Spirituality and religion in pain and pain management

Pain relief is a management problem for many patients, their families, and the medical professionals caring for them. Although everyone experiences pain to some degree, responses to it vary from one person to another. Recognizing and specifying someone else’s pain is clinically a well know challenge. Research on the biology and neurobiology of pain has given us a relationship between spirituality and pain. There is growing recognition that persistent pain is a complex and multidimensional experience stemming from the interrelations among biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. Patients with pain use a number of cognitive and behavioral strategies to cope with their pain, including religious/spiritual factors, such as prayers, and seeking spiritual support to manage their pain. This article provides an overview of the complex phenomenon of pain, with a focus on spiritual and religious issues in pain management

Clinical features of chronic granulomatous disease: a series of 26 patients from a single center

Turul-Ozgur T, Turkkani-Asal G, Tezcan I, Koker MY, Metin A, Yel L, Ersoy F, Sanal O. Clinical features of chronic granulomatous disease: a series of 26 patients from a single center. Turk J Pediatr 2010; 52: 576-581

A Novel Mutation in the Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Associated with Intrauterine Disease Onset

Deficiency of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) is a recently described rare autoinflammatory disease, caused by loss of function mutations in IL1RN leading to the unopposed activation of the IL-1 pathway. We describe a novel nonsense mutation in the IL1RN gene, associated with early intrauterine onset, death and multiorgan involvement in a prematurely born baby. The protein prediction model indicated that the novel Q119X mutation would result in a nonfunctional protein by impairing the ability of the IL-1Ra to bind and antagonize signaling through the IL-1R. Since the disorder may mimic severe bacterial infections and the treatment with anakinra is life saving, we intend to raise awareness of the syndrome and the possibility of a founder mutation that may lead to the diagnosis of additional cases in Turkey. The clinical suspicion of DIRA is critical to avoid improper management of the patients with antibiotics alone and death from multiorgan failure. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Wo

Evaluation of Circulating Endothelial and Platelet Microparticles in Men with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective. To evaluate the profiles of endothelial microparticles (EMP) and platelet microparticles (PMP) in men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy subjects. We also aimed to determine whether microparticles (MP) correlate with disease activity, function, and spinal mobility indices

Complementary and alternative medicine use in colorectal cancer patients in seven European countries

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a sample of colorectal cancer patients in Europe. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey and data were collected through a 27-item self-reported questionnaire from seven European countries. Results: As part of a larger study, 126 colorectal cancer patients participated in this survey. Among the participants, 32% used CAM after the diagnosis of cancer. Almost half the CAM therapies used were new therapies, never tried before the diagnosis. The most common CAM therapies used included herbal medicine (48.7%), homeopathy (20.5%), use of vitamins/minerals (17.9%), spiritual therapies (15.4%), medicinal teas (15.4%) and relaxation techniques (12.8%). A dramatic increase was observed in the use of CAM from usage levels before the cancer diagnosis. High levels of satisfaction with CAM were also reported. Patients used CAM more often to increase the body’s ability to fight the cancer or to improve physical well-being. However, expectations did not always match with the benefits reported

Complementary and alternative medicine use in breast cancer patients in Europe

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has gained popularity among cancer patients in the past years. For this study, CAM includes any group of health care systems, practices or products that are not considered to be part of conventional medicine at present (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine). The present study assessed patterns of CAM use in breast cancer patients in Europe. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design, and data were collected through a 27-item questionnaire. The sample, which was part of a larger study, consisted of 282 breast cancer patients from 11 countries in Europe. Among participants, 44.7% used CAM since their diagnosis of cancer. The most common therapies used included herbal medicine (46.4%) and medicinal teas, relaxation techniques, spiritual therapies, homeopathy and vitamins/minerals. Younger patients with higher education and who had received combination treatments for their cancer in the past were more likely to use CAM. High levels of satisfaction were reported, with only 6.5% of the women reporting no benefits from the CAM used. Main sources of information about CAM were mostly friends/family and the media. Findings suggested that a high proportion of breast cancer patients used CAM, which may have implications for the clinical management of these patients

Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with haematological malignancies in Europe

Summary This study reports upon a descriptive cross-sectional survey assessing the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with haematological cancers. Twelve European countries contributed data from patients with haematological cancers, as part of a larger study. Sixty-eight patients with haematological cancer participated. Among the participants, 26.5% used some form of CAM after the cancer diagnosis. The most common therapies used were homeopathy (38.9%), herbal medicine (22.2%) various psychic therapies, such as use of mediums, healers, rebirthing or past life regression therapy (22.2%). A particular profile of a CAM user was not evident in the sample. Moderate levels of satisfaction with CAM were reported. Patients commonly used CAM to increase the ability of their body to fight cancer and to improve physical and emotional wellbeing. Information about CAM was received mainly from friends or family. As CAM use in patients with haematological malignancies is common, clinicians should assist patients who want to use CAM to make an appropriate decision, and improve communication with them about CAM use in an open and non-judgemental dialogue