Evaluation of Handwashing Behaviors and Analysis of Hand Flora of Intensive Care Unit Nurses

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the handwashing behaviors of intensive care nurses based on personal statements, and to identify the microorganisms represented in the hand flora preshift and postshift.MethodsThis prospective study was performed with 60 intensive care nurses between January and December 2008, at a training and research hospital at a university in Turkey. Samples were taken from the hands of the nurses for bacteriological culture, using the bag-broth method, at the beginning and end of the shift. The samples were cultured aerobically and the colonies that grew were counted and identified. The nurses completed a self-report questionnaire, and their answers were evaluated.ResultsThe frequency of handwashing by participants during each shift was 32.8±13.9. Overall, 65% of the nurses preferred alcohol-based antiseptic solutions for handwashing, 95% used paper towels to dry their hands, and 98.3–100% of the nurses washed their hands after performing care procedures. The Escherichia coli and coagulase negative Staphylococcus species were found to be at significantly higher levels in the postshift hand culture samples when compared to the preshift hand culture sample values. Enterobacter cloacae was the only species found in the postshift hand culture samples of the nurses.ConclusionsThe number of colonies of the microorganisms in the hand flora of the nurses increased postshift. The handwashing behavior of intensive care nurses must be improved as they nurse critical patients

FACTORS AFFECTING INSOLE USAGE IN PATIENTS WITH PES PLANUS

Introduction: Insoles and exercise programs are the main treatment methods for pes planus patients. Insole using may prevent the formation of pain in daily activities as well as increasing the quality of walking. The aim of this study was to investigate insole usage time and the factors affecting this situation in patient with pes planus. Materials and Methods: 136 patients with pes planus who were prescribed an insole, included in the study. We invited patients to participate in a telephone survey. Patients´ demographics, insole usage time, reasons to quit and the quitting time were questioned. Insole usage rates and the demographic data of patients were compared. Results: Of the 136 patients included in the present study, 80 were women (59%) and 56 were male (31%). 86 of these patients used an insole six months and over, 15 of them used shorter than six months and 35 of them bought the insoles but they didn't use it (63%, 11% and 26% respectively ). The average age of patients who used insoles was 32.80±18.14 and who did not use insoles was 40.77±12.54 (p=0.04). 33.8 percent of women and 14.3 percent of men did not use insoles. This difference is statistically significant (p=0.04). We did not find any significant relationship between height, weight, body mass index values and usage of insoles (p>0:05). Conclusion: The use of insoles in treating patients with pes planus is widely accepted and may be affected by the demographics such as gender and age. Besides wearing comfort, female sex and older age should be considered that may affect the use of insoles

Diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging on axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients

PURPOSEThis article will examine the usefulness of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on the assessment of axillary lymph nodes (ALN) of breast cancer patients.METHODSAxillary lymph nodes in 66 breast cancer patients were examined by DTI and DWI, and the largest lymph node with increased cortical thickness in axilla was selected. Morphological features, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), volume anisotropy, and fractional anisotropy values were measured by using a special software. Imaging findings and histopathological results were recorded.RESULTSMetastatic ALN were detected in 43 (65.1%) patients. Cortical thickness of the metastatic ALN was significantly higher than the non-metastatic ALNs (P < .001), and the long-axis-to-shortaxis ratio was significantly lower in metastatic ALNs (P < .001). There was a statistically significant difference between the ALN status and fatty hilum presence (P < .001). Apparent diffusion coefficient values of metastatic ALNs were statistically lower than those of non-metastatic ALNs (P < .001) using a cutoff value of 1.26 × 10−3 mm2 /s for b=500 ADC and 1.21 × 10−3 mm2 /s for b=800 ADC which had 97.7% sensitivity and 91.3% specificity. Fractional anisotropy and volume anisotropy values were significantly different between both groups. A cutoff value of 0.47 for b-500 fractional anisotropy had 83.7% sensitivity, 69.6% specificity 69.6% positive predictive value, and 83.7% negative predictive value. A cutoff value of 0.33 for b=500 volume anisotropy had 76.7% sensitivity, 78.3% specificity, 86.8% positive predictive value, and 64.3% negative predictive value.CONCLUSIONApparent diffusion coefficient value of metastatic ALNs was found to be significantly lower than those of non-metastatic ALN, and DTI metrics of metastatic ALN were found to be significantly higher than those of non-metastatic ALN. Overall, ADC had a better diagnostic performance than morphological features, fractional anisotropy, and volume anisotropy. Diffusion tensor imagingderived diffusion metrics may be used to complement breast magnetic resonance imaging in the future after further standardization of the imaging parameters

Health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease

Background and Research Objectives: In recent years, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been increasingly used as an indicator of health outcome. The aims of the study were to compare the HRQoL of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) to patients without CAD and also to determine the HRQoL of patients with CAD and the factors affecting their quality of life. Subjects and Methods: Patients with CAD who attend the outpatients' clinic in the Cardiology Department at Trakya University's Medicine Faculty Hospital agreed to be interviewed. One hundred patients with CAD and 100 people serving as patients without CAD were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients with CAD and patients without CAD were matched by age, sex, marital status, and income. Health-related quality of life was measured with the generic HRQoL instrument. Results and Conclusions: CAD patients' HRQoL scores differed significantly from patients without CAD. Compared to patients without CAD, the HRQoL of patients with CAD was lower in the dimensions of mobility (P < .001), hearing (P = .022), breathing (P < .001), elimination (P = .035), usual activities (P < .001), mental function (P = .004), discomfort and symptoms (P = .018), vitality (P = .006), sexual activity (P < .001), and total score (P < .001). Patients with CAD had lower HFQoL scores than patients without CAD. In patients with CAD, age and sex independently affected the HRQoL. Older patients and women had worse HRQoL. Coronary artery disease negatively affects HRQoL. It is thought that interventions to increase patients' quality of life may improve their HRQoL

