The retrospective cohort study for survival rate in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving radiotherapy or palliative care

Background/Aims

This study was conducted to investigate the assessment of treatment efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) and other therapeutic modalities compared with palliative care only for treatment with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

From 2002 to 2010, based on the case of 47 patients with advanced HCC, we have investigated each patients'' Child-Pugh''s class, ECOG performance, serum level of alpha fetoprotein and other baseline characteristics that is considered to be predictive variables and values for prognosis of HCC. Out of overall patients, the 29 patients who had received RT were selected for one group and the 18 patients who had received only palliative care were classified for the other. The analysis in survival between the two groups was done to investigate the efficacy of RT.

Results

Under the analysis in survival, the mean survival time of total patients group was revealed between 30.1 months and 45.9 months in RT group, while it was 4.8 months in palliative care group, respectively. In the univariate analysis for overall patients, there were significant factors which affected survival rate like as follows: ECOG performance, Child-Pugh''s class, the tumor size, the type of tumor, alpha fetoprotein, transarterial chemoembolization, and RT. The regressive analysis in multivariate Cox for total patients. No treatment under radiotherapy and high level of Child-Pugh''s class grade were independent predictors of worse overall survival rate in patients. In contrast, for the subset analysis of the twenty-nine patients treated with radiotherapy, the higher serum level of alpha fetoprotein was an independent predictors of worse overall survival rate in patients.

Conclusions

We found that the survival of patients with advanced HCC was better with radiotherapy than with palliative care. Therefore, radiotherapy could be a good option for in patients with advanced HCC.     

专项护理干预在晚期癌症姑息治疗患者家属上的临床应用

目的：探讨专项护理干预在晚期癌症姑息治疗患者家属上的应用效果。方法：选择自2014年3月至2015年6月在我院治疗的临床上被确诊为癌症晚期且接受姑息治疗的101例患者及其家属101例作为研究对象,按照入院治疗的先后顺序进行分组。其中对照组患者共52例,仅给对照组患者进行姑息治疗;观察组患者共计49例,在对照组姑息治疗的基础上同时对其家属进行专项护理干预。观察分析两组患者家属的焦虑自评量表(Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,SAS)、抑郁自评量表(Self-Rating Depression Scale,SDS)评分,并对两组患者在干预前后的焦虑及郁闷指数情况和两组患者在干预后的QLQ-C30量表中各项功能得分情况进行分析对比。结果：观察组家属的SDS、SAS两项评分均显著低于对照组,差异比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对比两组患者干预前后的焦虑、郁闷指数,干预前,两组患者无明显差异(P>0.05);干预后,观察组的指数显著低于对照组,对比具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者的QLQ-C30各项功能得分均显著高于对照组,差异显著,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：针对癌症晚期姑息治疗患者家属的专项护理干预效果显著,不仅对患者家属的焦虑和抑郁有缓解,更能够影响患者的情绪并提高患者的生活质量,值得在临床上推广应用。     

Post‐traumatic growth and life threatening physical illness: A systematic review of the qualitative literature

Post‐traumatic growth (PTG) is the phenomenon of positive change through the experience of trauma and adversity ( O'Leary & Ickovics, 1995 ). Research suggests that the type of trauma sustained could have differing processes and outcomes from each other ( Demark‐wahnefried et al., 2000 ; Sabiston, McDonough, and Crocker, 2007 ). The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative data on PTG and illness related trauma. Fifty‐seven published journal articles dating from before November 1st, 2007 in PsychINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge and from the authors own knowledge of the area were reviewed. Key words included PTG; benefit finding; thriving and positive changes. Key themes included: ‘reappraisal of life and priorities’; ‘trauma equals development of self’; ‘existential re‐evaluation’; and ‘a new awareness of the body’. Findings suggest that there are unique elements to illness related PTG and a need for additional research into the processes and outcomes of physical illness related trauma.     

