OBJECTIVETo analyse the outcome of different regimens for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSResponse rate, median survival time and overall survival rate of 206 MM patients treated with different protocols were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTThe median survival time, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of 200 MM patients treated with conventional therapy were 30.5 months, 32.0% and 15.8%, respectively. The total response rate and complete response (CR) rate of 195 patients treated with MP regimen and combination chemotherapy (CCT) were 45.6% and 14.9%, respectively. The response rates were higher for the patients treated with CCT than for those treated with MP (50.3% versus 30.4%, P < 0.05). The median survival time, 3- and 5- year OS in MP versus CCT group were 30.0 versus 30.5 months, 22.0% versus 35.0%, 13.2% versus 16.7%, respectively, but all of them have no statistical difference. Compared with those without IFN alpha maintenance therapy, patients received IFN alpha therapy showed a higher response rate (34.4% versus 53.6%, P < 0.05) and a longer median survival time (27 versus 52 months, P < 0.01). The total response in patients received thalidomide was 65.5%. Of the 6 patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 5 remained alive in CR or PR with a mean survival time of (73.0 +/- 12.5) months.

CONCLUSIONSCCT yields higher response rates, but not longer survival time than MP does for the treatment of MM. The response rate as well as the overall survival rate increased when IFN alpha was used as maintenance therapy. Thalidomide can improve response rate as well. HSCT could prolong survival time in patients aged < 60 years with good status.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; administration & dosage ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To identify the predicting factors that contribute to knowledge, attitude and practices relating to Zika virus infection among the general public in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done for participants' socio-demographic profile. Contingency table analysis was done to analyse the associations between knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) scores and socio-demographic profile. A Bonferroni-corrected P-value was used to find the significance of the associations and multiple comparisons were performed in a single data set. To determine the linear relationship between each independent variable and the dependent variable, Spearman rank correlation was performed. Cohen's correlation coefficient was evaluated to determine the strength of the effect size. Multiple correlations and regression analyses were performed to identify independent variables that predicts the dependent variable. Results: Multiple correlation analyses were conducted between respondents' KAP score and independent variables (Age >60 years; Female gender; Selangor state; At least 1 pregnant woman per household). The independent variables such as 'Female gender', 'Selangor state' and 'At least 1 pregnant woman per household' were positively and significantly correlated with KAP score whereas, age >60 years was negatively and significantly correlated with the KAP scores. Conclusions: There were associations between four independent factors and the KAP scores, while only three factors contributed to changes in KAP scores among the public. Among these contributing factors, respondents' age group was the strongest predictor.