Medicina
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Background and Objectives: The effectiveness of multiple ultrasound evaluations of the peroneus muscles morphology, including muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and connective tissue, after lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is unknown. This study aimed to measure the peroneus muscles after LAS at three points, adding distal 75% to the conventional measurement points, in order to obtain a detailed understanding of the post-injury morphology and to propose a new evaluation index of the peroneus muscles for multiple LAS. Materials and Methods: Participants with and without LAS (LAS and control groups, 16 each) were recruited. ⋯ Muscle activity of the PL was significantly lower and the PB was higher on the LAS side than on the non-LAS side and in the control leg. Conclusions: The PL was less active than the PB, while the PB was found to be overactive, suggesting that PB hypertrophy occurs due to an increase in the percentage of muscle fibers and a decrease in the connective tissue. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the condition of the PL and PB separately after LAS.
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Background and Objectives: The definitive treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) requires a radical surgical removal of the tumor, which often leads to large soft tissue defects. When they are located in the limbs, significant damage to the lymphatic pathways is not uncommon. In the present article, we present different techniques aimed at both reconstructing the defect and restoring sufficient lymph drainage, thus preventing short- and long-term lymphatic complications. ⋯ In all cases, complete range of motion (ROM) and a good cosmetic result were achieved. Conclusions: A reconstructive procedure that aims not only to restore the missing volume, but also the lymphatic drainage might successfully reduce the rate of postoperative complications. Both lymphatic interpositional flaps and lymphatic flow-through flaps could be effective, and the right choice must be done according to each patient's needs.
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Background and objectives: The Indian population faces numerous challenges to attain better oral hygiene due to a lack of oral health literacy. For the past 10 years, the prevalence of dental-related conditions in India has become a considerable problem in every state of India. A health-education-based oral health promotion strategy will be an ideal choice for the Indian population instead of endorsing conventional oral health promotion. ⋯ The factor analysis resulted in three factors with a total of eight items in the attitude domain and three factors with a total of seven items in the behavior domain depicting satisfactory factor loading (>0.3). Across the three factors, i.e., knowledge, attitude and behavior, internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha, and the values obtained were 0.67, 0.87, 0.67, and 0.88, respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study that assessed validity and reliability showed that the developed questionnaire had an acceptable psychometric property for measuring oral health KAB among adults in India.
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Background and Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Acute exacerbations (AECOPD) are common and often triggered by viral infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic social restrictions, including 'shielding' and 'lockdowns', were mandated. ⋯ Conclusion: During the COVID-19 period there was a substantial reduction in AECOPD admissions, but no increase in overall severity of exacerbations or mortality. Rather than fear driving delayed hospital presentation, physical and behavioural measures taken during this period to limit transmission of COVID-19 are likely to have reduced transmission of other respiratory viruses. This has important implications for control of future AECOPD.
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Background and objectives: Drug abuse has become a major worldwide health concern among all age groups. The present study analyses substance misuse and its social and personal consequences using a population-based internet survey in Spain. Materials and Methods: Screening for drug abuse (of alcohol, marijuana/hashish and psychostimulants) and its related risks and problems was performed using the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) score. ⋯ As for the type of substance, the consumption of marijuana increases the risk of forgetting (OR = 2.33) and the consumption of other psychostimulant substances almost triples the risk of consuming alone (OR = 2.965). Combining substances can increase the rate of driving a vehicle after consumption by 3.4 times. Conclusions: Although age, smoking and the type of substances used increase the risk of suffering from social and personal consequences of the use or abuse of substances, future studies are needed to determine the influence of new variables as a potential tool for treating and minimizing the adverse consequences of drug abuse.