Irish journal of medical science
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Bilateral joint arthroplasty is currently not common, but its usage is expected to increase in the future. This may result in larger amounts of opioids being consumed by patients due to anticipated increased pain and prolonged recovery from this procedure. ⋯ We recommend the use of perioperative steroids in bilateral THA to reduce the consumption of potentially problematic opioid-based analgesics.
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Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by non-motor symptoms (NMS) as well as by motor symptoms. Together with the impairment of cognitive functions, NMS and sleep also affect motor symptoms negatively. The aim of our study is to examine the correlation of NMS and sleep on balance in PD patients with normal cognition (PD-NC) and with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). ⋯ Our data demonstrate a negative effect on the balance function in patients with cognitive impairment suffering increased NMS and sleeping disorders. Treatment of these patients needs to concentrate on NMS and cognitive functions as much as on motor symptoms.
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Identifying the non-survived patients' characteristics compared to survived subjects and introducing the critical risk factors of COVID-19 mortality would help enhance patients' prognosis and treatment. ⋯ The present findings demonstrated that obesity, higher levels of CRP, blood sugar, D-dimer, and lipid markers were likely to be predictive factors of COVID-19-related mortality odds.
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Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) provide holistic care, frequently including forensic examination, for people who disclose sexual violence. Storage of forensic evidence without reporting to An Garda Síochána (AGS), the Irish national police service (Option 3), was introduced in August 2016. This allowed attendees time to decide whether they wanted to report to AGS, without the loss of all forensic evidence. ⋯ In conclusion, the availability of Option 3 has afforded people the opportunity to access responsive SATU care including storage of forensic evidence which may have significant evidential value. This potentially provides further opportunities for comprehensive detection of a crime, even if reporting to AGS is delayed.
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Women diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs) have higher rates of major medical conditions compared to women without SUDs. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20-39 years worldwide and women with SUDs have an increased risk of cervical cancer compared to women without SUD. The National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC) cervical screening programme, derived from the national CervicalCheck programme, offers free cervical screening to patients attending for treatment of SUDs. ⋯ This completed audit cycle shows that an awareness-raising educational intervention can significantly improve adherence to a cervical screening programme in women with SUDs.