Adverse drug reactions associated with chemotherapeutic agents used in breast cancer: Analysis of patients’ online forums

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide. The benefits of chemotherapy vary depending on the treatment regimen used and the characteristic of the tumour. However, adverse drug reactions associated with chemotherapeutic agents can cause dose delays or reductions; thereby, affecting the treatment outcomes. Objective: To explore adverse drug reactions of chemotherapeutic agents used to treat breast cancer from the patients’ perspective. Methods: A total of 110 threads from nine online discussion forums were evaluated. They were exported into NVivo for Mac where content analysis was applied. Threads were read carefully to observe emerging patterns which were then coded into sub-themes and grouped into main themes. Results: The participants’ characteristics on online discussion forums were often missing. Four hundred and eleven participants experienced 473 adverse drug reactions that were mainly associated with the nervous and immune systems. The forums’ analysis yielded three main themes: patient–patient advice, self-medication and lifestyle changes. Conclusion: Online discussion forums proposed valued source of data on adverse drug reactions associated with chemotherapeutic agents and overall patients’ experience with cancer. The adverse drug reactions experienced by patients changed their priorities and the way they dealt with the disease. Therefore, healthcare professionals must consider the patients’ experience and attitudes towards cancer when designing a treatment plan. This can be established by increasing communication between healthcare professionals and patients

Exploring the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of cervical and ovarian cancer from the patients' perspective: a content analysis of the online discussion forums.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of ovarian and cervical cancer by analysing patients' views posted in online discussion forums. METHOD: UK-centred online discussion forums were used to identify discussion threads on ovarian and cervical cancer between 2008 and 2017. The study was approved by the University of Bournemouth ethics committee. 272 discussion threads with 644 participants from four online discussion forums (Cancer Research UK, Macmillan, Ovacome and Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust) were identified. The threads were exported into NVivo and a thematic content analysis was conducted to identify study themes. RESULTS: Of the 644 participants, 19.4% had a diagnosis of cervical cancer and 80.6% had a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Four main themes related to: (1) treatment plan, (2) adverse effects, (3) perception of treatment and (4) hospitalisation were identified. Patients' perceptions about their treatment were reported to be positive across all chemotherapeutic agents. 312 adverse effects were reported by patients with cervical cancer taking cisplatin, with fatigue (52.1%) and nausea (30.6%) being the two most frequently reported adverse effects. With regard to the treatment of ovarian cancer, 402 adverse effects were reported by patients on carboplatin and paclitaxel, with neuropathy (29.3%) and fatigue (28.0%) being the two most commonly reported adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The online discussion forums allowed patients to express their concerns in a blame-free environment that provided novel insight into the impact of chemotherapy-associated adverse effects on patients with cervical and ovarian cancers. Real-life experiences shared by patients can help the healthcare professionals to find the right balance between prolonged survival and quality of life

Parámetros sedimentarios y texturales de continuidad y características mineralógicas del río Jajrood, Irán

