Irish Journal of Medical Science最新文献

{"title":"Relationship between voice impairment and stress coping styles in professionally active teachers.","authors":"Lidia Nawrocka, Agnieszka Garstecka, Hanna Mackiewicz-Nartowicz, Agata Kozakiewicz-Rutkowska, Paweł Burduk, Anna Sinkiewicz","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03816-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03816-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong>The cause of voice problems in teachers are excessive voice strain, improper voice emission, and wrong emotional responses to occupational stress. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between subjective voice assessment of professionally active teachers treated for voice disorders and their stress-coping styles.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 174 female teachers participating in a 24-day voice rehabilitation program at a sanatorium hospital. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) self-assessment questionnaire was used to subjectively assess voice impairment. The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) questionnaire was used to assess coping styles. The VHI and CISS questionnaires were administered to the teachers at the beginning of the rehabilitation stay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Emotion-focused coping was shown to be associated with the subjective assessment of voice dysfunction as assessed by the VHI questionnaire for the total score and all of its dimensions (p = 0.04).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In addition to proper voice emission, the prevention and rehabilitation of occupational voice disorders in teachers should also include stress management techniques, as this can help reduce the incidence of functional voice disorders in this occupational group.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"333-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11861339/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142390547","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":"Synchronous and asynchronous remote core stability exercises in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.","authors":"Ece Nur Şen, Fatih Sarıtaş, Özgül Öztürk","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03846-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03846-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exercise is a key component of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) management. As telerehabilitation has become a viable solution for delivering remote care, the effectiveness of core stability exercises via this method remains under-researched.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To compare the effects of telerehabilitation-based synchronous versus asynchronous core stability exercises on core muscle endurance, spinal mobility, disease activity, physical function, and quality of life in patients with axSpA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty-four patients with axSpA were randomly assigned to a synchronous exercise group (n = 22, 14 females) performing real-time exercises supervised by a physiotherapist, or an asynchronous group (n = 22, 10 females) following pre-recorded exercise videos. Core endurance tests, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale (ASQoL), and functional mobility tests (timed-up-and-go and chair stand tests) were used to assess outcomes. Perceived change was evaluated at post-treatment using the 5-point Global Rating of Change (GRoC) scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The synchronous group demonstrated greater changes in core endurance, BASMI, BASDAI, ASQoL, BASFI, and functional mobility tests (p < 0.05) compared to asynchronous group. Asynchronous group displayed improvement only in core endurance, ASQoL, chair stand test, and some BASMI parameters (p < 0.05). Notably, 100% of participants in the synchronous group reported their condition as improved, compared to 50% in the asynchronous group shown by GRoC.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Supervised core stability exercises delivered by using a synchronous telerehabilitation program may provide better outcomes compared to unsupervised video-based exercise program.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This study is prospectively registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06000072).</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"137-146"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142716289","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":"Prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies in COVID-19 patients: a remarkable 2.5-fold rise compared to healthy controls.","authors":"Faruk Dişli, Sedat Yıldız","doi":"10.1007/s11845-025-03886-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-03886-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has the potential to induce the formation of antibodies that target self-antigens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), the most common type of autoantibody, in both healthy individuals and those recovered from COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study involved 400 participants (200 with COVID-19 and 200 healthy controls), aged 18 to 60 years, without any chronic diseases, including autoimmune conditions. Analyses were performed using three different ANA ELISA test kits (anti-dsDNA, anti-ENA, and anti-Hep-2 nucleus tests) that were developed and validated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 200 healthy individuals, 38 (19%) tested positive for dsDNA, 37 (18.5%) for ENA, and 30 (15%) for Hep-2 nucleus antibodies. The rates of ANA positivity were significantly higher in individuals with COVID-19, with 97 (48.5%) positive for dsDNA, 81 (40.5%) for ENA, and 84 (42%) for Hep-2 nucleus antibodies (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>One in every two to three individuals with COVID-19 exhibited ANA positivity, indicating that the SARS-CoV-2 virus poses a significant risk regarding autoimmunity. Furthermore, the incidence of ANA in healthy individuals was observed to be higher than the literature average.