Aim: In this study, we investigated the effect of pandemic on the diagnosis-treatment process in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant
chemotherapy.
Materials and Methods: The ...clinicopathological characteristics of the total patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for one year during
the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period and one year before the pandemic were compared. A total of 92 patients were analyzed
retrospectively.
Results: The clinicopathological features in the pandemic and prepandemic periods were found to be similar. While the number of patients was
26 (28.3%) during the pandemic period, it was 66 (71.7%) in the prepandemic period. Pathology reporting time, chemotherapy administration
time, preoperative preparation time and overall time from diagnosis to treatment were similar (p=0.305, p=0.171, p=0.104, p=0.061, respectively).
Magnetic resonance reporting time was shorter during the pandemic period (p=0.005).
Conclusion: The diagnosis and treatment times of breast cancer in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the pandemic period are similar
to those in the pre-pandemic period. Nevertheless, decision should be made on a patient-specific basis considering COVID-19 infection risk.
Amaç: İrritabl barsak sendromu (İBS), barsak alışkanlıklarında değişim ve kronik karın ağrısı ile karakterize bağırsağın fonksiyonel bir
hastalığıdır. İBS’ nin Romatoid artrit (RA) gibi inflamatuar ...patolojilerle artmış birlikteliğine rağmen, patofizyolojisinde inflamasyonun rolü
netleştirilebilmiş değildir. Ankilozan Spondilit (AS) başlıca aksiyel iskelet sistemini tutan, kronik inflamatuvar bir hastalıkdır. Çalışmamızın
amacı AS’ de İBS sıklığını tespit etmek ve bunun başta hastalık aktivitesi olmak üzere diğer faktörlerle ilişkisini ortaya koymaktır.
Materyal ve Metot: Çalışmaya Namık Kemal Üniversitesi romatoloji kliniğindeki 145 AS tanılı hasta dahil edildi. Hastaların demografik,
klinik ve laboratuvar verileri ile birlikte hastalık aktivitesi ve biyolojik ilaç kullanımı kaydedildi. ROMA III kriterlerine göre İBS tanısı ve tipi
incelendi.
Bulgular: AS hastalarındaki İBS sıklığı %31.7 idi. İBS sıklığı hastalık aktivitesi yüksek olan (BASDAI>4) ve biyolojik ajan tedavisi
alanlarda anlamlı şekilde yüksekti (p<0.001 ve p: 0.01 sırasıyla). Cinsiyetler arasında İBS kadın hastalarda, yaşa göre ise genç
hastalarda (<50 yaş) anlamlı şekilde yüksekti (p: 0.012 ve p<0.01 sırasıyla).
Sonuç: İBS; AS hastalarında normal popülasyona kıyasla daha yüksek (%31.7) tespit edildi. AS hastalık aktivite skoru ile İBS arasındaki
ilişki patogenezde inflamasyonun etkisini düşündürdü. Sonuç olarak özellikle hastalık aktivitesi yüksek olan AS hastalarında
gastroenterolojik şikayetler sorgulanmalı, sık bir komorbidite olan İBS takip sürecinde göz ardı edilmemelidir
Over the last decades, computer modeling has evolved from a supporting tool for engineering prototype design to an ubiquitous instrument in non-traditional fields such as medical rehabilitation. This ...area comes with unique challenges, e.g. the complex modeling of soft tissue or the analysis of musculoskeletal systems. Conventional modeling approaches like the finite element (FE) method are computationally costly when dealing with such models, limiting their usability for real-time simulation or deployment on low-end hardware, if the model at hand cannot be simplified without losing its expressiveness. Non-traditional approaches such as surrogate modeling using data-driven model order reduction are used to make complex high-fidelity models more widely available regardless. They often involve a dimensionality reduction step, in which the high-dimensional system state is transformed onto a low-dimensional subspace or manifold, and a regression approach to capture the reduced system behavior. While most publications focus on one dimensionality reduction, such as principal component analysis (PCA) (linear) or autoencoder (nonlinear), we consider and compare PCA, kernel PCA, autoencoders, as well as variational autoencoders for the approximation of a continuum-mechanical system. In detail, we demonstrate the benefits of the surrogate modeling approach on a complex musculoskeletal system of a human upper-arm with severe nonlinearities and physiological geometry. We consider both, the model’s deformation and the internal stress as the two main quantities of interest in a FE context. By doing so we are able to create computationally low-cost surrogate models which capture the system behavior with high approximation quality and fast evaluations.
