Prenatal diagnosis of an infratentorial subdural hemorrhage: case report.

We report a case of a prenatally diagnosed infratentorial subdural hemorrhage. The hematoma located in the posterior cerebral fossa was detected by conventional ultrasound at 24 weeks of gestation. Intrauterine magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis. Autopsy of the fetus revealed a well-circumscribed subdural hematoma. The prenatal findings of intracranial bleeding located in the posterior fossa and the prognosis of such cases are discussed.     

Sequence analysis of rpoB mutations in rifampin-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Turkey

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a serious problem throughout the world. Resistance to Rifampicin (RIF) is mainly caused by the mutations in the rpoB gene coding the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase. In this study, we aimed to detect the distribution of rpoB gene mutations in 80 RIF-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from Turkey. The rpoB gene was amplified by PCR and mutations leading to RIF resistance were determined by automated sequence analysis. A total of 72 of the 80 isolates (90%) were found to carry mutations in the amplified region, whereas eight isolates (10%) carried no mutations. Overall, 24 different missense mutations affecting 14 codons, and two deletion mutants were identified. Nine new mutations, six in the hot-spot region and three outside this region, were found. The codon numbers of the most frequently encountered mutations were 531 (51.4%), 526 (18.1%), 516 (13.9%), and 513 (12.5%). As a result, 90% of the RIF-resistant MTB isolates from the Turkish patients were found to carry a mutation in the rpoB gene, Ser531Leu being the most frequent one. Although molecular methods identify mutations leading to RIF resistance very quickly, results of the antimycobacterial susceptibility tests must be taken into consideration for the patients carrying no mutations in this region.     

Social Stigma Towards People with Medically Unexplained Symptoms: the Somatic Symptom Disorder

Psychiatric Quarterly - The majority of previous studies on mental health stigma have focused on medically explained symptoms and the studies on medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) have only...     

Diagnostic value of screening tests in subgroups of women with recurrent pregnancy loss

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of screening laboratory tests in women who had recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Methods: A total of 252 women with RPL managed in our tertiary referral research and education hospital were included in the study. Risk factors recorded involved age, gravidity, parity, number of prior live births, number of pregnancy losses, and thrombophlia tests. The cases were divided into three different groups and each group was analyzed separately.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the first and second groups in terms of clinical and laboratory parameters (p?>?0.05). In the third group, there was a statistically significant difference among cases in terms of parity, gravidity, number of pregnancy losses, serum AT III levels, APCR, and age of the women. According to the logistic regression model, odds ratios (95% CI) were 6.116 (3.797–9.852), 5.665 (2.657–12.079), 4.763 (3.099–7.321), 4.729 (3.080–7.260), 2.820 (1.836–4.333), and 1.911 (1.232–2.965), respectively.

Conclusions: We do not recommend the screening of all women with RPL, but in women with high parity and those who had prior live birth pregnancies, increased AT III, and APCR may be diagnostic markers for subsequent pregnancy loss.     

Caregiving of aged people, either professional job or acquiring merit in God's sight: an example of qualitative research

Nowadays because of lots of reasons, lifespan is increasing and caregiving of aged people becomes more and more important. Today it is understood how the professional care of aged people is significant, instead of being carried out by volunteers. Because of this, in this study we aimed to understand the problems, and thoughts of aging of caregivers who are working in nursing homes. This study was made using the so-called qualitative research, which is one of the research designs. Including general aim, interviews with 13 caregivers with structured questions, supported by spontaneous ones. Interviews were taped and transcribed verbatim. After that, they were grouped with the same themes. Thoughts are grouped with three main themes, which are about "aging", "working life", "caregiving of aged people". Aged people are described like people who are dependent, need interest, and represent the wisdom period. Also caregiving is described like both good job and punishment. Besides, the reason of working as a caregiver, is the economic needs. The suggestions of caregivers are increasing payment, giving psychological and emotional support, and also improving physical conditions. Economic satisfaction of caregivers, giving psychological support, caregivers with aged people and improving physical conditions are important to increase the quality of professional caregiving.