International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2022
Assessment of Patients' Views on Drug Benefits and Risks: An Interview Study with Cardiovascular Patients.
Better and balanced information strategies supporting cardiovascular patients' adherence are required. Cardiovascular drugs have outstanding morbidity and mortality benefits. This can be counteracted by patients' perceptions of risks. ⋯ However, a lack of knowledge still exists in relation to clinical benefits. Regarding risks, it has been shown that patients with higher PHQ-4 scores are more likely to be bothered or concerned. Both emphases on clinical benefits and individualization depending on PHQ-4 scores may be valuable resources for patient counseling to support adherence.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2022
Week-One Anaemia was Associated with Increased One-Year Mortality in Critically Ill Surgical Patients.
Anaemia has a deleterious effect on surgical patients, but the long-term impact of anaemia in critically ill surgical patients remains unclear. ⋯ We identified the impact on one-year mortality of anaemia in critically ill surgical patients, and more studies are needed to validate our findings.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2022
NUTRIC Score Is Not Superior to mNUTRIC Score in Prediction of Mortality of COVID-19 Patients.
The NUTRIC (nutrition risk in the critically ill) score and the modified NUTRIC score are two scoring systems that show the nutritional risk status and severity of acute disease of patients. The only difference between them is the examination of interleukin-6 (IL-6) level. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the NUTRIC score is superior to the mNUTRIC score in the prediction of mortality of patients with COVID-19 followed up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Material and Method. This retrospective study included 322 patients followed up in ICU with a diagnosis of COVID-19. A record was made of demographic data, laboratory values, clinical results, and mortality status. All the data of the patients were compared between high and low variations of the NUTRIC score and the mNUTRIC score. ⋯ Although the NUTRIC score was seen to be superior to the mNUTRIC score, no statistically significant difference was determined. Therefore, when IL-6 cannot be examined, the mNUTRIC score can be considered safe and effective for the prediction of mortality in COVID-19 patients.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2022
Use of Telehealth Services for Prenatal Care in Mississippi: Comparison of Pre-COVID-19 Pandemic and Pandemic Obstetric Management.
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in major shifts in service delivery for patient care not involving COVID-19 illness. The preexisting telehealth infrastructure in Mississippi allowed the state to rapidly expand the scope of telehealth programs. Little research has been done to examine the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the delivery of care during pregnancy and outcomes associated with pregnancy. The objectives of this study are to (1) describe prenatal care practices during the height of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the immediate prepandemic time period, and (2) explore maternal and birth outcomes during these time periods. ⋯ This study demonstrated a very small reliance of telehealth for the medical supervision of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is likely because of the essential physical examinations that occur in women who are considered to be at high risk for poor maternal and birth outcomes. Additional studies on the impact of COVID-19 infection on maternal and infant outcomes are also needed as there may be important risk factors not yet identified for poor maternal or birth outcomes.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2022
A Comparison of the Ligation Torque Expression of a Ribbonwise Bracket-Archwire Combination and a Conventional Combination: A Primary Study.
To assess the effect of the third-order mechanics of a new ribbonwise bracket-archwire combination using an orthodontic torque simulator. Material and Methods. An orthodontic torque simulator was used to measure the third-order moment of a maxillary central incisor as it changed from a neutral position to a 40° rotation in 1° increment. A new ribbonwise bracket (Xinya, China) was compared with a conventional ligation bracket (American Orthodontic, U.S.A.). The effects of different archwire sizes (i.e., 0.017″ × 0.025″ and 0.019″ × 0.025″) and materials (i.e., nickel-titanium, titanium-molybdenum alloy, and stainless steel) were analyzed. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to compare the moments between the two bracket types corresponding to each of the archwires. The effects of the stiffness of the bracket-archwire complexes were also assessed. ⋯ The ribbonwise bracket-archwire complex reached the moment threshold limits earlier than the conventional complex. When the rotation angle is less than 30°, the ribbonwise bracket-archwire complex generated a greater torque moment in comparison with the conventional complex.