Clinical importance of red cell distribution width and red cell index in pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVE

Discrimination of high mortality risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients at the first admission to the hospital is important for the follow-up and the clinical progress of patients. Additional biomarkers are needed for the initial assessment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether red cell distribution width (RDW) and red cell index (RCI) were associated with 30-day mortality risk and mortality rate in PE patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

101 PE patients and 92 non-PE patients were included in the study. PE patients were divided into three groups according to 30-day mortality risk. The correlations of RDW and RCI with PE, 30-day mortality risk and mortality rates were determined.

RESULTS

RDW value was significantly higher in the PE group than in the non-PE group (15.0 % vs. 14.3%, respectively, p=0.016). The cut-off value of RDW to discriminate PE from the non-PE group was 14.55% (sensitivity: 45.7%; specificity: 55.5%, p=0.016). There was a significant correlation between RDW values and mortality rates (R2= 0.11, p=0.001). The cut-off value of RDW in mortality of PE was 15.05% (sensitivity: 40.6%, specificity: 31.2%, p=0.001). On the other hand, simultaneously measured RCI values were similar between PE and non-PE groups. There wasn't any significant difference in RCI values between 30 day-mortality risk groups. No correlation was found between RCI and the mortality due to PE.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature to simultaneously investigate RDW and RCI values for their association with 30-day mortality risk and mortality rates in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. Our findings suggest that RDW values may serve as a new early predictor, while RCI values were not predictive.

Adaptation of the Barriers, Attitudes, Confidence, and Knowledge Scale (M-BACK-Tr) into Turkish culture to assess the metabolic health of psychiatric professionals and investigation of Its psychometric characteristics

AIM

The aim was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the "Barriers, Attitudes, Confidence, and Knowledge Scale for Assessing Metabolic Health" (M-Back-Tr) to determine the barriers, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge status of psychiatry professionals in the assessing of metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

This methodological study was conducted with 304 psychiatric nurses who were working in public and private healthcare institutions between March and June 2023. Translation and back-translation were made into the Turkish language during the adaptation process and it was found that there was no semantic shift between the versions. While the validity of M-Back-Tr was tested with content validity, construct validity, and convergent validity, its internal reliability and Split-Half Test Reliability were examined for reliability.

RESULTS

The structure of M-Back-Tr, which consists of 4 dimensions (i.e., Barriers, Attitudes, Confidence, Knowledge) and 16 items, was confirmed in Turkish culture. This structure can explain 73 % of the variance in the related concept. The minimum score that can be taken from each sub-dimension is 4 and the maximum is 20. The Cronbach α value of the sub-dimensions of the scale was found to be between 0.79 and 0.91.

CONCLUSION

The study findings showed that the M-Back-Tr is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in Turkish culture.

The effect of Qigong exercise on state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Qigong is a mind-body exercise that originated in China and is often described as a form of meditation or movement therapy. While the existing literature has investigated the impact of Qigong exercises on trait anxiety in outpatients, there is limited research on their influence on state anxiety in inpatients. This study examined the effect of Qigong exercise on state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards.

METHODS

This study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Seventy inpatients participated in the study, with 35 in each group. In the intervention group, the STAI-I form was used to assess state anxiety levels before (Test 1) and after (Test 2) a single 40-minute session of Qigong.

RESULTS

The mean post-test scores of the intervention group (27.20±5.57) were significantly lower than those of the control group (39.72±10.84). Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean test-1 (38.42±9.7) and test-2 scores (27.2 ± 5.57) within the intervention group.

CONCLUSION

A single 40-minute Qigong exercise session reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients and reduced the risk of potential adverse outcomes associated with state anxiety. Practitioners may consider the use of Qigong exercise in the management of state anxiety in clinical practice, when making clinical decisions.

Comparison of thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters in patients with COPD, asthma and ACOS

OBJECTIVE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) are obstructive pulmonary disorders with different manifestations. Status of oxidation in tissues is important in obstructive pulmonary disorders. Smoking, acute exacerbations of COPD and asthma were associated with a marked imbalance in oxidant or antioxidant status due to increased oxidative stress in tissues and blood. Oxidative conditions may cause a reversible formation of mixed disulphides among protein thiol groups. The aim of this study was to compare parameters related with thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients with COPD, asthma and ACOS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients (n= 135, 69 females, 66 males) who were referred with a diagnosis of COPD, asthma or ACOS were included in the study. Thiol/ disulphide homeostasis parameters in blood were analysed by a newly established method that measures the exact thiol/ disulphide status in the body.

RESULTS

The patients with COPD, asthma or ACOS were similar for demographic parameters other than age and number of cigarettes smoked. Measured thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters were similar among these patient groups. When these biochemical measurements were adjusted for age and number of cigarettes by using regression analysis, similarity for thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters among patient groups persisted.

CONCLUSIONS

To best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters in COPD, asthma and ACOS patients. Similarity of thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters among these patient groups supports the current view of Dutch hypothesis that COPD, asthma and ACOS share similar pathophysiological features but display different clinical manifestations.