Association Between Lifetime Interpersonal Violence and Post-COVID-19 Condition Among Women in Kentucky, 2020-2022.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of interpersonal violence. We investigated the association between lifetime interpersonal violence experience and risk of post-COVID-19 condition (the persistence of symptoms of COVID-19 and severity of health problems associated with COVID-19 that last a few weeks, months, or years) among women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience. METHODS: Women participants aged ≥18 years in Kentucky's Wellness, Health & You-COVID-19 study completed online quantitative surveys about the impacts of the pandemic, developing COVID-19, and symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition. We conducted cross-sectional analyses estimating rate ratios of developing COVID-19 and symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition during the pandemic (October 13, 2020-February 28, 2022). RESULTS: Of the analytic sample (N = 938), 342 (36.5%) disclosed a history of lifetime interpersonal violence. Compared with women with no lifetime interpersonal violence experience, women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience had significantly more distress because of the pandemic, defined as family financial challenges (P = .001), symptoms of mental health challenges (P < .001), and negative coping behaviors (P < .001). While experiencing lifetime interpersonal violence was not significantly associated with either receiving COVID-19 vaccinations (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.75-1.61) or developing COVID-19 (aRR = 1.15; 95% CI, 0.92-1.44), experiencing lifetime interpersonal violence was associated with an increased rate of developing symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition (aRR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.19-3.65). CONCLUSION: Symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition may be linked to lifetime interpersonal violence experience, possibly through stress or violence-associated trauma. Future research is needed to assess the negative effects of the pandemic, prioritizing people with lifetime interpersonal violence experience.

The Impacts of Lifetime Violence on Women's Current Sexual Health.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV), nonpartner sexual violence (SV), child sexual and physical abuse, and neglect have detrimental impacts on women's reproductive and sexual health. More empirical studies are needed to investigate the negative impacts of lifetime violence, including physical or sexual child abuse, nonpartner SV, physical, sexual, and psychological IPV on women's sexual health to better understand long-term impacts from IPV and physical or sexual child abuse. Materials and Methods: We used data from Wellness, Health and You, an ongoing health registry. A total of 1,213 women were included in data analysis. Our aim was to investigate the associations between lifetime IPV, nonpartner SV, child abuse, and women's current sexual health defined using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures of sexual health (e.g., sexual satisfaction, interest, and functioning), sexual assertiveness, female sexual subjectivity, and use of online resources to address sexual needs. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to investigate demographic factors (e.g., age and current relationship) as potential correlates of current sexual health. Results: Women with lifetime experiences of physical, sexual, or psychological IPV, nonpartner SV, and child physical or sexual abuse reported lower sexual satisfaction compared to women with no history of lifetime violence (p < 0.0001). However, lifetime violence was not correlated with sexual interest, sexual functioning, sexual subjectivity, nor sexual assertiveness. Conclusion: Lifetime experiences of violence (i.e., IPV, nonpartner SV, child abuse) are associated with poorer sexual health. Asking questions about past sexual and physical violence/abuse in ways that support disclosure is important toward improving women's physical and sexual health and wellbeing.

A qualitative study of ethnic Korean women and men's experiences of HPV and HPV vaccination in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 42.5% of adults aged 18-59 in the United States is estimated to be affected by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, Asian Americans have the lowest HPV vaccination initiation rate compared to other racial groups. This study aims to explore the experiences of HPV and the HPV vaccination among ethnic Korean women and men in the United States. METHODS: A total of 33 ethnic Korean and Korean Americans aged 27-45 years living in the U.S. were recruited via word-of-mouth and social media using a purposive sampling strategy. They participated in an online survey. Of the 33 participants, 29 (14 females and 15 males) participated in in-depth interviews via password-protected Zoom. A content analysis approach was used to analyze the interviews. RESULTS: Only 32% of participants had received the HPV vaccine at least once (female: 35.3%, male: 12.5%). Six major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) awareness of HPV, HPV vaccine, and HPV-associated cancers; (2) attitudes toward the HPV vaccine; (3) barriers to HPV vaccination; (4) women's experiences and preferences for pap smear testing; (5) experiences with HPV diagnosis; and (6) HPV and HPV vaccination education preferences. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight cultural factors that may impede the discussion about and uptake of HPV vaccination and HPV-associated cancer screening, which emphasize the need for culturally appropriate interventions to overcome stigma around HPV and enhance vaccination rates. Healthcare providers should consider ethnic and cross-cultural differences perceptions to effectively HPV-related health information. This study provides insight into the experiences and understanding of HPV and vaccination among ethnic Korean men and women, laying the groundwork for developing culturally-tailored programs that sim to increase HPV vaccination rates and mitigate the stigma and impact of HPV-related disease in this community.

