Association of Serum Leptin with Prognostic Factors in Breast Cancer

Background: Nowadays, cytokines such as Leptin and adiponectin are introduced as prognostic factors which, according to some studies, are also associated with body mass index. This study aimed to determine serum leptin level and its relationship with prognostic factors in breast cancer patients. Methods: This case–control study was conducted in the oncology department of Tohid Hospital, Sanandaj, Iran, between 2019 and 2020. Hundred new cases of breast cancer patients with histological evidence were enrolled in this study. Additionally, 100 age- and BMI-matched healthy individuals were recruited as the control group. The serum leptin level was measured using the ELISA method. Results: Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in breast cancer patients compared to the control group (21.68 ± 9.16 vs 11.89 ± 4.45; p < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between plasma leptin levels with ER, PR, and HER2 expressions (p > 0.05). Also, no significant associations were noted between leptin levels and grading and disease staging (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study found that leptin is higher in breast cancer patients than in healthy individuals, however, it did not prove that leptin is a predictive or prognostic factor

A case report of stomach and esophagus melanoma with liver metastases in a 63-year-old woman

BACKGROUND: Melanoma originates from melanocytes, which are dendritic pigmented cells. Malignant melanoma is divided into cutaneous and non-cutaneous types, and cutaneous one is the most common type. Gastric melanoma has rarely been reported, and is divided into primary and secondary categories.CASE REPORT: We report a 63-year-old woman with continues epigastric pain complaining of bloody defecation with elucidated blood, lack of appetite, weight loss, and icteric skin. She was a known case of hypertension, and a surgery of the left eye mass was done for her, which the patient's eye was discharged completely. The patient's biopsy sample was not sent for pathology, and there was no pathology result. The patient was evaluated with endoscopy because of epigastric pain of 6 months before. In addition to class A esophagitis, a nodule with an approximate dimension of 1 cm was seen in the Z-line of the esophagus, and two black lesions in the greater curvature of the stomach were seen, which biopsy of all these lesions was done. In the pathological study of biopsy specimens in a microscopic view, the replication of scattered hotspots in submucosa with atypical cells, large nuclei, and dark brown pigmentation were observed. In the immunohistochemistry study, HMB-25, Ki-67, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and S100 were positive. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with melanoma.CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates the importance of medical documentation in determining the origin of diseases. as, if there was documentary evidence of the evacuated eye mass, differentiation of the primary or metastatic melanoma was possible

The effectiveness of pain-based training program on depression and anxiety in cancer patients

Introduction: Cancer patients experience chronic pain and excruciating pain, which makes it difficult for them to tolerate and adapt. Aim: This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of an educational program based on compromise with pain on depression and anxiety of cancer patients. Method: The present research was conducted in a semi-experimental way with a pre-test and post-test design along with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all cancer patients referred to health centers and clinics in Sanandaj city in 2019, and 30 cancer patients were selected by available sampling and then randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The participants in the experimental group received the educational program based on compromise with pain in 10 sessions 2-hour, and the participants in the control group did not receive any intervention. Data collection tools were Beck Anxiety Questionnaire (1990) and Beck Depression Questionnaire (1961). Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 statistical software, descriptive indices and covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that the program based on compromise with pain had a significant effect (P<0.01) on the depression of cancer patients and reduced depression in cancer patients, and the program based on compromise with pain had a significant effect on the anxiety of cancer patients (P<0.01) and has improved anxiety in cancer patients. Conclusion: Based on the results of the research, this program can be used in counseling clinics to help cancer patients, considering the key role of the educational program based on compromise with pain in reducing depression and anxiety of cancer patients

Structural Model of Pain Acceptance Based on Mindfulness and the Difficulty of Emotional Regulation with the Mediating Role of Resilience in Cancer Patients

Background and Aim: Cancer patients experience severe pain for which adaptation is excruciating. The aim of this study was to design a structural model of pain acceptance based on mindfulness and difficulty of emotional regulation with a mediating role of resilience in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This study was based on structural equations and descriptive-correlational research. The statistical population consisted of all people with cancer referring to health centers and clinics in Sanandaj in 2019. Based on Hair's rule for sampling in structural equations, 200 patients were selected by available methods. Data collection tools included the Pain Resilience Questionnaire, Emotional Regulation Difficulty Scale, Five-Dimensional Mindfulness Questionnaire, and Chronic Pain Adaptation Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Amos - SEM. Results: The findings of this study indicated that the variables of difficulty in emotional regulation and mindfulness in interaction with the mediating role of resilience were effective in explaining the acceptance of pain in cancer patients. The direct effects of emotional regulation difficulty (-0.57), mindfulness (0.78) and resilience (0.22) on estimating pain acceptance of cancer patients were significant (P <0.05). The indirect effects of emotional regulation difficulty and mindfulness on pain acceptance through resilience were significant (P<0.05). The total direct and indirect effects of the difficulty of emotional regulation and mindfulness on pain acceptance were (β = 0.747 and β = 0.870), respectively, which indicated the significance of the total effect of these two pathways. Conclusion: Enhancing resilience and mindfulness and reducing the difficulty of emotional regulation can lead to better acceptance of chronic pain in cancer patients

