BOTANICAL THERAPY IN POSTMENOPAUSE AS A PART OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Istraživanja Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije procjenjuju da 65–80% svjetske populacije koristi tradicionalnu medicinu kao osnovni oblik zdravstvene intervencije. Uporaba herbalnih pripravaka, dominantna forma liječenja u zemljama u razvoju, u značajnom je porastu i u zemljama Zapada. Zajednica praktičara konvencionalne medicine ne pridaje komplementarnoj i alternativnoj medicini (KAM) veliko značenje zbog nedostatnih i ponekad metodološki neprihvatljivih studija.¬ S druge strane, većina medicinara i zdravstvenih profesionalaca nije upoznata s kvalitetnim znanstvenim dokazima koji uistinu postoje. Zato je potrebno insistirati na prospektivnim, dobro dizajniranim istraživanjima koja će prikazati stupanj djelotvornosti i sigurnosti postupaka i terapija karakterističnih za KAM. Prikazan je pregled činjenica baziranih na znanstvenim istraživanjima biljaka ili biljnih ekstrakata koji se koriste u perimenopauzalnoj medicini.The World Health Organization estimates that 65%–80% of the world’s population use traditional medicine as their primary form of health care while about half of general population in developed countries uses complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Many health professionals consider CAM as not serious according to non-adequate research, any compelling evidence base and methodological problems and biases. On the other hand, many physicians are uninformed¬ about the quality of evidence that does exist. Assessment of safety and efficacy of herbal remedies is important issue in future research. Brief facts on the herbals used in postmenopausal medicine are presented and discussed

Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Recent study data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress results from an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, an excess of oxidants and/or a depletion of antioxidants. There are numerous studies that indicate that free radicals (FRs) damage neurons, and then play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and depression. Active oxygen can cause considerable damage and disrupt the important physiological functions of proteins, lipids, enzymes and DNA. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible differences in the concentration of tromboxane B2, 8-OHdG and protein carbonyls, as significant markers of oxidative damage, and urate, albumin and total protein concentrations as antioxidative molecules in PTSD patients in comparison to the healthy control group. The study included 74 male participants who were active soldiers in the Croatian armed forces from 1991 to 1995. 46 subjects with chronic and current PTSD were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry of Dubrava University Hospital during 2010, 28 healthy subjects were recruited in the same period during the regular medical examination at the Dubrava University Hospital. Study results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference in urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG, serum thromboxane B2, and serum urates between two studied groups. Statistically significant difference of the protein carbonyl concentrations was examined. Concentrations were significantly lower in the PTSD group than in the control group. The clinical significance of these results was examined using ROC analysis. The obtained ROC curves did not separate the groups in a satisfactory manner

Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Recent study data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress results from an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, an excess of oxidants and/or a depletion of antioxidants. There are numerous studies that indicate that free radicals (FRs) damage neurons, and then play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and depression. Active oxygen can cause considerable damage and disrupt the important physiological functions of proteins, lipids, enzymes and DNA. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible differences in the concentration of tromboxane B2, 8-OHdG and protein carbonyls, as significant markers of oxidative damage, and urate, albumin and total protein concentrations as antioxidative molecules in PTSD patients in comparison to the healthy control group. The study included 74 male participants who were active soldiers in the Croatian armed forces from 1991 to 1995. 46 subjects with chronic and current PTSD were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry of Dubrava University Hospital during 2010, 28 healthy subjects were recruited in the same period during the regular medical examination at the Dubrava University Hospital. Study results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference in urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG, serum thromboxane B2, and serum urates between two studied groups. Statistically significant difference of the protein carbonyl concentrations was examined. Concentrations were significantly lower in the PTSD group than in the control group. The clinical significance of these results was examined using ROC analysis. The obtained ROC curves did not separate the groups in a satisfactory manner

»CRIME AND PUNISHMENT« IN THE MENOPAUSAL HEALTH CARE

Background. In the past thirty years, there has been a significant rise of public and private health institutions’ interest in the prediction and management of medical risks. The need of risk management is a direct consequence of the growing number of legal actions against medical malpractice. The concept of risk management involves three basic processes: risk identification, risk analysis, and risk management. Risk includes an evaluation of vulnerability and management of events that could potentially endanger the operation of a health institution, comprising a balance between the consequential costs of medical malpractice and the costs of risk reduction (anticipation). Thus the potential financial consequences of risk exposure are crucial in the formation of diagnostic and treatment protocols, whereas improvement of the quality of medical care as well as patient protection are the primary aims of risk management. Conclusions. Postmenopausal health care is not an exempt when considering possible erorrs in medication or medical process per se. On the orther hand menopausal medicine is not only hormonal replacement therapy but also bunch of complementary and alternative specialities involved in the healing process where error could be easily achieved