Abstract Objective: There is paucity of literature on the impact of gender on outcomes of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) among adult patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender on the outcome of these patients. Methodology: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried for all patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) during the years 2005-2014. The primary outcomes of the study were all-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction (MI), and acute stroke. The secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury (AKI), rhabdomyolysis, acute respiratory failure (ARF), need for mechanical ventilation (MV), length of stay (LOS), and total cost of stay. Results: Overall, 188,725 patients were admitted for HHS. Mean age of males was 53.7, standard error of the mean (SEM: 0.13), and of females was 58.5 (SEM: 0.15), p<0.001. Females were (43.9%), Caucasians were 37.4% while African Americans were 35.2%. Total mortality was 1.1%, MI was 1.3% and stroke was 1.1%. Most common secondary outcome was AKI seen in 31.3% followed by ARF seen in 2.9% of total. The mean cost was 7887 $ (SEM: 84.6) and mean LOS was 4.1 days (SEM: 0.03). Both males and females had equivalent rates of mortality, stroke, ARF and need for mechanical ventilation. Compared to males, females had significantly higher risk for MI 1.6% vs 1.1%, p<0.001, lower risk for AKI 29.3% vs 32.9%, p<0.001, lower risk for rhabdomyolysis 1.1% vs 2%, p<0.001 and higher LOS 4.3 vs 3.9 days, p<0..01 and higher total costs 8165.6 $ vs 7669.3 $, p < 0.001. On multivariable analysis, female gender was independently predictive for higher risk for MI with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.34 [95%CI: 1.08-1.67] p=0.01 and lower risk for rhabdomyolysis with aOR 0.52 [95%CI: 0.42-0.63] p<0.001 and lower risk for AKI with aOR 0.74 [95%CI: 0.7-0.78] p<0.001. In addition, female gender correlated with higher cost and length of stay. Conclusion: Females with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state are at higher risk for MI and lower risk for AKI and rhabdomyolysis.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues' experiences and published evidence. In late 2020, BJS contacted colleagues across the global surgical community and asked them to describe how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had affected their practice. In addition to this, the Commission undertook a literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on surgery and perioperative care. A thematic analysis was performed to identify the issues most frequently encountered by the correspondents, as well as the solutions and ideas suggested to address them. BJS received communications for this Commission from leading clinicians and academics across a variety of surgical specialties in every inhabited continent. The responses from all over the world provided insights into multiple facets of surgical practice from a governmental level to individual clinical practice and training. The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered a variety of problems in healthcare systems, including negative impacts on surgical practice. Global surgical multidisciplinary teams are working collaboratively to address research questions about the future of surgery in the post-COVID-19 era. The COVID-19 pandemic is severely damaging surgical training. The establishment of a multidisciplinary ethics committee should be encouraged at all surgical oncology centres. Innovative leadership and collaboration is vital in the post-COVID-19 era.
Patients with mycetoma usually present late with advanced disease, which is attributed to lack of medical and health facilities in endemic areas, poor health education and low socio-economic status. With this background, an integrated patient management model at the village level was designed to address the various problems associated with mycetoma. The model was launched in an endemic village in the Sudan, between 2010 and 2013. This model is described in a prospective, descriptive, community-based study, aimed to collect epidemiological, ecological, and clinical data and to assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in order to design effective and efficient management measures. In this study, the prevalence of mycetoma was 14.5 per 1,000 inhabitants. The patients were farmers, housewives and children of low socio-economic status, and no obvious risk group was detected. All had surgery performed in a mobile surgical unit in the village which encouraged patients to present early with small early lesion leading to a good clinical outcome. The close contact with the Acacia tree thorns, animals and animal dung, walking bare footed and practising poor hygiene may all have contributed to the development of mycetoma in the village. Knowledge of mycetoma was poor in 96.3% of the study population, 70% had appropriate attitudes and beliefs towards interaction with mycetoma patients and treatment methods, and 49% used satisfactory or good practices in the management of mycetoma. Knowledge and practices on mycetoma were found to be significantly associated with age. Based on the KAP and epidemiological data, several health education sessions were conducted in the village for different target groups. The integrated management approach adopted in this study is unique and appeared successful and seems suitable as an immediate intervention. While for the longer term, establishment of local health facilities with trained health staff remains a priority.
