Pediatric blood & cancer
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Sep 2015
ReviewEarly insights into the neurobiology of pain in sickle cell disease: A systematic review of the literature.
Novel insights into the neurobiology of sickle cell disease (SCD) pain have recently been discovered. We systematically reviewed the literature focusing on original research that examined the biology of pain in SCD and/or addressed assessment or treatment of neuropathic pain in SCD. This review of 15 articles that met inclusion criteria provides epidemiological, basic, and clinical data that support central and/or peripheral nervous system abnormalities likely contribute to sickle cell pain. Continued basic and clinical investigation into pain neurobiology is imperative to translate these discoveries into novel ways to assess and treat neuropathic pain and decrease patient suffering.
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Aug 2015
Differences in end-of-life communication for children with advanced cancer who were referred to a palliative care team.
There is a general consensus that involving a specialized palliative care team in the care of children with advanced cancer can help optimize end-of-life communication; however, how this compares to standard oncology care is still unknown. We aimed to determine whether there was an association between specialist palliative care involvement and improved end-of-life communication for children with advanced cancer and their families. ⋯ Children who receive standard oncology care are at higher risk of not receiving critical communication elements at end of life. Strategies to optimize end-of-life communication for children who are not referred to a palliative care team are needed.
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Aug 2015
Persistent racial and ethnic differences in location of death for children with cancer.
Approximately one in 285 children will be diagnosed with cancer before reaching their 20th birthday. While both oncologists and parents report a preference that these children die at home rather than in a hospital, there are limited data exploring this issue in depth. ⋯ There has been no significant change in the rate of children with cancer who die at home over the past decade. Racial and ethnic differences have persisted in end of life care for children with cancer with white non-Hispanic children being most likely to die at home.
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Jul 2015
ReviewCD19: A multifunctional immunological target molecule and its implications for Blineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Over the last 20-30 years CD19 has gained attention as a potential target in the therapy of B-cell malignancies. In particular, targeting CD19 with the bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody Blinatumomab and T-cells modified by chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has shown promising efficacy in early phase clinical trials for adults and children with precursor B-cell ALL (BCP-ALL). This review will discuss the rationale behind targeting CD19 in BCP-ALL and its potential importance in BCP-ALL signaling pathways.
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Pediatric blood & cancer · Jul 2015
Comparative StudyHealth related quality of life and perception of stigmatisation in adolescents living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria: A cross sectional study.
Sickle cell disease impacts the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of life of the affected persons, often times exposing them to disease associated stigma from the society and alters the health related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared the HRQoL of adolescents with sickle cell disease with their healthy peers, identified socio-demographic and clinical factors impacting HRQoL, and determined the extent and effects of SCD related stigma on quality of life. ⋯ Adolescents living with SCD in Nigeria have lower health related quality of life compared to their healthy peers. They also experience stigma that impacts their HRQoL. Complications of SCD and hospital admissions contribute significantly to this impairment.