Sages

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers play a crucial role in supporting COVID-19 vaccination as they are the most trusted source of information to the public population. Assessing the healthcare workers' hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination is pertinent, however, there are limited validated tools to measure their hesitancy on COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to adapt and validate the first COVID-19 hesitancy scale among healthcare workers in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study adapted and translated the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) developed by the WHO SAGE Working Group...

BACKGROUND: Large language model (LLM)-linked chatbots may be an efficient source of clinical recommendations for healthcare providers and patients. This study evaluated the performance of LLM-linked chatbots in providing recommendations for the surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: Nine patient cases were created based on key questions addressed by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) guidelines for the surgical treatment of GERD...

Lupus enteritis denotes inflammation of the intestinal walls resulting from the influence of systemic lupus erythematosus. It represents a rare manifestation associated with notable morbidity and mortality, marked by nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. In this article, we present two cases of individuals experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms. They had a personal or familial history of autoimmunity with intestinal involvement consistent with the presentation of lupus enteritis. Following treatment with glucocorticoids and immunomodulators, both patients exhibited a satisfactory clinical evolution...

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy; and it is rarer to find one located in an ectopic location. Ectopic parathyroid glands are a reported cause of failed primary surgery for hyperparathyroidism. We report here a 73-year-old male who previously had parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism but then had recurrence of his symptoms with a diagnosis of a mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma on further evaluation. This presentation of complicated mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma posed significant diagnostic and management challenges due to comorbid stage IV chronic kidney disease (CKD)...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The United Nations has projected a 218% increase in older people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 2019 and 2050, underscoring the need to explore changes that would occur over this time. Longitudinal studies are ideal for studying and proffering solutions to these changes. This review aims to understand the breadth and use of longitudinal studies on aging in the SSA regions, proffering recommendations in preparation for the projected aging population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This paper is the third of a four-part series paper of a previous systematic mapping review of aging studies in SSA...

INTRODUCTION: Twenty-two Arab countries comprise the League of Arab States. While united in Arab identity, diversities among these countries exist at many levels. Conducting and publishing research in the Arabic speaking countries is an essential pillar for improving the status of the nursing profession. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the current status, trends, challenges, and opportunities of nursing research in Arab countries. METHODOLOGY: An integrative review was conducted using (1) Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Database Journals Directory (IMEMR), (2) the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals Database (IASJD), (3) Ulrichsweb (UW), (4) The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research/Middle Eastern Journals (GFMER), (5) the Nursing Journal Directory (NJD), (6) the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and (7) Google Scholar...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceptions of mothers with stunted children regarding the factors contributing to stunting in Kampar Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia. INTRODUCTION: Stunting is intricately linked to underlying risk factors, and understanding these factors is crucial for preventing its recurrence, particularly for mothers who play a central role in caring for stunted children. METHODS: The research sample consisted of mothers referred by the Perhentian Raja Community Health Center with stunted children...

BACKGROUND: Catheter-related bloodstream infection is a well-known, severe complication of central venous catheter insertion. Studies that have evaluated the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic's influence on the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection in intensive care units are limited. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study on catheter-related bloodstream infection in coronavirus disease 2019 intensive care unit with previously documented low incidence rates to evaluate the pandemic's impact...

OBJECTIVE: Funeral practices have undergone significant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the death of a family member from this disease has altered the typical course of the bereavement process. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the relationship between the levels of grief, anxiety, and depression in relatives of patients who died from COVID-19 in Peru. METHODS: A total of 250 volunteers were obtained, but after applying the inclusion criteria and not being able to contact five of them, the sample consisted of 115 participants over 18 years of age who lost a family member to COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021...

OBJECTIVES: Promoting resilience and embracing healthy coping strategies can effectively assist nursing students in managing stress and enhancing their welfare. Nonetheless, a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing their well-being and resilience, pivotal for both academic accomplishments and future career longevity, remains incomplete. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was adopted for this study. Participants comprised students enrolled in pre-registration nursing programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels...

BACKGROUND: The scope and number of disasters have increased over the years. This has called for more robust disaster preparedness training and plans. The use of virtual reality exercises in addition to tabletop exercises is considered a new approach to the preparation of disaster preparedness plans. Virtual reality exercises are being developed to either replace or complement current traditional approaches to disaster preparedness training. OBJECTIVES: To review and summarize the current existing literature regarding the effectiveness, advantages and limitations of using virtual reality exercises in disaster preparedness as a complementary/replacement mechanism for real-time drills and tabletop exercises...

