Search

Background and purpose: Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) remains the most prevailing unfavorable influence and may affect its clinical usage. This study sought to explore the possible impacts of curcumin on preventing CIN in human subjects. Clinical design: The investigation was a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial conducted on 82 patients receiving nano-curcumin (80 mg twice daily for five days) or an identical placebo with standard nephroprotective modalities against CIN. Data was gathered on patients' demographics, blood, urinary nitrogen, creatinine (Cr) levels, urinary electrolytes, and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in treatment and placebo groups, 24 h and five days after initiating the administration of cisplatin. Findings/Results: Both investigation groups were alike considering the demographic characteristics and clinical baseline data. Curcumin administration led to a significant improvement in blood-urine nitrogen (BUN). BUN, Cr, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the ratio of NGAL-to-Cr considerably altered during the follow-up periods. However, the further alterations in other indices, including urinary sodium, potassium, magnesium, NGAL values, and potassium-to-Cr ratio were not statistically noteworthy. The significant differences in the NGAL-to-Cr ratio between the two groups may indicate the potential protective impact of curcumin supplementation against tubular toxicity. Curcumin management was safe and well-accepted; only insignificant gastrointestinal side effects were reported. Conclusion and implications: Curcumin supplementation may have the potential to alleviate CIN and urinary electrolyte wasting in cancer patients. Future research investigating the effects of a longer duration of follow-up, a larger participant pool, and a higher dosage of curcumin are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative cancer patients suffer from a condition which needs to take many medications for supportive care and comorbid illnesses management. Therefore, they are at risk of drug-rated problems, such as futile medications. We aimed to discover the futile medication occurrence and identification as well as medication futility associated predictor factors. Method: In a prospective cross-sectional study, we included patients with advanced/incurable malignancies admitted to Ala palliative clinic, a charity clinic affiliated to Omid Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, between June 2018 and April 2019. To identify the use of fruitless medicine towards the end of life, we conducted a thorough analysis of the demographic information and prescription lists of terminally ill patients. The phrase "futile drugs" refers to those that are superfluous or redundant, have no significant benefits in terms of illness symptom management or survival time extension, or have a long-term chronic usage. Results: From 133 involved patients, 114 (85.7%) were considered to use at least one futile medication (including only administration of unnecessary medications (70%) or both unnecessary and duplicate medication (30%). 35 patients were encountered with 48 medication duplications of the different pharmacological class of medications mostly opioids (33%). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, the number of drugs and the average time to death were related with the prevalence of medication futility. Conclusion: Palliative cancer patients were exposed to taking futile medications. More different prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical and economic impact of futile medication use in oncology practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculating utility values in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients under chemotherapy treatment is important for studies of economic evaluations. The EQ-5D-5L and composite time trade-off (cTTO) were used to calculate utility values in 105 patients with CRC in Iran. The mean EQ-5D-5L index and cTTO values were 0.45 ± 0.03 and 0.51 ± 0.02, respectively. Anxiety and pain were the most common problems reported by the patients. The BetaMix showed that lower mean utility values were significantly associated with females, aging, a low level of income, a greater number of comorbidities, and an advanced stage of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the analysis of potential hydrazine present in tobacco smoke. The sample preparation was performed via an optimized derivatization method using an aqueous buffer:methanol solution of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (10 g/L) used as a derivatizing agent. The mainstream smoke of cigarettes was passed through a glass fiber filter pad followed by a trapping solution containing an isotopically labeled 15N2-hydrazine used as internal standard. After smoking, the filter pad was extracted with the trapping solution and then incubated for 30 minutes at 35°C. An aliquot of the extract was centrifuged and the resultant hydrazone was quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The isotope dilution standard calibration curve demonstrated good linearity (R 2 > 0.999) from 0.079 to 248 ng/mL, with limits of quantification in mainstream smoke of 0.2 and 0.4 ng/cig for ISO and Canadian Intense smoking regimens, respectively. The method recovery was assessed using samples spiked with solutions of known amounts of hydrazine. The results showed good accuracy with recoveries ranging from 98 to 111%. Although there were no detectable levels of hydrazine in the reference cigarettes used in the validation (KR3R4F), the method precision was estimated to be ~10% based on the variability observed in the spiked samples. Trapping efficiencies were assessed using a hydrazine permeation tube providing a known amount of hydrazine vapor such that the distribution between the vapor phase and particulate phase of mainstream smoke could be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of potential drug interactions in terminally-ill cancer patients receiving exclusively supportive care. In this cross-sectional study, during a 6-month follow-up, we considered the medical record of terminally-ill cancer patients referred to palliative care at the cancer center in Isfahan, Iran. Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were assessed by Lexi-Interact ver.1.1 online software. During the study period, 133 terminally-ill cancer patients were recruited. We detected 1678 DDIs with moderate or major severity levels. Among them, 330, 219, 32, 1075, and 51 interactions were categorized in B, C, D, and X drug interactions categories, respectively. One hundred and twenty-two patients (91.73%) encountered at least one potential drug-drug interaction during the end of life care. Mechanistically, most drug-drug interactions (64.5%) were pharmacodynamics. The most frequent pharmacological class of drugs responsible for DDIs were quetiapine (91 cases), oxycodone (87 cases), and sertraline (55 cases). Interaction between oxycodone and sertraline was found to be in the top 10 detected DDIs (13.7%). Our results showed that potentially moderate or major drug-drug interactions often occur among terminally-ill cancer patients and the clinical significance of DDIs should be considered meticulously in the palliative care cancer setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis, the very serious disease in women creates a huge financial burden worldwide, which is comparable to diabetes mellitus. In addition to the typical pelvic pain, endometriosis is related to low life quality and decreased work efficiency; clinical consequences include mood complaints, metabolic impairments, inflammation, immunologic problems, and elevated malignancy risks. Several risk factors are correlated with endometriosis including elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress, long-lasting inflammation, raised immune tolerance, as well as autoimmunity. Melatonin is a natural molecule present throughout both the plant and animal kingdoms. It has numerous functions as an antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agent. Due to the anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-invasive features of melatonin, it performances as a beneficial agent to limit endometriosis; this involves several pathways including antiestrogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects, as well as reducing the growth of E2-induced endometriotic tissue. Moreover, melatonin can favor sleep quality and decrease the unwanted signs in the patients. However, most of the data on melatonin accured from experimental works and additional clinical trials are needed. This review summarizes what is currently known regarding the influence of melatonin on endometriosis. Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer patients, as a highly vulnerable population, are receiving a great deal of attention in the current crisis of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). To date, shreds of evidence are not sufficient to the description of COVID-19 outcomes in patients with cancer. This study was performed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics and subsequent outcomes of COVID-19 in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based study was conducted involving 66 cancer patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from January 15, 2020, to December 21, 2020, in Isfahan, Iran. The clinical information was collected by interview and medical records. The statistical analyses were performed to describe categorical variables as well as mean, standard deviation, median, and the interquartile range for quantitative variables. Results: In our study, 66 cancer patients with confirmed COVID-19 (age: 17–97 years; 50% female) were included. Leukemia and bone marrow cancer with a frequency of 25.7% were the most common types of cancer among them. Cancer patients mostly complained of fever, cough and fatigue, and shortness of breath. Among 76.9% of patients discharged from the hospital with relative recovery, 23% died; the most common cause of death was acute respiratory distress syndrome. Age, gender, and type of cancer did not affect cancer mortality. COVID-19 had no potential effect to increase the risk of side effects of anticancer therapies. Conclusion: The results of our studies revealed that cancer is an important risk factor for the higher rate of mortality in patients with COVID-19. These findings could help physicians for the management, treatment, and supportive care of COVID-19 cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of perioperative chemotherapy regimens including epirubicin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (ECF), docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (DCF), leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), and 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) to identify the most effective chemotherapy regimen with less toxicity. Experimental approach: This retrospective cohort study (2014-2021) was based on 152 eligible resectable gastric cancer patients who had received one of the perioperative mentioned chemotherapy regimens and followed for at least two years. The primary endpoint of this study was overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), and R0 resection. Findings / Results: Of included patients, 21%, 33.7%, 24.3%, and 21% had received ECF, DCF, FOLFOX and FLOT, respectively. After the median 30-month follow-ups, OS was higher with the FLOT regimen in comparison with other regimens (hazard ratio = 0. 