Other Side of Breast Cancer: Factors Associated with Caregiver Burden

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine factors associated with caregiver burden among primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study conducted in 2012 on 150 main caregivers of patients with breast cancer who came to the oncology clinic of Shahid Ghazi hospital in Tabriz, Iran. A questionnaire which included caregiving-related factors and the Zarit Burden Interview was used for data collection after its validity and reliability were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software with descriptive and analytic statistics. The association between significant variables and the dependent variable with an observation of the effects of other variables was assessed using the multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: The mean age of caregivers was 39.60 ± 13.80 years old, and 77 (51.3%) of them were men. The mean score of the Zarit Burden Interview was 30.55 ± 19.18. In the regression model, the mean score of activities of daily living, level of education, gender, and financial status were identified as the determining factors of the burden of caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Primary caregivers need to be financially supported by the relevant organizations. Care skills training and providing palliative care seem helpful in reducing the pain and the burden of family caregivers for patients with breast cancer.

Characterization of common chromosomal translocations and their frequencies in acute myeloid leukemia patients of northwest Iran

Objective: Detection of chromosomal translocations has an important role in diagnosis and treatment of hematological disorders. We aimed to evaluate the 46 new cases of de novo acute myeloid leukemia [AML] patients for common translocations and to assess the effect of geographic and ethnic differences on their frequencies

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] was used on 46 fresh bone marrow or peripheral blood samples to detect translocations t [8; 21], t [15; 17], t [9; 11] and inv [16]. Patients were classified using the French-American-British [FAB] criteria in to eight sub-groups [M0-M7]. Immunophenotyping and biochemical test results of patients were compared with RT-PCR results

Results: Our patients were relatively young with a mean age of 44 years. AML was relatively predominant in female patients [54.3%] and most of patients belonged to AML-M2. Translocation t [8; 21] had the highest frequency [13%] and t [15; 17] with 2.7% incidence was the second most frequent. CD19 as an immunophenotypic marker was at a relatively high frequency [50%] in cases with t [8; 21] and patients with this translocation had a specific immunophenotypic pattern of complete expression of CD45, CD38, CD34, CD33 and HLA-DR

Conclusion: Similarities and differences of results in Iran with different parts of the world can be explained with ethnic and geographic factors in characterizations of AML. Recognition of these factors especially in other comprehensive studies may aid better diagnosis and management of this disease

Prevalence of oral human papilloma virus in healthy individuals in east Azerbaijan province of Iran

Human papilloma virus causes benign and malignant abnormalities in different part of the body. The link between high risk types of HPV and some anogenital and aerodigestive tract cancer is well established. Oral HPV infection plays a role in developing oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We studied the prevalence of oral HPV in healthy individuals and its relative risk factors. Saliva samples of 114 healthy subjects were collected for HPV DNA analysis. Volunteers completed questionnaires and signed a written consent. For data analysis descriptive statistic, chi square test and odds ratio was used. The frequency of oral HPV in healthy individuals was 6.1% [seven participant]. The most frequent type was HPV-18 in five of them.HPV-6 and HPV-66 each was detected in one case. Relation of oral HPV positivity to demographic features and risk factors was not statistically significant. The prevalence of oral HPV infection in our community is the same as many other communities of developing countries, stressing that HPV-18 were the dominant type

Cytarabin and daunorubicin or idarubicin in induction therapy of acute myeloid leukemia patients

Acute myeloid leukemia [AML], the most common form of acute leukemia, is treated by remission induction and post-remission therapy. Remission induction is usually achieved by administration of cytarabine along with an anthracycline such as Daunorubicin [DAU] or Idarubicin [IDA]. Our objective was see the benefits if any of IDA over DAU in AML therapy. Eighty adult AML patients were enrolled in this study, where 40 received DAU and 40 were treated with IDA. Remission status in each subject was studied and response to therapy was subsequently analyzed using SPSS. Complete remission, partial remission and no responsive status were 15, 19, and 14 respectively for patients on DAU and 14, 18, and 11 for patients on IDA protocol. No significant benefit was detected for IDA compared to DAU in response to therapy. We found no benefit in using IDA over DAU in induction therapy for AML patients treated in northwest of Iran

Hodgkin's disease: assessment of treatment and survival rates in Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Each year an estimated of 7,500 new cases of Hodgkin's disease are reported in the United States. It is a type of malignancy, where 75% of patients can recover and be cured with modern therapeutic approaches if presentation is in an early stage. While primary prevention is not a focus of attention, prevention of mortality is thus possible. The main objective of this investigation was to assess the current situation with the disease in Iran, with determination of 5- and 10-year-survival rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on patients identified in Tabriz Shahid Ghazi hospital. The information obtained through medical files was organized and the rate of response to treatment and overall survival (OS) were computed. Resulting data were analyzed using SPSS10 and Chi-square software. RESULTS: Overall, there were 121 male patients (67%) and 59 females (33%). The patient age (with a median of 31.8+/-17.1 years) did not show any effect on survival rate. Neck masses were the most common (40%) complaint among new patients, mostly classified as stage III. Mixed cellularity (47.2%) accounted for the most common histological subtype. Complete remission was achieved with the ABVD chemotherapy regimen, included in 37.6% of overall chemotherapy regimens. The five- and 10-year-survival rates were determined to be 65 and 61.3 percent respectively. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy was a significantly more effective treatment compared to other modalities, and provided complete remission in 52.7% of patients. Overall, 5- and 10-year-survivals were shown to be highest in patients treated with ABVD and a variant of the MOPP regimen, respectively. As general conclusions, early diagnosis, on time management of the patients, and use of appropriate treatment modalities provide significant prevention of mortality in Hodgkin's disease patients.