Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Aim To investigate the relations between hormonal status of the thyroid gland and mineral bone density in women in menopause with or without osteoporosis. Methods The study included 120 postmenopausal women, who were divided into two groups. Group I included postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis, of whom 30 were in the early stages of postmenopause, and 30 of them where in the late postmenopausal phase. ⋯ Results A statistically significant correlation between TSH level and mineral bone density in the lumbar spine level (r=0.27) was found in early postmenopausal women (r<0.05), TSH and T-score at the level of the lumbar spine (r=0.31) (p<0.05), as well as between TSH and mineral content of the femur bone (r=0.29; <0.05). There was statistically significant independent association between thyroxine and mineral bone density at the lumbar spine level in the late postmenopausal women (ß=0.29; p=0.025). Conclusion In the early postmenopausal phase, TSH was associated with mineral bone density in the lumbar spine and in the area of the femur.
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Observational Study
Characteristics of lymphovascular metastatic spread in lung adenocarcinoma according to the primary cancer location.
Aim To compare the localization of lung adenocarcinoma with tumour size and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) presence, and to determine the frequency of metastasis findings in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes depending on the localization of the tumour and status of lymphovascular invasion. Method This observational cross-sectional study included 261 patients with complete resection of confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. The dependence between categorical variables were performed with χ2 and Fisher's exact tests. ⋯ Metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes in tumours with central localization and presented lymphovascular invasion were less frequent than in tumours with peripheral localization and presented lymphovascular invasion (p=0.002). Conclusion In invasive adenocarcinoma, lymphovascular invasion was much more common in centrally positioned than in peripherally positioned tumours. Metastases to the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, regardless of the findings of lymphovascular invasion, usually originated from upper lobe tumours.
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Aim To explore the experiences of registered nurses in assessing postoperative pain in hip fracture patients suffering from dementia in nursing homes. Methods The study was designed as a qualitative study using data from a self-reported questionnaire form. Data were collected through the self-administered questionnaire with 23 questions, mainly addressing demographic and social data, information about communication and pain assessment. ⋯ An assessment of pain in patients with dementia and hip fractures was a complex process because cognitive ability of these patients was reduced. Conclusion Registered nurses need to know various and different forms of evaluation and tools to assess the experience of pain in patients with dementia who had undergone surgery for hip fractures. This is a complicated task, which requires a great deal of time, and means that nurses must work together with other medical staff, using a holistic approach.
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Aim To describe the experience of healthcare professionals in assessing pain and communication in patients with hip fractures and dementia in an emergency department. Methods Data were collected through focus group interviews using open-ended questions, following an interview guide and qualitative content analysis. Twenty one registered nurses participated in the interviews, five male and 16 female, aged 26 to 55 years. ⋯ Conclusion The situation of patients with hip fracture and dementia on the emergency department and healthcare professionals who communicate and assess their pain can be said to be untenable. The care environment in the emergency department is not adapted to patients and can of course depend on several factors. To meet the needs of the future and increased numbers of those patients, some improvements such as more extensive research and more studies on the experiences of both the patients and healthcare professionals are required.
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Aim To investigate the usage of chest computed tomography (CT) scan score for improvement in diagnostic and treatment efficacy of repetitive pleural effusion. Methods CT scan scoring system was used as a part of diagnostic procedures in patients with repetitive pleural effusion. Patients with at least two pleurocentesis were included in the study. ⋯ Binary regression model showed odds ratio of 1.314; CI 95% 1.119-1.543) (p=0.00088). Confirmed malignancies with pleural effusion were in high correlation with the number of points in CT scan score. Conclusion CT scan scoring system was helpful for diagnostic and treatment decision making in patients with repetitive pleural effusion.