Villa Maria Hospital, whose complete name is St. Lawrence Hospital Villa Maria, is a hospital in the village of Villa Maria, in Kalungu District, in the Central Region of Uganda. It is a private, non-profit, community hospital, serving the village of Villa Maria and surrounding communities in Kalungu District. It is the only general hospital in the entire district.
Introduction: Adolescent mental well-being is an increasing public health concern, particularly in low-resource settings where multiple social, academic, and environmental stressors intersect. This study was conducted to assess determinants of mental well-being among secondary school students in Rakai District, Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2025 among 200 students from Senior Two to Senior Six at St. Bernard’s Manya Secondary School in Rakai District, Uganda. Stratified random sampling ensured equal representation across class levels, and simple random sampling was used for enrollment of participants. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 200 students participated, with a mean age of 16.3 ± 1.5 years. The majority were aged 15–16 years (51%, n = 102). Females constituted 63% (n = 126) of the sample, while males accounted for 37% (n = 74). A high proportion of students reported experiencing academic pressure (90%, n = 180), while nearly all respondents reported challenges related to adolescent transitions (97%, n = 194). More than half indicated a lack of peer emotional support (61%, n = 122) and exposure to substance use (56%, n = 112). Bullying was widely reported, with 83% (n = 166) experiencing it either occasionally or frequently. Over 60% (n = 120) of students indicated financial-related peer competition, 72% (n = 144) perceived school rules as unfair, and 51% (n = 102) reported inadequate teacher support for mental well-being. Conclusion: Mental well-being among secondary school students is influenced by a complex interplay of individual, social, and school-related factors, with academic pressure and school environment emerging as key determinants. Strengthening school-based mental health programs, promoting fair and supportive school policies, and addressing bullying and substance use are critical for improving student mental well-being.
Background This interim analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of single anastomosis sleeve-ileal bypass (SASI) versus one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), and determined the optimal sample size for a prospective observational study using propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis. The short- and mid-term findings are reported herein.Methods By the mid-term analysis, 208 patients had completed at least six months of follow-up (108 SASI; 100 OAGB). Patients were matched 1:1 using propensity scores based on demographics, anthropometric measures and major comorbidities. Procedures were performed laparoscopically or robotically by experienced bariatric surgeons. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using average treatment effect among the treated weights was conducted as a sensitivity analysis.Results The planned sample size of 394 patients per group was not reached. After matching, no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes were detected between groups at 6, 12, or 18 months. Excess weight loss increased from 64.91% to 101.74% after OAGB and from 61.70% to 92.62% after SASI between short- and mid-term follow-up. At 18 months, all patients in both groups achieved medication-free blood glucose control.Conclusions SASI appeared feasible, with no significant differences from OAGB in reported short- and mid-term outcomes. The study remains underpowered; longer follow-up and the planned sample size are needed.
Reporting and Data Systems (RADS) aim at standardizing imaging acquisition, interpretation, lexicon, and reporting standards in specific patient populations, facilitating the communication between radiologists and clinicians. While the adoption of RADS has been supported by several studies and guidelines, with some of them endorsed by the American College of Radiology, the clinical adoption of the RADS algorithm remains heterogeneous among general practice radiologists worldwide, being lower in non-academic and young radiologists. This article aims to provide an updated review, aimed at young and general radiologists, of the RADS alphabet, discussing the main applications and imaging criteria with tips for their correct use in clinical practice. The following RADS will be discussed: BI-RADS, Bone-RADS, C-RADS, CAD-RADS, LI-RADS, Lung-RADS, MET-RADS-P, MY-RADS, NI-RADS, Node-RADS, O-RADS, ONCO-RADS, PI-RADS, ST-RADS, TI-RADS, and VI-RADS. A comprehensive guide aimed at young and general radiologists featuring all of the major RADS with the objective to foster their implementation in clinical practice, which could be beneficial in a further standardization of the medical reports and in the communication between radiologists and clinicians.
BACKGROUND Approximately 70% to 84% of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have varying degrees of bladder dysfunction, which can lead to upper urinary tract complications. Urodynamics is the standard method for evaluating bladder function after SCI. The effect of robot-assisted gait therapy (RAGT) on urinary function is rarely reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in urodynamics in SCI patients undergoing RAGT. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 35 SCI patients (26 males and 9 females) with neurological impairment at between 3 months and 2 years after injury. Simple randomization was used by tossing a coin. The rehabilitation program was performed for 7 weeks in 30-minute sessions with exoskeleton EKSO-GT or Locomat Pro; while in the control group, a dynamic parapodium was used instead of RAGT. In all patients, at the beginning and the end of therapy, urodynamics were assessed. The parameters, including cystometric bladder capacity (CBC), the first, normal, and strong desire to void (FD, ND, SD), maximum and average flow rate, post-void residual volume (PRV) and compliance, and external urethral sphincter function were analyzed. RESULTS A decreasing trend in micturition time was observed in all patients undergoing RAGT. Compliance in patients with complete SCI did not change, or in some cases decreased (up to 3 ml/cm). In patients with incomplete SCI, flow rates (average and maximum) increased while micturition time decreased. In patients with incomplete injury in the RAGT group, the lowest increases or decreases in CBC, FD, ND, and SD were observed in patients with L-level SCI lesions. CONCLUSIONS The improvement in bladder parameters observed in the study indicates that RAGT should be considered as an option in neurogenic bladder treatment.
