• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5927-5936
• /
• 2014

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Jordanians. Breast cancer patients suffer from several negative consequences after treatment and these include pain, fatigue, sexual problems, appearance and body image concerns, with psychological dysfunction. This could affect the patient quality of life and psychological well-being. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published quantitative data on the quality of life and psychological well-being of breast cancer patients in Jordan. The objective of this study was to obtain such data and assess predictors with calculated scores. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted among breast cancer patients in Jordan diagnosed in 2009 and 2010, assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Breast Module (QLQ-BR23) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Clinical, demographic and psychosocial indicators that could predict patient quality of life scores were collected. Results: The number of patients interviewed was 236 (mean age=$50.7{\pm}10.7$ years). The mean Global Health score for the QLQ-C30 was $63.7{\pm}20.2$ SD. Among functional scales, "social functioning" scored the highest ($mean=78.1{\pm}28.6$ SD), whereas "emotional functioning" scored the lowest ($mean=59.0{\pm}SD\;33.5$). For the QLQ-BR23, the worst scores within the functional scales were for "body image" ($mean=52.1{\pm}36.8$ SD) and "future perspective" ($mean=52.9{\pm}38.5$ SD). The worst symptom was "upset by hair loss" ($mean=69.8{\pm}43.0$). The mean HADS scores was $18.{\pm}9.0$ SD. Out of study participants, 53% scored abnormal on the anxiety scale and 45% on the depression scale. Severe depression and severe anxiety were detected among 8% and 14% of study participants, respectively. Statistically significant predictors for individual scores were similar to those reported in published studies, such as the presence of recurrence since baseline, family history of cancer, low educational status, current social problems, extent of the disease, presence of financial difficulties, and employment status. Conclusions and Recommendations: Breast cancer survivors in Jordan have overall good quality of life scores when compared with patients from Western countries. However, their psychological wellbeing is more impaired. There is an urgent need for psychosocial support programs and psychological screening and consultation for breast cancer patients at hospitals of the Ministry of Health in Jordan.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5523-5528
• /
• 2014

Objective: To evaluate the implementation of screening colonoscopy amongst first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Turkey. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 first-degree relatives (mean(SD)age: 42.5(12.7) years, 55.5% were male) of 136 CRC patients were included in this cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Data on demographic characteristics, relationship to patient and family history for malignancy other than the index case were evaluated in the FDRs of patients as were the data on knowledge about and characteristics related to the implementation of screening colonoscopy using a standardized questionnaire form. Results: The mean(SD) age at diagnosis of CRC in the index patients was 60.0(14.0) years, while mean(SD) age of first degree relatives was 42.5(12.7) years. Overall 36.3% of relatives were determined to have knowledge about colonoscopy. Physicians (66.9%) were the major source of information. Screening colonoscopy was recommended to 19.5% (n=78) of patient relatives, while 48.7% (n=38) of individuals participated in colonoscopy procedures, mostly (57.9%) one year after the index diagnosis. Screening colonoscopy revealed normal findings in 25 of 38 (65.8%) cases, while precancerous lesions were detected in 26.3% of screened individuals. In 19.0% of FDRs of patients, there was a detected risk for Lynch syndrome related cancer. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings revealed that less than 20% of FDRs of patients had received a screening colonoscopy recommendation; only 48.7% participated in the procedure with detection of precancerous lesions in 26.3%. Rise of awareness about screening colonoscopy amongst patients with CRC and first degree relatives of patients and motivation of physicians for targeted screening would improve the participation rate in screening colonoscopy by FDRs of patients with CRC in Turkey.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5095-5099
• /
• 2013

Background: The overall incidence of breast cancer in South Asian countries, including Nepal, is low compared to Western countries. However, the incidence of breast cancer among young women is relatively high. Breast cancer in such cases is characterized by a relatively unfavorable prognosis and unusual pathological features. The aim of this study was to investigate clinico-pathological and biological characteristics in younger breast cancer patients (<40 years) and compare these with their older counterparts. Materials and Methods: Nine hundred and forty four consecutive female breast cancer patients, admitted to the Department of Surgery, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal between November 1997 and October 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Out of the 944 female breast cancer patients, 263 (27.9%) were <40 years. The mean age was $34.6{\pm}5.0$ years among younger patients compared to $54.1{\pm}9.9$ for those ${\geq}40$ years. The mean age at menarche was also significantly lower ($13.5{\pm}1.5$ vs $14.2{\pm}1.5$ years p=0.001) while the mean duration of symptoms was significantly longer (7.6 vs 6.5 months p=0.004). Family history of breast cancer was evident in 3.0% of the young women versus 0.3% in the older one. Mammography was performed less frequently in younger patients (59.7%), compared to older (74.4%), and was of diagnostic benefit in only 20% of younger patients compared to 85% of older ones. At diagnosis, the mean tumor diameter was significantly larger in young women ($5.0{\pm}2.5$ vs $4.5{\pm}2.4cm$, p=0.005). Axillary lymph nodes were positive in 73% of younger patients and 59% of older patients. In the younger group, the proportion of stage III or IV disease was higher (55.1% vs 47.1%, $p{\leq}0.05$). The proportion of breast conserving surgery was higher in young patients (25.1% vs 8.7%) and a higher proportion of younger patients receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (9.9% vs 2.8%). The most common histological type was ductal carcinoma (93.1% vs 86%). The proportion of histological grade II or III was higher in younger patients (55.9% vs 24.5%). Similarly, in the younger group, lymphatic and vascular invasion was more common (63.2% vs 34.3% and 39.8% vs 25.4%, respectively). Patients in the younger age group exhibited lower estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positivity (34.7% vs 49.8%). Although statistically not significant, the proportion of triple negative tumors in younger age group was higher (22.4% vs 13.6%). Conclusions: Breast cancer in young Nepalese women represents over one quarter of all female breast cancers, many being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Tumors in young women exhibit more aggressive biological features. Hence, breast cancer in young women is worth special attention for earlier detection.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.243-247
• /
• 1998

