Spermatorrhea in a Chinese patient with temporal lobe epilepsy: a case report

Impact of Occupational Therapy Interventions on Sexual Dysfunction in Epilepsy: A Case Report

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, necessitating lifelong medication management. One common side effect of these medications is sexual dysfunction. In this case report, a 37-year-old male epilepsy patient who was an office clerk by occupation presented at the outpatient department (OPD) of occupational therapy with the chief complaints of anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction primarily reporting of anorgasmia, which required longer foreplay to reach an effective erection leading to delayed ejaculation. The patient reported a nine-year history of complicated, partial, and generalized seizures for which he consulted the physician who prescribed him AED (antiepileptic drug) carbamazepine twice a day; however, the symptoms persisted, and the medication was changed to pregabalin. In addition to this, the patient was advised for occupational therapy intervention by the physician. In the occupational therapy department, the patient was assessed for various parameters that involved sexual functioning using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire-Male (CSFQ-M), for anxiety using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and quality of life (QOL) using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory - 31 (QOLIE-31) questionnaire. As part of the intervention, occupational therapy was provided to the patient for four months, which mainly focused on three major areas: health promotion, remediation, and modification. Each of these methods was used at all levels of the intervention, as outlined by the EX-Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, and Intensive Therapy model (P-LI-SS-IT), which reflected positive results, as there was enhanced sexual functioning, reduced symptoms of depression, and anxiety, and improved quality of life. In conclusion, occupational therapists along with doctors and other practitioners should focus on addressing intimacy and sexuality within their practice for epilepsy patients demonstrating symptoms of sexual dysfunction, which will consequently impact an individual's QOL. Additionally, screening and monitoring of sexual dysfunction should be included during the routine assessment of patients with epilepsy.

Serum Level of CEACAM1 in Patients with Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer and Its Clinical Significance in Cancer Tissue

Objective

To analyze the expression of CEACAM1 in serum of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore the correlation and clinical significance between the expression of CEACAM1 and pathological parameters of NSCLC tissue.

Methods

A total of 100 patients with NSCLC who underwent tumor resection were screened. Another 100 healthy patients in physical examination department were selected as control group. Venous blood and cancer tissue samples were collected. The expression of CEACAM1, TGF-β, VEGF-A, and IL-8 was detected.

Results

The results of various indicators in the lung cancer group were much higher than those in the healthy group; CEACAM1 was significantly positively correlated with TGF-β expression. The later the clinical stage and the higher the degree of differentiation of cancer tissue specimens, the more the expression of CEACAM1 in serum samples.

Conclusions

The expression level of CEACAM1 in the serum of NSCLC patients is strongly correlated with TGF-β, VEGF-A, and IL-8, indicating that serum CEACAM1 and TGF-β levels can predict the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of lung cancer and provide a target for future targeted therapy of lung cancer.