Medicina
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Background and objectives: There are studies showing that exercise counseled by health professionals can improve physical fitness. However, less is known about the effects of exercise counseling on quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life of older adults who received or did not receive physical exercise counseling by sport and exercise professionals or physicians. ⋯ Participants answered the SF-36 to estimate quality of life. Results: Analysis revealed that responses on all SF-36 subscales were higher in those participants who received counseling by sport and exercise professionals (Functioning capacity, β = -26.283, p < 0.001 and β = -26.482, p < 0.001, Role limitations due to physical problems, β = -43.372, p < 0.001 and β = -45.177, p < 0.001, Pain, β = -17.634, p < 0.001 and β = -16.015, p < 0.001, General health perceptions, β = -38.008, p < 0.001 and β = -32.529, p < 0.001, Vitality, β = -18.573, p < 0.001 and β = -16.406, p = 0.001, Social functioning, β = -37.963, p < 0.001 and β = -29.224, p < 0.001, Role limitations due to emotional problems, β = -52.246, p < 0.001 and β = -40.173, p < 0.001, Mental health, β = -17.381, p < 0.001 and β = -12.121, p < 0.001, PCG and NCG respectively). Conclusions: The results showed that those older adults who were counseled by sport and exercise professionals presented better quality of life, possibly because these professionals counseled exercise based on current guidelines for exercise prescription.
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Background and objectives: Calcium concentration is strictly regulated at both the cellular and systemic level, and changes in serum calcium levels can alter various physiological functions in various organs. This study aimed to assess the association between changes in calcium levels during hospitalization and mortality. Materials and Methods: We searched our patient database to identify all adult patients admitted to our hospital from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2013. ⋯ When adjusted for age, sex, race, principal diagnosis, comorbidity, kidney function, acute kidney injury, number of measurements of serum calcium, and hospital length of stay, the serum calcium changes of 1.0-1.4, 1.5-1.9, and ≥2.0 mg/dL were significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality with odds ratio (OR) of 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-2.10), 1.90 (95% CI 1.32-2.74), and 3.23 (95% CI 2.39-4.38), respectively. The association remained statistically significant when further adjusted for either the lowest or highest serum calcium. Conclusion: Larger serum calcium changes in hospitalized patients were progressively associated with increased in-hospital mortality.
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Background and objectives: With improved diagnostic means of early breast cancer, the percentage of cases with metastasis in axillary lymph nodes has decreased from 50%-75% to 15%-30%. Lymphadenectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy are not treatment procedures, as they aim at axillary nodal staging in breast cancer. Being surgical interventions, they can lead to various complications. ⋯ PAUS had an accuracy of 88.7% in detecting a heavy nodal disease burden. With the absence of lymphovascular invasion (LV0), we can rely on PAUS examination that axillary lymph nodes are intact (PAUS-negative), and this patients' group could avoid sentinel lymph node biopsy. Patients without HER2 expression are at a greater likelihood of false-negative results; therefore, the findings of ultrasound that axillary lymph nodes are intact (PAUS-negative results) should be interpreted with caution.
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Background and objectives: Although laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is effective for obesity management, postoperative vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency is of major concern. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the levels of B12 and its related functional biomarkers, namely, total homocysteine (tHcy), methylmalonic acid (MMA), folate, methylcitric acid (MCA), and hemoglobin (Hb), in one-year postoperative LSG patients and matched controls. Materials and Methods: Plasma B12, tHcy, MMA, folate, and MCA were measured in matched controls (n = 66) and patients (n = 71) using validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry techniques and protocols in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ⋯ The Hb levels were significantly lower in males and females in the patient group compared with those in the control group, respectively (p = 0.005 and p = 0.043). Conclusions: This is the first report of serum levels of B12 and its functional biomarkers in postoperative LSG patients among a local population from the UAE. Our findings revealed significant alterations of the B12 biomarkers, total B12, MMA, and tHcy in one-year postoperative LSG patients.
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Background andObjectives: The effect of supra-inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (SI-FICB) in hip arthroscopy is not apparent. It is also controversial whether SI-FICB can block the obturator nerve, which may affect postoperative analgesia after hip arthroscopy. We compared analgesic effects before and after the implementation of obturator nerve block into SI-FICB for hip arthroscopy. ⋯ Results: Among 87 patients, there were 47 patients in group N, 21 in group F, and 19 in group FO. The cumulative opioid (fentanyl) consumption at 24 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the group FO compared with the group N (N: 678.5 (444.0-890.0) µg; FO: 482.8 (305.8-635.0) µg; p = 0.014), whereas the group F did not show a significant difference (F: 636.0 (426.8-803.0) µg). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that implementing obturator nerve block into SI-FICB can reduce postoperative opioid consumption in hip arthroscopy.