ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the level of the relationship between skin toxicities and skin-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with lung cancer taking oral targeted agents. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study surveyed 152 lung cancer patients receiving oral targeted agents. The Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PROCTCAE) was used to assess skin toxicity. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used to evaluate skin-related QoL. Collected data were analyzed with independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation using the SPSS 27.0 statistical analysis software for Windows. @*Results@#Skin toxicity was the highest among patients who reported skin dryness 2.07±1.20, followed by itching 1.91±1.25, rash 1.48±1.32, skin darkening 1.39±1.16, hives 1.38±1.25, acne 1.37±1.36, nail (finger or toe) ulceration 1.34±1.34, nail ridging 1.20±1.14, sensitivity to sunlight 1.10±1.07, stretch marks 0.95±1.13, hair loss 0.91±1.14 and nail discoloration 0.83±1.07.The subjects' mean skin-related QoL of the participants was 7.29±6.11 out of 30. Skin-related QoL showed a statistically significant positive correlation with skin toxicity. @*Conclusion@#Skin toxicities correlated significantly with poor skin-related QoL. Skin toxicity levels in lung cancer patients receiving oral targeted therapies need to be closely monitored, and strategies to enhance skin-related QoL must be developed.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Impaired processing of facial information is one of the broad ranges of cognitive deficits seen in patients with schizophrenia. We aimed to elucidate the differences in brain activities involved in the process of facial working memory between schizophrenic patients and healthy comparison subjects. METHODS: Twelve patients with schizophrenia were recruited along with twelve demographically matched healthy volunteers as a comparison group. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess cortical activities during the performance of a 2-back working memory paradigm using images of neutral faces as mnemonic content. RESULTS: The patient group performed the tasks with reduced accuracy. Group analysis revealed that the left fusiform gyrus, the right superior frontal gyrus, the bilateral middle frontal gyri/insula, the left middle temporal gyrus, the precuneus, the quadrangular lobules and the vermis of cerebellum showed decreased cortical activities in the patient group. On the other hand, an increased level of activation in the lateral prefrontal cortex and the parietal lobule was observed from the patient group, all in the right hemisphere. CONCLUSION: A decreased level of activity in the left fusiform gyrus among the patient group implicates inefficient processing of facial information. An increased level of activation in prefrontal and parietal neural networks from the patient group confirms earlier findings on the impaired working memory of patients with schizophrenia.