Factors associated with quality of life of outpatients with breast cancer and gynecologic cancers and their family caregivers: a controlled study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Quality of life (QOL) issues are of interest in cancer because effective methods of treatment and detection have led to an increase in the number of long-term survivors. The objectives of the study were: to assess the subjective QOL of stable Sudanese women cancer outpatients and their family caregivers, using the WHO 26-item QOL Instrument; compare with matched general population groups, as well as diabetic and psychiatric patient groups; examine patient-caregiver concordance in ratings; and assess the variables associated with their QOL, with a view to identifying factors that can enhance quality of care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Responses of oncology outpatients with breast cancer (117), cervical cancer (46) and ovarian cancer (18) (aged 44.6, SD 11.5) were compared with those of their family caregivers and matched general population groups. Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The cancer groups had similar QOL domain scores, which were significantly lower than those of their caregivers, but higher than the control group as well as those of psychiatric and diabetic patients studied previously. Patients who were married, with higher education, better employment, and with longer duration of illness had higher QOL. Patients on radiotherapy and their caregivers had higher QOL scores. Correlations between patient's ratings and caregiver impression of patient's QOL were high. Caregiver impression was a significant predictor of patient's and caregiver's QOL. Other predictors for the patient were: currently feeling sick and duration of illness; for the caregiver: feeling sick, relationship to patient, and age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cancer patients in stable condition and with psychosocial support can hope to enjoy good QOL with treatment. The findings constitute an evidence base for the country's cancer care program, to boost national health education about prognosis in cancer. Families living with women cancer patients are vulnerable and need support if the patient is recently diagnosed, less educated, single, not formally employed; and the caregiver is female, parent, younger, less educated, unemployed and feels sick. Clinicians need to invest in the education and support of family caregivers. The patient-caregiver dyad should be regarded as a unit for treatment in cancer care.</p

Depression and loneliness in Jamaicans with sickle cell disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disorder in Jamaica, and has life-long implications for those afflicted with it. It is well known that depression and loneliness may exist in those with chronic diseases, but the coexistence of depression and loneliness in people with sickle cell disease is not clear. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with depression and loneliness in the Jamaica Sickle Cell Cohort Study and its age and sex matched controls.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>277 patients with SCD and 65 controls were administered a questionnaire that studied demographics, disease severity, depression, and loneliness. Regression analyses were done to examine relationships between outcomes and associated variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Depression was found in 21.6% of patients and 9.4% in controls. Loneliness scores were also significantly higher in patients (16.9 ± 5.1) than in controls (14.95 ± 4.69). Depression was significantly associated with unemployment [OR = 2.9, p-value: < 0.001], whereas unemployment (p-value: 0.002), and lower educational attainment were significantly associated with loneliness.</p> <p>In patients with SCD, depression was significantly associated with being unemployed (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2,4.6, p-value:0.01), presence of a leg ulcer (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.7, 8.4, p-value: 0.001), frequent visits (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2, 8.9, p-value: 0.019), and frequent painful crises (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.8, p-value: 0.035). Not being employed (Coef.: 2.0; p-value: 0.004) and higher educational attainment (tertiary vs. primary education, Coef.: -5.5; p-value: < 0.001) were significant associations with loneliness after adjusting for genotype.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Health workers need to actively look for and manage these problems to optimize their patients' total biopsychosocial care.</p

In Vitro Survival Period Of Malaria Parasite In Human Host Blood

The survival periods of malaria parasite was observed in vitro in human host blood at storage temperatures of room + 4oC. it was observed that the parasite survived longer at 4oC than at room temperature. The survival periods were directly related to the initial parasitaemia of the blood sample. Storage at 4oC prolonged survival of the parasite by 96 hours as compared with room temperatures storage, 24 hours. These observations indicate that survival declined with increase in temperature as well as low parasite density. KEY WORDS: Malaria parasite, survival, human host blood, temperature. Journal of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol. 4: 2003: 12-1

Soil Transmitted Helminths of some common Fruits and Vegetables in Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria

Soil transmitted helminths of some common fruits and vegetables sold in various markets in Umuahia were assessed using formal-ether concentration technique. High level of contaminations were found in both fruits (43.8%) and vegetables (77.5%) examined. Taliniumtriangulare (water leave) recorded the highest rate of contamination (100%) while Persea americana (Avacado pear) was the least contaminated (20.0%). The helminths identified were Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Strongyloides starcorali and Trichuristrichuria with A. lumbricoides as the most prevalent (80.0% and 80.6%) in fruits and vegetables respectively, while T. trichuria was the least encountered. The study therefore indicated a high rate of geohelminth contamination of fruits and vegetables in the study area. This showed faecal pollution of the environment and as such, served as vehicles of human disease especially when they were not properly washed.Keyword: Fruits, vegetable,geohelminths contamination, faecal pollution, food hygieneNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 305-30

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Pigs in a Commercial Farm in Isiala-Ngwa North, Abia State, Nigeria

There are many species of parasitic helminths, some of which can cause considerable disease in animals. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of pigs at Urata in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria during 2009. A total number of 100 faecal samples were collected from 100 different matured pigs and examined microscopically to identify the presence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites. Out of 100 animals faeces examined, 79 (79%) were infected while 21 (21%) were uninfected. The helminth parasite groups encountered were nematodes 64 (64.0%) and trematodes 15 (15.0%). The parasites identified were Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Trichuris suis, Stephanurus dentatus, Metastronggylus salmi, and Ascaris suum. Stephanuru dentatus had the highest prevalence rate of 33.0%, followed by Ascaris suum 21.0%). Mixed infections were encountered in 15% of the 100 pigs samples examined. According to the outcome of the study, it may be established that there is high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in pigs with greater number of nematodes.Keywords: Intestinal helminths, trematodes, Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus, Trichuris suis, nematodes and Ascaris suumNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [1] March 2012, pp. 63-6