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143074760","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":"Demographics, management and outcomes of major trauma in older patients at an Irish trauma unit.","authors":"Madeline Haines, Molly Maeve Measey, Ailbhe Whitty, Nigel McCoy, Aileen McCabe","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03812-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03812-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Major trauma data in the developed world trends towards increased rates of lower energy mechanism in an older cohort. This study examines how the mechanism of trauma, injury pattern and outcomes differ between a younger and older cohorts in an Irish trauma unit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study, all entries to the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) database from Tallaght University Hospital, between January 1st 2016 and 31st December 2021, were interrogated. Differences between injury severity, 30-day mortality, and hospital length of stay in younger and older patients were also examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Older patients (≥ 65 years) had a similar severity of injury to younger patients (< 65 years); however, they had longer stays in hospital (18.8 versus 9.5 days, p < 0.001). Older patients (≥ 65 years) were more likely to have head (16.1% versus 11.3%, p < 0.05) and cervical spine (21.4% versus 11.2%, p < 0.05) injuries as their primary injury compared with younger patients. Older patients (≥ 65 years) are less likely to have limb (33.3% versus 45.6%, p < 0.05). Fall from a height less than 2 m was more likely to be the mechanism of injury in the older cohort compared with the younger cohort (77.3% versus 36.3%, p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the increased mortality and morbidity experienced by older trauma patients compared with a younger cohort. The findings support the development of \"silver trauma\" care pathways and directing resources to meet the needs of older trauma patients and optimize clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"347-351"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142380837","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":"An analysis of e-scooter-related trauma in Ireland: an update.","authors":"Aoife O'Halloran, Oisin Tyrell, Pedro Correia, Ciara Fox","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03843-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03843-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Electronic (E)-scooters have become increasingly common in Ireland. Our group was the first to publish an analysis of injuries related to these devices in Ireland in 2021. Since then, the use of e-scooters has increased significantly. The primary aim of this study was to re-analyse the trend in scooter-related trauma 4 years later.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective analysis over the same time period as our previous study (13 months). Seventy-six patients with e-scooter-related trauma in our emergency department (ED) were identified between June 2023 and July 2024. Medical records and patient imaging were reviewed. Injury severity score (ISS) was calculated, and results were compared to our previous study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was an increase from 22 to 76 patients presenting to our ED with an e-scooter-related injury over a 13-month period. The number of patients presenting with fractures has risen from 15 to 34 (45%). Twenty-four per cent of ED attendees required hospital admission, and 13 patients underwent surgical intervention. The average ISS was 4.3, and helmet use has decreased significantly from 40% to 8%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>E-scooters remain to be a key contributor to emergency department presentations and complex orthopaedic injuries. The majority of patients require radiological investigation and specialist follow-up, with many needing surgical fixation. The effects of such injuries can have severe long-term consequences for patients and place financial constraints on our health system. With the rollout of e-scooter rental schemes and infrequent helmet use, one can expect the resulting trauma will continue to rise.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"371-374"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142785466","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":"The role of clinical pharmacist in the management of resistant hypertension.","authors":"Alaa M Alfaraheed, Abla M Albsoul-Younes, Deema Jaber, Hisham E Hasan","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03863-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03863-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertension is a major contributor to global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) presents a significant management challenge, requiring a pharmacist-physician collaborative model to achieve sustained blood pressure (BP) control.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the impact of a clinical pharmacy interventions on BP control, medication adherence, and patient outcomes in patients with TRH in a primary care setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 142 patients with TRH at two primary care clinics. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving clinical pharmacy services including medication reviews and personalized counseling, or the control group, receiving standard care. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale, and patient outcomes, including BP control and quality of life (QoL), were measured over a 6-month period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in medication adherence compared to the control group (p < 0.001), with an effect size of - 1.75. Clinical parameters, such as BP (mean reduction in BP: 27.9/13.4 mmHg), showed more favorable outcomes in the intervention group (p = 0.003). Furthermore, patients receiving clinical pharmacy services reported higher QoL scores (p < 0.001) and expressed higher satisfaction with medication management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Clinical pharmacy interventions significantly enhance medication adherence and improve patient achievement of target BP goals in TRH patients. Incorporating clinical pharmacy services into routine care can lead to better health management and increased patient QoL. Further research is needed to explore long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"81-89"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142949004","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":"Prompt diagnosis and treatment of peri-orbital necrotising fasciitis caused by group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS): a case report.","authors":"Aisling McGlacken-Byrne, Gareth T Higgins","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03820-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03820-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Necrotising fasciitis is a devastating infection characterised by rapidly progressing necrotising infection of the superficial fascia with secondary necrosis of the overlying skin.