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

The Effect of a Mixture of Royal Jelly and Honey on Hematological Parameters in Maximum Weight Training Athletes

Abstract: To investigate the effect of royal jelly (RJ) + honey (H) mixture as nutritional ergogenic aids, on hematological parameters in maximum weight training athletes, 29 volunteer male students were divided as 15 students in the placebo group (Group 1) and 14 students in the study group (Group 2). Corn starch (50 g/day) was given to Group 1, and 5 g RJ + 45 g H mixture (50 g/day) was given to Group 2, for 8 weeks. The parameters of erythrocyte, leukocyte and thrombocyte were evaluated at the beginning, and at the end of 4 and 8 weeks. The volunteers had maximum weight training (for 2 hours/day, 4 days a week). The groups at each time point revealed a significant difference in Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration, Leukocyte, Neutrophile, and Platelet Distribution Width values at the end of the first month. No significant difference was found in other comparisons (p>0.05). It was concluded that the differences in some hematological parameters could be related to exercise, and the RJ + H mixture that was given did not demonstrate an adequate effect in the administered amounts and duration. Future studies are needed with higher doses and for a longer duration