Compliance with oral drug therapy in patients with hematologic malignancy.

1987 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 1469-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Levine ◽  
J L Richardson ◽  
G Marks ◽  
K Chan ◽  
J Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hematologic Malignancy ◽  
Drug Analysis ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Oral Drug ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Oral Medications ◽  
Full Compliance ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
And Training

Compliance with oral self-administered allopurinol (daily medication) and prednisone (intermittent medication) as well as compliance with monthly scheduled clinic appointments, were examined in 108 patients with newly diagnosed hematologic malignancy. Baseline levels of compliance (control group) were compared to results obtained after implementation of three intervention packages, whose aim was to increase compliance. The packages included combinations of education, home psychologic support and restructuring, and training in pill taking. A 24-hour profile of the two drugs and their metabolites was first determined. Serum samples were then obtained monthly over 6 months and analyzed for presence of the drugs. Control patients were fully compliant with allopurinol only 16.8% of the time. This rate increased significantly (44% to 48% of the time) for those who received any one of the intervention programs. With respect to prednisone, control patients were compliant 26.8% of the time, with no real improvement after interventions. Finally, self reports overestimated compliance by a factor of two when compared to drug analysis. The results indicated that full compliance with oral medications was remarkably low among our patients who have treatable and in some cases curable hematologic malignancy. However, compliance can be significantly improved by the use of various intervention packages.

Associations of Age, Gender, and Family Income with Quality of Life in Children With Advanced Cancer

2021 ◽  
pp. 104345422199232
Author(s):  
Piera C. Robson ◽  
Mary S. Dietrich ◽  
Terrah Foster Akard
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Hematologic Malignancy ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Quality Of Life Inventory ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Life Inventory

Background: Children with cancer often experience decreased quality of life (QOL) throughout the illness trajectory. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations of demographic characteristics with QOL in children with advanced cancer. Methods: This secondary analysis was part of a larger randomized clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of a legacy intervention for children (7–17 years) with relapsed/refractory cancer and their primary parent caregivers. Assessments included child self-reports on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Cancer Module. Researchers used descriptive and linear regression statistical methods. Results: Children ( n = 128) averaged 10.9 years (SD = 3.0). The majority were female ( n = 68, 53%), white ( n = 107, 84%), had a hematologic malignancy ( n = 67, 52%), with family incomes of $50,000 or less ( n = 81, 63.3%). Statistically significant positive associations of both age and income level with PedsQL scores were observed ( p < .05) but not gender ( p > .05). The strongest correlations for age were with the procedural anxiety ( beta = 0.42), treatment anxiety ( beta = 0.26), and total ( beta = 0.28) scores (all p < .01). In general, there was a positive correlation between family income levels and PedsQL scores ( p < .05). The strongest correlations for income were with nausea ( R = 0.49), appearance ( R = 0.44), pain, and treatment anxiety (both R = 0.42) (all p < .01). Associations adjusted for age remained essentially the same (all p < .01). Discussion: Children with advanced cancer with lower family income and younger age are at high risk for poorer QOL. Oncology nurses should seek to identify families who may benefit from additional resources to promote QOL.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis a Case-Control Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1771
Author(s):  
Violetta Opoka-Winiarska ◽  
Ewelina Grywalska ◽  
Izabela Korona-Glowniak ◽  
Katarzyna Matuska ◽  
Anna Malm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Juvenile Arthritis ◽  
Activity Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
History Of ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

There is limited data on the effect of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) on pediatric rheumatology. We examined the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and a negative history of COVID-19 and the correlation of the presence of these antibodies with disease activity measured by juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS). In total, 62 patients diagnosed with JIA, under treatment with various antirheumatic drugs, and 32 healthy children (control group) were included. Serum samples were analyzed for inflammatory markers and antibodies and their state evaluated with the juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS). JIA patients do not have a higher seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies than healthy subjects. We found anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in JIA patients who did not have a history of COVID-19. The study showed no unequivocal correlation between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and JIA activity; therefore, this relationship requires further observation. We also identified a possible link between patients’ humoral immune response and disease-modifying antirheumatic treatment, which will be confirmed in follow-up studies.

