An Intelligent System to Enhance the Performance of Brain Tumor Diagnosis from MR Images

Journal of Digital Imaging - In the human body, cancer is caused by aberrant cell proliferation. Brain tumors are created when cells in the human brain proliferate out of control. Brain tumors...     

What women with ovarian cancer think and know about genetic testing

ObjectivesFew women with ovarian cancer undergo genetic testing for the Breast and Ovarian Cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. With the prospect of BRCA-directed therapeutics, we investigated ovarian cancer patients' knowledge and willingness to undergo genetic testing.MethodsAll ovarian cancer patients seen in the Gynecology Center of a cancer center and a private clinic were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire regarding knowledge and willingness to undergo BRCA testing. Women who had prior genetic testing were asked not to participate. Data was analyzed using Fisher's exact test.ResultsTwo-hundred and thirty seven ovarian cancer patients voluntarily completed the questionnaire. Fifty-five percent (131/237) of participants had not heard of BRCA testing. Of Caucasian respondents, 51% were unaware of BRCA testing, compared to 70% of Hispanic and 88% of African American respondents (p = 0.008). Awareness was correlated with education (p < 0.001). Eighty-nine percent of participants were willing to be tested if it would directly affect their therapy and 86.9% would be tested to benefit their family. Seventy-four percent of patients would pay 20% of the cost of testing, only 25.1% would pay in full.ConclusionsA majority of women with ovarian cancer are not aware of the availability of BRCA testing. This lack of awareness is more profound in minorities. Despite lack of knowledge, most patients would undergo testing if it would impact their care. However, cost may be a barrier. Given the willingness of patients to undergo testing and the possibility of targeted therapy, clinicians who care for these patients should work to make appropriate genetic counseling referrals.     

Prevalence, correlates, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a middle-aged urban population in Kerala

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 314 middle-aged subjects (163 men; age range 40-60 years, mean 49 years) in urban Thiruvananthapuram City. Kerala, to estimate the prevalence of hypertension, examine its correlates, and assess the degree of awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure. Blood pressure was measured by a nurse graduate using a mercury column sphygmomanometer and a standardized technique. We used multivariable analyses to examine the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of hypertension. The overall prevalence of hypertension in our sample was 54.5% (men 56.3%, women 52.3%). The factors associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension were higher body-mass index (odds ratio for a value in the top tertile of 2.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-4.4), and older age (odds ratio for the age group 55-60 years of 2.65, 95% confidence interval: 1.3-5.6). An occupation involving moderate or greater physical activity was inversely associated with the prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.13-0.94). Among hypertensives, 39% were aware of the condition, while 29% were treated with blood pressure-lowering medications. Adequate control of elevated blood pressure was achieved in only 30.6% of treated hypertensives. In our community-based sample, over half of all middle-aged individuals were hypertensive, but less than a third were under treatment. Adequate control of hypertension was achieved in less than a third of the treated individuals. CONCLUSIONS: These observations re-emphasize the need for hypertension awareness programs targeting the general public and the increased use of opportunistic blood pressure screening, and underscore the importance of measures to increase the knowledge of current guidelines for the detection and treatment of hypertension among healthcare providers.     

Effect of curcumin on ethanol-induced stress on mononuclear cells

Blood cells in circulation are exposed to a wide variety of stress-causing agents, causing a number of changes including interactions with other cells and the extracellular matrix of the endothelial wall. In order to understand the role of curcumin, an antioxidant principle from Curcuma longa Linn., on blood mononuclear cells from rabbits given ethanol for 30 days and ethanol with curcumin, cells were isolated and an attachment assay was carried out. The monocytes from ethanol-treated rabbits showed a lesser attachment to collagen, the major component of the vessel wall subendothelium, and those from curcumin treated animals along with ethanol showed a higher affinity to collagen, causing an alteration in the attachment of monocyte to collagen due to ethanol-induced stress.     

Evaluating patients with mildly elevated transaminase levels

CASE STUDY: S.B. is a 52-year-old woman with recurrent stage IV ovarian cancer. She initially presented three and a half years ago with complaints of abdominal pain, increased abdominal girth, and abdominal bloating. A CA-125 blood test was elevated, and a computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed bilateral ovarian masses highly suspicious for malignancy. She was taken to surgery for a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and suboptimal tumor reduction. Pathology revealed poorly differentiated papillary serous ovarian cancer. Metastatic disease was noted in the rectosigmoid area and vaginal apex. Postoperatively, she received six cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin. At completion, her CA-125 normalized and imaging studies showed no evidence of disease. However, within three months, her CA-125 was elevated and a palpable mass at the vaginal apex was proven by biopsy to be recurrent disease.     

Evaluation of patient chemotherapy education in a gynecology oncology center

Goals of work To assess the level at which patient chemotherapy education needs are being met by the health-care team in an outpatient clinic setting and to identify any unmet needs regarding patient chemotherapy education.Patients and methods A questionnaire comprising 17 questions was developed to evaluate patient preferences regarding chemotherapy education. In the clinic, patients were offered a copy of the questionnaire with a cover letter describing the study.Main results A total of 282 questionnaires were completed, and 190 respondents had previously received chemotherapy. Of the 165 respondents who were previously treated at our institution, 66.7% (110) had received some form of chemotherapy education specifically from our clinic. The majority of all respondents (86.8%) reported that they preferred to receive information about their chemotherapy via written materials and/or through a conversation with a health-care professional. Regardless of the source of information, 62.6% of respondents (119) felt they were provided with adequate information about their chemotherapy treatment, and 42.4% reported that they would like more information about their chemotherapy.Conclusions The current practice in our clinic is to provide patients with written information about their chemotherapy that is reviewed with a health-care professional. The data revealed that our current practice is consistent with our patients preferences. However, this survey did identify new information that patients want to know about chemotherapy, such as how chemotherapy works, why chemotherapy stops working, and drug-drug as well as drug-food interactions. This information will be incorporated into future patient education materials.     

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-supported isoxazolinium permanganates: preparation and application as oxidising reagents

Divinylbenzene (DVB), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) (N,N′MBA) crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was functionalised to generate isoxazolinium permanganate resins. These resins were found to selectively oxidise alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in appreciable yields. These reagents were found to possess the characteristics of polymeric reagents including operational simplicity.