Irish journal of medical science
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Validity of galactin-3 in acromegaly: comparison with traditional markers.
Acromegaly occurs due to overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has recently emerged as a novel biomarker, related to IGF-1. This study aimed to assess Gal-3 in patients with acromegaly and compare its effectiveness with traditional biomarker tests. ⋯ In a summary, this study recommended clinicians measure serum Gal-3 as biomarkers for patients with acromegaly. In addition, the result above shed light on role of Gal-3 on acromegaly pathogenesis and might provide a therapeutic target of acromegaly patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effectiveness of aerobic exercise and neck exercises in pediatric migraine treatment: a randomized controlled single-blind study.
Migraine is a prevalent condition with debilitating effects. In the context of pediatric migraine, there exists a notable scarcity of data regarding the effectiveness of exercise interventions. Furthermore, despite the prevalent occurrence of neck pain in these patients, the role of cervical musculoskeletal disorders in the etiology continues to be a debated topic. ⋯ Aerobic and neck exercises are effective in reducing the symptoms of pediatric migraine. Aerobic exercise may be particularly beneficial for reducing the attack frequency. These findings contribute to the limited data on exercise interventions for pediatric migraineurs and highlight the importance of tailored exercise programs for managing this condition. Future studies should consider more extensive exercise modalities and include diverse patient cohorts.
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Triage refers to classifying and prioritizing patients based on the severity of their injuries or illnesses in the health care setting. The increasing number of elderly patients seeking care in emergency departments (EDs) highlights the need for special attention to the unique needs of this patient population. ⋯ Significant differences in patients' methods of presentation to the ED were observed based on the MTS, qSOFA, NEWS, and ESI scores.
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Patients with breast pain are usually seen in 'one-stop clinic' (OSC) with breast imaging. In the absence of associated red flag features, the incidence of breast cancer is extremely low. With increase in referrals the OSC capacity is over-stretched. We developed a consultant nurse-led dedicated 'breast pain clinic' in September 2021 without routine breast imaging. After meticulous history and examination, patients obtained detailed counselling and advice regarding breast pain management. If any abnormality was noted then appointment was given for OSC. ⋯ A consultant nurse-led 'breast pain clinic' provides service improvement as it eases the pressure on the OSC. Most patients were managed without breast imaging with high level of patient satisfaction and low rereferral rate.
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Approximately 7000 total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgeries occur in Ireland each year. A number of preoperative factors have been identified that increase the risk of postoperative blood transfusion after THA, including anaemia. The ability to identify patients at risk may allow preoperative management strategies to reduce blood transfusions. Data from Irish orthopaedic patients is currently lacking. ⋯ Preoperative anaemia was common in an Irish orthopaedic population undergoing THA. Preoperative anaemia predisposes patients to the greatest increased risk of postoperative blood transfusions. The other factors associated with the need for postoperative transfusion were ASA grade 3 or more and age greater than 65 years. Patients who received postoperative blood transfusions had a significantly increased length of hospital stay.