PURPOSE-This paper describes the ethnic and socioeconomic correlates of psychosocial functioning in a cohort of long-term nonrecurring breast cancer survivors and determines the contribution of ongoing difficulties, including symptoms and concerns about cancer, to the ethnic and socioeconomic differences in functioning levels.METHODS-Participants (n=804) in this study were women from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study, a population-based, multicenter, multiethnic, prospective study of women newly diagnosed with in situ or Stages I to IIIA breast cancer. Measurements occurred at three timepoints following diagnosis (average 6.1 months following diagnosis, at approximately 30.5 months post diagnosis, at approximately 40.6 months post diagnosis). Outcomes included standardized measures of functioning (MOS SF-36).RESULTS-Overall, these long-term survivors reported values on two physical function subscales of the SF-36 slightly lower than population norms. Black women reported statistically significantly lower physical functioning scores (p=0.01), compared with White and Hispanic women, but higher mental health scores (p<0.01) compared with White and Hispanic women. In the final adjusted model, race was significantly related to physical functioning, with Black participants and participants in the "Other" ethnic category reporting poorer functioning compared to the White referent group (p<0.01, 0.05). Not working outside the home, being retired or

Primary treatment is not associated with 2-year general HRQOL outcomes in prostate cancer. Although both sexual and urinary function and bother are associated with quality of life, men who are more bothered by their urination or impotence are more likely to report worse quality of life. This implies that future research should be directed toward finding ways to improve treatment-related outcomes or help patients better cope with their posttreatment urinary or sexual dysfunction.

Introduction: Liver cancer rates are higher in North American Chinese than non-Asian ethnic/racial groups, largely due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: A community-based survey of Chinese women (n = 147) was completed during 1999 to examine HBV knowledge and practices in Vancouver, British Columbia. Results: Most women had heard of HBV (85%) but smaller proportions knew about some routes of transmission (e.g., sexual intercourse) and sequelae of infection. Knowledge about HBV was significantly associated with education level (p=0.005), English fluency (p<0.001) and household income (p=0.007). Previous serologic testing for HBV infection was significantly associated with education level (p=0.04), English fluency (p=0.01), and level of knowledge about HBV (p<0.001). Conclusions: Efforts to increase knowledge about HBV infection in this community should consider targeting less educated and less acculturated individuals. La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Hormone-related symptoms are common in breast cancer survivors and many aspects of these symptoms are currently under study. Reliable and valid assessment tools are needed to successfully study hormone-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors; however, no gold standard currently exists for measuring these symptoms. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a shortened version of the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) symptom checklist in a sample of 803 breast cancer survivors. Principal factor analysis with Promax oblique rotation revealed a five-factor structure, identifying five separate hormone-related symptoms scales: vasomotor symptoms, urinary incontinence, cognitive/mood changes, vaginal symptoms, and weight gain/appearance concern. Hormone-related symptom scale scores differed by demographic and clinical characteristics according to expectations, suggesting that these five scales from the shortened BCPT checklist are reasonably reliable and valid. Symptom scale scores were only weakly correlated with health-related quality of life scores; however, the pattern of results generally supported the validity of the symptom scales. This study adds to the evidence that breast cancer survivors experience a significant number of hormone-related symptoms. Future clinical trials and quality of life and symptom management intervention studies would benefit from accurate assessment of hormone-related symptoms with the five scales from the shortened BCPT checklist.

Pap testing levels among the study respondents were well below the National Cancer Institute's Year 2000 goals. The findings suggest that cervical cancer control interventions for Chinese are more likely to be effective if they are multifaceted.

Alles im Fluss: Anorganische Materialien wurden durch Phasentrennung zwischen den Nanomaterialien und einer Polymerschmelze sowie durch Einengen der Nanomaterialien auf definierte Bereiche in einer Polymerschmelze strukturiert. Diese Technik lieferte mikro‐ und nanostrukturierte Metall‐ und Halbleitermuster (siehe Bild).

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Southeast Asians have higher liver cancer rates than any other racial/ethnic group in the US. Approximately 80 percent of liver cancers are etiologically associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection which is endemic in Southeast Asia. An in-person survey of Cambodian women (n = 320) was conducted in Seattle, Washington, during 1999. The questionnaire included items about HBV knowledge, beliefs, and practices. Prior to being provided with a description of the disease, only about one-half (56 percent) of our respondents had heard of HBV infection. Less than one-quarter (23 percent) of the study group thought that asymptomatic individuals can transmit the disease to others. Most thought that HBV infection can cause liver cancer (54 percent) and death (72 percent). However, a minority thought that infection can be lifelong (24 percent) and incurable (15 percent). Only 38 percent reported they had been serologically tested for HBV. Finally, of those who had been tested and thought they were susceptible, two-thirds (67 percent) had not been vaccinated. Lower levels of education were associated with lower levels of HBV knowledge and serologic testing. Our findings suggest that Cambodian immigrants have low levels of HBV knowledge, serologic testing, and vaccination; and demonstrate a need for targeted educational interventions aimed at reducing HBV-related liver cancer mortality among Southeast Asian communities.