Brit J Hosp Med
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Aims/Background During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the COVID-19 surveillance staff members experienced an increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Thus, it is necessary to further investigate the causal factors stemming from COVID-19 surveillance work, especially nucleic acid testing, and establish their relationship with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) by building upon the previous research. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of WMSDs and the major risks faced by the COVID-19 surveillance staff members. ⋯ The top three coping strategies for lowering the risk of WMSDs included adjusting the plinth/bed height (49.6%), utilizing different parts of the body at work (47.3%), and taking short breaks when required (33.6%). Conclusion Prolonged large-scale nucleic acid detection can aggravate the musculoskeletal injuries of the neck, shoulder, upper back, and wrist in COVID-19 surveillance staff members. Prevention measures for musculoskeletal injuries factors must be in place to deter such incidence at work.
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This review describes the evolution and enhanced diagnostic capabilities introduced by four-dimensional (4D) flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in cardiovascular imaging. It charts the historical advancements from echocardiography through to two-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (2D-PC MRI), culminating in the adoption of 4D flow MRI. ⋯ The review elaborates on the capacity of 4D flow MRI to offer unparalleled insights into flow dynamics, vessel wall interactions, and cardiac function, thereby enhancing disease detection, risk stratification, and therapeutic evaluations. It accentuates the impact of 4D flow MRI on modern cardiological practices, highlighting its pivotal role in advancing diagnostics and patient management in the context of diverse cardiovascular pathologies.
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In a globalised world, patients may need to manage and track their health records with healthcare professionals anywhere and anytime with high data privacy and security. Blockchain technology (BcT) provides these necessities. This study aims to provide a general overview of the usability of BcT in healthcare applications. ⋯ BcT can also ensure accurate and timely financial transactions by automating payment processes among providers, insurers, and patients through smart contracts. In conclusion, BcT plays a key role in the healthcare sector. It enables safer, cheaper, more dependable, and more effective pharmacotherapy by providing data security, traceability, and immutability.
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Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are antidiabetic agents that effectively lower blood glucose levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Beyond their glycemic control properties, SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated significant cardiovascular benefits, including reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events. However, the limitations of the pivotal trials investigating these outcomes have not been fully explored. This letter aims to critically assess the major randomized clinical trials that evaluated the cardiovascular effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, highlighting both their strengths and limitations.
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Aims/Background Implementing effective nursing management is particularly critical in the case of elderly gastric cancer (GC) patients receiving chemotherapy, who are more vulnerable to risk events. Therefore, this study explored the effect of intensive nursing management on quality of life (QoL) and mental health in elderly GC patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods A total of 155 elderly patients with GC undergoing chemotherapy in Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from July 2021 to July 2023 were selected as the study subjects. ⋯ After management, in comparison with the reference group, the observation group showed significantly higher scores in each dimension of QLQ-C30, as well as significantly lower scores in PHQ-9 and MDASI-C (p < 0.001). The incidences of gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, and hepatorenal damage were lower in the observation group than in the reference group (45.95% vs 70.37%, 40.54% vs 65.43%, 35.14% vs 53.09%, and 33.78% vs 51.25%, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusion The application of intensive nursing management in treating elderly GC patients during chemotherapy effectively improves their physical and mental states, ameliorates clinical symptoms and enhances the QoL, showing certain clinical application value.