Effects of Prophylactic Laxatives for Opioid-Induced Constipation on Constipation Severity and Quality of Life among Patients with Cancer

Background: To reduce patients’ unnecessary suffering, Opioids Induced Constipation (OIC) should be identified and treated as early as possible with the most current treatment. Aims: to investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic laxatives in reducing the severity of OIC and its impact on cancer patients’ quality of life. Methods: A Randomized Clinical Trial design was used. 57 cancer patients from one oncology clinic at a governmental hospital participated in the study. Patients in the intervention groups were given an oral colonic stimulant laxative (i.e. Bisacodyl, Dose = 3 tab/day) or an oral colonic osmotic laxative (i.e. Lactulose, Dose = 15 ml three times per day), while patients in the control continue receiving their routine care as usual. Results: A significant decrease in the severity of constipation symptoms among the intervention group at four weeks post-intervention was noted (p Conclusions: It can be concluded that the use prophylactic of first line laxatives concurrently with opioids decreased the severity of OIC and improved the QOL for cancer patients.

Impact of smoking cessation counseling among acute myocardial infarction patients on post-hospitalization mortality rates:a systematic review

Objective:The current systematic review aimed to assess the impact of smoking cessation counseling(SCC)on patients’short-and long-term mor tality after acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods:The Cochrane guidelines were used to conduct a systematic review of Medline(Pub Med),Science Direct,CINAHL Cochrane database,and Google Scholar for studies on the impact of SCC on AMI patients’mor tality.Results:Five studies were found to meet the predefined inclusion criteria.Smoker patients were not routinely counseled to quit smoking during their post-AMI hospital stay.Studies showed a reduction in mor tality among AMI patients’who received SCC compared with patients who did not receive it.Conclusions:SCC during hospitalization and after discharge is a simple and cost-effective intervention that improves AMI patients’survival.

Predictors of Obesity among Adults Who Have Diabetes Mellitus Type Two

Background and Purpose: Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus type two (DMII) have a known association. Yet, the socio-demographic predictors of obesity in special populations such as people who have DMII remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the socio-demographic predictors of obesity among adults who have DMII. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study targeting 488 adult clients who had the diagnosis of DMII. The participants were asked to complete a survey covering demographic and clinical variables of age, gender, employment, income, education, weight, height, medical insurance, duration of diabetes and type of treatment taken to control diabetes. Besides, Body Mass Index (BMI), the dependent variable, was calculated. Descriptive statistics were used to present clients’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Univariate Binary logistic regression was used to determine the socio-demographic predictors of obesity. Results: Results showed that age, household income and employment were independent predictors of BMI in adults who have DMII. Gender and level of education were not significant predictors of higher BMI. Conclusion: Those results suggest that understanding of the contributing variables of obesity in adults who have DMII can help identify the at-risk groups allowing for early diagnosis and establishment of effective prevention and management plans.

Efficacy of combination of localized closure,ethacridine lactate dressing,and phototherapy in treatment of severe extravasation injuries:A case series

BACKGROUND The management of severe extravasation injuries is still controversial.Extravasation injuries can be treated in many ways.AIM To present a series of patients with severe extravasation injuries due to infusion who were managed with ethacridine lactate dressing combined with localized closure and phototherapy.METHODS In this study,we evaluated the data of eight patients,including six from the Department of Burn,one(with colorectal carcinoma)from the Veteran Cadre Department,and one(with leukemia)from the Hematology Department.Of these,three patients were male and five were female.Age of the patients ranged from 10 mo to 72 years,including two children(10 and 19 mo of age).In this study,the infusion was stopped immediately when the extravasation was identified.The extravasation event was managed routinely using a blocking solution.A ring-shaped localized closure was performed using the blocking agents.Moreover,ethacridine lactate dressing and phototherapy were applied for 3-5 d.RESULTS In this study,the drugs contained in the infusates were iodixanol,norepinephrine,alprostadil,amino acids,fat emulsion,cefoselis,cefoxitin,and potassium chloride+concentrated sodium chloride.All of the patients achieved complete healing after treatment and no obvious adverse reactions were observed.CONCLUSION The treatment of severe extravasation injuries using a combination of localized closure,ethacridine lactate dressing,and phototherapy resulted in satisfactory outcomes in patients.