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Supplementation of gEGF on the Growth Performance and Immunity of Broilers

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1394
Author(s):  
Jianyong Zhou ◽  
Jingyi Yao ◽  
Luhong Bai ◽  
Chuansong Sun ◽  
Jianjun Lu
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Crude Extract ◽  
Serum Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Chicken Embryos ◽  
Growth Of Animals

EGF has been shown to stimulate the growth of animals. In this study, the content of EGF in chicken embryos (gallus EGF, gEGF) aged from 1 to 20 days of incubation were determined by ELISA kit, and the 5-day-old chicken embryos with the highest content of 5593 pg/g were selected to make gEGF crude extracts. A total of 1500 1-day-old Xianju chickens were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates of 50 chickens each. The control group was fed a basal diet, and other treatment diets were supplemented with 4, 8, 16 and 32 ng/kg gEGF crude extract, respectively. The experiment lasted for 30 days. Chicks were harvested at the end of the experiment, and liver, spleen, thymus, bursa and serum samples were collected. Results showed that average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of 16 ng/kg group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The serum uric acid (UA) of the 16 ng/kg group was reduced (p < 0.01), and the serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) of the 16 ng/kg group increased (p < 0.01). The gEGF extract also increased chick’s antioxidant capacity, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased catalase (CAT) in the liver and serum of 16 ng/kg groups in compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, immunity was improved by the addition of gEGF to broiler diets. The serum immunoglobin A (IgA) content of 8 and 16 ng/kg groups and the serum immunoglobin M (IgM) content of 4 and 8 ng/kg groups were increased (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The bursa index of each experimental group was higher than the control group (p < 0.01). These findings demonstrate that the crude extract of gEGF prepared in this experiment could improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immunity of broilers.

scholarly journals Development of Sensitive Immunoassays for Free and Total Human Glandular Kallikrein 2

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 1607-1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ville Väisänen ◽  
Susann Eriksson ◽  
Kaisa K Ivaska ◽  
Hans Lilja ◽  
Martti Nurmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Detection Limit ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Human Kallikrein 2 ◽  
Kallikrein 2 ◽  
Capture Antibody ◽  
Total Psa

Abstract Background: Free and total human kallikrein 2 (hK2) might improve the discrimination between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Concentrations of hK2 are 100-fold lower than concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA); therefore, an hK2 assay must have a low detection limit and good specificity. Methods: PSA- and hK2-specific monoclonal antibodies were used in solid-phase, two-site immunofluorometric assays to detect free and total hK2. The total hK2 assay used PSA-specific antibodies to block nonspecific signal. The capture antibody of the free hK2 assay did not cross-react with PSA. To determine the hK2 concentrations in the male bloodstream, total hK2 was measured in a control group consisting of 426 noncharacterized serum samples. Free and total hK2 were measured in plasma from 103 patients with confirmed prostate cancer. Results: All 426 males in the control group had a total hK2 concentration above the detection limit of 0.0008 μg/L. The median total hK2 concentration was 0.022 μg/L (range, 0.0015–0.37 μg/L). hK2 concentrations were 0.1–58% of total PSA (median, 3.6%). hK2 concentrations were similar in men 41–50 and 51–60 years of age. The ratio of hK2 to PSA steadily decreased from 5–30% at PSA &lt;1 μg/L to 1–2% at higher PSA concentrations. In 103 patients with prostate cancer, the median hK2 concentration in plasma was 0.079 μg/L (range, 0.0015–16.2 μg/L). The median free hK2 concentration was 0.070 (range, 0.005–12.2) μg/L. The proportion of free to total hK2 varied from 17% to 131% (mean, 85%). Conclusions: The wide variation in the free-to-total hK2 ratio suggests that hK2 in blood plasma is not consistently in the free, noncomplexed form in patients with prostate cancer. The new assay is sufficiently sensitive to be used to study the diagnostic accuracies of free and total hK2 for prostate cancer.

scholarly journals Diagnosis of Dengue Virus Infection by Detection of Specific Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA Antibodies in Serum and Saliva

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Balmaseda ◽  
María G. Guzmán ◽  
Samantha Hammond ◽  
Guillermo Robleto ◽  
Carolina Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Diagnostic Modality ◽  
Iga Antibodies ◽  
Specific Immunoglobulin ◽  
Feasible Alternative

