Anxiety and depression among infertile women: a cross-sectional survey from Hungary

BACKGROUND: Infertility is often associated with a chronic state of stress which may manifest itself in anxiety-related and depressive symptoms. The aim of our study is to assess the psychological state of women with and without fertility problems, and to investigate the background factors of anxiety-related and depressive symptoms in women struggling with infertility. METHODS: Our study was conducted with the participation of 225 (134 primary infertile and 91 fertile) women, recruited in a clinical setting and online. We used the following questionnaires: Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Shortened Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI). We also interviewed our subjects on the presence of other sources of stress (the quality of the relationship with their mother, financial and illness-related stress), and we described sociodemographic and fertility-specific characteristics. We tested our hypotheses using independent-samples t-tests (M +/- SD) and multiple linear regression modelling (ss). RESULTS: Infertile women were younger (33.30 +/- 4.85 vs. 35.74 +/- 5.73, p = .001), but had significantly worse psychological well-being (BDI = 14.94 +/- 12.90 vs. 8.95 +/- 10.49, p < .0001; STAI-T = 48.76 +/- 10.96 vs. 41.18 +/- 11.26, p < .0001) than fertile subjects. Depressive symptoms and anxiety in infertile women were associated with age, social concern, sexual concern and maternal relationship stress. Trait anxiety was also associated with financial stress. Our model was able to account for 58% of the variance of depressive symptoms and 62% of the variance of trait anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive and anxiety-related symptoms of infertile women are more prominent than those of fertile females. The measurement of these indicators and the mitigation of underlying distress by adequate psychosocial interventions should be encouraged

Foreign-body reaction due to incorrect injections of allergen extracts containing aluminum hydroxide gel

WOS: 000230181200008Background. - Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is considered as effective and safe in allergic patients. Although mild local cutaneous reactions occur frequently, the development of persistent nodules at the in injection site is I rare event, We describe a case with unusual persistent nodular reactions at the sites of previous immunizations incorrectly performed via the intradermal route, Case. - A 42-year-old female presented with multiple persistent lesions on both forearms that appeared after allergen immunotherapy. Immunotherapy with an aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed mite extract had been started 3 years earlier. Prescription of immunotherapy and injections of the extract were performed in a rural private medical facility, under the supervision of a physician with nospecial allergy training, injections had been given erroneously intradermally rather than subcutaneously. Physical examination revealed multiple reddish, indurated cutaneous nodules at the injection sites. The diagnosis of a foreign-body granulomatous reaction was confirmed by histological examination of the lesions. Conclusions. - Intradermal injections of aluminum hydroxide-containing allergen extracts should be strictly avoided, This case emphasizes published international recommendations according to which specific allergen immunotherapy should be prescribed only by allergy specialists in order to avoid unsuitable indications and methods that can sometimes result in serious side effects. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved

Foreign-body reaction due to incorrect injections of allergen extracts containing aluminum hydroxide gel [Réactions à corps étranger à la suite de l'injection d'extraits allergéniques contenant de l'hydroxyde d'alumine]

Background. - Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is considered as effective and safe in allergic patients. Although mild local cutaneous reactions occur frequently, the development of persistent nodules at the injection site is a rare event. We describe a case with unusual persistent nodular reactions at the sites of previous immunizations incorrectly performed via the intradermal route. Case. - A 42-year-old female presented with multiple persistent lesions on both forearms that appeared after allergen immunotherapy. Immunotherapy with an aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed mite extract had been started 3:years earlier. Prescription of immunotherapy and injections of the extract were performed in a rural private medical facility, under the supervision of a physician with no special allergy training; injections had been given erroneously intradermally rather than subcutaneously. Physical examination revealed multiple reddish, indurated cutaneous nodules at the injection sites. The diagnosis of a foreign-body granulomatous reaction was confirmed by histological examination of the lesions. Conclusions. - Intradermal injections of aluminum hydroxide-containing allergen extracts should be strictly avoided. This case emphasizes published international recommendations according to which specific allergen immunotherapy should be prescribed only by allergy specialists in order to avoid unsuitable indications and methods that can sometimes result in serious side effects. © 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved

Syringomas of the vulva

WOS: 000250017000024PubMed ID: 1758857

Topical photodynamic treatment in basal cell carcinoma [Bazal hucreli karsinomda topikal fotodinamik tedavi]

Background and Design: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malign tumour on the skin. Photodynamic treatment is a novel method for the treatment of a variety of solid tumours. It has also been used for treatment of basal cell carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of photodynamic treatment in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. Material and methods: A total of 26 patients with 30 lesions (13 at the face, 8 on the nose, 4 on the scalp and finally 5 on the body) of basal cell carcinoma were included in this study. Clinically, of all the lesions, 14 lesions were superficial and 16 lesions had nodular pattern. Patients were administered topical 5-amino levulinic acid cream as photosensitizer agent. Six to eight hours after topical administration of 5- ALA, visible light irradiation was conducted with an incoherent light source. The combined red + infrared band was used during irradiation (respectively, 580-720 nm; 1250-1600 nm in wave length). Each lesion received a total dose of 100 J/cm2 at fluence rates of 100 to 120 mW/cm2. Histological and clinical evaluation were performed both before treatment and two months after treatment. Posttreatment examination were only clinically for three lesions, because second biopsy was unsuitable. In addition, each of the patients was examined clinically at two months interval. The average clinical follow-up was 6 months. Results: In clinical evaluation; complete response was achieved in 56.6% of lesions. Histologically, 62.9% of the specimens showed complete improvement rate. Clinically superficial BCC tumors were very responsive to PDT and the 14 superficial lesions treated showed a 92.8% complete response rate both clinically and histologically. 25% complete response was achieved in patients with nodular BCC lesions. The most significant side effects after treatment were moderate pain, redness and edema. The most common adverse effect during treatment was tolerable heat, itching and pain sensation. Conclusions: We can conclude that topical photodynamic therapy with ALA cream is a safe and effective modality in the treatment of superficial BCC