Purpose: Improving survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), along with symptom relief, is important for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study measured HRQOL and analyzed its influence on sociodemographic and clinical factors in patients with MBC. Methods: We interviewed 298 patients with MBC to investigate their sociodemographic characteristics and HRQOL by using EuroQol-5D-5L (EQ-5D) between September and October 2014. We also reviewed medical records to examine the clinical condition of the patients, including disease progression, adverse events, treatments, chronic disease, and metastatic areas. The distribution of the EQ-5D index was compared between different clinical conditions by using the Kruskal-Wallis test. We also conducted multiple regression analyses to identify the factors affecting HRQOL in patients with MBC. Results: The mean EQ-5D index was 0.79 for all patients surveyed. The mean EQ-5D index score was significantly lower in patients in the progressed state than in those in the progression-free survival state (0.73 vs. 0.80, p = 0.0002). The HRQOL of patients treated with chemotherapy alone was significantly lower than that of patients treated with hormonal or targeted therapy (0.76 vs. 0.82 or 0.85; p = 0.0020). Regression analysis revealed that the clinical factors associated with lower HRQOL were progressed state, chemotherapy, and adverse events, such as hair loss or stomatitis. Finally, young age, high income, and employment were the sociodemographic factors that were positively associated with better HRQOL. Conclusion This study provides new information on the health utility of MBC patients on the basis of various patient characteristics and offers insights that can assist medical professionals in treating patients with MBC and help policymakers implement cancer strategies. Further research is needed to reflect the changing environment of cancer treatment and enrich available evidence.

BACKGROUND: Generally, for patients with cancer, chronic disease, burn injury or pediatric patients to whom oral medication is difficult or whose vessels are fragile, it is difficult to inject analgesics parenterally. To know the effect of subcutaneous infusion which would be directly used by patients themselves or their care givers, we compared subcutaneous patient-controlled analgesia (SQ PCA) with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) morphine for acute postoperative pain. METHODS: We undertook a study to prospective, randomized, controlled patients (n = 30) undergoing elective total hysterectomy to compare SQ PCA with IV PCA morphine for postoperative pain control. We prepared a 5 mg/ml solution of morphine for the SQ PCA group (n = 15) and a 1 mg/ml solution of morphine for the IV PCA group (n = 15). The regimen of morphine was a basal rate 20 microgram/kg/h, 1 mg bolus, 10 min lockout interval, 1 hour limit of 8 mg. We evaluated the VAS score at rest and at coughing after postoperative 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 hours, 6 hourly doses of morphine, total requirement of infused morphine for 48 hours and delivery to demand ratio. Side effects and satisfactory score were checked too. RESULTS: The Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score at rest and with coughing, the 6 hourly doses of morphine, the total requirement of infused morphine for 48 hours, the delivery to demand ratio, side effects and the satisfactory score were not significantly different in the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thus SQ PCA morphine represents a clinically acceptable alternative to IV PCA in the treatment of postoperative pain control.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Analgesics ; Burns ; Caregivers ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Infusions, Subcutaneous ; Morphine* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prospective Studies

BP201, porcine lung tissue-derived phospholipids, consists of phosphatidylcholine as a major phospholipid species. BP201 promoted hair growth after application onto the shaved backs of BALB/c and C3H mice. Its effect was enhanced when applied together with minoxidil (MNX) in C3H mice. When the tissue specimens prepared from the shaved skins of BP201-treated and control mice were microscopically examined, the total numbers of hair follicles in both anagen and telogen phases of BP201-treated mice were significantly higher than those of control mice. The numbers of hair follicles in the anagen phase of BP201-treated mice were also higher than those of control mice. In combination with MNX, BP201 further increased the total number of hair follicles, but did not alter the percentage of hair follicles in the anagenic phase. BP201 also increased the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells. Collectively, BP201 possesses hair growth promoting potential, which would suggest its use singly or in combination for hair growth products.
Animals ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans ; Lung* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Minoxidil ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Phospholipids* ; Skin

The antihypertensive effect of Doxazocin were evaluated in 20 patients with essential hypertension. Two to eight mg of Doxazocin per day were administered continuously for two or eight weeks. The results were as follows : 1) Doxazocin were effective in 18 out of 20 patients(90%) at the end of 8 weeks treatment. 2) The systolic blood pressure was signigicantly decreased(173+/-20mmHg VS 144+/-33mmHg, P+/-0.001), and the diastolic blood pressure was also decreased(110+/-10mmHg VS 93+/-19mmHg, P<0.01) after treatment. 3) Triglyceride showed a decreasing tendency but statistically significance was not observed. Total cholesteral, HDL-cholesterol, BUN, creatinine, and uric acid did not change significantly before and after treatment with Doxazocin. 4) The side effects were headache in one case and dizziness in to cases. These results suggest that Doxazocin is an effective antihypertensive agent and concerning lipid profile, further long term observation is needed.
Blood Pressure ; Creatinine ; Dizziness ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

Severe sepsis and septic shock are the main causes of death in critically ill patients. Early detection and appropriate treatment according to guidelines are crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. Endotoxin is considered to be a main element in the pathogenic induction of gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Polymyxin B hemoperfusion can remove endotoxin and is reported to improve clinical outcomes in patients with intra-abdominal septic shock, but its clinical efficacy for pneumonic septic shock remains unclear. Here, we report a case of a 51-year-old man with pneumonic septic shock caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, who recovered through polymyxin B hemoperfusion.
Cause of Death ; Critical Illness ; Gram-Negative Bacteria* ; Hemoperfusion* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymyxin B* ; Polymyxins* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic*

