scholarly journals Evaluation of ultrasonic renal volume in relation to body size in patients with hypertension: Comparative cross-sectional study

Author(s):  
Elias Kedir ◽  
Melkamu Berhane ◽  
Tilahun Alemayehu Nigatu ◽  
Almaz Ayalew ◽  
Mesfin Zewdu

Abstract Introduction Estimation of renal size is useful parameter in the diagnosis of abnormal structural change on the kidneys due to the adverse effects of chronic diseases like hypertension. This study evaluated renal volume by ultrasound in relation to body size parameters, notably BMI and body surface area in hypertensive and non-hypertensive individuals. Methods A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2018 at the Radiology department of the Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC). The study included consecutively selected samples of ambulatory hypertensive patients and non-hypertensive controls recruited consecutively on voluntary basis. After providing verbal informed consent, each subject underwent abdominal ultrasound examination; length, width and thickness of both kidneys were measured and used for estimation of renal volume. The statistical evaluation included independent samples t-tests for mean differences with regard to ultrasonic renal measurements between hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups, Results A total of 145 adults aged 16 - 80 years (mean +/-SD= 44 +/-17) participated in the study. In the hypertensive group, renal volume ranged 36.1 - 201.6 (mean=97.7) cm3 for the right kidney and 39.6 - 189.5 (mean=104.4) cm3 for the left kidney, whilst it was 61.8 - 159.5 (mean=101.1) cm3 for the right and 35.8 - 253.7 (mean=111.8) cm3 for the left kidney among the control group. Both kidneys were slightly smaller in the hypertensive group as compared to the controls. Right renal volume to BSA ratio ranged from 23.5 - 100.6 (mean=58.2) cm3/m2 in hypertensive group, while it was between 37.0 and 96.1 (mean=62.6) cm3/m2 among the control group (p=0.076). Left renal volume to BSA of the patients which ranged from 24.1 - 97.1 (mean=62.2) cm3/m2 was significantly (p=0.012) lower than that of the non-hypertensive group, which was between 23.6 and 132.5 (mean=69.3) cm3/m2. Conclusion The results of this study have shown slightly smaller bilateral renal volume among hypertensive patients as compared the controls. We recommend large scale research in other parts of Ethiopia so that nationally representative data can be obtained.

Author(s):  
Quratul-Ain Zafar

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers in Pakistan in terms of psychological factors emotional distress, insomnia, and burnout. Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at different hospitals across Pakistan and data collection was carried out from 15th June 2020 till 15th August 2020. Material and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study aiming to compare the levels of burnout and emotional distress between frontline COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 healthcare workers. Any physician, nurse, and other healthcare workers were recruited from emergency care units and Covid-19 care units (target group), and non-COVID-19 care units (control group). Participation was voluntary and participants had to complete self-reported questionnaires and scales. A mixed-mode data collection was carried out, either in paper or web-based form to ensure maximum participation. Results: The independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding depression, stress, and insomnia. The study group showed higher scores for these factors than the control group. Chi-square test of association revealed significant scores of burnout and professional fulfillment in both groups. There was a higher prevalence of burnout in the study group than in the control group. Conclusion: This study concludes that there was a significant psychosocial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the frontline healthcare workers measured in terms of emotional distress, insomnia, and burnout.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-420
Author(s):  
Payam Mehrian ◽  
Abtin Doroudinia ◽  
Moghadaseh Shams ◽  
Niloufar Alizadeh

