The Evaluation of Invasive Prenatal Diagnostic Tests in North Cyprus: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Congenital diseases are still an important medical, social, and economic problem all over the world. In North Cyprus, in addition to other reasons, early prenatal diagnostic measures are undertaken to prevent births with thalassemia major, a locally widespread genetic disease. AIM: This study aims to evaluate the results of prenatal invasive diagnostic tests performed in a private obstetrics clinic in Northern Cyprus and show the diagnosis process of thalassemia and chromosomal anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective, descriptive study. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) results and the amniocentesis tests performed between 1990 and 2022 are evaluated. Thalassemia and chromosome analysis of samples obtained by CVS and amniocentesis tests were performed. To diagnose alpha or beta thalassemia and sickle cell, 239 CVS was performed. And to diagnose chromosomal anomalies, 396 CVS and amniocentesis were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 480 pregnant women included in the study was 31.12 years (18-46) and 30% of them were older than 34 years. The most common indications for invasive prenatal diagnostic test (IPDT) were; mother/father thalassemia minor/major, advanced maternal age, high risk of ultrasonography erase findings, and the noninvasive screening test. The result of IPDT detected 7.3% chromosomal anomaly and 69.5% thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Of the 239 CVS performed to diagnose alpha or beta thalasemia and sickle cell, 23.4% beta major, 42.3% beta minor, and 2.1% alpha minor were diagnosed. Of the 396 CVS and amniocentesis performed to diagnose chromosomal anormalies; 2.8% of Down syndrome and 4.54% of other chromosomal anomalies were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: IPDT is important in correctly diagnosing fetal anomalies at the prenatal stage to help families decide at the right time.

Comparing the effects of self-management and hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs in COPD patients.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a core component of the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although several types of PR programs are implemented for patients with COPD on the basis of patient preferences or clinical protocols, the clinical efficiencies of these programs may vary, with each program having its own unique purpose, procedures, benefits, challenges, and effectiveness. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of self-management and hospital-based PR programs in COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was prospective intervention research. Fifty-eight patients with stable COPD were randomly allocated to a hospital-based outpatient group and a self-management group before commencement of a 12-week PR program. Before and after the PR program, all patients were evaluated using the 6-min walk test, Modified Borg Scale, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Standardized Mini-Mental Test. RESULTS: Pulmonary functions, dyspnea, quality of life, and 6MWT distance were significantly improvement the hospital-based PR than self-management PR (P < 0.05). Moreover, cognitive function significantly improved after the PR program in both groups with no significant intergroup difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that PR is useful for to improvement functional capacity, quality of life, cognitive function and anxiety, in patients with COPD. A hospital-based PR is more effective than a self-management PR program.