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Improvements in preventive and rehabilitative care have transformed many cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from being an absolute fatal disease to a chronic, expensive illness. As survival rates and life expectancy increase for people with HIV/AIDS, work plays a more central role in improving their quality of life [5]. Persons with HIV/AIDS face numerous physical challenges in maintaining employment. Signs and symptoms of HIV infection and related opportunistic infections include fatigue, muscle weakness, neuropathy and decreased sensation, bowel and bladder incontinence, persistent cough, weight loss, decreased range of motion and coordination, limited endurance, cardiac problems and vision loss. Occupational therapy practitioners must identify the unique impact they can make on a client's quality of life by addressing work-related issues faced by the HIV/AIDS population.
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PMID:HIV/AIDS and work: The implications for occupational therapy. 1244 56

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disease of the central nervous system affecting people between the ages of 20 and 40 years in the UK, Northern Europe and the USA. No definitive treatment yet exists to halt the almost inevitable decline in function and accumulation of disability over the years in sufferers. Management is largely directly of symptoms which arise variably in the course of the condition. Such problems as urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, cramps and spasms, tremor and trigeminal neuralgia can often be helped to some extent using conventional therapies. These treatments though are not effective in everyone, or cause unacceptable side-effects and there are some commonly reported symptoms, such as fatigue or emotional lability for which there are no generally accepted treatments. Here, a knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can bring benefits to the person with MS. CAM is widely used by people with MS and some studies in this area are briefly summarised. It is interesting to reflect what lies behind all this CAM use and what that might tell conventional medicine about just what it is the MS sufferer really wants from their carers. Homeopathy is a form of CAM unique in the UK in having been available in the NHS since the foundation in 1948. Medical homeopaths in the UK have always been concerned with the integration of the best of conventional and complementary treatments for the benefit of their patients. Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital has around 100 admissions each year of people with MS at different stages of the condition and aims at an integrated response to their distress. Different therapeutic modalities are employed, but a homeopathic approach in particular is of benefit in MS. By its nature, it is a whole-person approach and allows for complete individualisation of treatment, taking account of the minutiae of someone's life. This is discussed and some examples of homeopathic treatments, which seem to be more generalisable for commonly encountered MS symptoms, are given.
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PMID:Homeopathy in multiple sclerosis. 1260 18

Psychosis only rarely occurs in patients with untreated Parkinson's disease. Much more commonly, psychosis is induced by drug therapy for Parkinson's disease and is the strongest known risk factor for nursing home placement. Delusions are less frequent than hallucinations, but are more concerning as they are often paranoid in nature. Treatment begins with a search for correctable infectious, toxic, and metabolic aetiologies. If symptoms persist, anti-Parkinson's disease medications are slowly reduced. However, withdrawal of these drugs usually worsens parkinsonism and is often not tolerated. Certain atypical antipsychotics can be used to treat psychosis without compromising motor function. The choice of atypical antipsychotic is largely based on ease of use and adverse effect profile as most have comparable efficacy in improving psychosis. Currently, there are five marketed atypical drugs - clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine and ziprasidone. Ziprasidone is the only agent whose adverse effect profile has not been reported in Parkinson's disease. The most common adverse effects of clozapine in Parkinson's disease are sedation, orthostatic hypotension and sialorrhoea. Sedation is generally helpful since these patients are frequently awake at night and tend to have worse behavioural problems then. Clozapine does not induce deterioration of motor function, but it has the potential to cause agranulocytosis, which is idiosyncratic and not dose-related. In risperidone-treated Parkinson's disease patients, reported adverse effects include somnolence, sialorrhoea, dizziness, palpitations, constipation, delirium, fatigue, leg cramps, depression, urinary incontinence and hypotension. Although in some Parkinson's disease studies, risperidone has been well tolerated, others have shown that many patients are unable to tolerate the drug due to deterioration of motor function. While an initial study of olanzapine in Parkinson's disease psychosis showed the drug to be effective without deterioration of motor function, succeeding reports demonstrated a deleterious effect of the drug on motor functioning. The most common adverse effects of quetiapine in Parkinson's disease patients are sedation and orthostatic hypotension. There is a lack of double-blind trials; however, cumulative reports involving >200 Parkinson's disease patients strongly suggest that quetiapine is well tolerated and effective. Unlike clozapine, it does not improve tremor and may induce mild deterioration of motor function. Recently, cholinesterase inhibitors have been reported to alleviate psychosis in Parkinson's disease. Although ondansetron, an antiemetic with antiserotonergic properties, has been reported to relieve psychosis in Parkinson's disease, its prohibitive cost has prevented further study in this population. Electroconvulsive treatment is generally reserved for the patient with psychotic depression who is unable to tolerate any pharmacological therapy.
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PMID:Treatment of psychosis in Parkinson's disease: safety considerations. 1281 32