Shared Risk Factors Among Women for Intimate Partner Violence in the United States: A Secondary Analysis.

Multilevel risk factors may increase the risk of experiencing intimate partner violence among women. The overall goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of factors that may be associated with three forms of intimate partner violence. The primary aim was to explore associations between understudied factors and women's experiences of physical and sexual violence and stalking by an intimate partner. Secondary analysis of existing health registry data was conducted. Our evidence-driven strategy was based on a multipronged analytical approach informed by existing literature and the social-ecological model. We created an evidence-based hierarchical list comprised of three tiers. Three separate multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Several shared risk factors were retained across all three forms including low levels of formal education, past experiences of non- partner sexual violence, residential instability, presence of children, experiences of a traumatic event and panic attacks, status of receiving US government benefits, and barriers to healthcare access. Results contribute to future research on intimate partner violence prevention by providing preliminary evidence of emerging factors associated with experiencing three forms of intimate partner violence.

The influences of sociocultural norms on women's decision to disclose intimate partner violence: Integrative review.

Sociocultural norms against women can contribute to promoting intimate partner violence (IPV) and shape women's decision to disclose IPV. A cross-cultural analysis of the existing literature is needed to present an overview of the influences of sociocultural norms on women's decisions regarding the disclosure of IPV across different cultural contexts. The purpose of the review was to synthesize published quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (MMs) studies to identify known sociocultural norms across different cultures that may influence women's decision to disclose IPV. The Whittemore and Knafl framework, Rayyan software, and PRISMA flow diagram were used. Databases included APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, PubMed, SocINDEX, and Women's Studies International. The quality of studies was assessed by the MMs appraisal tool. A total of 15 research articles written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Main categories emerged: (1) stigma surrounding IPV disclosure, victimization, and divorce; (2) gender roles; (3) preserving family honor; and (4) Children's well-being and future. A one-size-fits-all approach is not adequate for women who are considering disclosing IPV. Findings underscore that regardless of residing in individualistic countries, those sociocultural norms related to traditional gender roles and gender inequality are still important barriers to the disclosure of IPV among women with collectivist roots.

Determinants of in-hospital muscle loss in acute ischemic stroke - Results of the Muscle Assessment in Stroke Study (MASS).

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is a change in the mass and composition of paretic and non-paretic skeletal muscles in the chronic phase of stroke. The multi-center, prospective, and observational Muscle Assessment in Stroke Study (MASS) was performed to evaluate the degree of muscle loss during the in-hospital acute stroke setting and determine factors contributing to this loss. METHODS: Acute dysphagic ischemic stroke patients (n = 107) admitted to neuro-intensive care units were evaluated by computed tomography on days 1 and 14 after admission to determine the cross-sectional muscle area (CSMA) at the level of the mid-humerus, mid-thigh, and third lumbar vertebra. The percentage change in CSMA and variables associated with this change were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in CSMA in all the muscle groups analyzed; the most prominent change was observed in the arms (both: 14.2 ± 10.7%; paretic: 17.7 ± 11.6%; non-paretic: 10.1 ± 12.5%), followed by the muscles in the legs (both: 12.4 ± 8.7%; paretic: 12.9 ± 9.9%; non-paretic: 12.0 ± 9.3%) and L3-vertebra level (5.6 ± 9.8%) (P < 0.001 for all). Higher calorie (r = -0.378, P < 0.001) or protein (r = -0.352, P < 0.001) intake was negatively associated with the decrease in CSMA of upper extremities. A substantial protein (≥0.4 g/kg/d) or calorie (≥5 kcal/kg/d) gap between targeted or actual intake was related to a larger decrease in CSMA in all the anatomic regions (P ≤ 0.05 for all). Other significant predictors of muscle loss included history of diabetes mellitus, male sex, higher BMI, in-hospital infections, and the necessity for invasive mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable degree of loss in the global muscle mass in acute ischemic stroke patients over a two-week period. Along with several factors, falling significantly behind the daily protein or calorie targets was related to the decrease in the muscle area. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03825419.

