The evaluation of the effectiveness of a health promotion training on breast cancer survivors

BACKGROUND: Increased early diagnosis and improved treatment options have decreased the mortality rate of breast cancer and increased the survival rate. Healthy lifestyle behaviors are very important in breast cancer survivors as they reduce mortality and morbidity rates, cancer recurrence frequency, and side effects of treatment and improve health. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion training intervention in breast cancer survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a quasi-experimental, pre-test–post-test and single-group study. It was conducted with 43 women breast cancer survivors. The “Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II” was used to collect the data. Four sessions of training were given to the women once a week, and a 3-month post-training follow-up was performed. The t-test, Wilcoxon analysis, and Spearmen correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Pre-training and post-training scores in the sub-dimensions and total scores of the healthy lifestyle behavior scale showed that the training was highly effective. There was a significant increase in all sub-dimensions and total scale post-training scores (P < 0.05). In the correlation analysis, a negative correlation was found between age and physical activity, between elapsed time after diagnosis and nutrition, and between elapsed time after diagnosis and spiritual development (P < 0,05). However, there was a positive correlation between educational status and nutrition (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that a health promotion training program covering physical activity/exercise, healthy nutrition, effective communication, coping with stress, and increasing health responsibility had positive effects on healthy lifestyle behaviors in this population, and age, educational status, and elapsed time after diagnosis influence healthy lifestyle behaviors in survival

Atrakuryum, rokuronyum, mivakuryum, sisatrakuryum, pankuronyum ve vekuronyumda Escherichia coli üremesi

Amaç: Biz çalışmamızda atrakuryum, rokuronyum, mivakuryum, sisatrakuryum, pankuronyum ve vekuronyumun Escherichia coli üremesi üzerine olan etkinliğini araştırdık. Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Patojen bakteri, atrakuryum, rokuronyum, mivakuryum, sisatrakuryum, pankuronyum ve vekuronyum ile 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ve 24 saat oda sıcaklığında temas ettirildi. Bulgular: Escherichia coli ortalama koloni sayısı rokuronyumda istatiksel anlamlı olarak atrakuryum, mivakuryum, sisatrakuryum, pankuronyum ve vekuronyumdan daha düşük saptandı (sırasıyla p=0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.001, ve 0.002). Atrakuryum, mivakuryum, sisatrakuryum, pankuronyum ve vekuronyumda ortalama koloni sayısı açısından anlamlı fark saptanmadı (p<0.05). Sonuç: Rokuronyum, diğer nöromusküler kas gevşetici ajanlardan daha kuvvetli antimikrobiyal etki gösterdi.Objectives: We studied in vivo growth of Escherichia coli in atracurium, rocuronium, mivacurium, cisatracurium, pancuronium, and vecuronium. Patients and Methods: The pathogen was exposed to atracurium, rocuronium, mivacurium, cisatracurium, pancuronium and vecuronium for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 h at room temperature, respectively. Results: The mean colony counts of Escherichia coli after exposure to rocuronium was significantly lower than the counts after exposure to atracurium, mivacurium, cisatracurium, pancuronium and vecuronium (p=0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). No significant difference was found with respect to the mean colony counts with atracurium, mivacurium, cisatracurium, pancuronium and vecuronium (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Rocuronium had more powerful antimicrobial effects than the other neuromuscular agents

Peri-operative blood transfusion in elective major surgery: incidence, indications and outcome - an observational multicentre study.

