{"title":"The relationship between social phobia and cognitive impairment in idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients: a cross-sectional study","authors":"Idris Kocatürk, Ali Inaltekin","doi":"10.18621/eurj.1421296","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1421296","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: Epilepsy, a neurological disorder affecting approximately 65 million people worldwide, frequently presents with various comorbidities, including cognitive impairment. The factors contributing to cognitive impairment are complex and multifaceted. This study aimed to investigate the influence of social phobia on cognitive function in patients with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy.\u0000Methods: This prospective study recruited 87 adult idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy patients diagnosed according to the International League Against Epilepsy 2017 classification. Differential diagnosis involved electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, and neurological examinations. All participants were assessed for cognitive impairment, social phobia, depression, and anxiety using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively.\u0000Results: A significant majority (73.6%) of participants reported social phobia. Compared to those without social phobia, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment total score was significantly lower in the social phobia group (P=0.002). Additionally, epilepsy duration was significantly longer in the social phobia group (P=0.03). Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores showed a negative correlation with Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-avoidance, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-total, and age (P=0.003, P=0.005, and P<0.001, respectively).\u0000Conclusions: This study suggests that individuals with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy experiencing social phobia may exhibit lower cognitive function compared to those without. This indicates that comorbid social phobia might negatively impact cognitive abilities in idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy patients.","PeriodicalId":509363,"journal":{"name":"The European Research Journal","volume":"116 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139834905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yeliz Aktürk, Esra Soyer Güldoğan, Serra Özbal Güneş
{"title":"Which pathologies of the penis can be diagnosed with computed tomography? A comprehensive approach to imaging findings","authors":"Yeliz Aktürk, Esra Soyer Güldoğan, Serra Özbal Güneş","doi":"10.18621/eurj.1386294","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1386294","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: Since there are various benign and malignant diseases of the penis, different imaging methods can be used for diagnosis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) is not a frequently used imaging method in diagnosing penile pathologies. In an abdominal CT scan performed with the standard technique, the slices are obtained by scanning from the diaphragm's dome to the symphysis pubis's lower edge. Although the whole penis is not always captured, almost all abdomen scans include a portion of the penis. Penile pathologies can be detected with careful evaluation by CT.\u0000Methods: In this study, we aim to investigate incidental penile pathologies detected in abdominal CT performed for other reasons and whether abdominal CT contributes to showing penile pathologies. Therefore, abdominal CTs of 3,698 male patients were re-evaluated for penile pathologies.\u0000Results: The mean age was 52.2 years. Of the CT scans, 38% were obtained due to trauma, 16% were taken for oncological causes, 16% for abdominal pain and acute abdominal pathologies, 10% for urological reasons, 20% for other causes. Penile pathology was detected in 33 (0.83%) of 3968 patients. The patients were divided into four groups according to the pathologies observed in the penis: Traumatic, inflammatory, tumoral, and other findings.\u0000Conclusion: Although CT is not routinely used to diagnose penile pathologies, it may be necessary if the whole penis is included in the examination.","PeriodicalId":509363,"journal":{"name":"The European Research Journal","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139607201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Terry Mohammed, Nadira Rambocas, Sanjeev Basdeo, Yasphal Kissoon
{"title":"Evaluation of mercury in skin lightening creams commonly used in Trinidad and Tobago and their associated health risk","authors":"Terry Mohammed, Nadira Rambocas, Sanjeev Basdeo, Yasphal Kissoon","doi":"10.18621/eurj.1314329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1314329","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: This study investigated the presence of mercury in commonly used over the counter skin-lightening creams available in Trinidad and Tobago. The objective of this study was to evaluate if skin-lightening creams commonly used in Trinidad and Tobago contained Mercury, and establish the health risks presented by these products. \u0000Methods: Nineteen skin-lightening creams were analysed using Cold Capor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (CV-AAS). Margin of Safety (MoS) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) calculations were used to assess risk to users. \u0000Results: Of the nineteen creams assessed, sixteen contained high concentrations of mercury (0.294-14414.5 µg/g), only three creams had no mercury detected. 9 of the 19 samples contained levels of mercury that exceed the Minamata convention’s accepted limit of 1µg/g, with 3 samples exceeding 3800.000 µg/g. Risk assessments using MoS and HQ showed that 3 of the samples were unsafe for use and are considered hazardous. The study also revealed that many creams do contain mercury even if it did not constitute part of the product formulation. \u0000Conclusions: The data infers that some manufacturers do add mercury to their formulations while others are the victims of contaminated raw materials. MoS and HQ show that 21% of the samples were unsafe and 16% can be considered hazardous for human use. It is possible that with such levels of mercury in these products and the popularity of these products within the Caribbean Community and its diaspora, that there exists a significant amount of members with higher than acceptable mercury levels, with undiagnosed clinical symptoms.","PeriodicalId":509363,"journal":{"name":"The European Research Journal","volume":"25 25","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139382722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}