Predictors of mortality for patients with advanced disease in an HIV palliative care program

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in treatment, AIDS and its associated comorbidities remain important causes of death. Traditional HIV prognostic markers may be less useful in predicting death in current late-stage patients than in the era before highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: We used standardized baseline and follow-up data to describe causes of death and predictors of mortality in a cohort of patients with advanced disease referred to a specialized HIV palliative care program at a large urban medical center. RESULTS: Of 230 patients, 56% were male with a median age of 43 years; 54% were Hispanic and 39% were African American; 41% had a history of injection drug use; 89% had prior AIDS-defining illnesses; and median baseline values included a CD4 count of 39 cells/mm, HIV viral load of 65,202 copies/mL, Karnofsky score of 30, and 5 impaired activities of daily living (ADL). Over a median follow-up of 126 days (range: 1-823 days), 120 patients died; 54% of these died of late-stage HIV disease and/or bacterial pneumonia or sepsis, 19% of non-AIDS-defining cancers, 13% of liver failure and/or cirrhosis, and 12% of other progressive end-organ disease (eg, cardiac, pulmonary, renal). On multivariate analysis, death was predicted only by age (>65 years), baseline number of ADL impairments, and Karnofsky score (P < 0.0001 for all) and not by any AIDS-specific variables. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with late-stage disease referred to an HIV palliative care program, age and markers of functional status were more predictive of mortality than traditional HIV prognostic variables. Close to half of all deaths were attributable to non-AIDS-specific causes, including cancer and end-organ failure. These findings suggest the need for renewed study of predictors of mortality and prognostic markers in patients with advanced HIV disease and related comorbidities in the HAART era.     

The relationship between pain management and psychospiritual distress in patients with advanced cancer following admission to a palliative care unit

Background

Although many cross-sectional studies have demonstrated the association between cancer pain and psychospiritual distress, the time-dependent relationship has not been fully explored. For that reason, this study aims to investigate the time-dependent relationship between psychospiritual distress and cancer pain management in advanced cancer patients.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study. Two hundred thirty-seven advanced cancer patients were recruited from a palliative care unit in Taiwan. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved at admission. Pain and psychospiritual distress (i.e.: anxiety, depression, anger, level of family and social support, fear of death) were assessed upon admission and one week later, by using a “Symptom Reporting Form”. Patients were divided into two groups according to the pain status one week post-admission (improved versus not improved groups).

Results

One hundred sixty-three (68.8 %) patients were assigned to the improved group, and 74 (31.2 %) patients were assigned to the not improved group. There were no differences in the psychospiritual variables between groups upon admission. In overall patients, all psychospiritual variables improved one week post-admission, but the improvement of depression and family/social support in the not improved group was not significant. Consistent with this, for depression scores, there was a statistically significant pain group x time interaction effect detected, meaning that the pain group effect on depression scores was dependent on time.

Conclusions

We demonstrated a time-dependent relationship between depression and pain management in advanced cancer patients. Our results suggest that poor pain management may be associated with intractable depression. The inclusion of interventions that effectively improve psychospiritual distress may contribute to pain management strategies for advanced cancer patients.

     

Post‐cervical conization outcomes in patients with high‐grade intraepithelial lesions

To investigate the rates of residual, recurrent and invasive disease after cervical conization in patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2/3. A retrospective study was conducted with 274 patients undergoing cervical conization due to diagnosis of CIN 2/3. Cervical conization was done through the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) and Cold Knife Conization. Data related to personal, familial, gynecological, and obstetric antecedents, as well as surgical specimens margins were collected from medical records. The outcome after conization was evaluated, including the time of follow‐up and disease recurrence. The outcome after conization was not associated with age of menarche (p = 0.920), age of the first sexual intercourse (p = 0.533), number of parturition (p = 0.063), number of sexual partners (p = 0.328), immunosuppression (p = 0.225), smoking habit (p = 0.193), and conization type (p = 0.198). However, the outcome presented a significant association with age (p < 0.001), pregnancy numbers (p = 0.009), use of hormonal contraception methods (p = 0.016), menopause (p = 0.007), type of margins (p = 0.011), and cone histological results (p = 0.030). The routine control of all patients who had undergone cervical conization is obligate, independently of surgical margins, due to the risk of disease recurrence; the older patients and those with CIN 3 should have a more rigorous follow‐up.     