276). The median OS of the FLOT regimen was 39 months. Besides, the median OS was 28, 25, and 21 months for DCF, FOLOFX, and ECF regimens, respectively. Moreover, a median PFS of 24, 18, 17, and 14 months was observed for FLOT, DCF, FOLFOX, and ECF regimens, respectively (Log-rank < 0.001). FLOT regimen showed 84. 4% ORR which was notably higher than other groups. Conclusions and implications: For resectable gastric cancer patients, the perioperative FLOT regimen led to a significant improvement in patients' OS and PFS versus ECF, DCF, and FOLFOX regimens. As such, the FLOT regimen could be considered the optimal option for managing resectable gastric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are determined by ineffective hematopoiesis and bone marrow cytological dysplasia with somatic gene mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. Accumulating evidence has revealed the pivotal role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptotic cell death in the pathogenesis of MDS. Although MDS can be diagnosed with a variety of morphologic and cytogenetic tests, most of these tests have limitations or problems in practice. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the expression of genes that form the inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC, and CASP1) in bone marrow specimens of MDS patients and compared the results with those of other leukemias to evaluate their diagnostic value for MDS. Primary samples of this observational cohort study were collected from aspiration samples of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (27 cases) and patients with non-myelodysplastic syndrome hematological cancers (45 cases). After RNA extraction and c.DNA synthesis, candidate transcripts and housekeeping transcripts were measured by real-time PCR method (SYBER Green assay). Using Kruskal-Wallis the relative gene expressions were compared and differences with p value less than 0.05 were considered as significant. Discrimination capability, cut-off, and area under curve (AUC) of all markers were analyzed with recessive operation curve (ROC) analysis. Results: We found that Caspase-1 and ASC genes expressed at more levels in MDS specimens compared to non-MDS hematological malignancies. A relative average expression of 10.22 with a p-value of 0.001 and 1.86 with p=0.019 was detected for Caspase-1 and ASC, respectively. ROC curve analysis shows an AUC of 0.739 with p=0.0001 for Caspase-1 and an AUC of 0.665 with p=0.0139 for ASC to MDS discrimination. Conclusion: Our results show that Caspase-1 and ASC gene expression levels can be used as potential biomarkers for MDS diagnosis. Prospective studies with large sample numbers are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the most serious human health issues. Drug therapy is the major common way to treat cancer. There is a growing interest in using natural compounds to overcome drug resistance, adverse reactions, and target specificity of certain types of drugs that may affect several targets with fewer side effects and be beneficial against various types of cancer. In this regard, the use of herbal medicines alone or in combination with the main anticancer drugs is commonly available. Berberine (BBR), a nature‐driven phytochemical component, is a well‐known nutraceutical due to its wide variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and hypolipidemic. In addition, BBR exerts anticancer activities. In present article, we summarized the information available on the therapeutic effects of BBR and its mechanisms on five types of the most prevalent gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, hepatocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a type of malignancy with progressive metastasis having poor prognosis and lowered survival resulting from late diagnosis. The therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this incurable cancer are chemo- and radiotherapy. Since current treatments are insufficient and because of drug-induced undesirable side effects and toxicities, alternate treatments are necessary and critical. The role of melatonin, produced in and released from the pineal gland, has been documented as a potential therapy for NSCLC. Melatonin prevents tumor metastasis via inducing apoptosis processes and restraining the autonomous cell proliferation. Moreover, melatonin inhibits the progression of tumors due to its oncostatic, pro-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. As a result, the combined treatment with melatonin and chemotherapy may have a synergistic effect, as with some other tumors, leading to a prolonged survival and improved quality of life in patients with NSCLC. This review summarizes the available data, based on the molecular mechanisms and related signaling pathways, to show how melatonin and its supplementation function in NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products such as curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol have been shown to have antitumor effectsand several studies have examined their role in treating cancer, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. These compounds are capable of affecting different cancer-related mechanisms, such as