Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences

Study on the Validity and Reliability of Turkish Cooking and Food Skills Confidence Measure

Tugba Kucukkasap Comert, Yagmur Demirel Ozbek — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The present study aimed to adapt the cooking and food skills confidence measures developed by Lavelle et al. (2017) to Turkish cuisine and investigate its reliability and validity. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 adults aged between 22.0 and 34.0 years who live in Ankara were included in the study. The data were collected using the Turkish version of the cooking and food skills confidence measures (composed of 33 items), and a questionnaire form, which measured the level of knowledge on cooking (17 items) and food storage methods (11 items). Results: The respective Cronbach alpha coefficients for the cooking and food skills confidence measures in general and their subdomains were 0.880, 0.772, and 0.852, respectively. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) have indicated that the standardized load values of all items were above 0.20. In addition, participants’ body mass index (kg/m2) values were negatively correlated with cooking skills scale score. Cooking and food skills confidence measures total score was found positively correlated with cooking and food storage methods knowledge score (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The Turkish language version of the cooking and food skills confidence measures can be used as a screening tool to evaluate healthy nutrition-related studies in Turkey.

A Case of Atypical Delayed Anaphylaxis to Rifampin

Cindy M. Nguyen, Jessica Sworzyn, Paula Mohyi, Marilyn Li, Kenny Kwong — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Rifampin is a mainstay in anti-tuberculosis therapy and is generally well tolerated and safe to take at therapeutic dosing. While anaphylactic reactions to rifampin are exceedingly rare, prompt recognition and awareness is vital to patient safety, and alternative medications should be considered desensitization has been associated with significant morbidity. Here we report a case of a severe anaphylactic reaction to rifampin. A 65-year-old Asian woman was diagnosed with active tuberculosis and initiated on rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (RIPE). A couple of weeks after initiating RIPE therapy, she developed urticaria and angioedema and therapy was held. Upon resumption of RIPE, she developed emesis, fever, chills, perioral cyanosis, and hypotension within a few hours of the first dose. She was admitted to the intensive care unit for a rifampin graded dose challenge and subsequently developed a severe anaphylactic reaction to rifampin four hours after the final dose of the challenge. She tolerated desensitization to isoniazid and ethambutol well and was prescribed an alternative anti-tuberculosis regimen of isoniazid, ethambutol, levofloxacin, and pyridoxine for a total of 18 months to complete her treatment.

Role of Kataka-Khadiradi Ghanavati Ayurvedic Formulation in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

Malashree Sadashiv Gadadi, Shamsa Fiaz, Abhishek Singh — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Metabolic disorders are considerable health issues due to their association with morbidities and mortalities. Diabetes is one of the metabolic disorders associated with every systemic morbidity. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of such morbidity which is vision-threatening and the whole world is looking for a solution. In contemporary science, there are management techniques which are applicable when DR is completely manifested. Objectives: The objective of this study was to review existing pharmaco-analytical reports on Katakakhadiradi Kashaya (KKK) and Ghanavati and its contents, animal studies and clinical trials of management of diabetes, and its complications through the KKK and Ghanavati (KKG). Design: The literature research comprised an electronic database from January 2000 to February 4, 2023. The study included MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, AYUSH Research Portal, and DHARA database. Search terms were used “KKK”, “DR”, “Katakakhadiradi Ghanavati”, and “Antioxidants.” No limits were used. The search strategy was adapted for each database as necessary. Pharmaco-analytical reports and animal studies were included in the current review. The study applied inclusion criteria while screening the records. Intervention: Phytochemical constituents and their effect on DR. Outcome measures: Number and results of studies identified in the review. Results: The integrative approach could open new hope for patients of DR and is a need of time.

