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WATER QUALITY RESEARCH NEAR OŠUPES MANOR

In Galēnu center near Ošupes manor is pond which is next to the borehole. The problem was that the visual was observed that the pond and the borehole is discolored and had a smell so it was suspected that the water at both places is contaminated. Since the borehole was meant for drinking water, raised the question can it be used for drinking and or to these changes can blame pond which in near. In work process samples were collected from both the pond and from the borehole, which was delivered to the laboratory where they established a variety of chemical parameters from which it can be determined is the water is polluted. When carrying out checks it will be able to conclude whether the water near borehole is not harmful to human health, thereby protecting people from infection with different abdominal diseases

Anterior capsule opening contraction and late intraocular lens dislocation after cataract surgery in patients withweak or partially absent Zonular support

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background and objectives: To evaluate anterior capsule opening (ACO) contraction and late intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation after cataract surgery in patients with weak or partially absent zonular support and assess methods of reducing these complications. Materials and methods: For this prospective study, we enlisted cataract surgery patients in our hospital with preoperative diagnoses of weak zonules. All patients received phacoemulsification surgery with implantation of a hydrophobic acrylic IOL and capsular tension ring (CTR). ACO reductions were measured for six months after enrolment. Data on late IOL dislocations were collected five years after enrolment of the last patient. Results: Fifty-three patients were enrolled from 2011 to 2015. Over the six-month active follow-up period, ACO area reduction was 23% in patients receiving CTRs of 11 mm diameter and 8% for patients with CTRs of 12 mm, with an overall mean of 15% reduction. Five years after the last patient was enrolled, seven patients (13%) had experienced late IOL-CTR-capsular bag dislocation. For these patients, the mean ACO reduction in the first six months of follow-up was 33%, including for those who had received neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) anterior capsulotomies. Conclusion: Use of hydrophobic acrylic lenses and CTR reduces ACO contraction, with rates comparable to those after cataract surgery without ocular comorbidity. Our patients experienced a relatively high rate of late IOL-CTR-capsular bag dislocation. However, dislocated complexes were easily repositioned and few patients required IOL exchange. Frequent visits are warranted to promptly detect late complications of cataract surgery in patients with weak zonular support.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Prognostic value of the bone turnover markers in multiple myeloma

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by osteolytic bone disease resulting from increased osteoclast activity and reduced osteoblast function. Aim: The aim of our research was to determine connection between bone turnover markers and presence of bone lesions, their degree of severity, to monitor MM bone disease and to assess effectiveness of anti-myeloma treatment. Materials and Methods: Serum samples and clinical data from 123 patients with newly diagnosed MM were collected at Riga East Clinical University Hospital (Riga, Latvia) from June 2014 to June 2016. Bone lesions detected by radiography, CT scans, MRI, and PET/CT were divided into degrees from 0 to 3 (0 - no bone involvement, 1 - ≤ 3 bone lesions, 2 - ≥ 3 bone lesions, 3 - fracture). Staging was performed applying Durie/Salmon (DS) and International Staging System classifications. Progressive disease was defined as development of one or more new bone lesions. The levels of bone metabolic markers β-isomerized C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (β-CTX) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) were monitored regularly in the year. Results: Bone lesions were found in 86 (69%) patients. From these 6 (4%) patients had 1st degree, 11 (9%) had 2nd degree and 69 (56%) had 3rd degree bone lesions. Level of the bone resorption marker β-CTX in the control group was 0.41 ng/ml, which is lower than in MM patients (p 0.05). However, β-CTX was found to be an excellent diagnostic marker for MM (AUC 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.94; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with MM and bone lesions have increased value of bone resorption marker β-CTX. There is a correlation between bone resorption marker and degree of bone lesions. Changes in β-CTX levels may be used to monitor the effectiveness of myeloma treatment.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Tear Osmolarity During the First Postoperative Month After Cataract Surgery

The purpose of this study was to evaluate tear osmolarity changes in a healthy ocular surface in an eye that had been operated on within the first month after cataract surgery. This aim was achieved by forming two groups from the included patients. Patients with one eye exposed to cataract surgery formed the study group, while the eyes of the same patients with no cataract surgery were set as the control group. Both the operated and non-operated eye of each patient were scanned before surgery, the following morning, one week and one month after surgery. Tear osmolarity did not differ between the groups before the operation. On the first day after the surgery, tear osmolarity significantly decreased, below the detection range of the TearLab device (< 275 mOsm/l). The osmolarity level in the control group did not change. One week after surgery, osmolarity in the study group increased to 312.64 mOsm/l, which was significantly different from that of the control group. One month after surgery, tear osmolarity in the study group had returned to the pre-operative level. Tear osmolarity is thus clearly affected by cataract surgery. The average values were seen to change quite significantly during the first postoperative month.publishersversionPeer reviewe

