7 research outputs found
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare and psychosocial well-being of patients with inflammatory bowel disease
COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented disruptions to several
aspects of gastroenterology healthcare services worldwide. In
particular, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represent a
sensitive population that must retain access to healthcare services to
avoid potential disease exacerbation under the continuous threat of
viral infection. Emerging evidence also highlights the severe impact on
these patients' mental well-being, leading to a constant cycle of
stress/depression and disease activity relapse. In an effort to
circumvent these healthcare challenges in a newly-shaped environment,
physicians implemented telemedicine consultative care programs as a
novel alternative follow-up method highly favored by the patients. The
situation is still far from perfect, since a large proportion of
patients are lost to follow up and/or lose adherence to their
medication, especially when the exact timeframe or optimal strategy for
the post-COVID era remains to be defined. Cancelation of elective
endoscopic procedures has led to a significant decline of new IBD
diagnoses. This review summarizes the data on the global impact of
COVID-19 on IBD patients' healthcare and their psychosocial status
Current and emerging treatment modalities for Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy: a review of the literature
Introduction: The purpose of this review is to present the current and emerging treatment alternatives for Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), emphasizing the most recent use of idebenone and stem cells or gene therapy. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed at the PubMed database regarding the various treatment modalities for LHON. Results: Treatment modalities for LHON include nutritional supplements, activators of mitochondrial biogenesis, brimonidine, and symptomatic and supportive treatment, but nowadays attention is being paid to idebenone and gene therapy or stem cells. Conclusion: The treatment of LHON remains challenging, given the nature of the disease and its prognosis. © 2018, The Author(s)
An educational intervention to optimize use of proton pump inhibitors in a Greek university hospital
Background Misuse of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is an alarming issue
for patients and healthcare systems.
Methods We conducted a 3-phase interventional, prospective study in a
Greek university hospital. During Phase I, we collected data from
patients’ records to evaluate the appropriate use of PPIs. During Phase
II, educational seminars about the proper use of PPIs were offered to
the medical staff. In Phase III we collected data from the records of
patients admitted to the hospital department with the highest rate of
inappropriate PPI administration during Phase I, to evaluate the
efficacy of the intervention. Inappropriate use was defined as either
PPI administration without indication, or lack of use despite adequate
indication. Appropriateness of PPI use was measured at admission, during
hospitalization and at discharge.
Results The rate of inappropriate PPI use was higher (51.7% and 48.6%)
during hospitalization than at admission (34.9% and 21.9%), but at
discharge was similar to pre-hospitalization levels (26.9% and 23.6%),
in Phases I and III, respectively. At discharge during Phase I, the
inappropriate use of PPIs was significantly higher (odds ratio 3.79,
95% confidence interval 1.98-7.19) for internal medicine patients than
for surgical patients. The educational intervention failed to reduce the
inappropriate use of PPIs during hospitalization (51.7% vs. 48.6%,
P=0.478) or at discharge (26.9% vs. 23.6%, P=0.391) in the internal
medicine patients.
Conclusions The rate of inappropriate PPI use is almost double during
hospitalization compared to the rates at admission and at discharge.
Implementation of an educational intervention failed to reduce the
inappropriate use of PPIs in internal medicine patients