In this research, we try to study the sedimentary characteristics and the trend of textural changes in the sediments of the Jajrood River from upstream to downstream at the point of junction to Latiyan dam. Based on the textural changes of sediments along the path from the upstream in the Garmabdar area to the downstream to the Latiyan Dam, the Jajrood River is divided into four A, B, C and D basins. Twenty sediment samples were collected and all sieved by dry and wet method also the specimens were morphoscopically studied. Data from field and laboratory phases were combined and interpreted using reliable scientific sources and finally a detailed summary was obtained regarding sedimentology of the study area. Mineralogically, the sediment type of the river is a clastic carbonate sedimentary type with fragments ranging from 30 to 58 percent and rock fragments between 25 to 50 percent abundance. Other minerals, such as feldspar minerals, account for about 1 to 4 percent, quartz 5 to 10 percent, and opauqe minerals from 1 to 5 percent. Examination of the average particle size in the A to D basins shows that decreasing trend of sediment size from the A to C basin occurs and reverses in the D basin. In the first three basins, the sorting grade of the river sediments is very bad and in the last basin it has become extremely bad. The amount of kurtosis of the particle distribution curve from upstream to downstream of the river is generally increasing trend. Textural changes along the river do not follow natural conditions due to the influence of various natural factors such as the entry of distributary into the main River, and phenomena such as landslide and rock collapses and debris flows, especially during floods along the riverbank.En esta investigación, tratamos de estudiar las características sedimentarias y la tendencia de los cambios de textura en los sedimentos del río Jajrood desde aguas arriba hacia aguas abajo en el punto de unión con la presa de Latiyan. Basado en los cambios de textura de los sedimentos a lo largo del camino desde el río arriba en el área de Garmabdar hasta la presa de Latiyan, el río Jajrood se divide en cuatro cuencas A, B, C y D. Se recogieron veinte muestras de sedimentos y todas se tamizaron por método seco y húmedo, y las muestras se estudiaron morfoscópicamente. Los datos de las fases de campo y laboratorio se combinaron e interpretaron utilizando fuentes científicas confiables y finalmente se obtuvo un resumen detallado sobre la sedimentología del área de estudio. Desde el punto de vista mineralógico, el tipo de sedimento del río es un tipo sedimentario de carbonato clástico con fragmentos que van del 30 al 58 por ciento y fragmentos de roca entre el 25 y el 50 por ciento de abundancia. Otros minerales, como los minerales de feldespato, representan alrededor del 1 al 4 por ciento, los cuarzos del 5 al 10 por ciento y los minerales opacos del 1 al 5 por ciento. El examen del tamaño promedio de partícula en las cuencas A a D muestra que se produce una tendencia decreciente del tamaño del sedimento de la cuenca A a C y se invierte en la cuenca D. En las primeras tres cuencas, el grado de clasificación de los sedimentos del río es muy malo y en la última cuenca se ha vuelto extremadamente malo. La cantidad de curtosis de la curva de distribución de partículas de río arriba a río abajo es generalmente una tendencia creciente. Los cambios de textura a lo largo del río no siguen las condiciones naturales debido a la influencia de varios factores naturales, como la entrada de distribución en el río principal, y fenómenos como derrumbes y derrumbes de rocas y flujos de escombros, especialmente durante las inundaciones a lo largo de la orilla del río

Parámetros sedimentarios y texturales de continuidad y características mineralógicas del río Jajrood, Irán

In this research, we try to study the sedimentary characteristics and the trend of textural changes in the sediments of the Jajrood River from upstream to downstream at the point of junction to Latiyan dam. Based on the textural changes of sediments along the path from the upstream in the Garmabdar area to the downstream to the Latiyan Dam, the Jajrood River is divided into four A, B, C and D basins. Twenty sediment samples were collected and all sieved by dry and wet method also the specimens were morphoscopically studied. Data from field and laboratory phases were combined and interpreted using reliable scientific sources and finally a detailed summary was obtained regarding sedimentology of the study area. Mineralogically, the sediment type of the river is a clastic carbonate sedimentary type with fragments ranging from 30 to 58 percent and rock fragments between 25 to 50 percent abundance. Other minerals, such as feldspar minerals, account for about 1 to 4 percent, quartz 5 to 10 percent, and opauqe minerals from 1 to 5 percent. Examination of the average particle size in the A to D basins shows that decreasing trend of sediment size from the A to C basin occurs and reverses in the D basin. In the first three basins, the sorting grade of the river sediments is very bad and in the last basin it has become extremely bad. The amount of kurtosis of the particle distribution curve from upstream to downstream of the river is generally increasing trend. Textural changes along the river do not follow natural conditions due to the influence of various natural factors such as the entry of distributary into the main River, and phenomena such as landslide and rock collapses and debris flows, especially during floods along the riverbank.En esta investigación, tratamos de estudiar las características sedimentarias y la tendencia de los cambios de textura en los sedimentos del río Jajrood desde aguas arriba hacia aguas abajo en el punto de unión con la presa de Latiyan. Basado en los cambios de textura de los sedimentos a lo largo del camino desde el río arriba en el área de Garmabdar hasta la presa de Latiyan, el río Jajrood se divide en cuatro cuencas A, B, C y D. Se recogieron veinte muestras de sedimentos y todas se tamizaron por método seco y húmedo, y las muestras se estudiaron morfoscópicamente. Los datos de las fases de campo y laboratorio se combinaron e interpretaron utilizando fuentes científicas confiables y finalmente se obtuvo un resumen detallado sobre la sedimentología del área de estudio. Desde el punto de vista mineralógico, el tipo de sedimento del río es un tipo sedimentario de carbonato clástico con fragmentos que van del 30 al 58 por ciento y fragmentos de roca entre el 25 y el 50 por ciento de abundancia. Otros minerales, como los minerales de feldespato, representan alrededor del 1 al 4 por ciento, los cuarzos del 5 al 10 por ciento y los minerales opacos del 1 al 5 por ciento. El examen del tamaño promedio de partícula en las cuencas A a D muestra que se produce una tendencia decreciente del tamaño del sedimento de la cuenca A a C y se invierte en la cuenca D. En las primeras tres cuencas, el grado de clasificación de los sedimentos del río es muy malo y en la última cuenca se ha vuelto extremadamente malo. La cantidad de curtosis de la curva de distribución de partículas de río arriba a río abajo es generalmente una tendencia creciente. Los cambios de textura a lo largo del río no siguen las condiciones naturales debido a la influencia de varios factores naturales, como la entrada de distribución en el río principal, y fenómenos como derrumbes y derrumbes de rocas y flujos de escombros, especialmente durante las inundaciones a lo largo de la orilla del río

