Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in women with breast cancer: CIBC study

BACKGROUND

Many breast cancer (BC) patients experience psychological reactions and may have psychiatric morbidities, especially anxiety and depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceived stress and factors affecting this stress in women with BC in Isfahan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 197 females with BC who were newly diagnosed and referred to Isfahan Cardio-Oncology Clinic. Stress was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale Standard questionnaire. Generalized linear models (GLMs) with gamma distribution and Log Link Function were used for data analyzing.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 48.9 ± 10.9 years, and mean perceived stress in patients was 42.8 ± 16.5. The GLMs with Gamma distribution and Log Link Function showed interaction between anxiety and surgical type and also between depression and surgical type. Patients perceived stress with anxiety*nonsurgery were significantly 2.5% higher than normal anxiety and none surgery (P = 0.004), and patients with depression*lumpectomy had significantly 2% higher stress score compared to normal depression and nonsurgery (P =0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection of anxiety and depression can contribute to managing the stress. Coordination between psychologists and oncologists in care and treatment of these patients is important for pursuing treatment and following the recommendations of doctors and ultimately affect the morbidity and survival in BC patients.

The Association of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Levels and Lipid Profile in Euthyroid Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Previous studies reported a relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of TSH levels on lipid profile in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and euthyroid state. Patients were selected from the Isfahan FH registry. The Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria are used to detect FH. Patients were classified into no FH, possible FH, probable FH, and definite FH groups based on the DLCN scores. Patients with any cause of secondary hyperlipidemia, including hypothyroidism, were excluded from this study. The study group consisted of 103 patients with possible FH, 25 patients with definite FH, and 63 individuals with no FH. The mean TSH and LDL-C levels among participants were 2.10 ± 1.22 mU/l and 142.17 ± 62.56 mg/dl, respectively. No positive or negative correlation was found between serum TSH and total cholesterol (P value = 0.438), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.225), triglycerides (P value = 0.863), and LDL-C (P value = 0.203). We found no correlation between serum TSH levels and lipid profiles in euthyroid patients with FH.

Lipids and diastolic dysfunction: Recent evidence and findings

AIM

Diastolic dysfunction is the decreased flexibility of the left ventricle due to the impaired ability of the myocardium to relax and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Lipid metabolism is a well-known contributor to cardiac conditions, including ventricular function. In this article, we aimed to review the literature addressing the connections between lipids, their storage, and metabolism with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We searched Google scholar, Pubmed, Embase and Researchgate for our keywords: "Diastolic function", "Fat" and "Lipid profile". Initially, 250 articles were selected by title and 84 of them were chosen as most relevant and directly reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

Alterations of lipid metabolism in cardiac muscle and cardiac lipid content can occur in many conditions, including consumption of a high-fat diet, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These conditions induce alterations in myocardial lipid metabolism, increase myocardial fat content and epicardial fat thickness and increase inflammation and oxidative stress which ultimately lead to cardiac lipotoxicity and diastolic dysfunction. The effects of lipids on diastolic function can differ based on gender. Lipid profile and metabolism are as important in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction as they are in other cardiovascular disorders. A more careful look at cardiac lipid metabolism in molecular, histological and gross levels results in more precise understanding of its role in myocardial function and leads to development of potential treatments for diastolic dysfunction.

Validation of a newly developed questionnaire regarding clinical history in patients with breast and colorectal cancers

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.

