{"title":"Long-term health consequences of COVID-19 in young adults: a focus on respiratory and cardiovascular endurance.","authors":"Manohara H G, Megha Bhat Agni, Damodara Gowda K M","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03950-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-03950-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted health, extending beyond the acute phase of illness. Among young adults, \"long COVID\" has raised concerns regarding respiratory and cardiovascular endurance. This study evaluates pulmonary function test (PFT), distance travelled in the 6-min walk test (6MWT), and changes in SpO2 and respiratory rate before and after 6MWT in COVID-19 convalescent patients compared to healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control study included 45 controls and 45 COVID-19 convalescent patients confirmed by RT-PCR. Data on PFT, distance travelled in 6MWT, SpO2, and respiratory rate were collected. The associations were analyzed using the Student t-test and ANOVA, with p < 0.05 considered significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant reductions were observed in FVC (p = 0.02), FEV<sub>1</sub> (p = 0.007), FEF<sub>25%</sub> (p = 0.0001), FEF<sub>50%</sub> (p = 0.003), FEF<sub>25-75%</sub> (p = 0.02), and PEFR (p = 0.0001), with an increased lung age (p = 0.01) in COVID-19 convalescent patients compared to controls. No significant difference was observed in FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC ratio, FEV<sub>3</sub>, FEV<sub>3</sub>/FVC ratio, or FEF<sub>75%</sub>. While percentage saturation of oxygen, respiratory rate, and distance travelled in 6MWT showed no significant differences between groups, respiratory rate (p = 0.0001) and pulse rate (p = 0.001) differed significantly before and after 6MWT.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>COVID-19 convalescent patients exhibited significant declines in FVC, FEV<sub>1</sub>, FEF<sub>25%</sub>, FEF<sub>50%</sub>, and FEF<sub>25-75%</sub>, indicating potential restrictive or obstructive lung defects. Increased lung age also suggests long-term impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on respiratory performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Palatal sweating is a marker of anaesthetic depth.","authors":"Niall James McInerney, Eric Farrell, Liam Skinner","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03896-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03896-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"685"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143038904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mubariz Aydamirov, Mustafa Erbayrak, Kadir Karkin, Ediz Vuruskan, Muslum Ahmet Tunckıran
{"title":"Effects of inflammatory bowel diseases on sexual function in women.","authors":"Mubariz Aydamirov, Mustafa Erbayrak, Kadir Karkin, Ediz Vuruskan, Muslum Ahmet Tunckıran","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03890-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03890-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease that includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Studies found that 40-60% of women diagnosed with IBD have sexual dysfunction (SD).</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To determine SD and associated factors in women with IBD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Female patients diagnosed with IBD in the Gastroenterology Department who volunteered and healthy volunteers who were examined by a general practitioner were included in the study as the control group. After appropriate training was provided by the researcher, patients and volunteers were asked to fill out the Clinical and Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and Female Sexual Function Index.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 255 patients in the patient group and 240 patients in the control group. The mean ages of the patient and control groups were 40 ± 12 and 38 ± 11 years, respectively. Mean disease duration in IBD patients was 9 ± 5.6 years. The SD rate in the patient group (63.5%) was higher than in the control group (23.8%) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of SD was significantly lower in mildly active IBD patients than in moderate and severe IBD patients (p < 0.05). Active disease (OR: 3.82), active perianal disease (OR: 2.15), and severe depression (OR: 3.19) were predictive factors for SD in univariate logistic regression analysis. Previous abdominal surgery was found to be predictive for SD in multivariate analysis (OR: 5.13).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prevalence of SD was high in female IBD patients and its prevalence increased as disease activity increased. History of abdominal surgery in IBD was found to be associated with SD.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"497-502"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12031934/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143052569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of a hybrid model of a Physician Associate Studies programme: students, teachers, and examiner perspectives.","authors":"Pauline Joyce, Melanie Cunningham, Lisa Alexander","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03918-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03918-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To date, there is one university offering the Physician Associate (PA) Studies programme in Ireland. Responding to a demand for PAs outside of Dublin, a hybrid model was introduced, allowing students undertake the didactic phase of the programme online for synchronous instruction, attending campus twice a month for anatomy learning, clinical skills, and integration sessions.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The aim of this study was to evaluate the hybrid model from the perspectives of students and their teachers, including the external examiner.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a mixed methods study, using surveys (n = 15), focus groups with students (n = 10), teaching staff (n = 4), and a one-to-one interview with an external examiner. Action points of programme board meetings were also analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While attitudes to online learning were positive, the need for improvements was highlighted. During online teaching sessions, the students expressed the need to feel more a part of the traditional classroom experience. Even though lecturers were aware of students online, some found it difficult to engage with these students. Clinical teachers did not detect any differences between hybrid and on-campus students on their clinical application to practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings suggest that hybrid learning is influenced by previous online learning experiences. Students admitted to a feeling of social isolation at times and the reminder for faculty to support an inclusive environment. Student performance showed that hybrid students did as well or better across both years of the programme, and this translated into clinical practice too.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"431-438"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12031805/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143531369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiang Zhang, Jing Zhang, Lei Shen, Binbin Ni, Chenglong Wang
