Comparison of SF-36 and WHOQOL-100 in patients with stroke

Background and Aims: Two widely used evaluation tools for the quality of life are the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (100-item version) (WHOQOL-100), however, these tools have not been compared for patients with stroke to date. The specific objectives of this study were: 1) to study the effect of stroke on quality of life (QOL) as measured by the SF-36 and by the WHOQOL-100, and 2) to compare these two instruments. Settings and Design: Seventy patients who were admitted to the neurology clinic six months after stroke were included in this study. Materials and Methods: As a data-collecting device, the SF-36 and WHOQOL-100 scales were used. An additional questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic data. Statistical Analysis: Pearson correlation analysis was performed and Blant-Altman Plots were used. Psychometric analysis was performed. Results: In stroke, the most flustered domains of quality of life were vitality and general health perception fields in the SF-36 and in the WHOQL-100, independence level field, overall QOL and general health perceptions. While there was a fair degree of relationship (r= 0.25-0.50) between general health perceptions, physical, social and mental fields that were similar fields of scales, a fair and moderate to good relationship was found between different fields. Limits of agreement in similar domains of the two instruments were very large. In all four demonstrated Bland-Altman plots, there was agreement of the scales in the measurements of similar fields of quality of life. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that both the SF-36 and WHOQOL-100 quality of life scales are useful in the practical evaluation of patients with stroke

Lower Extremity Arterial Air Embolism Secondary to Clostridial Gas Gangrene

Introduction of air into the arterial system can result in air embolism. Most cases of arterial gas embolism (AGE) reported in the literature are iatrogenic, in which embolism is the result of an invasive medical procedure or surgery.(1) These include umbilical catheterization in neonates, the introduction of central venous lines, neurosurgical procedures, open heart surgery, and pulmonary barotrauma as a complication of ventilator therapy.(1) Arterial gas embolism may also be seen after diving as a result of pulmonary barotrauma or secondary to acute decompression.(1

Lower extremity arterial air embolism secondary to clostridial gas gangrene - Diagnosis by Doppler sonography

Introduction of air into the arterial system can result in air embolism. Most cases of arterial gas embolism (AGE) reported in the literature are iatrogenic, in which embolism is the result of an invasive medical procedure or surgery.(1) These include umbilical catheterization in neonates, the introduction of central venous lines, neurosurgical procedures, open heart surgery, and pulmonary barotrauma as a complication of ventilator therapy.(1) Arterial gas embolism may also be seen after diving as a result of pulmonary barotrauma or secondary to acute decompression.(1

Comparison of intracoronary versus intravenous administration of tirofiban in primary percutaneous coronary intervention

WOS: 000281309900009PubMed ID: 20693130Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the intravenous bolus dose of tirofiban with intracoronary bolus dose in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with regard to in hospital and six months clinical outcomes and peak cardiac enzyme levels. Methods: We retrospectively examined 84 ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent primary PCI from March 2006 to February 2007. All patients received the systemic bolus dose of tirofiban 10 mcg/kg either via intracoronary (IC) or intravenous (IV) route, followed by a 36 hours of IV infusion at 0.15 mcg/kg/min. Thirty six patients in IC group were compared with 48 patients in IV group in terms of peak cardiac enzyme levels, in-hospital and six months major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates (death, myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization). Fisher's exact test, Yates Chi-square, unpaired Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There was no difference in cardiovascular risk profile or cardiac history between two groups. At six months the incidence of MACE was 6.25% in IV group and 11.1% in IC group (p=0.45). Peak cardiac phosphokinase (CPK) levels between IV and IC groups were also statistically non significant (2657 +/- 2181 U/L in IV group and 2529 +/- 1929 U/L in IC group) (p=0.92). Conclusion: Intracoronary bolus application of tirofiban was not associated with reduction in MACE rates compared to intravenous administration in patients with STEM! who underwent primary PCI. Future prospective trials with higher bolus doses of IC tirofiban should addressed to clarify this issue. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2010;10:340-5

Effect of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver on hepatic artery resistance index

Purpose. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various degrees of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver on the hepatic artery resistance index

Comparison Of Efficacy Between Low-Fluence And Half-Dose Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy For Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Purpose To compare the efficacy of low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) and PDT with half-dose verteporfin in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Patients and methods The medical records of 64 eyes from 60 patients with chronic CSC were retrospectively reviewed; 36 eyes received low-fluence PDT (25 J/cm2) and 28 eyes received half-dose verteporfin PDT (3 mg/m2). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eyes with complete resolution of subretinal fluid. Secondary outcome measures were the changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness, and the proportion of eyes that showed an increase of ≥5 letters in BCVA at the last visit. Results The mean follow-up period was 12.5±4.3 months and 13.1±4 months in the low-fluence group and half-dose group, respectively (P=0.568). Thirty-three eyes (91.6%) in the low-fluence group and 26 eyes (92.8%) in the half-dose verteporfin group showed complete resolution of subretinal fluid (P=0.703). BCVA increased by a mean of 7.4 letters and 4.8 letters in the low-fluence group and half-dose group, respectively (P=0.336). Seventeen eyes (52.8%) in the low-fluence group and 14 eyes (50%) in the half-dose group experienced a gain of ≥5 letters in BCVA (P=0.825). In the low-fluence and half-dose verteporfin group, the mean baseline central foveal thickness was 351±90 μm and 341±96 μm, and significantly decreased to 188±61 μm and 181±47 μm, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion Both treatments resulted in complete subretinal fluid resolution in most of the eyes, with significantly better visual acuity outcomes compared to baseline at the last visit.PubMe

Adipose Tissue Gene Expression of Adiponectin, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Leptin in Metabolic Syndrome Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). In MS, adipose tissue has been shown to function as a paracrine and an endocrine organ secreting various adipocytokines. In the current study, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and leptin gene expressions in the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), paracardial adipose tissue (PAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were investigated in MS patients with CAD and in non-MS patients without CAD