By using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet driven by pulsed dc voltage with repetition rate of several tens of kilohertz, we were able to induce apoptosis in cultured human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The apoptotic changes in cells with plasma treatment were detected by flow cytometry and fluorescence staining assay. A significant portion of these cells was observed to exhibit the apoptotic fragmentation. Helium plasma with additive O2 gas was found to be effective in the induction of apoptosis. This plasma jet provides an effective mode of human breast cancer cell therapy.

No abstract

Background: Post-treatment survivorship has not been extensively studied, despite long-standing evidence that after breast cancer treatment, women need continuing support to deal with their physical and psychosocial concerns. Objective: The purpose of this experimental pilot study was to examine the quality of life (QOL) and symptom outcomes of a psychoeducational support program for women in the first year of postYbreast cancer treatment survivorship. Methods: The sample consisted of 48 female breast cancer survivors randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 25) and control group (n = 23). The psychoeducational support program consisted of individual face-to-face education, telephone-delivered health-coaching sessions, and small-group meetings. Study instruments were the Memorial Symptom Assessment ScaleYShort Form and Functional Assessment of Cancer TherapyYBreast questionnaire. Results: Compared with the control group, survivors in the intervention group reported higher QOL overall and higher emotional well-being. The intervention group reported lower psychological symptom distress than the control group. Conclusions: A psychoeducational support program may promote a better overall QOL and symptom experience in transition to survivorship among female breast cancer survivors. Implications for Practice: Oncology nurses are in a position to provide education and support to assist breast cancer survivors in

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the levels of sleep quality and to examine its related factors in the elderly Korean adults. A cross-sectional research design was used, and 157 adults, aged from 65 to 89, were recruited from five community health centres in Gyeonggi province and Seoul, Korea. All participants were informed about the purpose of the study and were asked to provide demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, self-rated health, pain, depression, life satisfaction and sleep quality. More than 60% of the participants reported having poor sleep quality. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that age, self-rated health, pain and depression were related to poor sleep quality. The findings suggest that it is important to screen regularly for sleep quality, and attention to depression, poor self-rated health and perceived pain were needed to improve sleep quality of older adults.