Microbiological and physicochemical quality of honey in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of the study was to investigate the microbiological and physico-chemical quality of honey samples, sampled for the event “Honey Days in FB&H 2020”, which tested a total of 33 samples of different honey types from different geographical areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physico-chemical properties and microbiological properties of the tested honey to assess quality. The submitted samples originated from both administrative units of B&H, namely from the continental, sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean part, covering more than 60% of the country’s territory. Of the total number of analysed samples (n=33), nine samples (29.7%) did not meet the requirements of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of the test. The requirements of one or more quality parameters according to the national Ordinance on methods for the control of honey and other bee products in B&H (Anonymous, 2009) were not met by five samples (16.5%). Four samples (13.2%) did not meet the microbiological quality, as they exceeded the permitted number of yeasts and moulds. In five samples (16.5%), the presence of microorganisms was recorded within the tolerance limits, while Enterobacteriaceae and sulphite-reducing clostridia were not isolated and were below the detection limit in all samples. Honey samples in which the results were found to be unsatisfactory for physico-chemical parameters and microbiological parameters cannot be correlated.

Religious/spiritual experiences, quality of life and satisfaction with life of hospitalized octogenarians

ABSTRACT Objectives: to assess quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with life (SWL) indices and verify whether the frequency of religious and spiritual experiences is associated with QoL and SWL in hospitalized octogenarians. Method: this is a cross-sectional study, with 128 octogenarians. World Health Organization QoL instruments and Scales applied: Daily Spiritual Experience (DSES) and Satisfaction With Life (SWLS). Results: more committed domains related to QoL and SWL: autonomy and physical capacity. The higher the score in DSES, the higher the scores in the psychological domains and past, present, and future QoL activities. The higher the score in DSES, the higher the score in the social involvement aspect. Conclusion: the results of this study showed that the higher frequency of religious and spiritual experiences of hospitalized elderly people was associated with better QoL and SWL. It is emphasized that religious and spiritual experiences should be explored in the hospital therapeutic context.

Rapid Assessment of Fresh Beef Spoilage Using Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to develop a prediction model to assess fresh beef spoilage directly with the use of a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), without conducting a chemical method. Three fresh beef samples were bought from a slaughterhouse and traditional market on separate days. Spectra were acquired using a portable Scio spectrometer with wavelength 740-1070 nm, and two-third was used for calibration sets and one-third for validation sets. Partial least square regression and cross-validation were used to develop a model and equation for predicting beef spoilage. The changes observed were changed in color, water loss, and muscle hardness. The best predictive model was obtained from the original spectra (no pre-process) results as follows (R2C = 0.9, Rp = 0.86, SEC = 0.61, SEP = 0.69 and RPD = 3.53). Multiple Scattered Correlation (MSC) pre-processing method gave a good and acceptable model with results as follows; Rc = 0.89, SEC = 0.66, SEP = 0.83 and RPD = 2.91. NIRS showed variability of the samples and rate of spoilage, hence, can be used to assess quality and safety. Further studies are needed to develop a robust model to predict fresh beef spoilage using a portable NIRS Scio.

Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulation vs. Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation vs. Association of Both in Patients with Refractory Chronic Back and/or Lower Limb Neuropathic Pain: An International, Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Crossover Trial (BOOST-DRG Study)

While spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established therapy to address refractory persistent spinal pain syndrome after spinal surgery (PSPS-T2), its lack of spatial selectivity and reported discomfort due to positional effects can be considered as significant limitations. As alternatives, new waveforms, such as burst stimulation and different spatial neural targets, such as dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS), have shown promising results. Comparisons between DRGS and standard SCS, or their combination, have never been studied on the same patients. “BOOST DRG” is the first prospective, randomized, double-blinded, crossover study to compare SCS vs. DRGS vs. SCS+DRGS. Sixty-six PSPS-T2 patients will be recruited internationally in three centers. Before crossing over, patients will receive each stimulation modality for 1 month, using tonic conventional stimulation. After 3 months, stimulation will consist in switching to burst for 1 month, and patients will choose which modality/waveform they receive and will then be reassessed at 6 and 12 months. In addition to our primary outcome based on pain rating, this study is designed to assess quality of life, functional disability, psychological distress, pain surface coverage, global impression of change, medication quantification, adverse events, brain functional imaging and electroencephalography, with the objective being to provide a multidimensional insight based on composite pain assessment.

