Health related quality of life in patients with epilepsy in Turkey.

[Purpose] This study measured the quality of life in epilepsy and determined associated demographic and clinical factors by means of the Short Form-36 health survey. [Subjects and Methods] 124 consecutive epilepsy patients were enrolled and their demographic variables and clinical characteristics recorded. The Short Form-36 questionnaire was completed independently by each participant. Short Form-36 dimensional and composite scores were computed and scaled with data from an extensive survey of the healthy population. [Results] Short Form-36 scores for physical dimensions were similar to healthy values, but those for mental dimensions except for energy/vitality were remarkably and significantly lower than normal. All Short Form-36 average scores for women were lower than those for men and significantly so for mental health composite scores. Patients responding well to treatment were aware of their improving health as measured by the Change in Health score and had better dimensional scores than those with a poor response. [Conclusion] Patients with epilepsy do not perceive impaired physical health status. However, their mental health appears vulnerable, especially in women. Therefore, the major burden in epilepsy is in the mental health category. A positive treatment response is also an important determinant of the related quality of life measure.

Brainstem and spinal reflex studies in patients with primary progressive freezing of gait.

Our aim was to investigate the extent and pattern of involved pathways using brainstem and spinal reflexes by comparing primary progressive freezing of gait (PPFOG) progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) with FOG. Seven patients with PPFOG and age and sex matched seven PSP patients and 16 healthy subjects were included in the study. All subjects underwent blink reflex (BR), trigemino-cervical reflex (TCR), auditory startle reflex (ASR) and long latency flexor reflex (LLFR) investigations under the same conditions. All three groups had normal BR latencies. ASR probability was lowest in the PSP group and was highest in PPFOG (p=0.005). The presence rate of TCR was lowest in PSP and it was highest in PPFOG (p=0.007 for SC and p=0.023 for SCM). The presence rate and amplitude of LLFR (R II) were decreased in the PSP group (p=0.010 and p=0.031, respectively) whereas it was in a continuous pattern in some of PPFOG patients. ASR, TCR and LLFR were all inhibited in PSP and we suggest that suppression of all three reflexes is probably related to degeneration of brainstem reticular formation and basal ganglia connections. However, interestingly, in PPFOG, excitabilities of ASR and TCR circuits are increased suggesting loss of pathways mediating suprasegmental control.

[The prevalence of pain and different pain treatments in adults]. / Eriskinlerde agri ve farkli agri tedavilerinin prevalansi

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of pain (p) in adults and their preference for pain treatment, by using questionnaire. METHODS: First 7 questions of "Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form" and "Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire" were applied to 250 participants in face to face interview. A hundred eighty of the individuals were women (38.3±14.0 years old) and 70 were men (36.6±13.2 years old). Data analysis were performed using SPSS, version 10. RESULTS: Eighteen individuals (7.2%) had no pain and 232 (92.8%) of them had pain in different parts of the body. A hundred fourty five individuals had lowback p, 116 neck p, 101 dorsal p, 152 shoulder p, 69 upperarm p, 66 forearm p, 75 wrist p, 59 hip p, 69 upper leg p, 98 knee p, 81 crus pain. Their mean pain score was 3.6±1.8, mean pain score at its worst in the last 24 hours was 4.4±2.6. Thirty three percent of individuals had used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic drugs to relieve pain, 22.7% had physical therapy, 4.1% had other pain-relief methods, 1.2% had surgery, and 38% had nothing. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that 92.8% adults had pain. Although shoulder has highest pain prevalance, severe pain was mostly described in lowback area. Knee pain was largely interfered work ability. An important percent of persons experiencing pain has recieved no treatment and first preference for treatment was drug. Inspite of high pain prevalence in our study, slightly uncomfortable pain severity and no need for treatment can be explain a result of individual differences in pain perception.