Medicina
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Background and Objectives: The purpose was to compaSre medium-term clinical and radiological outcomes of Partial Pediculotomy, Partial Vertebrotomy (PPPV) Posterior Endoscopic Cervical Decompression (PECD) surgery versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) for patients with cervical disc herniations and foraminal pathologies. Materials and Methods: A prospective registry of patients who had undergone either PPPV PECD surgery or ACDF surgery for cervical disc herniation or foraminal pathologies under a single fellowship-trained spine surgeon was performed. The baseline characteristics and operative details including complications were recorded for all included patients. ⋯ At neutral alignment of the neck on a lateral X-ray, compared to ACDF, PPPV PECD had a statistically significant change in neck tilt angle (-11.68 ± 17.35°) and T1 slope angle (-11.69 ± 19.58°). Whilst both PPPV PECD and ACDF had significant improvements in VAS, MJOA and NDI postoperatively, PPPV PECD was found to be superior across all above scores at various follow-up timepoints compared to its ACDF counterparts. Conclusions: PPPV PECD surgery achieved a satisfactory radiological correction of neck alignment and significantly improved clinical outcomes at medium-term follow-up for our cohort of patients, highlighting its feasibility in treating patients with cervical disc herniations and foraminal pathologies.
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Background and Objectives: Legal compliance is influenced by several factors, including individuals' attitudes about when breaking the law may be acceptable or justifiable. The rule orientation scale provides a measurement capable of predicting an individual's offensive behavior, regardless of the legal punishment. The current research is the first that aims to evaluate the construct validity of the translated Romanian version of the rule orientation scale. ⋯ These attitudes were not affected by respondents' ages, genders, numbers of years in practice, industries, or specialties. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was high (Cronbach's α = 0.925). Conclusions: The rule orientation scale validated in the Romanian language can be used to determine conditions under which individuals find it acceptable to break the law.
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Observational Study
Antibiotic Susceptibility Surveillance in the Punjab Province of Pakistan: Findings and Implications.
Background and Objectives: The increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across countries has seriously impacted the effective management of infectious diseases, with subsequent impact on morbidity, mortality and costs. This includes Pakistan. Antimicrobial surveillance activities should be mandatory to continually assess the extent of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the implications for future empiric prescribing. ⋯ This calls for urgent actions including initiating antimicrobial stewardship programs to enhance prudent prescribing of antibiotics. This includes agreeing on appropriate empiric therapy as part of agreed guidelines, in line with the WHO EML and AWaRe book, whilst awaiting culture reports. This is alongside other measures to reduce inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing and reverse the threat of rising AMR.
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Background and Objectives: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 for more than 12 weeks. The study aimed to evaluate a treatment strategy in patients with adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Materials and Methods: The method used was an interventional pilot study in which 16 vaccinated patients presenting with the clinical and ultrasound features of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed during post-COVID-19 syndrome were treated with infiltrative hydrodistension therapy under ultrasound guidance associated with early rehabilitation treatment. ⋯ The VAS mean score before the treatment was 6.9 ± 1.66. After 10 weeks of treatment, the VAS score was 1 ± 0.63. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the management of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome, as conducted by physiotherapists in a primary care setting using hydrodistension and a rehabilitation protocol, represented an effective treatment strategy.
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Background and Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) involves blood loss, increasing the risk of postoperative anemia and delayed functional recovery. Intravenous (IV) iron supplementation limits postoperative anemia; however, the effectiveness of IV iron, administered one day before TKA, on postoperative anemia and functional recovery has scarcely been studied. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching using two consecutive groups of patients who underwent TKA using tranexamic acid: the iron group received 500 mg ferric derisomaltose intravenously one day before surgery (n = 46); the non-iron group did not (n = 46). ⋯ The functional IDA rate was significantly higher in the non-iron group at PODs 2, 4, 6, and 14. Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the iron group; however, the rate of transfusion did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: IV iron administered one day before TKA was associated with postoperative anemia recovery and length of hospital stay; however, it did not lower the postoperative transfusion rate.