Association between Serum Progastrin Biomarker Level and Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: gastric cancer is the fifth most prevalent cancer and the fourth cause of death because of cancer. In Iran, northern and northwestern regions are considered gastric cancer hot spots. Identifying serum biomarkers could be helpful in early diagnosis of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Increase in progastrin level has been reported in different cancers. Given the diagnostic value of this biomarker, this study aimed to determine the diagnostic role of progastrin serum biomarker in patients with gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY: In this case-control study, forty patients with gastric cancer who were diagnosed by endoscopy and pathologic findings and visited Mazandaran Comprehensive Cancer Center. The participants had received no treatment yet and entered this study. The participants in case group were compared with the control group including forty-two individuals with no history of gastrointestinal cancer in their first-degree relatives and visiting the lab for routine tests. Progastrin serum level was assessed using ELISA kit. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann Whitney test, both non-parametric) were used for statistical analysis and the relation between the variables was examined using Pearson's correlation coefficient at 95% confidence level in SPSS 16. FINDINGS: In this study, progastrin serum level was significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer compared with normal participants (P = 0.035). Progastrin serum level had no significant relation with tumor clinicopathologic parameters (p-value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increase in progastrin may be utilized as a predictive factor for gastric cancer.

Effects of Vitamin E on Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity in Human Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate in vitro synergistic anticancer effect of doxorubicin combined with Vitamin E. METHODS: The MTT assay was utilized to assess the cytotoxicity of Vitamin E and vitamin E combined with doxorubicin and vital activities of SKBR3, MDA-MB-231, and HFF cells over a 24-hour incubation period. In addition, the antioxidant properties of these interventions and the decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS) content caused by the treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: The antiproliferative effect of doxorubicin increased significantly in combination with vitamin E (Doxcorobicin 2µM vs. Vitamin E 120µM, P=0.000). Despite reducing cell ROS content due to vitamin E treatment, the combination of vitamin E and doxorubicin showed no significant synergistic effect (Doxcorobicin 2µM vs. Vitamin E 120µM, P=0.998). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the doxorubicin-vitamin E treatment reduced the viability of breast cancer cells with the minimum side effects on normal cells. In addition, the high dosage of vitamin E intensified the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin.

The effect of a supportive program on coping strategies and stress in women diagnosed with breast cancer: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

AIM: To investigate the effect of a supportive program on coping strategies and stress in women with breast cancer. DESIGN: A randomized, two-armed, controlled trial. METHODS: Sixty women were randomly allocated to intervention group (N = 30) and control group (N = 30). The interventions were held in six sessions, weekly from August 2018-March 2019 It was consisting of education regarding breast cancer; progressive muscle relaxation; stress management; emotional coping; and problem-solving strategies. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no difference between the two groups regarding the mean score of coping strategies and stress. Supportive program group participants experienced a significantly higher increase on their problem-oriented coping strategies score in comparison with the control group. At the same time, scores in emotion-oriented coping strategies and stress decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group. Result of this study can be used to develop relevant interventions targeting coping strategies to reduce stress among women with breast cancer.

Improvement in use of best practice in the care of patients with oral mucositis in a comprehensive cancer center in Iran: a best practice implementation case study.

INTRODUCTION: Oral mucositis is a common debilitating complication of cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiation. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to improve oral mucositis prevention and control among cancer patients through the implementation of best practice guidelines in a tertiary referral center in Northern Iran. METHODS: A clinical audit design was utilized in this implementation project. A preimplementation audit was conducted against nine best practice criteria for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis among new cases of cancer patients in November and December 2019. Fifty cancer patients and 20 nurses participated in this phase of the clinical audit. The next step included a facilitated multidisciplinary focus group identifying targeted strategies and implementing them, completed in late December 2019. A postimplementation audit was then conducted on another 50 cancer patients and the same 20 nurses in January and early February 2020. The project utilized the Joanna Briggs Institute Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice software. RESULTS: The preimplementation audit revealed gaps between the current practice and best practice across eight of the nine criteria. After implementing the targeted strategies, the outcomes improved across most of the criteria in the follow-up audit: 80% increase was observed in compliance of staff education, 100% increase in providing standard oral hygiene protocol in place, 64% increase in carrying out a dental examination and conducting initial oral cavity examination, and also 34% increase in conducting of ongoing oral cavity examination by a dentist, and finally 100% increase in providing preventive and therapeutic oral care regimens in place and oral pain assessment using a validated tool. CONCLUSION: The results of this project indicate that clinical auditing is an effective approach to the assessment of evidence-based care practices for oral mucositis among new cancer patients. Evidence-based oral mucositis management among cancer patients can be achieved by educating the patients and nursing staff using the newest guidelines and dentists' comprehensive dental and oral hygiene examinations.