Recent Progress in Biomarker Detection in Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases

Upendra Prajapati, Akash Yadav, Dinesh Kumar Jain — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Cardiorenal syndrome is a clinical condition in which there is a correlation between heart and kidney diseases. In recent times, many biomarkers have been studied in patients with cardiovascular diseases for developing proper knowledge of renal function and identifying patients who are more susceptible to chronic or acute deterioration of renal function. Because diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of a single time point biomarker is limited, biomarkers should be combined and monitored at multiple times for optimal clinical impact. This review mainly lays emphasis on the potential clinical uses of the biomarkers in cardiorenal syndrome, recent advancements of biomarkers in developing therapeutic agents for Alzheimer’s disease, and classification of different types of biomarkers as well as highlights classic heart failure biomarkers with critical values adjusted to glomerular filtration rate and summarizes research progress of new heart failure biomarkers and future research directions.

Evaluating and Improving Patient Satisfaction with Health-care Quality Standards in Uttar Pradesh, India

Nitish Kumar, Neeraj Kumar Sharma — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The level of contentment shown by one’s patients is a crucial indicator of quality. Measuring patient satisfaction is useful for several purposes, including investigation, management, and strategic development. Patient happiness should be used as a yardstick for measuring the effectiveness of medical professionals in their daily work. Whole quality management relies heavily on patient happiness as a metric of success. The ultimate goal of any survey of in-patients should be to have those staying at the facility feel as satisfied as possible with their care.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Body, Eating, and Exercise Comparison Orientation Measure in Turkish Female University Students

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Body comparison intervention may be a key way of preventing the risk of eating disorders; however, no validated measure exists to evaluate this construct in Turkey. This study translates the body, eating, and exercise comparison orientation measure (BEECOM) into the Turkish language and assesses its reliability and validity among Turkish university students.
Methods: This study was conducted with 388 female university students in a single center in Ankara, Turkey, between November 2018 and March 2019. Participants with a diagnosis or history of eating disorders were excluded. Reliability, validity, and test-retest relationships were examined. Cronbach’s alpha analysis was performed to evaluate reliability and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine the test-retest reliability. The validity of the scale was evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the BEECOM was 0.841 and the test-retest reliability was 0.716. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis (χ2/df = 0.828) and satisfactory model fit statistics (RMSEA = 0.000, GFI = 0.991) were sufficient. When the confirmatory factor analyses are examined, all subscales, body, eating, and exercise, are statistically significant.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the Turkish version of the BEECOM is a valid and reliable measurement and can be used to investigate social comparisons related to body, eating, and exercise among Turkish women.

Constructive Teaching Methods for Shalya Tantra - A Descriptive Review from Primeval to Current Practice

Nasreen Hanifa, P. Hemantha Kumar — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Teaching and learning are two sides of a coin that must go hand in hand. The educational plans should be planned in such a way which could boost not only the conceptual understanding but also be able to develop practical skills and knowledge of the students. Various teaching modalities have been evolved with time but no literature is found with respect to Shalya tantra. The father of Surgery, Acharya sushruta also gave a special emphasis on teaching methods which are still pertinent with current practice. Methods: In this article, we are presenting a descriptive review from primeval time to the current practice of teaching methods especially for the fraternity of the Ayurvedic surgical branch. The work is compiled after extensively reviewing literature of both classical and contemporary literature as well as published works in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Results: No standardized data have been published so far in reference to effective teaching methods particularly for Shalya tantra scholars and the fundamentals of quality learning are disregarded. Discussion and Conclusion: The best teaching method is the one which arouses the student’s interest and in relation to surgical branch, theoretical knowledge is just the base whereas hand-to-hand surgical training must be mandatorily followed to impart the best of skills.

