QUALITY OF LIFE (BANJA LUKA) - APEIRON

Impact of Migraine on Disability and Quality of Life: Perspective from South Indian Context

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Objective: The present study aimed to measure migraine disability scores, severity of depression and quality of life (MIDAS, PHQ-9 and WHOQOL) among migraine patients in South Indian population. Method: All participants were examined by a neurologist to confirm the migraine diagnosis. The data collection was conducted at the Bangalore Neuro Centre with a sample of 129 individuals. Pearson Correlation used to explore the relationships between migraine disability, depression severity and quality of life. Result: Our results indicated that migraines are significantly associated with depression across different age groups (15-40 years and 41-65 years). Additionally, both migraine and depression were found to impact all aspects of life including physical, psychological, social and environmental functioning. Our study highlighted the interaction between WHOQOL domains suggesting that various aspects of quality of life are interconnected. Interpretation: Despite the negative impact of migraines on quality of life, South Indian Population demonstrated better adaption and functioning capabilities compared to other populations.

Comparison of Filtration Capacity of two Non-Metalic Raw Materials for Fine Water Suspended Particles

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The basic parameters of two natural non-metallic raw materials from R.N. Macedonia have been defined: white opalized tuff from the locality of Strmosh and, diatomaceous earth from the locality of Slavishko Pole as potential materials for water filtration. Two different sets of water filtrations were carried out for each material with a previously prepared bentonite clay water suspension with a grain size of below 32 μm. A continuous filtration was performed in a column with a well-defined flow, and discontinuous flow under static conditions, i.e. diffusion active system. The percentage of retained clay grains was estimated, namely, by means of continuous filtration with white opalized tuff the percentage of retained clay particles was 12.88%, and 35.00% when diatomaceous earth was used as a filtration material. The filtration capacity under dynamic conditions for diatomaceous earth was 0.028 g/g material, and 0.011 g/g material for white opalized tuff.

Effect of Cognitive Processing Therapy on Self-Stigma and Quality of Life of Persons Newly Diagnosed of Hiv in Oyo State, Nigeria

Lawrence A. Okesiji, Ndidi M. Ofole — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

HIV/AIDS-related stigma decreases quality of life (QOL) in Persons Living With HIV and AIDS. This study was designed to examine the effects of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) on self-stigma and QOL among persons newly diagnosed of HIV in Oyo State, Nigeria. Pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design with 2x5x3 factorial matrix was adopted. Forty-nine persons (male=17; female=32) newly diagnosed of HIV with age range of 20-45 years were purposively drawn from Antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres in three hospitals in Oyo State, Nigeria. The three sites were randomly assigned experimental and control groups. The instruments used were HIV Stigma (r = 0.78), Stigma-9 Questionnaire (r = 0.93), and Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (r=0.83). Analysis of covariance was used to analyse data at 0.05 level of significant. Result show that there was a significant main effect of treatment on self-stigma (F (2; 33) =711.64; partial η2=0.98). The persons newly diagnosed of HIV in the CPT ( =60. 57) benefitted more than their conterpart in the control group ( =111.47). There was significant main effect of age on self-stigma (F (2; 33)=6.53; partial η2 =0.30). The participants in the age range of 30-34 benefitted more =73.08) than their counterparts in the other age ranges. There was also a main effect of self-esteem on self-stigma (F (2; 33) =13.08; partial η2=0.46). The participants with high self-esteem benefited more than their counterpart with low and moderate self-esteem =82.86). CPT is an effective therapy for decreasing self-stigma among PLHIV.

Identifying Migraine Triggers profile in the Indian Context: Insights for Global Perspective

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Objective: This study examines the association between the Migraine Disability Assessment scale and various aggravating triggers in migraine patients. Method: A total of 129 Indian migraine patients, aged 15-65, were recruited from the Bangalore Neuro Centre for this cross-sectional study. An extensive list of possible migraine triggers along with the Migraine Disability Assessment scale was included in a self-administered questionnaire to gather important demographic and migraine-related data. Each subject’s diagnosis of migraine was confirmed by a neurologist. The Chi Square test was used to determine the significant association between Migraine Disability Assessment grades and specific triggering factors. Result: Our results indicate that there is significant relationship between Migraine Disability Assessment scale and various aggravating triggers in migraine patients. The specific triggers that affect migraine includes food items (e.g., nuts and chicken), sensory stimuli (e.g., loud noises and strong smells), weather variations (e.g., rain), stress-related factors (e.g., night shifts), and other factors (e.g., head banging and solitude). Interpretation: This present study suggests that by identifying and managing these triggers, migraine suffers may see a reduction in their Migraine Disability Assessment scores and an improvement in their overall quality of life. Understanding these relationship is essential for clinicians to develop effective, personalised management strategies for migraine patients.

