• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1211-1217
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• 2014

Background: Cancer in infants younger than one year of age represents a unique problem with distinct epidemiological, clinical and genetic characteristics compared with older age groups. No report is yet available from Iran regarding epidemiological and survival rate of cancers diagnosed in this age group. Materials and Methods: The population under study comprised of patients which were diagnosed and admitted to Ali-Asghar hospital between years 1996-2005. In total, 287 infants were included in the retrospective descriptive survey. Patient files were evaluated for age of patient at the time of diagnosis, sex, geographical residence, consanguinity of parents, histological diagnosis, site of cancer involvement, type of therapy, date of last follow-up and cause of death (if applicable). Results: The average age at the time of diagnosis was 7.2 months old. The most frequent malignancy was retinoblastoma (44%), followed by leukemia (19%) and neuroblastoma (10%), with five-year overall survival rates of 77.7%, 41% and 90%, respectively Parents of 40 infants (13.9%) had consanguinity relationships. Conclusions: Although we cannot make any conclusions regarding the incidence of infant cancer subtypes based on this study, survival rates for major types were similar to the developed countries, which signifies strict adherence to standards of care in Ali-Asghar hospital, the main infant cancer care centre in Iran. A Childhood Cancer Registry with high-resolution data collection and also advanced genetic testing is advocated for in-depth analysis of variation in incidence and survival.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2020

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder. NF1 patients are predisposed to formation of several type solid tumors as well as to juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Loss of NF1 results in dysregulation of MAPK, PI3K and other signaling cascades, to promote cell proliferation and to inhibit cell apoptosis. The RUNX1 gene is associated with stem cell function in many tissues, and plays a key role in the fate of stem cells. Aberrant RUNX1 expression leads to context-dependent tumor development, in which RUNX1 may serve as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene in specific tissue contexts. The co-occurrence of mutation of NF1 and RUNX1 is detected rarely in several cancers and signaling downstream of RAS-MAPK can alter RUNX1 function. Whether aberrant RUNX1 expression contributes to NF1-related tumorigenesis is not fully understood. This review focuses on the role of RUNX1 in NF1-related tumors and blood disorders, and in sporadic cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1479-1485
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• 2015

Background: Even after completion of conventional treatment, breast cancer survivors continue to exhibit a variety of psychological and physical symptoms, affecting their quality of life. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between socio-demography, medical characteristics and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of a sample of breast cancer survivors in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: This pilot cross-sectional survey was conducted among breast cancer survivors (n=40) who were members of Breast Cancer Support Group Centre Johor Bahru. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to identify the relationships between socio-demography, medical characteristics and HR-QOL of the participants. Results: Living with family and completion of treatment were significant predictive factors of self-rated QOL, while living with family and ever giving birth significantly predicted satisfaction with health and physical health. Psychological health had moderate correlations with number of children and early cancer stage. Survivors' higher personal income (>MYR4,500) was the only significant predictor of social relationship, while age, income more than MYR4,500 and giving birth significantly predicted environment domain score. Conclusions: The findings suggested the survivors coped better in all four HR-QOL domains if they were married, lived with family, had children and were employed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3235-3242
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• 2016