Abstract Background Over the past 3 decades, there has been a significant increase in cancer survivors supported by the major advances in cancer therapies. However, most of those therapies are cardio-toxic. In 2022, the European Society of cardiology had published, for the first time, a clinical guideline that describes how to manage this cohort of patients, and endorsed the utilization of a risk calculator to predictor likelihood of development of cancer therapy cardiac dysfunction (CRTCD). We did retrospective review of all consecutive patients that have received Trstuzumab (HER-2 antagonist) in the year 2023 in a single tertiary cardiac center. We assessed their demographics and co-morbidities, incidence of CRTCD, evaluated their ICOS-HF score and looked for any CRTCD in this cohort to assess whether the calculated stratification correlated with development of CRTCD. The objective is to assess the utilization of this tool in our patient population. Methods 369 unique individuals were identified from the hospital databas that had received HER-2 antagonists. Basic patient demographics were extracted from the information system along with their clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic data. Their risk profiles were stratified using the ICOS-HF calculator. Follow up echocardiogrphic studies were reviewed to assess the incidence of CRTCD in patients receiving HER-2 antagonists and the correlation between the risk strata using the ICOS-HF and actual development of CRTCD. Results The average age was 53+/- 11 years. 96.8% were females. At baseline, 20% were diabetic, 26.8% were hypertensive, 10.8% were dyslipidemic, 1.9% had prior cardiomyopathy or heart failure, 1.3% had IHD, 1.1% were smoker, 33.3% were obese, and 3.8% had CKD. Overall, in the year 2023, the incidence of HER-2 induced cardiac dysfunction was 10.6%. At baseline, using the ICOS-HF calculator, 57.9% were stratified as low risk, 21% as moderate risk 14.6% as high risk, and 6.5% as very high risk. Approximately 5% of the patients with low to moderate risk developed CRTCD, which rose to 18.5% in the high risk, and significantly rose to 58% in the very high risk population. Conclusion The risk stratification using the ICOS-HF calculator in consecutive patients receiving Trastuzumab correlated directly with the likelihood of developing CRTCD. 58% of all of the patients in the very high risk category developed CRTCD. This retrospective analysis validates the use of this tool in our patient population and will aid in the identification of patients that would require to have a more aggressive preemptive management, especially in the high and very high risk population using a multidisciplinary cardio-oncology team to optimize their surveillance and reduce their likelihood of cardiac dysfunction.
Background Over 80% of deliveries in Sudan occur in rural areas, attended by village midwives (VMWs). Objective To determine the impact of Helping Babies Breathe training and regular peer–peer skills practice (HBBT +RPPSP ) on VMW resuscitation practices and outcomes. Methods In a prospective community-based intervention study, 71/82 VMWs, reporting to six East Nile rural medical centres, with previous experience in community health research, consented to HBBT +RPPSP . Outcomes included changes in the resuscitation practices, fresh stillbirths (FSB) and early neonatal deaths <1 week (ENND). Results There were 1350 and 3040 deliveries before and after HBBT +RPPSP , respectively, with no significant differences between the two cohorts regarding maternal age, education or area of birth. Drying of the newborn increased almost tenfold (8.4%, n=113 to 74.9%, n=1011) while suctioning of the mouth/nose decreased fivefold (80.3%, n=2442 to 14.4%, n=437) following HBBT +RPPSP . Pre-HBBT +RPPSP 9/18 (50%) newborns who had mouth-to-mouth ventilation died, compared with 13/119 (11%) who received bag-mask ventilation post-HBBT +RPPSP . Excluding 11 macerated fetuses, there were 55 perinatal deaths: 14 FSB/18 ENND (6 months pre-HBBT +RPPSP ) and 10 FSB/13 ENND (18 months post-HBBT +RPPSP ). FSB rates decreased from 10.5 to 3.3 per 1000 births ((χ 2 )=8.6209, p=0.003), while ENND rates decreased from 13.5 to 4.3 per 1000 live births ((χ 2 )=10.9369, p=0.001) pre-HBBT +RPPSP and post-HBBT +RPPSP , respectively. Conclusion In a selected group of VMWs, HBBT +RPPSP was associated with improvements in newborn resuscitation and perinatal outcomes. HBBT +RPPSP could have immense benefits if propagated nationally to all 17 000 VMWs in Sudan.
