OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the seminal fluid of the male partners in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination and to evaluate correlations between these values and their semen parameters. METHODS: The study was conducted at Vamsam Fertility Center, Coimbatore, India and enrolled 110 male patients from whom semen samples were collected. ROS production was measured by a thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay, and TAC was measured by a 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical assay. The differences in the TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels between the subfertile and fertile groups were analysed. Correlations between sperm parameters and TAC and MDA levels were statistically analysed, and cutoff values with respect to the controls were determined. All hypothesis tests used were two-tailed, with statistical significance assessed at the level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 87 subfertile and 23 fertile men were included in the study. The mean MDA level was significantly higher in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects, and the mean antioxidant level was significantly lower in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects. Seminal MDA levels were negatively associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, whereas the opposite was seen with TAC levels. CONCLUSION: Measurements of seminal TAC and ROS are valuable for predicting semen quality, and hence predicting the outcomes of fertility treatment.
Family Characteristics ; Fertility ; Humans ; India ; Infertility, Male* ; Insemination ; Male ; Male* ; Malondialdehyde ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

INTRODUCTIONVentilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common risk among critically ill ventilated patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of nurse-led education on: (a) knowledge of and compliance with ventilator care bundle (VCB) practices among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses; and (b) reduction in the rates of VAP post intervention.

METHODSA quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest evaluation and observation was used to investigate nurses' knowledge of and compliance with VCB practices, and the incidence of VAP. The study was conducted among 71 nurses, and the intervention involved structured education on VAP and its prevention using VCB in an ICU setting. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTSNurse-led education significantly increased nurses' knowledge of (t[70] = -36.19; p < 0.001) and compliance with (t[65] = -21.41; p < 0.001) VCB practices. The incidence of VAP, which was 39 per 1,000 ventilator days during the two-month period before intervention, dropped to 15 per 1,000 ventilator days during the two-month period following intervention.

CONCLUSIONOur findings show that nurse-led education on VAP and VCB significantly increased knowledge of and compliance with VCB practices among ICU nurses, and was associated with a reduction in the incidence of VAP among intubated and mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Inclusion of recent knowledge and evidence-based VCB guidelines for VAP prevention when educating anaesthetists, nurses, physiotherapists and other healthcare providers in the critical care setting is recommended.

Adult ; Clinical Competence ; Critical Care ; methods ; standards ; Critical Illness ; Education, Nursing ; Education, Nursing, Continuing ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; standards ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Nursing ; standards ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; prevention & control ; Respiration, Artificial ; standards ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; standards ; Young Adult

Introduction: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injection is one of the popular procedures for medical retina diseases. However, the incidence of angle-closure post intravitreal injection was reported. Several similar studies were conducted previously, but the results were inconsistent and mostly focused on bevacizumab. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. After informed consent, patients who were more than 17 years old and received the first intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (ranibizumab or aflibercept) were recruited. Exclusion criteria included patients with underlying glaucoma, ocular hypertension, intumescence cataract, high refractive error or those with history of intraocular operation or ocular trauma. Pre- and post-injection’s intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular biometry included “central anterior chamber depth” (CACD), “angle opening distance” (AOD500), and “trabeculo-iris angle” (TIA500) at nasal and temporal 500 µm away the scleral spur were acquired and analyzed. Results: 72 eyes from 66 patients were studied. Mean (SD) increment of IOP following injection within 30 minutes and 1 hour were 6.16 (0.68) mmHg (p<0.001) and 1.26 (0.35) mmHg (p=0.002) respectively. Mean (SD) differences of temporal TIA500 between pre with within 30 minutes and 1-hour post-injection were 1.66 (0.66) degrees (p=0.04) and 1.45 (0.57) degrees (p=0.04) respectively. No significant relationship between the changes of IOP and ocular biometry was found. Conclusion: A single dose of anti-VEGF in a normal population is relatively safe. However, concern on the risk of glaucoma progression and acute angle-closure still needs to be addressed. Further studies on at-risk populations and repeated injections are useful.