ABSTRACT To evaluate alternative approaches to the serological diagnosis of dengue virus (DEN) infection, the detection of DEN-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA antibodies in serum and saliva specimens was assessed in 147 patients with symptoms of DEN infection seen at the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua. Seventy-two serum samples were determined to be positive for anti-DEN antibodies by IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the routine diagnostic procedure. Serum and saliva specimens were obtained from 50 healthy adults as additional controls. IgM was detected in the saliva of 65 of the 72 serum IgM-positive cases, 6 of the 75 serum IgM-negative cases, and none of the control group, resulting in a sensitivity of 90.3% and a specificity of 92.0% and demonstrating that salivary IgM is a useful diagnostic marker for DEN infection. Detection of IgA in serum may be another feasible alternative for the diagnosis of DEN infection, with serum IgA found in 68 (94.4%) of the IgM-positive cases. In contrast, detection of IgA in saliva was not found to be a useful tool for DEN diagnosis in the present study. Further studies of the kinetics of antibody detection in another set of 151 paired acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples showed that DEN-specific IgA antibodies were detected in more acute-phase samples than were IgM antibodies. Thus, we conclude that DEN-specific IgA in serum is a potential diagnostic target. Furthermore, given that saliva is a readily obtainable, noninvasive specimen, detection of DEN-specific salivary IgM should be considered a useful, cheaper diagnostic modality with similar sensitivity and specificity to IgM detection in serum.

scholarly journals Evaluation of aqueous humor and serum clusterin levels in patients with glaucoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuat Yavrum ◽  
Ufuk Elgin ◽  
Zeynep Adiyaman Kocer ◽  
Vildan Fidanci ◽  
Emine Sen
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Chamber ◽  
Aqueous Humor ◽  
Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Posterior Chamber ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
New Finding ◽  
High Level ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background To compare the aqueous humor (AH) and the serum clusterin levels of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with each other and with an age- and sex-matched control group. Methods This prospective, cross-sectionalstudy evaluated 92 eyes from 92 adult cases of uncomplicated phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The cases were divided into PEX, PEXG, POAG, and control groups. Serum samples were taken from the antecubital vein just before the surgery, and the AH samples were aspirated at the beginning of the surgery. Kruskal-Wallis H, One-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U with Bonferroni correction and Chi-Square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results The serum clusterin levels were the highest in the PEXG group, but no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups (p=0.633). The mean AH clusterin levels were 286.79±29.64 μg/mL in the PEXG group, 263.92±31.70 μg/mL in the PEX group, 272.59±49.71 μg/mL in the POAG group, and 193.50±62.38 μg/mL in the control group (p< 0.001). This came out to be 1.48 times increase for the PEXG group, 1.36 for the PEX group, and 1.41 for the POAG group when compared with the control subjects. Conclusions A higher level of clusterin in the anterior chamber was found to be associated with PEX and PEXG. In addition, a high level of anterior chamber clusterin in POAG, which is a new finding, showed that this molecule might be important not only in pseudoexfoliation, but also other types of glaucoma like POAG.

Hazardous Duty: Investigating Resistance to Police at the Point of Arrest Among Incarcerated Military Veterans

2021 ◽  
pp. 0095327X2110420
Author(s):  
Mark A. Morgan ◽  
Matthew W. Logan ◽  
Ashley N. Arnio
Keyword(s):  
Military Service ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Prison Inmates ◽  
Police Contact ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Treatment Courts ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Exact Moment ◽  
Veterans Treatment Courts ◽  
And Training

The link between military service and crime has been a subject of investigation for several decades. Although research has examined the likelihood of arrest, incarceration, and recidivism across military cohorts, relatively little is known about the circumstances surrounding police contact and suspect behavior at the exact moment of arrest. This is a critical oversight given that what transpires during an arrest can have a marked impact on downstream criminal justice outcomes, including access to diversionary programming like veterans treatment courts. Using a nationally representative survey of prison inmates, this study analyzes veteran and nonveteran self-reports of their arrest controlling for a host of relevant demographic, mental health, and criminal history variables. Findings indicate that veterans are significantly less likely to resist the police at arrest. These results provide further support to the sentiment that military culture and training can have a lasting behavioral influence on those who experience it.

Role of serum M2BPGi levels in diagnosing significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel William Keddeas ◽  
Hany Haroun Kaisar ◽  
Hagar Ahmed Ahmed Elessawy ◽  
Mariam Samir Abdel Hamid Elewa
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Serum Level ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B ◽  
Transient Elastography ◽  
Liver Stiffness ◽  
Protein Glycosylation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples

Abstract Background and aim Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a novel serum diagnostic marker for liver fibrosis in various liver diseases. We aimed to evaluate its role in assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) with reference to liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (Fibroscan). Design and Methods A case control study. 50 CHB patients with LSM by transient elastography technology and retrievable serum samples and 20 normal volunteers as a control group were recruited. Results 50 CHB patients (M: F = 30:20; mean age 43years ± 10.58) and 20 normal control volunteers (M: F = 12:8; mean age 37years ± 14.5) were recruited. The mean M2BPGi values for control group, F0-F1, F2, F3 and F4 progressively increased with more advanced stages of liver fibrosis: 0.282, 0.719, 1.322, 1.65 and 1.904 COI, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). M2BPGi levels correlated well with liver stiffness (r = 0.911) and moderately with FIB-4 (r = 0.682), and with APRI (r = 0.536) (all p &lt; 0.001). Using cut-off values of 0.455, 1.02, 1.16, 1.66 and 1.71COI for control, F0-F1, F2, F3 and F4 groups, respectively, the AUROCs were 0.996, 0.996, 0.691, 0.794 and 1.00 for control, F0-F1, F2, F3 and F4 groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant but with weak positive correlation between M2BPGi serum level and INR (r = 0.333, p = 0.018). And there was a statistically significant but with weak negative correlation between M2BPGi serum level and platelet count (r = -0.41, p = 0.003) and HBV DNA (r = -0.373, p = 0.008).There was a statistically significance between M2BPGi serum level and the history of varices (p = 0.023) Conclusions WFA+-M2BP is an accurate serum indicator for assessing different stages of liver fibrosis. WFA+-M2BP provides a simple and reliable alternative or complementary method to liver biopsy and FibroScan.

scholarly journals Quality of life in children with cancer and their normal siblings

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
Hilda Hilda ◽  
Bidasari Lubis ◽  
Hakimi Hakimi ◽  
Olga Rasiyanti Siregar
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hematologic Malignancy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Solid Cancer ◽  
Children With Cancer ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pedsql 4.0 ◽  
School Function

Background Cancer treatment in children influences the quality of life of patients and their families. The Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) inventory is a questionnaire to assess quality of life of the healthy and ill children. Objective To compare quality of life in children with cancer and their normal siblings, and to compare quality of life in those with hematologic malignancies to those with solid tumors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5-to-18- year-olds at the Hematology-Oncology Division at Haji Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, North Sumatera, from May to July 2012. The case group (subjects with cancer) filled the PedsQL 3.0 and 4.0 questionnaires, while the control group (normal siblings) filled only the PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire. Independent T-test was used to compare the quality of life between children with cancer and their normal siblings. Results There were 46 children in each group. The PedsQL 4.0 results in children with cancer and their normal siblings, and PedsQL 3.0 between hematology malignant and solid cancer were as follows: physical function 36.9 vs. 80.7, respectively (95%CI of differences -52.639 to -34.990; P= 0.0001), emotional function 40.4 vs. 69.3, respectively (95%CI of differences -35.912 to -21.914; P=0.0001), social function 71.5 vs. 93.9, respectively (95%CI of differences - 29.238 to -15.587; P=0.0001), school function 20.7 vs. 74.2, respectively (95%CI of differences - 62.124 to -44.832; P=0.0001), and total score 42.1 vs. 79.3, respectively (95%CI of differences - 43.066 to -31.344; P=0.0001). School function was the most affected parameter in children with cancer compared to their normal siblings. Conclusion There is a significant difference in quality of life between children with cancer and their normal siblings, for all four parameters examined by the PedsQL inventory. However, there are no significant differences in quality of life between children with hematologic malignancy and those with solid cancer.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the TEI Program for Bullying and Cyberbullying Reduction and School Climate Improvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosario Ferrer-Cascales ◽  
Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez ◽  
Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo ◽  
Irene Portilla-Tamarit ◽  
Oriol Lordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
School Climate ◽  
Peer Victimization ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intervention Implementation ◽  
Limited Efficacy ◽  
Group 12 ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Bullying Behavior ◽  
Experimental Group

The increase in the prevalence of bullying and cyberbullying in recent years worldwide is undeniable. Although several intervention programs oriented towards the reduction of bullying and cyberbullying have been developed and implemented, significant disparities have been found regarding their efficacy. In most of the cases, the lack of the implementation of interventions involving all of the school community could be on the basis of this limited efficacy. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the TEI Program, an intervention based on peer tutoring, in the reduction of bullying and cyberbullying, and in the improvement of school climate. The design of the study was quasi-experimental, in which 2057 Spanish students (aged 11 to 16 years) participated from 22 schools, and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (10 schools, 987 students) or the control group (12 schools, 1070 students). The obtained results showed a significant reduction in bullying behavior, peer victimization, fighting, cyberbullying and cybervictimization in the experimental group after the intervention implementation. Similarly, a significant improvement in factors of school climate was found only in this group. The obtained results demonstrated that the TEI program is effective in reducing bully and cyberbully behavior, and at the same time, improving the school climate.

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