Evaluation of Health Pattern and Stress Levels among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Treatment-A Cross Sectional Study.

Alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 diseases and injuries. It is also classified as a risk factor for several types of neoplasms as well as infectious diseases (i.e., HIV and tuberculosis). In 2019, among people aged 25 to 49, alcohol use was the leading risk factor for attributable burden of disease. There are many factors that affect alcohol drinking patterns such as social and economic status, social norms, cultural customs, availability of alcohol, etc. Stress also plays a significant role in the process of developing alcohol addiction. The aim of our study was to examine health patterns and stress levels among patients undergoing alcohol addiction treatment. The study sample consisted of 104 patients who were treated in a hospital ward due to alcohol dependence. Three standardized questionnaire tools were used to measure the sense of coherence and the level of stress among those patients. The main results suggest that the level of perceived stress correlated negatively with all dimensions of sense of coherence and all indicators of health behaviors, however, age was positively correlated with positive mental attitude, proper eating habits, and health behaviors. In conclusion, it is worth noting that developing patterns for positive health behaviors will make it possible to avoid alcohol dependence or reinforce the treatment results if alcohol dependence syndrome occurs.

The concentrations of testosterone and estradiol in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

AIM: The role of hormones in development and progression of scoliosis, although suggested, remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of steroid sex hormones in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: A group of 27 girls, aged 12-17 years (mean+/-SD = 14.8+/-1.5 years) in whom right thoracic scoliosis was diagnosed (Cobb angle was from 10 degrees to 55 degrees, mean+/-SD = 30+/-13.8 degrees; Risser test was in the range from 2 to 4, mean+/-SD = 3.7+/-0.2) was examined. The control group included 7 girls, aged 13-17 years (mean+/-SD = 14.3+/-1.8 years) with slight lumbar functional scoliosis 10 degrees to 20 degrees to the left (mean+/-SD = 11.4+/-3.8 degrees). In both groups the concentrations testosterone was tested on 8th day of menstrual cycle, whereas estrogen concentrations were measured on 8th and 20th day of the cycle. RESULTS: Increased testosterone level above the reference values was found in girls with AIS. The observed differences in both groups in estrogen levels in folicular and luteal phase were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Possibly, the evaluation of testosterone level could be an important prognostic factor for scoliosis progression. The studies to be continued.