scholarly journals Demand for integrative medicine among women with breast and gynecological cancer: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Southern and Northern Germany

Author(s):  
Donata Grimm ◽  
Sofia Mathes ◽  
Linn Woelber ◽  
Caroline Van Aken ◽  
Barbara Schmalfeldt ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The aim of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to analyze a cohort of breast (BC) and gynecological cancer (GC) patients regarding their interest in, perception of and demand for integrative therapeutic health approaches. Methods BC and GC patients were surveyed at their first integrative clinic visit using validated standardized questionnaires. Treatment goals and potential differences between the two groups were evaluated. Results 340 patients (272 BC, 68 GC) participated in the study. The overall interest in IM was 95.3% and correlated with older age, recent chemotherapy, and higher education. A total of 89.4% were using integrative methods at the time of enrolment, primarily exercise therapy (57.5%), and vitamin supplementation (51.4%). The major short-term goal of the BC patients was a side-effects reduction of conventional therapy (70.4%); the major long-term goal was the delay of a potential tumor progression (69.3%). In the GC group, major short-term and long-term goals were slowing tumor progression (73.1% and 79.1%) and prolonging survival (70.1% and 80.6%). GC patients were significantly more impaired by the side-effects of conventional treatment than BC patients [pain (p = 0.006), obstipation (< 0.005)]. Conclusion Our data demonstrate a high overall interest in and use of IM in BC and GC patients. This supports the need for specialized IM counseling and the implementation of integrative treatments into conventional oncological treatment regimes in both patient groups. Primary tumor site, cancer diagnosis, treatment phase, and side effects had a relevant impact on the demand for IM in our study population.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 223-227
Author(s):  
Rani Nallathamby ◽  
Boban Babu ◽  
Meril Ann Soman

Objective: To study about the awareness of toxic effects of Formaldehyde in Chronic users Design: Questionnaire study. Questionnaires were sent to chronic formaldehyde users and responses were analysed. Setting: Large teaching hospital-various medical colleges in south Karnataka and Kerala. Results: Most of the participants are aware about the adverse effects of formaldehyde but they are unaware of the major carcinogenic and teratogenic risks. Most of the participants don’t know the safe limit of exposure to formaldehyde and most of them don’t care whether the exhaust fans are working or windows are open. Majority of the participants had experienced the short term effects of formaldehyde whereas only 67 had experienced long term sequelae. Keywords: Formaldehyde, Carcinogen, Embalming.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1090
Author(s):  
Arifa Sultana ◽  
Saimon Shahriar ◽  
Md. Rafat Tahsin ◽  
Sabiha Rahman Mim ◽  
Kazi Rubiya Fatema ◽  
...  

Background: The Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) was the first to be introduced in Bangladesh to fight the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. As this vaccine had shown some side-effects in its clinical trial, we aimed to conduct a study assessing short-term adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) in Bangladesh. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on social and electronic media platforms by delivering an online questionnaire among people who had taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The collected data were then analysed to evaluate various parameters related to the AEFIs of the respondents. Results: A total of 626 responses were collected. Of these, 623 were selected based on complete answers and used for the analysis. Most of the respondents were between 30–60 years of age, and 40.4% were female. We found that a total of 8.5% of the total respondents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our survey revealed that out of 623 volunteers, 317 reported various side-effects after taking the vaccine, which is about 50.88% of the total participants. The majority of participants (37.07%, 231/623) reported swelling and pain at the injection site and fever (25.84%, 162/623); these were some of the common localized and generalized symptoms after the COVID-19 vaccine administration. Conclusion: The side-effects reported after receiving the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) are similar to those reported in clinical trials, demonstrating that the vaccines have a safe therapeutic window. Moreover, further research is needed to determine the efficacy of existing vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections or after-infection hospitalization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A788-A788
Author(s):  
Leonardo A M Alvares ◽  
Lívia M Santos ◽  
Marcelo R Santos ◽  
Francis R Souza ◽  
Victor P Almeida ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Few studies of transgender women (TW) body composition (BC) in long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) have been reported. Objective: To evaluate BC parameters of TW in long-term GAHT. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 8 TW (average age of 34.0 yo ±4.8), 8 cisgender men (CM) and 8 cisgender women (CW) matched to age and body mass index (BMI). All TW were non-gonadectomized subjects and were in estrogen [(E); transdermal estradiol (n=2), oral estradiol (n=3) and conjugated estrogen (n=3)], plus cyproterone acetate (CA) (n=8) therapy in an average time of 15.6 ±8.7 years of treatment. Total testosterone (ng/dL) levels of TW, CW and CM were 83,5 (range 12,0-637,0), 20,5 (range 12,0-41,0) and 480,5 (range 264,0-843,0) at the time of the study, respectively. BC was assessed by InBody 720. Percentage of fat mass (%FM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were evaluated. Baumgartner Index was calculated. Results: Regards %FM, that of TW was lower than CW (29,59 ±7,56 vs 32,9 ±3,99; p=0,5394) and higher than CM (23,58 ± 6,44; p=0.1512). SMM of TW was 33.6% higher than that of CW (p&lt;0.001) and 14,7% lower than that of CM (p=0,014). Baumgartner Index of CM group was 17.7% higher than TW group (p=0,001), which presented rates 20.3% higher than the CW (0,002). Discussion: BC changes in the first two years of GAHT in TW were consistent with loss of lean mass and gained fat mass associated with an increase of body weight. This profile was identified in adults and youth transgender after short-term hormone therapy. Conclusion: Our data shown a similar profile of short-term treatment, with a body composition intermediate between BMI-matched cisgender males and females. However, unlike young TW undergoing short-term GAHT, the parameters of BC in the TW using estrogens plus cyproterone acetate in the long term did not present %FM statistically different from CW and CM, in contrast to the lean mass that maintained significant differences in the long term.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1369
Author(s):  
Muhammad Nauman Zahid

