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International Journal of Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Radiation Oncology
Number of Followers: 11

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 2168-5436 - ISSN (Online) 2168-5444
Published by Scientific Research Publishing

[243 journals]

Retrospective evaluation of laboratory findings of suspected paediatric
COVID-19 patients with positive and negative RT-PCR
- Authors: Eda Yaman, Bulut Demirel, Abdurrahman Yilmaz, Sema Avci, Lukasz Szarpak
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: It was observed that the new coronavirus disease had a different clinical course in children compared to adults. Fewer cases and deaths have been reported in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All children with suspected COVID-19 who applied to a secondary health care centre were included in this study and blood parameters were compared according to Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) results. This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional study and was conducted by accessing the hospital records of 40 paediatric patients aged 0–16 years. RT-PCR test was performed by isolating Viral RNA with RNA Isolation System after oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal samples were taken from patients with appropriate sterile swabs and transferred to tubes containing SNP Viral Inactivation Solution. All statistical calculations were done with SPSS 23.0 (SPSS for Windows, Chicago, IL, SA). Mean values of continuous variables were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The results were evaluated as 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05 and were considered statistically significant. In the light of the blood results of a small number of paediatric cases who applied, the authors tried to determine the parameters that could increase the success in diagnosis in asymptomatic paediatric cases. C-Reactive Protein, ID-dimer (quantitative), leukocytes, monocytes, sodium, mean platelet volume levels were found to be significantly different between the patients with positive and negative COVID test results. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal that the use of leukocytopenia, monocytopenia and mean platelet volume elevation as diagnostic markers may increase diagnostic success, especially in asymptomatic paediatric COVID-19 patients.
  PubDate: 2021-08-09
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
Effect of physical fatigue and smoking cigarettes on the CPR effectiveness
performed by soldiers
- Authors: Beata Zysiak-Christ, Joanna Pieczynska
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The witness of the event plays an important role in the diagnosis of cardiac arrest in the victim. Taking quick actions to restore basic life functions is the essence of pre-hospital assistance, and this applies not only to civilian conditions but also to combat operations. During extraordinary occurrences and civil-military cooperation, the soldier’s physical fitness and the ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation effectively give a better chance to save the cardiac arrest victim’s life. The study aimed to assess the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by soldiers before and after physical activity, taking account of smoking by the examined persons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-four soldiers took part in the study. The assessment included a 2-minute CPR performance by the soldier before and after physical activity in the Tactical Field Care zone. The Little Anne phantom was used to record CPR quality. Among the examined soldiers, 20% were active smokers. RESULTS: The research showed that the average CPR effectiveness before exercise was significantly higher than after combat operations (75% vs. 73%). The research also demonstrated that, physical fatigue significantly reduced the rate of chest compressions and the percentage of full chest recoil during CPR. Smoking had no significant effect on the quality of CPR performance. The quality of performance of the CPR components correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI), age, and time since the last training completion. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of CPR performance after combat exercise is lower than before the physical fatigue. While smoking does not affect CPR performance quality, other factors such as BMI, age, and time since the last training completion are relevant in this context.
  PubDate: 2021-08-09
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
Relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and acute
inflammatory markers in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Authors: Teodoro J. Oscanoa, José Amado, Rawia A. Ghashut, Roman Romero-Ortuno
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: There is experimental and clinical evidence that the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D)] may decrease in acute systemic inflammatory responses; in this context, low values may not necessarily indicate a pre-existing deficiency. This may also apply to low 25(OH)D levels found in the context of the systemic inflammatory response caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. To conduct a systematic review of the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-a) in acutely hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for studies published between January 2020 and February 2021. In each study, the authors compared levels of inflammatory markers between patients reported as having low levels of 25(OH) D and those above the study cut-off. RESULTS: 18 studies were included (n = 3482, mean age 63.5 ± 9.3 years, 56.9% men). The cut-off for the definition of low 25(OH)D varied across studies. In all studies, mean values for inflammatory markers were higher in the low 25(OH)D groups. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in 6/15 studies with CRP, 4/8 with IL-6 and 0/1 with TNF-a. CONCLUSIONS: Markers of acute systemic inflammatory response were elevated in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and low concentrations of 25(OH)D. Therefore, the vitamin D status in those patients should be interpreted with caution, and studies should be designed to assess whether hypovitaminosis D could be an epiphenomenon.
