Effect of Depressive Mood on NK Cells in Patients with Pancreatic Tumor – Pilot Study.

Aims: In up to 50% of cases is pancreatic cancer accompanied with depressive symptoms or already developed depression. There is well described connection between pancreatic cancer and qualitative changes in immune system. The purpose of this pilot study was to observe the quantitative changes in levels of NK cells and the state of expression of activation and inhibitory receptors on the surface of NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic tumor. Study Design: This is prospective analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out between December 2010 and April 2011 at the University Hospital Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Methodology: Twenty-one patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were divided into two groups based on the presence of depressive symptoms. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers. The presence of depressive symptoms was assessed by the Zung self-rating depression and psychiatric examination. Measurement and analysis of peripheral venous blood was performed by flow cytometry to estimate quantitative changes in NK cells. The statistical significance was considered as p < .05. Results: There was reduced number of CD56brightCD16- subset (P = .01), decreased levels of NKp46 positive NK cells in patients with pancreatic cancer and depressive symptoms (P = .03), but without statistical significant for patient without depression (P = .054). We found decreased number of NKG2A-positive circulating NK cells in patients without depressive symptoms in comparison to control group (P = .05). No differences in NK cells, its subsets and receptors were observed when comparing each group of patients with each other. Conclusion: The main immunomodulating factor in the case of NK cells in pancreatic cancer is the tumor itself. This is valid particularly for reduced levels of NK cell activation receptors. The presence of chronic stress or depression plays its role in affecting the number and distribution of NK cells and might play an important role in tumor escape mechanism.

Psychosocial, health and demographic characteristics of quality of life among patients with acute myeloid leukemia and malignant lymphoma who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of selected psychosocial, health and demographic characteristics of quality of life (QOL) among patients treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a retrospective study at Charles University Hospital, Hradec Kralove. METHODS: The Czech version of the international generic European Quality-of-Life questionnaire (EQ-5D) was applied to evaluate QOL among patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and malignant Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (ML). The total number of respondents was 36: 12 with AML (seven males and five females) and 24 with ML (11 males and 13 females). The mean age of AML respondents was 46 years and the mean age of ML respondents was 44.5 years. RESULTS: Age, smoking status and education level had statistically significant effects on QOL among AML respondents (p < 0.05), and age had a statistically significant effect on QOL among ML respondents (p < 0.05). The overall QOL among AML and ML respondents was generally good: the mean EQ-5D score among AML respondents was 71.5 percent and among ML respondents it was 82.7 percent. CONCLUSION: The QOL among AML and ML respondents treated with autologous HSCT was good. However, patients more than 50 years old, smokers and patients with lower education levels presented worse QOL. These findings need to be better evaluated in longitudinal studies, using large samples.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) é um método a ser utilizado na terapêutica das doenças hemato-oncológicas e tumores sólidos, assim como no tratamento de doenças não-malignas. O TCTH tem influência na evolução da doença e na qualidade de vida do doente, assim como outros métodos curativos. TIPO ESTUDO E LOCAL: Este estudo é retrospectivo. Foi desenvolvido no Departamento Clínico de Hematologia do 2º Departamento de Medicina Interna do Hospital da Universidade de Charles em Hradec Kralove, República Checa. MÉTODOS: Amostra de 36 adultos sujeitos ao tratamento com transplante autólogo de células tronco do progenitor, sendo 12 com leucemia mielóide aguda: sete homens e cinco mulheres, e 24 com linfoma maligno: 11 homens e 13 mulheres. Foi utilizada a versão checa do questionário internacional de qualidade de vida européia versão EQ - 5D. RESULTADOS: Houve associação estastiticamente significante entre qualidade de vida e idade, fumantes, pacientes com baixo nível educacional em ambos os sujeitos com leucemia mielóide aguda (p < 0.05). Houve associacão estatisticamente significante entre qualidade de vida e idade em ambos os sujeitos com linfoma maligno (p < 0.05). CONCLUSÃO: A qualidade de vida dos pacientes com linfoma maligno e leucemia mielóide aguda, submetidos a transplante autólogo do progenitor, mantém-se preservada na maioria dos pacientes. Pacientes com idade acima de 50 anos, baixo nível educacional e fumantes têm pior qualidade de vida. Estes fatores devem ser melhor avaliados em estudos longitudinais e com amostras maiores.

The effect of femoral and popliteal percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty on patients' quality of life

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is a prevalent atherosclerotic disorder characterized by limb pain on exertion, limb loss and a high mortality rate. Because of its chronic nature, it often has a negative impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to assess QOL among patients with PAOD that was treated by endovascular intervention using femoral and popliteal percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA). DESIGN AND SETTING: This study was local, prospective and longitudinal. It was carried at the Second Department of Internal Medicine of Charles University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. METHODS: Thirty PAOD patients (20 male and 10 female) were treated by endovascular intervention using femoral and popliteal PTBA. The Czech version of the international generic European Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D) was applied. RESULTS: The statistical evaluation demonstrated that QOL presented highly significant statistical dependence on femoral and popliteal PTBA (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that femoral and popliteal PTBA had a highly positive effect on the QOL of patients with PAOD.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Doença arterial oclusiva periférica (DAOP) é uma desordem aterosclerótica prevalente, caracterizada por dor esforço do membro, perda do membro e alta taxa de mortalidade. Devido à sua natureza crônica, freqüentemente tem impacto negativo na qualidade de vida (QV) dos pacientes. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a QV entre pacientes com DAOP tratada por intervenção endovascular usando angioplastia com balão transluminal femoral e poplítea (ABT). TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Este estudo local, prospectivo e longitudinal foi realizado no Segundo Departamento de Medicina Interna do Charles University Hospital em Hradec Kralove, República Checa. MÉTODOS: 30 pacientes com DAOP (20 homens) foram tratados por intervenção endovascular usando ABT femoral e poplítea. A versão checa do Questionário Europeu de Qualidade de Vida (EQ-5D) foi aplicada. RESULTADOS: A avaliação estatística demonstrou que a QV apresentou dependência altamente significativa da ABT femoral e poplítea (p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados mostraram que a ABT femoral e poplítea teve efeito altamente positivo na QV dos pacientes com DAOP.