Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 1998
ReviewHealth economics of care for patients with cancer and intractable disease in Japan.
Concern about the economic aspect of cancer care is increasing. However, economic evaluations for cancer care are deficient in a number of areas, despite recent important contributions. To generate better evidence for economic evaluation of care for patients with cancer and intractable disease, the recent trends and problems with economic evaluations in these areas in Japan are examined. Several examples of economic evaluations, such as those concerned with bone marrow transplantation for leukemias, breast-conserving treatment for early breast cancer, and antiemetic treatment for patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, showed substantial possibilities for evaluating value for money in health care with a view to establishing an effective and efficient health care system.
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 1998
Concurrent validity of the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System with the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the Brief Pain Inventory.
As part of a longitudinal prospective study we sought a self-completed instrument of symptom assessment suitable for a population of cancer patients who were receiving palliative therapy. The modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is such an instrument, but it required validation for this population. This study represents a validation of the modified ESAS with the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the Brief Pain Inventory--two instruments widely used in patients receiving palliative therapy for cancer. We conclude that the modified ESAS is a valid, self-administered instrument to assess symptoms for patients from differing palliative care settings.
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The efficacy and safety of using rifampicin to treat the pruritus associated with malignant cholestasis was evaluated. The outcomes of eight patients who received 150 mg rifampicin twice daily were reviewed. ⋯ No side effects were reported. Rifampicin is a safe effective treatment for the pruritus associated with cholestasis secondary to cancer.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 1998
Meta AnalysisRationale for the use of a single fixed intravenous dolasetron dose for the prevention of cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting. Pooled analysis of 14 clinical trials.
Dolasetron mesilate is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist that prevents chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting. For the majority of patients in intravenous dolasetron trials for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, dosing has been based on body weight (mg/kg). The approved weight-based dose is 1.8 mg/kg based on results of controlled clinical trials. ⋯ Fixed-dose groups were established at doses of 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, and 200 mg. Doses less than or equal to the midpoint between two dose groups were included in the lower dose group. Pooled results showed that the 100 mg intravenous dolasetron dose group (who received actual doses of 88-112 mg) produced the highest rate (53%) of complete response (0 emetic episodes and no rescue medication in the 24-h period following initiation of chemotherapy).
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Support Care Cancer · Jul 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialMonotherapy with piperacillin/tazobactam versus combination therapy with ceftazidime plus amikacin as an empiric therapy for fever in neutropenic cancer patients.
Between July 1993 and September 1996, 107 consecutive febrile episodes in 83 neutropenic cancer patients with a median age of 41 years were randomized to treatment either with piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 g every 8 h i.v. or ceftazidime 2 g every 8 h plus amikacin 15 mg/kg i.v. per day. In the case of fever > 38 degrees C 48 h after initiation of the antibiotic therapy, vancomycin 500 mg every 6 h i.v. was added. The study population was at serious risk of a poor outcome, since 67% of the patients had leukemia or lymphoma, 19% of the febrile events occurred after autologous bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation, the median total duration of neutropenia was 16 days, and the median neutrophil count at study inclusion was 0.09 x 10(9)/1. ⋯ Both antibiotic regimens were well tolerated, the study treatment being stopped only in 1 patient because of toxicity (cutaneous allergy to piperacillin/tazobactam). On the basis of the 107 febrile events encountered, we conclude that piperacillin/tazobactam is a safe and effective monotherapy. To define the definitive value of piperacillin/ tazobactam as a monotherapy for febrile neutropenic patients a large randomized trial is warranted.