Comparing the impact of acupressure and reflexology on fatigue in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients: A randomized controlled trial with three arms.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acupressure and reflexology on fatigue in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. METHOD: In this randomized controlled trial with three arms and a pretest-posttest design, 102 CLL patients were randomly allocated to acupressure (n = 34), reflexology (n = 34), or control (n = 34) groups. Pre-intervention assessments were conducted using a demographic questionnaire and a fatigue scale for cancer patients. The acupressure group received routine care with acupressure targeting the SP6 point for 10 min twice daily over four weeks. The reflexology group received daily 10-minute reflexology sessions over four consecutive weeks following the preparation and lubrication of the soles of their feet with sweet almond oil. Post-intervention assessments were administered to all groups using the same instruments. RESULTS: Results showed both acupressure and reflexology significantly reduced fatigue compared to the control group (P < 0.001). While differences were noted between acupressure, reflexology, and control groups initially, the post-intervention analysis revealed no significant variance between acupressure and reflexology in reducing fatigue (P < 0.05), suggesting similar improvement between acupressure and reflexology. CONCLUSIONS: Acupressure and reflexology are recommended as cost-effective and low risk complementary approaches for managing fatigue in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. These therapies offer promise in alleviating fatigue and enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients.

Fighting diabetic foot ulcer by combination therapy, including larva therapy, Medi honey ointment, and silver alginate dressings: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common complication of diabetes and can be challenging to manage. A combined approach can lead to faster healing and better outcomes for individuals with DFUs. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report presents a 70-year-old man with a 15-year history of diabetes who developed a diabetic foot ulcer. The patient was undergoing treatment with routine therapy. Despite the severity of the ulcer, a combination therapy approach, including larva therapy, Medi honey ointment, and silver alginate dressings, was implemented, leading to successful healing. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: By combining these three treatment modalities, we may be able to achieve a synergistic effect and maximize wound healing and infection control benefits. CONCLUSION: The combined use a honey-based Media Honey ointment and silver alginate larva therapy can be an effective treatment option for diabetic foot ulcers.

Maggot therapy, alginate dressing, and surgical sharp debridement: Unique path to save unresponsive diabetic foot ulcer.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Diabetic foot ulcers are a severe complication of diabetes mellitus, affecting a significant proportion of the diabetic population. In some cases, ulcer progression and infection can lead to the need for amputation. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old male with a history of poorly controlled type 2 DM and HTN presented with an infected DFU on the plantar aspect of his right foot. This case report illustrates the successful management of an 84-year-old patient with a DFU amputation candidate, emphasizing the effectiveness of a combined treatment approach. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Conventional treatment options, including antibiotic therapy, often fail to provide adequate healing in these high-risk patients. Alternative approaches, such as maggot therapy, which involves the application of sterile maggots to the wound bed, have shown promising results. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the potential therapeutic benefits and clinical efficacy of such a combined treatment approach, particularly in challenging cases with limited response to conventional therapies. Further studies and randomized trials may be warranted to support the incorporation of this therapy combination into clinical practice guidelines for DFU management.

Treating surgical site infection by honey antibacterial wound dressing in a neonate: a case report.

Surgical site infection (SSI) increases length of treatment, delays wound healing, increases antibiotic use and causes patient death in severe cases. This case was a boy aged 38 weeks and 4 days with a birthweight of 2100 g, a height of 42 cm and a head circumference of 32 cm. Twelve days after birth, he was admitted to hospital where a surgeon removed a sacrococcygeal teratoma. The surgical site became infected, and the infection failed to improve despite him receiving routine normal saline dressings twice a day and intravenous antibiotic therapy. The authors started treatment using an antibacterial wound dressing containing honey (Medihoney) on the SSI twice a day for a month. The infant's SSI was wholly healed after 3 months, and he was discharged from the wound treatment team in good general condition. This case shows that SSIs can be treated with honey-containing antibacterial wound gel, especially in infants who have weaker immune systems.