{"title":"Association between dietary zinc intake amount and prevalence of osteoporosis in middle-aged and elderly individuals: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Xiang Zhang, Jing Zhang, Lei Shen, Binbin Ni, Chenglong Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03910-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03910-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study was aimed to explore the link between dietary zinc intake amount and prevalence of osteoporosis in middle-aged and elderly individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 31,034 participants included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010 were detected, and 7355 participants aged ≥ 45 years with integral data were enrolled. Demographic information and dietary intake data were collected via platform of NHANES, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each dietary zinc intake amount tertile category and each unit increase of zinc were analyzed using logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to determine the optimal cut-off value of dietary zinc intake amount for revealing the prevalence of osteoporosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 7355 participants with a mean age of 62.5 ± 11.2 years, 682 participants with osteoporosis were identified, and the dietary zinc intake amount of the osteoporosis group was significantly lower than that of the non-osteoporosis group (P < 0.001). By taking the lowest tertile category as reference category, a higher dietary zinc intake amount was noticed to be positively linked to lower odds for prevalence of osteoporosis. This tendency was not altered in univariate model (P < 0.001), as well as the adjustments for combination of different covariates (Model 1, Model 2, Model 3, and Model 4, P all < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This NHANES-based study revealed that a lower dietary zinc intake amount was positively correlated to the prevalence of osteoporosis in middle-aged and elderly individuals among the US population.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"553-562"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143441023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mushabbab Alahmari, Hany Farid Elsisi, Ali Mohamed Ali Ismail
{"title":"Functional outcomes of inspiratory muscle training in elderly with intensive care unit-acquired weakness and severe walking disability.","authors":"Mushabbab Alahmari, Hany Farid Elsisi, Ali Mohamed Ali Ismail","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03876-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03876-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intensive care unit acquired-weakness syndrome (ICUAWS) leaves several complications in functional movements of patients such as severe walking disability.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Assessment of functional outcomes of 1-month inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in elderly with ICUAWS and severe walking disability was our aim. The design, setting, participants, and intervention. This study is a randomized controlled trial. ICUAWS patients who complained of severe walking disability on the Modified Functional Ambulatory Category Test (MFACT) were randomly assigned into the IMT group or control group, n = 20 for each group. Both groups received the traditional physical therapy program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that the post-therapy between-group comparison of ICUAWS sufferers/groups' parameters showed a significant improvement toward the IMT group in six-minute walk test, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, forced vital capacity, time up and go test, 10-m walk test, forced expiratory volume in the first second, 30-s sit-to-stand test, partial pressure of arterial blood oxygen and carbon dioxide, MFACT, oxygen saturation of arterial blood, physical, and mental summary of short form 36.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, IMT improves functional outcomes in ICUAWS patients with walking disability.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>The clinical trial ID of this ICUAWS trial is NCT06210763.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"761-769"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143079971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eda Kılınç İşleyen, İrem Nur Özdemir, Şengül Aydın Yoldemır
{"title":"The effect of tele-nursing based motivational interviewing on self-efficacy, self-management and metabolic control parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes: randomized controlled study.","authors":"Eda Kılınç İşleyen, İrem Nur Özdemir, Şengül Aydın Yoldemır","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03916-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03916-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The study was carried out to investigate the effect of tele-nursing based motivational interviewing on diabetes self-efficacy, self-management, and metabolic control parameters in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A parallel-group randomized controlled trial. The study was completed with 70 participants (intervention: 36; control: 34). The data were collected using the Socio-demographic and Health Related Questionnaire, the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale, the Diabetes Self-Management Scale. The intervention group received eight sessions tele-nursing based motivational interviewing. Instruments were administered to both groups before the intervention, at the end of the last motivational interviewing session (post-test, 3rd-month), and at 6th-month follow-up. