Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility enhancement: a descriptive study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seeks a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. World-wide, women use CAM for productive health, but only a limited number of studies report on CAM use to enhance fertility. Little is known about traditional and religious forms of therapies that are used in relation to conventional medicine in Turkey. We investigated the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by infertile Turkish women for fertility enhancement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A face-to-face questionnaire inquiring demographic information and types of CAM used for fertility enhancement were completed by hundred infertility patients admitted to a primary care family planning centre in Van, Turkey between January and July 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The vast majority of infertile women had used CAM at least once for infertility. CAM use included religious interventions, herbal products and recommendations of traditional "hodja's" (faith healers). Of these women, 87.8% were abused in the last 12 months, 36.6% felt not being supported by her partner and 80.5% had never spoken with a physician about CAM.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Infertile Turkish women use complementary medicine frequently for fertility enhancement and are in need of information about CAM. Religious and traditional therapies are used as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, conventional medical therapy. Physicians need to approach fertility patients with sensitivity and should be able to council their patients about CAM accordingly.</p

The level of knowledge of, attitude toward and emphasis given to HBV and HCV infections among healthcare professionals: Data from a tertiary hospital in Turkey

Objectives: To evaluate the level of knowledge of, to investigate the attitudes toward, and to determine the emphasis given to the national prevalence of HBV/HCV infections among healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods: A total of 206 healthcare professionals (mean (SD) age: 37.0 (6.3) years; 86.9% – females) including medical laboratory technicians (N = 54) and nurses (N = 152) employed in the Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. Laboratory (N = 53), operating room (N = 41) and in-patient clinic (N = 112) staff were included in this descriptive study. A 33-questionnaire composed of questions related to their level of knowledge and attitudes toward HBV/HCV infections, the sources of their knowledge of HBV/HCV infections and the emphasis given to the national and global importance of the diseases was administered via a face–to-face interview method with each subject; participation was volunteer based. Results: The participants working in the in-patient clinic (18.0 (3.2)) had the highest mean (SD) knowledge level compared to the laboratory (16.4 (3.1), p < 0.05) and operating room (17.0 (2.8), p < 0.05) staff. The participants from the in-patient clinic (44.6%) had a more advanced level of knowledge compared to the participants working in the laboratory (27.8%, p < 0.05) and the operating room (30.0%, p < 0.05). Most of the subjects (60.7%) had education concerning HBV/HCV infections in the past. There was no signifi cant difference between the hospital units in terms of the attitudes of healthcare workers (HCWs) toward HBV/HCV infections and the level of education concerning them. Conclusions: Our fi ndings revealed a moderate level of knowledge in most HCWs, regardless of their exposure to risk. While the highest knowledge scores and vaccination rates were noted among the in-patient clinic staff, there was no signifi cant difference between the hospital units in terms of the attitudes of HCWs towards a patient or a colleague with an HBV/HCV infection

Level of serum 25-OHD in healthy children aged 0-36 months in Van

Material and Method: In this study, serum 25-OHD levels of 112 healthy children, aging 0-36 months, who applied to the outpatient clinic of the Pediatrics and Gynecology Hospital for a routine control in Van, were analyzed. Nutrition style of mothers and their babies, duration of exposing to sunlight and taken vitamin supplements, were evaluated. Serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase and 25-OHD levels were studied and the left wrist x-rays were obtained. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed only the babies with serum 25-OHD level >150 ng/mL.Aim: In recent studies, it has been shown that prevalence of rachitism and vitamin D deficiency depend on regional differences such as climate, socioeconomic level and changing benefits of people from health services. Even if no clinical symptom has occurred, serum 25-hydroxy D (25-OHD) level, which is the best indicator of vitamin D can be found low.Results: In our study, despite no clinical symptoms of rachitism regardless of gender, 25-OHD level 40 ng/mL was determined in 53.5% of the children and in %13,3 of these childrens serum level of 25-OHD was as low as 5 ng/mL, and suffering from heavy vitamin D deficieny.Conclusions: The breast-fed babies with no vitamin supplement did not show any sign of vitamin deficiency, but in 25-OHD levels were significantly low compared to the breast-fed babies with vitamin supplement. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 286-90

Level of serum 25-OHD in healthy children aged 0-36 months in Van

Aim: In recent studies, it has been shown that prevalence of rachitism and vitamin D deficiency depend on regional differences such as climate, socioeconomic level and changing benefits of people from health services. Even if no clinical symptom has occurred, serum 25-hydroxy D (25-OHD) level, which is the best indicator of vitamin D can be found low.Material and Method: In this study, serum 25-OHD levels of 112 healthy children, aging 0-36 months, who applied to the outpatient clinic of the Pediatrics and Gynecology Hospital for a routine control in Van, were analyzed. Nutrition style of mothers and their babies, duration of exposing to sunlight and taken vitamin supplements, were evaluated. Serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase and 25-OHD levels were studied and the left wrist x-rays were obtained. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed only the babies with serum 25-OHD level >150 ng/mL.Results: In our study, despite no clinical symptoms of rachitism regardless of gender, 25-OHD level <40 ng/mL was determined in 53.5% of the children and in %13,3 of these childrens serum level of 25-OHD was as low as <5 ng/mL, and suffering from heavy vitamin D deficieny.Conclusions: The breast-fed babies with no vitamin supplement did not show any sign of vitamin deficiency, but in 25-OHD levels were significantly low compared to the breast-fed babies with vitamin supplement. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 286-90

Preconception Counseling for a Patient With a Mechanical Tricuspid Valve

A 37-year-old woman with mechanical tricuspid valve thrombosis presented for preconception consultation. Multimodality imaging confirmed a malfunctioning bileaflet mechanical tricuspid valve with both leaflets fixed and open. This case highlights the key discussions held by the multidisciplinary pregnancy heart team

Abstract P454: The Predictors of Non-adherence of Regular Physical Activity After Coronary Revascularization

Background: Coronary heart disease the leading cause of mortality worldwide and regular physical activity is a comprehensive management strategy for these patients. We investigated the parameters that influence regular physical activity in patients with a history of coronary revascularization. Methods: We included outpatients who had a history of coronary revascularization at least 6 months prior to enrollment. A questionnaire was filled out with each patient to collect the data of engagement in regular physical activity, demographics, clinical characteristics, and dietary adherence. Results: We enrolled 202 consecutive outpatients (age 61.3±11.2 years, 73% males). The median duration after revascularization was 60 months. One hundred and 4 (51%) patients had previous percutaneous coronary intervention, 67 (33%) patients had coronary by-pass graft surgery, and 31 (15%) patients had both of the revascularization procedures. Of all, 46 (23%) patients were engaging in regular physical activity with a median of 2 days per week. Patients were classified into two subgroups according to their physical activity habits. There was no significant difference in age, comorbid conditions or revascularization type between subgroups. In the univariate regression analysis, absence of regular physical activity was associated with female gender, low education level, unemployment, low household income, implantation of bare metal stent (vs. drug eluted stent) and absence of regular follow-up visits. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis concluded that low education level (p=0.01, OR=3.26, 95%CI: 1.31 -8.11), and absence of regular follow-up visits (p=0.04, OR=2.95, 95%CI: 1.01-8.61) were independent predictors of non-adherence of regular physical activity in study subjects. Conclusion: Regular physical activity rates were lower in outpatients with a history of previous coronary revascularization. Education level and regular follow-up visits could influence physical activity adherence in these patients. </jats:p