RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-existing diabetes on in-hospital mortality in patients admitted for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This is a single center, retrospective study conducted at Policlinico di Monza hospital, located in the Lombardy region, Northern Italy. We reviewed medical records of 373 consecutive adult patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 between February 22 and May 15, 2020. Data were collected on diabetes status, comorbid conditions and laboratory findings. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effect of diabetes on in-hospital mortality after adjustment for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 72 ± 14 years (range 17-98), 244 (65.4%) were male and 69 (18.5%) had diabetes. The most common comorbid conditions were hypertension (237 [64.8%]), cardiovascular disease (140 [37.7%]) and malignant neoplasms (50 [13.6%]). In-hospital death occurred in 142 (38.0%) patients. In the multivariable model older age (Relative Risk [RR] 1.06 [1.04-1. 09] per year), diabetes (RR 1.56 [1.05-2.02]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR 1.82 [1.13-2.35]), higher values of lactic dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective single-center study, diabetes was independently associated with a higher in-hospital mortality. More intensive surveillance of patients with this condition is to be warranted.
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COVID-19/mortalidad , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiología , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , SARS-CoV-2 , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , COVID-19/epidemiología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Hospitalización , Humanos , Hipertensión/epidemiología , Italia/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/epidemiología , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Up to now, experimental studies on rodents have failed to provide definitive confirmation of the carcinogenicity of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELFEMF). Two recent studies performed in our laboratory on Sprague-Dawley rats reported a statistically significant increase in malignant tumors of different sites (mammary gland, C-cells carcinoma, hemolymphoreticular neoplasia, and malignant heart Schwannoma) when ELFEMF exposure was associated with exposure to formaldehyde (50â¯mg/l) or acute low dose of γ-radiation (0.1â¯Gy) (Soffritti et al., 2016a) (Soffritti et al., 2016b). The same doses of known carcinogenic agents (50â¯mg/l formaldehyde, or acute 0.1â¯Gy γ-radiation), when administered alone, previously failed to induce any statistically significant increase in the incidence of total and specific malignant tumors in rats of the same colony. OBJECTIVES: A lifespan whole-body exposure study was conducted to evaluate the possible carcinogenic effects of ELFEMF exposure administered alone to Sprague-Dawley rats, as part of the integrated project of the Ramazzini Institute (RI) for studying the effects on health of ELFEMF alone or in combination with other known carcinogens. METHODS: Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed 19â¯h/day to continuous sinusoidal-50â¯Hz magnetic fields (S-50â¯Hz MF) at flux densities of 0 (control group), 2, 20, 100 or 1000µT, and to intermittent (30â¯min on/30â¯min off) S-50â¯Hz MF at 1000 µT, from prenatal life until natural death. RESULTS: Survival and body weight trends in all groups of rats exposed to ELFEMF were comparable to those found in sex-matched controls. The incidence and number of malignant and benign tumors was similar in all groups. Magnetic field exposure did not significantly increase the incidence of neoplasias in any organ, including those sites that have been identified as possible targets in epidemiological studies (leukemia, breast cancer, and brain cancer). CONCLUSIONS: Life-span exposures to continuous and intermittent sinusoidal-50â¯Hz ELFEMFs, when administered alone, did not represent a significant risk factor for neoplastic development in our experimental rat model. In light of our previous results on the carcinogenic effects of ELFEMF in combination with formaldehyde and γ-radiation, further experiments are necessary to elucidate the possible role of ELFEMF as cancer enhancer in presence of other chemical and physical carcinogens.
