Quality-of-Life in Turkish Cancer Patients: The Impact of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Medical History, and Management

Our aim is to assess the quality-of-life (QoL) of cancer patients and the effect of sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and disease Management, on QoL. The present study included 318 cancer patients. The most common diagnosis in this study were breast cancer (30.0%) and gastrointestinal cancer (27.7%). A form exploring sociodemographic variables and the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were used to collect patient data. Non-parametric tests were employed to evaluate the association of different factors with patient QoL. Sociodemographic characteristics such as age; gender; level of education; employment status; and medical history, including any family history of cancer, date of diagnosis, cancer awareness, stage of the disease, past/current treatments, use of painkillers, and psychiatric support, significantly affected the QoL of cancer patients. The mean QoL score was moderate (56.05%+/- 26.42). Physical functioning was the most affected subdomain (63.27 +/- 25.69), and cognitive functioning the least affected (78.35 +/- 23.47). Our results indicate a relationship between many clinical and sociodemographic factors and the QoL of cancer patients. Healthcare professionals should be aware of factors that affect QoL so that patient complaints and needs can be adequately addressed to improve patient QoL

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in patients with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer

WOS: 000351218500016PubMed: 25363740AimNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and platelet distribution width (PDW) may indicate the systemic inflammatory response associated with various cancers. We aimed to investigate the relationship between NLR, PLR, PDW and endometrial pathologies including hyperplasia and cancer. MethodsIn this study, 472 cases who underwent endometrial biopsy were included. Three groups were constituted with respect to biopsy results: group 1, endometrial cancer patients (n=54); group 2, endometrial hyperplasia patients (n=152); and group 3, patients with normal biopsy results (n=281). White blood cell and platelet counts as well as NLR, PLR and PDW recorded from complete blood counts obtained on the same day of biopsy were compared in the three groups. ResultsEndometrial cancer patients were significantly older than the cases in the other two groups (P<0.001). the NLR in group 1 was significantly higher than group 3 (P=0.02). However, there was no difference between the three groups with respect to PLR (P=0.167). PDW was increased in group 1 compared to group 3 (P<0.001). ConclusionResults of our study have shown that NLR, PLR and PDW are simple, readily available and robust inflammatory markers that may be used in the management of endometrial pathologies. However, the actual predictive potential of these biomarkers still warrants further trials

Tubal Pregnancy Associated with Endometrial Carcinoma after In Vitro Fertilization Attempts

Endometrial carcinoma is rarely seen during reproductive ages and commonly related to infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and obesity. Pregnancy associated endometrial carcinoma is even rarer and this is the second case reported in the literature concerning tubal pregnancy associated endometrial carcinoma. We present a case of a 36-year-old woman with a history of PCOS, infertility, and several attempts of ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization, who was diagnosed with tubal pregnancy and a well differentiated endometrial carcinoma. We also review the literature about pregnancy associated endometrial carcinoma in the first trimester

The clinical and pathological features of 133 colorectal cancer patients with brain metastasis: a multicenter retrospective analysis of the Gastrointestinal Tumors Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

WOS: 000341835700025PubMed ID: 25108599Brain metastasis in colorectal cancer is highly rare. In the present study, we aimed to determine the frequency of brain metastasis in colorectal cancer patients and to establish prognostic characteristics of colorectal cancer patients with brain metastasis. In this cross-sectional study, the medical files of colorectal cancer patients with brain metastases who were definitely diagnosed by histopathologically were retrospectively reviewed. Brain metastasis was detected in 2.7 % (n = 133) of 4,864 colorectal cancer patients. The majority of cases were male (53 %), older than 65 years (59 %), with rectum cancer (56 %), a poorly differentiated tumor (70 %); had adenocarcinoma histology (97 %), and metachronous metastasis (86 %); received chemotherapy at least once for metastatic disease before brain metastasis developed (72 %), had progression with lung metastasis before (51 %), and 26 % (n = 31) of patients with extracranial disease at time the diagnosis of brain metastasis had both lung and bone metastases. The mean follow-up duration was 51 months (range 5-92), and the mean survival was 25.8 months (95 % CI 20.4-29.3). Overall survival rates were 81 % in the first year, 42.3 % in the third year, and 15.7 % in the fifth year. In multiple variable analysis, the most important independent risk factor for overall survival was determined as the presence of lung metastasis (HR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.27-4.14; P = 0.012). Brain metastasis develops late in the period of colorectal cancer and prognosis in these patients is poor. However, early screening of brain metastases in patients with lung metastasis may improve survival outcomes with new treatment modalities

Genetic polymorphism of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), but not angiotensin II type I receptor (ATr1), has a gender-specific role in panic disorder

Aims: Angiotensins were shown to have some role in the development of panic disorder (PD). In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in two angiotensin-related genes, angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II type I receptor (ATr1), in a sample of Turkish patients with PD and to evaluate their association with PD development

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma diagnosed preoperatively by cervical smear

WOS: 000356418900013PubMed: 25827704Primary fallopian tube carcinoma is a rare clinical entity that constitutes a diagnostic challenge in gynecological practice. Patients generally suffer from the three symptoms: vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and vaginal discharge; however, this is usually not sufficient for confirming the diagnosis preoperatively in most circumstances. in this case report, we present a 49-year-old woman whose cervical smear raised a suspicion for fallopian tube carcinoma. All preoperative examination measures such as ultrasonography, hysteroscopy, and endometrial aspiration were normal. Repeated cervical smears were consistent with adenocarcinoma presumably ensourcing from the fallopian tube. the patient underwent laparatomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic para-aortic lymph node dissection. the primary serous papillary adenocarcinoma of the right fallopian tube was detected at the histopathological analysis, and the patient was referred for adjuvant chemotherapy. Cervical smear findings can be the only clue for the diagnosis of fallopian tube carcinoma