It is uncommon to observe a nonunion of an isolated ulnar shaft fracture after surgical treatment; therefore, complications due to this nonunion are very rare. Adults are more likely to develop nonunions compared to children. We report the case of a 34-year-old man, who had a left ulnar shaft fracture, treated with a screwed plate. Four months later, a septic nonunion occurred causing a type 3 Monteggia equivalent lesion with a lateral dislocation of the radial head. We describe the consecutive methods of treatment that resulted in complete bone consolidation...

Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized using sage ( Salvia officinalis L.) extract. The obtained nanoparticles were supported on SBA-15 mesoporous silica (S), before and after immobilization of 10% TiO2 (Degussa-P25, STp; commercial rutile, STr; and silica synthesized from Ti butoxide, STb). The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The plasmon resonance effect, evidenced by UV-Vis spectra, was preserved after immobilization only for the sample supported on STb. The immobilization and dispersion properties of AgNPs on supports were evidenced by TEM microscopy, energy-dispersive X-rays, dynamic light scattering, photoluminescence and FT-IR spectroscopy...

Essential oil (EO) of Salvia spp. has been widely used for culinary purposes and in perfumery and cosmetics, as well as having beneficial effects on human health. The present study aimed to investigate the quantitative and qualitative variations in EOs in wild-growing and cultivated pairs of samples from members in four Salvia sections or three clades, namely S. argentea L. (Sect. Aethiopis ; Clade I-C), S. ringens Sm. (Sect. Eusphace ; Clade I-D), S. verticillata L. (Sect. Hemisphace ; Clade I-B), S. amplexicaulis Lam...

BACKGROUND: The intra-abdominal injury and traumatic brain injury prediction rules derived by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) were designed to reduce inappropriate use of CT in children with abdominal and head trauma, respectively. We aimed to validate these prediction rules for children presenting to emergency departments with blunt abdominal or minor head trauma. METHODS: For this prospective validation study, we enrolled children and adolescents younger than 18 years presenting to six emergency departments in Sacramento (CA), Dallas (TX), Houston (TX), San Diego (CA), Los Angeles (CA), and Oakland (CA), USA between Dec 27, 2016, and Sept 1, 2021...

Considering the importance of Salvia nemorosa L. in the pharmaceutical and food industries, and also beneficial approaches of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis and the use of bioelicitors such as chitosan to improve secondary metabolites, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of chitosan on the symbiosis of AMF and the effect of both on the biochemical and phytochemical performance of this plant and finally introduced the best treatment. Two factors were considered for the factorial experiment: AMF with four levels (non-inoculated plants, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices and the combination of both), and chitosan with six levels (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg L-1 and 1% acetic acid)...

Traveling waves of neural activity emerge in cortical networks both spontaneously and in response to stimuli. The spatiotemporal structure of waves can indicate the information they encode and the physiological processes that sustain them. Here, we investigate the stimulus-response relationships of traveling waves emerging in adaptive neural fields as a model of visual motion processing. Neural field equations model the activity of cortical tissue as a continuum excitable medium, and adaptive processes provide negative feedback, generating localized activity patterns...

INTRODUCTION: Elderly individuals are the segment of the population that needs special care. The quality of care provided for elderly individuals is highly determined by the knowledge of nurses in elderly care. Hence, there are limited studies conducted to determine the level of knowledge of nurses regarding elderly care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess determinant factors of nurses' knowledge of elderly care. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed from April 1 to 10, 2021, among 345 nurses...

We hereby present a 70-year-old male Ethiopian farmer who presented with clinical manifestations suggestive of acute large bowel obstruction, which had persisted for 3 days. Over the past 3 years, he has experienced three similar recurring episodes, which were alleviated by decompression using a rectal tube. Upon initial examination, the patient displayed signs of cardiopulmonary distress, although no indications of peritonitis were observed. Further evaluation through plain abdominal and chest X-rays revealed findings consistent with sigmoid volvulus, as well as mediastinal shift, elevated diaphragm, and a right-positioned heart...

Amyand's hernia is a rare condition characterized by an inguinal hernia containing the appendix, which can lead to complications. It is more common in children and it can be challenging to diagnose due to its location, often being mistaken for other conditions like strangulated hernias, orchitis-epididymitis, or testicular torsion. Imaging, including computed tomography and sonography, plays an important role in diagnosis, which is usually made intraoperatively. A case concerning a 3-month-old boy with a large acute scrotum that had been evolving for 4 days was presented...