Vaccines were developed and deployed to combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This study aimed to characterize patterns in the protection provided by the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 mRNA vaccines against a spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms and severities. A national, matched, test-negative, case-control study was conducted in Qatar between January 1 and December 18, 2021, utilizing a sample of 238,896 PCR-positive tests and 6,533,739 PCR-negative tests. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated against asymptomatic, symptomatic, severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), critical COVID-19, and fatal COVID-19 infections. Data sources included Qatar's national databases for COVID-19 laboratory testing, vaccination, hospitalization, and death. Effectiveness of two-dose BNT162b2 vaccination was 75.6% (95% CI: 73.6–77.5) against asymptomatic infection and 76.5% (95% CI: 75.1–77.9) against symptomatic infection. Effectiveness against each of severe, critical, and fatal COVID-19 infections surpassed 90%. Immediately after the second dose, all categories—namely, asymptomatic, symptomatic, severe, critical, and fatal COVID-19—exhibited similarly high effectiveness. However, from 181 to 270 days post-second dose, effectiveness against asymptomatic and symptomatic infections declined to below 40%, while effectiveness against each of severe, critical, and fatal COVID-19 infections remained consistently high. However, estimates against fatal COVID-19 often had wide 95% confidence intervals. Analogous patterns were observed in three-dose BNT162b2 vaccination and two- and three-dose mRNA-1273 vaccination. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the results. A gradient in vaccine effectiveness exists and is linked to the symptoms and severity of infection, providing higher protection against more symptomatic and severe cases. This gradient intensifies over time as vaccine immunity wanes after the last vaccine dose. These patterns appear consistent irrespective of the vaccine type or whether the vaccination involves the primary series or a booster.
A study was conducted to determine the degree of tooth loss, factors influencing tooth loss, and the extent of prosthodontic rehabilitation in Sudanese adults (≥ 16 years old) attending outpatient clinics in Khartoum State. Pearson and multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationships between tooth loss and specific characteristics determined through interviews and clinical examinations. The mean number of missing teeth was 3.6 (SD, 4.9) and the prevalence of edentulism was 0.1%. The prevalence of tooth loss (missing at least one tooth) was 78%; 66.9% of tooth loss was due to caries, and 11.2% was attributable to other reasons. Prosthetic replacement of missing teeth was evident in 3%, whereas a need for prosthetic replacement was evident in 57%. Having < 20 teeth was associated with age, gender, and socioeconomic status; tooth loss due to caries was associated with age, tribe, frequency of tooth-brushing, and a low rate of dental consultation. Tooth loss due to other reasons was associated with age, tribe, education, periodontal pocketing, tobacco use, tooth wear, and prosthetic status. The results of the present study indicated that the major cause of tooth loss was dental caries, thus emphasizing the importance of a public prevention-based healthcare program. Replacement of missing teeth was uncommon in the study subjects, which may reflect lack of access to this type of oral healthcare. (J Oral Sci 54, 303-312, 2012)
In efforts to reduce neonatal mortality, the World Health Organization (WHO) has included breastfeeding among its recommended packages of interventions. Early initiation of breastfeeding and avoidance of prelacteal feeding are key contributors to optimal feeding practices. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of early breastfeeding practices in Sudan. This study utilises the cross-sectional nationally-representative Sudan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2014. The sample includes women who had a live birth in the two years before the survey and their self-report on early breastfeeding practices, namely early initiation and prelacteal feeding. Percentages of these early breastfeeding practices indicators were estimated accounting for the complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the factors associated with these outcomes. Of 5622 mothers, 69% initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth, 72% avoided prelacteal feeding in the first three days after birth, and 51% met the criteria for both (i.e. practised optimal early feeding practice). Optimal early feeding varied across regions of Sudan. Birth by caesarean section (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 0.34; 95% CI 0.25, 0.47) and at a health facility (AOR 0.75; 95% CI 0.60, 0.94) were negatively associated with optimal early feeding practice. Mothers with secondary education (AOR 1.62; 95% CI 1.30, 2.02), those who desired their pregnancy at the time (AOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.60), those who were assisted by a skilled birth attendant at birth (AOR 1.48; 95% CI 1.19, 1.83), and those who gave birth to female infants (AOR 1.16; 95% CI 1.02, 1.33) had higher odds of use optimal early feeding practice. Similarly, the odds of optimal early feeding increased with parity and maternal age. Only half of Sudanese mothers practised optimal early feeding practice, with important differences between regions in the country. Early feeding practices in Sudan are associated with various maternal, child and community level factors. The findings suggest the need to develop breastfeeding promotion programs with consideration of regional variations and healthcare system interventions.
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
