24 research outputs found
Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility enhancement: a descriptive study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seeks a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. World-wide, women use CAM for productive health, but only a limited number of studies report on CAM use to enhance fertility. Little is known about traditional and religious forms of therapies that are used in relation to conventional medicine in Turkey. We investigated the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by infertile Turkish women for fertility enhancement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A face-to-face questionnaire inquiring demographic information and types of CAM used for fertility enhancement were completed by hundred infertility patients admitted to a primary care family planning centre in Van, Turkey between January and July 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The vast majority of infertile women had used CAM at least once for infertility. CAM use included religious interventions, herbal products and recommendations of traditional "hodja's" (faith healers). Of these women, 87.8% were abused in the last 12 months, 36.6% felt not being supported by her partner and 80.5% had never spoken with a physician about CAM.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Infertile Turkish women use complementary medicine frequently for fertility enhancement and are in need of information about CAM. Religious and traditional therapies are used as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, conventional medical therapy. Physicians need to approach fertility patients with sensitivity and should be able to council their patients about CAM accordingly.</p
Images in Medicine - Split Hand-Foot Malformation: A Congenital Central Limb Ray Deficiency
A thirty five-year-old male had deformed hands and feet since birth.
His growth, development and general health were unaffected except for
his short stature (height-one hundred and thirty cms.) in comparison to
other family members. There was no history of consanguinity, or
mutagenic exposure in the mother during the antenatal period and there
was no family history of similar deformity. Examination revealed bifid
hands with two digits each and right and left foot with two and three
toes respectively (Figure 1 and 2). Radiological examination of the
hands revealed bilateral complete absence of second, third and fourth
digital rays, presence of two carpal bones on the right side and only
one carpal bone on the left side along with hypoplasia of radius and
ulna and subluxation of inferior radio-ulnar and radio-carpal joints.
X-ray feet showed absence of three lateral rays on right side and two
lateral rays on left side, presence of calcaneum on the right side and
calcaneum and talus on the left side, hypoplasia of phalanges and
absence of both fibulae. X-rays of chest, spine and skull were normal.
Examination of teeth, hair, nails, mucosae and eye did not reveal any
abnormality. A skin biopsy showed normal sweat glands
Spot the Diagnosis
A 65-year-old male had a six-month history of alopecia and thickening
of the scalp. He had no history of seizures or any significant past
medical history. General physical examination was normal with
proportionate length of trunk and limbs. There was no lymphadenopathy
or organomegaly and his systemic examination was unremarkable. Scalp
revealed bilaterally symmetrical longitudinal gyrate folds of skin
involving the entire scalp with loss of scalp hair (Fig 1a and 1b).
There was no erythema, papules, pustules or scarring of scalp. A
detailed cutaneous examination revealed no caf\ue9-au-lait spots, ash
leaf macules, axillary freckling or neurofibromas. The examination of
nails, mucosae and eyes was normal. Investigations revealed normal
hemogram, serum biochemistry, urine analysisand a chest radiograph.
Psychiatric evaluation revealed an average intelligence (PQ 89, VQ 93)
without any other abnormality. A skin biopsy showed hyperkeratosis,
acanthosis and a mild lymphomononuclear cell infiltrate with
hypertrophy of sebaceous glands
Caso para diagnĂłstico Case for diagnosis
As tubercĂșlides sĂŁo reaçÔes cutĂąneas imunolĂłgicas Ă presença de tuberculose, que com freqĂŒĂȘncia se encontra oculta no organismo. Antigamente um grande nĂșmero de lesĂ”es cutĂąneas era interpretado como tubercĂșlide. Atualmente, porĂ©m, apenas trĂȘs entidades sĂŁo consideradas verdadeiras tubercĂșlides: tubercĂșlide papulonecrĂłtica, eritema indurado e o lĂquen scrofulosorum. Pacientes com lĂquen scrofulosorum apresentam forte reação ao teste de Mantoux e excelente resposta aos tuberculostĂĄticos.<br>Tuberculids are cutaneous immunologic reactions to the presence of tuberculosis, which is often occult elsewhere in the body. A wide range of skin disorders has been interpreted as tuberculids in the past. Currently, however, only three entities are regarded as true tuberculids: papulonecrotic tuberculid, erythema induratum and lichen scrofulosorum. Patients with lichen scrofulosorum have a strongly positive tuberculin reaction and an excellent response to treatment with antituberculous drugs
Unusual case of traumatic neuroma of the orbit
Traumatic or amputation neuromas are neoformations developing after damage to a peripheral nerve. They are not proper tumors but rather a reactive process or a frustrated attempt of nerve regeneration. Traumatic neuromas are potentially found in every sensory peripheral nerve and often at the site of past surgical intervention, including orbital surgery. A 29-year-old Northern African migrant presented progressive exophthalmos and progressive loss of acuity in left eye, which had started about 6 months before after a cranio-facial trauma caused by a violent assault. MRI of the orbits showed a massive intra-orbital, intra-conical lesion, clearly compressing and dislocating the optic nerve and extending posteriorly to the orbital apex. Surgery was performed through lateral approach of Kroenlein and led to complete excision of the lesion. Histology revealed fibrotic, adipose and striated muscle tissues, a disordered, non-neoplastic overgrowth of small and large fascicles of nerves, inflammatory infiltrates, and fibrosis with sparse calcifications were diffusely observed in a background of fat, scar and striated muscle tissued. Patient was discharged on the fifth day in good health condition, without deficit of eye motion but without recovery of visual acuity. In conclusion, this case demonstrates that traumatic neuromas may arise in the orbit in patients with minor direct trauma to nerves and without previous surgical treatment