Quality of life, depression and self-perceived burden among geriatric and non-geriatric hemodialysis patients

Background: Many hemodialysis patients need support at various levels from their relatives while performing their daily activities. The ‘burden’ of these needs of patients on their relatives and their negative effects on their lives have been shown in the literature. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ‘care burden’ in terms of the patient.Methods: The patient who had received hemodialysis for at least 3 months was included in the study. A patient identification form including demographic data and medical history data was prepared. The Perceived care burden scale, Beck depression scale and WHO Quality of life questionnaire were applied to the patients.Results: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between SPBS and BDI (p<0.001, r=0.820). A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between the perceived care burden and all sub-dimensions of the quality of life scale (p<0.001). The frequency of comorbidity in the geriatric group was higher than non-geriatric group. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between comorbidity and QOL (p<0.001).   The median scores of all sub-dimensions of the QOL scale were lower in geriatric group and there were significance differences except environment dimension.Conclusions: The self-perceived burden on caregivers of hemodialysis patients was positively associated with depression and negatively associated with QOL. Decrease in QOL was more pronounced in geriatric patients

The evaluation of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: Comparison of Doppler and tissue Doppler-derived myocardial performance index

Background: Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent used in a wide spectrum of cancers. However, cardiotoxic effects have limited its clinical use. The early detection of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is crucial. The purpose of our study was to assess values of Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) in adult cancer patients receiving doxorubicin treatment. Methods: A total of 45 patients underwent echocardiographic examinations before any doxorubicin had been administered and then after doxorubicin. Doppler and TDI-derived MPI of left ventricular (LV) were determined in the evaluation of cardiotoxicity. Additionally, TDI-derived MPI of right ventricular (RV) was determined. Results: All patients underwent control echocardiographic examination after mean 5 ± 1.7 months. The LV MPI obtained by both Doppler and TDI were increased after doxorubicin treatment (0.56 ± 0.11, 0.61 ± 0.10, p = 0,005 vs 0.51 ± 0.09, 0.59 ± 0.09, p = 0.001, respectively). There was no correlation between Doppler-derived MPI and cumulative doxorubicin dose (coefficient of correlation 0.11, p = 0.6). TDI-derived MPI was correlated with cumulative doxorubicin dose (coefficient of correlation 0.35, p = 0.015), but this correlation is weak (r = 0.38). The study population was divided into two groups according to doxorubicin dose (below and above 300 mg level). There was a moderate correlation between TDI-derived MPI and less than 300 mg of doxorubicin dose (coefficient of correlation 0.51, p = 0.028). However, Doppler-derived MPI was not correlated with less than 300 mg of doxorubicin dose (coefficient of correlation 0.38, p = 0.123). Also, there was no significant change in the TDI-derived RV-MPI (0.49 ± 0.14, 0.50 ± 0.12, p = 0.56). Conclusions: TDI-derived MPI is a useful parameter and an early indicator compared with Doppler-derived MPI in the detection of cardiotoxicity during the early stages. Also, doxorubicin administration does not affect RV function

Postoperative discomfort of dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia

Objective: To find out postoperative discomfort in children undergoing dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia (DRGA)

Nasolabial cyst: imaging findings

Nasolabial cysts are rare nonodontogenic lesions of the maxillofacial area. Other odontogenic and non-odontogenic masses should be taken into consideration in definitive diagnosis. In this case report, ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a nasolabial cyst in a 32-year-old male patient were presented with the literature. [Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(1.000): 183-186