Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2013
Substantially elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), together with low levels of procalcitonin (PCT), contributes to diagnosis of fungal infection in immunocompromised patients.
Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has become a routinely utilized parameter with a high prediction value of the severity of bacterial infectious complications and their immediate outcomes. Whereas the utility of PCT in differentiating between bacterial and viral infection is generally accepted, its significance in fungal infections has yet to be determined. The aim of the study was to determine the role of PCT testing in patients at high risk for invasive fungal infections. ⋯ Altogether, our data suggest that the finding of substantially elevated CRP combined with low PCT in immunocompromised patients may indicate systemic fungal infection. The use of this combination might simplify the diagnostic process, which otherwise can often be lengthy and arduous.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2013
Best supportive care in patients with brain metastases and adverse prognostic factors: development of improved decision aids.
This study aimed to develop a survival prediction model that might aid decision making when choosing between best supportive care (BSC) and brain radiotherapy (RT) for patients with brain metastases and limited survival expectation. ⋯ BSC is a reasonable choice in patients with limited life expectancy. After successful external validation of the selection criteria developed in this analysis, identification of patients who are unlikely to benefit from WBRT might be improved.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2013
ReviewMusic-based interventions in palliative cancer care: a review of quantitative studies and neurobiological literature.
This study aimed to review quantitative literature pertaining to studies of music-based interventions in palliative cancer care and to review the neurobiological literature that may bare relevance to the findings from these studies. ⋯ More research is needed to determine what subpopulation of cancer patients is most likely to respond to music-based interventions, what interventions are most effective for individual outcomes, and what measurement parameters best gauge their effectiveness.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDoes gender influence outcomes from a multidisciplinary intervention for quality of life designed for patients with advanced cancer?
Cancer treatment can profoundly impact the patient's quality of life (QOL). It has been well documented that there are gender differences in the symptoms associated with cancer treatment. This study explores the impact of gender on QOL for patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer. ⋯ Gender-based differences appear to play a role in the early, but not late, response to a multidisciplinary intervention to improve QOL for patients with advanced cancer, suggesting that early interventions can be tailored for each gender.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2013
Longitudinal associations between caregiver burden and patient and spouse distress in couples coping with lung cancer.
While spouses play a vital role in the care of cancer patients, caregiving exerts a physical and psychological toll. Caregiving burden may not only compromise spouses' quality of life but also the quality of care and support they are able to provide. Consequently, spousal caregiving burden may also negatively impact patients' psychological adjustment. However, the effect of caregiving burden on patients' psychological distress is unknown. Thus, this 6-month longitudinal study examined the associations between caregiving burden and distress in both lung cancer patients and their spouses. ⋯ Caregiving burden is problematic for both patients and spouses. Couples in which spouses report caregiving-related health problems may be at particular high risk of long-term elevated distress. Targets of future couple-focused interventions such as self-care and use of social support are discussed.