Open Access DOI:10.23937/2377-3634/1410055
The Burden of Co-morbid Depression in Ambulatory Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
Kanu Joseph E, Otieno CF Frederick, Karari Emma M, Okech-Helu Violet and Mutai Kenn
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: March 26, 2016
This was a cross-sectional study done on patients living with type-2 diabetes on follow-up at the diabetes out-patient clinic (DOPC) at the KNH. Systematic sampling method was used to recruit 220 study subjects. The PHQ-9 questionnaire was used to assess for co-morbid depression. Socio-demographic and clinical details were obtained both from the subjects and their medical records. Physical examination was done, including blood pressure and BMI determined. Blood samples were collected from the cu...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5858/1510011
Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in the Elderly: Conventional and Emerging Prognostic Biomarkers in Daily Clinical Practice
Paula Martinez Santos, Elena Batlle Lopez, Isidre Vilacosta, Beatriz Sanchez Sauce, Elena Espana Barrio, Julia Jimenez Valtierra, Raquel Campuzano Ruiz, Ma Dolores Martin Rios
Article Type: Original Article | First Published: February 27, 2016
Albumin serum levels and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) have shown to be useful in predicting outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) and systolic dysfunction. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) has also been associated to a higher risk of mortality and rehospitalization in patients with HF and impaired left ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of these biomarkers among acute decompensated HF with preserved ejection fra...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5858/1510007
The Relationship of Older Adults' Physical Pain to Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review
Golnar Alamdari and Luciana Lagana
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 31, 2015
In a high quality research study conducted earlier this year, Outcalt, Kroenke, Krebs, et al. emphasized that depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are often present in individuals living with chronic pain and typically have negative consequences on both the experience of pain and health outcomes, yet, the specific nature of the pain-depression-PTSD link remains unclear. This is especially applicable to older adults, a population that has seldom been studied on this topic....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-346X/1410048
Non-stimulated Tear Sample Collection Using Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Foam and Polyester Wick
Rose K Sia, Denise S Ryan, Robin S Howard, Snezana Haymes, Yaling Zhou, Charles D Coe and Kraig S Bower
Article Type: Case Report | First Published: February 23, 2016
Tear fluid analysis contributes to the greater understanding of various ocular and systemic diseases. Obtaining adequate samples for tear analysis requires an effective collection method. The direct aspiration method using capillary micropipette may be challenging to the operator and patients especially when collecting non stimulated tear samples. The purpose of this study is to assess efficacy of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam and polyester wick (PW) for non-stimulated tear sample collection....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-584X/1510017
Coexistence of Acute Appendicitis and Perforated Meckel's Diverticulitis: A Rare Presentation in Older Adults
Rahman Senocak, Mehmet Ince, Sahin Kaymak, Zafer Kilbas and M Tahir Ozer
Article Type: Case Report | First Published: February 12, 2016
An appendectomy is one of the most commonly performed abdominal surgical procedures. During this operation, a Meckel's diverticulum (MD) can occasionally be found as an incidental finding, but the coexistence of both appendicitis and a perforated MD is fairly rare. Complications associated with an MD commonly occur in males, but the frequency of complications decreases with aging. Here, we present a rare case with a simultaneous coexistence of appendicitis and a perforated MD in an older patient...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-4215.1510005
Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures and Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Approach
Daniele Vanni , Andrea Pantalone, Matteo Guelfi and Vincenzo Salini
Article Type: Short Review | First Published: March 16, 2016
Osteoporotic vertebral fractures and related surgical approach are more frequent due to increased average life. In most cases these fractures are atraumatic or associated with a minimal trauma but high-energy trauma are increasing in patients with osteoporotic vertebrae. In addition to the conservative treatment, several surgical procedures are available. Minimally invasive percutaneous approach is a good option for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures; it is a rapidly developing fi...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-1353/1510018
Abandoned Babies: Examination of Abandoned Babies' News in Turkey
Zekiye Karacam
Article Type: Short Commentary | First Published: March 25, 2016
The aim of this study was to examine stories of abandoned babies' news published in newspapers in Turkey. In this retrospective descriptive study, infant deaths and abuse stories in newspapers published as Turkish examined. In the 80 news published between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2014, 88 babies reported. Twenty eight (31.82%) of these babies were abandoned. Of abandoned babies, 25 had died, 23 were newborn, and most of them were abandoned by unmarried mothers (n = 12) and unknown persons (n = 14) ...