Compliance of abstracts of randomized control trials with CONSORT guidelines: A case study of Balkan journals

Background: Published reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not compliant with the CONSORT checklist as much as they should.Objective: To assess the quality, in terms of the level to which they are compliant with the CONSORT checklist, of abstracts of RCTs published in general medical journals in the Balkan region.Methods: Two observers assessed the abstracts of RCTs published in five general medical journals of the Balkan region between 2012 and 2018 to determine the level to which the abstracts were compliant with the 16-item CONSORT abstracts checklist.Results: Of the 183 studies that were identified for evaluation, 124 (67.8%) were excluded from the evaluation. The average compliance level was 44.5% (95%   CI: 41.9%–47.1%), the lowest being that for randomization (1.7%), funding (1.7%),numbers analysed (11.0%), blinding (13.6%), and trial registration (18.6%). However, the compliance level was very high for conclusions (99.2%), objectives (96.6%), interventions (95.8%), and primary outcomes (83.9%). The length of the abstract (word count) and the level of compliance were positively correlated (rs = 0.43; p = 0.001). Abstracts of trials published in journals that endorse CONSORT in their publication policies were more compliant than those published in other journals (47.5 ± 10.4 versus 40.8 ± 8.0, p = 0.024).Conclusion: The overall level of compliance with the CONSORT checklist was below 50%. To improve the quality of abstracts of RCTs, authors should be encouraged to use the CONSORT checklist, and editors should check compliance with the CONSORT guidelines as part the publishing workflow

Compliance of abstracts of randomized control trials with CONSORT guidelines: A case study of Balkan journals

Background: Published reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not compliant with the CONSORT checklist as much as they should.Objective: To assess the quality, in terms of the level to which they are compliant with the CONSORT checklist, of abstracts of RCTs published in general medical journals in the Balkan region.Methods: Two observers assessed the abstracts of RCTs published in five general medical journals of the Balkan region between 2012 and 2018 to determine the level to which the abstracts were compliant with the 16-item CONSORT abstracts checklist.Results: Of the 183 studies that were identified for evaluation, 124 (67.8%) were excluded from the evaluation. The average compliance level was 44.5% (95%   CI: 41.9%–47.1%), the lowest being that for randomization (1.7%), funding (1.7%),numbers analysed (11.0%), blinding (13.6%), and trial registration (18.6%). However, the compliance level was very high for conclusions (99.2%), objectives (96.6%), interventions (95.8%), and primary outcomes (83.9%). The length of the abstract (word count) and the level of compliance were positively correlated (rs = 0.43; p = 0.001). Abstracts of trials published in journals that endorse CONSORT in their publication policies were more compliant than those published in other journals (47.5 ± 10.4 versus 40.8 ± 8.0, p = 0.024).Conclusion: The overall level of compliance with the CONSORT checklist was below 50%. To improve the quality of abstracts of RCTs, authors should be encouraged to use the CONSORT checklist, and editors should check compliance with the CONSORT guidelines as part the publishing workflow

<i>Acinetobacter</i> pneumonia: Is the outcome different from the pneumonias caused by other agents

<b>Background</b> : The principal aim of the present study was to determine whether <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> pneumonia differs from hospital-acquired pneumonias (HAPs) caused by other agents with respect to therapeutic success and survival rate. <b> METHODS</b> : This study includes 140 adult patients diagnosed with HAPs caused by identified etiologic agents between March 2005 and February 2006. These patients were divided into two groups according to the agent responsible for their infection (<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. [<i>n</i> = 63] or non-<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> [<i>n</i> = 77]). The groups were compared in terms of risk factors, therapeutic success and six-week survival rates. <b> Results</b> : Previous antibiotic use and the risk of aspiration were independent factors responsible for the development of <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>.</i> pneumonia. Hypoalbuminemia, steroid use and the use of a mechanical ventilator were determined to be mortality-associated independent risk factors for <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp<i>. </i>pneumonia. The clinical success rate at the end of therapy was 41.6&#x0025; and, at the sixth week, the survival rate was 35&#x0025; among patients in whom <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp.<i> </i>was the causative agent. Conversely, in the control group, these values were 43 and 32&#x0025;, respectively (<i> P </i> &gt; 0.05). We found that the use of the appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of <i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. pneumonia was an important factor in survival (<i> P </i> &lt; 0.001). <b>Conclusion</b> :<b> </b> The outcomes of<b> </b><i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. pneumonia do not differ from HAPs associated with non-<i>Acinetobacter </i>spp. in terms of therapeutic success and survival rates

Latency of epileptic and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Background Due to their semiological similarities, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) can occasionally hardly be differentiated from epileptic seizures (ESs), and long-term video-electroencephalographic monitoring (VEM) is needed for the differential diagnosis

Symphysis pubis distance in adults: a retrospective computed tomography study (vol 30, pg 153, 2008)

WOS: 000255034900016