Ahmad Dahlan Medical Journal

Emerging Neuroplasticity-based Therapies in Stroke Rehabilitation: Literature Review

2024-11-06T08:49:34+00:00

Stroke is a significant global health concern, leading to substantial mortality and long-term disability among survivors. Traditionally, stroke rehabilitation has focused on compensatory strategies to mitigate the effects of impairments rather than addressing their root causes. However, growing recognition of the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity a process involving the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to injury has prompted a paradigm shift. This review explores the mechanisms of neuroplasticity and the latest neuroplasticity-based interventions for stroke recovery. It highlights the role of neuronal regeneration, synaptic plasticity, and functional reorganization in promoting recovery. Additionally, the review discusses emerging therapies, such as Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, mirror therapy, robot-assisted training, and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, which have shown promise in enhancing neuroplasticity and improving functional outcomes. Although the results of these interventions have been complex and the effect sizes modest, they underscore the potential for innovative approaches to harness neuroplasticity in stroke rehabilitation.

Functional Disaster Preparedness at Community Health Centers in Mount Merapi Yogyakarta Disaster Prone Areas

2024-06-25T07:46:25+00:00

Mount Merapi is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The major eruptions happened in 1768, 1822, 1849, 1872, and the most recently in 2010. Three health centers are situated at the foot of Mount Merapi, with a high risk of potential disasters, ranging from eruptions and cold lava flows to landslides. To maintain service quality and effective disaster response, this study aimed to provide evaluation material for optimizing service quality and assessing the readiness level of these health centers. The research used a quantitative analysis method, collecting numerical data to outline the preparedness level of the three health centers: Puskesmas Pakem, Puskesmas Turi, and Puskesmas Cangkringan. The results, achieved through manual calculations, indicated that Puskesmas Pakem exhibited the highest functional preparedness with a score of 0.45, categorized as "moderate." Puskesmas Turi scored 0.40, also categorized as "moderate." On the other hand, Puskesmas Cangkringan scored 0.24, falling into the "low" category. In conclusion, two health centers fell into the "moderate" category, which means the risks to the safety of staff and patients persisted, necessitating future interventions. Meanwhile, one health center fell into the "low" category, signifying its inability to function optimally during disasters and requiring immediate interventions

Characteristics of Sudden Death Cases in The Medical Forensic and Medicolegal Installation in RSUD DR. Moewardi from 2017-2022

2024-10-19T01:42:23+00:00

Sudden death represents a significant global health burden that can affect any population. The potential for sudden death to affect any individual at any time underscores the importance of investigating this issue. The findings of this study may serve to
reinforce existing evidence regarding sudden death, thereby facilitating the implementation of additional measures in a timely
and appropriate manner. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of sudden death cases in RSUD dr. Moewardi from 2017 to 2022, identify the socio-demographic profile of the most vulnerable population groups, and ascertain the most predominant system of involvement. Research was conducted with descriptive observational study, cross-sectional design, and purposive sampling. Subject consists of sudden death cases in the Medical Forensic and Medico Legal Installation in RSUD dr. Moewardi from 2017 to 2022. Of the 100 cases, the highest number was observed in 2020, representing 29% of the total cases. Individuals in the pre-elderly age group (39%) and male gender (88%) are most likely to experience sudden death. The primary cause of suspected sudden death is of other systems involvement (57.3%), with the cardiovascular system (54.54%) being the most common cause of sudden death. Sense-related abnormalities are the predominant indicator of past comorbidities in both suspected (56.17%) and sudden death cases (72.72%). The author concluded that pre-elderly male individuals are the most vulnerable to sudden death. The primary cause of suspected sudden death is of the other systems of involvement and the cardiovascular system in sudden death, with sense organ abnormalities being the predominant comorbidity indicator in both instances.

Visual Acuity Comparison after Phacoemulsification in Cataract Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus

2024-09-26T02:50:44+00:00

Phacoemulsification is a common cataract surgery that improves visual acuity. Postoperative visual outcomes may be influenced by diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to compare visual acuity outcomes after phacoemulsification in cataract patients with and without DM. It used an analytic observational design with a cross-sectional approach, analyzing medical records of 60 cataract patients (30 with DM, 30 without DM). Inclusion criteria were patients with and without DM who underwent phacoemulsification and had visual acuity results 21 days post-surgery. Patients using antidiabetic drugs or insulin were included, while those with incomplete medical records, glaucoma, corneal opacities, cataract complications, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, hypertensive retinopathy, or chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis were excluded. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. Results showed visual acuity in both groups mostly fell within the normal category based on WHO standards (6/6–6/18), with 23 (76.7%) patients in the DM group and 27 (90%) in the non-DM group. Statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in visual acuity between groups (p = 0.150). In conclusion, there is no significant difference in postoperative visual acuity between cataract patients with and without DM undergoing phacoemulsification.

Bibliometric Analysis of Gene Research on Aging

2024-12-04T02:03:04+00:00

Aging is associated with various factors identified in the hallmark of aging. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify genes involved in the aging process, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon. This study aims to provide an overview of research on genes associated with the aging process. Data for this study was obtained and analyzed from the SCOPUS database covering the period from 2014 to 2024, with a focus on medicine, neuroscience, and nursing. The keywords used for the search were "gene," "longevity," and "aging." The search results were filtered to match the study's purpose and were limited to articles in English. The data obtained was analyzed using VOSviewer version 1.6.20. A total of 1,603 articles were analyzed. The highest number of publications occurred in 2021. The most frequent sources for these articles were the journals Biogerontology and The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. The United States was the leading contributor in publications (n=488), with Harvard Medical School producing the highest number (n=45). The most-cited article was by Loboda in 2016 (1,863 citations). Research on genes associated with aging has shifted from identifying genes (2017-2019) to focusing on the functions of these genes in physiological processes and other risk factors of aging. In conclusion, the aging research has evolved from focusing solely on gene identification to exploring the physiological functions and risk factors related to aging.

A Rare Case of Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Genital Region

2024-11-10T20:18:01+00:00

Vulvar carcinoma accounts for approximately 0,7% of all malignancies in females and 4% of cases of malignancies in the female reproductive organs. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is an uncommon squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) variant with aggressive biological features and frequent distant metastasis. BSCC is reported to occur in approximately 2% of cases in the head and neck region, such as the oral cavity, larynx, and hypopharynx, but can also be found in the nasopharynx and trachea. BSCC is rarely found in the female genital tract, only 6 cases of BSCC cancer in the genital tract have been reported. The detection of vulvar cancer often takes longer than necessary for several reasons. Firstly, the condition can be asymptomatic for a prolonged duration. Moreover, there is a lack of awareness among women about the disease and its signs, which further delays the diagnosis. This postponement in diagnosis results in a worse prognosis and fewer options for medical treatment, ultimately impacting women's psychosexual and psychosocial. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman who attended the obstetrics clinic of Dr. Sardjito Hospital with multiple blackish masses on the vulva extending to the gluteal region and also lymphadenopathy in the inguinal lymph nodes. A wide excision vulvectomy was performed, and the specimen was sent to the Anatomical Pathology Laboratory.