Articles: palliative-care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of a once-a-day sustained-release morphine formulation with standard oral morphine treatment for cancer pain.
Kadian/Kapanol (K) is a capsule formulation of morphine designed for 12- or 24-hourly dosing. This double-blind study compared the efficacy and safety of K every 24 hr to K every 12 hr and MS Contin tablets (MSC) every 12 hr. One hundred fifty-two patients with cancer pain were titrated to adequate analgesia with immediate-release morphine (IRM) solution. ⋯ Patient global assessment significantly favored K every 24 hr over MSC every 12 hr (P = 0.018). There were no statistically significant differences among the treatments for any morphine-related side effects when adjusted for baseline. K had efficacy and safety profiles similar to MSC every 12 hr but had the advantage of 12- or 24-hourly administration.
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The urinary production of pyridinium collagen cross-links, pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD), has been correlated to increased bone resorption in patients with neoplasms. This study investigated the production of these compounds in patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma who received palliative treatment that did and did not include 89Sr-chloride therapy. ⋯ PYD and DPD are sensitive and specific bone resorption markers which demonstrate a slowing of bone resorption after palliative 89Sr-chloride therapy in patients with bone metastases.
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CARCINOMA OF THE GALLBLADDER: Only patients suffering from advanced disease have symptoms, that is pain, jaundice, weight loss. Mean 5-year survival rate tends to be lower than 5%. ⋯ After radiotherapy tumor regression is observed in 80% of the patients. Their mean survival time is 10 months.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 1997
The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: clinical impact and morbidity in Fallot's tetralogy in the current era.
The Blalock-Taussig shunt is considered a low-risk management option for palliation in tetralogy of Fallot, but the morbidity associated with a Blalock-Taussig shunt can have a significant impact on patient care. We reviewed the outcome for this operation in the current era. ⋯ Pulmonary artery hypoplasia and angiographic evidence of pulmonary artery distortion are common after initial palliation by a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. Neonatal palliation was associated with significantly smaller pulmonary arteries before repair, which necessitated additional interventions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 1997
Review Multicenter Study Clinical TrialA multicenter evaluation of cancer pain control by palliative care teams.
Data on pain prevalence and severity were collected prospectively from advanced cancer patients as an integral part of two service evaluations. Six multidisciplinary palliative care teams working in Ireland formed the basis of one study and five teams based in the South of England were included in the second. A total of 695 cancer patients were referred and died in care in a minimum 6-month data collection period. ⋯ After 2 weeks, there was a significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in the levels of pain experienced by patients, and no patient had overwhelming pain. The data emphasize that pain prevalence in advanced cancer patients cared for in the community is as high as that observed in other settings. Multidisciplinary palliative care teams are shown here to be effective in alleviating pain.