Prevalence of helminthiasis among school children in some rural communities of Abia state, Nigeria

Soil transmitted helminths (STHs) are known to be endemic in developing tropical countries. A study on the prevalence and risk factors associated with STHs infections among children in three selected primary schools in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State was undertaken between February and July, 2012. The stool samples collected from 338 children aged 5 – 13 years in the three primary schools were analyzed using direct normal saline and formal-ether concentration technique for the presence of STHs. Closed ended pre-tested questionnaire was used for collection of data on sociodemographic and personal health habits associated with STHs. Three different helminths were observed. These included Ascaris lumbricoides (8.2%), hookworm (5.1%) and Trichuris trichiura (3.9%). Multiple infections were however observed in individuals. Of the 338 stool samples examined, 256 were infected giving a prevalence of 75.7%. Theprevalence of STHs was significantly higher in males than females in age group 5 – 7 years. A. lumbricoides was the most encountered parasites in the study, while Central Primary School, Obohia recorded the highest  prevalence (90.2%) of infection in the three schools sampled. The month of July (peak of the rainy season) recorded the highest prevalence rate (92.9%). Those who defecated in bushes and other unhygienic placeshad the highest infection of 89.9%, while those that had water closet had the least infection of 40.5%. Those that used wells and streams as main source of water had an infection of 96.9%. Inadequate basic social  amenities have contributed to the spread of parasite in the area.  Government should make available the much needed amenities to the populace to alleviate the spread of the diseases in the study area and should also create public awareness on the dangers of the disease.Keywords: Soil transmitted helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Infection, Prevalence, Environmen

Corprological and haematological parameters of albino mice (Mus musculus) concurrently infected with Heligmosomoides bakeri and Trypanosoma brucei

The effect of concurrent infection with Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) and Heligmosomoides bakeri (H. bakeri) was investigated in this study. Thirty adult male albino mice were used for the study. The mice were divided into six groups of five mice each. Group 1 served as uninfected control, Groups 2 and 3 were infected with H. bakeri and T. brucei respectively, Group 4 received both T. brucei and H. bakeri on the same day, Group 5 was experimentally infected with H. bakeri three days after T. brucei infection, while Group 6 was infected with T. brucei three days after H. bakeri infection. Blood and faecal samples were collected and analyzed weekly to determine the faecal egg counts (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV) and level of parasitaemia (LP). Weekly body weights (BW) were also recorded. FEC and parasitaemia increased in all the infected groups during the study, but these were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in the multiple-infection (groups 4, 5 and 6) than those with the single infection (groups 2 and 3). The same trend was also observed in the BW and PCV (p&lt;0.05). The level of infection produced by single infection with T. brucei and H. bakeri respectively were similar (p&lt;0.05). All treatment groups were significantly (p&lt;0.05) different from the control group. From the results, it was concluded that concurrent helminth and protozoan parasite infections produced more deleterious effect on the host when compared with single infection with either parasite. However, the pathology produced by concurrent infection was more severe when the host was exposed to the protozoan parasite before the helminth parasite.Keywords: Albino mice, Concurrent infection, Heligmosomoides bakeri, Trypanosoma brucei

Laboratory Assessment of Bio-efficacies of Phytochemical Extracts from Peels, Pulp and Seeds of Citrus Fruit Species Against Anopheles Gambiae and Anopheles Funestus

This study assessed the bio-efficacies of phytochemical extracts from peels, pulp and seeds of citrus fruits species on adult Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus under laboratory conditions. The assessment established the most potent extract(s) that could be adopted in  sustainable control of malaria vectors. The peels, pulp and seeds obtained from Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus limonum, Citrus reticulata and Citrus vitis were air-dried for 21 days, avoiding contamination. They were ground into powder and stored in air-tight glass bottles. The volatile phytochemical oil extracts were obtained from the powdered materials by Soxchletextraction method using Diethyl ether as solvent at temperature range of 60oC - 80oC for 6 hours. The extracts were left overnight at Laboratory temperature of 28.5oC to allow the remaining ether to  evaporate. Standard methods were used to carry out qualitative and quantitative characterization of the active compounds present. Five different concentration grades, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%,were prepared volume for volume, from each extract stock. A mixture of 20 live active adult An. gambiae and An. funestus were released by means of an aspirator into each of the 5smallsquared-shaped cardboard boxes which had already been labeled according to the different concentrations. With the help of insecticide spray pumps, the boxes were sprayed,one after the other,with their corresponding concentrations of the extracts via theirfine-meshed netted holes and then blocked. The time each box was sprayed with the extract aerosol was noted. A control was set up with another set of five boxes, each containing the same 20 live and active adult An. gambiae and An. funestus, and sprayed respectively, with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% concentrations of a commercial insecticide(called “Kill All”). 10 minutes later, the boxes were opened to check for death of the mosquitoes, and the result was recorded. Apart from the 5% all other concentrations of the extracts from the peels, pulp and seeds of C. sinensis, the peels and seeds of C.reticulata and C. limonum, and the peels and pulpof C. aurantifolia and C. vitis, showed different degrees of mosquitocidal activity. These observed variations in the bio-efficacies of the different extracts could be attributed to the corresponding variations in their qualitative and quantitative bioactive compound contents. Therefore, phytochemical extracts, having proved efficacious on adult mosquitoes as demonstrated in this study, suggest that they can be successfully adopted in sustainable control of malaria.Key words: Phytochemicalextracts,  Citrus  fruit  species, Anopheles gambiae, Anophelesfunestus,Bioefficac