Evaluation of Quality of Life in Turkish Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Akkas, Ebru Atasever,Yucel, Birsen,Kilickap, Saadettin,Altuntas, Emine Elif Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Background: In this study, our aim was to investigate the effect of factors, such as radiotherapy, the dose of radiotherapy, the region of radiotherapy, the age of the patient, performance, co-morbidity, the stage of the disease and the therapy modalities on the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-two patients who were treated by either chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, at the Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, between February 2007 and September 2010, for head and neck cancer were included. The quality of life European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Questionnaire module to be used in Quality of Life assessments in Head and Neck Cancer (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) questionnaire was conducted in all patients before starting the radiotherapy, in the middle, at the end, at 1 month and at 6 months after the treatment. Results: According to the questionnaires at the end and at the $6^{th}$ month after the radiotherapy, it was found that the age of the patient, co-morbidity, ECOG performance state, localization, type of treatment, the stage of the disease, the dose and the region of radiotherapy affect some of the symptom scales for quality of life. Conclusions: Quality of life was affected negatively during and after the radiotherapy. However, in the $6^{th}$ month after the therapy, a significant improvement was observed in most symptoms.

Lymphangiectatic Variant of Low Grade Malignant Eccrine Spiradenoma

Gizem Akkas Akgun,Anvar Ahmedov,Ali İhsan Parlar,Mehmet Hüseyin Metineren,Ayse Nur Deger 대한피부과학회 2023 Annals of Dermatology Vol.35 No.1

Low-grade malignant eccrine spiradenoma (spiradenocarcinoma) is a rare sweat glandtumor, which usually arises from a pre- existing benign eccrine spiradenoma. This paperpresents the case of a 55-year-old male who had a lesion in his right elbow for 10 years. Themicroscopic examination revealed a well-demarcated, multilobulated tumor in the dermisand subcutis, which presented with many blood-filled vessels and extensive hemorrhage. The tumor was composed of hyperchromatic, round to oval cells with nucleolar prominence,mild to moderate atypia, and increased mitotic index. Additionally, lymphangiectaticappearance was observed in areas with prominent stromal lymphedema. P53 and Ki-67 hadhigh positivity. Surgical excision of the lesion was performed with adequate surgical margins,and the dissected lymph nodes in the axilla were tumor-negative. After 15 months offollow-up, there was no recurrence or distant metastasis.

Clinical Factors Related with Helicobacter Pylori Infection - Is there an Association with Gastric Cancer History in First-Degree Family Members?

Demirel, Busra B.,Akkas, Burcu Esen,Vural, Gulin Ucmak Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Background: The aim of this study was to assess clinical factors associated with Helicobacter pylori positivity and to evaluate the incidence of gastric carcinoma in first-degree family members of infected patients. A total of 580 patients (mean age:$38{\pm}17$) with gastrointestinal complaints underwent C-14 urea breath test (UBT). Patients were grouped as: Group-1, untreated patients (n:384); and Group-2, patients who previously treated with eradication triple therapy (n:196). C-14 UBT was performed 1-2 months after the completion of eradication therapy. Associations of H pylori positivity with age, gender, ABO and Rhesus groups, smoking, dietary habits, and history of gastric cancer in first-degree family members were evaluated. The frequency of H pylori positivity was significantly higher in group-1 (58%) compared to group-2 (20%), p=0.001. There were no correlations between H pylori positivity and age, gender, ABO groups, Rhesus subgroups, smoking and dietary habits in both patient groups. The frequency of gastric cancer in family members was significantly higher in patients with H pylori infection among group-1, compared to infected patients among group-2 (56% vs. 28.6% respectively, p=0.03). We observed a significant association between H pylori positivity and the presence of gastric cancer in first-degree relatives of group-1 patients. Our results provide some confirmation of the presence of a link between gastric cancer development and H pylori. C-14 UBT is a sensitive, reliable and a widely recommended test for the detection of H pylori infection and recurrence. We suggest that detection and eradication of H pylori may contribute to a reduced risk of gastric cancer in the family members of infected patients.

