Irish journal of medical science
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Reminiscence therapy serves as an optional nursing care strategy in attenuating cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Reminiscence therapy is revealed to improve cognitive function and attenuate psychological disorders in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease patients, while its application in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is seldom reported. So, the current study aimed to explore the effect of reminiscence therapy on cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and disease recurrence in AIS patients. ⋯ Reminiscence therapy cripples cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression, but does not affect RFS in AIS patients, indicating its potential for post-stroke management.
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CT colonography has emerged as the investigation of choice for suspected colorectal cancer in patients when a colonoscopy in incomplete, is deemed high risk or is declined because of patient preference. Unlike a traditional colonoscopy, it frequently reveals extracolonic as well as colonic findings. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics and potential significance of extracolonic findings on CT colonography within our own institution. ⋯ Our study lends support to the hypothesis that CT colonography may be particularly useful in identifying clinically significant extracolonic findings in symptomatic patients. CT colonography may allow early identification of extracolonic malignancies and life-threatening conditions such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm at a preclinical stage when they are amenable to medical or surgical intervention. However, extracolonic findings may also result in unnecessary investigations for subsequently benign findings.
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In late 2019, Ireland extended its human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine schedule to include boys of school age. ⋯ This study highlights the ongoing lack of knowledge surrounding HPV and the vaccine within this community. The importance of knowledge for vaccine acceptability is highlighted by vaccination considered less acceptable for boys. This may affect vaccine uptake within this subgroup and as such the authors suggest further education be directed towards boys.
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We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on emergency and cardiovascular disease-related calls in Hangzhou, China. ⋯ During the COVID-19 epidemic in Hangzhou, the numbers of emergency and cardiovascular disease-related calls have decreased significantly. These results point to a severe social problem that requires the attention of the medical community and the government.
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General practice has a key role in diagnosing patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) and referring them to appropriate services. ⋯ Irish GPs displayed good understanding of contemporary VHD treatment options but reported low confidence and inconsistent practices in evaluating patients for VHD. Improved access to echocardiography might help address these deficiencies, but reorganisation of services will be required in a resource-limited public health service.