Obesity is a progressive disease of unwanted fat accumulation which has multiple, organ-specific pathological consequences. The manifestations of obesity occur within virtually every subspecialty of medicine or surgery and they interact importantly to accelerate the ageing process in many organs. Many of the hazards of obesity have multiple causes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, stroke, colonic and breast cancer, urinary incontinence, tiredness, back pain, breathlessness). All of these conditions become more prevalent with age and are also more prevalent among overweight persons, particularly those with a central fat distribution marked by a high waist circumference. Hypertension may be caused or aggravated by weight gain. It is mediated by the physical demands of an expanded circulating volume and increased metabolic rate by metabolic mechanisms related to central fat distribution and the "metabolic syndrome", and to increased sodium consumption by overweight people (because they need more food to maintain a higher metabolic rate). Since body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference increase significantly with age there is an escalation of the burden of ill health from obesity with age. The best simple indicator of disease risk with obesity is the waist circumference since this identifies people who have a high body fat content and also those who have an increased intraabdominal accumulation of fat. The quantitative burden of ill health from overweight and obesity varies within different specialties, but up to 80% of type 2 diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome can be attributed to obesity. Obesity is the cause of sleep apnea syndrome in around 50% of cases and heart disease in perhaps 10-20% of cases. In Scotland 80% of people with existing cardiovascular disease are overweight compared with 57% of the general population. The financial burden to health services from overweight and obesity has been incompletely assessed, although it is estimated that around 4% of total health care budgets are attributable to people having BMI > 25 kg/m(2). This is similar to the entire cost of diabetes, epilepsy or major cancers. Obesity is therefore an extremely expensive disease based on these conservative estimates from limited evaluations. More general assessments show how obesity increases the amount of time taken off work, the number of drugs prescribed and the expenditure from social services support. Thus, obesity represents a huge burden not only on the individual patient physically, psychologically, socially and financially but also on families and careers and is a huge drain on health care resources. Overweight affects well over half of all adults worldwide, progressing to BMI > 30 kg/m(2) in around 20% outside subsistence rural communities. Its rapidly increasing prevalence now described as an epidemic demands major preventive measures, as well as better medical treatment for individuals affected.
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PMID:Obesity: burdens of illness and strategies for prevention or management. 1284 36

The Surgical Treatments Outcomes Project for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (STOP-DUB) was a multicenter, randomized clinical trial that assessed the efficacy and effectiveness of hysterectomy versus endometrial ablation (EA) for dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) in women for whom medical management has not provided relief. Resource centers included a coordinating center, a chair's office, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Project Office and 33 clinical centers in the United States and Canada. STOP-DUB enrolled: (1) eligible patients for whom medical treatment had not been successful and who were randomized to either hysterectomy or EA and (2) an observational cohort of patients who were "provisionally ineligible" or who were eligible but did not wish to be randomized. Enrollment began in October 1997 and ended in June 2001. The primary outcome addressed by the randomized trial was the impact of surgery on bleeding, pain, fatigue, and the major problem (symptom) that led the woman to seek treatment for her condition, measured 1 year following surgery. Additional outcomes included the impact of surgery at time points after 1 year; changes in quality of life, activity limitation, sexual functioning, and urinary incontinence; surgical complications; additional surgery; and resource utilization. The costs and the relative cost-effectiveness of the two surgeries were calculated. The main scientific objective for the observational study was to examine changes over time in terms of treatment selected, DUB-related symptoms, and quality of life.
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PMID:Surgical Treatments Outcomes Project for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (STOP-DUB): design and methods. 1450 57