Coping strategies among women exposed to Gender-Based violence in Turkey.

AIM: To understand coping strategies used by women experiencing gender-based violence and living in Turkey. Coping is a cognitive and behavioural strategy that individuals develop to manage stress, generally categorized as emotion-focused or problem-focused coping. Women exposed to gender-based violence develop various coping strategies to manage stress and its adverse mental and physical health effects. DESIGN: Qualitative study using the phenomenological approach. METHODS: Data were collected in Turkey by using the snowball technique (n = 17) between September 2019 and September 2020. The Clinical Ethnographic Narrative Interview is the source of the qualitative data for this study. Data were coded manually and utilized the RADAR technique. RESULTS: Seventeen women aged 25-40 were included in this analysis. Women stated that they were exposed to more than one type of gender-based violence according to their lived experiences. Analysis of the nature of coping strategies revealed five main themes. The themes were self-competence, separation from others/isolation, getting professional help, having faith and social support. CONCLUSION: Breaking the silence and listening to gender-based violence experiences from survivors' voices contribute significantly to literature. There was a dearth of research on Turkish women's gender-based violence survivors; the research intended to address that gap. The participants highlighted that they would like to receive more attention and felt relief in sharing their experiences. IMPACT: The Clinical Ethnographic Narrative Interview is a great tool to explore narratives of gender-based violence and coping skills of women. The study explored coping strategies of Turkish women's gender-based violence survivors. The participants indicated their emotion-focused and problem-solving coping strategies and shared their stories. This study will enhance efforts to concentrate on gender-based violence among Turkish women and inspire other researchers, practitioners and policymakers to change and provide more opportunities for the benefit and well-being of these women.

Self-esteem in the context of intimate partner violence: A concept analysis.

AIM: To explore the meaning of self-esteem in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). BACKGROUND: IPV is a preventable public health issue. The dynamic of IPV diminishes women's self-esteem. Defining self-esteem will guide the development of IPV interventions in healthcare settings. DESIGN: Walker and Avant's eight-step approach was used. DATA SOURCE: The search was conducted from Oxford Dictionary of English online, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, PubMed, Women's Studies International, and Google Scholar. REVIEW METHODS: No limits on the year of publication were applied. RESULTS: Defining attributes of self-esteem are self-concept, self-affirmation, and self-respect. Antecedents of self-esteem are exposure to IPV and victim-blaming attitudes by healthcare professionals. Consequences include depression, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Empirical referents include self-worth, self-competence, self-blame, self-evaluation, self-confidence, and self-determination. CONCLUSIONS: Current literature is limited in its definition of self-esteem in the context of IPV. Women experiencing IPV with low self-esteem might not seek help for IPV from nurses. Nurses could develop culturally appropriate IPV screening tools that assess the changes in self-esteem among women from different sociodemographic and cultural backgrounds. The defining attributes could contribute to developing comprehensive IPV screening tools in healthcare settings.

What does epileptic nystagmus show us in cases presenting acute neurological symptoms?

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the clinical significance of epileptic nystagmus in patients with acute neurological symptoms. METHOD: The clinical findings of patients with documented epileptic nystagmus, their original video and EEG data, and cranial imaging and laboratory tests were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 20 patients were included in the study and 21 epileptic nystagmus attacks were determined from patients' clinical and video-EEG recordings. All recorded seizures with epileptic nystagmus were focal onset in nature. The ictal discharge pattern was rhythmic fast activity with a mean frequency of 15 Hz. The ictal discharges originated from the parieto-occipital (n = 8), temporo-occipital (n = 7), parieto-occipito-temporal (n = 3), temporal (n = 2), occipital (n = 1), and centroparietal (n = 1) areas. In the fast phase, the nystagmus was beating away from the side of ictal discharges. The origin of the ictal discharges on EEG images was compatible with the lesion localization at cranial MRI in all patients. Etiologies were epilepsy in seven patients, non-ketotic hyperglycemia in four, ketotic hyperglycemia in one, PRES in three, acute stroke in three, HSV encephalitis in one, and MELAS in one. CONCLUSIONS: Epileptic nystagmus represents a guide to the lateralization and localization of the lesion in cases presenting with acute neurological symptoms. In these patients, the lesion is frequently in the posterior regions of the hemispheres. Although various diseases affect these regions in terms of etiology, such cases should be evaluated in terms of the presence of hyperglycemia.

Genotyping and Molecular Identification of Acanthamoeba Genotype T4 and Naegleria fowleri from Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples of Patients in Turkey: Is it the Pathogens of Unknown Causes of Death?

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the presence of pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) in suspected cases of meningoencephalitis with unknown causes of death in Turkey. METHOD: A total of 92 patients, who were diagnosed as meningoencephalitis, were enrolled. All cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were directly microscopically examined and cultured. Acanthamoeba, N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris were further investigated using molecular diagnostic tools including real-time PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS: The examined CSF samples were not found positive for the presence of FLA by microscopic examination and culture method. However, two CSF samples were detected positive by real-time PCR assay. Of the positive CSF samples, one was identified as Acanthamoeba genotype T4 and the second positive sample was identified as N. fowleri belonging to genotype II. Furthermore, the pathogens diagnoses was verified through Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSION: This study was significant to report the presence of Acanthamoeba genotype T4 and N. fowleri genotype II in CSF samples by real-time PCR assay. The present study shows the significance of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) as one of the differential diagnoses to be considered by clinicians during the evaluation of suspected meningoencephalitis or cases of unknown cause in Turkey. Using real-time PCR, this has made the rapid detection, in a short time-frame, of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri in CSF samples from patients. The problems with qPCR is that it is not available in every laboratory, reagents are expensive, and it requires skilled and expert personnel to set up these assays.

Longitudinal Outcomes of Children Exposed to Opioids In-utero: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to summarize evidence of long-term outcomes of children, 2 years and older, exposed to opioids in-utero. DESIGN: This was a systematic review. Studies were identified by searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCO HOST/Medline, and Web of Science. Articles were published between 1979 and 2019. METHODS: This systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Two sets of two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality according to National Institutes of Health quality assessment tools. RESULTS: Forty-three articles met inclusion criteria. Synthesis of articles identified trends toward worse outcomes for children with in-utero opioid exposure in all areas, most notably related to academic success, behavior, cognition, hospitalizations, and vision. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reinforce the necessity of continued research in this area with improved study design. Despite limitations in the current body of evidence, findings from this review are vital knowledge for clinicians, because children exposed to opioids in-utero are clearly vulnerable to a wide variety of suboptimal health and developmental outcomes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recognition of all outcomes across childhood associated with in-utero opioid exposure will inform improved identification and interventions tailored to the most pressing needs of affected children. Despite the need for continued research, there is sufficient evidence to necessitate close, individualized follow-up throughout childhood.

The course of post-stroke bladder problems and their relation with functional and mental status and quality of life: A six-month, prospective, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and course of post-stroke lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) from early term up to a period of six months and to investigate the relation of LUTD with functional and mental status and quality of life (QoL) in stroke patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included a total of 70 stroke patients (44 males, 26 females; mean age 62.7±7.0 years; range, 46 to 79 years) from five different centers across Turkey between June 2015 and January 2017. The patients were questioned using the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) to evaluate LUTD and evaluated using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Incontinence QoL Questionnaire (I-QOL), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at one, three, and six months. RESULTS: At least one symptom of LUTD was observed in 64 (91.4%), 58 (82.9%), and 56 (80%) of the patients according to the DAN-PSS at one, three, and six months, respectively. A statistically significant improvement was found in the DAN-PSS, MBI, MMSE, I-QOL total scores, avoidance and psychosocial subgroup scores at six months compared to the first month scores (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between the DAN-PSS symptom score at one month and the MBI, MMSE, and QoL scores at six months. The DAN-PSS bother and total scores were found to be significantly and negatively correlated only with the subscales of the QoL questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Based on our study results, LUTD was very common and the prevalence of LUTD findings decreased constantly during six-month follow-up, showing an association with a poor cognitive and functional status and QoL in stroke patients with LUTD.

