Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Background: There is a worldwide increase in the need for Home Health Care (HHC) programs because of the increase in chronic and acute diseases that need continuous monitoring. However, many challenges hinder HHC affecting patient’s outcome, and educational programs were suggested to overcome these challenges and to improve patient’s outcome. Hence, this study was designed as an interventional study to assess patient’s outcome after implementing an educational program for nurses, caregivers, and patients. Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental with pre and post-intervention observation of patient registered in home health care in the Riyadh Region was conducted. An educational program was implementing involving nurses, caregivers, and patients, and the outcome was assessed every 3 months in terms of patient’s safety, fall risk and incidence. Results: The study included 350 patients who were followed up for 30 months, majority (83.4%) aged 65 years or older, and females predominated 244 (69.7%). Significant improvement was achieved in reduction in bedridden patients, fall risk and incidence. Conclusion: In conclusion the study found that implementing such an educational program for nurses, caregivers, and patients under home health care resulted in significant improvement in terms of patient’s safety, fall risk and incidence.

Abstract : Introduction: Psoriasis vulgaris is the most common type of psoriasis, comprising 90% of psoriasis cases. The treatments for psoriasis are available in the form of topical and systemic agents. When considering treatment regimen, the severity of the disease should be assessed. Patients with mild psoriasis can be treated with targeted phototherapy or excimer light. However, whole-body phototherapy is indicated for extensive psoriasis. Methods: This study aims to describe the prevalence and characteristics of psoriasis vulgaris patients undergoing phototherapy in the Dermatology and Venereology Clinic of Bali Mandara General Hospital for the period of January 2018 - December 2022. This was a descriptive retrospective study using data from medical records. Results: The number of psoriasis vulgaris patients visits were 261, 238 patients of which underwent phototherapy. Based on gender, there were 141 males (59.2%) and 97 females (40.7%). Based on the age group, most patients were between 51 and 60 years old (11.7%). The predilections of lesions in psoriasis vulgaris patients undergoing phototherapy were upper extremity (20%) and trunk (16.8%). Another treatment administered in addition to phototherapy alone was the combination of phototherapy and oral antihistamine in 76 patients (31.9%). Conclusions: This study showed that the prevalence of psoriasis vulgaris patients was dominated by male patients with peak prevalence in the fifth decade of life.

Abstract : Background: The poor newborn outcomes of breastfeeding during pregnancy have not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to determine poor newborn outcomes of breastfeeding during pregnancy. Methods: A meta-analysis was undertaken to review current studies related to poor newborn outcomes of breastfeeding during pregnancy. A search of PubMed, and ProQuest for related articles published (January 2000 until November 2022). The pooled mean difference from the acquired data were calculated with a 95% CI. The fixed and random effects analysis was performed. The results were presented as forest plots, and Egger's test was used to examine study bias. Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 and STATA 14.2 were used to process and analyze all of the data. Results: Breastfeeding during pregnancy is not related to the baby's body length (p>0.05). However, there was an association during breastfeeding pregnancy with birth weight, where the difference in birth weight between the case and control groups was -251.36 gr (95% CI - 701.51-198.79 gr). The heterogeneity analysis revealed heterogeneous in birth weight outcomes of breastfeeding during pregnancy (I2 > 50%). Conclusion: There was an association during breastfeeding pregnancy with birth weight. This study can provide input in the preventing and promoting management to reduce the poor prognosis during pregnancy.

Abstract : In 2019, Jakarta’s average annual PM2.5 concentration exceeded WHO’s air quality standard with a concerning 49.4 μg/m³. In most urban areas including Jakarta, street sweeping is done to reduce pollutants and remove debris and sediments from roads. However, with constant exposure to pollutants and minimum personal safety equipment, the street sweepers become population at risk of particulate matter exposure. This study aims to assess the health risk of particulate matter to street sweepers in Jakarta. This is a cross-sectional study using environmental health risk analysis method through Risk Quotient (RQ) (non-carcinogenic risk) and Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) (carcinogenic risk) to determine health risks in a total of 58 street sweepers. The level of PM2.5 and PM10 were collected in four (4) locations in Jakarta. Result showed the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 at the four measurement points have exceeded the national threshold values, with the lowest found in point 2 (325 µg/m3) and the highest in point 3 (339 µg/m3). 57 respondents (98.3%) have a non-carcinogenic risk of PM2.5 exposure in each location (RQ>1), and 58 respondents (100%) have carcinogenic risk (ECR>E-4 (10-4)). Meanwhile, those who have a non-carcinogenic risk of PM10 exposure are found at points 1, 2, and 4. There was no significant association between concentration variables, respondent characteristics, respondent behavior, and environmental conditions with non-carcinogenic risk of PM10 exposure to street s

Abstract : Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Star anise mouthwash against S. mutans and to find the most effective concentration of Star anise and Moringa Oleifera mouthwashes, compared to Fluoride mouthwash which has been thoroughly investigated in the literature. Material and methods: Seventy children 6-13 years old were randomly selected from outpatient clinics of the Pediatric Dentistry Department. They were randomly assigned to 7 groups according to the type of intervention, which were either Star anise, Moringa Oleifera (5%,10%,15% concentrations), or Fluoride. They were instructed to use the prepared herbal mouthwash for a week and a sample of non-stimulated saliva was obtained before and after an intervention. The preparation of the herbal extracts was performed followed by the mouthwash, then the required media for the microbial cultivation was made ready to receive the saliva samples for obtaining the microbial count. Statistical analysis was then done to investigate the bacterial count before and after the use of the mouthwash. Results: There was a statistically significant bacterial reduction between all the groups except for Fluoride, 15% Star anise, 10% and 15% Moringa groups with the highest mean percentage bacterial reduction in the Star anise 15% group and the least mean percentage bacterial reduction in the Star Anise 5% group. Conclusions: All the herbal groups were effective in bacterial reduction at certain concentrations; compared to Fluorid