The Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Women with Ovarian Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies.

BACKGROUND: The results of this study included the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women with ovarian cancer. METHODS: A thorough search of numerous databases, including PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycoInfo, was conducted to identify relevant cross-sectional studies published between July 2013 and October 2021. STATA 16 was used to analyses the data, and a random effects model was used to determine the pooled prevalence and a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: Of the 18 cross-sectional studies reviewed, 17 reported the prevalence of anxiety and 16 reported the prevalence of depression in patients with ovarian cancer. There was a moderate degree of heterogeneity between studies, as the pooled prevalence of depression was 27% (95%CI: 14%-41%; I2=69.44%). Similarly, there was a greater degree of heterogeneity in the pooled prevalence of anxiety, which was found to be 33% (95%CI: 21%-44%; I2=78.55%). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that, compared to the overall female population, ovarian cancer patients have much greater rates of sadness and anxiety. These results highlight the necessity for healthcare policymakers to prioritize the provision of resources and support for carrying out additional research, such as longitudinal studies or cohorts, to ascertain the efficacy of various treatments or interventions intended to lessen mental health disorders in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Healthcare practitioners can enhance the general wellbeing and quality of life for women with this disease by addressing the psychological components of care.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Treatment Effects on Survival in Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

The objective of this study was to determine the survival rate and the effects of different treatments on patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The study employed a systematic approach that included a search strategy across four databases: Embase, Web of Sciences, PubMed, and Scopus. The results obtained were screened initially by titles and abstracts, followed by full-texts in EndNote 8 software. The next stage involved data extraction and qualitative evaluation, where the Metan command was used to estimate the pooled survival rate. A total of 28 studies with a sample size of 63,796 were finally analyzed. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates (OS) for IBC patients were found to be 52% (95% CI; 46-58%, I2: 99.42%) and 61% (95% CI; 53-69%, I2: 93.63%), respectively. The 5-year OS rates in patients with non-metastatic and metastatic IBC were 59% (95% CI; 54-63%, I2: 98.31%) and 30% (95% CI; 26-35%, I2: 50.84%), respectively. The 5-year OS rate in non-metastatic patients who underwent BCS surgery was 60% (CI 95%; 26-94%, I2: 95.13%). The overall 5- and 3-year OS rates for patients with IBC were lower than those for all types of breast cancer, and the rates were even lower in patients with metastasis. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare workers and women at risk should be vigilant of early symptoms of IBC to prevent metastasis by seeking medical attention on time.

Immunobiological Properties and Clinical Applications of Interleukin-38 for Immune-Mediated Disorders: A Systematic Review Study.

Exponential growth in the usage of "cytokines" (as seroimmunobiomarkers) has facilitated more accurate prognosis, early diagnosis, novel, and efficient immunotherapeutics. Numerous studies have reported immunopathophysiological and immunopathological processes of interleukin-38 (IL-38). Therefore, in this systematic review article, the authors aimed to present an updated comprehensive overview on the immunobiological mechanisms, diagnostic, and immune gene-based therapeutic potentials of IL-38. According to our inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 216 articles were collected from several search engines and databases from the January 2012 to July 2021 time interval by using six main keywords. Physiologic or pathologic microenvironments, optimal dosage, and involved receptors affect the functionalities of IL-38. Alterations in serum levels of IL-38 play a major role in the immunopathogenesis of a wide array of immune-mediated disorders. IL-38 shows anti-inflammatory activities by reduction or inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting the therapeutic aspects of IL-38 in inflammatory autoimmune diseases. According to the importance of pre-clinical studies, it seems that manipulation of the immune system by immunomodulatory properties of IL-38 can increase the accuracy of diagnosis, and decipher optimal clinical outcomes. To promote our knowledge, more collaboration is highly recommended among laboratory scientists, internal/infectious diseases specialists, oncologists, immunologists, diseases-specific biomarkers scientists, and basic medical researchers.

Slow-Stroke Back Massage Compared With Music Therapy for Leukemia-Related Pain and Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Comparison of two safe complementary medicine methods to treat cancer-related pain and fatigue in adult patients with acute leukemia during active treatment with chemotherapy. METHODS: A randomized trial with three groups (light massage, music therapy, and standard care) in Ahvaz, Iran, between 2018 and 2019. A total of 104 participants of the massage and music therapy groups received 15-minute intervention sessions, thrice weekly for 4 weeks, and participants of the control group received standard care. Cancer-related pain and fatigue intensity were measured by numeric self-report rating scales. During the 4 weeks of the interventions, pain and fatigue intensity were measured weekly. All the groups were followed up for 2 weeks after the end of the intervention. RESULTS: Pain and fatigue intensity decreased significantly over time between the intervention groups compared with the standard care group. In the massage and music therapy groups, a progressive reduction of pain and fatigue intensity over time (from the baseline to the fourth week) was observed. Fatigue intensity did not differ between the two intervention groups. Pain intensity decreased more in the massage group compared with the music therapy group. The durable effects of the massage therapy were greater compared with the music therapy 2 weeks after the intervention was completed. CONCLUSION: Light massage was more effective and persisted longer than the music therapy for controlling leukemia-related pain and fatigue in adult patients with acute leukemia.