Predictive Factors for Depression in Breast Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the predictive factors for depression in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: The participants were 180 female survivors who visited outpatient clinics after mastectomy or partial resection for breast cancer and had completed adjuvant treatment such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy at a university hospital and a general hospital. Data were collected utilizing the Zung depression scale, the Mishel uncertainty scale, the Fitts & Osgoods body image scale, and the Zimet social support scale. RESULTS: The level of depression in the participants was moderate. There were significant correlations among depression, body image, uncertainty, and social support. There were significant differences in depression by education, economic state, perceived health status, fatigue, and pain. In regression analysis, the most powerful predictor of depression was body image (40%). Overall, body image, fatigue, social support, and uncertainty explained 62% of the variance of depression in the participants. CONCLUSION: Body image, fatigue, social support, and uncertainty were important predictors of depression. These results demonstrate the need for interventions to manage depression in breast cancer survivors.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

BACKGROUND: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been confirmed; however, no clear evidence for the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication on ITP exists thus far. The purpose of this study was to investigate platelet recovery in chronic ITP after H. pylori eradication. METHODS: A total of 25 patients (18 male, 7 female; the median age of 55 years) diagnosed with ITP, whose platelet counts were less than 100x10(3)/microliter, were enrolled. They were tested for H. pylori infection by the rapid urea test or urea breath test. All patients received triple therapy for 7 or 14 days to eradicate H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Of the 25 patients, 23 (92%) were diagnosed with H. pylori infection. Of all the ITP patients, 11 (44%) exhibited a complete response (CR) to H. pylori eradication therapy; 6 (24%), a partial response (PR); and 8 (32%) were nonresponsive (NR). Predictive factors of response after H. pylori eradication therapy were platelet counts at the initial response (27.3% responders among patients with platelet counts or =100x10(3)/microliter, P<0.001) and H. pylori infectivity (73.9% responders among the H. pylori positive patients vs 0% responders among the H. pylori negative patients, P=0.032). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in increasing the platelet count in ITP patients. Further studies with a larger number of patients are necessary to identify the crucial predictive factors responsible for platelet recovery in chronic ITP patients with the H. pylori infection.