the Stealth Station 8. Pelvic fractures were classified according to the Tile and the Young-Burgess classification. ⋯ The median follow-up was 17.5 months. The patients were satisfied with their health condition on SF-36. Conclusion The use of the O-arm guarantees great precision in the positioning of the screws and reduced surgical times with excellent clinical results in patients.
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Aim To present haemoglobin and ferritin parameters in donors to highlight the importance of serum ferritin testing for the purpose of evaluating iron depots in order to make recommendations for preserving a population of blood donors. Method A prospective study was conducted on 80 blood donors divided in two groups: group I (regular donors, n =40) and group II (irregular donors, n=40). Haemoglobin and ferritin were measured twice every 45 days, before two consecutive blood donations. ⋯ Measurement of ferritin before and after donation revealed statistically significant loss of ferritin in all examinees (p=0.011). The decline in haemoglobin after donation, although significant, did not fall below the reference value for donation in either women or men. Conclusion Results indicate the need for periodic monitoring of the plasma value of ferritin in voluntary donors who donate blood more than twice a year and the possible oral supplementation with iron.
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Aim To describe experiences of patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods This qualitative research was conducted using a phenomenological approach, and participants were selected via purposive sampling. In total, 14 patients with COVID-19 were selected (nine women and five men) aged 20-60 years. ⋯ Conclusion Mental strains were the most important issues in the patients with COVID-19, which were interwoven with concerning physical manifestations. Most of the participants used self-medication and spiritual resources to cope with the disease. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out proper planning by healthcare personnel to psychologically and spiritually support these patients, while alleviating physical manifestations of the disease.
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To investigate the efficacy of Zhu acupuncture in motoric ability improvement of stroke patients. This research is a preliminary study in an effort to test the efficacy of Zhu's acupuncture technique in motor improvement in stroke patients. ⋯ This quasi-experimental study, with the pretest and posttest approach without control group design was conducted from June to December 2019 at Holistica Medical Centre Complementary Clinic Palembang, Indonesia. Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) was used before and after the intervention. Zhu's acupuncture was given five times a week for four weeks. Results Eight patients (four males and four females), who were in the recovery phase (within a period of recovery less than 1 year) after stroke attack were involved. Seven patients experienced improvements in mild and moderate grades for shoulder joint movement after the intervention. Regarding the elbow joint movement, the majority of patients (seven) experienced mild and moderate improvements. Of the total patients who experienced improvement, the majority had mild grade improvements. Conclusion Zhu's acupuncture technique was effective in improving muscle strength of motion limbs on stroke patients.
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Aim To investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. and B. hominis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients in two different outpatient clinics, Haji Adam Malik General Hospital and Primary Care Centre of Padang Bulan, Medan, Indonesia, between two interval periods. Method Cryptosporidium spp. microscopic examination, as well as Jones' medium for B. hominis, were conducted in the Parasitology Laboratory, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was done in the Multidisciplinary Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara. This was a cross-sectional study, involving 54 diarrheic HIV positive patients (44 males, 10 females). ⋯ Conclusion The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among HIV patients was still relatively high. CD4 count showed a significant relationship with Cryptosporidium spp. infection, but not with Blastocystic hominis. Microscopic examination is still the most reliable technique to diagnose the parasites in faecal samples.