RÉSUMÉ
Background: Eyecare forms a major part of the care provided to all patients in ICUs. Critical care nurses limited knowledge about anatomy and physiology of eyes and ocular manifestations in critically ill patients can delay the identification and delivery of proper eyecare. Methods: A hospital based descriptive study among 74 ICU nursing staff was conducted using a well-structured questionnaire. Basic demographic data including age, gender, education, experience in ICU, type of ICU and previous eye training were collected. Questionnaire had 3 parts-knowledge, attitude and practice with 7 MCQs in each. Knowledge assessment was on different ocular signs in patients, their risk factors and management with 2 or more correct responses and a score of 3, 2, 1 or 0 was given. Attitude assessment was regarding the importance of early detection, treatment and prevention of eye diseases. Positive response was given score1, negative response 0. Practice assessment was based on methods and techniques of eyecare followed in ICU. Results: 54% had 1-5 years experience in ICU. 20.3% were from NSICU. 78% had average knowledge. 86.8% answered the question on high risk for exposure keratopathy correctly. 50% showed good attitude, maximum positive attitude was for the question on the effect of eye care on preventing eye disorders. No correlation was found between attitude and knowledge score. Average practice pattern was shown by 54%. Practice patterns followed included assessment of lid closure in their last duty by 66.2%, eyelid closure assessed hourly by 59.5%, eyedrops instilled 3 hourly and 6 hourly by 36.5% and method of cleaning eyes using distilled water by 41.9%. 50% of nurses cleaned the eyes hourly. 60% staffs did taping for incomplete eyelid closure and 61% followed fixed eyecare protocol. Conclusions: ICU nurses level of knowledge concerning eye care of mechanically ventilated develop a fixed protocol for eyecare in ICU which will help in systematic management.
RÉSUMÉ
Background: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in macular thickness with age, by SD-OCT and to estimate the inner and outer retinal layer thickness of outer and inner macula based on different zones and to assess their relationship with age. Methods: A retrospective observational study of 50 subjects with age ranging from 21 to 60 years was studied with SD-OCT (10 mm scan). The study was done in the month of April 2021 at Department of Ophthalmology, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation. Results: Total macular thickness ranged from 180 to 225 micrometer with no significant change with age. It was found that the thickness of inner retinal layer showed a significant decrease with age in 72% of subjects (p<0.05) and changes in outer layer was not significant. The inner retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in all quadrants was more than outer retinal layer thickness. The nerve fibre layer thickness of outer macula was more than the inner macula followed by the fovea. The RNFL was thickest at the inferior quadrant and thinnest at the temporal quadrants, followed by the nasal quadrant and the superior quadrant. Conclusions: The total macular layer thickness didn’t show any significant change with age. It was found that the inner retinal layer thickness showed a significant decrease with age but outer retinal layer didn’t. This information can be used for clinical studies evaluating the association between macular thickness and various retinal diseases.
RÉSUMÉ
Background: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in macular thickness with age, by SD-OCT and to estimate the inner and outer retinal layer thickness of outer and inner macula based on different zones and to assess their relationship with age. Methods: A retrospective observational study of 50 subjects with age ranging from 21 to 60 years was studied with SD-OCT (10 mm scan). The study was done in the month of April 2021 at Department of Ophthalmology, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation. Results: Total macular thickness ranged from 180 to 225 micrometer with no significant change with age. It was found that the thickness of inner retinal layer showed a significant decrease with age in 72% of subjects (p<0.05) and changes in outer layer was not significant. The inner retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in all quadrants was more than outer retinal layer thickness. The nerve fibre layer thickness of outer macula was more than the inner macula followed by the fovea. The RNFL was thickest at the inferior quadrant and thinnest at the temporal quadrants, followed by the nasal quadrant and the superior quadrant. Conclusions: The total macular layer thickness didn’t show any significant change with age. It was found that the inner retinal layer thickness showed a significant decrease with age but outer retinal layer didn’t. This information can be used for clinical studies evaluating the association between macular thickness and various retinal diseases.
RÉSUMÉ
Background: Dental caries status in children is influenced by a number of risk factors such as sex, age, socioeconomic status, diet, and oral hygiene practices. The objective of the study was to assess and compare the prevalence of dental caries and calculus in 12-13 year old school children. Materials and methods: A sample of 761 children aged 12-13 years of both sexes from government and private schools. Clinical examination was carried out using the DMFT index for assessing the caries prevalence and Calculus component of Simplified-Oral Hygiene Index was used for assessing calculus in these children. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was seen more in children studying in government schools than in private schools which was statistically significant (p=0.018). When the gender differences were compared it was seen that girls showed a higher prevalence of dental caries (66.37% in private schools; 87.58% in government schools) than boys (64.47% in private schools; 71.98% in government schools). There was no significant difference seen in the prevalence of calculus between government and private school children. Conclusion: High prevalence of dental caries was found in these school children which suggested a poor performance of oral hygiene practices in them
RÉSUMÉ
AIM: The aim of the study was to screen for the common deltaF508 mutation and the poly T polymorphism and to determine their frequency in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene among the suspected CF cases referred to our clinical care centre for sweat chloride tests. METHODOLOGY: Sweat and EDTA blood samples were obtained from 23 clinically suspected cystic fibrosis (CF) cases. Sweat was estimated by pilocarpine iontophoresis procedure. Poly T polymorphism was detected by the multiplex-PCR based on ARMSTM technique and deltaF508 mutation by PCR-mediated site-directed mutagenesis method. RESULTS: Five cases, mainly with respiratory abnormalities and followed by steatorrhea had elevated sweat chloride levels (> 60 mmol/l), three of them, each with nutritional, respiratory and pancreatic abnormalities were borderline (40-60 mmol/l) and the remaining 15 clinically suspected CF cases had normal sweat chloride levels (< 40 mmol/l). The 9T variant was frequently observed (75%) in cases with elevated sweat chloride, including those exhibiting borderline values; with no 5T variant. The 7T was the most common variant (77%) observed in the cases with normal sweat chloride, with only one 5T variant (33%). Of the five cases with high sweat chloride, four cases were homozygous for deltaF508, whereas one was heterozygous with borderline sweat chloride, thus showing an overall frequency of 56.25% in the CF chromosome. DeltaF508 was found to be present with the 9T variant in all the instances. CONCLUSION: The presence of the 9T variant along with elevated sweat chloride levels can be used to predict a high risk of the individual harboring the severe deltaF508 mutation. It would be advisable to test for to the deltaF508 mutation along with the sweat chloride estimation in all the critically suspected CF cases diagnose CF with a higher degree certainty.