Physical and functional profile of ICU patients and correlation between functional scales (Physical function in ICU test – scored PFIT)

Background Each component of the original physical function ICU test (PFIT) had little clinical utility. Given the growing body of research on ICU strength and mobility, objective functional evaluations with great clinical usefulness are needed. Scoring the original PFIT improves clinical utility and research to compare ICU patient function and intervention responsiveness. Aim To evaluate the muscle strength and functional condition of ICU patients and link these procedures to the length of stay at Ain Shams University Hospital and outcome. Patients and methods The research included 40 patients who were admitted to the respiratory ICU either mechanically ventilated or not. Results There was high significant decrease in TLC; there was high significant increase in Hb, albumin, K, and Mg according to two assessment points. Most patients had a score of 3 of shoulder strength and knee strength but score 2 regarding Sit to stand assistance. There was high significant increase in PFIT-s in the second assessment. There was substantial enhancement in the second assessment compared with first assessment regarding different score results. Conclusion Based on the finding we conclude that, prolonged immobility during hospitalization results in loss of muscle strength and functional capacity. There was positive correlation between muscular strength and functional status, considering PFIT scales. The longer length of stay in ICU, the greater the loss of functional capacity in critical patients

Morphometry of Organs in Sheep Fed a Diet Containing Tannins and Polyphenols

The aim of this study was to use morphometry to investigate the essential organs of sheep fed with non-conventional diets. Twelve male Omani sheep were fed with one of two types of roughages supplemented with a commercial concentrate for 63 days and then slaughtered. The volumes of their kidneys, testes, and livers were measured. Random samples from the organs were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Random five micrometer sections from each block were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Images from four random fields were taken from each slide using a digital camera attached to the microscope and then loaded onto a stereology software installed on a personal computer. Morphometric measurements of body organs were taken. Animals fed diets containing tannins had lower final total body weight and lower weights and volumes of their livers, testes and kidneys. There was high variability in the results of intestinal parts measurements, but there was a general trend of the treated animals having higher duodenal and ilial height, villus height, crypt depth and epithelial thickness. The only significant diet effect was higher liver l and lower Vfrac cytoplasm in the control animals than in those treated. The only significant treatment effect on the kidney measurements was a higher tube length/density in treated animals. There were no treatment effects on the testes measurements. The current study indicates that sheep may safely utilize diets containing the levels of polyphenols and tannins used here with no drastic effects on the digestive system and vital organs

The Global Alliance against Respiratory Diseases (GARD) Country Report

Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD