Encouraging Underscreened Women to Have Cervical Cancer Screening: The Effectiveness of a Computer Strategy

Background.Computers that collect data from patients and provide both patients and practitioners with printed feedback on a range of health risks are a tool for assisting general practitioners with preventive care. This study assessed the impact of computer-generated printed feedback on cervical screening among women who were underscreened for cervical cancer.Method.Female attenders at two Australian general practices were randomly allocated to Experimental or Control groups. Women in both groups completed a health risk survey on a touch screen computer prior to their consultation. Those in the Experimental group received printed pages summarizing their results, including their eligibility for cervical screening and last Pap test, for themselves and their doctor. The number and proportion of underscreened women who had a Pap test in the 6 months after completing the computer survey, as determined by pathology records, were examined.Results.Of the 679 participants, 139 were classified as underscreened on the basis of self-report (74 Experimental, 65 Control) and 272 on the basis of their pathology records (148 Experimental, 124 Control). Overall about one-third of women had a test in the 6-month period, and the differences between the groups were not significant for women overall (18–70 years) or for women 18–49 years. Among women 50–70 who were underscreened based on self-report, those receiving the printout were more likely to have a Pap test in the next 6 months (P< 0.05). This pattern was also evident, but did not reach statistical significance, for older women who were underscreened based on pathology records.Conclusions.We are unable to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the computer system due to the modest proportions of women screened, the small numbers, and the fact that the computer survey may have created an intervention effect in the Control group. As the study suggests the computer system is acceptable to women and may be effective for encouraging screening among older women, further exploration of the system is desirable.     

Relapse of colon cancer followed by polymyositis: Report of a case and review of the literature

The direct causal relationship between dermatomyositis-polymyositis (PM) and malignancy remains controversial. We describe herein the case of a patient who underwent surgical treatment for colon cancer, which had preceded the onset of PM with tumor relapse. The PM markedly improved following the initiation of steroid therapy, and has remained under control, probably as a result of chemotherapy. The current concepts of variable clinical courses and the possible mechanism for the association of PM with malignancy are discussed following this case report.     

人端粒酶RNA的cDNA探针制备及其对胃粘膜细胞端粒酶RNA表达的检测

目的 建立人端粒酶RNA表达的检测方法。方法 制备人端粒酶RNA，(human telomeraseRNA，hTR)的cDNA探针，分别应用RNA斑点杂交与端粒重复序列扩增法(TRAP)分析检测不同胃粘膜的端粒酶RNA的表达与端粒酶活性。结果 人端粒酶RNA的cDNA探针制备成功。18例活检胃癌组织及45例手术胃癌组织RNA斑点杂交检测的阳性率均为l00％，相应TRAP分析的阳性率分别为88．89％、86．67％，低于RNA斑点杂交(P＜0．05)。同时RNA斑点杂交结果提示在非癌胃组织中随着肠化程度增高人端粒酶RNA表达也增强。结论 RNA斑点杂交检测人端粒酶RNA，具有高度的敏感性和特异性，弥补了TRAP分析敏感性不足的缺点。     

Eating to beat breast cancer: Potential role for soy supplements

Background: The study reviews the anticancer properties of naturalisoflavones which occur in especially high concentration in soybeans. Itconsiders the suitability of soybean products for clinical trials aiming toreduce the progression of breast cancer.Methods: Evidence is reviewed that plant isoflavones such asgenistein show cytostatic activity against human mammary cancer cell linesin vitro and can also suppress carcinogen-induced mammary cancer inyoung and mature rats.Results: Plant isoflavones are converted in the bowel to compoundswith potential antioestrogenic and antioxidative properties. These compoundsshow cytostatic activity for both oestrogen receptor-positive and negativehuman mammary cancer cell lines, and also inhibit growth and progress of therat mammary cancer model. The high content of soybean products in the diet ofAsian women has been postulated as one reason for their relatively low breastcancer incidence.Conclusion: Preclinical studies suggest that soybean products begiven priority for clinical trials in breast cancer protection. A pilot studycould test soy protein supplements as long-term adjuvant dietary treatmentafter primary surgery for early breast cancer, looking for a decrease in therisk of recurrence or of second primary tumours.     

Cancer support groups – are they effective?

Cancer causes significatlt emotional distress to a considerable majority of patients. Many of these patients typically receive little formal psychological intervention. Support groups, however, have provided one forum from which patients can attempt to gain help and can use to overcome some psychological trauma that accompanies the cancer hagnosis, subsequent treatment and relapse. This article reviews past studies of professionally run cancer support groups as opposed to psychological intervention groups. These studies are considered in light of the proposed benefits and the methodological limitations frequently inherent in such studies.     