Effects of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on the Immune System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Challenged Hamsters

Lumamba Mubbunu, Humphrey Simukoko, Bernard Hang’ombe, Edwell Mwaanga — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 observed in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus disease have created controversy as to why this was the case and the role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin enzyme inhibitors was not ruled out as a contributing factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and ARBs on respiratory immunity. The study used a Syrian hamster as an animal model to study the effects of ARBs and ACEIs on the immune system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-challenged hamsters; fever was a response variable. The hamsters were randomly separated into three groups of six. One group was administered enalapril, another with losartan, and the last group was administered water for 30 days. After 30 days, the hamsters were inoculated with 0.2 mL of 1.5 × 108 cfu/mL of P. aeruginosa. After 18 h from the inoculation time, the temperature was taken every 2 h for 36 h. The temperature in all groups ranged from 35.5°C to 37.2°C with an average of 36.1°C and there was no mortality recorded at the end of 14 days. The results were analyzed using Dunnett multiple comparisons analysis of variance using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27. There were no significant differences in temperature between hamsters treated with enalapril or losartan and those treated with water (control). In addition, no hamster developed fever. In conclusion, enalapril and losartan may not negatively affect the respiratory immunity. Effects of ACEIs and ARBs on the immune system of P. aeruginosa challenged hamsters.

Understanding the Pharmacodynamics of Kriyakalpa

Abhishek Singh, Nivedita Sitpal, Shamsa Fiaz — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Pharmacodynamics is the study of a drug’s molecular, biochemical, and physiologic effects. In short, it is all about how a drug affects an organism. There are some important factors that play an important role in the absorption of drugs in the body, like the route of drug administration, solubility and bioavailability, physical state of the drug and molecular weight, Time of absorption, and Vascularity of the absorbing surface. In Ayurveda, the local treatment procedures of Netra are explained in the name of Netra Kriya Kalpa (Su. U. 18/2). The word kriya means therapeutic action, and kalpana means specific formulations. Kriya Kalpa is a Bahirparimarjana Chikitsa and has several advantages over oral administration. They are noninvasive and cost-effective. No biodegradation of Drugs, Effective against blood aqueous and blood-retinal barriers, Comparatively, less dose is required, and it can be used as a preventive as well as a curative. Overall, we can say that Kriyakalp Procedures have several advantages as compared to oral administration.

Smart Hall’s Technique - An Innovative and Minimally Invasive Novel Option for Managing Carious Primary Molars-A Case Report

Paranjape MN, Shah PP — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Smart Hall’s technique can be one of the options to arrest the progression of dental caries which involves the application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to carious molars and restoring them with Glass ionomer cement followed by placement of stainless steel crown. This case report describes the management of multiple carious primary molars using Smart Hall’s technique in a 5-year-old patient who presented with a high dental anxiety. The treatment plan for this particular patient was divided into two phases (a) Preventive and (b) Restorative. SDF was applied to all carious molars and the teeth were restored using Glass ionomer cement followed by Stainless Steel crowns. The bite was initially raised after crown placement which settled gradually after a few weeks follow-up. This innovative approach of restoring primary molars using Smart Hall’s technique negates the need for invasive treatment under local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia.

Adherence to Key Domains by Indian Physiotherapists in Low Back Pain Clinical Guidelines: A Narrative Review

Shlesha Vaidya, Rajiv Limbasiya, Shraddha Champaneri — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in rest of the world which causes disability, work absenteeism, and use of medical services. The therapeutic management of acute as well as chronic LBP seems to vary substantially among medical specialists and physical therapists, but there is also considerable variation in the management of LBP between countries. This narrative review investigates an adherence to clinical practice guideline (CPG) for LBP among Indian physiotherapists regarding key domains. We identified studies by using the PubMed database in August 2022 using keywords “low back pain” and “Clinical Practice Guidelines.” Twenty-five articles were found and articles available on full text and study years between 2012 and 2022 were selected as inclusion criteria. Overall, physiotherapists are aware of CPGs and find it challenging to implement. Many studies showed an overall low adherence to the CPG, but adherence was best when LBP is associated with red flags. In public sector, physiotherapists were more likely to be strictly in line with the CPGs for assessing the psychosocial risk factors. Consideration of psychosocial parameters in treatment might have contributed to an increased awareness of strengths and weaknesses and a motivation to change routine practice in the management of patients with LBP.

