[Background – The recently published “EarlyStim” study demonstrated that deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with early fluctuations is superior to the optimal pharmacological treatment in improving the quality of life and motor symptoms, and preserving sociocultural position. Our retrospective investigation aimed to evaluate if DBS therapy was able to preserve the working capabilities of our patients. Methods – We reviewed the data of 39 young (<60 years-old) PD patients who underwent subthalamic DBS implantation at University of Pécs and had at least two years follow-up. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their working capabilities: Patients with active job (“Job+” group, n=15) and retired patients (without active job, “Job-” group, n=24). Severity of motor symptoms (UPDRS part 3), quality of life (EQ-5D) and presence of active job were evaluated one and two years after the operation. Results – As far as the severity of motor symptoms were concerned, similar (approximately 50%) improvement was achieved in both groups. However, the postoperative quality of life was significantly better in the Job+ group. Majority (12/15, 80%) of Job+ group members were able to preserve their job two years after the operation. However, only a minimal portion (1/24, 4.2%) of the Job- group members was able to return to the world of active employees (p<0.01, McNemar test). Conclusion – Although our retrospective study has several limitations, our results fit well with the conclusions of “EarlyStim” study. Both of them suggest that with optimal timing of DBS implantation we may preserve the working capabilities of our patients.]

[Aim of the research: In the recent years the number of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease shows a significant increase. The aim was to highlight those factors that negatively affect the quality of life of young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Research and sampling methods: The authors made a cross-sectional, quantitative research at PTE KK between July 15, 2014 and December 31, 2014. During the non-random, convenience sampling, patients with Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis, aged between 18 and 46 years were included in the target audience. The data collection tools were standard questionnaires (Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale, IBDQ, Stoma Quality of Life Scale) and also demographic information (N=103). Beside the descriptive statistics we also used two-sample t-test with the help of the Microsoft Excel 2013 program (p<0,05). Results: The Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale mean score was 55,34±17,06 and in the context of the basic disease and socio-demographic indicators show no significant difference (p> 0.05). The average score of the IBDQ was 51,92 ±18,54, as regard the residence we found significant difference (p <0.001). Conclusions: The quality of life of young adults with inflammatory bowel disease must be improved and should be pursued to reduce the disease burden. The multidisciplinary treatment of the disease is important.]

[In the course of Parkinson’s disease, advanced and late stages can be distinguished. In the advanced stage, levodopa has good effect on motor symptoms, but patient care is often hindered by levodopa-induced complications such as motor fluctuation and dyskinesias. In the late stage levodopa response becomes poor, falls, dementia and psychotic symptoms appear and patients often need hospitalization. In the advanced stage, the quality of life may be improved better by device-aided therapy than by best oral medical treatment. The alternatives are apomorhin pump, levodopa carbidopa intestinal gel with pump and deep brain stimulation. The therapy plan should be based on the principle: “the right treatment, to the right patient, in the right time”.]

[Chronic kidney disease has profound effects on the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with serious physiological, psychological and socio-economic implications. The co-occurrence of protein-energy wasting (PEW) and inflammation in end stage renal disease patients is associated with worse HRQoL and increased mortality. We designed this study to examine the relationship between nutritional and inflammatory status and HRQoL in kidney transplant recipients. Data from 100 randomly selected kidney transplant patients were analyzed in a crosssectional survey. Socio-demographic parameters, laboratory results, transplantation related data, co-morbidities, medication and malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS) (Kalantar Score) were tabulated at baseline. Patients completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-SF (KDQoL-SFTM) self-administered questionnaire. Mean age was 51±13 years, median (interquartile range, IQR) time since transplantation 66 (83) months, 57% were males and 19% had diabetes. The median (IQR) MIS was 3 (3). MIS significantly and negatively correlated with almost all HRQoL domains analyzed, and this association remained significant in multivariate linear regression analysis for the log-transformed scores on energy/fatigue (β=-0.059, p<0.001), bodily pain (β=-0.056, p=0.004), physical functioning (β=-0.029, p=0.022), and symptoms/problems (β=-0.023, p=0.005) domains after statistical correction for age, gender, eGFR, dialysis vintage, Charlson Comorbidity Index and occupational status. Additionally, cubic spline analyses revealed linearly increasing, “dose-response” relationship between almost all domains of KDQoL-SFTM and the MIS. Malnutrition Inflammation Score is independently associated with different dimensions of health related quality of life in kidney transplant recipients.]

Background - Our aim was to translate the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire (QUEST) advanced by Troster (2005) and to analyse the validity and reliability of this questionnaire. Methods - Two hundred twelve consecutive patients with essential tremor (ET) and forty-three control subjects were included in the study. Permission for the translation and validation of the QUEST scale was obtained. The translation was performed according to the guidelines provided by the publisher. After the translation, the final version of the scale was administered to both groups to determine its reliability and validity. Results - The QUEST Physical, Psychosocial, communication, Hobbies/leisure and Work/finance scores were 0.967, 0.968, 0.933, 0.964 and 0.925, respectively. There were good correlations between each of the QUEST scores that were indicative of good internal consistency. Additionally, we observed that all of the QUEST scores were most strongly related to the right and left arms (p=0.0001). However, we observed that all of the QUEST scores were weakly related to the voice, head and right leg (p=0.0001). Discussion - These findings support the notion that the Turkish version of the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor (QUEST) questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of the quality of life of patients with ET.