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.
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.
OBJECTIVE:Unplanned discharges are an important risk factor for adverse outcomes in children. We aimed to assess the impact of unplanned discharge on postdischarge outcomes and to identify key clinical and socioeconomic risk factors. METHODS:We conducted a secondary analysis of a multisite observational study in six Ugandan hospitals. Children aged 0-60 months admitted with suspected sepsis were enrolled (July 2017-April 2020) and followed for 6 months after discharge. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for demographic, clinical and socioeconomic factors (including age, sex and site) identified risk factors for unplanned discharge and Cox proportional hazards regression similarly adjusted for demographic, clinical and socioeconomic factors assessed its impact on readmission and mortality. RESULTS:Of 6189 children who survived to discharge, 5403 (87.2%) had a planned discharge and 786 (12.8%) had an unplanned discharge with no unascertained cases. Among children with planned discharge, 271 (5.1%) of 5312 died within 6 months of discharge, compared with 105 (13.4%) of 760 among children with unplanned discharge. Unplanned discharge was associated with higher mortality (HR=2.6, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.5) and readmission (HR=2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.2). In analyses identifying factors associated with unplanned discharge, risk factors included malnutrition, HIV and anaemia, as well as lower maternal education, greater distance from hospital and father-led presentation. CONCLUSIONS:Unplanned discharges are common and strongly associated with postdischarge mortality and readmission. Interventions targeting children at high risk of unplanned discharge, including those facing clinical, socioeconomic and structural barriers to care, are urgently needed to improve outcomes.
Background/Objectives: Cervical and lumbar radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are common conditions that are associated with persistent pain, functional impairment, and reduced quality of life. Nutraceutical strategies targeting neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress pathways are being investigated as adjunctive approaches in pain management. This study evaluated the clinical association between supplementation with a Gastrodiae elata Blume-based nutraceutical formulation (Assonal®) and changes in pain intensity, functional outcomes, symptom burden, and quality of life in patients with radiculopathy and CTS. Methods: A single-centre pragmatic before-after clinical study enrolled adults with cervical or lumbar radiculopathy and/or CTS. Participants received Assonal® (two tablets daily) for two months. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS), the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), the EuroQol-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L), and the Global Perceived Effect (GPE). Longitudinal within-subject changes were analysed using repeated-measures statistical tests. Results: Thirty-four participants completed the study. The observed pain intensity decreased significantly from baseline to two months (NPRS: 7.2 ± 1.3 to 3.6 ± 1.2; VAS: 7.3 ± 2.1 to 3.3 ± 1.7; p < 0.0001) and functional measures showed improvements across BPFS and BCTQ assessments, accompanied by reductions in symptom burden (NPSI). Quality of life increased significantly (EQ-5D-5L index: 0.49 ± 0.23 to 0.81 ± 0.12; p < 0.0001), and most patients reported perceived clinical improvement. Conclusions: In this exploratory real-world study, Assonal® supplementation was associated with clinically relevant improvements in pain intensity, functional performance, and quality of life in patients with radiculopathy and CTS, suggesting the need for further investigation of these associations in future controlled clinical studies.