An Overview of Natural Disintegrating Agent Used in Dispersible Tablets

Abhishek Prajapat, Akash Yadav, Dinesh Kumar Jain — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The oral therapy is the most commonly used method for administering many medications since it is thought to be the safest, most practical, and least expensive method. Fast dissolving pills are highly popular right now because they dissolve or easily dissolve in the mouth after administration without the need for water. Fast dissolving tablets have been developed to address the drawbacks of conventional dose forms, particularly dysphagia (refers to problem in which it becomes difficult to swallow), in pediatric and geriatric patients. Natural materials offer an advantage in comparison to the synthetic ones since they are more easily accessible, cost effective, not harmful, and chemically inert. By acting as a binder, diluent, and superdisintegrant, natural polymers such as locust bean gum, banana powder, mango peel pectin, Mangifera indica gum, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis mucilage improve tablet properties, increase the solubility of drugs which are insoluble or poorly soluble, helps in reducing the disintegration time, and aid as nutritional supplements. Natural polymer is derived from natural source, are economical, not harmful, decomposable, and environmentally helpful, free of negative effects, restorable, and serve as nutritional supplements. Studies have shown that natural polymers are more effective and safer than manufactured polymers. The aim of the current article is to study and examine natural polymers which have been approved by Food and Drug Administration for use in quick dissolving tablets.

Proniosome-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery of Resveratrol

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Vesicular systems have been receiving a lot of interest as a carrier for advanced drug delivery. The present investigation aimed at the development and characterization of proniosome based transdermal delivery of resveratrol. The proniosomal structure was a liquid crystalline-compact niosomes hybrid which could be converted into niosomes upon hydration by skin itself. To optimize the formulation, various proniosomes composed of various ratios of sorbitan fatty acid esters, polysorbates, cholesterol, and lecithin were prepared by the coacervation-phase separation method. From each of the prepared proniosomes, the entrapment efficiency with span 60 was found to be the highest. The effects of cholesterol, phospholipids, and solvents were also assessed. Optimized formulation was characterized for entrapment efficiency, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, in vitro release study, vesicle size, and stability studies at 4°C and room temperature. Thus, proniosome was found to be a promising carrier system for resveratrol because of ease of preparation and better bioavailability.

Assessment of Variation in Nutrient Intake and Health Status of Women Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Antriksha Sen, Shardhanjali Sinha — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The economic position of a family has been influenced by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak which ultimately affects the nutritional status of women. The COVID-19 pandemic acts as a hurdle to obtain a balanced diet required to maintain the good health of women. The present study aims to understand the deterioration of the nutritional status of women by evaluating the changes in dietary patterns of women due to the COVID-19 pandemic and measuring the body mass index (BMI) of women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 315 non-pregnant women of reproductive age (18–49 years) at TB Hospital of Nagaur, Rajasthan, India. The nutritional status of women was evaluated by assessment of variation in nutrient intake due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with measuring the BMI of enrolled women. The study was conducted from January 01, 2021, to June 15, 2021. Results: The mean age of participants was 31.82 years (SD, 8.97). The family income of 20% of participants has been decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The frequency of intake of green vegetables and fruits was decreased in approximately 30% (P < 0.001) women, while the intake of meat, fish, and egg has increased in all non-vegetarian participants. The BMI of 65% of women has been falling in normal, 26% in overweight, 4.4% in underweight, and 4.1% in obese category. Conclusion: The current women’s BMI and change in dietary intake indicate that the nutritional status of women has been deteriorating comparatively, which further leaves an impact on the coming generation also. It opens up a scope of research at other deprived places in our country.

Condensing Osteitis – A Review and Case Report

Sonal Gupta, Shilpi Dutta, Abia Baby, Meghali Langthasa — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Condensing osteitis is pathological lesions of the maxillomandibular region which is seen in root apex of long standing untreated carious lesions or tooth having inappropriate endodontic treatment and generally occurs as a result of body’s defence mechanism against the infection. Dense trabeculae formation is seen within the bone marrow which appears as a radiopaque lesion near the apex of the affected tooth. Diagnosis of condensing osteitis depends on proper clinical and radiographic evaluation. In the present case report, condensing osteitis in a 12-year female is reported and with adequate endodontic procedure, healing and regression were seen after 6 months of follow-up.