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) created a global pandemic (COVID-19) that has resulted in massive health and economic losses. The current unavailability of treatments leaves vaccination as the only way to control this disease. There are four vaccines (Sinopharm, Pfizer—BioNTech, Sputnik, and AstraZeneca) available in Bahrain. This project aimed to study the most common side effects resulting from the first and second doses of these four vaccines. Data were collected through an online questionnaire answered by 311 individuals who received both doses of one of these four vaccines. The results of this study revealed that regardless of the vaccine identity, participants experienced more side effects from the second dose. Among the different side effects, pain at the site of injection was primarily observed after the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine (43%), which was followed by the AstraZeneca vaccine (31%). Moreover, fever was observed in participants after the first dose of the Sputnik vaccine (37%), while headache was mainly observed after the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine (32%). It is important to note that fatigue was observed after the first dose of all four vaccines but was reported by the highest proportion of respondents in the Pfizer group (28%). Interestingly, there are some side effects, such as pain at the site of injection, that are correlated with fever (r = 0.909). Similarly, headache is correlated with fever (r = 0.801) and pain at the site of injection (r = 0.868). Overall, it was observed that recipients of the Sinopharm vaccine reported the mildest side effects among all four vaccines. The crucial finding of this study is that the first and second dosage post-vaccination side effects were modest and predictable with no occurrences of hospitalization; this information can assist in lessening vaccine apprehension.


Author(s):  
Mohamed N. Al Arifi ◽  
Abdulrahman Alwhaibi

Objective: Fever alone can lead to rare serious complications in children, such as febrile seizures. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and behavior of parents toward fever and its management. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was applied over a period of 3 months, from January to March 2018, to parents who were living in Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criteria were a parent who is a resident of Saudi Arabia, with at least one child aged 6 years or less, while incomplete questionnaires, having a child aged more than 6 years, or parents who were not living in Saudi Arabia were excluded. Results: A total of 656 parents completed the questionnaire. More than two-thirds of the subjects were female, the majority of whom were aged between 25–33 years old. The best-reported place to measure the temperature of children was the armpit (46%), followed by the ear (28%) and the mouth (10.7%). More than half of the parents considered their children feverish at a temperature of 38 °C. The majority of parents (79.7%) reported that the most serious side effects of fever were seizure, brain damage (39.3%), coma (29.9%), dehydration (29.7%), and death (25%). The most common method used to measure a child’s temperature was an electronic thermometer (62.3%). The most common antipyretic was paracetamol (84.5%). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the good knowledge of parents in identifying a feverish temperature using the recommended route and tools for measuring body temperature.


Author(s):  
Bum Jung Kim ◽  
Sun-young Lee

Extensive research has demonstrated the factors that influence burnout among social service employees, yet few studies have explored burnout among long-term care staff in Hawaii. This study aimed to examine the impact of job value, job maintenance, and social support on burnout of staff in long-term care settings in Hawaii, USA. This cross-sectional study included 170 long-term care staff, aged 20 to 75 years, in Hawaii. Hierarchical regression was employed to explore the relationships between the key independent variables and burnout. The results indicate that staff with a higher level of perceived job value, those who expressed a willingness to continue working in the same job, and those with strong social support from supervisors or peers are less likely to experience burnout. Interventions aimed at decreasing the level of burnout among long-term care staff in Hawaii may be more effective through culturally tailored programs aimed to increase the levels of job value, job maintenance, and social support.


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