Factors Associated with Elderly Depression among Rural Bangladeshi Individuals
Jui Das,
Fahmida Dil Farzana,
Farzana Ferdous,
Shahnawaz Ahmed,
Sarah Tegenfeldt,
Repon Chandra Paul,
Mohammod Jobayer Chisti,
Abu Syed Golam Faruque,
Sumon Kumar Das
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
1-7
Received:
3 December 2013
Published:
20 January 2014
Abstract: Background: Depression is a chronic disorder, which often remains undiagnosed. There is a gross lack of evidence-based information about depressive illnesses among adult individuals from rural Bangladesh. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the factors that are associated with depressive illness but remain undiagnosed among rural healthy adult individuals. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Demographic Surveillance System area of rural Mirzapur sub-district, during April to September 2010. A total of 130 apparently healthy individuals [no history of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, hepatic (serum alanine transaminase; ALT) or renal (serum creatinine) dysfunction; diabetic mellitus (fasting blood sugar)] aged 40 years and above were randomly selected from the DSS database. Level of depression was assessed using 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Results: Forty-two percent of the healthy participants were found to have mild depression, 17% were severely depressed. In multivariate analysis, females had a 2.79 [95% CI-0.94-8.26] times higher risk for depression compared to males. Healthy elderly individuals (≥60 years) had a 2.79 [0.94-8.33] times higher risk for depression compared to their middle-aged counterparts (40-59 years). Furthermore, individuals who consumed a vegetable-based diet were at 2.47 [0.85-7.15] times higher risk for depression; individuals with low monthly income were at 2.57 [0.94-7.01] times higher, and those with poor wealth index were 1.55 [1.07-2.25] times more likely to suffer from depression compared to their counterparts after adjusting for vitamin B12, folic acid, ALT, and blood hemoglobin. Conclusion: Healthy elderly individuals from rural Bangladesh were more depressed than middle-aged adults; and females with poor socio-economic status were at higher risk for depression than males.
Abstract: Background: Depression is a chronic disorder, which often remains undiagnosed. There is a gross lack of evidence-based information about depressive illnesses among adult individuals from rural Bangladesh. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the factors that are associated with depressive illness but remain undiagnosed among rural healt...
Show More
Clinical Features of a Series of Non-Surgical Patients with Focal Cortical Dysplasia and Epilepsy
Gustavo Seifer,
Juan Pablo Princich,
Silvia Kochen
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
8-12
Received:
6 January 2014
Published:
30 January 2014
Abstract: Most published series of patients with focal cortical dysplasia and epilepsy are surgical or pathological series of pediatric cases. Patients have a high frequency of seizure. The description of clinical features and the frequency patterns of non-surgical adult patients are less describe. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of adult patients (>18 years of age) that visited the Epilepsy Centre of the Ramos Mejía Hospital in the city of Buenos Aires between 2010 and 2012. We included all cases with confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy and MRI diagnosis of focal cortical dysplasia by standardized 1.5 T MRI. We analyzed the following variables: sex, age at seizure onset, seizure types, seizure frequency, presence of abnormal neurological exam, family history of epilepsy, existence of perinatal insults and electroencephalography or video-EEG with at least one ictal recording. We included 20 patients since 2010–2012. Mean age of our population was 25.9 years (9–46 years), 7 females, 13 males, they all had a negative family history of epilepsy, and only two patients had pathological neurological exam, both with mild contralateral paresis. Mean seizure onset age was 5.71 years (2 months–17 years) and the average frequency was 5.1 seizures per month (0–15). Two patients became seizure-free after adjusting antiepileptic drugs. Focal seizures were presented in the 100% of our population. The low frequency of seizure emphasizes the heterogeneity of these patients and the importance of the correct use of antiepileptic drugs schemes, as well as it can be dynamic over time. A proportion of medically resistant patients with cortical dysplasia are poor surgical candidates because the lesion cannot be completely identify or removed if it involves eloquent areas of the cortex. With the development of new drugs and the correct choice of treatment schedules is expected that more patients with focal cortical dysplasia would be treated successfully.
Abstract: Most published series of patients with focal cortical dysplasia and epilepsy are surgical or pathological series of pediatric cases. Patients have a high frequency of seizure. The description of clinical features and the frequency patterns of non-surgical adult patients are less describe. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of adult pa...
Show More
Acoustical Analysis of Vowel Duration in Palestinian Arabic Speaking Aphasics
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
13-17
Received:
23 January 2014
Published:
28 February 2014
Abstract: The current study investigates vowel durations of Arabic- speaking Broca’s aphasics. Three subjects diagnosed with Broca’s aphasia and three normal speakers participated in this study. Vowel durations of the short Arabic vowels (/i/, /a/, /u/) preceding voiced and voiceless fricatives were measured and analyzed. The effects of voicing on vowel duration are also investigated. The results show that the normal speakers as well as Broca’s aphasics complied with the phonological rule, vowels being longer preceding voiced fricatives. It is also demonstrated that vowel durations were significantly greater for Broca’s aphasics compared to normal speakers. Finally, this study is brought to bear on several aspects concerning timing and prosodic impairments of Broca’s aphasic speech. The finding may also have clinical applications concerning speech and language therapy in Palestine.
Abstract: The current study investigates vowel durations of Arabic- speaking Broca’s aphasics. Three subjects diagnosed with Broca’s aphasia and three normal speakers participated in this study. Vowel durations of the short Arabic vowels (/i/, /a/, /u/) preceding voiced and voiceless fricatives were measured and analyzed. The effects of voicing on vowel dura...
Show More
