Comparative analysis of quality of life women in menopause period in Poland, Greece and Belorussia using MRS Scale. Preliminary report

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was the assessment of climacteric symptoms, the activity and quality of life of women in menopausal period from Poland, Greece and Belorussia using a Menopause Rating Scale (MRS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted among women in age after 45 years, from Poland (55), Belorussia (50) and Greece (85). MRS was obtained from the Professor Heinemann from Center of Epidemiology and Health Studies in Berlin. The scoring scheme is simple, i.e. the score increases point by point with increasing severity of subjectively perceived symptoms in each of the 11 items (severity 0--no complaints, 4 scoring points--severe). The respondent provides her personal perception by checking one of 5 possible boxes of "severity" for each of the items.

RESULTS

Mild and no complaints in similar degree were reported by all women from these three countries. We found significant (p < 0.001) differences between severe complaints reported by Greek women compared with complaints respondents from Belorussia and Poland. Moderate complaints were reported more frequently by women from Poland (32.56%) and Belorussia (34%) compared with women from Greece (28.55%). Severe complaints were noted more rarely in 1.6% Greek women compared with 2.6% Belorussian and 3% Polish respondents. No significant differences between no complainants, mild, moderate, marked and severe between women from Belorussia, Poland and Greece.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally we did not observe significant differences between reported complaints by women from Belorussia, Poland and Greece.

Utility of fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of recurrent pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a case report

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (PLAM) is a rare disease of undetermined cause that almost exclusively occurs in women of child-bearing age and is characterized by distinct clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings. PLAM is usually fatal unless treated with hormonal manipulation or lung transplantation. Primary diagnosis usually requires open lung biopsy to demonstrate the characteristic hamartomatous smooth muscle proliferation. To date, cytologic diagnosis of LAM has been limited to an ancillary role. Herein, we report the diagnosis of this neoplasm in a recurrence in an abdominal lymph node using fine-needle aspiration.

Transformation through grieving: art and the bereaved

The literature on grief has focused primarily on the grieving process and individual manifestations of grief. Little has been written, however, about the transformative or growth potential of grief. The article focuses on the use of art therapy in an adult bereavement group and the potential benefits of using expressive art therapy in bereavement work. The art therapy activities provided the group members with occasions to express a full range of feelings and opportunities for them to reflect on their individual views of themselves.