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To describe the pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and outcome in a rare case of periorbital necrotising fasciitis caused by group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 60-year-old female with insulin-dependent diabetes presented with pyrexia and bilateral peri-orbital swelling, progressing to left periorbital necrotising fasciitis. It was caused by dual infection with group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus and Herpes Simplex Virus 1.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A combination of intravenous antibiotics and surgical debridement and subsequent skin grafting resulted in a beneficial outcome in our patient.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Differentiating cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis can be difficult when presenting signs and symptoms are non-specific. If not treated quickly with antibiotics and debridement of the infected tissue, the patient may develop septic shock within hours.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"189-193"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142400273","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":"Palmitoleic and oleic fatty acids as biomarkers for coronary heart disease: A predictive model.","authors":"Guangzhou Wang, Lin Zhou, Zhengfang Wang, Asmaa Ali, Liang Wu","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03839-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03839-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>saturated and unsaturated fatty acid showed a significant link with coronary artery health and disease.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to compare plasma levels of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) between individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) and those without. It also investigated the association between specific UFA ratios and the presence or severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Additionally, the study explored the potential of UFAs as biomarkers for assessing CHD risk or disease severity.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Patients suspected of coronary heart disease (CHD) at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital were categorized by coronary angiography into non-CHD (53 cases) and CHD (182 cases). The CHD group was divided into non-acute coronary syndrome (non-ACS) (40 cases) and ACS (142 cases) subgroups. The ACS group was further classified into unstable angina (61 cases), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (40 cases), and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (41 cases). Lipid profiles, myocardial injury markers, and fourteen unsaturated fatty acids were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CHD group had significantly higher triglycerides (TG), palmitoleic acid (PA), oleic acid (OA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), ω-6 fatty acids, and a higher ω-6/ω-3 ratio, but lower ω-3 fatty acids compared to non-CHD. In ACS, PA, LA, OA, and the ω-6/ω-3 ratio were elevated, while EPA and HDL were reduced. Logistic regression identified TG, ω-6/ω-3 ratio, PA, OA, and ω-6 fatty acids as risk factors, with ω-3 fatty acids being protective. PA was protective, while OA posed risk. A combined PA and OA model had a diagnostic efficacy (AUC 0.746).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Altered fatty acid metabolism in CHD patients, particularly PA and OA, offers potential as biomarkers. The ω-6/ω-3 ratio is crucial for cardiovascular health.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"59-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604423","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":"Refining the role of coronary CT angiography: addressing challenges and advancing practice.","authors":"Srinivas Rachoori, Hamrish Kumar Rajakumar","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03851-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03851-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"79-80"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142894672","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":"Nintedanib and its combination with immunosuppressives in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung diseases.","authors":"Emre Tekgoz, Seda Yurumez Colak, Ezgi Cimen Gunes, Nesrin Ocal, Muhammet Cinar, Sedat Yilmaz","doi":"10.1007/s11845-024-03848-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11845-024-03848-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nintedanib reduces the decline of pulmonary function in patients with advancing lung fibrosis.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the characteristics of the patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) related to interstitial lung disease (ILD) under nintedanib treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The CTD-related ILD patients under nintedanib treatment who were followed up between 2020 and 2023 were included in the study. The clinical data of the patients before and after nintedanib were evaluated retrospectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 36 patients (19 female) with a mean age of 65.2 ± 8.5 years who were treated with nintedanib. The median duration for nintedanib treatment was 19 months. The most common CTD was Sjogren's syndrome (36.1%), followed by systemic sclerosis (27.8%), rheumatoid arthritis (25%), undifferentiated CTD (8.3%), and inflammatory myositis (2.8%). Fifteen (41.7%) patients had impaired pulmonary function tests (FVC < 70 ml and/or DLco < 80 ml), and 23 (63.9%) patients had ≥ 20% involvement of parenchyma in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) before nintedanib. According to HRCT findings, 25 (69.4%) patients had the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern. All patients had 300 mg/day of nintedanib and received at least one immunosuppressive treatment during the study period. The mean %predicted value of FVC was 82.8 ± 17.6, and DLco was 65.3 ± 19.2 before nintedanib treatment. Following the 6-month follow-up, FVC showed an increase to 92.3 ± 15.8 (with an R correlation coefficient of 0.54, p = 0.025), and 22 (61.1%) patients exhibited either stabilization or regression of findings on HRCT.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Nintedanib emerges as a promising therapeutic agent compatible with immunosuppressives for treating progressive lung fibrosis in patients with CTD-related ILD.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"391-397"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142785467","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}