{"title":"Dysphagia in lateral medullary syndrome","authors":"M. Vuković, Mirna Zelić","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-33245","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-33245","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The lateral medullary syndrome is a neurological disease caused by ischemia in the lateral part of the medulla oblongata and is the most common form of brainstem infarction. Dysphagia is a common and clinically significant symptom of this disease because it is closely associated with the risk of recurrent pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and an increase in mortality and prolonged hospital treatment. Aim. This paper aims to review and analyze data on the correlation between swallowing disorders and lateral medullary syndrome. We intend to present the symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of dysphagia in patients with this syndrome in a comprehensive way. Methodology. The following databases were used to search the literature: KoBSON-Consortium of Serbian Libraries for Unified Procurement, PubMed, Science Direct. Results. Based on the results of the reviewed studies, it was determined that patients with the lateral medullary syndrome often have swallowing disorders. They are often fed through a nasogastric tube a few months after the stroke, which significantly impairs their quality of life. To overcome swallowing disorders and create conditions for safe swallowing function, most patients need treatment for a longer period. In addition to the available screening tests, instrumental diagnostic methods provide insight into the biomechanical aspects of swallowing disorders, determine the risk of aspiration, and provide a starting point for selecting treatment strategies. Conclusion. Treatment of dysphagia depends on the mechanisms of occurrence and the predictors of recovery of swallowing function. When conducting treatment, among other things, it is very important to know the pathological mechanisms of neural connections of the medulla oblongata.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alem Čolaković, Elma Avdagić-Golub, Muhamed Begović, Belma Memić, Adisa Hasković-Džubur
{"title":"Application of machine learning in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: A review","authors":"Alem Čolaković, Elma Avdagić-Golub, Muhamed Begović, Belma Memić, Adisa Hasković-Džubur","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-38354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-38354","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Machine learning (ML) plays a significant role in the fight against the COVID-19 (officially known as SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. ML techniques enable the rapid detection of patterns and trends in large datasets. Therefore, ML provides efficient methods to generate knowledge from structured and unstructured data. This potential is particularly significant when the pandemic affects all aspects of human life. It is necessary to collect a large amount of data to identify methods to prevent the spread of infection, early detection, reduction of consequences, and finding appropriate medicine. Modern information and communication technologies (ICT) such as the Internet of Things (IoT) allow the collection of large amounts of data from various sources. Thus, we can create predictive ML-based models for assessments, predictions, and decisions. Methods: This is a review article based on previous studies and scientifically proven knowledge. In this paper, bibliometric data from authoritative databases of research publications (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed) are combined for bibliometric analyses in the context of ML applications for COVID-19. Aim: This paper reviews some ML-based applications used for mitigating COVID-19. We aimed to identify and review ML potentials and solutions for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to present some of the most commonly used ML techniques, algorithms, and datasets applied in the context of COVID-19. Also, we provided some insights into specific emerging ideas and open issues to facilitate future research. Conclusion: ML is an effective tool for diagnosing and early detection of symptoms, predicting the spread of a pandemic, developing medicines and vaccines, etc.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71196056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Bayani, N. Kalantari, S. Esmailzadeh, S. Ghaffari, Prof. Dr. Soleiman Mahjoub, F. Ghofrani, Taraneh Ghaffari
{"title":"An evaluation of the level of testosterone, DHEA and prolactin among Toxoplasma gondii infected and uninfected infertile couples attending to Fatima Al-Zahra infertility treatment center, Babol, Northern Iran","authors":"M. Bayani, N. Kalantari, S. Esmailzadeh, S. Ghaffari, Prof. Dr. Soleiman Mahjoub, F. Ghofrani, Taraneh Ghaffari","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-31982","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-31982","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction/Aims: Toxoplasmosis modifies various hormones and cytokines in the infected hosts which may result in several disorders. This study was conducted to assess testosterone, DHEA, and prolactin concentration levels among Toxoplasma gondii infected and uninfected infertile couples. Methods: Blood samples were collected and sera were separated. The sera were analyzed for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma (IgG& IgM) antibodies using commercial ELISA kits. The level of DHEA was measured by ELISA and the levels of testosterone and prolactin were evaluated by enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA, VIDAS). Results: The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 58.0% (218/376). Among women, 56.9% (107/188) and 6.5% (7/107) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies IgG and IgM, respectively. The IgG and IgM were detected in the sera of 111/188 (59.0%) and 9/111 (8.1%) in male subjects, respectively. A positive association was observed between T. gondii infection and the upper and lower ranges of the normal value of testosterone in males (x 2 = 6.8, p = 0.033) but not in females (x 2 = 0.62, p = 0.99). A positive correlation was seen between toxoplasmosis and the upper and lower ranges of the normal value of prolactin in females (x 2 = 6.5, p = 0.039) but not in male cases (x 2 = 1.06, p = 0.59). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the level of sexual hormones between Toxoplasma-infected individuals and Toxoplasma-free subjects suffering from infertility. These findings suggest that further studies should be performed on infertile cases with large sample sizes in a case-control format.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. Marimuthu, Dinakar Jayakumar, Gowri Shanmugasundaram