Time intervals and indices of left ventricular diastolic filling were studied by M-mode and pulsed Doppler Echocardiography in 18 dilated cardiomyopathy patients. After one two hours captopril(capril(R)) 25mg medication. 1)Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure, Heart rate were significantly decreased. 2) Dimensions of LVSD, LVDD, LA, Aorta and EF were not changed measured by M-mode echocardiography. 3) IRT measured by M-mode and Pulsed Doppler echocardiography were significantly increased(45+/-33msec VS 74+/-35msec. 84+/-32msec VS 100+/-22msec P<0.05). 4) A2-E measured by M-mode and Pulsed Doppler echocardiography were significantly increased(114+/-45msec VS 134+/-46msec, 156+/-46msec VS 194+/-48msec, P<0.05). 5) Deceleration time was significantly increased(137+/-36msec VS 205+/-40msec P<0.05). 6) Transmitral peak flow velocities were not changed significantly. In summary captopril influences early diastolic time intervals with dilated cardiomyopathy patients and we interpreted these effects be beneficial on diastolic filling pattern.
Aorta ; Blood Pressure ; Captopril ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Heart Rate ; Humans

Purpose: The study was undertaken to investigate the electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), and multifidus (MF) in three different sling locations during bridge exercise in the supine position. Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated. An electromyography device was used to measure the muscle activities of the GM, HAM, and MF muscles. Subjects were asked to perform bridge exercises with three different sling locations as follows: 1) Bridge exercise with an ankle sling; BEAS, 2) Bridge exercise with a calf sling; BECS, and 3) Bridge exercise with a knee sling; BEKS in random order. The analysis was conducted using one-way repeated ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc. Significance was set at α= 0.01. Results: HAM muscle activity was significantly different in the three conditions (BEAS, BECS, BEKS) (adjusted p-value [padj]< 0.01), and HAM muscle activity was significantly smaller during BEKS than during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Muscle activity ratio (GM/HAM) during BEKS was significantly greater than muscle activity ratios during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Conclusion BEKS is recommended to inhibit HAM muscle activity and improve the GM/HAM muscle activity ratio.

Purpose: The study was undertaken to investigate the electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), and multifidus (MF) in three different sling locations during bridge exercise in the supine position. Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated. An electromyography device was used to measure the muscle activities of the GM, HAM, and MF muscles. Subjects were asked to perform bridge exercises with three different sling locations as follows: 1) Bridge exercise with an ankle sling; BEAS, 2) Bridge exercise with a calf sling; BECS, and 3) Bridge exercise with a knee sling; BEKS in random order. The analysis was conducted using one-way repeated ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc. Significance was set at α= 0.01. Results: HAM muscle activity was significantly different in the three conditions (BEAS, BECS, BEKS) (adjusted p-value [padj]< 0.01), and HAM muscle activity was significantly smaller during BEKS than during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Muscle activity ratio (GM/HAM) during BEKS was significantly greater than muscle activity ratios during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Conclusion BEKS is recommended to inhibit HAM muscle activity and improve the GM/HAM muscle activity ratio.

Purpose: The study was undertaken to investigate the electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), and multifidus (MF) in three different sling locations during bridge exercise in the supine position. Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated. An electromyography device was used to measure the muscle activities of the GM, HAM, and MF muscles. Subjects were asked to perform bridge exercises with three different sling locations as follows: 1) Bridge exercise with an ankle sling; BEAS, 2) Bridge exercise with a calf sling; BECS, and 3) Bridge exercise with a knee sling; BEKS in random order. The analysis was conducted using one-way repeated ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc. Significance was set at α= 0.01. Results: HAM muscle activity was significantly different in the three conditions (BEAS, BECS, BEKS) (adjusted p-value [padj]< 0.01), and HAM muscle activity was significantly smaller during BEKS than during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Muscle activity ratio (GM/HAM) during BEKS was significantly greater than muscle activity ratios during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Conclusion BEKS is recommended to inhibit HAM muscle activity and improve the GM/HAM muscle activity ratio.

Purpose: The study was undertaken to investigate the electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), and multifidus (MF) in three different sling locations during bridge exercise in the supine position. Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated. An electromyography device was used to measure the muscle activities of the GM, HAM, and MF muscles. Subjects were asked to perform bridge exercises with three different sling locations as follows: 1) Bridge exercise with an ankle sling; BEAS, 2) Bridge exercise with a calf sling; BECS, and 3) Bridge exercise with a knee sling; BEKS in random order. The analysis was conducted using one-way repeated ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc. Significance was set at α= 0.01. Results: HAM muscle activity was significantly different in the three conditions (BEAS, BECS, BEKS) (adjusted p-value [padj]< 0.01), and HAM muscle activity was significantly smaller during BEKS than during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Muscle activity ratio (GM/HAM) during BEKS was significantly greater than muscle activity ratios during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Conclusion BEKS is recommended to inhibit HAM muscle activity and improve the GM/HAM muscle activity ratio.