Clinical Neuroscience

JANUARY 30, 2021

Evaluation of the effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injection in far lateral lumbar disc herniations

EVRAN Sevket, KATAR Salim

Far lateral lumbar disc herniations (FLDH) consist approximately 0.7-12% of all lumbar disc herniations. Compared to the more common central and paramedian lumbar disc herniations, they cause more severe and persistent radicular pain due to direct compression of the nerve root and dorsal root ganglion. In patients who do not respond to conservative treatments such as medical treatment and physical therapy, and have not developed neurological deficits, it is difficult to decide on surgical treatment because of the nerve root damage and spinal instability risk due to disruption of facet joint integrity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) on the improvement of both pain control and functional capacity in patients with FLDH. A total of 37 patients who had radicular pain caused by far lateral disc herniation which is visible in their lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, had no neurological deficit and did not respond to conservative treatment, were included the study. TFESI was applied to patients by preganglionic approach. Pre-treatment Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores of the patients were compared with the 3rd week, 3rd month and 6th month scores after the procedure. The mean initial VAS score was 8.63 ± 0.55, while it was 3.84 ± 1.66, 5.09 ± 0.85, 4.56 ± 1.66 at the 3rd week, 3rd month and 6th month controls, respectively. This decrease in the VAS score was found statistically significant (p = 0.001). ODI score with baseline mean value of 52.38 ± 6.84 was found to be 18.56 ± 4.95 at the 3rd week, 37.41 ± 14.1 at the 3rd month and 34.88 ± 14.33 at the 6th month. This downtrend of pa­tient’s ODI scores was found statistically significant (p = 0.001). This study has demonstrated that TFESI is an effective method for gaining increased functional capacity and pain control in the treatment of patients who are not suitable for surgical treatment with radicular complaints due to far lateral lumbar disc hernia.

ENG 2021;74(1-2)

Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice

APRIL 30, 2020

[Survey of Medication Habits in Hypertensive Adults]

VARGA Bernadett, FUSZ Katalin, CSIMA Melinda, LUKÁCS-HORVÁTH Marianna, DEÁK András, STROMAJER-RÁCZ Tímea

[Hypertension is the best known risk factor in development of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Survey has assessed –in hypertensive patients over 40, - the illness representation, lifestyle and medicine taking habits. Quantitative, cross-section descriptive research was conducted in 2017 with online questionnaire among hypertensive people over 40 (n=267) using shortened version of Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (8-item) and our questionnaire. Therapy adherence is typical for older individuals in surveyed population. (r= 0,26; p<0,001). Who were advised by general practitioners (GP) to implement lifestyle changes show more inclination following therapy. (p=0,032). Those with higher blood pressure (r-0,18; p=0,003) has harder time living with hypertension. (r=0,15; p=0,014). Quality of living with hypertonia and therapy adherence can be influenced by health behaviour and the information provided by general practitioners (GP). Beside the, general practitioners (GP) advanced practice nurse can have significant role in increasing the level of health behaviour and therapy adherence. ]

HUN 2020;33(2)

Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice

APRIL 30, 2020

[The role of APN in the Care of Patients with High Blood Pressure]

VÖRÖS Tünde, PAKAI Annamária, SZEBENI-KOVÁCS Gyula, SZABÓNÉ Bálint Ágnes, OLÁH András

[Internationally the role of Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) has grown a lot in the treatment for high blood pressure. The tasks of Advanced Practice Nurses with an advanced degree include the observation, following, diagnostics, medicinal treatment, health education, education of patients, coordination of care, checking of performance and improvement of quality. In Hungary the family doctors do the care of people with hypertonia in the primary care. Because of the number of patients who must be treated every day comes less time per capita in the care. For a high number of acute patients must be cared and for this reason less time remains for the care of chronic patients. In Hungary the education for Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) with an advanced degree has started in autumn 2017. The first of these nurses will get out of the education in February 2019. Due to their education they will be able to care acute illnesses in practices of family doctors and in communities of practice. Besides they will be able to explore, care and follow chronic patients. ]