Background: Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use in children with cancer is widespread. Health-care providers (HCP) need to acknowledge and address this need. This study explored and compared perspectives on CAM of HCP and parents of young patients with cancer in Indonesia. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using semi-structured questionnaires in HCP and parents of childhood cancer patients at an Indonesian academic hospital. Results: A total of 351 respondents participated: 175 HCP (response rate 80%) and 176 parents (response rate 80%). Parents were more likely than HCP to think that chemotherapy can cure cancer (80% compared to 69%, P=0.013). Nearly half of all parents (46%) and HCP (45%) doubted whether CAM can cure cancer. Parents were more likely than HCP to think that CAM can be helpful in childhood cancer treatment (54% compared to 35%, P=0.003). The most recommended CAM by HCP was self-prayer (93%). Reasons for recommending CAM were: hope for improvement of the child's condition (48%), patient wants to stop treatment (42%). Most discouraged CAM by HCP was by old-smart people (70%), the reasons being: lack of evidence for usefulness (77%), lack of CAM knowledge (75%). The proportion thinking that patients were unlikely to raise the CAM topic if they perceived that doctors were skeptical was higher in parents than in HCP (52% versus 1%) (P<0.001). Most HCP (71%) and parents (77%) acknowledged that their knowledge about safety and efficacy of CAM was inadequate (P=ns). The proportion that wanted to learn or read more about CAM was higher among parents than HCP (48% compared to 31%, P=0.002). Conclusions: HCP and parents have different perspectives on CAM use in children with cancer. HCP should enhance their CAM knowledge and encourage open communication about CAM with parents. If doctors' skepticism is perceived, parents are unlikely to raise CAM as a topic.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the need for hospice care between families of children and adults with cancer. Methods: The data was collected from 190 families of children and adult with cancer using self-rating questionnaires from December, 2004 to February, 2005. Data was analyzed using SPSS/Win program by Mean, SD and t-test. Results: The mean score of the need for hospice care in families of children with cancer was greater significantly than in families of adults with cancer (t=-2.126, P=.035). The scores of two factors among the five factors evaluated for the need for hospice care were different significantly. The mean score of control of major terminal physical symptoms' in families of children with cancer was greater significantly than the mean score of adults with cancer (t=-2.165, P=.032). The mean score of 'spiritual care to prepare for death' in families of adults with cancer was greater significantly than the mean score of children with cancer (t=-2.380, P=.018). Conclusion: For improving the quality of life for both patients and families, the hospice service program needs to consider the life cycle of patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4641-4646
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• 2013

Objective: To explore clinical experience and propose new ideas for treating children diagnosed with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for30 patients (16 males and 14 females, with a median age of 6.2 years) with primary orbital RMS who were enrolled in the Department of Eye Oncology and Pediatrics of our hospital from November 2004 to December 2012. International Rhabdomyosarcoma Organization Staging Standards indicated that among the 30 patients, 4 cases were in phase II, 20 were in phase III, and 6 were in phase IV. All patients underwent a multidisciplinary collaborative model of comprehensive treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, external radiotherapy, $^{125}I$ radioactive particle implantation, and autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation). Results: Follow-up was conducted until March 2013, with a median follow-up time of 47.2 months (5 to 95 months), and 7 deaths occurred. The 2-year estimated survival rate reached 86.1%, the ${\geq}3$-year estimated survival rate was 77%, and the 5-year estimated survival rate was 70.6%. Conclusions: The multidisciplinary collaborative model can be a safe and effective approach to the comprehensive treatment of children with orbital RMS. It has clinical significance in improving the tumor remission rate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2965-2972
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• 2016

Background: China carries a heavy burden of cervical cancer (CC) and substantial disparities exist across regions within the country. In order to reduce regional disparities in CC, the government of China launched the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Rural Areas (NCCSPRA) in 2009. Critical to the success of the program are the health care workers who play a pivotal role in preventing and managing CC by encouraging and motivating women to use screening services and by providing identification and treatment services. This study aimed to assess cervical cancer knowledge among these health care workers at the county level in maternal and child health (MCH) hospitals across different socio-economic regions of China. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and self-administered questionnaires were sent to all health care workers (a total of 66) providing cervical cancer screening services in 6 county level MCH hospitals in Liaoning, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces, representing eastern, central and western regions of China; 64 (97.0%, 64/66) of the workers responded. ANOVA and Chi-square test were used to compare the knowledge rate and scores in subgroups. Results: The knowledge level of the respondents was generally low. The overall combined knowledge rate was 46.9%. The knowledge rates for risk factors, prevention, clinical symptoms, screening and diagnostic tests and understanding of positive results were 31.3%, 37.5%, 18.1%, 56.3% and 84.4%, respectively. Statistically significant differences in scores or rates of CC knowledge were seen across the different regions. The total and sectional scores in the less developed regions were statistically significantly lower than in the other regions. Conclusions: The majority of the health care workers who provide CC screening service in NCCSPRA at county level MCH hospitals do not have adequately equipped with knowledge about CC. Given the importance of knowledge to the program's success in reducing CC burden in rural women in China, efforts are needed to improve the knowledge of health care workers, especially in less developed regions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2012