Lack of Impact of Age on Acute Side Effects and Tolerance of Curative Radiation Therapy

Yucel, Birsen,Okur, Yillar,Akkas, Ebru Atasever,Eren, Mehmet Fuat Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of age on the occurrence, severity, and timing of acute side effects related to radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We analysed the data of 423 patients. Results: Of the patients, 295 (70%) were under the age of 65 (group 1) and 128 (30%) were over the age of 65 (group 2). The frequencies of radiotherapy-induced side effects were 89% in group 1 and 87% in group 2 (p=0.286). The mean times to occurrence were $2.5{\pm}0.1$ weeks in group 1 and $2.2{\pm}0.1$ weeks in group 2 (p=0.013). Treatment was ended in 2% of patients in group 1 and 6% of those in group 2 (p=0.062). Treatment interruption was identified in 18% of patients in group 1 and 23% in group 2 (p=0.142). Changes in performance status were greater in older patients (p=0.013). There were no significant differences according to the frequency or severity of side effects, except skin and genitourinary complications, between the groups. Conclusions: Early normal tissue reactions were not higher in older versus younger patients, though there was a tendency towards an earlier appearance.

Whole Brain Radiotherapy Combined with Stereotactic Radiosurgery versus Stereotactic Radiosurgery Alone for Brain Metastases

Adas, Yasemin Guzle,Yazici, Omer,Kekilli, Esra,Akkas, Ebru Atasever,Karakaya, Ebru,Ucer, Ali Riza,Ertas, Gulcin,Calikoglu, Tamer,Elgin, Yesim,Inan, Gonca Altinisik,Kocer, Ali Mert,Guney, Yildiz Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.17

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) combined with streotactic radiosurgery versus stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone for patients with brain metastases. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study that evaluated the results of 46 patients treated for brain metastases at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, between January 2012 and January 2015. Twenty-four patients were treated with WBRT+SRS while 22 patients were treated with only SRS. Results: Time to local recurrence was 9.7 months in the WBRT+SRS arm and 8.3 months in SRS arm, the difference not being statistically significant (p=0.7). Local recurrence rate was higher in the SRS alone arm but again without significance (p=0,06). Conclusions: In selected patient group with limited number (one to four) of brain metastases SRS alone can be considered as a treatment option and WBRT may be omitted in the initial treatment.

Developing critical thinking skills in the thinking-discussion-writing cycle: the argumentation-based inquiry approach

Kabataş Memiş Esra,Çakan Akkaş Büşra Nur 서울대학교 교육연구소 2020 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.21 No.3

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the argumentation-based inquiry (ABI) approach on the critical thinking skills of fifth-grade students in a secondary school using a hybrid method. Using an experimental research model, the study had a semi-experimental design form with pre-test and post-test control groups. It was conducted in a middle school in Kastamonu with fifth-grade students from two classes during the fall semester of the 2016–2017 academic year. One of the groups was randomly assigned as the control group and the other as the experimental group. The science classes for the experimental group included activities fitting the ABI approach. In the control group, the lessons were carried out with frequently used teaching techniques such as lectures, question-and-answer and demonstrative experiments. The activities were implemented during the units “Measuring the Size of a Force” and “Matter and Change”. A Critical Thinking Test was used to measure the critical thinking skills of the groups at the beginning and the end of the study. T-test and ANCOVA analyses were applied to the quantitative data using the SPSS software. At the end of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 students; six students from each group. The interviews were analysed using the Nvivo 11 software to obtain themes and codes. The evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that the ABI approach used in science lessons had improved the critical thinking skills of the experimental group students.