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the pre-test, there was no difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of independent variables (p > 0.05). Self-efficacy and self-management scores increased in the post-test and follow-up test of the group to which telenursing-based MI was applied, and there was a difference between the groups (p < 0.05). FBG and triglyceride levels of the intervention group decreased significantly in the post-test and follow-up test (FBG = 217.46 ± 73.88, 166.13 ± 50.71, and 161.41 ± 50.50, respectively; triglyceride = 225.28 ± 148.32, 159.68 ± 68.62, and 161.09 ± 73.06, respectively) (p < 0.05). HbA1c% level decreased significantly only in the post-test. However, no significant differences were found in terms of other metabolic parameters (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This result shows the positive effectiveness of tele-nursing based MI intervention on self-efficacy, self-management, HbA1c%, FBG, triglyceride. Public health nurses should be provided with tele-nursing based MI to individuals with type 2 diabetes in primary health care institutions.</p><p><strong>Study registration: </strong>The study was registered in ClinicalTrials NCT05628259 (prospective). Trial registration number and date of registration for prospectively registered trials. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials NCT05628259 (prospective). 2023-02-01.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"563-573"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12031810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143467862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meadhbh Ni Mhiochain de Grae, Armon Nasehi, David F Dalury, Bas A Masri, Gerard A Sheridan
{"title":"Improved performance of cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA)across international registries: a comparative review.","authors":"Meadhbh Ni Mhiochain de Grae, Armon Nasehi, David F Dalury, Bas A Masri, Gerard A Sheridan","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03888-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03888-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been associated with higher revision rates in the past. However, due to advancements in design, as well as surgical techniques, cementless TKA performance has significantly improved. The advantages of cementless fixation include reduced cement-related complications, shorter operating times, and the potential benefits of osseointegration. We aim to assess the improvement in revision rates for cementless TKA over the last 9 years based on international registry reports.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive retrospective review was conducted of six major English-speaking knee arthroplasty registries across the world including the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, Northern Islan Isle of Man and Guernsey (herby referred to as British), Swedish, Canadian, American, Australian, and New Zealand National Joint Registry. Data was collected from the year 2014 along with the most recent annual report published: 2022 or 2023. Data points collected included usage rates of cemented and cementless prostheses for primary TKA, their respective revision rates, and indications for revision.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across four databases, there was an average 8.3% increase in the utilization of cementless fixation for primary TKA over the past decade. Three registries reported a reduction in revision rates for cementless fixation. Lower revision rates for cementless compared to cemented TKA were observed in the most recent American (3.2% cemented vs. 2.8% cementless) and New Zealand annual reports (11.8% cemented vs. 4.5% cementless). In 2022, the British registry reported lower rates of revision for infection with cementless fixation (0.56 vs. 0.89).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>International registries demonstrate increased utilization of cementless TKA. Cementless TKA was reported to have lower revision rates in the most recent US and New Zealand annual reports when compared to cemented TKA.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"675-681"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12031968/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143382431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Weekend effect on patient care.","authors":"Adem Az, Nihat Mujdat Hokenek","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03870-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03870-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"683-684"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143005344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zain Mehmood, Rabia Kanwar, Kaleem Ullah, Saqib Ali, Muhammad Aamir Aslam, Abdul Qadeer, Haiwad Gul, Mohamed Hassanein Mahmoud
{"title":"Synergistic effects of zP-1 phage and ampicillin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital staff.","authors":"Zain Mehmood, Rabia Kanwar, Kaleem Ullah, Saqib Ali, Muhammad Aamir Aslam, Abdul Qadeer, Haiwad Gul, Mohamed Hassanein Mahmoud","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03898-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-025-03898-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, exacerbated by increasing antibiotic resistance.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to isolate bacteriophages targeting MRSA and evaluate their antimicrobial activity in combination with antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nasal samples from hospital staff (n = 50) were used to isolate MRSA strains, and sewage samples were processed for phage isolation using the double agar overlay technique. The microtitration plate method evaluated the synergistic effects of isolated phages and antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 50 samples, 11 MRSA strains were positive, showing high resistance to multiple antibiotics, including oxacillin (95%), and vancomycin (85%). Phage zP-1, belonging to the Myoviridae family, exhibited > 90% lytic activity, stable across temperatures (20-50 °C) and pH (6-8). A statistically significant synergistic effect was observed at a MIC of 0.137 μg/ml for gentamicin (p-value 0.02).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that phage-antibiotic synergy may offer a promising strategy to combat MRSA infections, warranting further in vivo studies to assess its clinical potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"611-621"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143255511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}