Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.237
J. Kajan, Marko Sablić, M. Heffer
Aspiration has always been performed during intramuscular vaccine injections to ensure that the needle does not puncture one of the blood vessels. However, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, this procedure became debatable.Using an advanced search builder and logical operators, we searched the PubMed database for all articles about aspiration guidelines. The deltoid blood vessels are large and diverse, with potentially dangerous changes occurring in certain groups such as athletes or people with connective tissue diseases. The pharmacokinetics and reported side effects of improperly applied vaccines differ. Some reported vaccine-related injuries, such as subacromial bursitis, can be avoided by using the aspiration technique. We discussed experiments that provide evidence that intravenous administration of mRNA vaccines can cause myopericarditis. Aspiration during vaccination is not technically demanding and does not require much time. Previous arguments against aspiration were based on efforts to make the procedure of vaccinating children less painful. In response to public concern about vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia as a possible side effect, Denmark issued a guideline on mandatory aspiration during vaccination in March 2021.Guidelines vary by country, and there is a need for an updated and globally applicable instruction manual. Countries should carefully document vaccine side effects so that they could be compared between countries that aspirate and those who do not. More focused research experiments are needed to determine the relationship between aspiration and side effects. We propose a randomized study to compare the effectiveness of aspiration.
{"title":"Aspiration During Vaccination: Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination","authors":"J. Kajan, Marko Sablić, M. Heffer","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.237","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.237","url":null,"abstract":"Aspiration has always been performed during intramuscular vaccine injections to ensure that the needle does not puncture one of the blood vessels. However, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, this procedure became debatable.Using an advanced search builder and logical operators, we searched the PubMed database for all articles about aspiration guidelines. The deltoid blood vessels are large and diverse, with potentially dangerous changes occurring in certain groups such as athletes or people with connective tissue diseases. The pharmacokinetics and reported side effects of improperly applied vaccines differ. Some reported vaccine-related injuries, such as subacromial bursitis, can be avoided by using the aspiration technique. We discussed experiments that provide evidence that intravenous administration of mRNA vaccines can cause myopericarditis. Aspiration during vaccination is not technically demanding and does not require much time. Previous arguments against aspiration were based on efforts to make the procedure of vaccinating children less painful. In response to public concern about vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia as a possible side effect, Denmark issued a guideline on mandatory aspiration during vaccination in March 2021.Guidelines vary by country, and there is a need for an updated and globally applicable instruction manual. Countries should carefully document vaccine side effects so that they could be compared between countries that aspirate and those who do not. More focused research experiments are needed to determine the relationship between aspiration and side effects. We propose a randomized study to compare the effectiveness of aspiration.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131157677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.232
F. Leitch, Letisha Pooran, R. Kurup, P. Lewis, C. Boston
Aim: The most adverse effect of blood transfusion is the acquisition of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), which poses a serious threat in developing countries. This study aims to identify the trends of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors.Materials and Methods: This study was a laboratory-based retrospective study conducted using blood donors’ records from January 2015 to December 2018, collected at the National Blood Transfusion Service, Guyana (NBTS). Analysis of data was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 software and the results were presented in tables and graphs. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to identify trends and influencing factors.Results: A total of 39,308 blood donors were included in this study, of whom 2,418 (6.2%) donors tested positive to at least one pathogen. Among those donors, 4.4% were coinfected with at least one of the sixteen dual infection combinations. The overall seroprevalence of HIV, HTLV, syphilis, HBV, HCV, Chagas, microfilaria, and malaria was 0.8%, 0.8%, 0.6%, 1.5%, 1.3%, 1.2%, 0.0%, and 0.0%, respectively. Trends of transfusion-transmissible infections showed an overall increase from the lowest prevalence, 5.1%, in 2015 to 7% in 2016, followed by decreases in 2017 (6.8%) and 2018 (5.8%).Conclusions: Even though 98.6% of the donor population are volunteers, this study has shown that a significant percentage of blood donors harbour transfusion-transmissible infections. Stringent screening and preventive measures are very important to ensure the safety of the transfusion recipient.
