Inappropriate sexual behaviors in dementia and treatment approaches [Demansta uygunsuz seksüel davranişlar ve tedavi yaklaşimlari]

Dementias are the most encountered type of neurodegenerative disorders. Behavioral disturbances are common in dementia patients and almost 80% of patients with dementia show behavioral problems. Although inappropriate sexual behaviors are not as common as other behavioral problems seen in dementia, they can cause heavy trouble to patients who are affected and also caregivers. Inappropriate sexual behaviors in dementia have been relatively less investigated among other behavioral disturbances. At the present time, there are some controversies about the definition, types and content of sexual inappropriateness. There are no randomized drug trials for the treatment of inappropriate sexual behaviors in dementia, but the available data suggest efficacy of some commonly used treatment modalities. In this article, we overviewed various aspects of these behaviors and available treatment choices

Effects of counseling on some care outcomes among patients with brain tumour: Pain, seizure, constipation, infection, dispatch conditions [Danişmanlik veri·len beyi·n tümörlü hastalarin bazi bakim sonuçlari: Agri, epi·lepti·k nöbet, konsti·pasyon, i·nfeksi·yon, sevk durumlari]

• Objective: The aim of this study was to determine effects of training on some care outcomes among patients with brain tumour. • Material and Method: There were 45 patients in both Group I and Group II (total, 90 people). Group I received training on a one-to-one basis and were given information .Group II were given a booklet for training. All patients were observed before operations and one, three and six months after operations. Data were collected with sociodemographic features, Pre-/Post-operative Symptom Diagnosis and Intervention Form. Data between two groups were tested Chi-squared test, variance analysis for repeated measurements, Cochran's Q. • Results: There was a significant difference among headache, infection, constipation (p0.05). Patients found to have such symptoms as being overweight, iron deficiency anemia, increased blood sugar levels, increased blood pressure, respiratory distress, neurological symptoms of difficulty in swallowing, alterations in consciousness, dizziness and loss of balance edema, wound infections, fear of brain tumours, sleeplessness, restlessness, lack of satisfaction with life and itching and increased SGPT due to the antiepileptic drug phenytoin sodium were referred to specialists during the follow-up. Patients have got anxiety, depression with physical symptoms. They give information about sexuality, alternative treatment, follow-up visits, fears. • Conclusion: This study was determined physical, psychological symptoms of patients with brain tumour . Care outcomes were significantly better in Group I than in Group II

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy associated with graves disease: A case report [Kronik inflamatuar demiyelinizan polinöropati ve graves hastaligi birlikteligi; Olgu sunumu]

Scientific background: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is presumed to occur by autoimmune mechanisms. Its course is multifocal demyelination of the peripheral nerves. If the progress of clinical picture is longer than 2 months, CIDP must be considered. It often presents with symptoms that include weakness of the arms and legs, tingling or numbness, and spontaneous pain. Graves disease or in other words diffuse toxic goiter is one of the most frequent type of thyrotoxicosis in the population. It is an autoimmune disease caused by thyroid stimulating antibodies and immunoglobulins against TSH receptors. Graves disease's triad includes goiter, thyrotoxicosis and ophtalmopathy. In this paper; a case of comorbidity of these two autoimmune conditions is presented with additional referral to the literature. Case: 26 year-old woman presented with the complaints of tingling, numbness, pain and weakness of upper and lower extremities. She stated that tingling, numbness and weakness progressed in 3 months accompanied by mild pain. CIDP is considered according to the neurological examination, EMG findings, albuminocytologic dissociation in CSF, exclusion of the other PNP reasons and the history of clinical progression in 3 months. Conclusion: This case is presented to emphasize that the rare comorbity of these two autoimmune situations, CIDP and Graves might be due to the probable common pathogenesis

Examination of the complementary and alternative treatment use with breast cancer patients [Meme kanserli hastalarin tamamlayici ve alternatif tedavi yöntemlerini kullanma durumlarinin incelenmesi]

Objective: The aim of this study was aimed to assess the use of complementary and alternative treatment (CAT) methods for patients with breast cancer. Material and Methods: In this descriptive study, 100 patients with breast cancer who presented to the Hospital of Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Division of General Surgery, Breast Diseases Outpatient Clinic and Tülay Aktas Oncology Hospital between April 1 2005 and August 31 2005 and who volunteered to participate in the research were included. The subjects were interviewed face-to-face using a 47-item questionnaire. SPSS 11.0 was used for statistical analyses; data were expressed in numbers and percentages and Chi-square was used for comparisons. Results: CAT method was preferred by 87% of the participants; herbal treatment was the treatment choice in 62% of those who used CAT. At least one CAT method accompanied to various combinations of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatments in 80%. Media was the most common source of knowledge on CAT methods with a rate of 46.8%. Of the study patients, 19.5% indicated to have informed their physicians about their use of CAT. Conclusion: This study revealed that a large proportion (87%) of breast cancer patients used at least one CAT method. While metabolic/nutritional methods were the most commonly preferred, psychological/behavioral methods seemed to be much less common. Pharmacological/biological methods and device and equipment methods were the least frequently preferred. Reports indicate that herbs may pose direct and indirect health risks and cause side effects, allergic reactions, and toxic effects. Health care providers should be aware of the potential interaction between herbal medicine and drugs. Copyright © 2007 by Türkiye Klinikleri