Depression assessment by oncologists and palliative care physicians.

Objective: Depression is a frequent problem in cancer patients, which is known to reduce quality of life; however, many cancer patients with depression are not treated because of the difficulties in assessing depression in this population. Our aim was to evaluate and improve the depression assessment strategies of palliative care (PC) physicians and oncologists.

Method: We invited all medical oncologists and PC physicians from three cancer centers to participate in this multicenter prospective study.

Frequency of depression among oncology outpatients and association with other symptoms.

Purpose: Depression occurs among an estimated 15% of cancer patients (range, 1-77.5%). Our main objective was to identify the frequency of reported depression by using the Brief Edinburgh Depression Scale (BEDS) among cancer outpatients.

Measurement of the optical parameters of the Virgo interferometer.

The Virgo interferometer, aimed at detecting gravitational waves, is now in a commissioning phase. Measurements of its optical properties are needed for the understanding of the instrument. We present the techniques developed for the measurement of the optical parameters of Virgo.

Description of an ultrathin multiwire proportional chamber-based detector and application to the characterization of the Spraguea lophii (Microspora) two-dimensional genome fingerprint.

Multiwire proportional chamber is a useful technology to build detectors that supersede the lack of interactivity of autoradiography in molecular biology experiments. Some drawbacks still limited the diffusion of existing instruments in biological laboratories. The major competitors are storage phosphor imaging systems.