{"title":"Trends in Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Among Blood Donors at the National Blood Transfusion Service, Guyana","authors":"F. Leitch, Letisha Pooran, R. Kurup, P. Lewis, C. Boston","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.232","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.232","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The most adverse effect of blood transfusion is the acquisition of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), which poses a serious threat in developing countries. This study aims to identify the trends of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors.Materials and Methods: This study was a laboratory-based retrospective study conducted using blood donors’ records from January 2015 to December 2018, collected at the National Blood Transfusion Service, Guyana (NBTS). Analysis of data was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 software and the results were presented in tables and graphs. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to identify trends and influencing factors.Results: A total of 39,308 blood donors were included in this study, of whom 2,418 (6.2%) donors tested positive to at least one pathogen. Among those donors, 4.4% were coinfected with at least one of the sixteen dual infection combinations. The overall seroprevalence of HIV, HTLV, syphilis, HBV, HCV, Chagas, microfilaria, and malaria was 0.8%, 0.8%, 0.6%, 1.5%, 1.3%, 1.2%, 0.0%, and 0.0%, respectively. Trends of transfusion-transmissible infections showed an overall increase from the lowest prevalence, 5.1%, in 2015 to 7% in 2016, followed by decreases in 2017 (6.8%) and 2018 (5.8%).Conclusions: Even though 98.6% of the donor population are volunteers, this study has shown that a significant percentage of blood donors harbour transfusion-transmissible infections. Stringent screening and preventive measures are very important to ensure the safety of the transfusion recipient.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126857490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.242
L. Bilajac, Dorotea Šulavjak, Kristijan Zulle, V. Vasiljev, D. Juraga, M. Marinović Glavić, T. Rukavina
Aim: Falling can have serious consequences for older persons, but fear of falling is also a current problem. The aim of the study is to assess the incidence of falls and fear of falling among older adults, as well as to study the connection of falls and fear of falling with functional ability, body mass index (BMI) and age.Methods: The participants of this study are older persons ( > 60 years) who live in the city of Rijeka, are mobile and have no symptoms of dementia. The relationship between falls, fear of falling, body mass index (BMI) and functional ability was measured using various indicators. Assessment of physical functioning and pain relief was made using the COOP/WONCA questionnaire. Falls and fear of falling were assessed using questions with different response options.Results: The results of the study showed that participants who reported experiencing fear of falling (FoF) had a higher BMI (p = 0.018) and did not feel physically healthy (70%). Participants who lived with a partner reported experiencing FoF at a lower rate (36.4%). The most frequently reported functional problems were visual problems (46.2%) and walking difficulties (40.0%).Conclusions: A large percentage of older persons struggle with the effects of aging, which include various health problems that can increase the risk of falling and FoF. Prescription of physical activity and engaging in it could improve functional ability and have an important effect on healthy aging. This could be the starting point from which key stakeholders can plan different types of public health interventions, prescribing physical activity to maintain functional ability that enables well-being in old age.
{"title":"Physical Activity as Prediction of Functional Ability among Elderly","authors":"L. Bilajac, Dorotea Šulavjak, Kristijan Zulle, V. Vasiljev, D. Juraga, M. Marinović Glavić, T. Rukavina","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.242","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: Falling can have serious consequences for older persons, but fear of falling is also a current problem. The aim of the study is to assess the incidence of falls and fear of falling among older adults, as well as to study the connection of falls and fear of falling with functional ability, body mass index (BMI) and age.Methods: The participants of this study are older persons ( > 60 years) who live in the city of Rijeka, are mobile and have no symptoms of dementia. The relationship between falls, fear of falling, body mass index (BMI) and functional ability was measured using various indicators. Assessment of physical functioning and pain relief was made using the COOP/WONCA questionnaire. Falls and fear of falling were assessed using questions with different response options.Results: The results of the study showed that participants who reported experiencing fear of falling (FoF) had a higher BMI (p = 0.018) and did not feel physically healthy (70%). Participants who lived with a partner reported experiencing FoF at a lower rate (36.4%). The most frequently reported functional problems were visual problems (46.2%) and walking difficulties (40.0%).Conclusions: A large percentage of older persons struggle with the effects of aging, which include various health problems that can increase the risk of falling and FoF. Prescription of physical activity and engaging in it could improve functional ability and have an important effect on healthy aging. This could be the starting point from which key stakeholders can plan different types of public health interventions, prescribing physical activity to maintain functional ability that enables well-being in old age.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117265586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.236
Lea Gvozdanović, Željka Dragila, Z. Gvozdanović, D. Klapan, Nikolina Farčić, H. Šimić, Z. Mihaljević
Aim: The aim was to define the impact of comorbidities, specifically hypertension as one of the most common chronic diseases, on the outcome and length of stay for COVID-19 patients.Methods: The cross-sectional study, carried out from October to December 2021, included 129 hospitalised COVID-19 patients who presented to the Emergency Department and were hospitalised and treated in the COVID ward in the General Hospital Našice. All patients tested positive for COVID-19 with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Clinical parameters were also recorded and they included demographic factors, comorbidities, type of antihypertensive therapy, new-onset hypertension, length of stay and the overall outcome.Results: The most common comorbidity was hypertension (86, 66.7%). Hypertension was associated with women (P = 0.03) and age over 65 years (P < 0.001). Length of stay was longer for patients with hypertension (P = 0.04) and/or diabetes mellitus (P = 0.04). Higher mortality was associated with age over 65 years (P < 0.001) and a higher number of comorbidities (P = 0.01). New-onset hypertension was recorded in three patients. There was no significant difference in the outcome in relation to antihypertensive therapy.Conclusion: Hypertension is the most common comorbidity in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Although treated hypertension did not have a negative impact on the outcome, other potential risk factors, including a higher number of comorbidities and older age, are associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.
