Recently Published Articles
A Specific Case of Non-Specificity: Longitudinal Effects of Dysfunctional Attitudes on Depressive, Eating Disorder and Aggressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents
Abstract:
An important step in the validation of disorder-specific etiological models is the examination of the predictive specificity of proposed vulnerability factors. It may advance the understanding of the emergence of comorbidity and the identification of at risk-populations for mental disorders. To enhance the currently limited evidence on the specificity of Beck´s cognitive diathesis-stress model of depression, the present study investigated longitudinal effects of dysfunctional attitudes and stressful life events on the development of depressive, eating disorder and aggressive symptoms in children and adolescents. A large sample of initially asymptomatic children and adolescents completed self-report symptom measures at study entrance and again approx. 20 months later, and reported stressful life events during the study interval. Stressful life events proved to be a risk factor to all investigated symptom domains. Dysfunctional attitudes at T1 were prospectively re...
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment with Epap Nasal Devices: Physiological Principles and Limitations
Abstract:
Expiratory Positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices such as prevent have been used for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea without discussing their limitations. In this short review we discuss the physiological limitations of EPAP devices during inspiration and during expiration. During spontaneous breathing, when EPAP is excessive, the patient would have difficulty breathing in because lung compliance decreases at higher volumes. Furthermore excessive EPAP could lead to progressive trapping of air in the lungs. An ideal EPAP device should allow the patient to adjust the resistance to a comfortable level that would provide EPAP without a progressive buildup in pressure, without compromising tidal volume, without causing CO2 retention, and without disturbing sleep. The use of EPAP devices with adjustable resistance is essential for best results in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
Social Work in Psychosocial Crises: Analysis of a Voluntary Psychosocial Counseling Program to Close a Supply Gap in Psychosocial Therapy
Abstract:
People suffering from acute psychosocial crises often require immediate help. To supplement existing institutions and services, a counseling program (“Hel.p”) was founded; this study evaluates that program following a two-year trial period. Thirty-five counselors counseled 70 people. The clients were 37.6 +/- 18.4 years old and mostly female (67.1%). The counseling topics included health and diseases (16.1%) and general family pro...
Epidemiology and Management of Seasonal Influenza Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities in the Health Service Executive East Area of Ireland During the 2013-2014 Influenza Season.
Abstract:
We describe seasonal influenza-like illness (ILI) outbreaks in long-term care facilities in the Health Service Executive (HSE) East area of Ireland in the 2013/2014 influenza season, risk factors associated with outbreak duration and attack rates, and management challenges. Separate questionnaires were distributed to 28 facilities who reported an outbreak and to public health specialists leading outbreak management, with a 79% response rate. Mean outbreak duration (21 vs 17 days; p=0.046) was longer in facilities with staff vaccination rates of <40%. Facilities with a high attack rate (≥50%) were less likely to have an outbreak plan (p=0.03). Smaller facilities (under 50 residents) had a higher attack rate (50% vs 23%, p=0.003) even when controlled for staff vaccination rate (p=0.01). Prior to the outbreak, resident vaccination rates were high (82%, above the World Health Organization target of 75%) but staff vaccination rates were low (39%). Reported challen...
The Comparison of Functional Outcomes Between Supraglottic Horizontal Laryngectomy and Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to compare the functional outcomes (including swallowing, respiration and phonation) of supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy (SGHL) and supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL). The clinical and pathological data were evaluated for 36 previously untreated patients who were diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma and underwent SGHL or SCPL at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Istanbul Training and Research Hospital from 2010 to 2016. Removal of the nasogastric tube, decannulation and hospitalisation times were recorded in both groups and postoperative complications were noted. The SGHL group contained 15 patients and the SCPL group contained 21 patients (14 cases of cricohyoid...
Surgical Managment of Intracranial Invasive Aspergillosis in Immunocompetent Patients: Results from 3 Case Reports
Abstract:
Cerebral aspergillosis is a severe disease most commonly suspected in immunodeficient patients. The objective of this study is to determine the role of surgery in management of intracranial aspergillosis. We report three cases of immunocompetent patients presenting: posteriror fossa aspergillosis, sphenoidal extended to sellar region aspergillosis and post operative aspergillosis without extracerebral involvement. Microbiology and histological examination were carried out to provide the diagnosis. The patients underwent surgical procedure associated with medical treatment or not. In one case, surgical treatment was efficient. The outcome was good in two cases.
Fast Screening Method for Polymorphisms in Exon 9 of the Catalase Gene.
Abstract:
We checked our simple screening technique for detection of the known polymorphism of rs769217, and the two acatalasemic mutations in exon 9 of the catalase gene. This fast and inexpensive method yielded better resolution than those of the standard SSCP. We suppose that the method detects the spontaneously formed single stranded DNAs.
Importance of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx
Abstract:
The relation between inflammation and cancer has been known since the 19th century. However, investigations on the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this relation have begun recently. It was demonstrated that increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is a poor prognostic factor in some malignancies. The present study aimed to determine whether preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio has a prognostic value in larynx cancer. Preoperative blood analyses of 139 patients, who underwent subtotal or total laryngectomy for larynx cancer between 2003 and 2013 at Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of ENT, were retrospectively evaluated. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was calculated dividing absolute neutrophil count by absolute lymphocyte count. Optimal cut-off value for NLR was determined by re...
Evaluation of Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease and Its Clinical Significance
Abstract:
Vitamin D deficiency has been reported highly prevalent in Chronic liver disease (CLD) and there is an emerging interest to explore the relationship of vitamin D deficiency and severity of various types of CLD. To evaluate vitamin D level in patients with various type of CLD and clinical significance of its deficiency. Serum vitamin D levels were measured by ELFA in 100 patients (91 male and 9 female) suffering from CLD. The degree of liver dysfunction was estimated by Child Pugh criteria and Model for End stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insuf...
Early Detection of Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder by Head and Neck Manifestations
Abstract:
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a collection of conditions associated with abnormal proliferation of lymphoid tissues in patients after solid organ transplants (SOT). Its clinical presentations are quite variable and non-specific. Otolaryngological signs and symptoms, manifested as adenotonsillar hypertrophy or cervical lymphadenopathy, may guide to early detection and treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of all pediatric SOT recipients with the diagnosis of PTLD, age 0-18, between 2005 and 2014 at the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. The patient’s age, type of organ transplant, immunosuppression, head and neck signs and symptoms, imaging modality, EBV status, histology as well as treatment regimen information were recorded.