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Biomedical subjects

A B Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to A B Jensen.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Irradiation of bone metastases in breast cancer patients: a randomized study with 1 year follow-up.

The results from a prospective randomized trial comparing two different radiation schedules for treatment of painful bone metastases in women with recurrent breast cancer are presented. A total of 217 patients with painful bone metastases were randomized to either 30 Grey (Gy) in ten fractions, five fractions a week (5F/W) or 15 Gy in three fractions 2F/W. The effect of treatment was evaluated by pain assessment, the radiological response and the degree of side-effects. The patients were rated at start of treatment and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. No difference between the two radiation regimes was found, neither in achieved pain relief, improvement in level of activity and medication, nor was there any difference in radiological response and side-effects from treatment. Both regimes resulted in a significant improvement in both pain score and level of activity 1 month after treatment, an improvement which persisted during the follow-up period. We conclude that 15 Gy given in three fractions 2F/W is as effective as 30 Gy in ten fractions 5F/W, but more convenient to the patient and of less cost to society.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A 20 bp cis-acting element is both necessary and sufficient to mediate elicitor response of a maize PRms gene.

Transient gene expression assays in barley aleurone protoplasts were used to identify a cis-regulatory element involved in the elicitor-responsive expression of the maize PRms gene. Analysis of transcriptional fusions between PRms 5' upstream sequences and a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene, as well as chimeric promoters containing PRms promoter fragments or repeated oligonucleotides fused to a minimal promoter, delineated a 20 bp sequence which functioned as an elicitor-response element (ERE). This sequence contains a motif (-246 AATTGACC) similar to sequences found in promoters of other pathogen-responsive genes. The analysis also indicated that an enhancing sequence(s) between -397 and -296 is required for full PRms activation by elicitors. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine was found to completely block the transcriptional activation induced by elicitors. These data indicate that protein phosphorylation is involved in the signal transduction pathway leading to PRms expression.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Prognostic value of interleukin-8 in AIDS-associated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

UNLABELLED: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant and activator. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is associated with an accumulation of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-8 is involved in the pathogenesis of P. carinii pneumonia. BAL fluid and serum were prospectively collected in 76 consecutive HIV-infected patients with a primary episode of P. carinii pneumonia, as well as in 10 healthy control subjects. Patients were found to have elevated levels of IL-8 in BAL fluid compared with control subjects (p < 0.01). Nine patients died during the course of P. carinii pneumonia. Comparing survivors with nonsurvivors, the median IL-8 level in BAL fluid was 127 (0 to 3,900) versus 584 (127 to 6,100) pg/ml (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with levels of IL-8 in BAL fluid greater than 90 pg/ml (i.e., greater than control subjects) had significantly worse vital prognosis (log rank test, p < 0.05). Thirteen percent required mechanical ventilation (MV). Patients requiring MV had a median IL-8 level of 396 (25 to 6,100) versus 129 (0 to 3,900) pg/ml for patients not requiring MV (p < 0.05). IN CONCLUSION: i) IL-8 in BAL fluid correlates to the clinical severity of the pneumonia, and ii) is a predictor of mortality and severe respiratory compromise.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1994

[Support to spouses of patients with cancer].

Psychosocial problems frequently arise in the families of cancer patients. Using a questionnaire, information about the problems experienced by 120 spouses to cancer patients was collected. The response rate was 85%. The results show that the patient and the children are the most important persons in supporting the spouses. Sixty-one percent felt relieved of having somebody to talk to about their problems. The amount of contact to friends and family mainly remained unchanged. Approximately 1/3 of the spouses had to work more than the normal 37 hours a week, which compromised their abilities to support the patients. Professional help was sought by 1/4 of the spouses in an attempt to solve their problems in relation to the patient's disease. Men are more likely to have their problems solved by professional support than women. Among the spouses there is a great wish for information and support offered primarily by the oncological department. It is concluded that the spouses needed more support, wanted more information, and asked for the possibilities to talk about their emotional problems. This need is emphasized by the present strategy in the health system, where still more patients are treated on an out-patient basis. It is important that the professional support is offered from the time of the diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Use of Q10 in cancer patients].

