Medicina
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Background and Objectives: The effects of postpartum zinc supplementation are still unclear. Our purpose in this study is to investigate the association between Zn supplementation and postpartum depression, defined by an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥ 9, and the effect on the hematological status of postpartum women. Materials and Methods: We first investigated whether zinc supplementation affected the perioperative levels of zinc, hemoglobin, and hematocrit in 197 cases who underwent cesarean section and had postpartum anemia. ⋯ Conclusions: Postpartum zinc supplementation causes a significant positive effect on postpartum depression (EPDS score ≥ 9). Zinc supplementation had a negative but transient influence on the hematological status in women with postpartum anemia treated with oral iron supplementation; however, the differences were not clinically significant. Thus, we did not regard it as an adverse effect to be considered, and postpartum zinc supplementation may be viewed as beneficial in postpartum women.
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Recent advances in chemotherapy have led to the emergence of new types of anticancer agents. With these advances, cases of side effects that have not been witnessed in the past have emerged. The systems of side effect evaluation and their grading have been based on the existing knowledge, such as the CTCAE (Common Terminology Standard for Adverse Events) for evaluating adverse drug reactions in cancer chemotherapy clinical trials. ⋯ In this case, the severity of dysgraphia differed depending on the complexity of the letters examined. There is no report that the severity of dysgraphia depends on the letters' complexity, and therefore, it may be overlooked when using simple letters. We have reported the characteristics of dysgraphia in this case and the differences observed when judging different letters.
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Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. CC prevention is based on screening and HPV vaccination. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties in implementing CC-preventative measures. ⋯ Immunization coverage of the population of girls aged 9-18 years under private health care at the end of the observation period was 4.3% (2021). Conclusions: It is necessary to reorganize the public CC-screening system in Poland based on a uniform reporting system for tests performed in both public and private health care using the model of action proposed by us. We recommend the introduction of a national free HPV vaccination program funded by the government and implemented in public and private health care facilities.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation Reduces Pathological Sensation of Mesh One Week after Open Inguinal Hernia Surgery: Follow-Up Results from a Randomized, Double Blind and Placebo-Controlled Trial.
Background and Objectives: Quality of life (QoL) and chronic pain are important outcomes following hernia surgery. The long-term effects of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on postoperative recovery are not well known. In this trial we investigated the role of TENS on QoL and on the incidence of chronic pain following inguinal hernia repair with mesh. ⋯ At 6 months postoperatively, no incidence of chronic pain was found in either the placebo-TENS or TENS group. Conclusions: Conventional TENS applied in the early postoperative period following inguinal hernia repair with mesh was found to reduce mesh-related foreign body sensation one week after surgery. Promising results were also found for other QoL domains.
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Evidence regarding treatment for the acute phase of COVID-19 has been accumulating, but specific treatment for long COVID/post-COVID-19 condition has not yet been established. Treatment with herbal medicine might be one treatment option for long COVID, but there has been little research on the effectiveness of herbal medicine for long COVID. The aim of this study was to clarify the prescription patterns of Kampo medicines, which are herbal medicines that originated in China and were developed in Japan, for the treatment of general fatigue due to long COVID. ⋯ The most frequently prescribed Kampo medicine was hochuekkito (71.6%) and other prescribed Kampo medicines were tokishakuyakusan, ryokeijutsukanto, juzentaihoto, hangekobokuto, kakkonto, ninjin'yoeito, goreisan, rikkunshito, and keishibukuryogan. Since the pathophysiology of general fatigue after an infectious disease is, in general, considered a qi deficiency in Kampo medicine, treatments with such compensation agents can be the major prescription as a complement for the qi. In conclusion, Kampo medicine can be one of the main pharmacological treatments for long COVID accompanying general fatigue.