OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the point prevalence of anxiety, depression and the associated risk factors in hospitalized patients with cancer. METHODS: A total of 114 patients with cancer who admitted to the Cancer Center in St. Mary's Hospital were enrolled for a day. The patients were asked to complete Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS). Sociodemographic and cancer related clinical variables were also evaluated. RESULTS: The point prevalence of anxiety and depression was 10.5% and 34.2%, respectively, as assessed with HADS. Logistic regression models revealed that distant metastasis was significantly associated with anxiety in patients with cancer and previous chemotherapy and Low socioeconomic status were significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that more than one third of patients with cancer suffer from either anxiety or depression. In addition, previous chemotherapy as well as low socioeconomic status and distant metastasis were associated risk factors of anxiety and depression, respectively. These findings suggest the need for screening and systematized psychosocial intervention for psychological distress in hospitalized patients with cancer.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Drug Therapy ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

PURPOSE: The role of local excision in treating rectal cancer patients continues to be controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term oncological results of local excision for early rectal adenocarcinomas and review the outcomes of salvage therapy on rectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1992 and September 2005, 35 consecutive patients with early-stage primary rectal adenocarcinomas were treated by local excision with curative intent. The mean tumor distance from the anal verge was 5 cm (range, 1-10 cm). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 66 months (range, 17-161 months). Pathological examination revealed 23 cases of T1 and 12 cases of T2. Recurrence had developed in 10 patients (6 local recurrences, 4 systemic recurrences). Purely extrapelvic recurrence was observed in only two (5.7%) patients. Of the eight recurrent patients with surgical salvage, five survived with no evidence of disease at the time of this analysis. The 5-year local recurrence-free and disease-free survival rates were 79.6% and 67.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Local excision alone of early-staged rectal adenocarcinomas, even in the ideal candidate, is followed by a relatively higher local recurrence rate than previously reported and may not be a valid modality. Either the use of adjuvant therapy with local excision, even in patients with T1 lesions or the use of preoperative therapy followed by local excision has good promise.
Adenocarcinoma/*pathology/surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology/*pathology/surgery ; Rectal Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Salvage Therapy ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The effect of accelerated aging on color stability of various dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements were evaluated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Color stability was examined using three different brands of dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements: G-CEM LinkAce (GC America), MaxCem Elite (Kerr), and PermaCem 2.0 (DMG) with the equivalent color shade. Each resin cement was filled with Teflon mold which has 6 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness. Each specimen was light cured for 20 seconds using light emitting diode (LED) light curing unit. In order to evaluate the effect of accelerated aging on color stability, color parameters (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage, CIE L*, a*, b*) and color differences (DeltaE*) were measured at three times: immediately, after 24 hours, and after thermocycling. The L*, a*, b* values were analyzed using Friedman test and DeltaE* values on the effect of 24 hours and accelerated aging were analyzed using t-test. These values were compared with the limit value of color difference (DeltaE*=3.7) for dental restoration. One-way ANOVA and Scheff's test (P<0.05) were performed to analyze each DeltaE* values between cements at each test period. RESULT: There was statistically signifi cant difference in comparison of color specifi cation (L*, a*, b*) values after accelerated aging except L* value of G-CEM LinkAce (P<0.05). After 24 hours, color difference (DeltaE*) values were ranged from 2.47 to 3.48 and L* values decreased and b* values increased in all types of cement and MaxCem Elite had high color stability (P<0.05). After thermocycling, color change's tendency of cement was varied and color difference (DeltaE*) values were ranged from 0.82 to 2.87 and G-CEM LinkAce had high color stability (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Color stability of dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements after accelerated aging was evaluated and statistically significant color changes occurred within clinically acceptable range.
Aging* ; Fungi ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Resin Cements*

Polymethl methacrylate (PMMA) screw reinforcement is frequently used in osteoporotic bone as well as in damaged pilot holes. However, PMMA use can be dangerous, since the amount of applied cement is uncontrolled. A 47-year-old male with traumatic cervical spondylolisthesis at C6-7 underwent anterior cervical plate fixation. During repeated drilling and tapping for false trajectory correction, a pilot hole was damaged. Although it was an unconventional method, PMMA augmentation was tried. However, PMMA was accidentally injected to the cervical spinal cord owing to lack of fluoroscopic guidance. The PMMA was surgically removed after corpectomy and durotomy. The patient had left side hemiparesis (Grade 2/5) immediately post operation. The patient improved spontaneously (Grade 4/5) except for 4th and 5th digit extension. Here, we report a rare complication of PMMA extrusion in the spinal cord during a damaged pilot hole injection, which has not previously been described.
Bone Cements/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymethyl Methacrylate/adverse effects/therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Humans*

