bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and distal-symmetric diabetic polyneuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus referred to Kosar Hospital in Semnan and related indicators in 2019–2020
Authors: Reshdat Sara , Mehri Mohammad , Pourkalhor Shahryar , Najmaldin Atousa , Foroutan Majid 
Published: March 2022

Introduction:
Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases and one of its important complications is diabetic neuropathy. Due to the relationship between diabetes and thyroid disorders, the present study was performed to determine the association between subclinical hypothyroidism and end-stage diabetic polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods:
In this descriptive, analytical study, 154 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Kosar Hospital in Semnan were evaluated. After recording their demographic information, samples were received for biochemical testing. The patients’ neuropathy was then evaluated based on the United Kingdom screening test (UKST). The results were recorded in the data collection form and then analyzed using SPSS Statistics 22 software.

Results:
In this study, 154 patients were studied, including 49 with subclinical hypothyroidism and 105 with euthyroid. The results of the present study showed that the mean age of patients in the subclinical hypothyroid group was 60.08 years and in the euthyroid group was 60.77 years. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the patients’ age, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, body mass index, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and Glucose, and 2-hour post prandial (2HPP) were not statistically significant between the two groups. The frequency of neuropathy severity based on clinical signs during examination and symptoms mentioned by the patients in the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively). The severity of neuropathy was not significantly associated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:
From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the severity of neuropathy based on the clinical signs during examination and the symptoms mentioned by the patient in diabetic patients is related to subclinical hypothyroidism. Further studies are recommended.
COVID-19 associated pulmonary mucormycosis: A systematic review of published cases with review of literature
Authors: Rai Deependra K. 
Published: March 2022

Background:
There is sharp rise in cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis worldwide and specially during second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This systemic review was conducted to characterize pulmonary mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 infection.

Materials and Methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted in the electronic database of PubMed and Google Scholar from 1st January 2020 to June 5, 2021 using keywords. Details of all the cases that reported pulmonary mucormycosis in people with COVID-19 so far, were retrieved and analyzed.

Result:
Total 9 articles of pulmonary mucormycosis with COVID-19 infection were reported in the database of PubMed and Google Scholar. Only one case till date was reported from India, others are from USA (n-3), Italy (n-2), France (n-1), UK (n-1), and Arizona (n-1). Pooled data from this study showed mucormycosis was predominantly seen in males (8 male, 1 female). The most common comorbidities associated were diabetes (n-3), hematological malignancy, (n-2) and end-stage renal disease (n-2), while 2 cases did not show any associated comorbidity. All the cases were having severe COVID-19 infection and 7 out of 9 patients were in ICU and on mechanical ventilation at the time of diagnosis. None of the cases associated with rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) except 1 patient with sinus involvement. Mortality was found in 7 out of 9 patients.

Conclusion:
There is a need to keep a high index of suspicion in patients with severe COVID-19 infections, diabetic, and received treatment in ICU with ventilator support for early diagnosis and treatment. Although Mucor is less common than Aspergillus infection, it is associated with higher mortality.
Understanding health care seeking behavior in a tribal setting in West Bengal
Authors: Taraphdar Pranita , Vasudeva Abhimanyu , Sheikh Nishat Ahmed , Bharti Ajay , Chanu Asem Rangita , Yadav S.L. , Sahu Samantak 
Published: March 2022

Background:
The health-related problems of the tribal population depend on their ecology and culture. Often the tribal people do not utilize the medical and preventive health services available to them. Health problems in tribal groups need special attention because many tribal communities are backward. The current study was planned to determine the healthcare-seeking behavior of the tribal population in India.

Method:
A descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted by interviewing key respondents of each participating family.

Result:
Two-thirds of the key respondents were literate and half (53.8%) of the total households in the three villages had a per capita monthly income between Rupees 500-1499. More than half (57%) of all respondents preferred government institutions for moderate illness, and the rest equally opted for private practitioners and quacks. However, for emergencies, dog bites, and snake bites, all key respondents in the three study villages unanimously preferred government institutions. A significant population (38.5%) got their children delivered at home. The majority of illiterate respondents (86.1%) preferred government institutions for health care of under-five children, while 60% of literates expressed a similar view. The choice of government institutions as a source of health care was increasingly favored with decreasing per capita monthly household income.