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Campos Electromagnéticos , Longevidad , Animales , Carcinógenos , Campos Electromagnéticos/efectos adversos , Femenino , Campos Magnéticos , Masculino , Neoplasias/epidemiología , Embarazo , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Medición de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In 2011, IARC classified radiofrequency radiation (RFR) as possible human carcinogen (Group 2B). According to IARC, animals studies, as well as epidemiological ones, showed limited evidence of carcinogenicity. In 2016, the NTP published the first results of its long-term bioassays on near field RFR, reporting increased incidence of malignant glial tumors of the brain and heart Schwannoma in rats exposed to GSM - and CDMA - modulated cell phone RFR. The tumors observed in the NTP study are of the type similar to the ones observed in some epidemiological studies of cell phone users. OBJECTIVES: The Ramazzini Institute (RI) performed a life-span carcinogenic study on Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate the carcinogenic effects of RFR in the situation of far field, reproducing the environmental exposure to RFR generated by 1.8â¯GHz GSM antenna of the radio base stations of mobile phone. This is the largest long-term study ever performed in rats on the health effects of RFR, including 2448 animals. In this article, we reported the final results regarding brain and heart tumors. METHODS: Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed from prenatal life until natural death to a 1.8â¯GHz GSM far field of 0, 5, 25, 50â¯V/m with a whole-body exposure for 19â¯h/day. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in the incidence of heart Schwannomas was observed in treated male rats at the highest dose (50â¯V/m). Furthermore, an increase in the incidence of heart Schwann cells hyperplasia was observed in treated male and female rats at the highest dose (50â¯V/m), although this was not statistically significant. An increase in the incidence of malignant glial tumors was observed in treated female rats at the highest dose (50â¯V/m), although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The RI findings on far field exposure to RFR are consistent with and reinforce the results of the NTP study on near field exposure, as both reported an increase in the incidence of tumors of the brain and heart in RFR-exposed Sprague-Dawley rats. These tumors are of the same histotype of those observed in some epidemiological studies on cell phone users. These experimental studies provide sufficient evidence to call for the re-evaluation of IARC conclusions regarding the carcinogenic potential of RFR in humans.
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Neoplasias Encefálicas/etiología , Teléfono Celular , Neoplasias Cardíacas/etiología , Neoplasias Inducidas por Radiación/patología , Ondas de Radio/efectos adversos , Animales , Encéfalo , Femenino , Masculino , Embarazo , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is among the earliest recognized antioxidants. Recent findings suggested that tocotrienols have superior activity than tocopherols. Moreover, vitamin A is well-known in dermatology for its actions, including the ultraviolet radiation absorbing property. OBJECTIVES: In view of experimental evidence for the photoprotective properties of these antioxidants, we evaluated in 30 patients with photosensitivity, the prophylactic efficacy of a new topical agent, containing tocopherols 10% and tocotrienols 0.3%, compared with retinol, simple vehicle and untreated areas. METHODS: After determination of the minimal UVB erythema dose (MED), two areas of 2 × 2 cm were selected on the buttocks of each subject, one of which was treated with the antioxidant formulation whereas the other field did not undergo any treatment. Therefore, both areas were irradiated with a twofold MED. As further controls, other two similar areas, selected on the forearm of 15 patients, were photo-irradiated similarly, 30 min after application of the simple vehicle to a field and of vitamin A in the same vehicle to the other. Reactions (erythema/oedema/itch/vesciculation) assessment was carried out assigning scores indicative of their intensity; then, mean values +DS of scores were calculated. RESULTS: The pre-treatment with the vitamin E formulation highly protects against photosensitivity, and all reactions to irradiation were significantly lower in the areas treated with the topical vitamin E formulation compared to those treated with the simple vehicle or vitamin A. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a new topical formulation containing significant concentrations of tocotrienols and tocopherols represents a promising strategy to reduce the photo-induced skin damage.
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Antioxidantes/administración & dosificación , Protectores contra Radiación/administración & dosificación , Tocoferoles/administración & dosificación , Tocotrienoles/administración & dosificación , Administración Tópica , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , PlacebosRESUMEN
Cross-Reacting Material 197 (CRM197) is a diphtheria toxin non-toxic mutant that has shown antitumor activity in mice and humans. It is still unclear whether this anti-tumorigenic effect depends on its strong inflammatory-immunological property, its ability to inhibit heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), or even its possible weak toxicity. CRM197 is utilized as a specific inhibitor of HB-EGF that competes for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), overexpressed in colorectal cancer and implicated in its progression. In this study we evaluate the effects of CRM197 on HT-29 human colon cancer cell line behaviour and, for CRM197 recognized ability to inhibit HB-EGF, its possible influence on EGFR activation. In particular, while HT-29 does not show any reduction of viability after CRM197 treatment (MTT modified assay), or changes in cell cycle distribution (flow cytometry), in EGFR localization, phospho-EGFR detected signals (immunohistochemistry) or in morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) they show a change in the gene expression profile by microarray analysis (cDNA microarray SS-H19k8). The overexpression of genes like protein phosphatase 2, catalytic subunit, alpha isozyme (PPP2CA), guanine nucleotide-binding protein G subunit alpha-1(GNAI1) and butyrophilin, subfamily 2, member A1 (BTN2A1) has been confirmed with real-time-qPCR. This is the first study where the CRM197 treatment on HT-29 shows a possible scarce implication of endogenous HB-EGF on EGFR expression and cancer cell development. At the same time, our results show the alteration of a specific and selected number of genes.
