Dietary management of surgical patients: effects on incisional wound healing

A study of 38 patients was undertaken at the main University Hospital in Alexandria. The sample was divided into a control group and an experimental group. Findings show statistically significant differences between the two groups in the level of education, but no difference in blood picture, body mass index or nutritional status. There was a difference in the rate of wound healing in the two groups, and a relationship between the nutritional status and wound healing in the control group. Total hospital stays for the control group were longer than those for the experimental group. The nutritional status of surgical patients, as well as their food intake, should be evaluated at short intervals before and after surgery

Development implementation and evaluation of a smoking cessation program for students and employees

An equal number of student and employee smokers [total = 34] participated in the study. Baseline assessment and one month and three months later follow-up of smoking behavior and blood carboxyhemoglobin level, in response to the program, were undertaken. Program sessions lasted for 5 days in groups of 5-7 smokers. Counseling and program booklets were provided. Results showed that significant differences were elicited between groups, regarding some studied variables. Significant changes in number of cigarettes smoked per day, smoking status and blood carboxyhemoglobin levels were detected in both groups, after program. Discussion, implications and recommendations were displayed

Social support and coping of the functionally disabled

This study was carried out to identify the relationships among social support, degree of perceived threat and coping in adult clients with functional disabilities. Forty individuals with hemiplegia, paraplegia and quadriplegia were interviewed as regards their perceived availability and effectiveness of social support, their coping behavior and effectiveness, their estimation of the degree of a faced threat and the felt personal constraints. Results showed that the perceived availability of social support had a significant positive relation to both of problem solving and social coping which indirectly affected coping effectiveness. The findings suggested that physicians and nurses should emphasize these clients problem solving coping methods

Use of factorial design for the evaluation of the chemical stability of aspirin tablets

A factorial experimental design of type N = 2 3 was applied to predict the chemical stability of aspirin tablets directly compressed with sucrose-based vehicles [DiPac, Nu-Tab and Sugartab] and Avicel under 4 sets of storage conditions, 25% and 95% RH at two temperature levels [20C and 45C]. Tablets prepared by wet granulation technique were also employed for comparison. The quantitative factors were the temperature, relative humidity and time. The type of the vehicle used is only a qualitative factor. Tablets prepared with Avicel and those prepared by wet granulation technique gave complete measurable stability data under the selected storage conditions. The validity of the derived regression equations was verified by the experimental data of the classical design of experiments and the t50 values. Good agreement between the experimental and predicted data was obtained. Regression equations for the stability of tablets prepared with sucrose-based vehicles were not available due to their deformation under the selected storage conditions. The results of this investigation indicated that factorial design can have utility in predicting the chemical stability and expiry date of tablets in a short time and with less cost of experimentation

Chronic diabetes mellitus: osteotic and mineral changes in human beings and rats

Clinical examination and Laboratory investigations done to IS male type I chronic diabetic patients [insulin dependent more than 5 years] and to an age mached group of 10 normal male volunteers revealed normocalcaemia and normomagnesaemia with significant hyperphosphataemia. Estimation of serum level of parathormone showed significant hypoparathyroidism. An addition, significant hypercalcuria, hyperphosphaturia and hpermagnes uria were also detected. Histopathological examination of trabecular bone biopsies from both groups revealed marked osteoportic changes among the diabetic patients. Biochemical analysis of similar bone samples supported the microscopic findings by demonstrating significant decrease of calcium contents of the bone in the diabetic group. In the chronic rats [7 weeks after streptozotecin induction] significant hypercalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and normomagnesaemia were found. Their sera showed significant hypoparathyroidism. In addition, significant hypermagnesuria. Histopathological examination of the rat's right tibiae revealed advanced rachitic changes. Biochemical analysis of the left tibias approved the microscopic findings by showing significant decrease in bone calcium contents

Comparative study of anaemia in schistosomiasis and other liver diseases

Anaemia is commonly encountered in patients with liver diseases. The nature of anaemia in schistosomiasis, liver cirrhosis and virus hepatitis were studied. Haemoglobin concentration, blood count, blood indices, total serum bilrubin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, unsaturated iron binding capacity and percent transferrin saturation were performed in 15 schistosomal patients, 10 patients with liver cirthosis 10 patients with virus hepatitis and ten controls. The anaemia was found in 100% of schistosomal cases which is mostly hypochromic, there was no macrocytosis in this group The incidence of anaemia in hepatic cirrhosis was 80% with less incidence of hypochromia than in schistosomal patients; in addition there was macrocytosis. The incidence of anaemia in virus hepatitis was 40% which is mostly haemolytic in nature. Normochronic normocytic anaemia was found in the three groups

Effect of posture on pulmonary ventilation

The effects of posture on pulmonary ventilation were studied in eighteen conscious medical and nursing students. The study was carried out in the standing, sitting, supine, lithotomy, lateral and prone positions using the Vitalograph spirometer. Ventilation was found to be reduced most in the prone position, less in the lithotomy position and least in the lateral position. No significant change was observed in the other positions