Correlation of Nutrition and Physical Activity on BMI Values in Adolescents

Radojka Bijelic, Vinka Brcic Halilagic, Aleksandra Vidovic — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Proper nutrition and regular physical activity from early childhood are important prerequisites for healthy growing up. Conversely, in children and adolescents, over time, there may be an increase in the body mass index (BMI), which results in the development of obesity. The goal. The main goal of the paper is to point out the correlation between proper nutrition and BMI values in adolescents of the secondary medical school in Bihać. Methods. The respondents are students of both sexes, from the first to the third grade of the secondary medical school in Bihać, aged 15 to 17. The total number of students included in the research was 120. The time of data collection is 04.11. - 29.11.2022. year The respondents were divided into two groups, working and control, with 60 students in each group. The working group consisted of students from first to third grade who had irregular food intake during the week (≤ 1x-2x a week) and were physically inactive. The control group consisted of students from the first to the third grade who had a proper food intake (2x or ≥3x a week) and were physically active (≥3x a week for 60 min). Results. Mean values of BMI (29.14 kg/m2) in students of the work group from I-III grades who had irregular food intake (≤ 1x-2x a week) and were not physically active in relation to BMI (21.79 kg/m2) of the control group of I-III graders who were physically active and had a proper food intake (≥ 3x per week) is statistically significantly different in favor of the control group of students (p=0.039). Conclusion. Proper food intake with regular physical activity in adolescents has positive effects on BMI values and represents an important segment in the prevention of obesity in adults and older people.

Hydropower as a Hidden Source of Greenhouse Gases

Marko Supić, Dajana Cvijetić — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Hydropower is widely considered one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy, but recent research highlights its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, challenging this perception. This study quantifies the indirect emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) linked to hydropower facilities, focusing on emissions from the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in reservoirs. The findings reveal that hydropower reservoirs emit approximately 1 billion tonnes of GHGs annually, which accounts for 1.3% of global anthropogenic emissions. Notably, methane, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year period, represents a substantial part of these emissions. Around 22 million tonnes of CH4 are released annually from reservoirs due to the decay of submerged vegetation and organic material from inflowing rivers. To assess these emissions, methodologies such as floating chamber measurements and remote sensing techniques were employed, providing accurate, site-specific emission data across various geographic regions. The study also explores mitigation strategies, including optimizing reservoir design and enhancing water management practices to reduce methane production. These results highlight the need to address the environmental impacts of hydropower and suggest that, without such interventions, hydropower’s role in climate change mitigation could be undermined by its contribution to GHG emissions. Therefore, achieving true sustainability in hydropower development requires integrating these findings into policy and design frameworks.

The Connection Between Covid-19 Infection and Microvascular Complications in Diabetic Patients

Bojana Kos — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This paper investigates the connection between COVID-19 and microvascular complications in diabetic patients. Through a systematic review of the literature, databases such as PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were utilized to identify relevant studies. Research questions and keywords were first defined, including “COVID-19,” “diabetes,” “microvascular complications,” “cytokine storm,” and “blood clots.” Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical studies, health organization guidelines, and peer-reviewed articles in English published since 2020. After the initial review and removal of duplicates, relevant articles were analyzed to identify key risk factors and mechanisms contributing to the development of severe symptoms in diabetics infected with COVID-19. The results indicate a significantly increased risk of severe outcomes, including cytokine storm and a tendency toward blood clot formation, further exacerbating the compromised immune system in diabetics. A bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes was also established, where COVID-19 may accelerate the onset of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and cause serious metabolic complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar coma. Based on the findings, diabetic patients who recover from COVID-19 require special medical attention and tailored therapy to reduce the risk of further complications. Stricter glycemic control and caution in the use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment are recommended due to the potential increased risk of diabetic complications. These findings highlight the need for targeted healthcare and further research to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on diabetic patients.