| Azlina Ishak | 5 Articles |
Background
Alternative and complementary medicines are widely used to treat migraine headaches. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness of essential oils as an alternative treatment approach. Methods A structured search was conducted to identify randomized trials comparing essential oils with a placebo for migraine headaches, using databases (MEDLINE and CENTRAL) to search for articles published between 1966 and 2021. We included trials involving adult males and females diagnosed with migraine headaches according to the International Headache Society. The outcomes included number of attacks, headache severity, associated symptoms, number of days of limited activity, headache duration, use of analgesics, and adverse effects. Seven trials were included with a total of 558 participants. Results No difference was observed in the number of migraine headache attacks compared to placebo (mean difference [MD], -1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.31 to 0.64; I2=94%; P=0.190; four trials, 242 participants; moderate- quality evidence). There was no difference in this outcome between the essential oils treated group and the placebo (MD, -0.38; 95% CI, -1.76 to 0.99; I2 statistics=86%; P=0.580; five trials, 240 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Conclusion We found no significant difference between the use of essential oils and placebo in managing migraine headaches. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Lucio phenomenon is a potentially fatal leprosy reaction seen in pure, primitive, and diffuse form of lepromatous leprosy. It is a globally restricted phenomenon that occurs in Mexico and Costa Rica; however, sporadic cases have been reported elsewhere. We report a rare case of a 50-year-old Indonesian, who resided in Malaysia for the past 33 years, which presented with extensive ulcers on all four limbs for 3 weeks, as well as a 16-year history of skin changes and alopecia. Full evaluation established the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy with Lucio phenomenon. Delay in diagnosis leads to significant disabilities and disease transmission within the community. Therefore, primary care practitioners, even in non-endemic countries, should be wary of this atypical feature of leprosy to prevent complications since it is a highly curable disease.
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Background
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal and natural method of feeding infants. However, there are obstacles that can limit exclusive breastfeeding practices during the first 6 months of an infant’s life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unsuccessful exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors among mothers who work as healthcare providers at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 295 medical doctors and staff nurses from June to December 2015. Simple random sampling was applied. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results The prevalence of unsuccessful exclusive breastfeeding among the study participants was 58.3%. Mothers who preferred formula milk (odds ratio [OR], 4.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45–13.31) delivered via lower segment cesarean section (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.07–4.98) and produced inadequate breast milk (OR, 4.06; 95% CI, 2.40– 6.89) were significantly associated with unsuccessful exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion The prevalence of unsuccessful exclusive breastfeeding among the study participants was high. Maternal characteristics such as preference towards formula milk, mode of delivery and adequacy of breast milk must be assessed to prevent unsuccessful exclusive breastfeeding among healthcare providers. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Background
Home blood pressure monitoring is recommended to achieve controlled blood pressure. This study evaluated home blood pressure monitoring-improvement of office blood pressure control and treatment compliance among hypertensive patients. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2014 to April 2015. The home blood pressure monitoring group used an automatic blood pressure device along with standard hypertension outpatient care. Patients were seen at baseline and after 2 months. Medication adherence was measured using a novel validated Medication Adherence Scale (MAS) questionnaire. Office blood pressure and MAS were recorded at both visits. The primary outcomes included evaluation of mean office blood pressure and MAS within groups and between groups at baseline and after 2 months. Results Mean changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and MAS differed significantly within groups. The home blood pressure monitoring group showed greater mean changes (SBP 17.6 mm Hg, DBP 9.5 mm Hg, MAS 1.5 vs. SBP 14.3 mm Hg, DBP 6.4 mm Hg, MAS 1.3), while between group comparisons showed no significant differences across all variables. The adjusted mean difference for mean SBP was 4.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.65 to 10.13 mm Hg; P=0.084), mean DBP was 1.41 (95% CI, -2.01 to 4.82 mm Hg; P=0.415), and mean MAS was 0.05 (95% CI, -0.29 to 0.40 mm Hg; P=0.768). Conclusion Short-term home blood pressure monitoring significantly reduced office blood pressure and improved medication adherence, albeit similarly to standard care. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
A 16-year-old Malay boy presented to Kota Bharu Health Care Centre, Kelantan, with left shoulder pain after sustaining a fall. On further history taking, it was noted that the pain preceded the fall by 1 month. The early changes of osteosarcoma were visible on an X-ray during the initial presentation; however, this was missed by the primary care doctors. Three months later, the patient presented with persistent pain in the left shoulder and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
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