Effect of Five A Model Self-management on Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Applying group counseling and patient education can improve the quality of life of women with cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of applying a self-management model on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer referring to Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj in 2017. Methods: In this clinical trial, 90 patients with breast cancer were selected by available sampling method and randomly assigned to intervention (n=45) and control (n = 45) group. Demographic and A QLQ-C30 questionnaires (quality of life for cancer patients) were used for data collection. After completing the questionnaires by both groups, for the patients in the experimental group, a five-year self-management program was conducted in 5 stages for three months. For patients in the routine nursing care control group. Then, the questionnaires were completed by both groups three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 and descriptive statistics, pair t-test and independent t-test. Results: There was a significant difference between the quality of life of the patients before and after the intervention. Also, there was a significant difference between the quality of life of the patients in the control group and the post-intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that the application of the five A self-management model can improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Therefore, this model can be used as an optimal nursing intervention

Higher risk of progressing breast cancer in Kurdish population associated to CDH1 -160 C/A polymorphism

There is an increasing interest about studying possible effects of genetic polymorphisms and risk of cancer pro- gression. E-cadherin (CDH1) involves in many important cellular processes including cell-cell interactions, cell development and genetic changes of this molecule has been associated with greater tumor metastasis. The present study was aimed to evaluate the possible role of CDH1 -160 C/A polymorphism as a potential risk factor for breast cancer in Kurdish population. This case-control study consisted of 100 breast cancer patients and 200 healthy controls. Clinicopathological findings of all individuals were reported and immunohistochemistry staining was carried out on tissue samples. The CDH1 -160 C/A genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction- re- striction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). CDH1 -160 C/A polymorphism was differently distributed between patient and control groups. The A allele of CDH1 -160 C/A polymorphism significantly in- creased in patients compared to controls. In addition we found that the A allele of this polymorphism might be a potential risk factor for progression of breast cancer in our studied population. Patients with A allele of CDH1 -160 C/A was in higher risk to progress invasive ductal carcinoma. The A allele was also correlated with high grade and stage IV and also with metastatic tumors in studied subjects. The CDH1 -160 C/A polymorphism is correlated with clinicopathologial findings of breast cancer patients. The A allele of CDH1 -160 C/A may be a risk factor for progression of breast cancer in Kurdish patients

DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF ADENOSINE DEAMINASE IN SERUM AND BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID FOR SCREENING LUNG CANCER IN WESTERN IRAN DIJAGNOSTI^KA KORIST ADENOZIN-DEAMINAZE U SERUMU I BRONHOALVEOLARNOM LAVA@U ZA SKRINING RAKA PLU]A U ZAPADNOM IRANU

Summary Background: This study aimed to determine adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity as a possible screening tool in lung cancer patients. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 30 subjects with positive pathological tests and 62 patients with negative pathological tests as a control group. The enzymatic activity of total ADA and its isoenzymes was determined. Results: tADA and ADA2 isoenzyme activity was significantly higher in cancerous patients compared to benign controls in serum and BAL fluid. Using a cut-off level of respectively 35.22 U/L and 31.80 U/L for BAL total ADA and ADA2, sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 81% for total ADA and 95% and 98% for ADA2. Conclusions: Adenosine deaminase may play important roles in the pathophysiology of lung cancer and because of it

Association of N-acetyltransferases 1 and 2 Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Head and Neck Cancers-A Meta-Analysis, Meta-Regression, and Trial Sequential Analysis

Background and objective:N-acetyltransferases 1 and 2 (NAT1 and NAT2) genes have polymorphisms in accordance with slow and rapid acetylator phenotypes with a role in the development of head and neck cancers (HNCs). Herein, we aimed to evaluate the association of NAT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms with susceptibility to HNCs in an updated meta-analysis. Materials and methods: A search was comprehensively performed in four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Cochrane Library until 8 July 2021). The effect sizes, odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed. Trial sequential analysis (TSA), publication bias and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Results: Twenty-eight articles including eight studies reporting NAT1 polymorphism and twenty-five studies reporting NAT2 polymorphism were involved in the meta-analysis. The results showed that individuals with slow acetylators of NAT2 polymorphism are at higher risk for HNC OR: 1.22 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.46; p = 0.03). On subgroup analysis, ethnicity, control source, and genotyping methods were found to be significant factors in the association of NAT2 polymorphism with the HNC risk. TSA identified that the amount of information was not large enough and that more studies are needed to establish associations. Conclusions: Slow acetylators in NAT2 polymorphism were related to a high risk of HNC. However, there was no relationship between NAT1 polymorphism and the risk of HNC

Evaluation of the Expression Levels of miR-21-5p and miR-429 Genes in Biopsy Samples from Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRs) are a group of endogenous, non-coding, 18-24 nucleotide length single-strand RNAs that mediate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through mRNA degradation or translational repression. They are involved in regulating diverse cellular biological processes such as cell cycle, differentiation, and apoptosis. The deregulation of miRs affects normal biological processes, leading to malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study evaluates the expression level of miR-21-5p and miR-429 genes in biopsy samples from patients with OSCC and performs a comparison with controls. Materials and Methods: In this study, tissue samples were obtained from 40 individuals (20 OSCC patients and 20 healthy controls) to determine miR-21-5p and miR-429 expression using the ΔCT method and analyzed by the Mann–Whitney test. Results: The mean age of subjects in the control and patient groups was 47.15 and 53.8 years, respectively. According to the Mann–Whitney test, significant differences were observed in miR-21-5p (p p = 0.0191) expression levels between the two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The expression of miR-21-5p, miR-429, and combined miRNAs in the OSCC group was significantly higher compared to the control group. As a result, changes in the expression of these biomarkers in cancerous tissues could potentially be considered as a marker for the early diagnosis of OSCC