{"title":"Clinical and cytopathological traits of herpes zoster: A report of two cases","authors":"V. Marimuthu, Dinakar Jayakumar, Gowri Shanmugasundaram","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-32169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-32169","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Varicella zoster virus is a highly infectious a-herpesvirus, pathogenic only to humans. The primary infection of varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox, which is contagious and primarily infects children and adolescents in India. Following the primary infection, the virus remains dormant in sensory root ganglia. Activation of the dormant virus in later stages of life causes herpes zoster infection which may vary from subclinical infection to typical zoster, scattered vesicles, zoster sine herpete or disseminated zoster, which depends on the individual's immune status. Case report: In this case series, we present two patients with herpes zoster involving the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Cytology revealed characteristic features of the infection including nuclear moulding, multinucleated giant cells and ballooning degeneration. Conclusion: More recently, patients presenting with herpes zoster have been reported to have sub-clinical Covid-19 infection, suggesting a possibility that herpes zoster might be an indicator for latent Covid-19. Timely detection and treatment of this infection can reduce the risk of post herpetic neuralgia.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Three-decade quantitative evaluation of cancer-related research in Nigeria from 1990-2019","authors":"Adams Dele, A. Idowu, Okaiyeto Kunle","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-35503","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-35503","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: There exists a knowledge gap in the quality and quantity of cancer-related research in Nigeria. This review gives a report on cancer research literature indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) in Nigeria from 1990 -2019. Materials and methods: The data used in the present study were published research papers retrieved from the Web of Science. Results: A total of 629 research articles were published within this period across 276 journals. The highest number of articles was published in 2019 (n = 62), while the least was in 1992 (n = 2). However, the last ten years witnessed explosive growth, and it accounted for 63% of the total number of articles. The most relevant authors are Olapade HI (33 articles), Huo D (28 articles), and Ogundiran TO (21 articles). The most relevant sources in the area of cancer research in Nigeria are Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice (52 articles), East African Medical Journal (23 articles), and African Health Sciences (21 articles). The most relevant author's affiliations are University of Ibadan (n=206), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (n = 115), and Obafemi Awolowo University (n = 105). Conclusion: The results from this study show that Nigerian institutions need to collaborate extensively with foreign institutions and partner with industries in order to improve the quality of their research output.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A model for health branding based on a service providers approach","authors":"M. Talarposhti, Ghahraman Mahmoudi, M. Jahani","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-33887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-33887","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction/Aim: A strong brand reduces costs, increases customer satisfaction with the quality of services and the effectiveness of services. Therefore, this study was conducted to present a model for health branding with a service providers' approach. Methods: This qualitative-quantitative study was conducted in 2020. The statistical population of the study was selected for the qualitative stage and included 20 academic and organizational experts using the Delphi technique and the quantitative stage included 415 service providers of the staff health centers. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by face, content, construct validity and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha of 0.96. Quantitative data were presented by EQS software version 6.1 with confirmatory factor analysis and using structural equations. Results: The results of factor structure in healthcare branding based on six main themes of competitive position, brand equity, brand accessibility, brand consolidation in the minds of clients and the market, branding strategies, and consumer-brand relationship with 19 sub-themes based on the perspective of service providers (CFI = 0.9, TLI = 0.8, RMSEA = 0.08, SRMR = 0.05) had a good fit and the internal consistency of the items reached significant levels. Conclusion: To take an effective step in health branding, one can achieve competitive advantage and provide high-quality and profitable health services with the help of service providers through adopting and strengthening competitive position, equity, accessibility, brand consolidation in the minds of clients and the market, branding strategies, and consumer-brand relationship.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Faustova, O. Nazarchuk, D. Dmytriiev, D. Avetikov, G. Loban', Y. Babina, M. Ananieva
{"title":"CCL2/MCP-1 serum chemokine level in patients with odontogenic infectious and inflammatory diseases of the soft tissues of the maxillofacial area and mediastinum","authors":"M. Faustova, O. Nazarchuk, D. Dmytriiev, D. Avetikov, G. Loban', Y. Babina, M. Ananieva","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-34181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-34181","url":null,"abstract":"Aim. The paper was aimed at determining the CCL2/MCP-1 level in patients with odontogenic infectious and inflammatory diseases of soft tissues of the maxillofacial area and mediastinum. Methods. The study involved 46 patients with odontogenic infectious and inflammatory diseases of soft tissues of the maxillofacial area and 12 healthy volunteers. The level of patients' plasma CCL2/MCP-1 level was determined using a kit for specific ELISA. Results. The findings of the studies showed a statistically significant increase in the concentration of plasma CCL2/MCP-1 in patients of all study groups. Our study shows a significant increase in plasma CCL2/MCP-1 level in patients with odontogenic phlegmonas, abscesses and mediastinitis, compared to the group of healthy subjects. Conclusion. CCL2/MCP-1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of odontogenic infectious and inflammatory diseases of soft tissues of the maxillofacial area and mediastinum, which requires a careful follow-up study.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dejan Mihajlovic, Novica Đoković, L. Vitković, N. Sulovic, M. Mijović
