Prognostic value of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in invasive breast carcinomas

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been identified as a marker of cancer stem cells in breast cancer (BC). Recent studies showed that ALDH1 expression is correlated with poor prognostic parameters and worse clinical outcome in BC. We evaluated ALDH1 expression by immunohistochemistry in a series of 217 invasive BCs and investigated the correlation between ALDH1 expression and clinicopathological parameters, molecular subtypes (luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2] type, and triple-negative BC [TNBC]), and patient survival. There was a significant association between ALDH1 expression and tumor grade (p < 0.001), i.e., the expression of ALDH1 was higher in high-grade tumors. ALDH1 expression was significantly associated with estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) negativity (p < 0.001) and HER2 positivity (p = 0.001). ALDH1 expression ratios were higher in HER2 type and TNBC. There was a statistically significant correlation between ALDH1 negativity and luminal A subtype (p < 0.001). The overall and disease free survival were shorter in ALDH1+ tumors, although without statistical significance. We confirm that ALDH1 is a potentially important, poor prognostic factor in BC, associated with high histological grade, ER/PR negativity and HER2 positivity. For more accurate results, ALDH1 expression should be evaluated in larger case series including various types/subtypes of BC

Factors of Affecting Sleep Quality in Cancer Patients

Aim:Sleep disorders are one of the most common problems in patients with malignancy and they severely decrease the quality of life. We sought to investigate the frequency of sleep disturbances, its quantity, quality and possible correlation with related factors such as depression and anxiety.Materials and Methods:150 patients participated and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate the sleep quality. It is a self-administered questionnaire and standardized measure of sleep quality. Total score of ≥5 shows that the quality of sleep is remarkably bad. Also a self-report measure of depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and a self-report measure of anxiety, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used.Results:Of the 150 patients, 74.0% has bad sleep quality (score >5 ). Mean PSQI total score was 7.34 (min 0-max 20). No differences were found between PSQI mean scores in terms of gender, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy (CHT), having chronic disease or having metastatic disease. NSAIDs and opioids were significantly correlated with PSQI (p<0.001). PSQI total scores are strongly associated with the BDI score (r=.424, p<0.001) and BAI score (r=.417, p<0.001).Conclusion:We found a high prevalence rate of bad sleep quality at 74%. Effective sleep treatment and psychological support should be provided in oncology clinics