Background: Intrathoracic Lymphadenopathy (ITLN) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients may have various etiologies and prognoses. Etiologies of ITLN can be distinguished based on the distribution of enlarged lymph nodes. Sometimes tuberculosis (TB) is the first sign of underlying HIV infection. Objective: We sought to determine ITLN distribution and associated pulmonary findings in TB/HIV co-infection using Computed Tomography (CT) scan. Methods: In this retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study, chest CT scans of 52 patients with TB/HIV co-infection were assessed for enlarged intrathoracic lymph nodes (>10 mm in short axis diameter), lymphadenopathy (LAP) distribution, calcification, conglomeration, the presence of hypodense center and associated pulmonary abnormalities. LAP distribution was compared in TB/HIV co-infection with isolated TB infection. Results: Mediastinal and/or hilar LAP were seen in 53.8% of TB/HIV co-infection patients. In all cases, LAP was multinational. The most frequent stations were right lower paratracheal and subcarinal stations. Lymph node conglomeration, hypodense center and calcification were noted in 25%, 21.4% and 3.5% of patients, respectively. LAP distribution was the same as that in patients with isolated TB infection except for the right hilar, right upper paratracheal and prevascular stations. All patients with mediastinal and/or hilar adenopathy had associated pulmonary abnormalities. Conclusion: All patients with TB/HIV co-infection and mediastinal and/or hilar adenopathy had associated pulmonary abnormalities. Superior mediastinal lymph nodes were less commonly affected in TB/HIV co-infection than isolated TB.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Vimercati ◽  
Luigi De Maria ◽  
Francesca Mansi ◽  
Antonio Caputi ◽  
Giovanni M. Ferri ◽  
...  

Background: Thyroid diseases occur more frequently in people exposed to ionizing radiation, but the relationship between occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and thyroid pathologies still remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in healthcare workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation compared with a control group working at the University Hospital of Bari, Southern Italy, and living in the same geographical area, characterized by mild iodine deficiency. Methods: We ran a cross-sectional study to investigate whether healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation had a higher prevalence of thyroid diseases. Four hundred and forty-four exposed healthcare workers (241 more exposed, or “A Category”, and 203 less exposed, or “B Category”) and 614 nonexposed healthcare workers were enrolled during a routine examination at the Occupational Health Unit. They were asked to fill in an anamnestic questionnaire and undergo a physical examination, serum determination of fT3, fT4 and TSH, anti-TPO ab and anti-TG ab and ultrasound neck scan. Thyroid nodules were submitted to fine needle aspiration biopsy when indicated. Results: The prevalence of thyroid diseases was statistically higher in the exposed workers compared to controls (40% vs 29%, adPR 1.65; IC95% 1.34-2.07). In particular, the thyroid nodularity prevalence in the exposed group was approximately twice as high as that in the controls (29% vs 13%; adPR 2.83; IC95% 2.12-3.8). No statistically significant association was found between exposure to ionizing radiation and other thyroid diseases. Conclusion: In our study, mild ionizing radiation-exposed healthcare workers had a statistically higher prevalence of thyroid diseases than the control group. The results are likely due to a closer and more meticulous health surveillance programme carried out in the ionising radiation-exposed workers, allowing them to identify thyroid alterations earlier than non-exposed health staff.


2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652098781
Author(s):  
Mathias Paiva ◽  
Lars Blønd ◽  
Per Hölmich ◽  
Kristoffer Weisskirchner Barfod

Background: Tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance is often used as a measure of lateralization of the TT and is important for surgical planning. Purpose: To investigate if increased TT-TG distance measured on axial magnetic resonance images is due to lateralization of the TT or medialization of the TG. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 84 knees (28 normal [NK], 28 with trochlear dysplasia [TD], and 28 with patellar dislocation without TD [PD]) were examined. The medial border of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) was chosen as the central anatomic landmark. The distance from the TT to PCL (TT-PCL) was measured to examine the lateralization of the TT. The distance from the TG to the PCL (TG-PCL) was measured to examine the medialization of the TG. Between-group differences were investigated by use of 1-way analysis of variance. Results: The mean values for TT-TG distance were 8.7 ± 3.6 mm for NK, 12.1 ± 6.0 mm for PD, and 16.7 ± 4.3 mm in the TD group ( P < .01). The mean values for TT-PCL distance were 18.5 ± 3.6 mm for NK, 18.5 ± 4.5 mm for PD, and 21.2 ± 4.2 mm in the TD group ( P = .03). The mean values for TG-PCL distance were 9.6 ± 3.0 mm for NK, 7.1 ± 3.4 mm for PD, and 5.1 ± 3.3 mm in the dysplastic group ( P < .01). Conclusion: The present results indicate that increased TT-TG distance is due to medialization of the TG and not lateralization of the TT. Knees with TD had increased TT-TG distance compared with the knees of the control group and the knees with PD. The TT-PCL distance did not differ significantly between groups, whereas the TG-PCL distance declined with increased TT-TG.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1858-1860
Author(s):  
Junaid Mushtaq ◽  
Israr-Ul- Haq ◽  
Waqas Mahmood ◽  
Mujtaba H. Siddiqui ◽  
Atiq Ahmad ◽  
...  

