Risk Factors and Predictive Value of Depression and Anxiety in Cervical Cancer Patients.

Background and Objectives: Women with cervical cancer may experience depression or anxiety, influencing their quality of life and even their adherence to cancer treatments. This study aimed to explore and measure the levels of anxiety and depression in patients suffering from cervical cancer and to identify the possible predictors among known risk factors such as age, cancer stage, smoking status, number of partners, use of contraceptives, and annual gynecological visits. Materials and Methods: In total, 59 patients with cervical cancer were included. A consecutive sampling method was used to select participants in this research. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Zung Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Zung Depression Scale (SDS). The subjects were divided into three groups, according to the stage of cancer. Results: Scores of depression and anxiety were increased in all recruited cervical cancer patients. A significant correlation was found between disease stage and the scores of depression (p = 0.002) and anxiety (p = 0.016). More severe depressive symptoms correlated to a more advanced stage of the disease. A multiple linear regression showed that disease stage and annual visits to the gynecologist are the risk factors associated with higher depression scores. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer are a vulnerable group for the development of the psychiatric disorders and they require screening programs, which could potentially detect candidates for co-psychiatric and/or psychotherapeutic treatment. They demand particular attention because anxiety and depression are associated with the significant burden of the underlying disease and unfavorable survival rates.

A new medical imaging technique for diagnosing dermatologic diseases: A clue to treatment choices.

Recently, it has been shown that DNA could emit some waves which carry main information about its evolution. Using this idea, we design a new method to image the behavior of skin cells, especially melanocytes, and diagnose their damage. In this method, we make use of a circuit which is formed from DNAs within the damaged melanocytes, a graphene sheet, DNAs within the healthy cells, and a scope. To amplify exchanged waves between hexagonal and pentagonal manifolds of DNAs, we induce some defects in the graphene sheets and replace some hexagonal molecules by pentagonal ones to build a structure similar to the structure of DNAs. We show that unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB damages the DNA in melanocyte cells, producing genetic defects, or mutations, that can lead to exchanged waves between cells and the emergence of a current in our circuit. By analyzing the evolution of this current, we can estimate the rate of destruction in melanocytes, and predict the emergence of cancer.

Remodeling of collagen constituting interlobular septa of subcutaneous adipose tissue following microwaves application.

In this study, the application of a recently introduced device based on electromagnetic energy transfer by microwaves for fat reduction, permitted to study specifically the modifications of thick fibrous collagen interlobular septa in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, related to the formation of large clusters of adipocytes. The use of Picrosirius red staining associated with circularly polarized microscopy gave evidence of appreciable modifications of the fibrous connective tissue forming septa. Compact fibrotic bundles of collagen I forming interlobular septa appeared reduced or dissolved, in part substituted by the increase of more diffuse and finely reticular collagen III. Remodeling of fibrous collagen, which formed bridles involved in the appearance at the surface of the skin of dimpling/orange peer pattern typical of cellulite, was observed.