METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 162 breast cancer survivors from various breast cancer support groups in Malaysia. Psychological distress status was assessed based on depression and anxiety scores by applying the Malay version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Both instruments were self-administered along with a set of questionnaires comprising demographic, medical history, quality of life, and upper extremity function assessment. Outcomes from the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were analyzed for severity level of psychological distress, and its association with relevant variables, arm morbidity symptoms, as well as the duration of cancer survivorship.
RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed that breast cancer survivors with arm morbidities after breast surgery had a higher score of depression (5.0 vs 4.0, p = 0.011) and anxiety (3.0 vs 1.0, p = 0.026) than those who did not. Besides that, receiving fewer post-rehabilitation treatments (p = 0.049) and having a family history of cancer (p = 0.022) were correlated with higher anxiety level. The level of depression and anxiety was inversely proportionate with quality of life and positively correlated with greater disability of the arm function (p
OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the effects of a standardized raw extract of C. asiatica (RECA) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic death in neural-like cells derived from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell line.
METHODS: A transgenic mouse ES cell (46C) was differentiated into neural-like cells using 4-/4+ protocol with addition of all-trans retinoic acid. These cells were then exposed to H2O2 for 24 h. The effects of RECA on H2O2-induced neural-like cells were assessed through cell viability, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, as well as neurite length measurement. The gene expression levels of neuronal-specific and antioxidant markers were assessed by RT-qPCR analysis.
RESULTS: Pre-treatment with H2O2 for 24 hours, in a dose-dependent manner, damaged neural-like cells as marked by a decrease in cell viability, substantial increase in intracellular ROS accumulation, and increase in apoptotic rate compared to untreated cells. These cells were used to treat with RECA. Treatment with RECA for 48 h remarkably restored cell survival and promoted neurite outgrowth in the H2O2- damaged neurons by increasing cell viability and decreasing ROS activity. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that RECA upregulated the level of antioxidant genes such as thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) of treated cells, as well as the expression level of neuronal-specific markers such as Tuj1 and MAP2 genes, suggesting their contribution in neuritogenic effect.
CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that RECA promotes neuroregenerative effects and exhibits antioxidant properties, suggesting a valuable synergistic activity of its phytochemical constituents, thus, making the extract a promising candidate in preventing or treating oxidative stress-associated Alzheimer's disease.
METHODS: The Malay version of the FACT-B, with Disabilities of Arms, Shoulders and Hands (DASH), and Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) were distributed to female breast cancer survivors which were recruited on a voluntary basis, from cancer support groups based in selected states in Malaysia. Reliability was assessed based on internal consistency (Cronbach's α), whereas concurrent validity was examined by comparing domains in FACT-B with DASH and PHQ-ADS. Finally, total scores of each domain were analysed between lymphedema and without lymphedema groups for known-group validity.
RESULTS: A total of 113 breast cancer survivors agreed to participate (response rate = 100%) in the study. Our results showed that the Cronbach's α value for Malay FACT-B is 0.88, and each domain ranged from 0.62 to 0.88. A strong correlation was found between the physical well-being domain of FACT-B with DASH. Meanwhile, the breast cancer scale (BCS) displayed significant correlation with the instrument, Patient Health Questionnaire- Anxiety Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS), indicating that multiple factors including psychological distress were measured in the BCS domain. Furthermore, the instrument was able to detect differences in physical, functional and QOL between participants from lymphedema and without lymphedema groups.
CONCLUSION: The Malay version of the FACT-B demonstrated reliable properties and is effective in assessing QOL and can be applied in Malaysian breast cancer survivors.