The effect of earthquake on fibromyalgia: a comparison of patients on medication and without medication.

INTRODUCTION / OBJECTIVES: Stressful events like earthquakes might worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia, although the influence of medications on these consequences is yet uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of an earthquake on the symptoms of fibromyalgia and evaluate the impacts of medications used to treat fibromyalgia on the clinical picture. METHOD: Ninety-five fibromyalgia patients were enrolled in a comparative study and divided into two groups: medication and non-medication. Three subcategories of medication groups were established: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and gabapentinoid drugs (GDs). Before and after the earthquake, clinical evaluations were conducted using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Jenkins Sleep Rating Scale (JSS). Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the scores before and after the earthquake and evaluate the differences between the groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant increases were observed in FIQ, HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS scores in the medication and non-medication groups before and after the earthquake comparisons (p < 0.05). Non-medication group reported significantly higher post-earthquake changes in FIQ, HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS compared to the medication group (p < 0.05). While HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS changes after the earthquake differed according to the drug subgroups (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference was observed in FIQ values (p > 0.05). The highest scores were detected in the GD subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the substantial impact of earthquakes on fibromyalgia patients. Medication use may assist in reducing the detrimental effects of stresses like earthquakes on fibromyalgia symptomatology. Future research with larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods is needed to explain these findings and optimize treatment regimens for fibromyalgia patients experiencing significant stressors.

The effect of ruminative thoughts on sexuality in obese women.

Objectives: Ruminative thoughts play a significant role in the pathogenesis of disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of ruminative thoughts on the sexual functions of obese and non-obese women. Methods: This case-control study included individuals sexually active women aged 18 and above, and under 46 years, who applied to the university hospital's obesity clinic in 2021 and had not previously been diagnosed with the patient and/or their partner with organic and/or psychiatric diseases that could cause sexual dysfunction and/or being under treatment, as well as pregnancy. The participants consisted of pre-obese and obese individuals (n = 59), as well as non-obese individuals (n = 63). The Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index, and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale were administered to the voluntary participants. Using univariate and multivariate statistical models, the effects of obesity and volatile thought styles on the sexual experiences of obese and non-obese women were evaluated. Results: The analyses conducted revealed that the scores of ruminative thoughts were not affected by obesity. After adjusting for age, it was observed that Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores were higher in pre-obese and obese women (p<0.05). In the multiple models created, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores were negatively influenced by obesity, whereas Female Sexual Function Index scores were adversely affected by ruminative thought styles. Conclusions: In this study, while addressing sexual health for both preobese, obese, and non-obese women, the importance of considering predisposing psychological factors is emphasized. It emphasizes the importance of ruminative thoughts and obesity on sexual functioning in women. Psychological well-being and body image perception emerge as critical elements in this relationship.

Effect of Neural Therapy on shoulder dysfunction and pain in supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of 1% procaine injection, which is used in neural therapy, on shoulder pain and dysfunction in patients diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods: The Range of Motion values, Visual Analog Scale and the QuickDASH Scale scores of 70 patients, who were diagnosed with musculus supraspinatus tendinitis based on magnetic resonance imaging findings, were analyzed. The data of the scales obtained before neural therapy and at the follow-up visit at four weeks after the end of therapy were compared, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After neural therapy, a statistically significant increase was observed in Range of Motion values and there was a statistically significant decrease in both the Visual Analog Scale and QuickDASH score averages. Conclusion: This is one of the rare studies showing the effects of neural therapy application on shoulder pain severity and dysfunction in patients with supraspinatus tendinitis who are resistant to medical therapy.

Regulation of Dietary Habits: The effect of losing weight on quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of regulation of nutritional habits on quality of life by applying Short Form (SF-36) Quality of Life Scale. METHODS: SF-36 was administered through face-to-face interviews to a total of 129 individuals (112 female, 17 male) aged 18-65 years. Anthropometric measurements, body mass index, and waist circumference measurement were undertaken simultaneously. The changes in weight, body mass index, waist circumference measurement, and SF-36 scores were compared at baseline and three months after modification of dietary habits. RESULTS: At three months after the regulation of dietary habits, a statistically significant decrease was found in weight, body mass index, and waist circumference measurements (p<0.05). Overall improvement was observed in all the quality of life parameters assessed with SF-36, and among them, the sub-scales of general health, bodily pain and vitality were statistically significant (p<0.05). The improvement in these sub-scale scores was similar to the literature. CONCLUSION: The individuals who lost weight through adopting healthy dietary habits had increased SF-36 scores, indicating the positive effect of regulating diet on their quality of life.