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Proteínas Bacterianas/farmacología , Neoplasias del Colon/genética , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/métodos , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Ciclo Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Colorantes , ADN Complementario/biosíntesis , ADN Complementario/genética , Enterocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Enterocitos/metabolismo , Receptores ErbB/biosíntesis , Receptores ErbB/genética , Citometría de Flujo , Células HT29 , Factor de Crecimiento Similar a EGF de Unión a Heparina , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Hibridación in Situ , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intercelular/metabolismo , Análisis por Micromatrices , Microscopía Electrónica de Rastreo , ARN Neoplásico/biosíntesis , ARN Neoplásico/genética , Receptor ErbB-4 , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Azul de TripanoRESUMEN
The current study examined whether alexithymia is involved in colon cancer as has been found in breast and uterine cancer research. The TAS-20 was administered before examination to patients who underwent colon cancer screening. Histological data were obtained from the biopsies. Gender, age, education, smoking and drinking habits, and personal and family histories of neoplastic colonic disease were controlled for in the analysis. Both adenoma and adenocarcinoma patients had higher TAS-20 scores than negative cases, and both high and intermediate levels of alexithymia were implicated. Difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking were the most prominent facets related to the disease process.
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Síntomas Afectivos/epidemiología , Síntomas Afectivos/psicología , Neoplasias del Colon/epidemiología , Neoplasias del Colon/psicología , Colonoscopía , Tamizaje Masivo/métodos , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Escalas de Valoración Psiquiátrica/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Riesgo , Ciudad de Roma/epidemiología , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
The correct choice of cosmetic products and cleansers is very important to improve skin hydration, to provide moisturizing benefits and to minimize cutaneous damage caused by surfactants. In fact, surfactants may damage protein structures and solubilize lipids. Soaps, defined as the alkali salts of fatty acids, are the oldest surfactants and are quite aggressive. Syndets (synthetic detergents) vary in composition and surfactant types (anionic, cationic, amphotheric, non-ionic). These new skin cleansing products also contain preservatives, fragrances, and sometimes emollients, humectants and skin nutrients. We present a revision of the literature and discuss recent findings regarding skin cleansers.
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Detergentes/administración & dosificación , Tensoactivos/administración & dosificación , Cosméticos , Humanos , MicelasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Guidelines for kidney function monitoring and antiretroviral drug dosing are available and respectively refer to glomerular filtration rate and creatinine clearance (CrCl). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare kidney function estimates vs. measured 24-h CrCl in HIV-infected subjects. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used, with comparison of Cockcroft-Gault (CG), original and simplified modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equations vs. measured 24-h CrCl. Subjects were HIV-infected, 18-70 years old, without pre-existing kidney disease. RESULTS: Results are presented as mean (+/-standard deviation), unless otherwise stated. The study population consisted of 90 patients, of whom 71% were male, with a mean age of 45 years (+/-6.5 years). At the time of evaluation, the mean body mass index was 23 (+/-3.3); mean serum creatinine was 0.91 mg/dL (+/-0.2 mg/dL); and mean blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was 34.7 mg/dL (+/-10.6 mg/dL). Differences between paired methods were all significant (P<0.00001), except between CG and simplified MDRD (P=0.21; Pearson r=0.81). In univariate analysis, male gender, CD4 nadir, hepatitis B virus coinfection, BUN and current CD4 cell count showed a significant positive correlation (P<0.2) with the difference between measured 24-h CrCl and either CG or simplified MDRD estimates. In multivariate analysis, only BUN showed a significant positive correlation (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Estimates were lower than the measurements of 24-h CrCl. Original MDRD estimates were lower than those with other equations. CG and simplified MDRD estimates showed a satisfactory correlation.
