Ebru Barçin

Referred facial sensation on the hand after full face transplantation

Objective: Using a single patient case study, we aimed to look at the interaction between full face transplantation and subsequent somatosensory representation in the cortex. Methods: We present a patient with full face transplantation who has recovered primary sensory modalities. The patient also has facial sensations such as touch perception in sensory examinations of the hands and fingers. Results: fMRI findings show interactions between the cortical representations of the face and hand. Conclusion: This phenomenon is one of the well-known referred sensations and reveals how face transplantation relates to cortical plasticity.

Balancing Autonomy and Security Over Geotracking Patients with Alzheimer's Using a Personalized Geotracking System with Social Support Network

Abstract Systems for geotracking Alzheimers Disease patients with dementia are reported to raise ethical issues and concerns. Studies stated possible loss of freedom and autonomy for patients, along with violations of their privacy, which may lead to loss of prestige/dignity. In this study, a personalized geotracking system that aims to balance patient security and need for privacy and autonomy is proposed. In addition, the system tries to form and organize a social support network among family caregivers to help each other locating patients during wandering episodes. The system introduces a personalized, four-level temporal geofence based tracking, warning and notification protocol that incorporates a safety check mechanism operating over Global System for Mobile Communications network. It is under development using Java and will be evaluated by using both qualitative and quantitative methods. In this paper, personalization, system architecture and social support network operation principles are presented.

Epilepsy and stigmatization in Turkey

Patients with epilepsy experience stigmatization quite often. Studies investigating stigmatization perceived by patients with epilepsy in Turkey are limited in number. In this study, we aimed to understand the relationship between stigmatization and psychopathology and also to identify the effects of stigmatization on the quality of life in epilepsy. Patients completed a socio-demographical data form and epilepsy information form. They were evaluated in terms of psychiatric diagnosis using SCID I and they were asked to complete SCL-90 R, Epilepsy Stigmatization Scale and SF 36. The percentages of patients who did and did not report perception of stigmatization were similar in the study group. Depression was the most common diagnosis followed by anxiety disorder. In comparison to patients who did not feel stigmatized, patients who reported perceived stigmatization had a higher frequency of generalized tonic clonic seizures and injuries during seizures and more frequently missed taking their medication. They also showed higher rates of both suicide attempts and psychopathology as evidenced by a higher rate of psychiatric diagnosis and higher score in all the subscales of SCL 90. With regard to their quality of life they were observed to be more disabled in the physical functioning, general health perception, vitality, social role functioning and mental health dimensions. A logistic regression analysis revealed that stigmatization was best predicted by three variables: history of suicide attempts, receiving a psychiatric diagnosis and higher score in SCL90PST. Our study has shown that psychopathology is a more significant predictor of stigmatization than the other variables related with seizure control.