Post-stroke lower urinary system dysfunction and its relation with functional and mental status: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Review of the literature clearly reveals that little is known about the association between functional and mental status, and Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (LUTD) in patients with stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess functional and mental status in stroke patients and to identify possible associations with the prevalence, severity and bother of LUTD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study and included 260 stroke patients enrolled from six different hospitals in Turkey. The patients were questioned using the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) Questionnaire to evaluate LUTD, and evaluated using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QoL), and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). RESULTS: At least one LUTD finding was reported in 243 (93.5%) patients; the most commonly encountered complaint in these patients was nocturia (75.8%). The mean MBI, MMSE, and I-QoL scores were found to be significantly lower in LUTD (+) patients compared to LUTD (-) patients (p = 0.000, p = 0.005, and p < 0.01, respectively). Similarly all parameters (MBI, MMSE, and I-QoL scores) assessed were found to be significantly lower for patients with urinary incontinence than those without incontinence (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, and p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: LUTD is a common problem in patients with stroke. LUTD is associated with poorer cognitive and functional status and the quality of life in these patients. We, therefore, suggest that bladder dysfunction should not be overlooked during rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Effects of epidural morphine and levobupivacaine combination before incision and after incision and in the postoperative period on thoracotomy pain and stress response

Background/aim: This study aims to investigate the effects of thoracic epidural analgesia, before and after surgical incision and in the postoperative period, on thoracotomy pain and stress response. Materials and methods: A total of 45 patients who were scheduled for posterolateral thoracotomy were included in this study. A combination of epidural levobupivacaine and morphine was administered as a bolus before incision (Group 1; n=15), after incision (Group 2; n=15), or at the end of surgery (Group 3; n=15). Additionally, infusion was used in Group 1 and Group 2 during operation. Postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia infusion pumps were connected to all patients. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and morphine consumption were recorded during the postoperative 48 h. Glucose, insulin, cortisol, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared before surgery and at 4, 24, and 48 h after the operation. Results: There were no differences in the morphine consumption and VAS scores for all measurements among the groups (P > 0.05). Both blood glucose levels at 4 h and CRP values at 48 h were higher in Group 2 than Group 1 (P < 0.05). Cortisol levels at 4, 24, and 48 h after the operation were similar to baseline values in all groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The application of thoracic epidural analgesia before and after surgical incision and in the postoperative period did not result in a significant difference in the severity of the postthoracotomy pain and stress response in all groups. Based on our results, we suggest that epidural levobupivacaine combined with morphine provides an effective and safe analgesia and can partially suppress surgical stress response.

