ABSTRACT
AIMS: To present the first cross-culture validation of the European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaires, the EORTC-QLQ-C30, and the QLQ-H&N 35 in India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: These questionnaires were translated into two vernacular languages and pilot test was done on 15 patients. Two hundred head and neck cancer patients completed the QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-H&N 35 at two time points during their treatment. Psychometric evaluation of the structure, reliability, and validity of the questionnaire was undertaken. RESULTS: The data supports the reliability of the scales. Validity was tested by item-scale, scale--scale correlation and by performing known group comparisons. The results demonstrated that the items correlated with their respective scale and no significant correlation was found between scales. The questionnaire was responsive to change over a period of time. SUMMARY: This data suggests that the EORTC QLO-C30 and the QLQ-H&N 35 are reliable and valid questionnaires when applied to a sample of head and neck cancer patients in India.
Subject(s)
Guidelines as Topic , Head and Neck Neoplasms/psychology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Combined Modality Therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Europe , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/epidemiology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , India , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Neck Dissection , Neoplasm Staging , Probability , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results , Research/standards , Sickness Impact Profile , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
We have carried out a detailed analysis of the cellular immune functions of breast cancer patients in comparison with healthy controls. A possible correlation between immune and clinical parameters was analysed in 50 breast cancer patients. Immune parameters, natural killer cell and T lymphocyte functions and the numbers of circulating T lymphocytes were analysed against the clinical parameters comprising the tumour burden, the stage of the disease and the expression of hormone receptors on the tumour. In order to analyse the immune function data effectively, low responders were identified with stringent cut-off values. Considerably higher proportions of low responders were found among the patient population. Elevated numbers of circulating T lymphocytes and CD3-directed cytolysis correlated with the expression of oestrogen receptors independently of the clinical/histological parameters.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/chemistry , Breast Neoplasms/immunology , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Receptors, Estrogen/analysis , Receptors, Progesterone/analysis , Adult , Analysis of Variance , CD3 Complex/immunology , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Lymphatic Metastasis , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , PrognosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting are important causes of morbidity after general anesthesia. Nitrous oxide has been implicated as an emetogenic agent in many studies. However, several other trials have failed to sustain this claim. The authors tried to resolve this issue through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide. METHODS: Of 37 published studies retrieved by a search of articles indexed on the MEDLINE database from 1966 to 1994, 24 studies (26 trials) with distinct nitrous-oxide and non-nitrous oxide groups were eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio and relative risk were calculated. Post boc subgroup analysis was also performed to qualify the result. RESULTS: The pooled odds ratio was 0.63 (0.53 to 0.75). Omission of nitrous oxide reduced the risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting by 28% (18% to 37%). In the subgroup analysis, the maximal effect of omission of nitrous oxide was seen in female patients. In patients undergoing abdominal surgery and general surgical procedures, the effect of omission of nitrous oxide, although in the same direction, was not significant. CONCLUSION: Omission of nitrous oxide reduced the odds of postoperative nausea and vomiting by 37%, a reduction in risk of 28%.
