We evaluated the possible effects of comorbid diseases and functional capacity on the survival of elderly female patients with breast cancer.
The study included 159 breast cancer patients aged 65 ...years or older. Functional status of the patients was evaluated using Katz's index of activities of daily living (ADL) and Lawton and Brody's Instrumental ADL (IADL) scale.
ADL-based evaluation revealed 121 patients (76.1%) were independent, 34 (21.4%) semi-dependent and 4 (2.5%) dependent whereas IADL-based evaluation showed 69 patients (43.4%) were independent, 67 patients (42.1%) semi-dependent and 23 patients (14.5%) dependent. Among the patients, 69 (43.4%) had one comorbid disease, 62 (39.0%) had two and 26 (16.4%) had three or more. Of the entire cohort, 60.4% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Based on ADL index, overall survival (OS) was significantly better in semi-dependent and independent patients than in dependent patients (p = 0.001). In the upfront non-metastatic patient subgroup, disease-free survival (DFS) was favourable in the independent patients according to ADL index (p = 0.001). Having more than one comorbid disease had an unfavourable effect on OS. In the multiple regression analysis of non-metastatic patients, stage, triple-negative histology and ADL index remained significant in terms of OS (p = 0.008, HR: 3.17, CI: 1.35-7.44; p = 0.027, HR: 2.78, CI: 1.172-6.91; and p = 0.006, HR: 0.29, CI: 0.12-0.70, respectively).
In elderly patients with breast cancer, evaluation of daily living activities and comorbid diseases are as important as staging and subclassification of breast cancer in the determination of prognosis and survival.
ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effectiveness of utilising N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to treat tissue damage brought on by undescended testis (UT) in rats after orchiopexy.
Experimental study. ...Place and Duration of the Study: Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey, from January 2018 to June 2020.
The UT model was created by administering flutamide to pregnant rats. Four groups of animals were created as the control group (offsprings of pregnant rats without flutamide), group II (UT), group III (UT + orchiopexy), and group IV (UT + orchiopexy + NAC); each containing eight animals.
Group IV had a higher level of glutathione peroxidase than groups III and II (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). Malondialdehyde was reduced in group IV compared with groups III and II (both p<0.001). There were differences in mean apoptotic cell counts (ACC) among the groups (p<0.001). ACC in group IV was lower than in group III (p<0.001). Sperm counts were higher in group IV than ın groups III and II, and in group III they were higher than group II (p<0.001 all) and similar between groups IV and control group (p=0.102).
Orchiopexy reduced UT-related testicular damage, additionally using NAC following orchiopexy may further reduce testicular damage through its antioxidant effects.
Undescended testis, Testis damage, Orchiopexy, N-acetyl cysteine, Antioxidant.
Gastric cancer, one of the most common cancers in the world, rarely metastasizes to the ovaries. Ovarian metastases of gastric signet ring cell cancer (SRCC) are referred to as Krukenberg tumors and ...account for 1-2% of all ovarian cancers. Here, we analyze the characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with Krukenberg tumors.
We retrospectively analyzed the demographic characteristics, treatment modalities, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of patients who were diagnosed with Krukenberg tumors of gastric cancer origin and who underwent treatment and follow-up between January 2005 and January 2012 in the Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital.
Among 1755 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer between January 2005 and January 2012, eight patients (0.45%) with histopathologically identified Krukenberg tumors were enrolled. The median age of the eight patients was 42.2 years (range, 32-69 years). Two (25%) of the patients were stage 3A, two (25%) were stage 3C, and four (50%) were stage 4 at the time of diagnosis. The median PFS was 13.2 months (1-25 months), the median OS after the original diagnosis was 16.7 months (1-41 months), and the median OS after ovarian metastasis was 3.6 months (1-10 months).
Krukenberg tumors were seen particularly in young patients and more frequently during the premenopausal period. The prognosis was poor. When only the ovaries were affected, metastasectomy prolonged the survival time.
Transmission routes and seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) may vary between countries and geographic regions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with the ...transmission of HCV in our region, Tokat (located at middle Black Sea region of Turkey). Ninety-seven patients (age range: 16- 78-years-old, mean age: 53.6 +/- 10 yrs; 15 male, 82 female) who were admitted to Infectious Diseases Clinics between September 2004 and February 2007 and found to be anti-HCV positive by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (Abbott, Axsym) were enrolled in this study. The patients were evaluated for the risk factors including blood transfusion, past surgery, medical abortion, dental therapy, history of endoscopy/bronchoscopy, intravenous (i.v.) drug use, hospitalization exceeding one week and hemodialysis. "Sexual contact with multiple partners" has not been evaluated as a risk factor since the sociocultural features of this specific region would possibly prevent obtaining true data. Overall, history of previous dental therapy (68%), medical abortion (63.4%), prolonged hospitalization (60%), and surgery (59.8%) were found to be the most prevalent risk factors, followed by blood transfussion (25.8%) and endoscopy (14.1%). The evaluation of the risk factors according to gender revealed that prolonged hospitalization (65.7%) was the most frequently detected risk factor in females and dental operations (86.7%) in males. Previous hospitalization was a more common risk factor in female cases compared to males (p< 0.05), however, there were no statistically significant differences for the other risk factors in terms of gender. No risk factor was identified in one patient (1%). Of the patients, 15.3% had one, 27.1% had two, 35.3% had three, 18.8% had four, and 2.4% had five different risk factors. None of the patients had a history of i.v. drug use. The results of this study demonstrated that dental therapy, prolonged hospitalization, surgery and medical abortus were the most frequently associated risk factors for HCV transmission. Thus, preventive measures that target these specific risk factors should be taken into consideration to prevent HCV transmission.
Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease. Several subgroups have been identified, according to the clinical presentation and radiographic, pathological, biological, and molecular characteristics ...of the tumor. Intrinsic genetic heterogeneity may be responsible for these differences. To date, little is known about the clinical features and outcome of patients with primary metastatic BC (PMBC) defined as those presenting with stage IV disease.
Between September 2007 and May 2011, BC patients who were admitted to a clinic were assessed. Patients with PMBC were included in this retrospective analysis. The patients' demographic characteristics, treatment schedules, and survival data were recorded.
Of 2478 BC patients, 102 (4.1%) with PMBC were included in the analysis. The median age of the patients was 50 (26-90) years. Only four patients (3.9%) had previously undergone mammography. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 30 and 66 months, respectively. The PFS and OS were unaffected by age, menopausal status, ECOG, histology, or tumor grade. Both PFS and OS were affected by HR status (log rank p = 0.006, log rank p = 0.04), HER2 status (p = 0.001, p = 0.005), site of metastasis (p = 0.01, p = 0.04), radiotherapy (p = 0.04, OS p = 0.03), and bisphosphonate treatment (p = 0.02, p = 0.006). PFS was greater in the hormone therapy group (43 months, p = 0.03) while OS was greater in the patients that received chemotherapy (76 months, p = 0.01).
Mammography should be given greater emphasis, considering its importance in the prevention of PMBC. As a treatment option for bone and soft tissue metastatic PMBC patients, hormone therapy should be effective as a first-line treatment.
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in males. Hypertriglyceridemia and obesity are known risk factors for disease development. Omentin is a plasma adipokine that ...is synthesized in visceral adipose tissue; its plasma concentration changes in colorectal cancer and conditions associated with insulin resistance. To our knowledge, the relationship between omentin and PCa has not been investigated previously. Therefore, we evaluated omentin levels in PCa patients in this matched case–control study. Fifty consecutive patients newly diagnosed with PCa and 30 consecutive patients newly diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were assessed. Patients with PCa were divided into three subgroups according to the Gleason score. The omentin concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Blood urea nitrogen (
p
< 0.001), creatinine (Cr;
p
< 0.001), total cholesterol (
p
< 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (
p
< 0.001), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA;
p
= 0.03) levels were significantly higher in the PCa group than the BPH group. The median omentin level in BPH patients was 373 (207–792) versus 546.8 (297.1–945.7) ng/mL in the PCa group (
p
< 0.001). There was a negative weak/moderate correlation between omentin and body mass index in the BPH group (
r
= −0.364,
p
= 0.048). Circulating omentin levels were elevated in patients with PCa. Further studies would be useful to establish the mechanism underlying this increase and to assess the interaction between PCa and adipose tissue.
Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the breast constitutes 0.04%-0.53% of all malignancies and 2.2% of extra nodal lymphomas. In total, 7%-8% of all B-cell lymphomas are the mucosa-associated ...lymphoid tissue (MALT) type, of which up to 50% of primary gastric MALT lymphoma. Herein we present a patient with breast MALT lymphoma that transformed to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A 69-year-old female presented with a mass on her left breast. Physical examination showed a 3×3-cm mass located 1 cm from the areola on the upper lateral quadrant of the breast at the 1 o'clock position, which was fixed and firm. Excisional biopsy was performed and pathologic examination of the specimen showed MALT lymphoma transformation to DLBCL. The patient was staged as II-EA. The rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) protocol was scheduled as treatment. Following 6 courses of R-CHOP, 2 additional courses of rituximab were administered. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT was done at the end of the treatment. PET showed that the patient was in complete remission. At the time this report was written, the patient was being followed-up at the outpatient clinic on a regular basis. Lymphoma of the breast is a rarity among malignant tumors of the breast. The most common type of lymphoma is DLBCL. Breast MALT lymphoma is extremely rare. Primary MALT lymphoma of the breast can transform from low grade to high grade and recurrence is possible; therefore, such patients should be monitored carefully for transformation.
Port catheters are very critical component in the care of patients with chronic diseases such as cancer that require frequent hospitalization and venous access. Because port catheters can be used for ...biochemical analysis of blood, administration of chemotherapeutic agents, transfusion of blood and blood products, fluid and antibiotic support, and total parenteral nutrition. Port catheters can be placed safely and easily under ultrasound guidance. Port catheters, whose early or late complications are rarely seen, provide a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients compared to other venous access catheters. Key words: Antineoplastic agents, catheterization, ports catheters, adverse effects, quality of life.
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