Effects of volatile substance abuse on the respiratory system in adolescents

WOS: 000292793900004PubMed ID: 22958270Aim: Inhalant abuse is a prevalent and often overlooked form of substance abuse in adolescents. Chronic inhalant abuse can damage respiratory, cardiac, renal, hepatic, and neurologic systems. This study aims to determine the physiologic effects of inhaling solvents on the respiratory functions. Methods: The general health status of the subjects was assessed by history taking, physical examination and a questionnaire which was designed to show the severity of respiratory symptoms. Spirometry, ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy, and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were performed to assess pulmonary functions and anatomy. Results: Thirty-one male volatile substance abusers and 19 control subjects were included in the study. The mean age of onset of inhalant use was 14.6 +/- 2.2 (9-18) years and duration of drug use was 3.7 +/- 1.7 years. The most common respiratory symptoms in volatile substance abusers were nasal congestion (45.2%), sputum (38.7%), exercise intolerance (32.3%) and cough (22.6%). Results of spirometric studies showed 12 (41.4%) subjects with low FVC values < 80% of predicted, indicative of restrictive ventilatory pattern in the study group. Although the difference was not statistically significant, restrictive ventilatory pattern was higher in the study group. There was no statistically significant correlation between restrictive ventilatory pattern and the age of onset/duration/frequency of inhalant abuse, respiratory symptoms and scintigraphic abnormalities. Subjects who had restrictive pattern in their pulmonary function tests were more likely to have abnormal findings at HRCT (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study has shown a positive correlation between volatile substance abuse and the development of restrictive ventilatory pattern, but more comprehensive studies are needed for more precise conclusions

Evaluation of the “multidisciplinary approach to elderly individual module” which was performed to the 3rd class Medical students at Çukurova University

Giriş: Yaşlı nüfusun artması ile birlikte yaşlı sağlığı ile ilgili eğitimler birçok tıp fakültesinin müfredatında yer almaya başlamıştır. Bu makalenin amacı, Çukurova Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi'nde ilk kez uygulanan “Yaşlı Bireye Multidisipliner Yaklaşım Modülü” ile ilgili öğrenci ve eğiticilerden alınan geribildirimleri değerlendirmektedir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Modül, Haziran 2007'de, 3.sınıf öğrencilerine uygulanmış ve modüle katılan 26 eğitmen ve 163 öğrenciden geribildirimler alınmıştır. Bulgular: Öğrencilerden alınan kapalı uçlu geribildirimlerin ortalaması 3.8±0.5 (5 üzerinden), eğitimcilerden alınan kapalı uçlu geribildirimlerin ortalaması ise 4.0±0.5 bulunmuştur. Eğiticilerin açık uçlu geribildirimlerinde, modülün yararlı olduğu ifade edilmiş ve bundan sonraki uygulamalar için ek önerilerde bulunulmuştur. Öğrencilerin açık uçlu geribildirimlerinde ise modülün genel olarak yararlı olduğu ancak ders yılı sonunun zamanlama açısından uygun olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: İlk kez uygulanan bu modülün olumlu yönleri olduğu kadar geliştirilmesi gereken yönleri de bulunmaktadır ancak böyle bir modülün, her yıl alınacak geribildirimler ışığında geliştirilmesinin yarının hekimleri olarak yetiştirdiğimiz öğrencilerimizin, yaşlı bireylere yaklaşımlarını olumlu yönde etkileyeceği açıktır.Introduction: By the increase of elderly population, educations on the health of elderly have started to take place in the programs of several medical faculties. The aim of this article is to evaluate students and trainers feedbacks for the "Module of Multidisciplinary Approach to Elderly Individual" which was performed for the first time in Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine. Materials and Method: The module was performed to the 3rd class students in June 2007. Feedbacks were received from 26 trainers and 163 students. Results: The mean of score based on closed ended feedbacks for students was 3.8±0.5 (over 5) and it was 4.0±0.5 for trainers. Open ended feedbacks of trainers indicated that the module was beneficial and suggested additional applications. Open ended feedbacks of the students' indicated that the module was generally useful but end of the school term was not found to be an appropriate time for the application. Conclusion: This firstly performed module has favorable parts as well as parts requiring improvement. However, it is apparent that the approach of the medical students to elderly individuals will be affected positively by the module and this will be improved by the feedbacks every year

Serum Adenosine Deaminase Level Is High But Not Related with Disease Activity Parameters in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) has been previously proposed to predict disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to investigate the level of serum ADA, and the relationship between ADA and disease activity markers, in a group of patients with RA., A hundred and 10 patients with a diagnosis of RA were recruited from outpatient clinic of Rheumatology Unit. Demographic properties comprising age, gender, disease duration and drugs were recorded. Disease activity based on disease activity score (DAS)28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and DAS28- C reactive protein (CRP,) ESR, CRP levels, as well as pain by visual analog scale and rheumatoid factor (RF) were recorded. Serum ADA levels (IU/L) were determined in all RA patients and in 55 age and sex similar healthy control subjects., Ninety-six female and 14 male RA patients with a mean age of 54.32±11.51, and with a mean disease duration of 11.5±9.13 years were included to the study. The control group comprised of 48 female and 7 male healthy subjects. 35.5% of the patients were on methotrexate (MTX) and 64.5% of patients were on combined DMARDs or combined MTX and anti-TNF therapies. The mean serum ADA level was statistically higher in RA patients than in control subjects (27.01±10.6 IU/L vs 21.8 ±9.9 IU/L). The mean values of ESR (23.2±14.8 mm/h), CRP (1.71±1.11mg/dL), pain by VAS (37.2±27.1), DAS28-ESR (2.72±0.77), DAS28 CRP (1.37±0.5) were not correlated with ADA levels (p>0.05)., Our results have shown that serum ADA levels are higher in RA patients than in controls but were not related with any of the disease activity markers. We conclude that ADA in the serum may not be a reliable biochemical marker to predict disease activity in patients with RA.PubMedScopu