Background: Patients' demographic and epidemiological characteristics, local variations in clinicians' knowledge and experience and types of surgery can influence peri-operative transfusion practices. Sharing data on transfusion practices and recipients may improve patients' care and implementation of Patient Blood Management (PBM). Materials and methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, observational, cross-sectional study that included 61 centres. Clinical and transfusion data of patients undergoing major elective surgery were collected; transfusion predictors and patients' outcomes were analysed. Results: Of 6,121 patients, 1,579 (25.8%) received a peri-operative transfusion. A total of 5,812 blood components were transfused: red blood cells (RBC), fresh-frozen plasma and platelets in 1,425 (23.3%), 762 (12.4%) and 88 (1.4%) cases, respectively). Pre-operative anaemia was identified in 2,019 (33%) patients. Half of the RBC units were used by patients in the age group 45-69 years. Specific procedures with the highest RBC use were coronary artery bypass grafting (16.9% of all units) and hip arthroplasty (14.9%). Low haemoglobin concentration was the most common indication for intra-operative RBC transfusion (57%) and plasma and platelet transfusions were mostly initiated for acute bleeding (61.3% and 61.1%, respectively). The RBC transfusion rate in study centres varied from 2% to 72%. RBC transfusion was inappropriate in 99% (n=150/151) of pre-operative, 23% (n=211/926) of intra-operative and 43% (n=308/716) of post-operative RBC transfusion episodes. Pre-operative haemoglobin, increased blood loss, open surgery and duration of surgery were the main independent predictors of intra-operative RBC transfusion. Low pre-operative haemoglobin concentration was independently associated with post-operative pulmonary complications. Conclusions: These findings identified areas for improvement in peri-operative transfusion practice and PBM implementation in Turkey

Adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasm presenting with Cushing's syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Oncocytic neoplasms occur in several organs and are most commonly found in the thyroid, kidneys and salivary glands. Oncocytic neoplasms of the adrenal cortex are extremely rare and are usually non-functioning.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of an adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasm with uncertain malignant potential in a 31-year-old man with Cushing's syndrome. The patient had been operated on following diagnosis of a 7 cm adrenal mass. Following surgery, the Cushing's syndrome resolved. The patient is still alive with no metastases one year after the surgery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasms must be considered in the differential diagnosis of both functioning and non-functioning adrenal masses.</p

HERBAL THERAPIES USED BY HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN TURKEY

The purpose of this study was to determine herbal therapies used by the patients for regulation of blood pressure. This descriptive study was conducted in three districts of Izmir, Turkey. The study group included 193 patients with hypertension diagnosis who admitted to a primary care center and accepted to participate in the study. Data were collected through an investigator-made questionnaire including questions about socio-demographic features and herbal therapies used for regulation of blood pressure. Percentiles and chi–square statistics tests were used to evaluate the data through SPSS 11.0 program. The subjects included in the study had suffered from hypertension for 8.28+7.92 years, and 95.9% of them received medication to treat their hypertension. Of all hypertensive patients, 51.3% used herbal therapies for the treatment of hypertension. The patients used herbal therapies most commonly when they felt ill. There were no statistically significant difference between the use of herbal therapies and gender, education, marital status, having health insurance and income level. Health professionals who provide primary health services, especially nurses, need to follow patients regularly and provide patient education on antihypertensive therapy. Nurses must plan the necessary training programs by evaluating the data about, whether the hypertension patients use herbal therapies that can affect their health negatively or not

Evaluation of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease: Preliminary results from the Turk-UIP study

OBJECTIVE: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is important among fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate the rate of IPF in patients with fibrotic ILD and to determine the clinical-laboratory features of patients with and without IPF that would provide the differential diagnosis of IPF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included the patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern or possible UIP pattern on thorax high-resolution computed tomography, and/or UIP pattern, probable UIP or possible UIP pattern at lung biopsy according to the 2011 ATS/ERSARS/ALAT guidelines. Demographics and clinical and radiological data of the patients were recorded. All data recorded by researchers was evaluated by radiology and the clinical decision board. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients (253 men, 83 women, age 65.8 +/- 9.0 years) were evaluated. Of the patients with sufficient data for diag-nosis (n=300), the diagnosis was IPF in 121 (40.3%), unclassified idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in 50 (16.7%), combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) in 40 (13.3%), and lung involvement of connective tissue disease (CTD) in 16 (5.3%). When 29 patients with definite IPF features were added to the patients with CPFE, the total number of IPF patients reached 150 (50%). Rate of male sex (p<0.001), smoking history (p<0.001), and the presence of clubbing (p=0.001) were significantly high in patients with IPE None of the women <50 years and none of the men <50 years of age without a smoking history were diagnosed with IPE Presence of at least 1 of the symptoms suggestive of CTD, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and antinuclear antibody (FANA) positivity rates were significantly higher in the non-IPF group (p<0.001, p=0.029, p=0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: The rate of IPF among patients with fibrotic ILD was 50%. In the differential diagnosis of IPF, sex, smoking habits, and the presence of clubbing are important. The presence of symptoms related to CTD, ESR elevation, and EANA positivity reduce the likelihood of IPF

