Assessment of Mean Platelet Volume and its Effect on Disease Control in Patients with Acromegaly.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases are more common in acromegalic patients than the healthy population. Platelets play a significant role in both the onset and progression of clotting which then cause the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation and known as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic processes. The aim of this study was to compare MPV levels between acromegalic and non-acromegalic patients. METHODS: The data of 56 acromegalic patients and 72 controls matched for age, gender, and the presence of diabetes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: MPV levels were found to be higher in acromegalic patients compared to controls (8.82 ± 1.17 fL and 7.74 ± 0.87 fL, respectively, p < 0.001). Acromegalic patients were also classified according to their status of remission (a total of 27 patients were in remission and 29 patients were not in remission). Both age and gender were similar between the groups (p = 0.145 and p = 0.616, respectively). MPV levels at the time of diagnosis and after six months of treatment (p = 0.555 and p = 0.917, respectively) were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MPV levels are higher in acromegalic patients than the controls until the early stages of treatment, independent of diabetes. Therefore, MPV levels may be an important determinant of acromegalic patients.

Fathers' functional status during pregnancy and the early postnatal period.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the functional status of fathers whose wives were pregnant or in the early postnatal period. SAMPLE AND SETTING: the research population comprised 3750 fathers whose wives were pregnant or in the early postnatal period, and who were registered at a primary health clinic in the province centre. The research sample comprised 275 husbands of women who were registered at these clinics and who were in at least their 28th week of a normal (not at-risk) pregnancy with a single fetus, or who were in the early postnatal period (6-8 weeks postnatal) following birth of a single baby between the 38th and 42nd week without complications. Due to fathers declining to participate in the study or unable to participate because of busy work schedules, the research was completed with 155 fathers-to-be and 93 fathers; in total, 90% of the target sample was reached. A sociodemographic survey and the Inventory of Functional Status-Fathers were used for data collection and to describe the functional abilities of fathers-to-be and fathers. FINDINGS: no statistically significant differences were found in functional status between the husbands of pregnant women and the husbands of women in the early postnatal period. Number of pregnancies was not significantly related to any of the seven subscales of fathers' functional status; age of husband, length of marriage and occupation of wife were significantly related to one subscale; occupation of husband and health insurance were significantly related to two subscales; income status of husband and educational level of wife were significantly related to three subscales; and educational level of husband was significantly related to four subscales. CONCLUSION: although there was no significant difference in functional status for the husbands of pregnant women and the husbands of postnatal women, sociodemographic factors were found to have an effect.

The loneliness level of patients with gynecological cancer.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the loneliness levels and the variables that have an effect on the loneliness of women with a gynecological cancer diagnosis. The main questions that the study addressed were as follows: (1) What is the loneliness level of patients with gynecological cancer? and (2) What kind of relationships are there between general demographic characteristics of patients with gynecological cancer and their loneliness? This descriptive study was conducted at Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Application and Investigation Hospital, Maternity and Women Diseases Gynecology Clinic, from July to December 2002. Maternity and Women Diseases Clinic Oncology Service treated 161 patients during this time period. While all patients hospitalized between the specified dates constituted the universe of the investigation; the actual sample was 94 patients. As data collection tools, a questionnaire form, which aimed at identifying sociodemographic characteristics of patients and the features related to their diseases relevant to the literature and the UCLA-loneliness scale were used. The general loneliness mean score of women with gynecological cancer was 35.85 +/- 9.302. Women's mean scores of loneliness were affected by whether psychologic support was needed, genital organ diseases were treated, or a family member had a gynecological operation, and by the income situation. The disease of cancer, which creates the most fear and anxiety in the community, has adverse psychologic effects on both the patient and the family. In societies where men dominate, as is the case in our society, women's place in the society has been reduced to their reproductive capacity, and thus, the health of their genital organs is very important.

An evaluation of nursing care in cancer patients.

The aim of the present study was to identify what hospitalized cancer patients expect from nurses in terms of the care they receive. The specific aims of this study were: (i) to identify those individuals to whom the patients felt closest in the hospital setting and (ii) to evaluate nurses' management of cancer patients during their stay in the hospital. The sample included patients hospitalized at Ege University Hospital and Suat Seren District Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. We found significant differences between the scores of satisfaction and dissatisfaction and gender age, education, occupation, type of cancer and the mode of treatment (p < 0.05). The majority of the cancer patients reported that nursing management was unsatisfactory. Some demographic factors such as cultural and social status affected patients' expectations.