Factors effecting influenza vaccination uptake among health care workers: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to identify factors affecting vaccination against influenza among health professionals. METHODS: We used a multi-centre cross-sectional design to conduct an online self-administered questionnaire with physicians and nurses at state and foundation university hospitals in the south-east of Turkey, between 1 January 2015 and 1 February 2015. The five participating hospitals provided staff email address lists filtered for physicians and nurses. The questionnaire comprised multiple choice questions covering demographic data, knowledge sources, and Likert-type items on factors affecting vaccination against influenza. The target response rate was 20 %. RESULTS: In total, 642 (22 %) of 2870 health professionals (1220 physicians and 1650 nurses) responded to the questionnaire. Participants' mean age was 29.6 ± 9.2 years (range 17-62 years); 177 (28.2 %) were physicians and 448 (71.3 %) were nurses. The rate of regular vaccination was 9.2 % (15.2 % for physicians and 8.2 % for nurses). Increasing age, longer work duration in health services, being male, being a physician, working in an internal medicine department, having a chronic disease, and living with a person over 65 years old significantly increased vaccination compliance (p < 0.05). We found differences between vaccine compliant and non-compliant groups for expected benefit from vaccination, social influences, and personal efficacy (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed differences between the groups in perceptions of personal risks, side effects, and efficacy of the vaccine (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis found that important factors influencing vaccination behavior were work place, colleagues' opinions, having a chronic disease, belief that vaccination was effective, and belief that flu can be prevented by natural ways. CONCLUSION: Numerous factors influence health professionals' decisions about influenza vaccination. Strategies to increase the ratio of vaccination among physicians and nurses should consider all of these factors to increase the likelihood of success.

Protective effect of L-arginine on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

INTRODUCTION: L-arginine has a protective effect on gentamicin-induced renal failure and it may decrease the tubular reabsorption of another cationic substance, gentamicin due to its cationic structure. The aim of this study is to compare the possible protective effects of L-arginine and its inactive isomer D-arginine on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar albino rats were housed in metabolic cages and assigned to six groups as: control group, gentamicin (100 mg/kg), gentamicin + L-arginine (2 g/l), gentamicin + D-arginine (2 g/l), gentamicin + L-arginine + Nv-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (100 mg/l) and gentamicin + D-arginine + L-NAME. Gentamicin was administered by subcutaneous injections and the other drugs were added in drinking water for seven consecutive days. The animals were killed by decapitation and intracardiac blood and urine samples were obtained on the seventh day. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, urine gamma glutamyl transferase, creatinine, sodium, potassium and gentamicin levels were measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique. RESULTS: Gentamicin treated group had significant increase in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, fractional Na excretion and urine gamma glutamyl transferase levels, and significant decrease in creatinine clearance compared to the control group. L-arginine and D-arginine reversed these findings. L-NAME abolished the nephroprotective effect of L-arginine. The urinary levels of gentamicin were significantly increased in rats treated with L-arginine or D-arginine compared to those treated with gentamicin. L-arginine and D-arginine reversed the advanced degenerative changes due to gentamicin administration in histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed the protective effect of L-arginine on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, the contribution of the cationic feature of L-arginine, and the major role of NO in this protective effect.

Which is the best anthropometric technique to identify obesity: body mass index, waist circumference or waist-hip ratio?

This study was designed to define the most suitable anthropometric technique among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) as indices of obesity in adult people living in Adana, a Southern province of Turkey. A random sample design was used. A total of 900 individuals (men and non-pregnant women aged 25-65 years) were enrolled in the study. Of subjects, 50.9% were females. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Data were analysed using statistical package program. The prevalence of obesity among adults living in Adana was 20.8% 28.4% when defined using BMI, 30.5% by WC and 15.8% 42.0% by WHR. Truncal obesity and gynoid obesity showed similar prevalence with 26.6%, in the same age group. Waist circumference, BMI and WHR identified different proportions of the population, as measured for obesity prevalence. The most common methods for diagnosing overweight and obesity are based on BMI (kg/m2). However, BMI is suboptimal marker for total body fat percentage and even less suitable to assess body fat distribution. WHR is the most useful measure of obesity and the best simple anthropometric index in predicting a wide range of risk factors and related health conditions.