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Creatinina/orina , Tasa de Filtración Glomerular/fisiología , Infecciones por VIH/fisiopatología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Biomarcadores/orina , Nitrógeno de la Urea Sanguínea , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , Infecciones por VIH/orina , Humanos , Pruebas de Función Renal/métodos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although topical remedies and cosmetics based on herbal ingredients are becoming increasingly popular with the public due to the perception that botanical compounds are safer and healthier than their synthetic counterparts, a large number of adverse cutaneous effects of plant extracts, notably contact sensitization, have been reported in medical literature. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of herbal compound usage in a dermatological out-patient population and to estimate the incidence of consequent cutaneous side-effects. METHODS: Four hundred patients were subjected to a self-administered 15-item questionnaire to assess both prevalence and type of topical botanical preparations used and occurrence of skin adverse reactions. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-one patients (60.25%) reported use of natural topical products, predominantly aloe, marigold, chamomile, propolis and arnica. Females used herbal products, for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes, more frequently than males. Fifteen patients (6.22%) referred one or more adverse cutaneous reactions. CONCLUSION: Herbal preparations were widely used in the examined population, but, despite the common belief in the innocuous nature of botanical extracts, the incidence of side-effects referred by the patients confirms that they should be regarded as a potential source of adverse skin events. The lack of adequate patch testing in case of suspected contact allergic dermatitis, incomplete or misleading product labelling, and the risk of chemical adulteration may represent further concerns as regards application of botanical products.
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Cosméticos , Medicina de Hierbas , Pacientes Ambulatorios , Enfermedades de la Piel/terapia , Administración Tópica , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Growth factors of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)/neuregulin family are involved in tumor progression and, accordingly, antibodies that intercept a cognate receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ERBB1, or a co-receptor, HER2, have been approved for cancer therapy. Although they might improve safety and delay onset of chemoresistance, no anti-ligand antibodies have been clinically approved. To identify suitable ligands, we surveyed fluids from ovarian and lung cancer patients and found that amphiregulin (AREG) is the most abundant and generalized ligand secreted by advanced tumors. AREG is a low affinity EGFR ligand, which is upregulated following treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. Because AREG depletion retarded growth of xenografted ovarian tumors in mice, we generated a neutralizing monoclonal anti-AREG antibody. The antibody inhibited growth of ovarian cancer xenografts and strongly enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. Taken together, these results raise the possibility that AREG and other low- or high-affinity binders of EGFR might serve as potential targets for cancer therapy.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales/farmacología , Familia de Proteínas EGF/genética , Familia de Proteínas EGF/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ováricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Ováricas/patología , Anfirregulina , Animales , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Medios de Cultivo Condicionados/análisis , Familia de Proteínas EGF/inmunología , Receptores ErbB/metabolismo , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Ratones Desnudos , Terapia Molecular Dirigida/métodos , Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador alfa/metabolismo , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador alfa/farmacología , Células Tumorales Cultivadas , Ubiquitinación , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de XenoinjertoAsunto(s)
Asteraceae/toxicidad , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto/etiología , Flores/toxicidad , Dermatosis de la Mano/inducido químicamente , Quimera , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto/diagnóstico , Femenino , Jardinería , Dermatosis de la Mano/diagnóstico , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pruebas del Parche/métodosRESUMEN
A large fraction of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive precursor lesion of invasive breast cancer, overexpresses the HER2/neu oncogene. The ducts of DCIS are abnormally filled with cells that evade apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We overexpressed HER2 in mammary epithelial cells and observed growth factor-independent proliferation. When grown in extracellular matrix as three-dimensional spheroids, control cells developed a hollow lumen, but HER2-overexpressing cells populated the lumen by evading apoptosis. We demonstrate that HER2 overexpression in this cellular model of DCIS drives transcriptional upregulation of multiple components of the Notch survival pathway. Importantly, luminal filling required upregulation of a signaling pathway comprising Notch3, its cleaved intracellular domain and the transcriptional regulator HES1, resulting in elevated levels of c-MYC and cyclin D1. In line with HER2-Notch3 collaboration, drugs intercepting either arm reverted the DCIS-like phenotype. In addition, we report upregulation of Notch3 in hyperplastic lesions of HER2 transgenic animals, as well as an association between HER2 levels and expression levels of components of the Notch pathway in tumor specimens of breast cancer patients. Therefore, it is conceivable that the integration of the Notch and HER2 signaling pathways contributes to the pathophysiology of DCIS.