A facile amperometric biosensor that included oxidase mimicking Co/2Fe metal-organic framework (MOF) for sialic acid (SA) detection was prepared. Amperometric SA biosensor was constructed on a gold ...screen-printed electrode via immobilization of Co/2Fe MOF and N-acetylneuraminic Acid Aldolase (NANA-Aldolase) enzyme, respectively. NANA-Aldolase enzyme converts free SA into pyruvate and N-acetyl-d-mannosamine. After this conversion, oxidase mimicking Co/2Fe bimetallic MOF converts pyruvate into acetylphosphate and O2 into H2O2. Investigation of analytical characteristics resulted with the linear range of 0.02 mM–1.00 mM of SA concentration with limit of detection value of 0.026 mM. Sample application studies with developed SA biosensor were carried out with GD3 ganglioside and HeLa cancer cell lines which have high SA concentrations while A549 cell lines were also used as control group. Before detecting free SA, the bound SA was freed from SA sources where every step was monitored via electron impedance spectroscopy. Then, free SA was successfully detected with the amperometric SA biosensor and as a result, more practical and accurate system was developed.
Display omitted
•An amperometric sialic acid (SA) biosensor based on oxidase mimicking Co/2Fe metal-MOF was prepared.•The biosensor included Co/2Fe MOF and NANA-Aldolase enzyme immobilized on AuSPE.•MOF converts pyruvate into acetylphosphate and oxygen into H2O2.•With developed biosensor, free SA was successfully detected.•Before detection of free SA, bound SA was released.
Objective
To investigate the influence of music together with visual objects as an ambiance in the waiting room on anxiety levels of breast cancer patients scheduled to receive chemotherapy in ...outpatient setting for the first time.
Material and method
Breast cancer patients planned to receive adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the first time between November 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021, were included. Two designs, including a standard waiting room (StWR) and an intervention waiting room (IWR) that was created by adding music and visual objects to the standard room, were constructed. These 2 designs were repeated sequentially in monthly periods, and a total of 104 patients with 52 in each group were randomized. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) were used for assessments. Results of the patients in StWR and IWR groups were compared.
Results
Both HADs anxiety and STAI-state anxiety scale scores were lower in patients who waited in IWR compared to those who waited in StWR (
p
= 0.041,
p
= 0.012, respectively). In patients in the IWR group, mean heart rate was lower by 7.6 bpm (
p
= 0.009). No difference was found between the groups with regard to HADs depression score and STAI-trait anxiety score (
p
= 0.305,
p
= 0.535, respectively). For all patients, HADs anxiety scale (
r
= 0.400,
p
= < 0.001) and STAI-state anxiety scale (
r
= 0.475,
p
= < 0.001) scores increased as the waiting time increased.
Discussion and conclusion
The present study is the first to investigate the influence of adding music together with visual objects to the standard ambiance of the chemotherapy waiting room on anxiety levels of breast cancer patients. We propose that introduction of paintings, artificial plants, and music to the ambiance of the waiting room has a significantly positive effect on alleviating anxiety levels of cancer patients waiting for chemotherapy.
A simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor based on bismuth film that was coated onto a carbon paste electrode was prepared and used for hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) detection. It was observed that ...bismuth film electrode (BiFE) greatly accelerated the electron transfer rate and showed excellent electrochemical activity for the oxidation of HMF compared to bare electrode. The effects of bismuth concentration, deposition potential, and deposition time on the responses of BiFE for the detection of HMF were optimized. As an analytical characteristic parameter, oxidation peak current was linearly related to HMF concentration in the range of 0.01 μM to 40 μM with a limit of detection value of 0.363 μM. Also, when selectivity studies were conducted, it was observed that BiFE had no interfering effect in the presence of three fold concentrations of coexisting similar structures compared to that of HMF. Moreover, the proposed method was successfully applied for the sensitive determination of HMF in various food samples with satisfactory recoveries.
Graphical Abstract
A practical and sensitive electrochemical sensor for hemoglobin (Hb) detection was developed. The main electrochemical reaction was the reduction of Fe (III) in the Hb structure. For the construction ...of the sensor, Hb was physically immobilized onto a carbon felt electrode (CFE) without using any linker or applying any pre-functioning or electrochemical procedures. After examining the electrochemical mechanism, the experimental conditions, such as pH, were optimized and the analytical characteristics were investigated. A linear range of 0.05 µM to 3.00 µM with a detection limit of 4.4 nM was obtained for Hb. The relative standard deviation value for 3 replicate determinations of 0.05 µM Hb was calculated as1.35%. The developed sensor was successfully applied for Hb detection via standard addition method in synthetic physiological serum sample. Meanwhile, the influences of interfering reagents, such as cysteine, ascorbic acid, bovine serum albumin, and glucose, on Hb detection were also examined.
Aim
The primary aim of this study was to compare tamoxifen versus aromatase inhibitors (AI) in terms of urinary incontinence (UI) in premenopausal female patients receiving adjuvant hormone therapy ...for breast cancer. A secondary aim was to investigate the prevalence and the affecting factors of UI.