proliferation, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis. Along with all of the benefits of these agents, affecting epigenetic processes is one of the most important aspects of their impact. Epigenetic modifications can be categorized into three main processes that include DNA methylation, histone modification, and regulation of small non-coding RNAs. Therefore, targeting DNA methylation can be used as a cancer treatment strategy by identifying or developing methylation modulators. Herein, we take a look into the studies investigating the role of natural products (e.g. curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and quercetin) in alternating the DNA methylation status of various cancer cells. We discuss how these compounds reduce the expression of enzymes mediating the methylation of tumor suppressor genes and thereby, increasing the expression of tumor suppressors while reactivating antitumor signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products such as curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol have been shown to have antitumor effectsand several studies have examined their role in treating cancer, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. These compounds are capable of affecting different cancer-related mechanisms, such as proliferation, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis. Along with all of the benefits of these agents, affecting epigenetic processes is one of the most important aspects of their impact. Epigenetic modifications can be categorized into three main processes that include DNA methylation, histone modification, and regulation of small non-coding RNAs. Therefore, targeting DNA methylation can be used as a cancer treatment strategy by identifying or developing methylation modulators. Herein, we take a look into the studies investigating the role of natural products (e.g. curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and quercetin) in alternating the DNA methylation status of various cancer cells. We discuss how these compounds reduce the expression of enzymes mediating the methylation of tumor suppressor genes and thereby, increasing the expression of tumor suppressors while reactivating antitumor signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have compromised immune systems due to the nature of the malignancy and anticancer treatments. This study aims to report the effects of Bortezomib-containing chemotherapy regimens on the severity and mortality of MM patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). Method: This retrospective cohort study enrolled MM patients presenting with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection referred to Omid Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they received any chemotherapy regimens containing Bortezomib within the last 90 days of admission or not. Clinical and laboratory characteristics, severity, and outcomes of both groups were reported and compared. Results: Among 48 patients with MM diagnosed with COVID-19 (63% male; median age 66), 33 received chemotherapy. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, and dyspnea, and there was no significant difference between the groups. Only D-dimer had a significant difference in laboratory tests (P = 0.03) and was higher in the chemotherapy group. There was no significant relationship between chemotherapy and severity (risk ratio (RR) = 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37 to 3.71; P = 0.79) or chemotherapy and mortality (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.39 to 2.61; P = 0.99), even after adjusting for baseline C-reactive protein and white blood cell counts. Conclusion: Our study showed that receiving Bortezomib-containing chemotherapy regimens did not worsen the symptoms and prognosis of MM patients infected with COVID-19. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up times are needed to provide better evidence on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a prevalent skin reaction to cytotoxic systemic therapy, mainly Capecitabine. The present study aimed to determine etiologies of HFS in addition to its prevention in colorectal cancer patients with Capecitabine-containing chemotherapy regimen. Method: In this randomized double-blinded study, we recruited 66 eligible patients. The first 33 patients received 25 mg captopril twice daily, while the other 33 were given two placebo tablets. Results: All the patients were assessable for safety and efficacy. Captopril demonstrated a favorable safety profile. The participants in the two groups did not have any significant differences in terms of the median age and the level of hemoglobin (P = 0.45, P = 0.06, respectively). However, the CEA tumor marker was significantly higher in those with HFS (P < 0.05). The incidence of HFS in men and women were 8 (18.6%) and 3 (13%) cases, respectively, and the patients' sex did not affect the incidence of this syndrome (P = 0.73). Furthermore, according to the stage of colorectal cancer, the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were no significant differences concerning the grade of colorectal cancer (P = 0.2). Conclusion: The results herein revealed that administration of captopril in colorectal cancer patients with Capecitabine-containing chemotherapy regimen reduced the symptoms and incidence of HFS. On the other hand, CEA tumor marker and the stage of colorectal cancer were in correlation with incidence of HFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, cancer is ranked among the top ten causes of death worldwide. Despite the advances made in the field of cancer treatment, 