We report on the clinical, morphologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular cytogenetic features of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) primarily arising in the urinary bladder. An 81-year-old man presented with lymphedema of the lower extremities, fatigue, and urge incontinence. Radiographically, a tumor filling the entire cavity of the urinary bladder and extending into the pelvic and retroperitoneal tissue was noted. Histology of tumor biopsies showed a highly cellular, focally necrotic small round-cell tumor with numerous mitoses and occasional rosette-like structures. The tumor cells displayed significant immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and the MIC2 gene product (CD99). Dense-core granules were detectable by electron microscopy. A molecular cytogenetic analysis using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) revealed gains of the chromosomes 3p, 6, 8q, 12, 17q, and 21q. The patient died two weeks after diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fifth reported case of a PNET of the urinary bladder, and the first that includes a molecular cytogenetic analysis based on CGH.
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PMID:Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the urinary bladder. 1470 42

In August 2002, 65 cases of Loa-associated neurological Serious Adverse Events were reported after ivermectin treatment. The first signs, occurring within the 12-24 hours following treatment, included fatigue, generalized arthralgia, and sometimes agitation, mutism, and incontinence. Disorders of consciousness, including coma, generally appeared between 24 and 72 hours, and showed a rapid variation with time. The most frequent objective neurological signs were extrapyramidal. The patients presented with haemorrhages of the conjunctiva and of the retina. Biological examinations showed a massive Loa microfilaruria, the passage of Loa microfilariae into the cerebrospinal fluid, haematuria, and an increase in the C-reactive protein, all of which have been correlated with the high intensity of the initial Loa microfilaraemia. Eosinophil counts decreased dramatically within the first 24 hours, and then rose again rapidly. Electroencephalograms suggested the existence of a diffuse pathological process within the first weeks; the abnormalities disappearing after 3-6 months. Death may occur when patients are not properly managed, i.e. in the absence of good nursing. However, some patients who recovered showed sequelae such as aphasia, episodic amnesia, or extrapyramidal signs. The main risk factor for these encephalopathies is the intensity of the initial Loa microfilaraemia. The disorders of consciousness may occur when there are >50,000 Loa microfilariae per ml. The possible roles of co-factors, such as Loa strains, genetic predisposition of individuals, co-infestations with other parasites, or alcohol consumption, seem to be minor but they should be considered. The mechanisms of the post-ivermectin Loa-related encephalopathies should be investigated to improve the management of patients developing the condition.
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PMID:Clinical picture, epidemiology and outcome of Loa-associated serious adverse events related to mass ivermectin treatment of onchocerciasis in Cameroon. 1497 61

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting young adults. The presence of the sometimes-invisible symptoms (loss of vision, fatigue, incontinence) and the episodic nature and uncertainty of symptoms can create a constant sense of vigilance or support the use of denial. Indeed, family, friends, and even nursing support may be elusive, leaving one feeling lonely, frightened, and insecure. The purposes of this research were to investigate the lived experiences of people with MS and examine their needs from their perspectives. Two focus groups included 4 men diagnosed with MS from 2 to 15 years and 6 women diagnosed with MS from 1.5 to 15 years. Four themes were identified. The first theme resonated around feelings that "nobody listened." The second theme, symptom devastation, described the overwhelming presence of symptoms and the difficulty they caused. The third theme was "picking and choosing," or making choices to maintain some control. "Fight your own fight" with self-advocacy and taking charge was the final theme. Even though MS continuously caused challenges and changes interfering with goals, participants described creative solutions. They learned to deal with the denial, refocus their priorities, plan their activities, and choose carefully. They described a litany of being unheard, unimportant, and confused, which led to feelings of dejection, desperation, and depression. Their most poignant need was someone to listen and teach since they identified knowledge as power. The data gathered contribute to knowledge and understanding of people living with MS. Findings support nursing interventions that empower and teach self-management techniques.
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PMID:Focus groups: the lived experience of participants with multiple sclerosis. 1499 6