The aim of the study was to quantify the use of alternative therapy, and especially the use of coenzyme Q10 in cancer patients. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional questionnaire study. During a two week period all in- and out-patients in the Department of Oncology and Haematology, Odense University Hospital, were asked about their use of alternative treatment. A total of 769 questionnaires were answered, a response rate of 97%. Of these patients 343 (45%) used alternative medicine, and 137 (18%) used coenzyme Q10. The use of alternative medicine and coenzyme Q10 was more frequent in women than in men, and in patients with recurrent disease than in patients with primary disease. A search of the literature revealed no documentation for the use of coenzyme Q10 either as an antineoplastic agent or as an adjunct to antineoplastic therapy. It might be possible that coenzyme Q10 can protect the myocardium from doxorubicin induced damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The maize abscisic acid-responsive protein Rab17 is located in the nucleus and interacts with nuclear localization signals.

The maize abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive rab17 mRNA and Rab17 protein distribution in maize embryo tissues was investigated by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. rab17 mRNA and Rab17 protein were found in all cells of embryo tissues. Synthesis of rab17 mRNA occurred initially in the embryo axis. As maturation progressed, rab17 mRNA was detectable in the scutellum and accumulated in axis cells and provascular tissues. However, the response to exogenous ABA differed in various embryo cell types. The Rab17 protein was located in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, and qualitative differences in the phosphorylation states of the protein were found between the two subcellular compartments. Based on the similar domain arrangements of Rab17 and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) binding phosphoprotein, Nopp140, interaction of Rab17 with NLS peptides was studied. We found specific binding of Rab17 to the wild-type NLS of the SV40 T antigen but not to an import incompetent mutant peptide. Moreover, binding of the NLS peptide to Rab17 was found to be dependent upon phosphorylation. These results suggest that Rab17 may play a role in nuclear protein transport.

Abscisic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Influence of late side-effects upon daily life after radiotherapy for laryngeal and pharyngeal cancer.

The influence on daily life from long-term side-effects was studied in patients treated more than 5 years ago with radiotherapy for laryngeal and pharyngeal cancer. Forty-six patients were asked to participate in telephone interviews and 44 participated. Only a minority (10%) stated serious problems related to the treatment. Problems related to the voice and severe xerostomia were especially mentioned. Half of the patients treated for pharyngeal cancer, complained of xerostomia and had occasionally a feeling of being handicapped. Social relations were impaired in 10% of the patients and 10% had retired due to their cancer or therapy related side-effects. It is concluded that radiotherapy seems to be a well tolerated treatment with relatively little impairment of the daily life in patients with laryngeal cancer. In patients with pharyngeal cancer, xerostomia is a major problem, which often persists more than 5 years after treatment.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Development of a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire module to be used in quality of life assessments in head and neck cancer patients. EORTC Quality of Life Study Group.

A head and neck cancer specific questionnaire module designed to be used in quality of life assessments before, during, and after radiotherapy and surgery, with or without combinations with chemotherapy has been developed in accordance with guidelines given by the EORTC Quality of Life Study Group. Relevant issues were generated by means of literature search, and interviews with specialists and patients. Pre-testing of a preliminary questionnaire module was performed in patients from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom and French-speaking Belgium. The resulting head and neck cancer module, the EORTC QLQ-H&N37, includes 37 items concerning disease and treatment related symptoms, social function and sexuality. By using a combination of the general EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-H&N37, health-related quality of life measurements may be compared between studies in different cancer populations, and still be sensitive to changes in the target population.

Europe↗
PubMed1993

Information for cancer patients entering a clinical trial--an evaluation of an information strategy.

Informing patients before the start of antineoplastic treatment is important due to the anxiety and uncertainty felt by the patients and the legal aspects of trials. 34 women were interviewed 3 months after receiving information. Results show that the information was well remembered, patients were glad to bring a relative, two consultations with time for deliberation were well-received and that patients viewed written information as an important reinforcement. Overall, information provided was positively evaluated. Detailed information allowed patients to understand and participate in treatment decisions, thereby reducing their pretherapy anxiety. These results support expansion of the structured information programme to include all patients about to begin long-term cancer therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Psychosocial factors and breast cancer. A review].