Conclusion:
Traditional healers are no longer preferred among the tribal population but they are reluctant to avail them because of the loss of valuable time. Home delivery is still prevalent. With improving socioeconomic status, people are going further away from government services as private practitioners, and quacks take less time.
Peppermint drop effect on ileus following cesarean section
Authors: Mousavi Vahed Seyyedeh Houra , Afiat Malihe , Dadgar Salmeh 
Published: March 2022

Objective:
Intestine dysfunction and ileus are one of the cesarean section complications. medicinal herbs have been used to restore the postoperative intestinal function. Therefore, we decided to use a mint drop to improve bowel function after cesarean section.

Methods and Materials:
102 women enrolled in the study. The patients were simply randomized and double blindly divided into two groups of 51 patients and giving them medication (mint drops) or placebo. Then, the initial evaluation included hearing the first bowel sound, having nausea and vomiting, the first gas passing feeling time, the first defecation feeling time, and duration of hospitalization was evaluated and compared between the two groups.

Results:
The mean time to hearing the first intestinal sounds was 9/05 ± 2/44 hours in the placebo group and 5/78 ± 1/25 hours in the treatment group. The interval between surgery and the first gas passing feeling time in the placebo group was 12/24 ± 3/91 hours and in the treatment group was 7/87 ± 2/02 hours. None of the patients had nausea and vomiting.

Conclusion:
Considering the significant difference between two groups in the meantime interval to hearing the first intestinal sound, the first gas passing feeling time, and the first defecation feeling time, we conclude that the peppermint drop is more effective than placebo in improving bowel function.
Seven day continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic telemetric study with pocket electrocardiographic recording device for detecting hydroxychloroquine induced arrhythmias
Authors: Walia Rohit , Prabhakaran Nanda , Kodliwadmath Ashwin , Singh O Buddha Charan , Mahala Prakash , Kaeley Nidhi 
Published: March 2022

Objective:
The use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for COVID-19 treatment and prophylaxis raised issues concerning its cardiac safety owing to the possibility of QT prolongation and arrhythmias. There was no study on long-term electrocardiographic telemetry monitoring of patients taking HCQ. We planned a continuous electrocardiographic Holter telemetry of these patients for 7 days.

Material and Methods:
Health care workers taking HCQ as pre exposure prophylaxis and patients on HCQ were monitored using seven day Holter electrocardiographic telemetry with continuous beat to beat analysis. Telemetry can instantly convey any arrhythmic event or significant QT prolongation to the medical faculty.

Results:
Twenty-five participants with a mean age of 42.4 ± 14.1 years were included in the study; 40% were females. Twenty percent of participants needed to stop HCQ. Four patients developed QT prolongation >500 ms and needed to stop HCQ, one patient had accelerated idioventricular rhythm and stopped treatment, and one had short episodes of atrial fibrillation. No malignant arrhythmia or ventricular arrhythmia, or torsade de pointis were noted. No episode of significant conduction disturbance and arrhythmic death was noted. Baseline mean QTc was 423.96 ± 32.18 ms, mean QTc corrected at 24 h was 438.93 ± 37.95, mean QTc was 451.879 ± 37.99 at 48 h, and change in baseline mean QTc to max QTc was 30.74 ± 21.75 ms at 48 h. All those who developed QTc prolongation >500 ms were greater than 50 years of age.

Conclusion:
Ambulatory telemetry ECG monitoring detects early QT prolongation, and stopping drugs prevents malignant arrhythmias. HCQ seems to have less risk of QT prolongation in young, healthy individuals.
Challenges in managing glaucoma-related morbidity due to lockdown in a developing country
Authors: Sen Saswati , Das Matuli , Das Manmath Kumar , Dash Snehalata 
Published: March 2022

Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess the ocular morbidity due to delayed presentation in glaucoma patients because of COVID lockdown.

Methodology:
This was a retrospective study of 15 cases presented to us between October 2020 and February 2021. Cause of glaucoma in our study group was either primary angle closure, pseudoexfoliation, lens-induced glaucoma, or neovascular glaucoma. The cause of delayed presentation was identified and patients were treated with antiglaucoma medications, Nd-Yag laser, and surgery as per the standard treatment protocol.

Results:
With both medical and surgical intervention, some useful vision was restored in five cases while in rest it was not salvageable. The vision in the affected eye ranged from 6/60 in Snellen’s chart to perception of light and projection of rays positive. Better results were achieved in angle, closure, and lens-induced glaucoma cases as compared to neovascular glaucoma cases.

