Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Physical Health Attitude Scale and a Survey of Mental Health Nurses

INTRODUCTION: Nurses play an important role in improving the physical health of individuals with serious mental illnesses. The literature on the attitudes of mental health nurses towards physical healthcare provides a small amount of data. Assessing trends in nurses' attitudes through suitable surveys is important to ensure holistic care. AIM/QUESTION: This study sought to examine the Turkish version of the Physical Health Attitude Scale's (PHASe) validity and reliability and to survey Turkish mental health nurses' attitudes towards physical healthcare. METHOD: The sample consisted of 174 nurses working in acute psychiatric wards. Firstly, the psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed using factor analysis and measures of internal consistency and reliability. Then, the survey results of the attitudes of mental health nurses towards the physical health of patients with serious mental illnesses were determined using the Physical Health Attitude Scale (PHASe). RESULTS: The translated PHASe scale functioned best as a 24-item version and 4-factor solution that explains 51.3% of the variance. The internal consistency value was .83. The respondents' attitudes were generally positive about their role. There was less agreement for the involvement of nurses in practices of health promotion, such as sexual health, eye and/or dental examinations. The nurses surveyed also tended to use smoking for therapeutic purposes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Mental health nurses' knowledge and attitudes should be enhanced by additional training in the ways of meeting patients' biopsychosocial needs. Obstacles to physical healthcare can be removed by implementing standard protocols nationwide. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

New national and regional bryophyte records, 69

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New national and regional bryophyte records, 52

Marchantia paleacea is a new species for the Umbria Region and is rare in central and southern Italy. This record is in a Site of Community Importance (SCI) IT5220017 and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of the Natura 2000 EU-wide network due to the presence of the 7220* ‘Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)’ Annexe I priority habitat. The particular environment, with a gorge and waterfall, created a very special microclimate that allowed the establishment of interesting liverworts and mosses

Octreotide inhibits myeloperoxidase activity in rat uterus.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have demonstrated that synthetic somatostatin-analog octreotide could affect the functions of the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland and ovary. To date, very few studies on the effect of octreotide on uterine function have been reported. We investigated the effects of octreotide on neutrophil functions in rat uterus. METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a standardized uterine horn excision. To evaluate the effect of octreotide, the rats were assigned randomly to treatment (octreotide 20 microgr/kg, SC) and control groups. After two weeks relaparotomy was performed and contralateral uterine horns were excised in the same standardized manner. The excised segment was washed in cold saline solution and was frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately and homogenized. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase concentrations were determined in homogenates of uterine horns. The data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: In octreotide-treated rats the MPO activity was significantly reduced after 14 days (14.79+/-2.08 versus 6.62+/-1.72 U/mg protein; p=0.012). There was also a significant difference in mean MPO levels between the two groups at the end of the experiment (6.62+/- 1.72 versus 18.56+/-2.49 U/mg protein; p=0.001). The octreotide administration did not affect elastase levels significantly. No differences were found in mean elastase levels in both groups after the treatment. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that octreotide has a significant effect on the neutrophil function in terms of MPO activity in rat uterus. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical relevance of the inhibitory effect of octreotide in the uterus and the possibility of its applications

Tibolone does not have a sustained measurable thermogenic effect in postmenopausal women

Background. Our purpose was to determine if tibolone in commonly used daily dosage (2.5 mg/day) would have a measurable thermogenic effect in women, which could be attributed to its progestogenic effect. Methods. We enrolled twelve postmenopausal women in this study. Subjects were instructed to take their basal body temperatures for fifteen days before and for another fifteen days during tibolone usage. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test were used in the statistical analysis. Results. Only in one subject did the basal body temperatures before and during tibolone usage have a significantly different distribution (p = 0.048). Mean basal body temperatures before and during tibolone usage of the subjects were compared using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test and the p value was found to be 0.158. Conclusion. The results of the statistical analysis of the basal body temperatures which were taken before and during tibolone usage in our group seem to indicate that tibolone does not have a sustained measurable thermogenic effect in postmenopausal women

Tibolone does not have a sustained measurable thermogenic effect in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to determine if tibolone in commonly used daily dosage (2.5 mg/day) would have a measurable thermogenic effect in women, which could be attributed to its progestogenic effect. METHODS: We enrolled twelve postmenopausal women in this study. Subjects were instructed to take their basal body temperatures for fifteen days before and for another fifteen days during tibolone usage. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Only in one subject did the basal body temperatures before and during tibolone usage have a significantly different distribution (p=0.048). Mean basal body temperatures before and during tibolone usage of the subjects were compared using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test and the p value was found to be 0.158. CONCLUSION: The results of the statistical analysis of the basal body temperatures which were taken before and during tibolone usage in our group seem to indicate that tibolone does not have a sustained measurable thermogenic effect in postmenopausal women

The effect of overactive bladder syndrome on the sexual life in asymptomatic continent women

Objective: Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a very common problem, particularly in women, and has an effect on their daily lifestyle and sexual activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of overactive bladder syndrome on sexual life in asymptomatic continent women who are considered to be sexually active. Design: Descriptive and cross-sectional study. Setting: Gynaecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Turkey. Subject: A total of 1,504 patients as research population were examined and 117 patients without gynaecological symptoms presenting to the Obstetric and Gynaecology Clinic were included in the study. Main outcome measures For data collection a questionnaire to gather socio-demographic and medical information, an assessment tool (OAB-at) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for evaluating sexual dysfunction were utilised. Results: Patients were determined as 28 continent women with OAB, 89 women without OAB. In line with this information we found the mean score of OAB positive continent women was 13.00±5.06 and the mean score of OAB negative women was 3.57±2.15. Patients with OAB had negatively impacted sexual function in the areas of arousal, lubrication, orgasm and pain. Conclusion: OAB syndrome adversely affects sexual life even in continent women