The relationship between personality traits and performance

GENEL BİLGİLERİsim ve Soyadı: Hande TurnaAnabilim Dalı: Kamu YönetimiProgramı: İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimi ve GelişimiTez Danışmanı: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Deniz BörüTez Türü ve Tarihi: Yüksek Lisans, Ekim, 2004Anahtar Kelimeler: Kişilik Özellikleri, PerformansKİŞİLİK ÖZELLİKLERİ VE PERFORMANS ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN ARAŞTIRILMASIBu araştırmada kişilik özellikleri ile performans arasındaki ilişki araştırılmıştır. Uygulama sigorta sektöründe faaliyet gösteren bir firmada satış pozisyonunda çalışan 226 kişi üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kişilik ölçümü için 16PF Kişilik Envanteri (5. Versiyon) kullanılmış, performans datası firma tarafından sağlanmıştır. Araştırmada, korelasyon analizi ile performans değerleri ve 16PF faktörleri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiş, regresyon analizi ile kişilik özelliklerinin performansı yordayıcı etkisi hesaplanmıştır. Son olarak Anova analizi ile 16PF faktörleri ve performans seviyeleri arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunup bulunmadığı incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucunda performans datası ile Sosyal Girişkenlik (H) ve İhtiyatlılık (L) faktörleri arasında anlamlı düzeyde korelasyon olduğu görülmüştür. Kişilik faktörleri ve performans seviyeleri arasındaki ilişki araştırıldığında ise Sosyal Girişkenlik (H) ve İhtiyatlılık (L) faktörlerinin dışında, Kendini Sorgulama (O), Bağımsızlık ve Endişe Düzeyi faktörleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. 5 faktör arasından Sosyal Girişkenlik (H) faktörü performans seviyeleri arasında en yüksek anlamlılık değerini almıştır. Yapılan regresyon analizi sonucunda 16 kişilik faktörünün performansı %10.5 değerinde varyans ile açıklayabildiği sonucu elde edilmiştir.Bu çalışmada satış pozisyonunda performansı öngören kişilik özellikleri sigorta sektörü kapsamında araştırılmıştır. Farklı sektörlerde satış pozisyonunda performansı öngören kişilik özelliklerinin farklı olabileceği düşünülmekte ve gelecek araştırmalarda bu konunun incelenmesi önerilmektedir.GENERAL KNOWLEDGEName and Surname: Hande TurnaField : Public ManagementProgramme: Human Resources Management and DevelopmentSupervisor: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Deniz BörüDegree Awarded and Date: Master, October, 2004Keywords: Personality Traits, PerformanceTHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND PERFORMANCEThe purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the relationship between personality traits and performance for sales positions in a Turkish Insurance Company. Performance Appraisal Data was provided by the company and was used to assess performance of individuals and 16PF Personality Inventory was used to measure personality traits. For the data analysis, correlation analysis was conducted to see if there is significant correlation between performance scores and 16PF scales. And regression analysis was conducted to analyze the predictive effect of personality traits on performance. Finally One Way ANOVA was conducted to see the significant differences between the 16PF scales and performance levels. In this study, it was found significant correlations between performance continuous data and Social Boldness (H) factor and Vigilance (L) factors. When the relationship was investigated between the factors and performance levels, 5 factors were found to be statistically related with performance levels which are Social Boldness, Vigilance, Apprehension, Anxiety and Independence. From five of the factors, Social Boldness (H) is the one which is most significantly different between the performance levels. All of the 16 personality traits explained the %10.5 of variance in performance. The personality traits which predict high performance in sales positions in insurance sector could be different in other sectures. In further researchs the sample can be chosen from the sales employees who work in different sectors

The relationship between personality traits and performance

GENEL BİLGİLER İsim ve Soyadı : Hande Turna Anabilim Dalı : Kamu Yönetimi Programı : İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimi ve Gelişimi Tez Danışmanı : Yrd. Doç. Dr. Deniz Börü Tez Türü ve Tarihi : Yüksek Lisans, Ekim, 2004 Anahtar Kelimeler : Kişilik Özellikleri, Performans KİŞİLİK ÖZELLİKLERİ VE PERFORMANS ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN ARAŞTIRILMASI Bu araştırmada kişilik özellikleri ile performans arasındaki ilişki araştırılmıştır. Uygulama sigorta sektöründe faaliyet gösteren bir firmada satış pozisyonunda çalışan 226 kişi üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kişilik ölçümü için 16PF Kişilik Envanteri (5. Versiyon) kullanılmış, performans datası firma tarafından sağlanmıştır. Araştırmada, korelasyon analizi ile performans değerleri ve 16PF faktörleri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiş, regresyon analizi ile kişilik özelliklerinin performansı yordayıcı etkisi hesaplanmıştır. Son olarak Anova analizi ile 16PF faktörleri ve performans seviyeleri arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunup bulunmadığı incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucunda performans datası ile Sosyal Girişkenlik (H) ve İhtiyatlılık (L) faktörleri arasında anlamlı düzeyde korelasyon olduğu görülmüştür. Kişilik faktörleri ve performans seviyeleri arasındaki ilişki araştırıldığında ise Sosyal Girişkenlik (H) ve İhtiyatlılık (L) faktörlerinin dışında, Kendini Sorgulama (O), Bağımsızlık ve Endişe Düzeyi faktörleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. 5 faktör arasından Sosyal Girişkenlik (H) faktörü performans seviyeleri arasında en yüksek anlamlılık değerini almıştır. Yapılan regresyon analizi sonucunda 16 kişilik faktörünün performansı %10.5 değerinde varyans ile açıklayabildiği sonucu elde edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada satış pozisyonunda performansı öngören kişilik özellikleri sigorta sektörü kapsamında araştırılmıştır. Farklı sektörlerde satış pozisyonunda performansı öngören kişilik özelliklerinin farklı olabileceği düşünülmekte ve gelecek araştırmalarda bu konunun incelenmesi önerilmektedir. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Name and Surname : Hande Turna Field : Public Management Programme : Human Resources Management and Development Supervisor : Yrd. Doç. Dr. Deniz Börü Degree Awarded and Date : Master, October, 2004 Keywords : Personality Traits, Performance THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND PERFORMANCE The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the relationship between personality traits and performance for sales positions in a Turkish Insurance Company. Performance Appraisal Data was provided by the company and was used to assess performance of individuals and 16PF Personality Inventory was used to measure personality traits. For the data analysis, correlation analysis was conducted to see if there is significant correlation between performance scores and 16PF scales. And regression analysis was conducted to analyze the predictive effect of personality traits on performance. Finally One Way ANOVA was conducted to see the significant differences between the 16PF scales and performance levels. In this study, it was found significant correlations between performance continuous data and Social Boldness (H) factor and Vigilance (L) factors. When the relationship was investigated between the factors and performance levels, 5 factors were found to be statistically related with performance levels which are Social Boldness, Vigilance, Apprehension, Anxiety and Independence. From five of the factors, Social Boldness (H) is the one which is most significantly different between the performance levels. All of the 16 personality traits explained the %10.5 of variance in performance. The personality traits which predict high performance in sales positions in insurance sector could be different in other sectures. In further researchs the sample can be chosen from the sales employees who work in different sectors