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Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Carcinoma Intraductal no Infiltrante/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Receptores Notch/genética , Animales , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Carcinoma Intraductal no Infiltrante/metabolismo , Línea Celular , Proliferación Celular , Factor de Crecimiento Epidérmico/farmacología , Células Epiteliales/efectos de los fármacos , Células Epiteliales/metabolismo , Femenino , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/genética , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Immunoblotting , Glándulas Mamarias Humanas/citología , Glándulas Mamarias Humanas/metabolismo , Ratones , Ratones Transgénicos , Microscopía Confocal , Modelos Biológicos , Análisis de Secuencia por Matrices de Oligonucleótidos , Interferencia de ARN , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Receptor Notch3 , Receptores Notch/metabolismo , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Transducción de Señal/genética , TransfecciónRESUMEN
The HER2/neu oncogene encodes a receptor-like tyrosine kinase whose overexpression in breast cancer predicts poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies. However, the mechanisms underlying aggressiveness of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-overexpressing tumors remain incompletely understood. Because it assists epidermal growth factor (EGF) and neuregulin receptors, we overexpressed HER2 in MCF10A mammary cells and applied growth factors. HER2-overexpressing cells grown in extracellular matrix formed filled spheroids, which protruded outgrowths upon growth factor stimulation. Our transcriptome analyses imply a two-hit model for invasive growth: HER2-induced proliferation and evasion from anoikis generate filled structures, which are morphologically and transcriptionally analogous to preinvasive patients' lesions. In the second hit, EGF escalates signaling and transcriptional responses leading to invasive growth. Consistent with clinical relevance, a gene expression signature based on the HER2/EGF-activated transcriptional program can predict poorer prognosis of a subgroup of HER2-overexpressing patients. In conclusion, the integration of a three-dimensional cellular model and clinical data attributes progression of HER2-overexpressing lesions to EGF-like growth factors acting in the context of the tumor's microenvironment.
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Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Carcinoma Ductal de Mama/patología , Modelos Biológicos , Receptor ErbB-2/fisiología , Anoicis/fisiología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Transformación Celular Neoplásica/patología , Matriz Extracelular/fisiología , Femenino , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intercelular/fisiología , Glándulas Mamarias Humanas/metabolismo , Glándulas Mamarias Humanas/patología , Invasividad Neoplásica , Lesiones Precancerosas/patología , Esferoides Celulares/fisiología , Transcripción Genética/fisiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The Italian National Institute of Health Quality of Life - Core Evaluation Form (ISSQoL-CEF) is a specific questionnaire measuring health-related quality of life for human immunodeficiency virus-infected people in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The main goal of this study was to examine the construct validity of this questionnaire by confirmation of its hypothesized dimensional structure. METHODS: Baseline quality of life data from four clinical studies were collected and a confirmatory factor analysis of the ISSQoL-CEF items was carried out. Both first-order and second-order factor models were tested: Model 1 with nine correlated first-order factors; Model 2 with three correlated second-order factors (Physical, Mental, and Social Health); Model 3 with two correlated second-order factors (Physical and Mental/Social Health); Model 4 with only one second-order factor (General Health). RESULTS: A total of 261 patients were surveyed. Model 1 had a good fit to the data. Model 2 had an acceptable fit to the data and it was the best of all hierarchical models. However, Model 2 fitted the data worse than Model 1. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of in this study, consistent with the results of previous study, pointed out the construct validity of the ISSQoL-CEF.