Aim: To determine the factors that affect compliance and adherence to medications of hypertensive patients visiting OPD clinics. Study design: Descriptive-cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: Department of Medicine, Unit 1, Lahore General Hospital, Doctors Hospital & Medical Center and Farooq Hospital Lahore from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019. Methodology: One hundred and sixty five patients with hypertension were handed over questionnaire socio-demographic, compliance and adherence were recorded. Results: Patients who maintained BP charting were only 13(7.9%) and those without BP charting were 152(92.1%). Patients taking regular medications were only 20(12.1%). Forgetfulness in taking medications was found in 47.3% of patients. 20.6% of patients were unable to purchase medicines because of financial reasons. Thirty two patients (19.4%) thought that they should not take medicines as they were not having any symptoms. Conclusion: Major causes of non-adherence were expense of medications, lack of symptoms, lack of money, forgetfulness, lack of awareness due to poor educational status and nature of job. Keywords: Compliance, Adherence, Medications, Hypertension, Forgetfulness


2014 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiane Moço Canhetti Oliveira ◽  
Paula Roberta Nogueira

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE:There have been few studies on the risk factors for subgroups of stuttering. The aim of this study was to characterize the risk factors for developmental familial stuttering among boys who stutter and who do not stutter, such as disfluency types, associated quality and communication factors, emotional and physical stress, familial attitudes and personal reactions.DESIGN AND SETTING:Analytical cross-sectional study with a control group, performed at the Fluency Studies Laboratory of the Department of Speech and Hearing Disorders of a public university.METHODS: The parents of 40 age-matched stuttering and non-stuttering boys took part in this study. The participants were divided into two groups: stuttering children (SC) and non-stuttering children (NSC), with ages between 6 years 0 months and 11 years 11 months. Initially, all of the participants underwent a fluency assessment and then data were gathered using the Protocol for the Risk of Developmental Stuttering.RESULTS:There were no differences in the physical stress distribution factors and personal reactions between the groups. Inappropriate familial attitudes were presented by 95% of the SC and 30% of the NSC. Four risk factors analyzed were not shown by the NSC, namely stuttering-like disfluency, quality factors, physical stress and emotional stresses.CONCLUSIONS:The findings suggest that the presence of stuttering-like disfluency, associated quality and communication factors, emotional stress and inappropriate family attitudes are important risk factors for familial developmental stuttering among boys.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77
Author(s):  
Carla Cristina J. N. de Almeida ◽  
Paula de Oliveira Mora ◽  
Valmir Aparecido de Oliveira ◽  
Camila Aparecida Joao ◽  
Carolina Regina Joao ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate the presence of family breakdown factors among eutrophic and overweight/obese adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 242 students aged between 14 and 19 years old, from a public school. Each student was weighed, measured and answered a questionnaire with closed questions addressing the presence of family breakdown factors. The adolescents were divided in two groups: euthophic and overweight/obese. The answers of both groups were compared by Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of the studied factors between the two groups. Comparing the number of positive answers (presence of family breakdown factors) and negative ones (absence of family breakdown factors), no difference was observed between the groups. Conclusions: The inclusion of a control group showed that factors of family breakdown, usually identified as associated with obesity in adolescents, may also be present in eutrophic adolescents.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-248
Author(s):  
Alfi Maziyah ◽  
Diyah Fatmasari ◽  
Desak Made Wenten Parwati ◽  
Rr. Sri Endang Pujiastuti