Judgements about fellow professionals and the management of patients receiving palliative care in primary care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Policies emphasise the importance of collaborative working in community palliative care. Collaborations are generally formed through formal and informal referral processes, but little is known about what influences professionals' decisions to refer to such services. AIM: To explore the influences on referrals within general and specialist community palliative care services. DESIGN OF STUDY: Qualitative, multiple-case study. SETTING: Three primary care trusts in the north-west of England. METHOD: Multiple data collection methods were employed, including documentary analysis, observation of referral team meetings and interviews. This paper primarily reports data from interviews with 47 health professionals, including GPs, district nurses, and specialist palliative care professionals. RESULTS: Judgements -- positive and negative -- about aspects of fellow professionals' performances appeared to influence referral decisions and ongoing collaboration and care. Attributes upon which these judgements were based included professional responsiveness and communication, respect, working and workload management practices, perceived expertise, and notions of elite practice. The effects of such judgements on referral and healthcare practices were altered by professional "game playing" to achieve professionals' desired outcomes. CONCLUSION: Palliative care policies and protocols need to take account of these complex and subtle influences on referrals and collaboration. In particular, teamwork and partnership are encouraged within palliative care work, but critical judgements indicate that such partnerships may be difficult or fragile. It is likely that such judgemental attitudes and practices affect many aspects of primary care, not just palliative care.     

Problems to discuss with cancer patients in palliative care: a comprehensive approach

This study presents a comprehensive overview of the problems patients experience in a palliative phase of cancer. A two-step qualitative method was used: in-depth interviews with patients and relatives (N=9 patients+7 relatives), followed by interviews (N=31patients+15 relatives) using a checklist to confirm and complete the picture. Quality of life and quality of care domains were addressed. Patients experienced problems in all of these palliative care domains, although individual patients may have experienced only a few problems. Fatigue, feelings of futility, reluctance to accept help, fear of suffering and the fear that help would not be available if needed, were common problems. Communication problems arose when a grudge against a GP had remained, or because one family member tried to spare the other a confrontation with his/her feelings of fear or grief. A comprehensive checklist of relevant problems is presented.     

Circulating free plasma tumor DNA in patients with advanced gastric cancer receiving systemic chemotherapy

Background

Advanced gastric cancers are usually associated with incurable conditions for which systemic treatments are indicated. Recent studies suggest that circulating cell-free plasma DNA of tumour origin (tDNA) is a promising non-invasive biomarker that can be used to predict the prognosis and monitor the efficacy of systemic treatments in patients with certain types of cancer. We conducted a pilot study to analyse the potential role of tDNA as a biomarker in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Methods

We included 30 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer. We obtained samples (10?mL of total blood) from each patient every 3 months and performed concomitant CT until disease progression or death. Total cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA) samples were measured using GeneQuant RNA/DNA Calculator-Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (Biochrom) Ltd. The cfDNA was used to evaluate the ALU DNA sequences 247 and 115. The level of tDNA was calculated from the ratio of the expression of ALU DNA sequences and the concentration of total cell-free DNA. We utilized the RECIST criteria 1.1 to evaluate the tumour response.

Results

Patients with advanced gastric cancer had significantly higher concentrations of cfDNA compared with normal controls (p =?0.00015), which allowed us to conclude that the cfDNA in the patients originated from the tumour. We did not find any significant correlation between the level of tDNA and OS or tumour response. However, after the first cycles of chemotherapy (at 3 months), we observed that patients with lower tDNA levels had significantly longer DFS compared with those with higher levels (Cox Regression p =?0.0228).

Conclusions

At 3 months after the beginning of chemotherapy, the tDNA levels are correlated with DFS in patients with advanced gastric cancer who receive systemic chemotherapy. tDNA may be a specific, non-invasive and cost effective new biomarker for these patients.

     

Racial/ethnic differences in prognosis communication during initial inpatient palliative care consultations among people with advanced cancer

ObjectiveWe examined whether conversations involving Black or Latino patients with advanced cancer differ in the presence or characteristics of prognosis communication.MethodsWe audio-recorded initial consultations between 54 palliative care clinicians and 231 hospitalized people with advanced cancer. We coded for the presence and characteristics of prognosis communication. We examined whether the presence or characteristics of prognosis communication differed by patients' self-reported race/ethnicity.ResultsIn 231 consultations, 75.7% contained prognosis communication. Prognosis communication was less than half as likely to occur during conversations with Black or Latino patients (N = 48) compared to others. Among consultations in which prognosis was addressed, those involving Black or Latino patients were more than 8 times less likely to contain optimistically cued prognoses compared to others.ConclusionPrognosis communication occurred less frequently for Black and Latino patients and included fewer optimistic cues than conversations with other patients. More work is needed to better understand these observed patterns of prognosis communication that vary by race and ethnicity.Practice implicationsGrowing evidence supports prognosis communication being important for end-of-life decision-making and disproportionately rare among non-White populations. Therefore, our findings identify a potentially salient target for clinical interventions that are focused on ameliorating disparities in end-of-life care.     

