Probiotics in Postoperative Pain Management.

Postoperative pain is the unpleasant sensory and emotional experience after surgery, its origin being both the inflammatory reaction induced by the surgical trauma on the abdominal wall and the splanchnic pain induced by the activation of nociceptors of the viscera, which are highly sensitive to distension, ischemia, and inflammation. Nowadays, it is well recognized that there is a close relationship between the gut microbiome and pain perception, and that microbiome is highly affected by both anesthesia and surgical manipulation. Thus, efforts to restore the disturbed microbiome via supplementation with beneficial bacteria, namely probiotics, seem to be effective. In this article, the knowledge gained mainly from experimental research on this topic is analyzed, the concluding message being that each probiotic strain works in its own way towards pain relief.

Mental illness through the perspective of undergraduate medical students in Greece: a cross-sectional study at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Introduction: Numerous studies reveal that mental health-related stigma, stereotypes, and prejudices negatively affect the patients, jeopardizing their health, prognosis, and social opportunities. Healthcare professionals, who are in the first line of combating mental disease, are expected to play a significant role in drastically changing discriminatory and stigmatizing attitudes toward psychiatric patients and in diminishing the existing healthcare and social disparities. In this study, we aimed to explore and highlight the views of Greek medical students-that is of the future physicians-toward mental illness and people suffering from it. Materials and methods: It is a cross-sectional, observational study, in which 324 undergraduate students from the most populous Greek medical school of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, participated online, during the spring semester of 2022. The tools used were the Opinions about Mental Illness Scale (OMI) that assesses one's viewpoints about mental illness, the Social Distance Scale (SDS) that captures the desired degree of social distancing from patients with mental disorders, and the Level of Contact Report (LCR-12) that estimates the level of familiarity with them. Results: Participants displayed rather positive attitudes regarding the etiology of mental illness, social integration, and discrimination toward psychiatric patients [as evaluated with the respective OMI subscales; Etiology mean score (µ):8.87 ± 4.68, Social Integration (µ):17.79 ± 5.42, Social Discrimination (µ):13.54 ± 11.17], and more clearly favorable opinions concerning the need for social provision or the enactment of restrictive measures [as expressed with the relative OMI subscales; Social Care (µ):22.74 ± 4.56, Social Restriction (µ):13.27 ± 8.98], while claiming to be quite familiar with mental disorders and individuals experiencing them (as assessed with LCR; µ: 8.71 ± 2.16), and relatively willing to interact with them (as measured with SDS; µ:8.95 ± 4.23). Degree of familiarity with mental illness was directly proportional to the desire for contact with patients living with it, while the higher both were, the more improved most of the aforementioned OMI sectors were found to be. Female sex, clinical medical education, previous clinical psychiatric training, and living with or being a person with a mental disorder were the factors that defined a statistically refined profile in many of the aspects above. Conclusion: Our findings are in accordance with many prior and recent studies, while showing improved opinions compared to those of previous research in Greek student and healthcare population. They are calling for vigilance, rather than complacency, as well as educational and social interventions, in order to enable current and future healthcare professionals to perform their function to its fullest extent. Implications of our results and further research suggestions are included.

The first positive evidence that training improves triage decisions in Greece: evidence from emergency nurses at an Academic Tertiary Care Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Triage refers to the process of patient prioritisation in the emergency department (ED). This is based on the severity of the patient's illness and is performed by emergency nurses (ENs). This has a pivotal role in ensuring patient safety and in ensuring that the ED operates smoothly - so continuous and accurate training are essential. As Emergency Nursing has been formally established in Greece since 2019, it is of the uppermost importance that all Greek ENs should be trained in the use of a standardised triage system. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of triage training of ENs in the use of the Swiss Triage System (STS) after an intervention of one week. METHODS: The effect of triage training was studied experimentally by comparing performance before and one week after training. A sample of thirty-six ENs from the University Department of Emergency Medicine at AHEPA University Hospital took part. The role of training in triage by the STS was assessed by completing the same self-administered questionnaire before and after a 45-minute e-learning program (presentation video of STS but with simulation scenarios) which was available during the period of a week. The post-training test was taken 2 weeks later, after the training process. RESULTS: The most promising finding was that there was a significant improvement in the number of correct answers after the training in triage (p<0.001). A significant improvement was also detected (p<0.001) in the questions that tested vigilance in providing safe health services by ENs, whereas there was no significant association between the number of correct answers and years of emergency experience or level of education, - either before or after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Triage training seems to successfully improve effective and efficient triage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has demonstrated that triage training has a significant positive impact on triage performance by ENs in Greece. It is planned to support these findings by real time studies in an ED.

Fungal Infections and Nail Psoriasis: An Update.