Conclusion:
The time of presentation in such cases is as important as the etiopathogenesis. We are left with limited treatment options if the presentation is late. The lockdown ended but it unraveled quite a few instances of disease presentation which were totally preventable under normal circumstances. Introspection on finding out newer and proactive methods to reach people suffering from such irreversible but preventable diseases is the need of the day especially when preventable but irreversible diseases like glaucoma are considered.
Assessment of pre and post donation changes in hematological parameters and serum calcium and magnesium levels in plateletpheresis donors
Authors: Syal Neha , Kukar Neetu , Arora Harkiran , Kaur Arunpreet , Handa Anjali , Maharishi R. N. 
Published: March 2022

Background:
Single donor platelet products are preferred over random donor platelet products due to several advantages. However, safety issues with regard to post procedure hematological decrements and serum calcium and magnesium levels in donors undergoing plateletpheresis have been explored minimally.

Aims:
This prospective study was done to analyze the effects of plateletpheresis on donor’s hematological parameters and serum calcium and magnesium levels.

Settings and Design:
It is a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted in the department of immunohematology and blood transfusion.

Material and Methods:
This study was undertaken on 150 healthy plateletpheresis donors over a period of 1 year. Blood samples were collected from each donor before and after the procedure, one in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) vial for estimation of hematological parameters and another in plain vial for serum calcium and magnesium levels.

Statistical Analysis Used:
Paired t-test was used to analyze the data.

Results:
This study included donors in the age group of 18 to 60 years who underwent plateletpheresis on Haemonetics model of a machine (MCS) + intermittent flow cell separator. A statistically significant increase was observed in mean post procedural Hb (0.95%), Hct (0.7%), and red blood cell (RBC) count (1.3%). There was a decrease in mean post procedural platelet count (27.5%), white blood cell (WBC) count (4.02%), mean serum calcium (1.5%), and serum magnesium (5.1%), which was statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). No significant change was observed in post procedural mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW).

Conclusion:
Amid the need of increased demand for plateletpheresis, donor safety must be ensured. Failing to do so can be detrimental to blood supply chain, hence stringent programs for post donation screening of plateletpheresis donors need to be established.
Knowledge, attitude and practices towards antibiotic use among patients attending Al Wazarat health center
Authors: Alkhalifah Hamzah M. , Alkhalifah Khalid M. , Alharthi Abdullah F. , Elzahrany Yazeed R. , Aljuhani Mohammad Abdullah 
Published: March 2022

Background:
Despite recent government efforts to control antibiotic purchase by the public, the rate of self-prescription is still alarmingly high in Saudi Arabia. Increased and inappropriate antibiotic use has been identified as an important factor behind bacterial resistance. Recently, there has been an increased interest in the Saudi public’s awareness of antibiotic use and resistance. However, none of the local studies examined the awareness and practices among patients attending primary care services. Additionally, the influencing factors of awareness and practices have never been comprehensively examined.

Objective:
To assess the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices of antibiotic use and their influencing factors among a sample of patients at a primary care setting.

Methods:
A cross-sectional design was used to examine patients attending Al Wazarat Health Center in Riyadh between 1 January 2018 and 31 March 2018. Data was collected using a structured study questionnaire which included data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, as well as knowledge, attitude, and practices of antibiotic use. Scores were calculated for knowledge, attitude, and practices of antibiotic use and were translated to a 100-point scale for easy interpretation.

Results:
The current analysis included 343 participants. The average age was 32.5 ± 10.0 years. The majority of the participants were women (63.0%), married (65.9%), and had college or higher education (57.0%). The overall antibiotic awareness level was 54.7% (including 43.9% for knowledge and 71.7% for attitude) and appropriate antibiotic practices were 68.3%. The scores of both awareness and practices were positively and significantly correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.440, P < 0.001). In addition to appropriate antibiotic practices, awareness was significantly associated with higher educational level and having children.

Conclusions:
The current findings indicate the need to improve awareness and understanding of the public regarding appropriate antibiotic use by targeting patients who attend primary care services with posters, structured educational sessions, and physician advice.
Awareness about total knee replacement among Saudi population
Authors: Almaawi Abdulaziz , Aloud Wael , Alshayhan Fahad , Aljedia Khaled , Alaskar Fahad , Alsuleiman Omar 
Published: March 2022

Introduction:
The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge of the general population about knee osteoarthritis and its surgical interventions in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease. A lack of knowledge about the nature of the disease may delay seeking medical advice until the advanced stage of the disease.

Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted among 486 participants (≥18 years) who were sampled randomly from an osteoarthritis awareness campaign located within a shopping facility located in Riyadh in 2020. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire, which included six domains; demographic information, causes, symptoms, treatment, complications, and general questions. Data for this study were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS 22; IBM Corp., New York, NY, USA). Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables were expressed as percentages. The t-test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for continuous variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the associated factors with a low level of knowledge. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:
Most of the participants in our study were males (56.8%) and Saudi nationals (89.7%). (83.74%). Consider that surgical intervention is the best treatment when non-surgical options do not work. The mean questionnaire score for the 486 participants was found to be 20.85 ± 5.29 out of 35 points. In comparing the male to female total scores, we found the mean female total score to be statistically significant and higher than that of the males with a P value of 0.036. Furthermore, we found that the non-Saudis had a total score higher than the Saudis with a P value of 0.016. On the other hand, the difference in the total scores between the city and rural area residents and different educational levels were statistically insignificant.

Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that the majority of the community has satisfactory awareness about the treatment options of knee osteoarthritis. It also demonstrates the domains that require more effort for increased public awareness of knee osteoarthritis.
Health care services: Utilization and perception among elderly in an urban resettlement colony of Delhi
Authors: Singh Shivani , Patra Somdatta , Khan Amir M. 
Published: March 2022

Context:
Health care utilization informs us about the utility of services which are available. We have a paucity of studies related to health care utilization among elderly in India.

Aims:
The aim of this study is to find out utilization of health care services by elderly (≥60 years), pattern, factors associated with, and perception of the elderly population regarding facilitators and barriers for the same.

Settings and Design:
A community based cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in a resettlement colony of East Delhi.

Materials and Methods:
A pretested, semi-structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Duration of data collection was November 2018 to January 2020.

Statistical Analysis Used:
For quantitative variables, mean, median, proportion, Chi-square test, binary logistic regression using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and for qualitative variables thematic analysis were done.

Results:
The study included 288 study participants. Although utilization of health care services in last 15 days among elderly is 90%, it was also found that 69% of the elderly consulted a licensed medical practitioner. A private facility was visited by 58% of the study participants. Female gender (OR: 1.97; P = 0.02), religion as Hindu (OR, 2.09; P = 0.04), and marital status “single” (OR, 1.8; P = 0.04) were observed to be significant predictors of health care utilization. The participants expressed less waiting time, cashless facility for visits, availability of an accompanying person, behavior of staffs work as facilitators for utilization of services.

Conclusions:
Considering the unique characteristics of this age group, a shift from facility to community-based approach may be considered. Efforts may be made to create elderly friendly health facilities.
A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of health behaviors and protective factors among schoolchildren in a rural area in West Bengal
Authors: Basu Rivu , Bhattacharyya Suchetana , Mitra Sayeli 
Published: March 2022

Background:
Adolescence is the most vulnerable developmental period in one’s life. In low to middle-income countries like ours, adolescence living in the rural area face increasing physical and mental health challenges that are not addressed due to ignorance or resource limitation. This study is conducted with the aim of assessing the magnitude of health behavior and protection factor among school children in the study area and to compare the same between boys and girls.

Materials and Methods:
An explanatory sequential mixed method descriptive observational study with cross-sectional study design was conducted on 102 students aged 15-19 years studying in a government school in Amdanga block, West Bengal. Purposive sampling was done for the quantitative part. Global school health survey questionnaire was used. Qualitative study with FGD was done after the quantitative part.

Results:
Out of 102 students, 58 (56.66%) re females and 44 (43.13%) are males, only 10 (9.8%) have consumed alcohol and 14 (13.72%) have consumed tobacco of some form. 15 (14.8%) students were bullied last year. Around 11 (10.8%) students had suicidal thoughts in the last 1 year. Most of them have proper hygiene behavior. Qualitative analysis revealed issues amongst both males and females regarding body image perception etc.,

Conclusion:
It is seen that males have more addictive behavior and gets into fighting easily then females. It is found that there are many issues regarding mental and physical health of the adolescents. That needs to be addressed and measure should be taken seriously and proper services like counseling, monitoring, parent’s support should be given.