Background: C-reactive protein test is one of clinical assessments to minimize risks of infection in infants. However, its procedure may cause pain. Pain in the infant may result in negative metabolic behavior, physiology and metabolic response. Objective: This study was to describe the infant's pain response by administering a combination of breastfeeding and an effleurage massage on the blood sampling procedure of C-reactive protein examination.         Methods: This was a descriptive observational cross-sectional study. There were 30 infants selected using consecutive sampling technique, which 15 samples assigned in an intervention group (combination of breastfeeding and effleurage massage) and a control group. Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) instrument was used to measure pain. Univariate analysis was performed with the aim to describe data in mean and median.Results: The average of pain response at 1-minute observation in the combination of breastfeeding and effleurage massage group was 7.47 ± 1.356, and the average of pain response in the control group was 10.80 ± 1.897. The average pain at 5-minutes in the intervention group was 3.53 ± 1.922 and control group was 6.00 ± 1.852. Conclusions: Pain responses in the combination of breastfeeding and effleurage massage group were lower than the pain response in the control group.


Author(s):  
Rahajuningsih Dharma ◽  
Mercy T. Panjaitan ◽  
Kanadi Sumapradja ◽  
Rianto Setiabudy

Abstract Objective: To obtain the profile of D-dimer in uncomplicated pregnancy. Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 90 uncomplicated pregnant women consisted of 30 women in each trimester and 30 healthy, nonpregnant women as control group from July to August 2012. D-dimer level was measured by particle enhanced immunoturbidimetry method using Innovance D-dimer and Sysmex CA 1500 in the Department of Clinical Pathology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. Results: All women in the control group showed normal D-dimer level (<0.,5 mg/L FEU). The median and range of D-dimer level in the 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, and 3rd trimester were 0.42 mg/L FEU and 0.1-1.07 mg/L FEU, 0.97 mg/L FEU and  0.6-3.34 mg/L FEU, and 1.56 mg/L FEU and  0.69-3.75 mg/L FEU, respectively.  Increased D-dimer level was found in 27% of pregnant women in 1st trimester, 87% in 2nd trimester, and 100% in 3rd trimester. Conclusion: Increased D-dimer level was found in  27% of pregnant women in 1st trimester, 87% in 2nd trimester, and  100% in 3rd trimester. The range of D-dimer level in the 1st trimester was 0.1-1.07 mg/L FEU, in the 2nd trimester was 0.6-3.34 mg/L FEU, and in the 3rd trimester was 0.69-3.75 mg/L FEU. Keywords: D-dimer, trimester, uncomplicated pregnancy   Abstrak Tujuan : Untuk mendapatkan profil  D-dimer pada kehamilan tanpa komplikasi. Metode : Penelitian potong lintang dilakukan pada 90 perempuan hamil tanpa komplikasi yang terdiri atas 30 perempuan pada tiap trimester dan 30 perempuan sehat yang tidak hamil, sebagai kelompok kontrol dari bulan Juli sampai Agustus 2012. Kadar D-dimer diukur dengan cara particle enhanced immunoturbidimetry  menggunakan reagen InnovanceÒ D-dimer dan koagulometer SysmexÒ CA 1500 di  Deparemen Patologi Klinik, Rumah Sakit Umum Pusat Nasional Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo, Jakarta. Hasil: Seluruh perempuan dalam kelompok kontrol mempunyai kadar D-dimer dalam batas normal (<0.,5 mg/L FEU). Median (rentang) kadar D-dimer  pada trimester pertama, kedua, dan ketiga berturut-turut  0.42 mg/L FEU  (0.1-1.07 mg/L FEU), 0.97 mg/L FEU (0.6-3.34 mg/L FEU), dan 1.56 mg/L FEU   (0.69-3.75 mg/L FEU).  Peningkatan kadar D-dimer ditemukan pada 27% perempuan hamil trimester pertama, 87%  trimester kedua, dan pada 100%  trimester ketiga.   Kesimpulan: Peningkatan kadar  D-dimer ditemukan pada  27% perempuan hamil trimester pertama,  87% trimester kedua dan   100% pada trimester ketiga.  Rentang kadar D-dimer level pada trimester pertama adalah 0.1-1.07 mg/L FEU, pada trimester kedua  0.6-3.34 mg/L FEU, dan pada trimester ketiga  0.69-3.75 mg/L FEU. Kata kunci: D-dimer, kehamilan tanpa komplikasi, trimester


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