In vitro shear bond strength between fluorinated zirconia ceramic and resin cements

Merve Çakırbay Tanış,Canan Akay,Turgut Cihan Akçaboy,Murat Şen,Pınar Akkaş Kavaklı,Kadriye Sapmaz 대한치과보철학회 2018 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.10 No.3

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a gas-phase fluorination method under different fluorination periods through using two resin cements. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 84 zirconia specimens in dimensions of 5 mm × 5 mm × 2 mm were prepared and surface treated with 50 μm aluminum oxide particles or gas phase fluorination for 2 min, 5 min, or 10 min. One specimen in each group was surface analyzed under scanning electron microscope. The remaining specimens were bonded to composite cylinders in dimensions of 2 mm diameter and 3 mm high with Panavia SA Plus or Variolink N. Then, the specimens were stored in 37°C distilled water for 24 hours and shear bond strength test was applied at a speed of 1 mm/min. RESULTS. The highest shear bond strength values were observed in the samples fluorinated for 5 minutes and cemented with Panavia SA Plus. Variolink N did not elicit any statistical differences between surface treatments. Panavia SA Plus resin cement and Variolink N resin cements featured statistically significant difference in shear bond strength values only in the case of 5 minutes of fluorination treatment. CONCLUSION. According to the results of this study, application of 5 minutes of fluorination with 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate monomer (MDP) containing Panavia SA Plus resin cement increased the resin bond strength of zirconia. Fluorination of the zirconia surface using conventional resin cement, Variolink N, did not lead to an increase in bond strength.

Sequential model predictive control for five‑level MMC‑based multi‑terminal HVDC systems

Ali Bouzidi,Said Barkat,Ali Akka,Mohamed Lokmane Bendaas 전력전자학회 2023 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.23 No.10

In this paper, a Sequential Model Predictive Control (SMPC) is proposed for controlling a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC)-based Multi-Terminal high Voltage Direct Current (MTDC) grid. Based on an adequate predictive model of the grid side of each MMC unit, cost functions are designed and optimized to generate the appropriate switching states of each MMC. In addition to its ability to guarantee accurate power-sharing between deferent controlled MMCs units, the conspicuousfeatures of the propose MPC strategy are the sub-module capacitor voltages balancing and MMC circulating currents minimization. To validate the performance and the effectiveness of the proposed control approach in terms of its ability to achieve the desired performance under various operational conditions, comprehensive simulation studies are conducted on a four-terminal MMC-MTDC system.

Immunotherapeutic Approach for Better Management of Cancer - Role of IL-18

Kuppala, Manohar Babu,Syed, Sunayana Begum,Bandaru, Srinivas,Varre, Sreedevi,Akka, Jyothy,Mundulru, Hema Prasad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an immune-stimulatory cytokine with antitumor activity in preclinical models. It plays pivotal roles in linking inflammatory immune responses and tumor progression and is a useful candidate in gene therapy of lymphoma or lymphoid leukemia. A phase I study of recombinant human IL-18 (rhIL-18) in patients with advanced cancer concluded that rhIL-18 can be safely given in biologically active doses to patients with advanced cancer. Some viruses can induce the secretion of IL-18 for immune evasion. The individual cytokine activity might be potentiated or inhibited by combinations of cytokines. Here we focus on combinational effects of cytokines with IL-18 in cancer progression. IL-18 is an important non-invasive marker suspected of contributing to metastasis. Serum IL-18 may a useful biological marker as independent prognostic factor of survival. In this review we cover roles of IL-18 in immune evasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, applications for chemotherapy and prognostic or diagnostic significance.

BRIP1/FANCJ Mutation Analysis in a Family with History of Male and Female Breast Cancer in India

Ananthapur Venkateshwari,David Wayne Clark,Pratibha Nallari,Cingeetham Vinod,Thangaraj Kumarasamy,Goverdhan Reddy,Akka Jyothy,Malladi Vijay Kumar,Raghuraman Ramaiyer,Komaraiah Palle 한국유방암학회 2017 Journal of breast cancer Vol.20 No.1

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare and poorly studied disease that is a growing global health problem. Interestingly, both the molecular basis of MBC and its histological profile are often quite distinct from the far more prevalent female breast cancer, emphasizing the need for increased focus on MBC. Here, we present a case report of an MBC patient from India with a strong familial history of breast cancer. This patient was normal for BRCA1/2 and many other common breast cancer-associated genes. However, upon further analysis, the individual was found to possess two mutations in the DNA helicase and tumor suppressor gene BRIP1, including a silent mutation at residue 879 as well as a P919S variant. Other family members were also screened for these mutations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BRIP1 mutation in MBC in the Indian population.