PERFORMANCE DISORDERS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALBANIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

It has been noticed that the interest in the Quality of Life (QOL) of children and adolescent with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Albania is increasing rapidly. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of performance disorders and to evaluate the Health-Related QOL (HRQOL) in 130 patients with CKD. To appraise the prevalence of performance disorders and analyze HRQOL, we used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Pediatric Inventory of Quality of Life (PedsQL) Core scales as the measuring instruments for both the children and their parents. The CKD group has lower results in nearly all areas of PedsQL. Only the lack of religion was related in a significant way with a lower global HRQOL result (OR= 5.8; P= 0.07). Furthermore, only two factors were related with a lower HRQOL result between the parents: children’s age >10 years (OR = 4.9, P=0.026) and the lack of religion (OR= 2.8, P= 0.025). The CKD group showed a higher ratio of performance and emotional disorders in all SDQ fields. Therefore, our results recommend the significance of assessing performance and social impacts of CKD in order to improve the life quality of this pediatric population

Effects of Physical Therapy in Older Women with Urinary Incontinence

Introduction: One of the most frequent public health issues between older females is urinary incontinence (UI). Regardless of conventional cure as the initial alternative, the outcomes of physical therapy in older females with UI is imprecise. Objective This survey intended to analytically assess the confirmation about the consequences of physical therapy on urinary indicators in older females with UI. Method The literature exploration for surveys estimating traditional cure for incontinency in elderly females was performed on PubMed/Medline, Lilacs, Scielo, ISI Web of Knowledge. We picked medical tests published in English after the year 2003. The procedural quality of the surveys was appraised applying the Pedro degree. The effects were investigated using a significant assessment technique. Results: Eight surveys were entirely reviewed exposing that pelvic floor muscle exercise was the cure choice in most surveys. Seven of the eight chosen surveys were categorized as having elevated methodological excellence. There was considerable enhancement in urinary indicators after healing in seven of the eight selected surveys. Conclusions: It was finalized that physical therapy healing appears to be useful to reduce urinary incontinence signs in older females. Nevertheless, the tiny number of surveys and the use of concomitant interventions limit the ending on this matter. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n1s1p18

Awareness of Cancer Pain Management among Nurses in an Albanian Oncologic Hospital

The doctor-patient percentage in Albania as said by World Health Organization (WHO). In 2013, this ratio was 1,2:1000 in contrast the average 1:600, although that of nurse-patient is enhanced, 1:40 compared to WHO standard of 1:6. Occurrence of cancer is universally increasing and the mainstream of the complex cases arise in the developing countries like Albania. Nurses engage in a significant position in efficient ache administration since they have further connection with patients in any healthcare location , appraise the pain and its collision on the patients and relatives, therefore commence acts to supervise the pain. This survey is intended at evaluating the phase of awareness of cancer pain administration between skilled nurses at Oncologic department of University Hospital Centre “Mother Theresa” in Albania. Materials and Methods: Qualified nurses who approved to participate in the survey were examined applying self-administered questionnaire. The surveys comprised 3 main parts that is (a) Demography, (b) Pain appraisal, (c) Cancer Ache administration. The degree of comprehension of cancer pain administration was subsequently evaluated from their reaction to the questionnaires. 63 nurses fulfilled the questionnaire. 54 (85.71%) were twofold trained. About 11 (17.4%) participants had supplementary official instruction in ache management. 50 (79.36) respondents provided right meaning of pain ;only 3 (3%) could confer a good explanation on the administration of cancer pain. 17 (26.9 %) of the participants could apply Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for ache estimation. Merely 12 (19%) could affirm the application of opioids in cancer pain administration. This survey exposed insufficient comprehension in cancer ache management between the nurses. To attain holistic care for cancer individuals in all health care settings, further preparation in pain management is needed. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2015.v5n2p3

Relationship of Anthropometric Measures with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents

This national study was performed to establish the relationship of anthropometric measures with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Albanian normal-weight children and adolescents. We examined the data of 3,548 children and adolescents (48.2% boys), aged 11-18 years, with a normal BMI (5th-84th percentile) achieved from a survey of 'Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Disease'. The diagnostic criteria for MetS were classified by the International Diabetes Federation agreement. The prevalence of MetS for 10- to 13.5-year-old boys, 14- to 18-year-old boys, 10- to 13.7-year-old girls, and 14- to 18-year-old girls were 1.3, 2.4, 2.1, and 3.2%, correspondingly. After adjustment for age and sex, each item increase in BMI (within normal range) and waist circumference enhanced the odds of MetS from 5 to 68 % and from 1 to 18 %, respectively. The principal model of dyslipidemia between the participants was high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This study sets off current research about the high frequency of metabolic risk factors among normal-weight individuals in the pediatric age group. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n4p14

Dietary Status in Albanian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Atherosclerosis in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) may be exacerbated by obesity. Aim: To investigate the dietary conditions of patients with RA. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 105 patients with RA in the department of Rheumatology of the University Hospital Centre: “Mother Theresa”, in Tirana, Albania. They were examined for demographic, medical activity and dietary conditions. Finally, we assessed the measurement of body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio; triceps skin fold measure (TSF) and its capability bicipital skin fold (BSF) and their sufficiency and arm muscle circumference (AMC) and its satisfactoriness. Allied studies of nominal records were done using Fisher and chi-square test. Unpaired Student t tests and Mann Whitney were applied for numerical data. The Spearman test was exploited for correlation estimates. Results: There were 13/105 men, 92/105 women included in the survey. The mean age was 53.2 ± 10.8 years and mean illness extent of 10.4 ± 7.51 years in the whole sample. The mean waist-hip percentage was 0.89 ± 0.08. Along with BMI 28.6 % had normal weight; 63.8 % an overall weight more than normal. In relation to BSF, 71.6 % were normal and 25.5 % had reduction of muscular mass; in proportion to TSF, 79.3% were normal and 15.2% diminished. Alliance of dietary variables with sex, rheumatoid factor, age, nodules, and illness activity demonstrated no dissimilarities (p = NS) apart from a lower waist/hip proportion in patients with nodules (p = 0.01) and a diffident correlation of TSF with malady length (p = 0.01; R = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.30). Conclusion: We discovered a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with RA and a little occurrence of muscle diminution. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n6p5