PURPOSE: Adenosine triphosphate-based chemotherapy response assay (ATP-CRA) is a well-documented and validated technology that can individualize chemotherapy for patients with lung, stomach, or breast cancer. This study explored the feasibility of ATP-CRA as a chemosensitivity test in patients with colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 118 patients who underwent surgical resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma were analyzed for chemosensitivity to 6 anticancer drugs using ATP-CRA. We calculated the cell death rate (CDR) by measuring intracellular ATP levels of drug-exposed cells and untreated controls. RESULTS: Interpretable results were available for 85.5% (118/138) of patients. The mean coefficient of variation for triplicate ATP measurements was 9.2%. The highest CDR was observed in irinotecan (34.0%) and the lowest CDR in etoposide (21.0%). Paclitaxel had the broadest range of CDR (0-86.7%) and 5-FU had the narrowest range of CDR (0-56.8%). The overall highest responsiveness was seen most prevalently in irinotecan (24.7%, 23/93 patients). Irinotecan had the greatest responsiveness in patients with well differentiated and moderately differentiated carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that ATP-CRA could be used to identify patients with colorectal cancer who might benefit from treatment with a specific chemotherapeutic agent.
Adenocarcinoma/*drug therapy ; Adenosine Triphosphate/*metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Individualized Medicine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited motor and sensory neuropathy. Previous studies have found that, according to CMT patients, neuropathic pain is an occasional symptom of CMT. However, neuropathic pain is not considered to be a significant symptom associated with CMT and, as a result, no studies have investigated the pathophysiology underlying neuropathic pain in this disorder. Thus, the first animal model of neuropathic pain was developed by our laboratory using an adenovirus vector system to study neuropathic pain in CMT. To this end, glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) fusion proteins with a FLAG-tag (wild type [WT], L129P and G240R mutants) were expressed in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons using adenovirus vectors. It is known that GARS mutants induce GARS axonopathies, including CMT type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V). Additionally, the morphological phenotypes of neuropathic pain in this animal model of GARS-induced pain were assessed using several possible markers of pain (Iba1, pERK1/2) or a marker of injured neurons (ATF3). These results suggest that this animal model of CMT using an adenovirus may provide information regarding CMT as well as a useful strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/*diagnosis/*physiopathology ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Glycine-tRNA Ligase/*genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation/genetics ; Neuralgia/*diagnosis/*physiopathology

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited motor and sensory neuropathy. Previous studies have found that, according to CMT patients, neuropathic pain is an occasional symptom of CMT. However, neuropathic pain is not considered to be a significant symptom associated with CMT and, as a result, no studies have investigated the pathophysiology underlying neuropathic pain in this disorder. Thus, the first animal model of neuropathic pain was developed by our laboratory using an adenovirus vector system to study neuropathic pain in CMT. To this end, glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) fusion proteins with a FLAG-tag (wild type [WT], L129P and G240R mutants) were expressed in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons using adenovirus vectors. It is known that GARS mutants induce GARS axonopathies, including CMT type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V). Additionally, the morphological phenotypes of neuropathic pain in this animal model of GARS-induced pain were assessed using several possible markers of pain (Iba1, pERK1/2) or a marker of injured neurons (ATF3). These results suggest that this animal model of CMT using an adenovirus may provide information regarding CMT as well as a useful strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/*diagnosis/*physiopathology ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Glycine-tRNA Ligase/*genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation/genetics ; Neuralgia/*diagnosis/*physiopathology

Purpose: The adenosine-triphosphate-based chemotherapy response assay (ATP-CRA) is a well-documented and validated technology for individualizing chemotherapy in cancer patients. We evaluate the feasibility of ATP-CRA in colorectal cancer patients. This study will illustrate the assay's success rate, the mean coefficient of variation, and the turnaround time as a validation tool for a chemosensitivity test. Methods: A total of 118 patients, treated by surgery between June 2004 and September 2005 were evaluated for chemosensitivity to seven anticancer agents (5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, epirubicin, etoposide, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel) by using an ATP-CRA. To allow a comparison between samples, we calculated the chemosensitivity index (CI) based on the percentage cell death rate (CDR, %) at each test drug concentration. Results: The assay success rate was 85.5% (118/138), and the mean coefficient of variation, indicating intra-assay error level, was 9.2%. CDR measured at a therapeutic peak plasma concentration ranged from 0% to 93.6% with a median of 31.0% for 5-FU, 28.5% for oxaliplatin, 34.0% for irinotecan, 25.0% for epirubicin, 21.0% for etoposide, 22.0% for gemcitabine, and 25.2% for paclitaxel. According to the CI, the most sensitive drug varied from patient to patients 10.9% for 5-FU, 10.9% for oxaliplatin, 24.7% for irinotecan, 11.8% for epirubicin, 22.4% for etoposide, 1.1% for gemcitabine, and 23.3% for paclitaxel. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the ATP- CRA is a feasible in-vitro chemosensitivity test in colorectal cancer and that patients show heterogeneous chemosensitivity. A study evaluating the predictive value of ATP-CRA directed therapy is needed to determine the clinical usefulness of the test.
Mortality ; Predictive Value of Tests

PURPOSE: Although a diet that is rich in fiber is widely recommended to prevent and treat constipation, the efficacy of fiber supplements with yogurt has not been studied sufficiently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a yogurt enriched water-soluble fiber on the various symptoms of constipation in female adults with functional constipation. RESULTS: We did a double-blind and case-controlled study between two groups (placebo vs. fiber group), which were randomly allocated out of 42 subjects with functional constipation by using Rome II criteria. Bowel habits, daily nutritional intakes and physical activities were determined by using a questionnaire, and the segmental colonic transit time was evaluated three times: before treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment, and at the end of the study (2 weeks after treatment). RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment, all defecation symptoms tested, except manual evacuation, showed significant improvements in the fiber group; fiber-enriched yogurt increased the number of bowel movements (P=0.002), reduced the presence of hard stools (P=0.001), improved the frequency of straining (P=0.048), the sense of incomplete evacuation (P= 0.013), and the sense of anorectal obstruction (P= 0.032). The total colonic transit time was shortened after intake of fiber-enriched yogurt (P=0.023). Satisfactory relief was significantly higher in the fiber group (P= 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Functional constipation may be improved with water-soluble fiber supplements in yogurt without serious side effects.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Colon ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yogurt*