HUN 2020;33(2)

Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

[Complication of the Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome]

KOMLÓSI Kálmánné, KISS Sarolta, FERENCZY Mónika, MÁTÉ-PÓHR Kitti, PAKAI Annamária

[In our research we compared whether pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome or the mothers who were healthy through pregnancy has a higher risk to develop high BMI, metabolic syndrome, preeclampsia, polyhydramnion and macrosomia. Our research is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. In the random sampling within the target group, the target group was diagnosed with PCOS (n=50) and the control group was mothers who had undergone uninterrupted pregnancy (n=50). The exclusion criterion is the coexistence of other endocrine disease that may affect the parameters under consideration, in addition to the control group the diagnosis of PCOS. With IBM SPSS for Windows 22.0, we applied two-sample T-test and Khi2 test (p<0.05). The BMI values ​​measured in the PCOS study group are higher than in the control group (p<0,05). Pregnant women with PCOS has a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, and high cholesterol (p<0,05). The difference between the two groups can not be considered significant for the development of proteinuria and oedema. Emphasis should be placed on PCOS gravid care, early detection of metabolic disturbances, accurate documentation, and elimination of complications and illnesses associated with the disease.]

HUN 2020;33(1)

Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

[Physical Dimensions of Quality of Life on Dialysis and Renal Transplant Patients]

BABARCI Ágnes, BOROS Edit, BALOGH Zoltán

[End stage renal failure is a disease with a serious impact on the everyday life of patients. The aim of this study is to measure and compare the quality of life of patients on hemodialysis and following renal transplant in Szeged, based primarily on physical dimensions and to compare the results with similar national and international data. Throughout the research the authors used the Kidney Disease Qualitiy of Life Questionnary- Short Form-36, the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale, and their own questionnary. They involved 111 patients into their study from September 2018 to May 2019. The results show that among the dimensions regarding physical health the pain subscale in the renal transplant cohort reached the highest scores: 76±26 (average±SD) vs. 55±33 in the dialysis cohort. (p<0,001). The result of physical role functioning subscale was the lowest, reaching 69±25 points vs. 50±30 in the dialysis cohort. (p<0001). Analyzing the correlation of quality of life and illness intrusiveness, they found that the higher the quality of life result, the lower is the illness intrusiveness result (r=-0,478). Due to the results of the present study, it can be stated, that the quality of life in the dialysis cohort is lower in Szeged. These results may contribute to a holistic view of care of our patients. ]

HUN 2020;33(1)

Hypertension and nephrology

DECEMBER 19, 2020

[Possibility of ARNI (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor) treatment in hypertension]

KÉKES Ede

[The natriuretic peptide (NP) is an important endocrine, autocrine and paracrine system that is in constant interaction with RAAS and the sympathetic nervous system in order to ensure a continuous cardio-renal homeostasis. In abnormal conditions – if the pressure/volume load develops in the heart or there are some disorder in the vascular tone or in sodium-water balance, the NP system triggers the body’s defense mechanism. The neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inactivates the vasodilator NPs, bradykinin and vasoconstrictor angiotensin II and endothelin I as well. From this knowledge, the idea that inhibition of the effect of NEP (NEPg) offers a potentially beneficial option in the treatment of heart failure and hypertension was initiated, only the stimulatory effect of angiotensin II needs to be blocked. After a lengthy search, they arrived at a dualacting molecule with a beneficial effect of NEP inhibition (secubitrile) and the angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist valsartan (ARNI). Several clinical studies have shown that ARNI alone and in combination with other antihypertensive agents significantly reduces SBP and DBP in hypertensive patients. Its effect is also present in isolated systolic hypertension and in chronic kidney disease with high risk. Do not administer with an ACE inhibitor. Based on clinical experience to date, there is a logic expectation that ARNI will also be classified as a useful antihypertensive agent in the near future.]

HUN 2020;24(6)