{"title":"Association Between Common Comorbidities and Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients Hospitalised in General Hospital Našice – A Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Lea Gvozdanović, Željka Dragila, Z. Gvozdanović, D. Klapan, Nikolina Farčić, H. Šimić, Z. Mihaljević","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.236","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The aim was to define the impact of comorbidities, specifically hypertension as one of the most common chronic diseases, on the outcome and length of stay for COVID-19 patients.Methods: The cross-sectional study, carried out from October to December 2021, included 129 hospitalised COVID-19 patients who presented to the Emergency Department and were hospitalised and treated in the COVID ward in the General Hospital Našice. All patients tested positive for COVID-19 with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Clinical parameters were also recorded and they included demographic factors, comorbidities, type of antihypertensive therapy, new-onset hypertension, length of stay and the overall outcome.Results: The most common comorbidity was hypertension (86, 66.7%). Hypertension was associated with women (P = 0.03) and age over 65 years (P < 0.001). Length of stay was longer for patients with hypertension (P = 0.04) and/or diabetes mellitus (P = 0.04). Higher mortality was associated with age over 65 years (P < 0.001) and a higher number of comorbidities (P = 0.01). New-onset hypertension was recorded in three patients. There was no significant difference in the outcome in relation to antihypertensive therapy.Conclusion: Hypertension is the most common comorbidity in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Although treated hypertension did not have a negative impact on the outcome, other potential risk factors, including a higher number of comorbidities and older age, are associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132297416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.219
Sandra Mijač, Goran Slivšek, Anica Džajić
Deep ecology emphasizes the importance of the ecological problems as a practical issue, and its importance is in changing the human understanding of everything, including even man’s understanding of who he is.The aim of this paper was to present deep ecology, what it represents and how it has become a significant ecological movement of the 20th century and to indicate the connection between bioethics as new environmental ethics and deep ecology, as well as other environmental movements which, in the contextualization of bioethics, emphasize changing the outlook on life, giving a better knowledge of it, and allowing questioning of social actions and looking at events from different aspects. The idea is to emphasize that man is not only an active, but also a responsible being which is capable of making a paradigm shift in responsibility, and therefore, taking responsibility for all life on Earth.Content analysis and comparative method were introduced and applied for the requirements of making this review.Based on the obtained results, the review points to the need to create new ethics which could introduce a general value system for all living and non-living things - a paradigm shift involving man as part of nature and not opposed to it, and to successfully address these complex issues. It will take a profound shift in human consciousness to fully comprehend that it is not only plants and animals that need a safe habitat - because they can live without humans, but humans cannot live without them.