Post‐traumatic stress disorder and illness perceptions over time following myocardial infarction and subarachnoid haemorrhage

Objectives. This study investigated post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and illness perceptions in people who suffered the acute medical trauma of a myocardial infarction (MI) or a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The study tested hypotheses regarding changes in PTSD symptoms and illness perceptions over time, associations between PTSD and illness perceptions and cognitive predictors of PTSD. Design and method. The study employed a longitudinal design and measured the illness perceptions and PTSD symptoms of an MI group (N = 17) and a SAH group (N = 27). Data were collected within 2 weeks of admission (T1), 6 weeks after admission (T2) and 3 months after admission (T3). Statistical analysis was undertaken to examine associations between illness perceptions and PTSD and to examine cognitive predictors of PTSD. Results. The prevalence of PTSD within the total acute medical trauma sample was 16% at 2 weeks, 35% at 6 weeks and 16% at 3 months. Illness perception factors of identity, timeline (acute/chronic), consequences and emotional representation were strongly correlated with PTSD at all three time points. PTSD symptoms and illness perceptions were shown to have changed over time. The results also showed that several illness perception factors are significant predictors of PTSD. Conclusions. Both PTSD symptoms and illness perceptions changed significantly over time following an MI or SAH. Illness perception factors are significant predictors of PTSD.     

The evidence supporting educational videos for patients and caregivers receiving hospice and palliative care: A systematic review

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to explore the evidence surrounding educational videos for patients and family caregivers in hospice and palliative care. We ask three research questions: 1. What is the evidence for video interventions? 2. What is the quality of the evidence behind video interventions? 3. What are the outcomes of video interventions?MethodsThe study is a systematic review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Researchers systematically searched five databases for experimental and observational studies on the evidence supporting video education for hospice and palliative care patients and caregivers, published in 1969–2019.ResultsThe review identified 31 relevant articles with moderate-high quality of evidence. Most studies were experimental (74 %), came from the United States (84 %) and had a mean sample size of 139 participants. Studies showed that video interventions positively affect preferences of care and advance care planning, provide emotional support, and serve as decision and information aids.ConclusionA strong body of evidence has emerged for video education interventions in hospice and palliative care. Additional research assessing video interventions’ impact on clinical outcomes is needed.Practice implicationsVideos are a promising tool for patient and family education in hospice and palliative care.     

Client‐centred therapy,post‐traumatic stress disorder and post‐traumatic growth: Theoretical perspectives and practical implications

In practice it is not unusual for client‐centred therapists to work with people who have experienced traumatic events. However, client‐centred therapy is not usually considered within texts on traumatic stress and questions have been raised over the appropriateness of client‐centred therapy with trauma survivors. The present study shows how, although he was writing well before the introduction of the term ‘posttraumatic stress disorder’, Carl Rogers provided a theory of therapy and personality that contains an account of threat‐related psychological processes largely consistent with contemporary trauma theory. Rogers' theory provides the conceptual underpinnings to the client‐centred and experiential ways of working with traumatized people. Furthermore, Rogers' theory provides an understanding of post‐traumatic growth processes, and encourages therapists to adopt a more positive psychological perspective to their understanding of how people adjust to traumatic events.     

Bispectral index monitoring of sleep in palliative care patients

Purpose

In patients receiving palliative care (PC), sleep is often negatively influenced by pain, anxiety and medication. Because these patients are often too sick to be investigated in a sleep laboratory, it is difficult to obtain objective information concerning their sleep. This study investigates whether bispectral index (BIS) monitoring reflects wakefulness, sleep and the effect of medication and whether it is tolerable for patients.

Methods

In all, 10 patients from an inpatient PC unit participated in the study. They were monitored using a BIS system for one night, while each event was carefully documented by patient care attendants. In addition, participants completed a questionnaire on the evening prior to and on the morning following the recording about their subjective wellbeing and sleep.

Results

On a scale from 0 to 100, BIS measurements covered values ranging from a minimum of 29–40 to a maximum of 74–98. Individual differences between minimum and maximum ranged between 38 and 68. High BIS values are associated with wakefulness, low BIS values with sleep. The administration of sedative and analgesic medication was followed by a long-lasting decrease in BIS measurements. In 3 patients, the measurements were discontinued due to the patient being disturbed or irritation of the skin.

Conclusion

BIS monitoring was well tolerated by most but not all patients. It can be useful in complementing patients’ reports in questionable cases. This might be of special interest in outpatient settings where continuous objective professional observation is not available.