Comparing the effects of geranium aromatherapy and music therapy on the anxiety level of patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery: A clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety may lead to negative post-surgery outcomes in patients. It is essential to find strategies to manage pre-surgery anxiety and prevent unwanted consequences in patients. Aromatherapy and music therapy can be used to help patients managing their pre-surgery anxiety. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of Geranium aromatherapy and music therapy on the anxiety level of patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Imam Educational Hospital in Mahabad, Iran. One hundred and fifty patients were recruited and randomly allocated to aromatherapy, music therapy, and control groups. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure the patients' pre-surgery anxiety (primary outcome) before and after the intervention. Geranium essential oil and instrumental music were used in aromatherapy and music therapy groups respectively. The patients in the control group received no intervention. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 25.0. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in the mean anxiety score of aromatherapy, music therapy, and control groups (P=0.011). Inhalation Geranium aromatherapy and music therapy groups had significantly lower mean anxiety scores compared with the control group after the intervention (P<0.001). Moreover, the value of decrease in the mean anxiety score was greater in the aromatherapy group compared to the music therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: Music therapy and aromatherapy are recommended as inexpensive and safe complementary medicine. These methods are effective strategies to assist patients with managing their pre-surgery anxiety, which results in reduced patient post-surgery complications and shorter surgery recovery time.

Saving diabetic foot ulcers from amputation by surgical debridement and maggot therapy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the major diabetes complications that may lead to limb amputation. Amputation can have profound physical and psychological effects on an individual's life. Nowadays, the prevention of limb amputation and treatment of DFUs are known as the major health challenges. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report is of a 72-year-old woman with a 20-year history of type 2 diabetes who has had asymmetrical and superficial DFUs with sizes of 6 × 5 cm and 3 × 3 cm on the heel and the sole of the right foot, respectively. The ulcers were infected by S. aureus and E. coli. The patient had been hospitalized several times for receiving treatment, and not only the ulcers had not been healed, but also they had considerably extended so that the risk of foot amputation had been greatly increased. The patient was transferred to our wound care service. After conducting one session of surgical debridement, the patient underwent ten sessions of maggot therapy (one session every two days) using sterile Lucilia sericata. After about six months, the patient's DFUs were completely healed. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: DFU can affect a patient's quality of life and lead to infection, sepsis, amputation, and even patient death. Therefore, using effective treatment approaches is very important for the management of DFUs. CONCLUSION: The combined use of surgical debridement and maggot therapy is a safe and effective method for improving diabetic foot ulcers and preventing amputation.

Surgical debridement, maggot therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, and silver foam dressing revive hope for patients with diabetic foot ulcer: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), as one of the most debilitating complications of diabetes, can lead to amputation. Treatment and management of d DFUs are among the most critical challenges for the patients and their families. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report is of a 63-year-old man with a 5-year history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who has had DFU for the past three years on three sites of the left external ankle in the form of two deep circular ulcers with sizes of 6 × 4 cm and 6 × 8 cm, the sole as a superficial ulcer with a size of 6 × 3 cm, and the left heel as a deep skin groove. Moreover, the left hallux was completely gangrenous. The patient's ulcers were infected with Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The patient was transferred to our wound management team. DFU was treated and managed using a combination of surgical debridement, maggot therapy, the Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), and silver foam dressing. After three months and ten days, the patient's ulcers completely healed, and he was discharged from our service with the excellent and stable condition. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: DFUs are caused by various pathological mechanisms, the monotherapy strategy would lead to a very low level of recovery. Therefore, DFU management requires multimodal care and interdisciplinary treatment. CONCLUSION: Based on the present case report study's clinical results, wound-care teams can use the combination therapy applied in this case report to treat refractory DFU.

Effect of guided imagery on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 can lead to anxiety due to its high mortality rate. Patients with COVID-19 may suffer from muscle pain. This study aimed to determine the effect of guided imagery on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: 110 patients with COVID-19 were recruited and randomly assigned to two control and intervention groups. Data were collected using the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and the Visual Analogue Scale. The intervention group received ten training sessions of guided imagery. RESULTS: The results indicated a significant difference in the mean scores of state (t = -3.829, p < .001), trait anxiety (t = -2.946, p = .004), pain quality (t = -4.223, p < .001), pain intensity (t = -3.068, p = .003), and heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation (p < .001) between the two groups after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Guided imagery as a cost-effective method of complementary medicine is recommended to manage anxiety and pain in patients with COVID-19.