Physical symptoms/side effects during breast cancer treatment predict posttreatment distress

Background: Studies suggest that the period following completion of treatment can be distressing for cancer patients. One potentially important predictor of distress is physical symptoms/side effects during treatment.Purpose: A longitudinal, observational design was used to examine whether the number of physical symptoms/side effects experienced during treatment was a correlate of cancer-related distress and general distress 4 months after treatment completion, as measured by the Impact of Events Scale and the Mental Health subscale of the Short Form-36, respectively.Methods: Participants were 151 women who had completed chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ or stage 1 or 2 breast cancer. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted with relevant sociodemographic, clinical, and psychiatric variables entered as controls.Results: Greater physical symptoms/side effects predicted greater total cancer-related distress, intrusive thoughts, and general distress. Physical symptoms/side effects did not significantly predict avoidance. Follow-up analyses indicated that the relationship between physical symptoms/side effects and general distress was mediated by both total cancer-related distress and intrusive thoughts.Conclusions: These results suggest that patients who experience greater physical symptoms/side effects during treatment are at greater risk for later cancer-related distress and, in turn, general distress. Future research should evaluate whether early intervention with these patients is effective in preventing or reducing distress in the posttreatment period. This work was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (5R01 CA082822).     

Randomized Trials of Rate vs. Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation

Recent randomized trials have not demonstrated mortality or stroke risk reduction benefits from a rhythm-control compared to rate-control strategy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. These studies reinforce the need for continued anticoagulation in both strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation and risk factors for stroke. Although rate control can be rationalized as a first line approach, rhythm control strategies may be justified for patients who are younger, who remain symptomatic or functionally impaired, or who have a first episode of atrial fibrillation.     

The Lipid-regulating Effects of Atorvastatin on Type 2 Elder Diabetes Patients with Hyperlipidemia

Inthisstudy,theeffectofatorvastatinonlipidmetabolism ,especiallysLDL ,intype 2elderdiabetespatientswithhyperlipidemiawasstudy .Theresultswerepresentedasfollows.1　SUBJECTSANDMETHODS1 1　SubjectsThesubjectsincluded 2 6patientswithtype 2elderdiabetesandhyp…     

Experimental Study on Allogenic Decalcified Bone Matrix as Carrier for Bone Tissue Engineering

The biocompatibility and osteogenic activity of allogenic decalcified bone matrix (DBM) used as a carrier for bone tissue engineering were studied. Following the method described by Urist, allogenic DBM was made. In vitro, DBM and bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) from rab-bits were co-cultured for 3-7 days and subjected to HE staining, and a series of histomorphological observations were performed under phase-contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vivo the mixture of DBM/BMSC co-cultured for 3 days was planted into one side of muscules sacrospinalis of rabbits, and the DBM without BMSC was planted into other side as con-trol. Specimens were collected at postoperative week 1, 2 and 4, and subjected to HE staining, and observed under SEM. The results showed during culture in vitro, the BMSCs adherent to the wall of DBM grew, proliferated and had secretive activity. The in vivo experiment revealed that BMSCs and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the perivascular region invaded gradually and proliferated together in DBM/BMSC group, and colony-forming units of chondrocytes were found. Osteoblasts,trabecular bone and medullary cavity appeared. The inflammatory reaction around muscles almost disappeared at the second weeks. In pure DBM group, the similar changes appeared from the sur-face of the DBM to center, and the volume of total regenerate bones was less than the DBM/BMSC group at the same time. The results indicated that the mixture of DBM and BMSC had good bio-compatibility and ectopic induced osteogentic activty.     

An Integrated Technique for Identification of Differential Genes Expressed in Patients with Cancer

Summary: To develop a method for identification of differential gene expression between different cell populations, several convenient techniques of molecular biology, including subtractive hybridization, suppression PCR, T/A cloning and sequencing, were used to identify genes expressed differentially in CD45^- and CD45^- cells isolated from U266 cell line of multiple myeloma. Our results showed that the levels of abundant genes scale down 20 times through subtractive hybridization.Plasmid DNA from CD45^- cell clones was hybridized with forward or backward cDNA probes synthesized from CD45^- and CD45 cells, respectively. A few of differentially expressed genes reconfirmed by RT-PCR were identified from 500 expressed clones of CD45^- cells. It is concluded that a strategy for gene expression identification developed from conventional molecular biological methods can be used in different laboratories.     

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch vs. gastric bypass for severe obesity

Conclusion In the year 2003 there is no “one best bariatric operation” for every severely obese patient. The choice of operation must be tailored to each individual patient’s needs and wishes. For the superobese patient, the patient diagnosed with intestinal metaplasia of the stomach, and for those patients who do not wish to undergo the severe dietary restrictions imposed by the RNY-GB, the BPD-DS is a valuable surgical option.