Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAssociation between Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Preliminary Findings.
Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) are established diagnostic and prognostic markers in heart failure, but their utility in patients with advanced cancer is unclear. ⋯ Our preliminary findings suggest that BNP or Pro-BNP may be a novel objective prognostic marker in cancer patients without heart failure. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2019
Multicenter StudyThe Stability of Treatment Preferences among Patients with Advanced Cancer.
Stability of patients' treatment preferences has important implications for decisions about concurrent and future treatment. ⋯ Two-thirds of patients with advanced cancer had stable preferences. Changes of preferences were often inconsistent and unpredictable. Our findings suggest potential benefits of ongoing communication about preferences.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyChallenges in Recruiting Patients to a Controlled Feasibility Study of a Drug for Opioid-Induced Constipation: Lessons From the Population With Advanced Cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTHE BURDEN OF OPIOID ADVERSE EVENTS AND THE INFLUENCE ON CANCER PATIENTS' SYMPTOMATOLOGY.
Opioids are frequently used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain and their use may produce a number of unwanted adverse events (AEs). ⋯ Opioid introduction induces various AEs that persist over time and worse patients' symptomatology. Moreover, there seems to be a different expression of the opioid toxicity among patients, and a possible interaction between AEs and the analgesic response. The balance between the opioids analgesic effect and induced toxicity is fundamental in deciding the best management for pain in cancer patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Multicenter StudyBreakthrough cancer pain in patients with abdominal visceral cancer pain.
The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients with abdominal cancer pain, and the eventual factors associated with its presentation. ⋯ Patients with abdominal visceral BTcP represent a subgroup with specific features of BTcP, particularly those with predictable BTcP. Ingestion of food was the prominent trigger for BTcP, having a faster onset and a lower intensity. This group of patients more frequently used oxycodone/naloxone or no anti-inflammatory drugs. These findings suggest consequential therapeutic decisions.