Reproducibility of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosis is good, but influenced by the diagnostic style of pathologists

Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) applies specific diagnostic criteria to designate a monoclonal endometrial preinvasive glandular proliferation known from previous studies to confer a 45-fold increased risk for endometrial cancer. In this international study we estimate accuracy and precision of EIN diagnosis among 20 reviewing pathologists in different practice environments, and with differing levels of experience and training. Sixty-two endometrial biopsies diagnosed as benign, EIN, or adenocarcinoma by consensus of two expert subspecialty pathologists were used as a reference comparison to assess diagnostic accuracy of 20 reviewing pathologists. Interobserver reproducibility among the 20 reviewers provided a measure of diagnostic precision. Before evaluating cases, observers were self-trained by reviewing published textbook and/or online EIN diagnostic guidelines. Demographics of the reviewing pathologists, and their impressions regarding implementation of EIN terminology were recorded. Seventy-nine percent of the 20 reviewing pathologists' diagnoses were exactly concordant with the expert consensus (accuracy). The interobserver weighted kappa values of 3-class EIN scheme (benign, EIN, carcinoma) diagnoses between expert consensus and each of reviewing pathologists averaged 0.72 (reproducibility, or precision). Reviewing pathologists demonstrated one of three diagnostic styles, which varied in the repertoire of diagnoses commonly used, and their nonrandom response to potentially confounding diagnostic features such as endometrial polyp, altered differentiation, background hormonal effects, and technically poor preparations. EIN diagnostic strategies can be learned and implemented from standard teaching materials with a high degree of reproducibility, but is impacted by the personal diagnostic style of each pathologist in responding to potential diagnostic confounders

Protective intraoperative ventilation with higher versus lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in obese patients (PROBESE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) increase the morbidity and mortality of surgery in obese patients. High levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with lung recruitment maneuvers may improve intraoperative respiratory function, but they can also compromise hemodynamics, and the effects on PPCs are uncertain. We hypothesized that intraoperative mechanical ventilation using high PEEP with periodic recruitment maneuvers, as compared with low PEEP without recruitment maneuvers, prevents PPCs in obese patients. Methods/design The PRotective Ventilation with Higher versus Lower PEEP during General Anesthesia for Surgery in OBESE Patients (PROBESE) study is a multicenter, two-arm, international randomized controlled trial. In total, 2013 obese patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 scheduled for at least 2 h of surgery under general anesthesia and at intermediate to high risk for PPCs will be included. Patients are ventilated intraoperatively with a low tidal volume of 7 ml/kg (predicted body weight) and randomly assigned to PEEP of 12 cmH2O with lung recruitment maneuvers (high PEEP) or PEEP of 4 cmH2O without recruitment maneuvers (low PEEP). The occurrence of PPCs will be recorded as collapsed composite of single adverse pulmonary events and represents the primary endpoint. Discussion To our knowledge, the PROBESE trial is the first multicenter, international randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of two different levels of intraoperative PEEP during protective low tidal volume ventilation on PPCs in obese patients. The results of the PROBESE trial will support anesthesiologists in their decision to choose a certain PEEP level during general anesthesia for surgery in obese patients in an attempt to prevent PPCs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02148692. Registered on 23 May 2014; last updated 7 June 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1929-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users