Ultrasound-Guided PRP and SVF Therapy Shows Sustained Improvement in Severe Knee Osteoarthritis: A 12-Month Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease caused by cartilage degeneration in the joint accompanied by joint deformities, pain, and stiffness. This study assessed the changes over time in the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) values of patients after the combined application of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective clinical study was designed. Thirty-four patients (8 males, 26 females, mean age 65.21±10.71, range 30-83 years) with pain due to knee osteoarthritis received SVF and PRP between 2019 and 2020. During and after the procedure, ultrasound-guided intra-articular spread was checked. RESULTS PRP+SVF injection provided significant improvement in the clinical symptoms of the patients measured according to their VAS and WOMAC scores, and this improvement continued until the twelfth month. The change in VAS scores of the patients was 1.76±1.18 (P=0.000) in the first month, 1.50±1.46 (P=0.000) in the sixth month, and 1.53±1.41 (P=0.000) in the twelfth month. VAS scores decreased 6.6 to 1.6 point at the end of the twelfth month. The WOMAC scores of the patients were 23.20±12.12 (P=0.000) in the first month, 19.48±12.0 (P=0.000) in the sixth month, and 20.01±10.48 (P=0.000) in the twelfth month. WOMAC scores decreased 51.99 to 20.48 point at the end of the twelfth month. CONCLUSIONS Applying ultrasound-guided PRP+SVF injection into the knee joint once in OA patients improved VAS and WOMAC scores.

The effects of progressive muscle relaxation exercise on dementia caregivers.

While progressive muscle relaxation has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression in general populations, its impact on caregivers of dementia patients remains understudied. This study investigated the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) in improving the well-being of dementia caregivers. Caregivers of individuals with dementia (n = 57) participated in a 3-month intervention, engaging in PMR thrice weekly. Participants completed assessments of depression, anxiety, stress, and caregiver burden at pre-test and post-intervention period. The intervention led to significant reductions in anxiety, stress, depression, and caregiver burden among participants. Female caregivers reported to have higher levels of anxiety and stress compared to males. Caregivers under financial stress showed high levels of distress and increased caregiver burden. These promising findings suggest the need for further research with larger, multicenter samples. Notably, PMR is a readily implementable intervention by nurses, requiring minimal equipment and offering a cost-effective approach to supporting caregiver well-being.

"I don't Want to Die Alone" Nurses' Perception of Ageism: A Qualitative Study.

The aim of the study was to learn the perceptions and thoughts of nurses with whom older patients interact constantly. In this research, semi-structured interview was used. In a research hospital in Istanbul between March-June 2019, 16 volunteers were included in the study. Researchers led individual semi-structured interviews regarding nurses' perceptions, how they overcame those challenges, and need and expectations aging care (dying patients). All interviews were analysed using thematic analysis methods and synthesized into major themes. The research was planned based on the 32-item checklist (COREQ) guideline. Nurses (N = 16) reported three themes: (i) ageing perceptions (ii) care for dying patients, (iii) expectations and five subthemes emerged in this study. It is understood that nurses have a positive perception of ageing. In addition, nurses have expectations from the state (financial support, gerontology service etc.) and society (respectful, understanding etc.) to reduce the difficulties they experience while caring for dying patient.

Caregiver Burden, Quality of Life and Related Factors in Family Caregivers of Dementia Patients in Turkey.

This study aimed to evaluate caregiver burden and quality of life (QoL) and their predictors in family caregivers of dementia patients. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out with a sample of 102 patients and their family caregivers. The Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and Short Form-12 (SF-12) were used to collect data. CBI mean score was 37.97 ± 21.30. Mean scores of SF-12 sub-domains varied between 36.02 and 77.94 and were significantly lower as compared to normative means of the general population, excluding only the physical health subdomain. Among several patient and caregiver-related correlations, the number of medications and worse cognitive function of the patient, caregiver's age and having limited space at home were found as predictors of burden, whereas caregiver's chronic disease and having a limited space were predictors of QoL. Also, the burden and QoL were correlated. This study demonstrated a high burden and low QoL in dementia caregivers. In societies where caregivers are mostly informal such as that in Turkey, supportive systems should be established.

Non-Pharmacologic Approaches to Sleep Problems for Palliative Care Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This present systematic review aims to examine the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches to sleep problems for cancer patients in palliative care. METHOD: In this review, the data of the last 5 years from 2018 to 2023 are included in Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, Ulakbim National Database and Cochrane Library databases were scanned using the keywords "palliative care, sleep disorder, non-pharmacologic, insomnia, cancer, randomized controlled trial" in English and Turkish. As a result of the search, we identified 90 articles. This review was based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 Statement recommendations. RESULTS: This current review comprised 5 randomized controlled trials. The included studies were found to examine methods such as aromatherapy, massage, therapeutic touch, and white light, leaving out other methods (sleep hygiene, exercise, etc.), which are effective in treating insomnia. We established that the methods discussed in these studies were highly effective in improving sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Non-pharmacological methods for treating sleep problems in cancer patients in palliative care have been shown to be effective. We consider it important that nurses were involved in these studies. On the other hand, we would recommend that studies be conducted to evaluate the effect of other nonpharmacologic methods on sleep problems.

The correlation between nursing students' healthy lifestyle behaviors, cardiovascular disease risk factors' knowledge level, and obsession symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students have a role in the awareness of risk factors in the development of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Nursing students' awareness of disease risk factors plays a role in developing healthy lifestyle behaviors. Therefore, it was aimed to determine the relationship between the effect of nursing students' healthy lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular disease risk factors' knowledge levels and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Two hundred and twenty-four students studying in the nursing departments of two foundation universities participated in the study between April and October 2020. Sociodemographic information form, Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II), Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL), and Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) were applied to the students. RESULTS: It was found that the nursing students' healthy lifestyle behaviors (123.53 ± 25.78) and cardiovascular risk factors' knowledge level (21.08 ±± 2.70) were high. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (16.12 ± 6.22) were moderate. In the correlation of sociodemographic characteristics, it was found that age correlated with the nutrition subdimension of CARRF-KL and HPLP-II, income level correlated with HPLP-II, place of residence correlated with HPLP-II, CARRF-KL, and MOCI, and having a health problem correlated with health responsibility. Income status, place of residence, and presence of health problems were found to be correlated with HPLP-II in all subdimensions in the regression analysis. In the regression analysis of HPLP-II with CARRF-KL and MOCI scales, it was found that it was significantly related to interpersonal relations, spiritual growth, stress management, and total score dimensions. CONCLUSION: Healthy lifestyle behaviors of nursing students are related to cardiovascular risk factors' knowledge level and obsession symptoms. In addition, some demographic characteristics affect healthy lifestyle behaviors.