{"title":"Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes and Vernix Caseosa Peritonitis: A case report","authors":"Dejan Mihajlovic, Novica Đoković, L. Vitković, N. Sulovic, M. Mijović","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-31021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-31021","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Vernix caseosa peritonitis (VCP) is a rare postpartum complication rarely recognized by clinicians despite an increased incidence of cesarean sections. Case report: A 23-year-old patient, who had not had any prior medical examination during pregnancy and with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), gave birth by cesarean section. On the 4th day after the cesarean section, the patient developed fever and abdominal pain. Laboratory parameters showing inflammation were increased. Two bacteria were found in the swab of the lochia: Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. After relaparotomy was performed inside the abdominal cavity, hemorrhagic-purulent contents and multiple cheesy fibrin deposits on the intestines were visible. After peritoneal lavage and triple antibiotic therapy prescribed in duration of seven days, the patient completely recovered. Histopathological analysis showed a mixture of inflammatory cells concentrated around non-nuclear cells with wrinkled edges, which primarily corresponded to the inflammatory-altered vernix. Conclusion: Early recognition of vernix caseosa peritonitis is very important because it can prevent the resection of the abdominal organs that are altered with inflammation.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of cognitive status of diabetic and non-diabetic elderly in the last ten years in primary health care in Iran","authors":"V. Borhaninejad, M. Saber","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-34820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-34820","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. Cognitive disorders and chronic diseases such as diabetes are common problems of aging. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the cognitive status of diabetic and non-diabetic elderly in the past ten years in primary health care in Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on people aged 60 years and older in Kerman, Iran in 2020. In total, this study was performed on 200 patients (100 diabetic and 100 non-diabetic) meeting inclusion criteria. The Short Mental Status Questionnaire (MMSE) and The Informant Questionnaire for Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) were used to assess cognitive function. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed in this study. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, T-test, and ANOVA analysis in SPSS 21 software. Results. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic groups in the current cognitive status and cognitive status in the last ten years. The mean scores of cognitive function from the short mental status questionnaire in the diabetic group were lower than in the non-diabetic group (p = 0.001). The mean scores of the cognitive deficit screening questionnaire in diabetic elderly were higher than in non-diabetic elderly (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Based on the results of this study, health care providers and family physicians should focus on controlling diabetes and identifying any cognitive impairment in the early stages of comprehensive care of diabetic patients.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pregnancy outcomes with coronavirus pregnancy outcomes with coronavirus infection (COVID-19)","authors":"N. Fazel, Sina Shahrooyan, Shohreh Shahrouyan","doi":"10.5937/afmnai39-32704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai39-32704","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The clinical therapy of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is still insufficient and limited. The current literature on COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and childbirth is summarized in this article, with a focus on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Material and methods: From June 1 to September 7, 2020, a systematic search of pertinent medical subject heading (MeSH) terms, covered by the electronic databases Web of Science and Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and SID key phrases including coronavirus or COVID-19 and pregnancy was undertaken. The search and selection criteria were restricted to English and Farsi literature. COVID-19 in pregnancy articles of all types were considered in the study. The references of relevant studies were also searched. After deleting duplicate and ineligible items, a total of 21 articles were collected. Result: We found 21 studies with a total of 6,569 pregnant women who had COVID-19 infection: only one publication provided disease severity: 368 (95.6%) mild cases, 14 (3.6%) severe cases, and three (0.8%) serious cases. A total of 6,569 women gave birth more often by caesarean than by vaginal delivery. With multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS), some women developed symptoms that necessitated ICU admission. The most commonly administered treatments for pregnant women with COVID-19 were hydroxychloroquine, Beclomethasone, Calamine, diclofenac sodium, Methylprednisolone, Azithromycin, Ganciclovir, Chinese herbal medicine, and Oseltamivir. The most commonly reported symptoms were fever and cough, followed by rhinorrhea, chest tightness, dyspnea, nasal congestion, and myalgias. Maternal outcomes included premature rupture of membranes, maternal death (21), gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal distress, anemia, preterm birth (< 37 weeks), and fetal growth restriction, miscarriage, hypertension, and influenza. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, prematurity, birth weight 2,500 g, preterm delivery (37 weeks), fetal discomfort, neonatal asphyxia, stillbirth (5), and neonatal death (9) were among the outcomes for babies. All of the infants had good Apgar scores. Conclusion: Prenatal and neonatal outcomes appear to be favorable in the majority of cases. Pregnant women and babies should be considered particularly vulnerable populations in terms of COVID-19 preventive and management strategies.","PeriodicalId":7132,"journal":{"name":"Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71195677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}