Association of the knowledge of nurses about the pain management with their attitude towards cancer patients

Objective: Proper training and knowledge about pain and pain management can help nurses during their task of active management to relieve pain, but it also builds positive attitude towards patients. We aimed to determine the association between knowledge and attitudes of the nurses about pain management of cancer patients and the relationship to different demographic and educational factors

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four hospitals of Lahore, [Pakistan] from 1st July 2013 to 1st July 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. 100 nurses working in cancer units [both medical and surgical oncology wards] were included in the study using convenient sampling technique. Nurses not working in cancer units, high positioned [head nurses] and nurses with higher education [e.g. MSc [N], post RN-BSc [N], other courses] were excluded from the study. Questionnaire used based upon the "Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain [KASRP]" for knowledge and attitude. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0

Results: Out of one hundred nurses 90% were females while 10% were males. The mean age of participants was 30.88 +/- 8.91 years. Majority of the nurses i.e., 59% had inadequate knowledge. Attitude score regarding the cancer pain management was 60%. Knowledge of pain management was significantly associated with nurses attitude towards pain management [p = .001]

Conclusion: There is positive association between the knowledge and attitude towards cancer pain management. Thus, by showing good attitude, the nurses, who spend most of their time with patients can help to minimize their pain. This is only possible if the nurses have proper knowledge and education in this field

Knowledge of triage among nurses in emergency units

The emergency department is one of the key and essential departments in a hospital. It is the preliminary point of contact with the hospital for any kind of patient who has a need for immediate interventions. The assurance of the best possible care in emergency situations depends on the implementation of a swift triage system and strapping knowledge of triage among nurses. A structured triage system in emergency units could have a radical impact to improve the quality care of patients in hospitals. A simple descriptive survey design was used to conduct this study. A sample of 100 nurses was selected from the emergency units of three local teaching hospitals by using the method of non-probability purposive sampling. Data was collected by a self administered questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS version IBM - 20 and was represented in the form of figures, tables and percentages. It was sum that a large number of participants [69%] were having poor knowledge as they corrected less than 50% of the questions in the self administered questionnaires. The overall correct responses of the participants were 43.22%. The current study findings of low level of triage knowledge among nurses reflect that there is a lack of proper training and edifying programs in Pakistan. Nursing curriculum for different nursing programs has not sufficient content of triage to prepare nurses for triage system in emergency units

Validity of color doppler sonography in evaluation of malignant portal vein thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

The objective of this study was to assess the validity of color doppler sonography in the evaluation of malignant portal vein thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma [findings on biphasic spiral computed tomography were used as the gold standard]. This study was conducted in the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from March 2009 to November 2009. A total of 100 patients those who were already diagnosed cases of HCC or those having high suspicion of HCC based on clinical criteria [e.g., chronic hepatitis B or C, liver cirrhosis, increased alpha fetoprotein level [>400ng/dl]] and /or Imaging findings [e.g., sonography, MRI, CT] were included in this study. Color doppler sonography had 80.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity in the detection of arterial flow in the portal vein thrombus [i.e., malignant thrombus] in comparison with biphasic CT [taken as gold standard]. Color doppler sonography is an effective, noninvasive method for evaluating the presence of malignant portal vein thrombosis associated with HCC

A case report of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in 7 month old patient with tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis is a neurocutaneous syndrome with a wide variety of clinical, pathologic, and radiologic manifestations. Intracranial phakomatosis has been reported to include subependymal nodules; cortical, and subependymal giant-cell astrocytomas. Subependymal giant-cell astrocytomas are rare, benign typically slow growing tumors of mixed neuroglial lineage, which can become aggressive and cause increased intracranial pressure, seizures, and focal neurologic signs. The standard treatment of these tumors is total neurosurgical resection [1,2,3]. We report a 07 month old male patient with tuberous sclerosis who underwent surgery for a large subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma [SEGA]. It is rare to find SEGA in this age period

Impact of pesticides on liver enzymes in workers of pesticide formulation and packing plants in Pakistan