Prognostic Factors and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Objective: Triple-negative-breast-cancer (TNBC) is a very heterogenous disease some of which are very aggressive and have poor prognosis. No targeted therapy is available. Immune response and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can be related to longer disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in TNBC. Family history of cancer can be related poor prognosis, irrespective of genetic mutation

Relation of serum vascular endothelial growth factor as an angiogenesis biomarker with nitric oxide & urokinase-type plasminogen activator in breast cancer patients

Background & objectives: The primary mediator of angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It is well documented that angiogenic activity in human cancer depends on nitric oxide (NO) levels in tissues. Additionally, urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA) plays a role in cell adhesion and migration. Serum VEGF and its relationship between NO and u-PA concentrations are poorly reported in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of VEGF and NO and u-PA in patients with breast cancer

A case-control study of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in breast cancer

Background Patients with breast cancer sometimes present with increased liver enzymes during follow-up period that may be consistent with hepatic steatosis. This effect known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may be associated with the malignancy itself, drugs or some other well-known risk factors that may induce steatosis. We studied the influences of primary disease and treatment on steatosis in patients with breast cancer. Materials and methods There were four groups of patients in our study. Group 1: 40 newly diagnosed, previously untreated breast cancer; Group 2: 45 cases of breast cancer treated with systemic therapy; Group 3: 40 cases of ovarian cancer; Group 4: 40 healthy women. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated by sonography by two radiologist, independently. We also evaluated major risk factors, biochemical findings, and influences of treatment on hepatic steatosis. Results We detected steatosis in 63%, 72%, 77%, and 48% of patients in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference only between groups 3 and 4 (P = 0.045). However, grade 2 and 3 steatosis were more frequent in breast cancer patients (group I and 2), compared with mild steatosis in ovarian cancer patients and healthy women. Although a good correlation was found between tamoxifen use and chemotherapy on development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, no association of hepatic steatosis with transaminase levels was found, which might be of help for earlier detection of steatosis. AST/ALT ratio was found to have no impact on the rate of hepatic steatosis, contrary to the literature. Conclusion Hepatic steatosis, excluding patients with grade I steatosis, which may be a normal variant, were more readily detected in patients with breast cancer. This effect was aggravated by use of tamoxifen, but not the chemotherapy. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with breast cancer may be associated with the primary tumor itself or some well-known risk factors such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, which needs to be explored