{"title":"Deep Ecology","authors":"Sandra Mijač, Goran Slivšek, Anica Džajić","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.219","url":null,"abstract":"Deep ecology emphasizes the importance of the ecological problems as a practical issue, and its importance is in changing the human understanding of everything, including even man’s understanding of who he is.The aim of this paper was to present deep ecology, what it represents and how it has become a significant ecological movement of the 20th century and to indicate the connection between bioethics as new environmental ethics and deep ecology, as well as other environmental movements which, in the contextualization of bioethics, emphasize changing the outlook on life, giving a better knowledge of it, and allowing questioning of social actions and looking at events from different aspects. The idea is to emphasize that man is not only an active, but also a responsible being which is capable of making a paradigm shift in responsibility, and therefore, taking responsibility for all life on Earth.Content analysis and comparative method were introduced and applied for the requirements of making this review.Based on the obtained results, the review points to the need to create new ethics which could introduce a general value system for all living and non-living things - a paradigm shift involving man as part of nature and not opposed to it, and to successfully address these complex issues. It will take a profound shift in human consciousness to fully comprehend that it is not only plants and animals that need a safe habitat - because they can live without humans, but humans cannot live without them.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129448875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.241
V. Vasiljev, Alen Subotić, M. Marinović Glavić, D. Juraga, L. Bilajac, B. Jelaković, T. Rukavina
Iodine is an essential element for human health. Food is the primary source of iodine, but the iodine content of local foods depends on the iodine content of the soil. Therefore, a low iodine concentration in soil and water results in plants and animals with low iodine content. Numerous effects of iodine deficiency on growth and development are known as iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency has been identified as the most common cause of brain damage in the world and is linked to its effects on infant and child growth and development. Supplementation of table salt with iodine was introduced in the 20th century. Croatia was one of the first countries to introduce the supplementation of table salt with potassium iodide at a concentration of 10 mg/kg in 1953 and 25 mg/kg in 1993. In 2003, the Croatian population reached iodine sufficiency, but given the excessive salt intake (11.6 g/day) and additional sources of iodine in the diet, the question arises, are we consuming too much iodine? This article gives a short overview of iodine intake.
{"title":"Overview of Iodine Intake","authors":"V. Vasiljev, Alen Subotić, M. Marinović Glavić, D. Juraga, L. Bilajac, B. Jelaković, T. Rukavina","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.241","url":null,"abstract":"Iodine is an essential element for human health. Food is the primary source of iodine, but the iodine content of local foods depends on the iodine content of the soil. Therefore, a low iodine concentration in soil and water results in plants and animals with low iodine content. Numerous effects of iodine deficiency on growth and development are known as iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency has been identified as the most common cause of brain damage in the world and is linked to its effects on infant and child growth and development. Supplementation of table salt with iodine was introduced in the 20th century. Croatia was one of the first countries to introduce the supplementation of table salt with potassium iodide at a concentration of 10 mg/kg in 1953 and 25 mg/kg in 1993. In 2003, the Croatian population reached iodine sufficiency, but given the excessive salt intake (11.6 g/day) and additional sources of iodine in the diet, the question arises, are we consuming too much iodine? This article gives a short overview of iodine intake.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125640604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-27DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.216
Josipa Ivanušić-Pejić, D. Degmečić
Hypertension is recognized as a multifactorial disorder. Anxiety disorders, depressive disorder, psychosocial stress and certain individual psychological characteristics can influence the development and course of hypertension. Likewise, certain antidepressants can impact blood pressure. Association of anxiety disorders and depression with hypertension is bidirectional, so hypertensive patients are at risk of anxiety or depression. Monitoring the blood pressure of patients with anxiety disorders and depression, screening for anxiety and depression in patients with arterial hypertension and understanding pathophysiological mechanisms is important for future prevention and treatment strategies. This narrative review will briefly summarize current knowledge about the association of anxiety and depression with the risk of development of hypertension. Likewise, certain psychological factors and pathophysiological mechanisms in stress that are of importance for the association of hypertension with anxiety and depression are pointed out in this review, and effects of commonly used antidepressants are also considered.
{"title":"Hypertension in Association With Anxiety and Depression – A Narrative Review","authors":"Josipa Ivanušić-Pejić, D. Degmečić","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.216","url":null,"abstract":"Hypertension is recognized as a multifactorial disorder. Anxiety disorders, depressive disorder, psychosocial stress and certain individual psychological characteristics can influence the development and course of hypertension. Likewise, certain antidepressants can impact blood pressure. Association of anxiety disorders and depression with hypertension is bidirectional, so hypertensive patients are at risk of anxiety or depression. Monitoring the blood pressure of patients with anxiety disorders and depression, screening for anxiety and depression in patients with arterial hypertension and understanding pathophysiological mechanisms is important for future prevention and treatment strategies. This narrative review will briefly summarize current knowledge about the association of anxiety and depression with the risk of development of hypertension. Likewise, certain psychological factors and pathophysiological mechanisms in stress that are of importance for the association of hypertension with anxiety and depression are pointed out in this review, and effects of commonly used antidepressants are also considered.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124919226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：