Methods
This study was designed as a multicenter, cross-sectional that included consecutive premenopausal breast cancer patients ≤50 years of age receiving tamoxifen (with/without LHRHa) or AI (with LHRHa) for at least 6 months, between June 2021 and September 2022. Patients with urinary incontinence before hormone treatments and metastatic patients were excluded from the study. Turkish validation of The International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ UI-SF) was used to determine the UI. Using logistic regression methods, we analyzed potential predictive factors for UI.
Results
A total of 206 breast cancer patients were included in this study. A total of 120 (58.2%) patients were receiving tamoxifen plus LHRHa, 40 (19.4%) patients were receiving aromatase inhibitor plus LHRHa, and 46 (22.3%) patients were receiving tamoxifen only. In this study, the prevalence of urinary incontinence was found to be 35.9% (
n
:74). 41% of the patients receiving tamoxifen and 15.0% of those receiving aromatase inhibitors had complaints of urinary incontinence. There was a statistically significant difference between patients receiving tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor in terms of urinary incontinence (
p
=0.001). In the univariate analysis established to predict UI, parity (≥2 vs <2) (OR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.62–6.46,
p
= 0.001), tamoxifen (vs AI) (OR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.58–9.98,
p
= 0.003), age ( ≥40 vs. <40) (OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.37–5.71,
p
= 0.005), vaginal deliveries (≥2 vs. <2) (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.44–7.46,
p
= 0.005), hypertension (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.43–9.02,
p
= 0.007), diuretic use (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.09–5.95,
p
= 0.031) ), and body mass index (≥25 vs <25) (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.05–3.63),
p
= 0.034) was found to be predictive. Tamoxifen (OR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.77–12.56,
p
= 0.002), hypertension (OR = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.27–9.52,
p
= 0.015), and age (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.10–5.02,
p
= 0.027) remained independent predictors for incontinence in multivariate analyses.
Conclusion
We found that tamoxifen had increased the risk of urinary incontinence compared to aromatase inhibitors in patients receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer. In addition, we showed that age and hypertension were also independent predictors for UI. In the context of quality of life, we recommend close follow-up of these patients, as drug adherence may be affected in the event of urinary incontinence.
Introduction: This study investigated the relationship between serum interleukin-20 (IL-20) levels and paclitaxel-associated neuropathy in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. ...Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is a significant side effect of paclitaxel chemotherapy, and the exact mechanism underlying PIPN is not fully understood. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted with non-metastatic breast cancer patients between January 2022 and November 2022. Neuropathy symptoms were evaluated using the QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaire, and serum IL-20 levels were measured at three time points: before chemotherapy, on the 7th day after the first paclitaxel treatment, and after the last treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors predicting PIPN. Results: This study was completed with 59 female patients. During the study, 47 patients (79.6%) reported any degree of neuropathy, whereas 12 patients (20.4%) had no neuropathy. Univariate analysis to predict neuropathy measured on day 7 after first paclitaxel administration demonstrated that age, body mass index, 7th-day serum IL-20 level, and last cycle serum IL-20 level were predictive for PIPN. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the relationship between serum IL-20 levels and paclitaxel-related neuropathy in breast cancer patients. Further research targeting the function of IL-20 is needed to investigate potential strategies to prevent and treat PIPN.
Bu çalışmada sol-jel yöntemi kullanılarak hazırlanan (1-x).Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3/x.Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (x=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 ve 1.0) kompozit malzemelerinin yapısal, morfolojik ve elektriksel özellikleri ...incelenmiştir. Ana ve kompozit malzemelerin x-ışınları kırınım (XRD) desenlerinden, kristal yapı simetrilerinde herhangi bir değişiklik meydana gelmediği gözlenmiştir. Kompozit malzemelerin ana pikinin, Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3 ve Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 bileşiklerinin ana pikleri arasında optimize olduğu bulunmuştur. Atomik kuvvet mikroskobu çalışmalarından, bileşiklerin yüzeyindeki tane oluşumlarının aynı doğrultuda olduğu ve çok fazla farklılıkların olmadığı bulunmuştur. Taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM) çalışmaları Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3 ve Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 bileşiklerinin yüzey morfolojilerinin birbirlerinden farklı olduğunu göstermiştir Elektriksek özdirenç ölçümlerinden, Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3 bileşiğinin yarıiletken ve Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 bileşiğinin 199,1 K’in altında iletkenlik özellik gösterdiği ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Yarıiletken özellik gösteren Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3 bileşiğine %25 oranında Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 bileşiği katıldığında elde edilen kompozit malzemenin, 88,4 K’in altında iletkenlik özellik kazandığı ve Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 fazının hacimsel oranının artması sonucunda TIM geçiş sıcaklığının yüksek sıcaklıklara doğru (184,8 K) kaydığı bulunmuştur.
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