ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors, so as to provide the evidence for the control of T. gondii infections in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. Methods A total of 327 patients with gynecological malignant tumors were recruited, and 200 women with normal healthy examinations were served as controls. The serum anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by using ELISA, and the seroprevalence was compared between the patients and controls, and among various types of cancers. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 26.91% (88/327) in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors, which was significantly higher than that (5.00%) in the healthy volunteers (χ2 = 39.36, P<0.01) . The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in the cancer patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (26.30% vs. 5.00%; χ2 = 37.79, P<0.01), while the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody in the cancer patients was not significantly different from that in the controls (0.92% vs. 0; corrected χ2 = 0.58, P > 0.01) . The positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody were 27.68%, 25.47% and 25.69% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer patients respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the controls (χ2 = 32.35, 27.32 and 28.00; all P values<0.01); however, there was no significant difference among the various types of cancer patients in the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (χ2 = 0.17, P > 0.05) . In addition, the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody were 1.79%, 0 and 0.92% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer patients respectively, which was not significantly different from those in the controls (all P values > 0.05). Conclusions The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection is high in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. It is suggested that the prevention and control of T. gondii infection should be strengthened in these patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with gynecological malignant tumors, so as to provide the evidence for the control of T. gondii infections in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. Methods A total of 327 patients with gynecological malignant tumors were recruited, and 200 women with normal healthy examinations were served as controls. The serum anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by using ELISA, and the seroprevalence was compared between the patients and controls, and among various types of cancers. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 26.91% (88/327) in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors, which was significantly higher than that (5.00%) in the healthy volunteers (χ2 = 39.36, P<0.01) . The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in the cancer patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (26.30% vs. 5.00%; χ2 = 37.79, P<0.01), while the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody in the cancer patients was not significantly different from that in the controls (0.92% vs. 0; corrected χ2 = 0.58, P > 0.01) . The positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody were 27.68%, 25.47% and 25.69% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer patients respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the controls (χ2 = 32.35, 27.32 and 28.00; all P values<0.01); however, there was no significant difference among the various types of cancer patients in the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody (χ2 = 0.17, P > 0.05) . In addition, the positive rates of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody were 1.79%, 0 and 0.92% in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer patients respectively, which was not significantly different from those in the controls (all P values > 0.05). Conclusions The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection is high in the patients with gynecological malignant tumors. It is suggested that the prevention and control of T. gondii infection should be strengthened in these patients.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the long-term changes in the quality of life (QOL) scores in elderly patients after aortic valve replacement, and assess the impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch on the QQL of the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 100 consecutive elderly patients above 70 years of age, who underwent isolated aortic valve or simultaneous aortic valve-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures between August 10, 1995 and August 19, 1998. Patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) was defined as a prosthetic aortic valve EOAI of 0.85 cm2/m2 or less. The clinical follow-up examinations were carried out at 4 weeks and 6 months after the operation, and then annually afterwards. Cumulative and comparative analyses of the long-term outcomes and gradient pressure of the prosthetic valve were performed. The QOL of the patients was evaluated using the Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age of the patients at prosthesis implantation was 74.7-/+5.7 years (range 70-87 years). The patients were followed up for a mean of 7.3-/+4.5 years. The thirty-day mortality was 6.3% in the mismatch group, and 3.3% in the matching group. The freedom from death showed no significant difference between the two groups at the first, third and fifth years after the prosthetic implantation, but differed significantly at the seventh year. The echocardiographic data showed significant differences in the mean gradient pressure between the two groups at the first and fifth years postoperatively. At most of the time points for follow-up examination, the general health and energy/vitality of the patients all improved from the preoperative levels, but no significant improvement was found at the third, fifth, and seventh years in the role emotional, social role, or general mental health; at the first postoperative year, however, the role emotional, social role, and particularly mental health, presented with significant improvements in comparison with the preoperative levels. No obvious difference in the QOL was noted between the two groups at the time points of observation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aortic vale replacement improves the QOL of the elderly patients, but the degree of improvements do not seem to be influenced by PPM. The interpretation of the impact of PPM on the clinic outcome of the patients still remains controversial.</p>