Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Management of rupture of the gravid uterus.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Rupture of the gravid uterus is an obstetrical catastrophe associated with a high maternal and fetal mortality rate. The incidence is particularly high in developing countries: e.g. 1 in 112 hospital deliveries in Nigeria with a maternal mortality rate of 7.6% (Groen 1974), against an incidence of 1 in 6673 deliveries in the USA with a maternal mortality rate of almost 0 (Spaulding & Gallup 1979). The reason for the high frequency in developing countries is that cephalo-pelvic disproportion is common because of growth stunting of future mothers in childhood and adolescence, through malnutrition and recurrent untreated infections. Also, in the absence of prenatal care, disproportion and malpresentations are undetected until the resulting obstructed labour brings the patients to hospital when rupture of the uterus is imminent or has already occurred. Unfortunately, unskilled manipulations, either by untrained attendants or inexperienced doctors, may also contribute to the increased incidence of uterine rupture in developing countries. The extension of antenatal screening to detect patients at high risk would certainly reduce the incidence. Furthermore, the proper management of disproportion and obstructed labour is important in the prevention of uterine rupture (Philpot 1982). The high fetal and maternal mortality rate of uterine rupture could be reduced by early diagnosis and active pre-, intraand post-operative management of these patients. This paper will concentrate on these curative issues.

Fat deposition in the myocardium of the left ventricle.

Abstract: We present a case of post-myocardial infarction fat deposition of the left ventricle in a 68-year-old-man. Fat deposition and myocardial infarction are demonstrated using pre-and post-contrast magnetic resonance.

A Retrospective Study of Coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 11 Hospitalized Patients with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia at a Single Center.

Abstract: BACKGROUND A lethal synergism between the influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae has been identified. However, bacterial coinfection is considered relatively infrequent in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and the co-prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae is low. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients subsequently admitted to AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital between March 1 and June 30, 2020, with documented SARS-CoV-2 and S. pneumoniae coinfection. RESULTS We identified 11 patients with S. pneumoniae coinfection. The median age was 77 years (interquartile range [IQR], 74-82 years), 45.5% (5/11) were males, 54.5% (6/11) were white, and 90.9% (10/11) were long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. The median length of stay was 7 days (IQR, 6-8 days). Among 11 patients, 4 were discharged in stable condition and 7 had died, resulting in an inpatient mortality rate of 64%. CONCLUSIONS At our center, 11 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who had confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 were diagnosed with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection while in hospital. All patients had pneumonia confirmed on imaging and a nonspecific increase in markers of inflammation. The in-hospital mortality rate of 64% (7 patients) was higher in this group than in previous reports. This study highlights the importance of monitoring bacterial coinfection in patients with viral lung infection due to SARS-CoV-2.

Accessing diabetes care in rural Uganda: Economic and social resources.

Abstract: Non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2D) are increasing rapidly in most Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries like Uganda. Little attention has been given to how patients with T2D try to achieve treatment when the availability of public health care for their disease is limited, as is the case in most SSA countries. In this paper we focus on the landscape of availability of care and the therapeutic journeys of patients within that landscape. Based on fieldwork in south-western Uganda including 10 case studies, we explore the diabetes treatment options in the area and what it takes to access the available treatment. We analyse the resources patients need to use the available treatment options, and demonstrate that the patients' journeys to access and maintain treatment are facilitated by the knowledge and support of their therapy management groups. Patients access treatment more effectively, if they and their family have money, useful social relations, and knowledge, together with the capacity to communicate with health staff. Patients coming from households with high socio-economic status (SES) are more likely to have all of these resources, while for patients with low or medium SES, lack of economic resources increases the importance of connections within the health system.