Irish journal of medical science
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a respiratory illness caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Clinical Blood Sciences Laboratory (CBSL) plays a key role in supporting the monitoring and management of patients with COVID-19 disease. ⋯ Given the rapidity with which patients with COVID-19 disease can deteriorate, we recommend regular testing with vigilance paid to the rate and trajectory of change in each of these parameters.
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Review
A clinical audit and cost analysis of latent TB management at a tertiary referral centre in Ireland.
It is estimated that 24.8% of the world's population has latent TB. The World Health Organization's (WHO) End TB Strategy states that the systematic identification and management of LTBI in groups of people at high risk of reactivation is an essential part of TB elimination in low-incidence countries. ⋯ Our TB clinic is effective in the assessment and safe management of latent TB in accordance with national guidelines. Interventions for improvement are the creation of referral guidelines and a referral proforma and exploring alternative clinic models.
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Clinical decision-making is a daily practice conducted by medical practitioners, yet the processes surrounding it are poorly understood. The influence of 'shortcuts' in clinical decision-making, known as heuristics, remains unknown. This paper explores heuristics and the valuable role they play in medical practice, as well as offering potential solutions to minimize the risk of incorrect decision-making. ⋯ It remains unknown if heuristics are primarily positive or negative for clinical decision-making. Future efforts should assess heuristics in real-time and controlled trials should be applied to assess the potential impact of mitigating factors in reducing the negative impact of heuristics and optimizing their efficiency for positive outcomes.
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Forgiveness is becoming increasingly recognized for its role in healthcare, having shown promising effects in patients suffering myriad diseases, from coronary artery disease to HIV to breast cancer. ⋯ There is an association between the capacity to forgive and the experience of chronic pain. Further research should examine forgiveness as an intervention in a population of chronic pain patients to explore this relationship further.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of biochemical and clinical effects of hyaluronic acid on non-surgical periodontal treatment: a randomized controlled trial.
Recent studies reported that hyaluronic acid (HA) has anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, and anti-bacterial activities in dentistry, particularly in gingival disorders caused by subgingival plaque microorganisms. ⋯ HA application as an adjunct to SRP did not affect the clinical results, although, in the control sessions following the application, the results were favorable for the biochemical data in gel-applied groups.