Cancer of the breast is the commonest from of cancer of women in Denmark and the incidence is increasing. At present, a series of risk and prognostic factors are recognised. These are primarily related to the endocrine system. Other factors, including the significance of psychological and social factors, have been investigated. A review of the literature concerning the significance of psychological and social factors as risk and prognostic factors, respectively, reveals that the methodological problems in these investigations are considerable and multifarious. On the basis of a review of the literature, it is concluded, that there is no proof that psychosocial factors influence the disease of cancer of the breast. Nevertheless, certain evidence exits in the literature suggesting a connection between inhibition of aggression and an introverted personality and the development of cancer of the breast while, in some investigations, ability to cope has a certain significance as a prognostic factor. Investigations of psychosocial intervention as the actual antineoplastic treatment are very few and the results are difficult to interpret. It may be concluded that no basis exists to justify employment of psychosocial intervention as an actual form of treatment with the object of improving survival.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial factors in breast cancer and their possible impact upon prognosis.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer form in women. Numerous biological factors have now been identified and accepted as important risk factors and prognosticators. Psychosocial factors are also considered to be of probable importance. A review of the literature studying these factors reveals major methodological problems in evaluating data: small sample size, retrospective design, lack of cross-referencing for other important factors, cross-sectional studies instead of longitudinal studies, and insufficient statistical analysis. Regarding psychosocial factors, some of the most valid studies indicate that the risk of getting breast cancer may be connected with difficulties in expressing feelings, especially ones of aggression; while coping strategy, amount of stress, and level of activity, seem to be of possible influence to the prognosis. A possible connection between psyche and the immunological system has been proposed, but there has been little data so far. Although a series of studies have shown some influence of psychosocial factors on breast cancer, the methodological problems are so large as to leave open the question whether psychosocial factors have any impact upon the disease.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

[Informed consent. Historical background and current problems].

At present, informed consent is essential before patients can participate in clinical trials. The fact that a doctor asks the patient for informed consent is an expression of respect for the patient's right to make decisions about his own body. The request is made in recognition of the fact that optimal treatment can only be ensured by means of clinically controlled trials. The need for regulation of research arose at the beginning of the present century when pharmacological development accelerated. The Nürenberg Declaration was elaborated after the second world war and, subsequently, the Helsinki Declarations I and II. In these, directives are established for clinical research and for the rights of participants. A number of conditions make it difficult to fulfill these intentions. It may be difficult to ensure that the patient has adequate basic knowledge. The patient may feel that he is in a state of dependence on the doctor which influences his possibility to choose freely. Confidence between doctor and patient may be undermined if the patient is requested to participate in randomization for choice of treatment. Doctors know too little about how valid information can be ensured.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1990

[How can sufficient information be ensured in clinical trials at an oncology department?].

It is difficult to comply with the intention that the patient gives consent to participation in a clinical trial on the basis of complete information. Reasons for this are the doctor's defective knowledge about processes of communication and his desire to protect the patient, and sometimes also himself, from disagreeable information. Solution of these problems requires more knowledge about theories of communication and crises and improved planning in how to provide this information. The patient's possibility of understanding the information on which he can base an independent decision may be improved by offering several conversations, improved presentation of the written information, the presence of a relative at the informative conversation and supplying the patient with a contact person from the staff for further information. It is concluded that more structured informative procedures are necessary in the individual departments in order to ensure that the patient receives sufficient information before giving qualified consent.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1990

[Written information in clinical trials at an oncology department].

On the basis of a model for communication, a series of requirements are established for the content and form of written information given in connection with clinical trials. Fourteen texts employed in an oncological department are reviewed. The clarity as expressed by the readability index (lixtal) is found to be considerably less than desired. A series of examples are presented which either make reading difficult or are such that the patient does not receive adequate and relevant information. In particular, information about alternatives to participation in the trial and the possibilities for feedback for the patient are not mentioned. Finally, proposals are made for how the doctor can ensure that the written information is adequate and readable.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1990

[Verbal information in clinical trials at an oncology department].

Prior to participation in clinical trials, patients must give their consent on the basis of information from the doctor. The content of the information is defined in the Helsinki Declaration. Information given in an oncological department was investigated and the patients were interviewed about the information obtained. The problems associated with the informative interviews with the patients were that these were frequently unstructured, that the patients were more concerned with their illness and treatment and that doctors had done too little to ensure that the patients had understood the information. It was most difficult for the doctors to provide thorough information about side-effects and disadvantages. Patients had greatest difficulty in understanding the principle of randomization. The patients' main reason for participation in the trial was the hope for therapeutic benefit. In departments where clinical research is undertaken, constant attention is required for how information on clinical trials is best given.

Aged↗