Post-traumatic Growth in Cancer Patients: A Correlational Study in Turkey

This study aims to evaluate the factors that influence post-traumatic growth (PTG), including religious coping and resilience. This descriptive and correlational study involved 111 cancer patients, followed up at a hematology inpatient clinic of a university hospital in Turkey. Religious coping scale, resilience scale, and PTG inventory were used for data collection. PTG was positively associated with negative religious coping and was negatively associated with age. PTG scores were higher for patients without children, who were recently diagnosed, had higher knowledge about the disease, and used negative religious coping.

Experiences of health professionals diagnosed with COVID-19 in coping with the disease

Aim

This study evaluates the experiences of health professionals diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in coping with the disease.

Background

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, health professionals faced various physical and psychological difficulties. Many of them were also infected with COVID‐19.

Methods

This study used a descriptive phenomenological approach and was conducted between May and June 2020. The participants were 24 health professionals who were diagnosed with COVID‐19. Data were collected by phone using semistructured and in‐depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven‐step method with the support of MAXQDA software.

Results

After the data analysis, the primary codes were extracted, and subthemes were created by categorizing these codes. The subthemes were organized, and themes were created. From the perspective of the participants, four main themes emerged: effects of the disease process on the participants, feelings of the disease process, differences in being infected with COVID‐19 as a health professional, and ways to cope with the disease.

Conclusion

The reactions of the people around them, their feelings and experiences, and their environmental and institutional support systems affected the ways health professionals coped with COVID‐19.

Implications for health policy and nursing

Health managers should provide medical, psychosocial, and legal resources as soon as possible so that health professionals diagnosed with COVID‐19 can receive the treatment and care that they need. COVID‐19 should be considered an occupational disease by health professionals all over the world.

Body perception and sexuality of bariatric surgery patients

PURPOSE

This study aims to determine how body perception and sexual life are affected in obese individuals who are hospitalized to undergo bariatric surgery.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Descriptive research design and the cross-sectional method were used. The study was conducted with 53 individuals who consented to participate. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software package.

FINDINGS

Low body perception and sexual dysfunction were detected, particularly in women.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

In obesity treatment, the psychological and social problems that individuals experience due to obesity should be handled and evaluated with a multidisciplinary approach.

[Functional Health Pattern Model Based Care Plan for a Depression Diagnosed Patient]

Depression is the most frequent disorder among mental disorders, with frequent attacks, high suicidal risks, causing loss of labour-force, as well as to loss of serious physical and psycho-social skills, and also is economically and socially overcosting. The aim of nursing care for depression diagnosed patients is to provide security, to support their independence as much as possible, to help the patient rebuild the harmony at pre-diagnosis level, and to continue their well-being. This case applied to the hospital after an attempt to commit suicide, having continuous thoughts of suicide, guilt feelings, unhappiness, unwillingness, and was hospitalised with a diagnosis of medium depressive seizure. The patient was evaluated via nursing care model of Gordon's Functional Health Patterns on the second day of hospitalisation, and was diagnosed with 'Nutrition, imbalanced: less than body requirements, hopelessness, decrease in self-esteem, impaired social interaction, risk of self-harm, ineffective individual coping'. Nursing care was applied to the medication administered patient within the framework of nursing diagnosis. It was seen that the applied care provided positive support to the healing process of the patient.

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in spondyloarthropathies: a reassessment

OBJECTIVES

Seronegative spondyloarthropathies, especially ankylosing spondylitis (AS), is shown to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) is a valid serological marker for Crohn's disease. Presence of ASCA is controversial in AS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of ASCA in spondyloarthropathies and its relationship with disease activity and severity.

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-five patients with AS, 47 patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (uSpA) and 103 healthy controls (HCs) were studied. All patients were questioned for demographic features and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores. Radiological damage is assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI) and modified Stroke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). ASCA levels were measured with standard ELISA kits.

RESULTS

There was an overall increased prevalence of ASCA IgA in AS and uSpA compared with HCs (20.6 and 19.1% vs 5.8%, P = 0.0008 and P = 0.02, respectively). No association was observed between ASCA positivity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels and BASDAI scores. However, ASCA-positive patients had higher BASRI scores [median BASRI: 7 (2-12) vs 6 (2-12); P = 0.037]. Although not reaching significance, they also had reduced chest expansion and higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) scores. ASCA-positive AS patients also required anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy more frequently (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

ASCA IgA seems to be more prevalent in AS and uSpA. ASCA can also be a marker of radiological damage and a more severe course in AS.

The use of self-expanding metallic urethral stents in the treatment of recurrent bulbar urethral strictures: long-term results

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and long-term results of using a self-expanding metallic urethral stent (Urolumetrade mark, American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MI, USA) to treat recurrent bulbar urethral strictures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1990 and 1999, 65 stents were placed in 60 men (mean age 45.2 years, range 20-71) with a urethral stricture (mostly caused by trauma and present for a mean of 4.3 years, range 0.16-26) and who had previously undergone different unsuccessful treatments.

RESULTS

During a mean (range) follow-up of 3.8 (1-9) years the strictures in 52 of the 60 patients (87%) were treated successfully. All patients initially had postvoid dribbling incontinence, but this resolved in most within one week; 19 patients remain incontinent.

CONCLUSION

The Urolume is a cost-effective alternative to other treatments for recurrent bulbar urethral strictures of whatever cause.

Ophthalmic findings in GAPO syndrome

BACKGROUND

The main manifestations of GAPO syndrome are growth retardation (G), alopecia (A), pseudoanodontia (P), and optic atrophy (O).

CASES

This syndrome has been described in 21 patients from 16 different families. Four cases are from Turkey and have been presented by Sayli and Gül. The purpose of our study is to document the cases from Turkey and discuss the ophthalmological and neuro-ophthalmolgical findings of these and other reported GAPO cases.

OBSERVATIONS

All patients in the literature and our 4 cases have severe growth retardation with delayed bone age in infancy, characteristic facial appearance (high and bossed forehead, midface hypoplasia), alopecia or severe hypotrichosis, and pseudoanodontia. Optic atrophy was present in 1 of our cases and in 5 previous cases. Glaucoma was present in 5 cases, including 2 of ours. Buphthalmia and keratopathy secondary to glaucoma were also observed. White eyelashes, seen only in our cases, may be a sign of "early senility."

CONCLUSIONS

Optic atrophy is not a constant finding in GAPO syndrome. Glaucoma may accompany the ocular findings. This syndrome has been attributed to either ectodermal dysplasia or the accumulation of extracellular connective tissue matrix, due to an enzyme deficiency involved in its metabolism. Current studies show that an elastin defect and secondary changes in collagen may be important in the pathogenesis of the disease.