The current standard of care for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is limb salvage surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, with long-term survival rates of approximately 70%. However, the extensive surgical resection and subsequent reconstruction result in 50% of survivors living with chronic disability. Rehabilitation aims to optimize functional independence and quality of life, and is routinely offered to patients undergoing surgical treatment for STS. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of research related to rehabilitation in this area. We propose a model for assessing disability, for designing treatment interventions and for evaluating rehabilitative outcomes in STS. The World Health Organization's (WHO) international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF) is divided into three domains: 1) impairments (related to body structure and function), 2) activity limitations (related to usual self-care activities/activities of daily living), and 3) participation restrictions (related to social roles). A literature review of STS rehabilitation reveals that most studies have focused on disability assessment, with few papers describing or evaluating rehabilitation interventions commonly employed in STS. Clinicians are forced to extrapolate findings from other patient populations in order to evaluate the effectiveness of specific rehabilitation strategies (ie, those used for particular sequelae of STS, such as lymphedema or impaired exercise tolerance). There is strongest support for complex decongestive physiotherapy (targeting lymphedema) and aerobic exercise interventions (aimed at alleviating cancer-related fatigue and psychosocial sequelae). The most poorly researched topic is rehabilitation for genitourinary disability (both incontinence and sexual dysfunction). Most studies related to oncologic rehabilitation are restricted to the impairment level (eg, affecting range of motion, muscle strength) of the ICF, with only a small minority addressing activity limitations (eg, affecting activities of daily living) experienced by patients. A consideration of participation restrictions (eg, fulfillment of vocational roles) is almost wholly absent from the literature. Yet social role reintegration is of fundamental importance to patients. Further research is required in these two domains. The ICF provides a comprehensive framework for future research into rehabilitation interventions for STS.
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PMID:Rehabilitation and quality-of-life issues in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma. 1550 81

October 2004. A 49-year-old right-handed man developed progressive cognitive difficulties over a 4-month period. There was impairment in recent memory, calculations and language. He also developed fatigue, weight loss, gait imbalance and urinary incontinence. Past history included transfusion-associated Hepatitis C. Neurologic exam showed mild dysarthria, dysnomia, left sided neglect, bilateral Babinski signs, and a prominent grasp reflex. Laboratory testing provided no positive etiologic data. An EEG showed generalized intermittent slowing suggestive of a diffuse encephalopathy and decreased background in the right hemisphere, suggestive of a structural lesion. MRI showed multiple areas of high signal on FLAIR imaging and patchy enhancement. FDG-PET showed multi-focal areas of increased uptake, correlating with the abnormal areas on MRI, on a background of decreased uptake. A 4-vessel cerebral angiogram showed no abnormalities. A brain biopsy showed diffuse infiltrates of large malignant cells that were immunoreactive with antibodies to CD20, diagnostic of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. In summary, the clinical presentation suggested bilateral hemispheric involvement, which was supported by physical examination, EEG, MRI, and PET scans. The differential diagnosis for this presentation is limited to demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis, vascular dementia, and infiltrating neoplasm such as glioblastoma multiforme or lymphoma. Diagnosis was made by morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis of brain tissue.
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PMID:October 2004: a 49-year-old man with progressive dementia. 1591 74


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