SM Journal of Clinical Medicine

Archive Articles

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Effects of an Early Cardiac Rehabilitation Following Heart Surgery in Patients Over 70 Years

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of an early comprehensive, individualized cardiac rehabilitation program shortly after cardiac surgery and to assess its impact on exercise capacity and quality of life.

Methods: This is a prospective study looking into 2 types of cardiac rehab in 100 patients (men and women), who underwent open heart surgery (for coronary artery bypass graft, heart valve replacement, or a combination of both). The participants were allocated in two groups. Specially designed, individualized step program adapted
for rehabilitation after cardiac surgery in the elderly was analyzed vs. our routine program. Individualized rehabilitation subjects (ICR-group), (n=50 mean age 72±3) received exercise plan, tailored to optimally meet the needs of every patient, while control group (RCR-group), (n=50 mean age 73±4) took part in regular program.

Results: ICR-group did better that RCR-group in 6-minute walk test. After cardiac rehabilitation significant improvement in the distance walked in 6 minute walk test (P < 0.01) was observed in both groups, with marked increase in the ICR-group. Furthermore, significant difference in walked distance between CABG and valve surgery patients (283.5±64 vs. 242.25±83.25), and in men compared to women (267.75 ± 76.5 vs. 220.5± 68.25) was found. In multivariate analysis gender, age, comorbidities and type of surgery were independently associated with the level of functional capacity improvement at discharge.

Conclusion: A personalized physiotherapy plan, devised to increase independent mobility soon after open heart surgery is safe, feasible and more effective than routine cardiac rehabilitation program

Alexiev A¹, Terziev A¹ and Gotcheva N¹*


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Phenotypic Tests of Bacterial Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: A Systematic Review

Background: Although a variety of methods exist, the goal of in-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testingis the same; to provide a reliable predictor of how a microorganism is likely to respond to antimicrobial therapy in the infected host. This type of information aids the clinician in selecting the appropriate antimicrobial agent,
provides data for surveillance and aids in developing antimicrobial use policies. The objective of this review was to review phenotypic tests of bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility testing and to offer guidance in selecting the appropriate method of testing.

Result: In this review, we summarized the different phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility tests including the principles, advantages and disadvantages. In addition, susceptibility testing of fastidious bacteria, anaerobic  bacteria and actinomycets are separately discussed. In-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing can be performed
using a variety of forms, the most common being disk diffusion, agar dilution, broth macro dilution, broth micro dilution, and a concentration gradient test.

Conclusion: The choice of antimicrobial susceptibility testing depends on different factors including the target organism, antimicrobial agent and testing intensions. The use of up-to-date interpretation breakpoints and regular quality control mechanisms is mandatory to maintain the reliability and reproducibility of test results and
to draw the trends of antimicrobial susceptibility. Because phenotypic tests are time consuming and technically demanding, clinical laboratories should look for rapid, easy and accurate automated methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Ataklti Hailu Atsbaha¹,²*, Dawit Gebremichael Tedla³ and Mebrahtu Teweldemedhin Shfare⁴


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The Effects of Bedside Shoulder Exercises in Stroke Patients with Severely Impaired Upper Extremity Function

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in older adults, and more than 70%of individuals experience Upper Extremity (UE) paresis after stroke. The effect of bedside shoulder exercise in stroke patients with severely disabled has not been evaluated, so, we investigated the effects these kind of
exercises in the ward for subacute stroke patients with severely impaired UE function.

Methods: Subacute stroke patients with severely impaired UE weakness who have a grade below poor for their motor power of the shoulder were enrolled in this pilot, case-control study. This study was conducted from May 2013 to October 2015 in Dong-A University Hospital, Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular center,
republic of Korea. Experimental group performed bedside shoulder exercises for 3 weeks. During the exercises, a caregiver supported the subject’s affected arm and assisted the subject in perform a precise exercise. An age-, stroke lesion-, and shoulder motor power-matched control group were enrolled. Manual Function Test
(MFT), Fugl-Meyer Scale (FMS), manual muscle test and modified Ashworth scale were used to assess shoulder functions. Radiological findings of Glenohumeral Subluxation (GHS) were measured. All evaluations were measured before and after 3-week treatment.

Results: Forty-three patients in the experimental group and fifty patients in the control groups were enrolled. When compared with control group, experimental group showed significantly more improvement in the scores of MFT and FMS, and radiological findings of GHS. Bedside shoulder exercise showed more effective when a
patient’s shoulder motor power grade was poor and the patient’s compliance was high.

Conclusion: Bedside shoulder exercise might be a helpful therapeutic option to enhance shoulder function in stroke patients with severely impaired UE. This protocol is simple, and feasible in clinical settings.

Sang Beom Kim¹, Yoon Sik Choi¹, Sook Joung Lee¹ and Min Kyu Park²*


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Rh Disease and Potential Implication of Fetal Microchimerism: A Case of Rising Rhesus

This is a classical case involving a woman with a history of giving birth to a child with Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN). The client was in her eleventh week of her third pregnancy when she reported to our facility for antibody detection, identification and titration. Consequently, we detected two alloimmune antibodies capable of crossing the placenta barrier; IgG B and Rh “D” antibodies. The Rh “D” antibodies were in alarming and increasing states from week 11 to week 25 when the woman traveled out of jurisdiction. The IgG anti-B was in a relative stable quantity throughout the monitoring period. She was delivered on the 38th week of gestation and the baby was typed to be A Rh “D” Negative and was not carrying any of the antigens to the antibodies detected. We found this worth reporting because there was no fetal stimulus causing the rising levels of the Rh “D” antibody; we thus propose fetal microchimerism as the potential cause since the woman had a history of bearing children with the antigens to the antibodies detected. This is a phenomenon that has been postulated to be involved in the etiology of hemolytic disease of the newborn.

M Akonde¹, EG Narter-Olaga¹, K Boaheng¹ and BB Antuamwine²*


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National Telemedicine and Telehealth Policy Context in England and Introduction of Digital Innovations for Detection and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Chlamydia is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) among young people aged 16-24 years old. The infection is largely asymptomatic and therefore regular screening is required to detect, treat and identify those at risk. If left untreated, chlamydia can result in serious long term consequences, particularly for women. These include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Current levels of screening in the England cover only a small proportion of the eligible population. Technological advances offer the opportunity to redesign existing asymptomatic chlamydia screening/ testing and treatment pathways in England, leading to increased testing uptake, higher treatment rates and reduced disease transmission. Innovations underway include self-tests networked through mobile phones, combined with online clinical care and other non-face-to-face care pathways. Two levels of integration of technology into mainstream sexual health services are possible. The most ambitious is a fully remote online pathway incorporating a self-test, plus online treatment and partner notification. A less ambitious service would consist of postal home sampling kits with a partial remote online pathway for results notification, treatment provision and partner notification. In this article we discuss the current state of adoption of new technologies in the sexual health service delivery pathway within the overall context of digital technology use in England, the emergence of a national digital health policy, and challenges to the adoption of telemedicine and telehealth technologies. Consideration of these aspects should help technology developers, policy makers and service providers to optimize future technology adoption and service re-design in STI care or related clinical areas.

Sue Eaton¹*, Leeza Osipenko², Stavros Petrou¹, Deborah Biggerstaff¹ and Ala Szczepura³