Medicine
Amir Heydarian; Baharak Najafi Fakhraei Azar
Abstract
Drug poisoning is a critical public health issue with significant implications for morbidity and mortality. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of drug poisoning, focusing on epidemiology, diagnostic methods, management, and treatment. By systematically mapping the existing literature, ...
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Drug poisoning is a critical public health issue with significant implications for morbidity and mortality. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of drug poisoning, focusing on epidemiology, diagnostic methods, management, and treatment. By systematically mapping the existing literature, we aim to identify the current state of knowledge in these areas and highlight gaps for future research. Preliminary findings suggest that drug poisoning affects diverse populations and involves a range of substances, including prescription medications, illicit drugs, and over-the-counter products. The epidemiology of drug poisoning varies across regions, with different patterns of substance use and associated risks. Diagnostic methods for drug poisoning encompass clinical assessment, toxicology screenings, and laboratory tests, with advancements in technology enhancing accuracy and efficiency. Management and treatment strategies for drug poisoning include supportive care, decontamination procedures, antidote administration, and psychotherapy interventions. Despite advancements in understanding drug poisoning, significant gaps remain in the literature. Limited research exists on specific populations, such as pediatric and geriatric patients, and the long-term consequences of drug poisoning. Additionally, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of various management and treatment approaches. This scoping review provides a foundation for future research and practice in drug poisoning. By synthesizing the current knowledge on epidemiology, diagnostic methods, management, and treatment, we aim to inform evidence-based interventions and improve patient outcomes.
Medicine
Saeid Charsouei; Mehrdad Zamani Esfahlani
Abstract
Introduction: There do not appear to be any distinct, accepted clinical or investigative standards for the diagnosis or, more importantly, the selection of cervical radiculopathy patients for surgery. To decide who to operate on and to give our patients a realistic prognosis estimate, it is critical ...
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Introduction: There do not appear to be any distinct, accepted clinical or investigative standards for the diagnosis or, more importantly, the selection of cervical radiculopathy patients for surgery. To decide who to operate on and to give our patients a realistic prognosis estimate, it is critical that we can pinpoint the subgroup most likely to benefit from surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine whether electromyography (EMG) studies can be used to pinpoint the subgroup that will recover more favorably from surgery.Material and Methods: The latency of muscle contractions is measured by recording MEPs, and the CMCT is calculated by subtracting the latency of nerve conduction from the cerebral cortex to the muscle via the corticospinal tract from the latency of nerve conduction between the spinal nerve root and the muscle where an electrode was attached. For BB-CMCT, APB-CMCT, and TA-CMCT, the cut-off values are 8 to 9 ms, 18 ms, and 20 ms, respectively.Results: In the entire sample, there was a 40% agreement between NPS, MRI, and the level or levels that had undergone surgery. In group A, two patients' sensory nerve conduction studies show associated evidence of median nerve compression at the wrist. In group B, none of the patients had evidence of nerve root compression on preoperative NPS, but all of the patients had evidence of disc bulge and narrowing of the exit foramina on MRI scans.Conclusion: This study has shown that preoperative NPS is useful in determining which cervical radiculopathy patients will benefit most from surgery. Patients who undergo preoperative abnormal needle EMG examination will likely benefit from surgical decompression and fusion much more than those who undergo preoperative normal EMG. Therefore, whenever evaluating a patient with cervical radiculopathy.