FeV1 and BMI influence King’s Sarcoidosis Questionnaire score in sarcoidosis patients

Background Sarcoidosis is granulomatous disease of unknown origin affecting organ function and quality of life. The King’s Sarcoidosis Questionnaire (KSQ) serves as a tool to assess quality of life in sarcoidosis patients with general health and organ specific domains. A German translation has been validated in a German cohort. In this study we assessed, whether clinical parameters influence KSQ scores. Methods Clinical data (e.g. lung function, organ impairment, serological parameters) for the German validation cohort were extracted from clinical charts and investigated by correlation and linear regression analyses. Results KSQ subdomain scores were generally lower in patients with respective organ manifestation or on current therapy. LUNG subdomain was significantly predicted by lung functional parameters, however for general health status, only FeV1 exerted significant influence. GHS was not influenced by serological parameters, but was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI). KSQ provides additional information beyond lung function, clinical or serological parameters in sarcoidosis patients. Notably, high BMI is significantly negatively associated with patients’ well-being as measured by KSQ-GHS. Conclusion This observation may direct further studies investigating the effect of obesity on sarcoidosis-related quality of life and strategies to intervene with steroid-sparing therapies and measures of life style modifications. Trial registration This study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (reference number DRKS00010072). Registered January 2016.

Gait and rehabilitation in lower limb amputees: a narrative review v1

Introduction:Even if gait analysis is a validated outcome measure to assess the effects of a rehabilitation program on gait performance, few articles have been produced about the evaluation of a rehabilitation program in lower limb amputees using the gait analysis as a measure of outcome. Inclusion criteria:The inclusion criteria of the following narrative review is to investigate all the studies, without year limitations but only in English, whose population was lower limb adult amputees that underwent a rehabilitation process evaluated through the use of the gait analysis as a measure of outcome. Methods:Three databases will be investigated: Scopus, Pubmed and Embase, without year limitations but only in English. Study selection will be done following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction will follow the review’s objectives. Agree II scale will be used to assess the quality of guidelines, Amstar 2 scale will be used to evaluate systematic review, Pedro scale will be used to assess quality of randomized controlled trial, Stard-2015 scale will be used to assess observational studies. Two reviewers will screen the articles in blind and a third reviewer will solve the conflicts raised. Objective:The aim of this narrative review will be the investigation of the extent, type and results of evidence in relation to gait and rehabilitation in lower limb amputees.

Nurses’ perceptions of factors influencing treatment engagement among patients with cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review

Background Nurses are key to the success of patient engagement, yet we know little about nurses’ perceptions on treatment engagement and how they can contribute to treatment engagement. Qualitative evidence to identify factors that influence treatment engagement among patients with CVD from nurse’s perspective is limited. Methods This systematic review of qualitative research was based on the PRISMA reporting guidelines. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess quality by two reviewers independently. Data were collected from Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase- Non-Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, were systematically searched from 2001 to 2020. The search strategy included keywords and MeSH terms to identify relevant studies written in English. Results Eight articles were included in the review. Four key themes were synthesised from the findings: nurses need training and up to date information, providing support for patients, patient motivation to engage with treatment plans and perceived lack of time. Conclusion Nurses described the importance of training to help them support patients to engage as effectively as possible and their role in providing social and psychological support. They also described the importance of patient motivation to engage in a treatment and plan and sustain engagement and time.

Support Quality Moderates the Impact of Total Household Occupancy on Self-Care Neglect in Informal Caregivers

Caregiver self-care may be impacted by the household environment. We evaluated the impact of support quality (e.g., ratings of quality of emotional support, information, material help, errands performed by others) and total household occupancy on a validated measure of self-care neglect in caregivers of patients with heart failure. Multivariate regression modeling was used to examine predictors of self-care neglect and we introduced an interaction term between support quality and household occupancy. The main effects model included terms for years of caregiving experience, hours caregiving daily, support quality, and total household occupancy (R2: 0.31; p <0.05). The interaction term between support quality and household occupancy contributed significantly (p < .05) to the respecified model (R2: 0.41; p <0.05). We suggest that the potential benefit of total household occupancy on caregiver self-care depends on perceived support quality. Clinicians should assess quality of household resources with caregivers during interactions.