ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The objectives of the present study were to clarify the frequency and content of family issues for patients in Japanese clinics, and the concordance between physicians' and patients' views of family issues. METHODS: In this study, we used a cross-sectional design with a questionnaire survey. Participants were outpatients and their physicians in charge (four family physicians) at four Japanese clinics. The main body of research was conducted between April 5 and May 15, 2004. After obtaining oral informed consent, the physician in charge distributed questionnaires to participating patients to complete at home. The questionnaire comprised three items: 1) Do you have any worries about your family? 2) Are you comfortable consulting a physician regarding your family issue?, and 3) If possible, could you tell us why you feel like that?Participants provided written informed consent and answered the questionnaire before sealing it in an envelope and posting it back to the research center. Physicians in charge completed their version of the questionnaire and independently sent the data to the center. RESULTS: Of the 272 participating patients, 118 (45.6%) had family issues. "Health problems with family members" (28%) and "family life cycle issues" (19.5%) were the main content of these issues. Physicians indicated that 45.7% of patients had family issues. The rate of concordance between physicians' and patients' perspectives regarding family issues was 46.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Family issues can therefore be regarded as a common health problem due to the frequency. There was some inconsistency between physicians' and patients' views, but much of this discrepancy may be resolved by developing the specialty of family practice.
ABSTRACT
In this study, we analyzed the size-dependent bioactivities of fucoidan by comparing the cytotoxic effects of native fucoidan and fucoidan lipid nanoparticles on osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments indicated that nanoparticle fucoidan induced apoptosis of an osteosarcoma cell line more efficiently than native fucoidan. The more potent effects of nanoparticle fucoidan, relative to native fucoidan, were confirmed in vivo using a xenograft osteosarcoma model. Caco-2 cell transport studies showed that permeation of nanoparticle fucoidan was higher than native fucoidan. The higher bioactivity and superior bioavailability of nanoparticle fucoidan could potentially be utilized to develop novel therapies for osteosarcoma.
Subject(s)
Nanoparticles/administration & dosage , Osteosarcoma/drug therapy , Polysaccharides/pharmacology , Animals , Biological Availability , Caco-2 Cells , Carcinogenesis/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Humans , Lung/drug effects , Mice , Mice, Inbred C3H , PermeabilityABSTRACT
We investigated macrophage activation by fucoidan from Laminaria angustata var. longissima in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. The ratio of the chemical composition of the fucoidan was L-fucose:D-galactose:D-glucose:D-xylose:uronic acid:sulfate=1.00:0.54:0.08:0.08:0.64:0.87. The fucoidan induced production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 in RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that the fucoidan induced macrophage activation.