Biofeedback efficacy to improve clinical symptoms and endoscopic signs of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is often resistant to medical and surgical treatment. This study assessed the effect of biofeedback in decreasing the symptoms and the healing of endoscopic signs in SRUS patients. Before starting the treatment, endoscopy and colorectal manometry was performed to evaluate dyssynergic defecation. Patients were followed every four weeks, and during each visit their response to treatment was evaluated regarding to manometry pattern. After at least 50% improvement in manometry parameters, recipients underwent rectosigmoidoscopy. Endoscopic response to biofeedback treatment and clinical symptoms were investigated. Duration of symptoms was 43.11±36.42 months in responder and 63.9 ± 45.74 months in non-responder group (P=0.22). There were more ulcers in non-responder group than responder group (1.50 ±0.71 versus 1.33±- 0.71 before and 1.30 ± 0.95 versus 0.67 ±0.50 after biofeedback), although the difference was not significant (P=0.604, 0.10 respectively). The most prevalent symptoms were constipation (79%), rectal bleeding (68%) and anorectal pain (53%). The most notable improvement in symptoms after biofeedback occured in abdominal pain and incomplete evacuation, and the least was seen in mucosal discharge and toilet waiting as shown in the bar chart. Endoscopic cure was observed in 4 of 10 patients of the non-responder group while 8 patients in responder group experienced endoscopic improvement. It seems that biofeedback has significant effect for pathophysiologic symptoms such as incomplete evacuation and obstructive defecation. Improvement of clinical symptoms does not mean endoscopic cure; so to demonstrate remission the patients have to go under rectosigmoidoscopy.

The change in NT-pro-BNP and post-PTMC echocardiography parameters in patients with mitral stenosis. A pilot study

BACKGROUND

The change in the level of NT-pro-BNP (N-terminal-pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide) is now considered as a reflection of the hemodynamic alterations and its circulatory reductions reported early after successful PTMC (percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy). The present study aims to assess the change in the level of NT-pro BNP following PTMC in patients with mitral stenosis and also to determine the association between circulatory NT-pro-BNP reduction and post-PTMC echocardiography parameters.

METHODS

Twenty five symptomatic consecutive patients with severe MS undergoing elective PTMC were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent echocardiography before and also 24 to 48 hours after PTMC. Peripheral blood samples were taken for measurement of NT-pro-BNP before as well as 24 to 48 hours after PTMC. The patients were also classified in group with normal sinus rhythm or having atrial fibrillation (AF) based on their 12-lead electrocardiogram.

RESULTS

It was shown a significant decrease in the parameters of PPG (Peak Pressure Gradient), MPG (Mean Pressure Gradient), PHT (Pressure Half Time), PAP (Pulmonary Arterial Pressure), LAV (Left Atrial Volume), and also a significant increase in MVA (Mitral Valve Area) RVS (Right Ventricular S velocity), and strains of lateral, septal, inferior and anterior walls of LA following PTMC. The mean LVEF remained unchanged after PTMC. The mean NT-pro-BNP before PTMC was 309.20 ± 17.97 pg/lit that significantly diminished after PTMC to 235.72 ± 22.46 pg/lit (p = 0.009). Among all echocardiography parameters, only MPG was positively associated with the change in NT-pro-BNP after PTMC. Comparing the change in echocardiography indices between the patients with normal rhythm and those with AF, lower change in PAP was shown in the group with AF. However, more change in the level of NT-pro-BNP after PTMC was shown in the patients with AF compared to those without this arrhythmia.

CONCLUSION

PTMC procedure leads to reduce the level of NT-pro-BNP. The change in NT-pro-BNP is an indicator for change in MS severity indicated by decreasing MPG parameter. Lower change in PAP as well as higher change in NT-pro-BNP is predicted following PTMC in the group with AF compared to those with normal sinus rhythm.

Relationship between metabolic syndrome and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

There are a few literature data on the correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and coronary disease among Iranian population. This study aimed to find relationship between MetS and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in presence of diabetes.

METHODS

Total of 192 patients were consecutively enrolled in the study who were admitted to coronary care unit because of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and then underwent coronary angiography. MetS was defined by Iranian criteria. A coronary atherosclerosis score was used to quantify the extent of atherosclerotic involvement. The relationship between MetS and angiographic CAD severity or clinical presentation was compared between them after adjusting for diabetes.

RESULTS

Individuals with MetS (n = 125) had a higher prevalence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (71% vs 30%, P < 0.001), multi-vessel disease (50% vs. 34%, P = 0.003), decreased ejection fraction (P = 0.001) and more severe angiographic stenosis based on both modified Gensini (P = 0.081) and syntax (P = 0.008) scores, compared to those without MetS. Syntax score showed statistically significant difference between two groups before (P = 0.021) and after adjustment for diabetes (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

MetS was related to the severity of CAD both clinically and by angiographic scores but diabetes was a challenging factor and may independently increase the severity of CAD.