To evaluate the impact of pesticides on Gamma Glutamyl Transferase [GTT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP], Alanine Transaminase [ALT] and Aspartate Transaminase [AST] in workers of pesticide formulation and packing plants in Pakistan. One hundred workers in the age group of 20-50 years working at different pesticide formulation and packing units for at least one year were included in this study. One hundred healthy workers from other than pesticides industry, with no history of exposure to pesticides and matching age, sex and social status were taken as controls.Biochemical tests for GGT, ALP, ALT, and AST, were carried out employing Chemistry Auto analyzer. In current study, serum of one hundred control subjects indicated mean GGT value 37.19+8.07U/L. Mean GGT value for one hundred pesticide industrial workers was found to be 30.08_10.63U/L. These results revealed that all the hundred pesticide industrial workers had normal GGT levels, but on the lower side as compared to control subjects. P value was significant. Data of hundred pesticides industrial workers was taken and it was found that ALP, ALT, AST of eighty workers was within the normal range whereas the remaining twenty workers had raised level of ALP, ALT, and AST. Data of the control group showed that ALP, ALT, and ASTof all one hundred workers were within the normal range. All Pesticide industrial workers had normal GGT levels. High or upper normal levels of ALP, ALT, and AST were observed in serum of pesticide industrial workers

Decreased serum zinc levels in patients with senile cataract

Age related cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world today and cataract extraction is the most often performed surgery. If a practical large scale intervention could slow the onset of cataract by ten years, the need for cataract surgery would be reduced by 45%. The causes of cataract are multiple, with nutrition playing a definite role. The usually high concentration of zinc in the ocular tissue, along with zinc deficiency being an established cause of Age Related Macular Degeneration, has led to an increasing interest in this trace element's potential role in Age related cataractogenesis. This study was conducted in The University of Health Sciences in collaboration with The Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore and The University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Lahore. The sample size was 50 patients with senile cataract. Serum of 35 age and sex matched controls were taken. These patients were undergoing trabeculectomy for glaucoma. Zinc levels were measured in the serum, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results supported the hypothesis that zinc deficiency could be one of the factors responsible for the development of senile cataract. Significant difference was observed in serum zinc levels of patients and controls [P < 0.001] showing that the patient serum zinc levels [0.896 +/- 0.202 vs. 0.478 + 0.278.] are significantly lower than the serum zinc levels of controls

Serum adiponectin levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine secreted from white adipose tissue. Serum level of adiponectin has been shown to be reduced in several disease states like obesity and diabetes. Hypoadiponectinemia has also been included in the list of newer risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease [CAD]. In this analytical cross-sectional study serum adiponectin level was measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA] in 60 cases of coronary artery disease [CAD] [both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs] and 60 healthy controls. Low levels of adiponectin were seen in CAD patients as well as controls. These levels were lower as compared to western standards. Our study conforms to the previous observation of lower serum adiponectin levels in South Asians compared to the western standards. Serum adiponectin level should be considered in the laboratory work-up of CAD patients

Elevated lipoprotein [a] levels seen in patients with coronary artery disease

There are a number of risk factors involved in the etiology of coronary artery disease. Lipoprotein [a] [[Lp[a]] is a genetically determined variant of low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol which is highly atherogenic. It has been found to be a common risk factor in families suffering from premature coronary artery disease [CAD]. Our study was an analytical cross sectional study, in which Lp[a] levels were measured by ELISA assay in 60 cases of coronary artery disease [CAD], [both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs] and 60 healthy controls. There was a significant difference in serum Lp[a] level between the two with higher levels seen in the CAD cases. It is concluded that it is needed to measure Lp[a] levels as well as the routine lipid profile in CAD patients

Plasma osteopontin as an indicator of metastasis in patients with prostate cancer

Objective: To evaluate plasma osteopontin [OPN] levels in prostate cancer [PCa] patients for determining its association with disease stage

Material and Methods: The study was conducted at University of Health Sciences Lahore [UHS]. 60 diagnosed patients of prostate cancer were included in this study and comparison was made with 30 healthy males as controls. OPN was measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] technique

Results: OPN levels were significantly elevated in PCa patients with metastasis against the patients without metastasis

Conclusion: The current study provides useful local data suggesting an association between elevated plasma OPN and bone metastasis in patients with PCa