Recent study data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress results from an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, an excess of oxidants and/or a depletion of ...antioxidants. There are numerous studies that indicate that free radicals (FRs) damage neurons, and then play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and depression. Active oxygen can cause considerable damage and disrupt the important physiological functions of proteins, lipids, enzymes and DNA. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible differences in the concentration of tromboxane B2, 8-OHdG and protein carbonyls, as significant markers of oxidative damage, and urate, albumin and total protein concentrations as antioxidative molecules in PTSD patients in comparison to the healthy control group. The study included 74 male participants who were active soldiers in the Croatian armed forces from 1991 to 1995. 46 subjects with chronic and current PTSD were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry of Dubrava University Hospital during 2010, 28 healthy subjects were recruited in the same period during the regular medical examination at the Dubrava University Hospital. Study results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference in urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG, serum thromboxane B2, and serum urates between two studied groups. Statistically significant difference of the protein carbonyl concentrations was examined. Concentrations were significantly lower in the PTSD group than in the control group. The clinical significance of these results was examined using ROC analysis. The obtained ROC curves did not separate the groups in a satisfactory manner.
Background. In the past thirty years, there has been a significant rise of public and private health institutions’ interest in the prediction and management of medical risks. The need of risk ...management is a direct consequence of the growing number of legal actions against medical malpractice. The concept of risk management involves three basic processes: risk identification, risk analysis, and risk management. Risk includes an evaluation of vulnerability and management of events that could potentially endanger the operation of a health institution, comprising a balance between the consequential costs of medical malpractice and the costs of risk reduction (anticipation). Thus the potential financial consequences of risk exposure are crucial in the formation of diagnostic and treatment protocols, whereas improvement of the quality of medical care as well as patient protection are the primary aims of risk management. Conclusions. Postmenopausal health care is not an exempt when considering possible erorrs in medication or medical process per se. On the orther hand menopausal medicine is not only hormonal replacement therapy but also bunch of complementary and alternative specialities involved in the healing process where error could be easily achieved.
Despite the fact that hormonal combination used in huge Wpmen's Health Initiative (WHI) is not common all over the world, and treated population is, because of age, in risk per se, study results have ...consternated not only lay users, but prescribers too. Namely, increased cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease risk associated with long term use of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) have rapidly declined the number of women treated with HT (either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestogen). Considering recent position statements from leading organizations dealing with menopause, individualization of therapy and lower dosage HT becomes the state of the art. Not only WHI, but also results of other studies published during past few years, have induced curiosity for non-estrogen containing treatments in climacteric medicine. This review shows not only mandatory list of possibilities, but also emphasises which of the alternative and complementary treatments are evidence based regarding published randomized controlled trials.
Istraživanja Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije procjenjuju da 65–80% svjetske populacije koristi tradicionalnu medicinu kao osnovni oblik zdravstvene intervencije. Uporaba herbalnih pripravaka, ...dominantna forma liječenja u zemljama u razvoju, u značajnom je porastu i u zemljama Zapada. Zajednica praktičara konvencionalne medicine ne pridaje komplementarnoj i alternativnoj medicini (KAM) veliko značenje zbog nedostatnih i ponekad metodološki neprihvatljivih studija.¬ S druge strane, većina medicinara i zdravstvenih profesionalaca nije upoznata s kvalitetnim znanstvenim dokazima koji uistinu postoje. Zato je potrebno insistirati na prospektivnim, dobro dizajniranim istraživanjima koja će prikazati stupanj djelotvornosti i sigurnosti postupaka i terapija karakterističnih za KAM. Prikazan je pregled činjenica baziranih na znanstvenim istraživanjima biljaka ili biljnih ekstrakata koji se koriste u perimenopauzalnoj medicini.
Objectives: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in Croatian postmenopausal women, attitudes towards it and factors influencing this decision.
Methods: A total of 1100 women were interviewed in Ob/Gyn ...offices using self-response questionnaire of 56 items, dealing with demographic data, personal and family medical history, surgeries, menstrual and menopausal status, body mass index (BMI), sexuality, knowledge and attitudes towards the menopause and HRT.
Results: The adherence to HRT in Croatia was found to be very short, averaging only 3 months. Despite the differences between the users, non-users and past users, all groups give more reasons to take HRT, then reasons against it. Among the many demographic and patient history characteristics considered, the differences were only found regarding breastfeeding duration, menopausal age, use of oral contraceptives and IUDs. No differences were found in age, menarche, number of family members, number of deliveries, number of abortions, BMI, marital and employment status or level of education. Regarding personal and family medical history, an increased frequency was found in gallbladder and hepatic disorders for HRT users. The differences in current/past users ratio for different prescribers show that compliance with HRT is highest for university polyclinics and private gynaecological practices, and lowest for GPs and endocrinologists.
Conclusion: The compliance with HRT in Croatia is very low, recommendations are mostly restricted to gynaecological practices and decision to take HRT is influenced mostly by psychological factors.
Recent study data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress results from an
oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, an excess of oxidants and/or a depletion of ...antioxidants. There are numerous studies
that indicate that free radicals (FRs) damage neurons, and then play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
and depression. Active oxygen can cause considerable damage and disrupt the important physiological functions
of proteins, lipids, enzymes and DNA. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible differences in the concentration
of tromboxane B2, 8-OHdG and protein carbonyls, as significant markers of oxidative damage, and urate, albumin
and total protein concentrations as antioxidative molecules in PTSD patients in comparison to the healthy control group.
The study included 74 male participants who were active soldiers in the Croatian armed forces from 1991 to 1995. 46
subjects with chronic and current PTSD were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry of Dubrava University Hospital
during 2010, 28 healthy subjects were recruited in the same period during the regular medical examination at the
Dubrava University Hospital. Study results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference in urinary
concentrations of 8-OHdG, serum thromboxane B2, and serum urates between two studied groups. Statistically significant
difference of the protein carbonyl concentrations was examined. Concentrations were significantly lower in the
PTSD group than in the control group. The clinical significance of these results was examined using ROC analysis. The
obtained ROC curves did not separate the groups in a satisfactory manner.
