Medicine
-
The general health of undergraduate university students has long-term social and career implications. This study, involving a cross-sectional design, is aimed at modeling the impact of sleep quality, living condition, lifestyle, eating habit, financial situation and some demographic factors on the general health and wellbeing of university students. A sample of 699 undergraduate students who met the inclusion criteria where recruited from the Faculty of Education of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria for the study. ⋯ At 0.05 level of significance, the year of study, sex, Parents/guardians' financial status, student's financial situation last 1 month, living condition (living in overcrowded rooms), source of daily meals, number of times food is eating per day, change in eating habit, risky lifestyle and severe sleep difficulty have significant negative effect on the general health of the students. Eating 3 times a day improved the health of the students. Mitigating food insecurity, insufficient financial challenges and risky lifestyles of the students while improving the living conditions will improve the health and wellbeing of the students.
-
Pharmacotherapy has deinstitutionalized the patients with psychotic disorder. This has led to the transfer of the caregiving burden from hospitals to family members of the patients. This study aimed to assess the caregivers' burden and the factors associated with it objectively. ⋯ No significant association was found between the degree of burden and variables, viz. marital status of caregivers, duration of caregiving, and duration of patient's illness. The current study identifies variables that can predict caregiver's burden. These results also suggest the implementation of psycho-educational, community-based programs which can address the core issues associated with caregiving.
-
Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) exposure have been identified as risk factors for Helicobacter pylori seropositivity, possibly due to the immune suppression by Cd and Pb. Physical activity (PA) can induce an immune response. However, whether PA can reduce the effect of Cd and Pb on H pylori infection remains elusive. ⋯ Exposure to Cd and Pb are positively linked to H pylori infection. PA may alleviate the effect of Cd on H pylori infection but may enhance H pylori infection under Pb exposure. Therefore, PA should be recommended in the appropriate season or region.
-
Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) plays a pivotal role in treating early gastric cancer (EGC). Some patients require additional gastrectomy because of non-curative ESD. This study aimed to analyze the clinical factors associated with non-curative ESD and to re-evaluate the role of ESD according to its indication criteria. ⋯ Similarly, in 6 patients with a local residual tumor absolutely indicated for ESD, 2 had atypical glands and 1 had HGD. Positive vertical margin, lymphatic invasion, and deep submucosal invasion were identified as independent risk factors for LNM. ESD may play diagnostic and therapeutic roles in determining the optimal treatment of EGC when the diagnosis is equivocal or insufficient in endoscopic assessments for gastric cancer screening.
-
This study aimed to investigate the influence of gantry angle increment (Inc) parameters on the Monaco treatment planning system for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in right breast cancer, and to determine the optimal Inc parameters. Twenty-three patients with right breast cancer at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from August 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively selected. Four VMAT plans were generated for each patient incorporating Inc of 10°, 20° (control group), 30°, and 40°, while the other optimization parameters and constraint functions remained constant. ⋯ The number of monitor units and control points decreased with increasing Inc. Smaller Inc values can achieve higher target coverage and lower irradiated dose to the ipsilateral lung, but will reduce delivery efficiency. Considering the plan quality and delivery efficiency, an Inc of 10° or 20° is recommended for right breast cancer VMAT plans.