Relationship between Wound Severity, Discomfort, and Psychological Problems in Patients with a Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Indonesia: A Cross-sectional Study / Relação entre gravidade da ferida, desconforto e problemas psicológicos em pacientes com úlcera diabética do pé na Indonésia: um estudo transversal / Relación entre la gravedad de la herida, la molestia y los problemas psicológicos en pacientes con úlcera del pie diabético en Indonesia: estudio transversal

ABSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between wound severity, discomfort, and psychological problems in patients with a diabetic foot ulcer in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study is conducted in three general hospitals and one clinic in Indonesia. The Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool (BWAT), the discomfort evaluation of wound instrument (DEWI), and the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) are used to measure the variables of interest. Path analysis is performed to evaluate the association between wound severity, discomfort, and psychological problems. Results: Of 140 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who joined this study, the majority experienced immobilization (74.3 %), pain (69.3 %), and sleep disturbance (63.6 %). The means were as follows: discomfort (2.35 ± 0.33), depression (1.34 ± 0.41), stress (1.49 ± 0.48), anxiety (1.43 ± 0.40), and wound severity (31.35 ± 9.96). Discomfort partially mediated the relationship between wound severity and psychological problems, which indirect effect was 0.11. Conclusion: High prevalence of discomfort, both physical and psychological, was found in patients with a diabetic foot ulcer. Discomfort mediates the relationship between wound severity and psychological problems. Integrating comfort into wound care management may help to reduce the psychological burden.

RESUMEN Objetivos: el presente estudio tiene como objetivo identificar la relación entre la gravedad de la herida, la molestia y los problemas psicológicos en pacientes con úlcera del pie diabético en Indonesia. Métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal en tres hospitales generales y una clínica de Indonesia. La herramienta de evaluación de heridas Bates-Jensen (BWAT, por sus siglas en inglés), el instrumento de evaluación de molestia de la herida (DEWI, por sus siglas en inglés) y la escala de depresión, ansiedad y estrés (DASS, por sus siglas en inglés) se utilizaron para medir las variables de interés. Se realizó un análisis de ruta para evaluar la asociación entre la gravedad de la herida, la molestia y los problemas psicológicos. Resultados: de 140 pacientes con úlcera del pie diabético que participaron en este estudio, la mayoría experimentó inmovilización (74,3 %), dolor (69,3 %) y trastornos del sueño (63,6 %). Las medias fueron las siguientes: molestia (2,35 ± 0,33), depresión (1,34 ± 0,41), estrés (1,49 ± 0,48), ansiedad (1,43 ± 0,40) y gravedad de la herida (31,35 ± 9,96). La molestia medió en parte la relación entre la gravedad de la herida y los problemas psicológicos, cuyo efecto indirecto fue de 0,11. Conclusión: se encontró una alta prevalencia de molestias, tanto físicas como psicológicas, en pacientes con úlcera del pie diabético. Además, la molestia media la relación entre la gravedad de la herida y los problemas psicológicos. La integración de la comodidad en el manejo del cuidado de las heridas puede ayudar a reducir la carga psicológica.

RESUMO Objetivos: o objetivo deste estudo é identificar a relação entre a gravidade da ferida, o desconforto e os problemas psicológicos en pacientes com úlcera do pé diabético na Indonésia. Métodos: foi realizado um estudo transversal em três hospitais gerais e uma clínica da Indonésia. A ferramenta da avaliação de feridas Bates-Jensen (BWAT, por sua sigla em inglês), o instrumento de avaliação do desconforto da ferida (DEWI, por sua sigla em inglês) e a escala de depressão, ansiedade e estresse (DASS, por sua sigla em inglês) foram utilizados para medir as variáveis de interesse. Uma análise de rota foi realizada para avaliar a associação entre a gravidade da ferida, o desconforto e os problemas psicológicos. Resultados: de 140 pacientes com úlcera diabética do pé que participaram deste estudo, a maioria experimentou imobilização (74,3 %), dor (69,3 %) e transtornos do sono (63,6 %). As médias foram: desconforto (2,35 ± 0,33), depressão (1,34 ± 0,41), estresse (1,49 ± 0,48), ansiedade (1,43 ± 0,40) e gravidade da ferida (31,35 ± 9,96). O desconforto foi o mediador em parte da relação entre a gravidade da ferida e os problemas psicológicos, cujo efeito indireto foi de 0,11. Conclusões: verificou-se alta prevalência de desconforto, tanto físico quanto psicológico, em pacientes com úlcera diabética do pé. Além disso, o desconforto intermedeia a relação entre a gravidade da ferida e os problemas psicológicos. A integração do conforto na gestão do cuidado das feridas pode ajudar a reduzir a carga psicológica.

Duration from Wound Occurrence to Referral to a Vascular Center in Japanese Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia.