Value of contrast-enhanced MRI of breast after silicone implant

Summary Early recognition of recurrence and work-up of clinically indeterminate lesions may be impaired after reconstruction with silicone implants due to superimposition of the implant or to scarring. This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with silicone implant after breast cancer. Contrast-enhanded MRI was offered to 169 patients. Comparative two- to three-view mammography was also performed in 169 patients, as well as comparative sonography in 144 patients. Conventional imaging and clinical examination detected only 8/13 recurrences, whereas 12/13 were detected by MRI. One recurrence had been visible as a strongly enhancing 2-mm dot in a previous examination (2 years before), but was not called. It was therefore counted as false negative. In addition, multicentricity was detected by MRI alone in two of three cases. MRI correctly diagnosed scar tissue in all cases with indeterminate findings. However, due to false-positive calls caused by enhancing granulomas specificity could not be improved. Contrast-enhanded MRI allowed decisive additional information in our study group and improved the sensitivity significantly (concerning all diagnoses). Contrast-enhanded MRI is recommended in patients with diagnostic problems or high risk of recurrence after silicone implants.      

The nature of the head and neck cancer

Summary Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a disease predominantly of males and is due to a variety of known environmental irritants, notably cigarette smoke. Dietary, viral and immunological factors may also be relevant. Head and neck squamous cancers express epidermal growth factor receptors and some show weak levels of oestrogen receptor activity, but a reliable serum marker of tumour burden remains to be identified. The prognosis is found to be less favourable in females, in those with advanced T stage, in association with multiple node involvement, especially where extracapsular spread is present and where the T4/T8 ratio is elevated. Administration of heterologous blood during therapy may also have an adverse effect on prognosis. Interested clinicians must remember that most cases are preventable. Correspondence to: A.G.D. Maran     

38例非小细胞癌脑转移的综合治疗分析

目的探讨非小细胞肺癌脑转移的有效治疗方案.方法对38例非小细胞肺癌脑转移患者进行头部、胸部放疗并结合全身化疗的综合治疗.结果近期疗效的有效率为76.3%(29/38).神经精神症状缓解率73.7%(28/38),肺部症状缓解率60.5%(23/38).1年生存率31.5%(12/38),2 a生存率10.5%(4/38).结论合理采用综合治疗可有效提高非小细胞肺癌脑转移患者的生存率.     

二甲基亚砜诱导人肝癌细胞BEL-7402凋亡的研究

目的 :研究二甲基亚砜 (DMSO)对人肝癌细胞凋亡的诱导作用。方法 :用不同浓度的DMSO处理体外培养的人肝癌细胞BEL 74 0 2 ,应用普通光镜、荧光显微镜、MTT分析方法和流式细胞技术 (FCM )检测肝癌细胞凋亡的形态学变化、细胞存活率、凋亡百分率和细胞周期分布的变化。结果 :DMSO诱导BEL 74 0 2细胞核DNA凝缩和核片段化 ,最后形成凋亡小体 ;随着DMSO浓度的增加和处理时间的延长 ,细胞存活率明显下降 ,其IC50 为 1.9% ;2 %的DMSO处理细胞 12h ,凋亡率达 17.2 1% ,同时S期细胞明显增加 ,G2 M期细胞明显下降。结论 :DMSO可诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡 ,并使细胞受阻于S期而进入凋亡程序。     

绝经前后T1期乳腺癌患者临床特征的分析

目的:分析T1期(肿瘤直径<2cm)原发性乳腺癌女性患者绝经前后在肿瘤大小、病理分类、淋巴结转移率和数目。方法:常规病理检验以及应用免疫组化、HE法分别测定绝经前乳腺癌患者和绝经后乳腺癌患者者的ER、PR。结果:两组患者在肿瘤大小上无明显差异,但绝经前乳腺癌患者浸润导管癌的百分比为 84. 7%,绝经后乳腺癌患者的浸润导管癌百分比为 62. 2%,经χ2 检验,P<0. 01。两组淋巴结转移率分别为 39. 3%和 25. 5%,经χ2 检验,P<0. 01。两组ER和PR阳性伴淋巴结转移的比例经χ2 检验,P<0. 05。结论:绝经前乳腺癌患者和绝经后乳腺癌患者在病理分类、淋巴结转移率及数目、ER、PR阳性伴淋巴结转移上有显著性差异。对于T1原发性乳腺癌患者不论有无淋巴结转移,均应行癌肿切除伴Ⅰ、Ⅱ级淋巴结清扫。