  PubDate: 2021-08-09
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
Effect of rocuronium on the heart rate and arterial blood pressure during
combined general anaesthesia
- Authors: Urszula Kosciuczuk, Paulina Gluszynska, Inna Diemieszczyk, Aleksander Lukaszewicz, Krzysztof Bauer, Maciej Kokoszko, Lukasz Szarpak, Jerzy Robert Ladny, Hady Razak Hady
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Additional mechanisms of neuromuscular blocking agents action create the haemodynamic condition during general anaesthesia. The aim was to investigate the effect of rocuronium on haemodynamic parameters during combined general anaesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in two groups: Group I underwent combined anaesthesia with rocuronium and Group II — combined anaesthesia without any muscle relaxants. Haemodynamic parameters: heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded before anaesthesia, at the end of rocuronium infusion, and after recovery from anaesthesia. RESULTS: In both groups, the values of the median heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure recorded before and after anaesthesia were similar and did not differ significantly. In Group I, significant reduction in heart rate in the end of rocuronium infusion [74 (61–103)], (p = 0.01) and after recovery from anesthesia [71 (53–100)], (p = 0.03), compared to the value before anesthesia [81 (56–104)], were demonstrated. Additionally, significant reduction in systolic [130 (96–169); 114 (92–144)], (p = 0.04), diastolic [80 (54–109); 73 (47–99)], (p = 0.01), and mean [95 (72–106); 85 (68–109)], (p = 0.02) arterial blood pressure in the end of rocuronium infusion were noticed. The values of systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure after recovery from anaesthesia significantly increased in relation to the values observed in the end of the rocuronium infusion [129 (96–181)], (p = 0.01); [78 (47–107)], (p = 0.03); [93 (63–107)], (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The vagolytic effect was not observed during general anaesthesia with rocuronium. The changes in heart rate and blood pressure were associated with the rocuronium infusion and were normalized after recovery from anaesthesia.
  PubDate: 2021-07-20
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
Warming the oxygen with the rescuer’s body as a possible method of heat
loss prevention in a prehospital setting. Initial report
- Authors: Tomasz Kłosiewicz, Radosław Zalewski, Magdalena Wieczorek, Joanna Fąferek, Maciej Sip, Leszek Różański, Ewa Stachowska
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Discomfort from cold is a significant problem for trauma victims. Prehospital treatment of a hypothermic patient is hugely challenging for medical rescue teams. Preventing heat loss is a basic treatment in all levels of care. The main aim objective of this report was to examine the influence of low ambient temperature on cooling oxygen in a rescue set and to check whether heating the oxygen tube with the rescuer’s body is a legitimate method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the control test, an oxygen tube was disposed of across a styrofoam board, whereas a study group was an oxygen tube hidden underneath the paramedic’s jacket. A thermographic camera was used to define oxygen’s temperature in different parts of the medical setting. The research was carried out in the winter season in the natural environment, which was comparable to the regular work conditions of the services. RESULTS: In a control group, the oxygen temperature in an oxygen mask was similar to the ambient temperature. This research has found that warming up an oxygen tube underneath the paramedic’s jacket resulted in a 12.9 degree increase in temperature in an oxygen mask. CONCLUSIONS: Keeping the oxygen tube underneath a jacket may serve as an additional method of preventing patients’ heat loss. The authors express the need for further research on providing hypothermic patients with warm oxygen. The authors believe that introducing such an easy method of warming up the oxygen may positively influence treatment results and give rise to a discussion on the presented method.
  PubDate: 2021-07-20
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
The role and significance of 112 emergency health services in treatment
and guidance in mass food poisoning cases
- Authors: Semih Korkut, Nurhayat Baskaya, Elif Arslan, Sakir Omur Hincal, Kenan Ahmet Turkdogan
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: 112 emergency health services send the same types of cases to different hospitals and receive the first information, have a comprehensive knowledge on these cases and inform all the hospitals simultaneously. AIM: In this study, our aim is to share with the literature through anticholinergic food poisoning cases that it is possible to prevent delays in examination and treatment and to prevent information pollution when 112 emergency health services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 213 mass food poisoning cases which occurred between December 1 and 7, 2019 and which were taken to 14 hospitals with 112 emergency health services. File information of 69 of these cases were reached; in addition to demographic characteristics such as age and gender, physical examination findings such as blood pressure, pulse, skin-eye and consciousness states, laboratory values, hospitalization times, in which units the cases were followed and the duration of admission to the hospital after meals were noted. RESULTS: Of the 69 cases, 42 were found to have skin findings, 37 were found to have mydriasis and 12 were found to have agitation and/or confusion. The duration of admission to hospital after meal was found as 6.5 (4.5–10.0) hours. 60 (87.0%) of the patients were followed in the emergency room, 4 (5.8%) were followed in the internal medicine service and 5 (7.2%) were followed in the intensive care. CONCLUSIONS: When the crisis team of 112 emergency health services is alert, they can categorize the event, prevent the chaos in the emergency service of hospitals with correct triage and thus with the process of understanding the event, examination and treatment process becomes more executable.