The impact of multi-enzyme fortification on growth performance, intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality of broiler chickens fed a standard or low-density diet

This research aimed to study the impact of supplementation of three multi-enzyme levels (0, 0.1, and 0.2% of feed) and two levels of dietary treatments [standard diet (SD) and low-density diet (LDD)] on growth performance, carcass traits, digestibility, and meat quality of broilers from 1 to 38 days of age. A total of 216 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a factorial experiment (2 × 3) comprising six dietary treatments, each with six replicates and each replicate with six chickens. The results showed that the LDD significantly reduced body weight gain by 5.0%, compared with the SD. Multi-enzymes significantly improved body weight gain and the production index (PI) relative to the SD. The feed conversion ratio was significantly enhanced with increased multi-enzymes from 1 to 21 days. A significant relation between the multi-enzyme concentration and type of dietary treatment was observed in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio from 1 to 21 days of age. Nitrogen-free extract digestibility was significantly increased by using the SD diet compared with using the LDD. Multi-enzyme supplementation improved the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract in the LDD. A significant relationship was found between the multi-enzyme concentration and type of dietary treatment on the pancreas, liver, and intestinal length percentages. The meat dry matter concentration was significantly higher in the LDD group than in the SD group. The low-density diet significantly reduced the total revenue compared with the SD, whereas broilers fed the SD recorded significantly higher total revenue and economic efficiency than those fed the LDD. The low-density diet significantly increased economic efficiency compared with the SD. Multi-enzymes significantly increased the total revenue, net revenue, and economic efficiency than the standard set. In conclusion, using multi-enzymes in broiler diets improved body weight gain. The LDD with multi-enzymes showed enhanced body weight gain compared with the SD without multi-enzymes

Laying performance, digestibility and plasma hormones in laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress as affected by betaine, vitamin C, and/or vitamin E supplementation

Heat stress had a negative effect on laying hens' performance, thus this research was to study the influences of betaine (Bet, 1000 mg/kg betaine), vitamin C (VC, 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid), and vitamin E (VE, 150 mg/kg a-Tocopherol acetate) and their possible combinations on egg production, digestibility of nutrients, plasma hormones and reproductive organs of dual-purpose hens exposed to chronic heat stress. Two hundred and eighty eight hens and thirty-six cocks from 32 to 48 weeks of age were divided into nine treatment groups of four replicates, each containing eight hens and one cock. One group was kept under thermo-natural condition and the eight others were kept under chronic heat stress (CHS). One of these eight was used as a negative control, while the others were supplemented with VC, VE and/or betaine and their possible combinations. Body weights, laying rate, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in hens reared under CHS rooster without any supplementation during 32 to 48 weeks of impairment (P = 0.0052) were recorded. Hens reared under heat stress and fed a diet supplemented with either Bet, VC, VE or combination of the supplements increased production traits. However, hens supplemented with VC showed the greatest production traits. Plasma glucose, estradiol-17 (E-2), progesterone (P-4), tri-iodothyronine (T-3) and thyroxine (T-4) decreased in hens reared under CHS and fed a diet with no supplementation compared to the other treatments (P = 0.001). Liver weights, spleen weights, thyroid gland weights, ovary weights, oviduct weights and oviduct lengths were lowest in hens reared under CHS and fed a diet with no supplementation (P = 0.0480). In conclusion, dual purpose hens reared under CHS and supplemented with VC at 200 mg/kg diet and Bet at 1000 mg/kg enhanced the laying performance and combated CHS