The authors tried to confirm the significant changes of plasma homovanillic acid(HVA) concentration after insulin administration in comparison with those of usual diurnal variation in the same subjects. Male patients with schizophrenia taking neuroleptics were participated in a study of diurnal variation and insulin induced dopaminergic perturbation, with multiple samplings at baseline, 30minutes, 60minutes and 90minutes after insulin administration(n=18). Ten patients were sampled at baseline and 60minutes after insulin administration. There was a diurnal variation of plasma HVA concentrations, which decreased gradually from 8 am to 9:30 am. We confirmed that regular insulin(0.1 unit/kg) blocked the normal diurnal variations and increased plasma HVA concentrations. This pattern was not correlated with clinical variables, such as age, onset age, duration of illness and presence of family history. Schizophrenic patients were grouped by the positive and negative syndrome scale. In contrast to our previous study, the concentrations of positive and negative groups were similar at baseline. The HVA concentrations of negative group after insulin administration were higher than those of positive group without statistical significance. We have a plan to modify the current insulin-HVA method. In the near future, we will try to confirm whether the modified insulin-HVA method can be used as a biological indicator for the elucidation of complex clinical manifestations of schizophrenia.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.226-235
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among the functional status, hostility, and social support in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The subjects were comprised of 135 patients who had received PCI from two general hospitals in Seoul, Korea. The functional status differed significantly according to gender (t=5.880, p<0.001), age (F=23.620, p<0.001), education (F=17.718, p<0.001), occupation (t=-6.498, p<0.001), monthly income (F=7.237, p<0.001), and smoking (t=2.327, p=0.025). The hostility differed significantly according to age (F=6.150, p=0.001), period after PCI (F=6.141, p=0.001), and family history (t=2.514, p=0.013). Differences were observed in the scores for social support according to age (F=2.866, p=0.039) and education (F=5.136, p=0.002). Significant positive correlations were found among functional status and social support (r=.20, p=0.025), friends support (r=.22, p=0.010) and a significant negative correlation between functional status and hostility (r=-.24, p=0.005). A significant negative correlation was found between hostility and friends support (r=-.17, p=0.046). Nurses should consider the characteristics of patients who have undergone PCI and develop nursing intervention programs to improve their functional status, hostility, and social support.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.6888-6894
• /
• 2015

Bluetooth 4.0 is the most appropriate technology for Internet of Things, which can be used to enhance and expand the existing areas and areas with a variety of applications. In this paper, an example of the services of the Internet of Things, we developed a tour guide system using the Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi sensor technology. iBeacon-based push service have been limited to iOS smart phone series, non-iOS family and lower version of iOS 6 smart phones can not receive push-based services. This paper proposed in iBeacon and WiFi sensor is more than tourists, while maintaining the existing system (non-iOS smartphone users) can provide the service to you. Service tourist information as well as that can provide the advertising associated with the service. With 10 kinds of smart phones used in Korea was the experiment on the MAC information collected. This experiment is to track the behaviour of tourists in history can provide customized services can be based. Tourist destinations as well as amusement parks, resorts, etc. If you want to apply this system in a crowded place for user behavior information-gathering feature views over the a prevention of a missing child features such as notifications, risk, prevention is possible for a variety of applications.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.36-46
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study was designed to fine out the relationships among body image, self-esteem and health promotion behavior in mastectomy patients. Method: Data were obtained by self -reported questionnaires from 218 patients undergone mastectomy from September 1 to October 15, 2005. And data were analyzed using SPSS/PC WIN 12.0 program. For the statistical analysis of the date, frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used. Result: The mean scores of the body image, self-esteem, and health promotion of the subjects were $41{\pm}7.40$ (range of scale : 17 to 68), $22.22{\pm}4.95$ range of scale : 10 to 40), and $130.45{\pm}23.99$ range of scale : 50 to 200), respectively. There were significant differences with the score of body image by the work type (F=4.018, p= .008), a number of child (F=3.069, p= .029), and participation with self help group program (t=68.177, p= .001). There were significant differences with the score of self-esteem by the type of religion (F=4.546, p= .002), work type (F=4.488, p= .004), post operation period (F=2.814, p= .026), and participation with self help group program (t=12.901, p= .001). There were significant differences with the score of the health promotion behavior by the type of religion (F=3.066, p= .018), economic state (F=11.765, p= .001), level of education (F=6.285, p= .001), operation site (F=.368, p=.027), family history (t=6.557, p= .011), and hope of breast reconstruction (t=7.025, p=.009). Relationship between body image and self-esteem showed moderate positive correlation (r=0.631, p= .001). The relationship between body image and health promotion behavior showed slightly positive correlation (r=0.257, p= .001). The relationship between self-esteem and health promotion behavior showed moderate positive correlation (r=0.431, p=.001). Conclusion: For the increasement of the health promotion behavior, it is needed to improve body image and self-esteem in mastectomy patients. And, It is needed to encourage to participate with self help group program in mastectomy patients.