Passive exposure to tobacco smoke significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in children. Children, in particular, seem to be the most susceptible population to the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Paternal smoking inside the home leads to significant maternal and fetal exposure to ETS and may subsequently affect fetal health. ETS has been associated with adverse effects on pediatric health, including preterm birth, intrauterine growth retardation, perinatal mortality, respiratory illness, neurobehavioral problems, and decreased performance in school. A valid estimation of the risks associated with tobacco exposure depends on accurate measurement. Nicotine and its major metabolite, cotinine, are commonly used as smoking biomarkers, and their levels can be determined in various biological specimens such as blood, saliva, and urine. Recently, hair analysis was found to be a convenient, noninvasive technique for detecting the presence of nicotine exposure. Because nicotine/cotinine accumulates in hair during hair growth, it is a unique measure of longterm, cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke. Although smoking ban policies result in considerable reductions in ETS exposure, children are still exposed significantly to tobacco smoke not only in their homes but also in schools, restaurants, child-care settings, cars, buses, and other public places. Therefore, more effective strategies and public policies to protect preschool children from ETS should be consolidated.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of health behavior and self-esteem and the relationship between the two factors among elementary school students with multi-cultural family background. Participants: Survey participants were 87 multi-cultural family children who lived in Seoul and Kyoungi areas and were registered in the local elementary schools. Methods: Data collection was conducted by face-to-face interview survey. Elementary education majored undergraduate students who participated in the education support program for multi-cultural family children in the Ministry of Education and Science and primary researcher of this study interviewed the target students and finished the survey questionnaire based on the students' responses. Survey included general characteristics, multi-cultural family characteristics, self-esteem, and (physical, mental, and social) health behavior. Results: 1. The self-esteem scores of the multi-cultural families children were greater in girl than boys among the children whose parents were graduated from college or more, and whose father had his job. The participants' health behavior scores were different by mothers' educational level. 2. The better they speak in English the greater the self-esteem scores. There was no statistical difference in health behavior scores by the participants' multi-cultural family background. 3. Self-esteem had moderate level correlation with health behavior (r= .56, p= .00) including all sub-categories of physical, mental, and social health. Conclusions: Positive self-esteem level is more sensitive to explain multi-cultural family children's health behaviors, which means that self-esteem is an important factor determining multi-cultural children's health behaviors and their health status in future. Therefore, more research to identify the factors related to health behaviors should be supported and the health promotion programs utilizing self-esteem should be developed for the child and youth with multi-cultural family backgrounds.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.905-911
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• 2007

Purpose : Ghrelin, being secreted from the stomach, stimulates growth hormone secretion and controls energy homeostasis by increasing appetite. Leptin, being secreted from the adipocytes, controls weight and energy homeostasis by decreasing appetite. Leptin concentration is reported to increase after childhood cancer therapy. This study was aimed to compare ghrelin and leptin concentrations in normal children and children who received cancer therapy. Methods : We enrolled forty-three patients who were diagnosed with cancer and received radiotherapy or chemotherapy during Dec. 2004 through Dec. 2005 in St. Marys hospital and Kangnam St. Marys hospital. Forty-five healthy children were selected as a control group whose age, gender, weight and height were similar to those of cancer group. The serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations were also measured by radioimmunoassay. Results : The cancer group showed higher BMI and leptin concentrations. The control group showed higher concentrations of ghrelin. Both control and cancer groups revealed positive correlations between leptin concentrations and BMI. Ghrelin concentrations in the control group showed negative correlations with age, height, weight and BMI but no significant correlation was found in the cancer group. All the parameters in the group treated with chemotherapy only were not different from those in the group treated with chemotherapy and irradiation. But the level of ghrelin in the acute myeloid leukemia group was much higher than those in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia group. Conclusion : Patients with pediatric cancer treatment have presented higher BMI and leptin concentrations but lower ghrelin concentrations than those in healthy children. Because of the relatively short duration and cross sectional method of the study, however, further long term and prospective study will be required in the future.