Comparative Study Using WEKA for Red Blood Cells Classification

Red blood cells (RBC) are the most common types of blood cells and are the most intensively studied in cell biology. The lack of RBCs is a condition in which the amount of hemoglobin level is lower than normal and is referred to as "anemia". Abnormalities in RBCs will affect the exchange of oxygen. This paper presents a comparative study for various techniques for classifying the RBCs as normal, or abnormal (anemic) using WEKA. WEKA is an open source consists of different machine learning algorithms for data mining applications. The algorithm tested are Radial Basis Function neural network, Support vector machine, and K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm. Two sets of combined features were utilized for classification of blood cells images. The first set, exclusively consist of geometrical features, was used to identify whether the tested blood cell has a spherical shape or non-spherical cells. While the second set, consist mainly of textural features was used to recognize the types of the spherical cells. We have provided an evaluation based on applying these classification methods to our RBCs image dataset which were obtained from Serdang Hospital-alaysia, and measuring the accuracy of test results. The best achieved classification rates are 97%, 98%, and 79% for Support vector machines, Radial Basis Function neural network, and K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm respectively

A Large Outbreak of Hepatitis E Among a Displaced Population in Darfur, Sudan, 2004: The Role of Water Treatment Methods.

BACKGROUND: The conflict in Darfur, Sudan, was responsible for the displacement of 1.8 million civilians. We investigated a large outbreak of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Mornay camp (78,800 inhabitants) in western Darfur. METHODS: To describe the outbreak, we used clinical and demographic information from cases recorded at the camp between 26 July and 31 December 2004. We conducted a case-cohort study and a retrospective cohort study to identify risk factors for clinical and asymptomatic hepatitis E, respectively. We collected stool and serum samples from animals and performed a bacteriological analysis of water samples. Human samples were tested for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibody to HEV (for serum samples) and for amplification of the HEV genome (for serum and stool samples). RESULTS: In 6 months, 2621 hepatitis E cases were recorded (attack rate, 3.3%), with a case-fatality rate of 1.7% (45 deaths, 19 of which involved were pregnant women). Risk factors for clinical HEV infection included age of 15-45 years (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-4.46) and drinking chlorinated surface water (odds ratio, 2.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-5.08). Both factors were also suggestive of increased risk for asymptomatic HEV infection, although this was not found to be statistically significant. HEV RNA was positively identified in serum samples obtained from 2 donkeys. No bacteria were identified from any sample of chlorinated water tested. CONCLUSIONS: Current recommendations to ensure a safe water supply may have been insufficient to inactivate HEV and control this epidemic. This research highlights the need to evaluate current water treatment methods and to identify alternative solutions adapted to complex emergencies

The impact of inflammation on Resistin, IL-6 and CRP in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Background: Inflammation contributes across the spectrum of cardiovascular disease, including the earliest steps in atherogenesis. Myocardial Infarction (MI) is most commonly due to occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery following the rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. It has been suggested that the adipose tissue may play an important role in mediating this chronic inflammatory process, human resistin, is a 12.5-kDa protein, it found in the inflammatory zone. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, it secreted by T cells and macrophages to stimulate immune response. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in the blood, the levels of CRP rise in response to inflammation. Objective: to determine the role of Resistin in Acute myocardial infarction patients and its effects on IL-6 and CRP. Patients and Methods: The study included 50 patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and 40 healthy subject as control, levels of resistin, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRP were measured. Results: The levels of resistin, IL-6 and CRP were significantly elevated with (p<0.001). There was positive correlation between resistin with IL-6 and CRP in acute myocardial infarction patients.  Conclusions: There was significantly increasing in levels of resistin, in acute myocardial infarction patients and this increasing may be related to inflammation. Resistin positively correlated with proinflammatory factor (IL-6 and CRP) so it have inflammation properties may consider a cardiovascular risk factor