Results of acute cerebral infarction treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, 2020-2022.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral stroke is the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease, cancer and the leading cause of disability for patients. Hyperbaric oxygen is a non-drug treatment that has the potential to improve brain function for patients with ischaemic stroke. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of acute cerebral infarction with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control study. One hundred ninety-five patients diagnosed with cerebral infarction, with signs of onset within 24 hours, were treated at the Centre for Underwater Medicine and Hyperbaric Oxygen of Vietnam National Institute of Maritime Medicine during the period from January 2020 to December 2022. Study group included 100 patients with acute cerebral infarction treated with a combination of HBOT and medication and reference group included 95 patients treated by medication only (antiplatelets drugs, statins, control of associated risks factors) RESULTS: After 7 days of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, sensory disturbances, and Glasgow score of the study group improved better than that of the reference group (p < 0.01). Movement recovery in the study group was better than the reference group: the percentage of patients with mild and moderate paralysis in the study group increased higher than that of the reference group (86.0% and 68.4%), the degree of complete paralysis of the study group decreased more than that of the reference group (14.0% and 31.6%). The degree of independence in daily activities in the study group was better than the reference group. In the study group, the percentage of patients with complete independence in daily life increased from 27.0% to 84.0%. In the reference group, the rate of patients who were independent in their daily activities increased from 37.9% to 51.6%. The average number of treatment days of the study group was 10.32 ± 2.41 days and it the reference group 14.51 ± 3.24 days. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a non-drug treatment with many good effects in the treatment of cerebral infarction, especially acute cerebral infarction. HBOT reduces and improves functional symptoms, improves mobility, and reduces treatment time for patients.

Typhoid fever, complicated by syncope due to relative bradycardia: A case report.

In a United Nations (UN) staff member headquarters in South Sudan, we present a rare typhoid fever complicated by syncope due to relative bradycardia. A 25-year-old male presented to our hospital with a high fever, diarrhea, and no vomiting. He had no substantial medical background. He was diagnosed with an unspecified digestive disorder and received initial treatment. Two syncope episodes were recorded in the Level 1 hospital. He was referred to our hospital at the 30th hour and the third fainting occurred. Electrocardiogram showed bradycardia with a heart rate of 40 beats/min. The atropine test was negative; the initial diagnosis was sinus sickness syndrome. Microbiology tests later suggested typhoid infection. Then, the diagnosis changed to relative bradycardia caused by Salmonella typhi; and he was orally treated with the third-generation Quinolone antibiotic. He significantly improved and got discharged on the seventh day. In conclusion, typhoid remains a real and present threat to UN staff and civilians in South Sudan.

When the market got the first dose: Stock volatility and vaccination campaign in COVID-19 period.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the news of clinical trials for vaccines and mass vaccinations have brought renewed optimism for stabilizing the economy and financial markets. However, the mental stress of investors or doubt about the effectiveness of government policies to cope with economic disruptions has caused stock market volatility. We investigate the significance of the vaccination rate in alleviating the global stock market volatility which is measured by the GJR-GARCH model. We discover that a higher vaccine initiation rate has a positive effect on global stock markets, especially in developed countries and areas with higher rates than their average. Our findings remain reliable even when using different projected volatility models and other estimates of the main independent variables. Mass immunization also implies that governments will not have to take extreme measures to handle the pandemic, which alleviates investor worries about compliance and the prolonged effects of COVID-19. Our research indicates that global stock markets are providing insight into the economic value of the development of COVID-19 vaccines, even before public vaccinations start.