  PubDate: 2021-07-14
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
Validation of Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room scale in Turkish
population and comparison of its efficiency with Face-Arm-Speech Test
- Authors: Nurdan Yılmaz Şahin, Mehmet Okumuş, Isa Baspınar, Burak Demirci, Ahmet Çelik
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Various risk scores were developed to recognize acute stroke easily and to start treatment right away in the emergency departments. Although the Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room (ROSIER) score used for this purpose is indicated better than the other scoring systems, it is expressed that it will be able to have social differentiations. In this study, we targeted to research validation of the ROSIER scale and to compare its efficiency with Face-Arm-Speech Test (FAST), another stroke diagnosis method, for the patients who applied to the emergency department with the stroke or transient ischemic attack symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients who reported to the emergency department with the suggestive symptoms or findings of stroke and were above 18 years of age were included in the study. The study forms were filled out by the emergency medicine specialist or the senior emergency medical assistant after the patients were evaluated, and then they were consulted by the neurology specialist. The final diagnosis, which was established after the clinical evaluation and necessary imaging done by the neurology specialists, was accepted as a standard reference. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients, including 168 (50.1%) females, were included in the study. The sensitivity was 68.5%, specificity was 79.0%, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 78.7%, NPV (Negative Predictive Value) was 68.9%, and test validity was 73.4% for the ROSIER scale. For the FAST scale the sensitivity was 63.5%, specificity was 88.5%, PPV was 86.3%, NPV was 68.1%, and test validity was 75.2%. CONCLUSION: In the present study, it was seen that the ROSIER scale could be used in separating the patients with CVO (cerebrovascular accident) from the patients who applied with the similar clinical findings. However, FAST was superior because its specificity and PPV were higher and its practicability was easier than the ROSIER.
  PubDate: 2021-07-12
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)
Assessment of the homophobic attitudes of the emergency department
professionals: descriptive survey study
- Authors: Mehmet Murat Oktay, Mustafa Boğan, Mustafa Sabak, Hasan Sultanoğlu, Hüseyin Narcı
  Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Homophobia can be defined as fear, hatred, discrimination, and even violent feelings and behaviors developed towards individuals with sexual orientations different to other individuals of the same sex. Our study was conducted to assess the levels of homophobia among emergency medicine specialists, practitioners, nurses, and other health care professionals working in the emergency department (ED). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out as a descriptive survey study in Gaziantep, Turkey, between July 7, 2018 and August 30, 2018. The data was collected using a Google survey form link sent to volunteers via mobile phone. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 30.85 ± 7 (20–53) years. While 77.5% (n = 117) of the volunteers who participated in the study worked in state hospitals, 11.3% (n = 17) worked in a private hospital. The Cronbach’s Alpha value was calculated as 92.3 and the scale average score as 85.42 ± 12.33 as a result of the evaluation of the Likert-type scale. While 69 (45.7%) people were lower in homophobia, 82 (54.3%) were higher in homophobia. A difference in attitudes towards homosexuals was only observed between those who had a homosexual friend or acquaintance and those who did not (p = 0.009). Accordingly, those with homosexual friends were determined to be less homophobic. On the other hand, it was observed that those with a homosexual acquaintance and those with no homosexual acquaintances were more homophobic. CONCLUSION: In our study, it was shown that emergency medicine specialists and other health professionals working in the ED exhibit high levels of homophobic attitudes and behaviors. Including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBT-I) health problems in in-service trainings may contribute to the improvement of homophobic attitudes.
  PubDate: 2021-07-12
  Issue No: Vol. 6 (2021)

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