Efficacy of technical nursing concern on prevention and management of pressure ulcers

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of technical nursing concern on prevention and management of pressure ulcers. A quasi-experimental design was used in the conduction of this study as a research methodology. The study was conducted in the following units [oncology, intensive care, orthopedic, neurological and bum at children hospital, Ain Shams Hospital, El-Demerdash Hospital, El-Mataria Hospital and New Children Hospital. A purposive sample included 100 pediatric nurses, 80 medical-surgical nurses, 75 child aged from 6-18 years plus 50 adult patients without pressure ulcers at admission and 50 child plus 50 adult patients having ulcers from the aforementioned settings. Different tools were used for data collection [pre/post tests]; 1] Self-administered questionnaire to assess nurses' knowledge, 2] An observation checklist to assess nurses' practice, 3] The Braden scale for predicting risk of pressure ulcers; 4] Pressure ulcers assessment scale and 5] Pressure ulcers healing scale. The study revealed that there were highly statistically significant differences between knowledge and practice of nurses in different settings about pressure ulcers [prevention and management] in pre/ post tests. Increasing technical nursing concern through educational program had a positive effect on prevention and management of pressure ulcers. The educational programs and workshops about pressure ulcers [prevention and management] are needed. Further studies are needed to shed light on non-traditional methods of pressure ulcers management

Significance of antikeratin antibodies in discrimination between rheumatoid arthritis and polyarthritis associated with hepatitis C infection

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] injection is often associated with extrahepatic manifestations among which arthropathy is common. HCV-related arthritis commonly present as rheumatoid-like arthritis, with positive rheumatoid factor [RF]. In this study, we try to distinguish between rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and polyarthritis associated with HCV infection using a marker more specific to RA than the rheumatoid factor [RF] namely anitkeratin antibody [AKA]. Serum AKAs were evaluated [by indirect immunofluorescence technique] in two groups of patients ,all were RF seropositive. Group I. 25 patients with HCV associated polyarthralgia or arthritis. Group II: 25 patients with RA fulfilling the American college of Rheumatology [ACR] revised criteria. In addition 15 healthy individuals served as controls. All patients of group II as well as healthy controls were HCV seronegative. Other investigations were done for all groups such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C reactive protein [CRP] and antinuclear antibody [ANA]. Plain X ray of both hands were done for all patients to exclude the patients with bone erosion. The study revealed that anitkeratin antibodies were detected in 15/25 [60%] patients with true RA and only 3/25[12%] patients with HCV-related arthritis. AKA were not found in the sera of the healthy controls. The specificity and sensitivity of AKA in RA group were 88% and 60% respectively. Anitkeratin antibody is highly specific for RA and its estimation may increase the diagnostic performance of RA. AKA is a useful marker in discrimination between patients with true RA and those with HCV-associated arthritis