5-year survival rates of various types of cancer are still low due to the recurrence of the disease and/or metastasis. Dissemination of cancer cells, infiltration into the blood vessels, migration to the targeted organs, extravasation, and colonization are the main steps of metastasis. Various factors and signaling pathways are involved in each of these steps. Melatonin (MLT) is a hormone derived from tryptophan and secreted by the pineal gland. This hormone has shown a variety of anti-tumor effects, including anti-oxidative activities, inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing metastasis. Due to these extensive effects, several studies have been conducted on the applications of MLT in treating different types of cancer. Herein, we review the mechanisms of MLT's effects on the metastasis inhibition of the most lethal types of cancer including the cancer of lung, breast, stomach, kidney, colon, liver, bladder, and pancreas. We discuss how MLT targets different molecules and signaling pathways in each step of the metastasis, such as angiogenesis, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas are considered as one of the important brain tumors in adults due to their impact on life quality and cognitive functions. Current methods that are used for treating glioma are not satisfying enough. Understanding cellular and molecular events underlying its pathogenesis and progression may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. Sterols are a subtype of steroids and are essential for the physiologic functions of eukaryotic cells. Sterols can be produced by protozoans and microheterotrophs. Moreover, they are found in some natural sources, such as plants, animals, fungi, microalgae, and yeasts. Besides the roles of sterols in physiologic processes, studies have shown that they are involved in pathologic processes, including tumorigenesis and tumor progression. As investigations have revealed, sterol-related signaling pathways are involved in glioma and targeting them may result in new therapeutic options for patients. Thus, we summarized some of the sterol-related signaling pathways in glioma and how they can be associated with other signaling pathways, including EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR, P53, and retinoblastoma protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CisIN) remains the most dose-limiting adverse effect of its clinical use. The protective effects of melatonin on CisIN have been addressed in several non- clinical and animal studies. This study aimed at investigating the potential effects of melatonin on the prevention of CisIN in human. Experimental approach: Our study was a randomized controlled clinical trial, performed on 66 eligible patients in two groups of melatonin or control (no intervention). Melatonin was administrated daily at a dose of 20 mg for 5 days to the patients receiving cisplatin-containing regimens along with the standard protocol of CisIN prevention. Patient demographic information, blood and urinary indices of nitrogen, creatinine, and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium as well as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were measured in both groups at the baseline, 24 h and five days after melatonin administration. Findings/Results: Cisplatin administration resulted in significant magnesium and potassium loss in patients with cancer. In comparison with the control group, the prevalence of acute renal injury and the rate of urinary magnesium and potassium loss improved with melatonin administration; however, the results were not statistically significant. Tolerable side effects such as daytime drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting were reported in the melatonin group. Conclusion and implications: Although pretreatment with melatonin led to amelioration in urinary electrolyte loss due to CisIN, it failed to show a positive result on acute renal injury prevention. Future well-designed studies with a longer duration of follow-up, larger sample sizes, and higher doses of melatonin are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Isfahan province of Iran, pistachio and almond are used specifically as ingredients to produce Gaz sweets, which are a typical product of Isfahan and exported to many countries. In this survey, 112 samples were gathered from different corresponding Gaz producers from 2007 to 2012 to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in these products. Samples were analysed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 using immunoaffinity column clean-up (IC) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Among the samples analysed, AFB1 was detected in 13.4% of the samples above the maximum limit (ML) as set in Iran (5 µg/kg). Total AF (AFT) was above the ML in 9.8% of the samples. This study showed that full consideration is equally essential for nuts used as ingredients in special food products such as the Gaz sweets as for nuts for direct human consumption. It suggests a need for modifying the current trend of supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin (MLT) is an endogenous hormone produced by pineal gland which possess promising anti-tumor effects. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of MLT, along with its immunomodulatory, proapoptotic, and anti-angiogenic properties, are often referred to the main mechanisms of its anti-tumor effects. Recent evidence has suggested that epigenetic alterations are also involved in the anti-tumor properties of MLT. Among these MLT-induced epigenetic alterations is modulation of the expression of several oncogenic and tumor suppressor microRNAs(miRNAs). MiRNAs are among the most promising and potential therapeutic and diagnostic tools in different diseases and enhanced the development of better therapeutic drugs. Suppression of oncomicroRNAs such as microRNA-21, − 20a, and − 27a as well as, up-regulation of microRNA-34 a/c are among the most important effects of MLT on microRNAs homeostasis. Recently, miR-21 has attracted the attention of scientists due to the its wide range of effects on different cancers and diseases. Regulation of this RNA may be a key to the development of better therapeutic targets. The present review will summarize the findings of in vitro and experimental studies of MLT-induced impacts on the expression of microRNAs which are involved in different models and numerous stages of tumor initiation, growth, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and objectives: The present study aims at exploring oncology nurses' perceptions regarding work‐related stressors. Background: Oncology nurses work in an environment with a high degree of stress, which can negatively affect their health. There is limited research on work‐related stressors from the oncology nurses' perspective. Design: Qualitative descriptive study. Methods: Fifty‐two oncology nurses were selected purposefully from eight cancer treatment centres in different cities of Iran. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews and analysed using conventional content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used to document the report of the study. Results: The extracted contents were classified into four main categories. The first category involved personal ability with two subcategories (person‐job fit and psychological competencies). The second category included physical environment arrangements with two subcategories (physical working conditions and equipment and facilities). The third category involved psychosocial safety in the workplace with four subcategories (creating a safe work environment, overcoming the challenges of providing care to cancer patients, work/life balance and social recognition of the nursing status). The fourth category holds an organisational context with four subcategories (organisational support, interpersonal relations, justice at work and human resources). Conclusion: It is necessary to find measures attenuating work‐related stresses in oncology nurses. These measures should be in line with developing personal abilities in nurses and creating a safe environment in terms of optimising physical, psychosocial and organisational conditions. It is also important to develop programmes protecting the oncology nurses' occupational health. Relevance to clinical practice: The results of this study can help improve nursing work conditions, attenuate work‐related stresses in nurses and introduce efficient interventions reducing occupational stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed for, the determination of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA). It utilizes four stable isotope-labeled internal standards instead of two as reported by others. A separate internal standard for each analyte is required to minimize sample matrix effects on each analyte, which can lead to poor analyte recoveries and decreases in method accuracy and precision if only one or two of the internal standards are used, especially for complex sample matrixes and when no sample cleanup steps are performed as in this study. In addition, two ion-transition pairs (instead of one) are used for each analyte for the confirmation and quantification, further enhancing the method's accuracy and robustness. These improvements have led to a new LC-MS/MS method that is faster, more sensitive, and selective than the traditional methods and more accurate and robust than the published LC-MS/MS methods. The linear range of the method was from 0.2 to 250 ng/mL with a limit of detection of each TSNA varied from 0.02 7 to 0.049 ng/mL. Good correlations between the results obtained by the new method and the traditional method were observed for the samples studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukemia is a lethal cancer in which white blood cells undergo proliferation and immature white blood cells are seen in the bloodstream. Without diagnosis and management in early stages, this type of cancer can be fatal. Changes in protooncogenic genes and microRNA genes are the most important factors involved in development of leukemia. At present, leukemia risk factors are not accurately identified, but some studies have pointed out factors that predispose to leukemia. Studies show that in the absence of genetic risk factors, leukemia can be prevented by reducing the exposure to risk factors of leukemia, including smoking, exposure to benzene compounds and high-dose radioactive or ionizing radiation. One of the most important treatments for leukemia is chemotherapy which has devastating side effects. Chemotherapy and medications used during treatment do not have a specific effect and destroy healthy cells besides leukemia cells. Despite the suppressing effect of chemotherapy against leukemia, patients undergoing chemotherapy have poor quality of life. So today, researchers are focusing on finding more safe and effective natural compounds and treatments for cancer, especially leukemia. Chitosan is a valuable natural compound that is biocompatible and non-toxic to healthy cells. Anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant effects are examples of chitosan biopolymer properties. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of this compound in medical treatments and the pharmaceutical industry. In this article, we take a look at the latest advances in the use of chitosan in the treatment and improvement of leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma, an aggressive malignant tumor originating from melanocytes in humans, is on the rise globally, with limited non-surgical treatment options available. Recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying immune escape, tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and cancer metastasis have paved the way for innovative therapeutic strategies. Combination therapy targeting multiple pathways simultaneously has been shown to be promising in treating melanoma, eliciting favorable responses in most melanoma patients. CAR T-cells, engineered to overcome the limitations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-dependent tumor cell detection associated with T-cell receptors, offer an alternative approach. By genetically modifying apheresis-collected allogeneic or autologous T-cells to express chimeric antigen receptors, CAR T-cells can appreciate antigens on cell surfaces independently of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), providing a significant cancer cell detection advantage. However, identifying the most effective target antigen is the initial step, as it helps mitigate the risk of toxicity due to "on-target, off-tumor" and establishes a targeted therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, evaluating signaling pathways and critical molecules involved in melanoma pathogenesis remains insufficient. This study emphasizes the novel approaches of CAR T-cell immunoediting and presents new insights into the molecular signaling pathways associated with melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Understanding the close interaction between the specialties of cardiology and oncology is necessary for early detection of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in cancer patients. For the risk assessment of CVD in Breast and Colorectal Cancers (CIBC) study, in the current study we aimed to validate a questionnaire for the assessment of clinical history in patients with breast cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We determined the content validity of the questionnaire using the 2 indexes of content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) to examine the specificity, simplicity, clarity, and transparency of the items. Content validity assessment was performed through a panel of experts including 2 oncologists, 5 cardiologists, 2 general practitioners, and 1 epidemiologist. The reliability of the questionnaire was estimated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient in 50 patients. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to examine the reproducibility of the questionnaire during 1 week. RESULTS: The CRC and breast cancer questionnaire were designed with 16 and 32 questions, respectively. To obtain acceptable CVR, 5 and 11 questions were removed from the CRC and breast cancer questionnaires, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.70 in the breast cancer questionnaire and 0.94 in the CRC questionnaire. All questions had a CVI of higher than 80%. The ICC in the breast cancer questionnaire ranged between 0.71 and 0.96 and in CRC questionnaire ranged between 0.78 and 0.98. CONCLUSION: The validity and reliability of our newly developed questionnaire was desirable. The reliability of the breast cancer questions was acceptable and that of the CRC questions was excellent. Thus, thus questionnaire can be used in this group of patients regardless of whether the goal is cardiac care or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LncRNAs, or long non-coding RNAs, are a subset of RNAs that play a regulatory role in a wide range of biological functions, including RNA processing, epigenetic regulation, and signal transduction. Recent research indicates that lncRNAs play a key role in the development and spread of cancer by being dysregulated in the disease. In addition, lncRNAs have been linked to the overexpression of certain proteins that are involved in tumor development and progression. Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties that it exerts through regulating different lncRNAs. By the regulation of tumor-supportive and tumor-suppressive lncRNAs, resveratrol acts as an anti-cancer agent. By downregulating the tumor-supportive lncRNAs DANCR, MALAT1, CCAT1, CRNDE, HOTAIR, PCAT1, PVT1, SNHG16, AK001796, DIO3OS, GAS5 and H19, and upregulating MEG3, PTTG3P, BISPR, PCAT29, GAS5, LOC146880, HOTAIR, PCA3, NBR2, this herbal remedy causes apoptosis and cytotoxicity. For the purpose of using polyphenols in cancer therapy, it would be helpful to have more in-depth knowledge about lncRNA modulation via resveratrol. Here, we discuss the current knowledge and future promise of resveratrol as modulators of lncRNAs in different cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:: Cotinine, the primary proximate metabolite of nicotine, is commonly measured as an index of exposure to tobacco in both active users of tobacco and nonsmokers with possible exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). A number of laboratories have implemented analyses for measuring serum cotinine in recent years, but there have been few interlaboratory comparisons of the results. Among nonsmokers exposed to SHS, the concentration of cotinine in blood can be quite low, and extensive variability in these measurements has been reported in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]