A profile of traumatic spinal cord injury and medical complications in Latvia

Study design: A single centre retrospective study. Objectives: To collect data and analyse the epidemiological profile of traumatic spinal cord injury and its medical complications during the subacute rehabilitation period. Setting: Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Programme of the National Rehabilitation Centre, 'Vaivari', Jurmala, Latvia. Methods: Information was collected in 2015 from the medical records of 134 patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury admitted for primary rehabilitation between January 2011 and December 2014. Results: During this period, the median age of patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury was 39.5 years, and the male to female ratio was 5:1. The leading causes of traumatic spinal cord injuries were falls (37%), road traffic accidents (29%), sport and leisure activities (19%), other cause (8%), unidentified causes (5%), and assault (2%). The most common medical complications were pain (77%), spasticity (48%), urinary tract infections (45%), pressure ulcers (25%), and orthostatic hypotension (14%). Conclusions: Preventive measures in Latvia should be aimed primarily to address falls, road traffic accidents, and sport and leisure activities in the young male population. Medical complications are varied, and they are an important factor following traumatic spinal cord injury. The results obtained in this study comply with the data from studies in countries of the Baltic and North Sea regions of Europe.publishersversionPeer reviewe

WOMEN`S MOTIVATION TO ENGAGE WITH THE NORDIC WALKING

Physical activity beneficial effects on human health in various aspects are proved  by many research. In woman's health status maitenance and strengthening the important role has physical activitities. People engage with physical activities encourages a number of factors. Nordic walking as a physical activity has many benefits that would motivate women of different ages to engage with the Nordic walking. The research group was formed of 100 women between the ages of 25 -82 years. According to the World Health Organisation female age division (20), was created the following age groups (women from 25 to 44 years, 32 participants, women from 45 to 59 years, 35 participants, women from 60 to 82 years, 33 participants). Respondents attitude measurement was used Likert scale (Likert Scale, 2007) with 15 allegations. The obtained results show that the motivating factors as location outdoors in the fresh air, the joy of physical activity and health improvement is important for women of any age to engage with the Nordic walking. There are more differences between the participants of the age groups view about the factors as a stress reduction, pleasant instructor presence, society attitude, socialization process. For the younger women more important motivating factor is a stress reduction, middle-aged women, the weight adjustment, and older women, the opportunity to socialize or meet other people, compared with the other age groups. Literature data and the results of research allow to recommend Nordic walking for women regardless of age

Insufficient assessment of sexual dysfunction : A problem in gynecological practice

Background and Objective: Sexual health is an important part of a woman's life and well-being. Female sexual dysfunction is a complicated problem, it is often underestimated in the healthcare process, and its management is complex. Giving women the opportunity to talk about sexual problems is a fundamental part of healthcare and may improve their quality of life. The aim of this study was to find out patients' experience and attitudes toward the involvement of gynecologists addressing sexual issues, to disclose the main barriers to initiate a conversation, and to assess the prevalence of sexual disorders among patients in a gynecological clinic. Material and Methods: A questionnaire-based approach was used to survey 18- to 50-year-old voluntary patients in the gynecological clinic. The study population comprised 300 different gynecological (except oncologic) patients independently of reasons for being in the clinic. The duration of the study was 6 months. Results: Only one-third of the patients had ever been asked about their sexual life by a gynecologist, whilst the majority (80%) of the respondents reported they would like to be asked and discuss sexual issues. The patients mostly did not complain because of psychoemotional barriers, and shame was the main barrier for patients to talk about their problems. Sexual dysfunction was a frequent disorder among gynecological patients, reaching especially high levels in the arousal (46.41%) and lubrication (40.67%) domains. Conclusions: The assessment of sexual health is insufficient in gynecological care, and sexual history-taking and evaluation of sexual functions should be included in routine gynecological health assessments.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Influence of severe carotid stenosis on cognition, depressive symptoms and quality of life

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Pucite et al.Background: Carotid artery disease is not just a causal risk factor of ischemic stroke, but may predispose patients to depressive symptoms and low health related quality of life (HRQoL). Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to assess the association between severe carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and cognitive impairment, frequency of depressive symptoms and status of HRQoL. Methods: Cross - sectional study involved 55 patients with severe CAS and 54 patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Cognitive impairment was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), depressive symptoms - PHQ-9 scale. HRQoL was measured using Medical Outcome Survey Short Form version 2 (SF-36v2). Results: Median MoCA score 24 [23;26] was significantly lower in patients with severe CAS than in patients with PAD - 26 [25-28],(p=0.005; effect size r=0.3). There was no statistically significant difference of median PHQ-9 scores the in CAS group (median PHQ-9 score 4.0 [5]) and in the PAD group (median PHQ-9 score 5.5 [7]), (p=0.08, effect size r=0.18). Mean SF-36v2 scores were similar in CAS and PAD groups except for bodily pain (p=0.001, Cohen's d value = 0.77) and vitality (p=0.02, Cohen's d value = 0.49). Conclusion: In summary, our findings indicate that severe CAS could play a role in cognitive decline. Further studies should be conducted using larger patient cohorts without ischemic brain lesions and with balanced vascular risk profiles to investigate impact of CAS on cognition. There was no association between severe CAS and depressive symptoms in the present study. As patients with severe CAS did not exhibit physical symptoms, HRQoL was better for those patients than for patients with lower extremity PAD.publishersversionPeer reviewe