Clinical and video head impulse test in the diagnosis of posterior circulation stroke presenting as acute vestibular syndrome in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: Head impulse test (HIT) is the critical bedside examination which differentiates vestibular neuritis (VN) from posterior circulation stroke (PCS) in acute vestibular syndrome (AVS). Video-oculography based HIT (vHIT) may have aadditional strength in making the differentiation. METHODS: Patients admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary-care medical center with AVS were studied. An emergency specialist and a neurologist performed HIT. vHIT was conducted by an neuro-otology research fellow. RESULTS: Forty patients 26 male, 14 female with a mean age of 49 years were included in the analyses. Final diagnoses were VN in 24 and PCS in 16 patients.In the VN group, clinical HIT was assessed as abnormal in 19(80%) cases by the emergency specialist and in 20(83%) by the neurologist. In all PCS patients, HIT was recorded as normal both by the emergency specialist and the neurologist (100%).On vHIT, patients with VN had significantly low gain values for both the ipsilesional and contralesional sides when compared with the healthy controls, with significantly lower figures for the ipsilesional side (p < 0.001). All patients in this group had normal DWI-MRI.PCS patients had bilaterally low gain (p < 0.05) on vHIT. However, gain asymmetry was not significant. Subgroup analyses according to presence of brainstem involvement revealed bilateral low gain (p < 0.05) in patients with brainstem infarction (anterior inferior cerebellar artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke, AICA-PICA stroke) whereas patients with pure cerebellar infarction (posterior inferior cerebellar artery-superior cerebellar artery stroke, PICA-SCA stroke) had gain values similar to healthy controls.With a gain cut-off ≤0.75 and gain asymmetry cut-off ≥17%, as determined by ROC analysis, 100% of PCS patients and 80% of VN patients were correctly diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical HIT, either performed by an emergency specialist or neurologist is equivalent to vHIT gain and gain asymmetry analysis as conducted by neuro-otologist in the diagnosis of PCS, albeit mislabeling about 20% of VN patients. vHIT does not appear to yield additional diagnostic information. These findings indicate the strength of clinical HIT. Pure gain-based vHIT analysis seems limited and needs to be incorporated with saccade analysis.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score to assess lower urinary tract symptoms in stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is one of the most frequently encountered problems in stroke.OBJECTIVE:To assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) in stroke patients with LUTD. METHODS: A total of 50 patients were included in the study. The reliability was assessed using Cronbach α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) methods, and the validity using the correlations between the subgroup and overall scores of DAN-PSS and the scores of the Barthel Index (BI), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and Short Form 36 (SF-36). RESULTS: The Cronbach α values were found >0.97 and ICC 0.953-0.990 for all subgroup scores. We found a significant negative correlation between all the sub-scores of DAN-PSS and the BI, and a significant positive correlation between all the sub-scores of DAN-PSS and ICIQ-SF (p < 0.05). The symptom score of DAN-PSS had a significant negative correlation with the physical functioning, physical and emotional role subdomains of the SF-36 survey (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown the reliability and validity of the Turkish DAN-PSS, and we think that it will be useful to utilize it in the monitoring of patients with stroke and in clinical studies.

Investigation of the efficacy of colorimetric capnometry method used to verify the correct placement of the nasogastric tube.

OBJECTIVES: This present study was designed to determine the efficacy of the colorimetric capnometry method used to verify the correct placement of the nasogastric tube. METHODS: The present study comprised forty patients who had a nasogastric tube inserted and were being monitored in the adult intensive care unit. After the insertion of the nasogastric tube, 40 colorimetric capnometry and 40 auscultation measurements were performed. Auscultation and colorimetric capnometry results were compared with tube placement results confirmed radiologically. RESULTS: In the confirmation of the placement of the nasogastric tube, the consistency was 97.5% (p<0.05) between the colorimetric capnometry method and the radiological method, and 82.5% (p>0.05) between the auscultatory method and the radiological method. The oesophageal placement of the nasogastric tube was detected with the colorimetric capnometry method, but the gastric and duodenal insertions were not determined. While the sensitivity and specificity of the colorimetric capnometry method in determining the correct placement of the nasogastric tube were 1.00 and 0.667 respectively, those of the auscultatory method were 0.89 and 0.0 respectively. CONCLUSION: As a result, for the confirmation of the NGT placement, the colorimetric capnometry method is considered more reliable than the auscultatory method and is compatible with the radiological method. However, the colorimetric capnometry method is inadequate to distinguish between the gastric or duodenal insertion.

The Ege Agraphia Test Battery for Identifying the Writing Disorders in Cases with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease. / Ege Agrafi Test Bataryasi'nin Hafif Bilissel Bozukluk ve Alzheimer Hastaligi Olgularindaki Yazma Bozukluklarini Belirlemedeki Yeri.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to create an agraphia test battery specific to Turkish language, to obtain normative data for the performance and error types of this test and to demonstrate its success in detecting cognitive disorders in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cases that can't be diagnosed by formal neuropsychological tests due to the fact that writing is a complex function. METHOD: For this purpose, 20 healthy control (HC) subjects, 20 MCI cases and 20 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 1 were evaluated with Ege Agraphia Test Battery. RESULTS: Significant differences between the performance points and the error types of HC subjects, MCI cases and AD patients were obtained. As the cognitive impairment of the subjects in the study got worse, the writing skills also became worse revealing lower test points. Besides, some statistically significant differences between the error types of MCI cases and AD patients were found. CONCLUSION: Ege Agraphia Test Battery is not only a practical test, but also is the first defined agraphia test specific for Turkish language. Writing disorders in cases with MCI support the view that MCI is a transition period for AD. Further studies are required to increase the test data and proper rearrangements of the test battery.