The relationship between psoriasis and onychomycosis is controversial, and the exact nature of this association remains to be clearly elucidated. In healthy nails, the compact nail plate acts as a barrier, preventing any infection. In psoriatic nails, the nail plate involvement, together with abnormalities in the blood capillaries, may lead to decreased natural defenses against microorganisms. Moreover, onycholysis (detachment of the nail plate) induces a humid environment that may favor fungal proliferation. Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs may additionally enhance onychomycosis. In this comprehensive review, we present data regarding the incidence and pathogenic action of dermatophytes and other fungi in the development of fungal infection in psoriatic nails.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage after Receiving Oral Levonorgerstrel for Emergency Contraception: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Drug-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) has been associated with the administration of various medications, among which levonorgestrel (LN) has not been reported until now. CASE PRESENTATION: This case study describes a 42-year-old woman who presented with hemoptysis, hypoxemia, and radiological depiction of ground glass opacities, 3 days after she had received emergency contraceptive medication containing levonorgestrel. Emergent bronchoscopy was performed, and BAL was diagnostic of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). A thorough diagnostic approach was followed, in order to detect the underlying pathological condition that induced DAH. The absence of other identifiable pathological conditions in this patient raised suspicion of LN's potential causative role. CONCLUSION: DAH has not been reported as an adverse effect of LN until now. However, LN has been found to exert immunomodulatory effects and to present potential for manifestations of vasculitis as well as severe hypersensitivity reactions. These mechanisms may have been implicated in the development of DAH in our patient, who presented no other pathological conditions.

Scleredema diabeticorum - A case report.

Scleredema diabeticorum is an uncommon skin disorder which is characterized by stiffness and hardening of the subcutaneous tissues located on the upper back and posterior neck. Patients with this skin disease typically experience pain and stiffness on the neck. Scleredema associated with diabetes mellitus may often go unrecognized. We report a case of a 55-year-old female patient with diabetes mellitus type 1, who presented with skin tightness on her upper back and decreased range of motion. Scleredema diabeticorum is rare and its treatment is difficult and tricky, as no specific regimen has been instituted to treat this skin disease.

A giant rheumatoid nodule of the cubital fossa: A mimicker of malignancy.

Rheumatoid nodules (RNs) are the most common extraarticular manifestation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, appearing in up to 30%. They are typically localized subcutaneously in pressure points or joints, such as the extensor surface of the elbow. But when they have atypical localizations, they provide a confusing differential diagnosis including the possibility of a malignancy. Herein, we report a 53-year-old female patient with known rheumatoid arthritis who presented with a painless mass in the right cubital fossa. The uncommon site and the presence of cortical disruption made us proceed to computed tomography-guided biopsy to exclude the presence of a malignancy. Biopsy established the RN diagnosis.

A Catastrophic Cascade of Postoperative Complications Following Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture in a Middle-Aged Patient With Schizophrenia.

The treatment of a patient with schizophrenia suffering a subcapital hip fracture may be challenging, mainly due to the high risk of postoperative medical and surgical complications. Mechanical complications from the implant are also frequently encountered following hip arthroplasty in patients with schizophrenia. We report the case of a 57-year-old male patient with schizophrenia who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty for a displaced femoral neck fracture. During the initial postoperative period, the patient developed a cascade of surgical and mechanical complications, leading to multiple revision procedures and a suboptimal outcome. The ideal type of treatment of patients with schizophrenia with subcapital hip fracture is still missing. It is, therefore, important to highlight the high risk of postoperative complications in patients with schizophrenia who present with subcapital fractures subsequently treated with hemiarthroplasty.

Myositis ossificans in the infraspinatus muscle: The key to diagnosis.

The zone phenomenon is the most important diagnostic feature in differentiating myositis ossificans from malignancies such as osteosarcomas, which calcify from the center to the periphery and its presence in our late-stage lesion was the key to diagnosis.

Piperacillin/Tazobactam as Cause of Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare cutaneous adverse reaction mainly attributed to antibiotics. It is characterized by numerous, nonfollicular, sterile pustules, arising on an exanthematous and edematous base. It is a serious adverse reaction accompanied by fever and leukocytosis. Piperacillin/tazobactam is indicated for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe infections. Herein is reported a case of AGEP caused by piperacillin/tazobactam. A 78-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer was presented to the emergency department reporting fever and groin pain. The laboratory analysis and more specifically urine cultivation showed a urinary tract infection by E. coli with sensitivity to piperacillin/tazobactam. She had no known allergies. She was started on intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam; she improved clinically on the second day, but on the fourth day of intravenous therapy, she developed extensive pustular rash on the folds and anterior proximal thighs, accompanied by fever and neutrophilia. Piperacillin/tazobactam administration was interrupted and she was given prednisolone for ten days. The patient improved clinically and her laboratory tests returned to normal after two weeks. AGEP is an uncommon side effect of piperacillin/tazobactam treatment and there are few cases reported.