Objective: Clinical guidelines have long recommended referring patients with clerical limb ischemia (CLI) to a vascular specialist early in the course of their disease to plan for revascularization options. However, no data were so far available on how promptly CLI patients were referred to a vascular center in the real-world settings in Japan. This study aimed to survey the duration from wound occurrence to referral to a vascular center in CLI patients in Japan. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a database of a prospective, multicenter registry in Japan, including 428 CLI patients presenting ischemic wounds and referred to vascular centers. The duration of the wound occurrence was surveyed at registration. Results: The wound duration exceeded 1 month in 58.2% [95% confidence interval: 53.2% to 63.1%] of the patients, and 3 months (i.e., one season) in 15.9% [12.4% to 19.4%]. No clinical features were significantly associated with the wound duration. The wound duration was independently associated with the wound severity evaluated using the Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection classification system (P=0.030). Conclusion: A substantial number of CLI patients referred to vascular centers had a long duration of wounds, i.e., time from wound occurrence to the referral.

Influence of rib impact on thoracic gunshot trauma.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of rib impact on thoracic gunshot trauma remains unclear, despite its high occurrence. This study therefore investigates the effect of rib impact on a bullet's terminal properties and injury severity. METHODS: Two bullets were used: 5.56×45 mm (full charge and reduced charge) and 7.62×51 mm (full charge). For each bullet, three impact groups were tested: (1) plain 10% ballistic gelatin (control) conditioned at 4°C, (2) intercostal impact, and (3) rib impact, the latter two tested with samples of porcine thoracic walls embedded in gelatin. Analysis included penetration depth, trajectory change, yaw, fragmentation, velocity reduction, energy deposition and temporary and permanent cavity characteristics. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed for most variables. Differences were found between rib (and intercostal) impact and the control groups, suggesting that the inclusion of thoracic walls produces an effect more significant than the anatomical impact site. Effects were ammunition specific. For the 7.62×51 mm round, rib impact caused an earlier onset of yaw and more superficial permanent gelatin damage compared with plain gelatin. This round also formed a larger temporary cavity on rib impact than intercostal impact. Rib (and intercostal impact) created a smaller temporary cavity than the control for the 5.56×45 mm round. For the reduced-charge 5.56×45 mm round, rib and intercostal impact produced greater velocity reduction compared with plain gelatin. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into the role of rib impact in thoracic gunshot injuries, and indicates that the effects are ammunition dependent. Unlike the 5.56×45 mm rounds, rib impact with the 7.62×51 mm rounds increases the risk of severe wounding.

Correlation between health-related quality of life and venous leg ulcer's severity and characteristics: a cross-sectional study.

This study aims to determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients suffering with venous ulceration and to correlate wound's severity status with HRQoL loss as well as identify the aspects of HRQoL most negatively affected by the presence of venous ulcers. In this observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical multi-centre study, data was compiled over a period of 3·5 months. Thrity-four patients with venous ulceration were recruited. The RESVECH 2·0 scale was used to monitor wounds. The MAID scale was used to measure wound's severity. The Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQe) (Spanish version) was used to evaluate quality of life. The mean CCVUQe score was 60·58 ± 16·04. The HRQoL dimension most affected was 'Emotional state' (mean score = 77. 67 ± 17·34). The average RESVECH 2.0 score for the wounds was 13·15 ± 5·07. A statistically significant association between total CCVUQ-e score and total RESVECH 2.0 score was detected [Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0·546 (P ≤ 0·001)]. Venous ulcers affect patients' HRQoL, particularly their emotional status. There is a relationship between the severity of the wound and loss of HRQoL. The presence of non-viable tissue, poor exudate control and infection all determine loss of HRQoL. New studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Circulating basic fibroblast growth factor in serum of gastric ulcers patient as a biomarker of wound severity.

UNLABELLED: Background : Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a glycoprotein with stimulating ability of angiogenesis. In addition, bFGF plays an important role in wound healing process in some tissues for example gastrointestinal tract, but its ability for discrimination of various stages of wound severity in these diseases was not reported. Therefore, we aimed to determine the bFGF levels in gastric ulcer patients compared with healthy controls as a biomarker for staging the severity of wound. METHODS: The study group consisted of 33 patients with gastric ulcer and 27 healthy controls. The diagnosis of patients was based on standard clinical, endoscopic, and histological criteria. Serum levels of bFGF were analyzed by an Elisa kit. Results : According to the histological findings, 19 (57.6%) patients were in moderate stage of ulcer and 14 (42.4%) were in the severe stage of gastric ulcer. The mean bFGF serum levels in patients group (7.8±1.3pg/ml) were lower than the healthy group (8.2±1.4pg/ml) in crude data, but in statistical analysis the differences were not significant (p=0.082). The mean bFGF serum levels in patients with severe stage of gastric ulcer were greater than the patients with moderate gastric ulcer (8.4±1.3 vs. 7.4±1.2 pg) and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The differences in serum bFGF levels in patients with severe stage of gastric ulcer vs. moderate gastric ulcer was significant. Therefore, serum bFGF level measurements can be used as a useful clinical tool for discrimination of patients with severe stage of gastric ulcer vs. moderate gastric ulcer, when endoscopic and histological examination are not possible to perform.