Irish journal of medical science
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It is highly probable that the COVID-19 outbreak, one of the most severe pandemics to which humanity has been exposed, will promote post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a serious mental illness that decreases quality of life and functionality of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ HCWs who are working directly with COVID-19 patients have significantly higher levels of PTSD. PTSD can lead to severe negative consequences such as lower quality of life and loss of workforce and productivity, if it is not diagnosed and treated early. Therefore, it should become a routine to continuously monitor and establish early targeted mental health interventions.
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In recent years, telemedicine has been increasingly incorporated into medical practice, a process which has now been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As telemedicine continues to progress, it is necessary for medical institutions to incorporate telemedicine into their curricula, and to provide students with the necessary skills and experience to effectively carry out telemedicine consultations. The purposes of this study are to review the involvement of medical students with telemedicine and to determine both the benefits and the challenges experienced. ⋯ Challenges that students face, such as discomfort with carrying out telemedicine consults and building rapport with patients, may be addressed through the incorporation of telemedicine teaching into the medical curricula through experiential learning. However, other more systemic challenges, such as technical difficulties and cost, need to be examined for the full benefits of telemedicine to be realized. Telemedicine is here to stay and has proven its worth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with medical students embracing its potential in assisting in medical clinics, simulation of clinical placements, and online classrooms.
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Cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) is reported to be involved in multiple inflammation processes by regulating T cell differentiation, maintaining immune cell homeostasis, and altering their function, while no relevant studies explored its clinical role in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation of CDC42 with Th1 and Th17 cells and its association with disease risk, activity, and treatment outcomes of RA. ⋯ CDC42 has the potential to serve as a biomarker to monitor disease activity and treatment efficacy in patients with RA.
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Using mobile application for postural assessments has been drawing a rising interest due to widespread use of smartphones. Although there are some mobile applications in use, validated mobile tools for accurate postural assessment are still warranted. ⋯ Fizyoprint application is a new, valid, free mobile tool with acceptable concordance with BioTonix™ postural analysis system for assessing standing posture. Further studies are warranted to test the current application in different populations and musculoskeletal conditions.
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Nutrition is a basic need and is crucial for the persistence of good health. This awareness has increased since December 2019 during the pandemic that the world is still facing. The importance of nutrition in infectious diseases was emphasized but the relationship between the severity of symptoms and nutrition status of individuals was not examined. ⋯ Based on the nutrition status of the 337 patients included in the study, 87.2% (294) of the patients were in the low-risk group while 12.8% (43) were in the high-risk group in terms of malnutrition. In the analysis conducted to examine the effect of nutrition on the severity of disease, the relationship between NRS 2002 and dyspnea, cough, weakness, fever, and other symptoms was statistically significant. It was concluded that healthy nutrition is crucial during the pandemic, and it is necessary to consider nutrition improvement as a way to cope with emerging viral infections.