Effect of Psychological First Aid Training on Knowledge and Self-efficacy of Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Psychological first aid (PFA) is an approach used to provide first-hand psychosocial support to individuals who are exposed to the acute aftermath of an adversity such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though PFA is being used worldwide at times of disasters or emergencies, few researches have been carried out in terms of PFA training of health care professionals. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the effect of PFA training on knowledge and self-efficacy of nurses. A two-armed randomized controlled trial was utilized in the study. Purposive sampling technique with random allocation and assessments at 3 time points was applied. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires and socio-demographic variables performa. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests as data were not normally distributed. The findings of the Wilcoxon sign-rank test ranks of knowledge were (Z = −3.53, P < 0.01) and (Z = −1.3, P = 1.92) among experimental and control groups. Meanwhile, scores of self-efficacy for both groups were (Z = −4.26, P < 0.01) and (Z = −1.04, P = 0.3). Mann Whitney U-test revealed non-significant scores (U = 895.00, P = 1.99) for knowledge and significant scores (U = 798.50, P = 0.043) for self-efficacy. The findings of the Friedman test of differences showed results that were significant (15.24 at P < 0.01) in the intervention group and non-significant (2.28 at P = 0.32) in the control group for knowledge and self-efficacy. Overall, study findings demonstrated that the necessary training of nurses on PFA aids in building knowledge and self-efficacy in rendering psychosocial interventions.

An Effect of Amplification on Hearing Ability, Cognition, and Depression among Middle and Late Adulthood

P. Akshya, Varaprakash Balasubramani — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Age-related hearing loss in middle adulthood (MA) and late adulthood (LA) is a highly prevalent health condition. It will negatively impact on an individual’s cognitive, social, and psychological functions. An effect of amplification on hearing ability, cognition, and depression among MA and LA are sparse. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate an effect of amplification on hearing ability, cognition, and depression among middle and LA. Methods: A cohort study where 18 MA and 20 LA with hearing impairment aged 50–75 years was selected. Pure tone audiometry, Mini Mental State Examination, and geriatric depression scale were assessed pre and post 6 weeks of amplification. Parameters such as hearing thresholds, cognitive score, and depression level were measured. The statistical tests were used for analyzing the parameters within and across groups. Results: The result shows a significant difference (P < 0.05) with respect to hearing thresholds and cognitive scores within both the groups. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in right ear between both the groups. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was noted in the level of depression between both the groups. Conclusion: An evident difference in the hearing thresholds and cognitive scores were noted with respect to amplification in both the groups. Thus, it can be concluded that the amplification has a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life. It should be considered as an important factor during the management of hearing impairment among middle and late-adulthood.

Comparative Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties from Piper peepuloides Roxb and Piper schmidtii Hook. F. – An in vitro Approach

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this article, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Piper peepuloides and Piper schmidtii are discussed. The study was focused on the secondary metabolites, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities of the extracts from the successive solvent extractions. The ethanol extract of P. peepuloides was the most active in the total phenolic (783.91 mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/100 g extract), tannin (597.81 mg GAE/100 g extract), and flavonoid (52.23 mg RE/100 g extract). Ethanol extract of leaves responded well against diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (IC5010.16 μg/mL), ABTS (55763.89 μg TE/g extract), superoxide (42.94%), and phosphomolybdenum (751.46 mg AAE/100 g extract) antioxidant assays. The P. schmidtii leaf extract was found to be good at getting rid of free radicals. The ethanol extract of P. peepuloides leaves also had a lot of antioxidant power. In the anti-inflammatory assay, the ethanol extract of P. peepuloides showed a high level of inhibition (69.59%). P. peepuloides and P. schmidtii leaf extracts have a lot of antioxidant power and could be used as a good source of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammation.