Caring for children and adolescents with cancer: the intrathecal chemotherapy phase

This study aims to explore the experiences of children and adolescents with cancer during the intrathecal chemotherapy phase, by means of a qualitative approach. Empirical data were collected on the basis of semi-structured interviews. Study participants were eleven children/adolescents who received intrathecal chemotherapy, between 07 and 16 years old, from both genders, attended at a hospital school in the interior of S?o Paulo State, Brazil. Results converged towards the following issues: intrathecal routine; fear, pain and relief fantasies and strategies. This study gave access to important information with a view to caring for children/adolescents during the intrathecal chemotherapy phase, which is considered as one of the most stressing situations. With respect to nursing implications, we identified the vital nature of information for children/adolescents with cancer since this makes it possible to minimize uncertainties and negative feelings and makes them collaborate and participate in treatment.     

The Impact of Childhood Cancer on Adult Survivors' Interpersonal Relationships

A mixed-method design examined the impact of surviving childhood cancer on later adult relationships with peers and siblings. One hundred and eleven adult survivors of childhood cancer (ages 18-45) completed a survey. Age at diagnosis was significantly related to adult relationships with peers. The number of physical changes due to chemotherapy was significantly related to adult relationships with siblings. Factors perceived to be most influential for overall health in adulthood included lifestyle factors, fertility issues, employment discrimination, and passing the disease onto children. Intimate relationships are sometimes difficult due to fear of relapse. Self-consciousness about scars was an issue, especially for those who were diagnosed at a later age. Suggestions for counselling children and adolescents are discussed.     

Young adults with Ewing's sarcoma

Ewing's sarcoma was diagnosed in three men, one aged 22 and two aged 30. The disease was diagnosed by biopsy and chromosome investigations (t(11;22)-translocation). In the youngest patient with localised disease, supplementary radiotherapy was withheld in view of the good results of induction chemotherapy, surgery and consolidation chemotherapy. However, four months later, there was a localised recurrence, again followed by induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy at high dosage, stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy and finally surgical intervention, after which a complete remission was achieved. The 30-year-old man with localised disease was given induction chemotherapy, surgery, consolidation chemotherapy and radiotherapy; 14 months after the diagnosis he was in good condition. The other 30-year-old man had metastases in TXII and both lungs. Despite intensive therapy he died 8 months after diagnosis. Ewing's sarcoma is a musculoskeletal malignancy that occurs in children and adolescents but also in young adults. It generally manifests itself as a painful swelling originating in bone or soft tissue. There are often accompanying symptoms such as weight loss and fever. In 20-25% of cases there are already metastases (to the lungs, bone and bone marrow) by the time of diagnosis. The diagnosis and treatment of this rare, therapy-sensitive disease should take place in a study setting and in co-operation with a multidisciplinary sarcoma working group.     

基于Citespace进行超重或肥胖儿童青少年胰岛素抵抗研究的可视化分析

目的 应用CitespaceⅤ软件对相关文献进行可视化分析,以探索超重或肥胖儿童青少年胰岛素抵抗研究的热点。方法 以Web of Science核心杂志为数据库来源,检索出超重或肥胖儿童青少年胰岛素抵抗主题相关的文献,利用CitespaceⅤ软件,对2 587篇文献所在国家或地区、关键词和被引文献等进行可视化分析和解读。结果 可视化分析显示,美国在肥胖儿童胰岛素抵抗领域的发文量最多,其国内各大机构间的密切合作有利于该领域的发展并取得更多的研究成果。关键词的前几大聚类的标签名主要涉及代谢综合征、胰岛素抵抗、非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)、运动等内容,心血管疾病(CVD)及NAFLD是近年来研究的热点。结论 CitespaceⅤ软件的可视化分析功能,有助于了解超重或肥胖儿童青少年胰岛素抵抗研究的区域、热点和主要关注的问题,为进一步研究肥胖相关并发症的病理机制、预防和治疗提供依据。     

青岛地区1型糖尿病儿童及青少年血糖管理状况和生存质量的调查研究

目的 通过调查青岛地区1型糖尿病儿童及青少年血糖管理状况和生存质量,为儿童糖尿病的综合治疗提供依据。方法 采用儿童生存质量测定量表对2015年参加青岛大学附属医院内分泌儿科糖尿病营会活动的89名1型糖尿病儿童问卷调查,评价其血糖管理状况和生存质量。结果 1型糖尿病儿童糖化血红蛋白总体控制水平不良,血糖水平与年龄、病程、饮食、血糖监测频率、参加营会次数、居住地、母亲文化程度、家庭经济收入显著相关(P<0.05)。1型糖尿病儿童生存质量总得分是(80.73±12.68)分。血糖水平、居住地、父母婚姻状况、亲子交流情况是糖尿病儿童生存质量的相关因素(P<0.05),其中血糖水平是对生存质量发挥主导作用的因素。结论 青岛地区1型糖尿病儿童及青少年血糖控制水平总体欠佳,生存质量下降。医护人员需及早发现影响患儿血糖控制管理状况和生存质量的相关因素,积极干预,提高其血糖控制水平和生存质量。     

Breastfeeding in infancy is not associated with inflammatory status in healthy adolescents

It has been suggested that breast-feeding (BF) may be associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. A low-grade inflammation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in apparently healthy children. The objective of this study was to assess the potential modulating effect of BF on the inflammatory status of healthy adolescents. Information on BF (duration) was obtained from parental records in 484 of 1040 healthy European urban adolescents (56.4% females) that had a blood sample obtained as part of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition and Adolescence study. Blood serum inflammatory markers were measured, including high sensitivity C-reactive protein, complement factors 3 and 4, ceruloplasmin, adhesion molecules (L-selectin and soluble endothelial selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1), cytokines, TGFβ1, and white blood cells. After univariate analysis, a propensity score, including the potential confounding factors, was computed and used to assess the association between BF and selected inflammatory markers. BF was not significantly associated with any of the selected inflammatory markers after adjustment for gender and propensity score. In our study, BF was not associated with low-grade inflammatory status in healthy adolescents, suggesting that the potential cardiovascular benefits of BF are related to other mechanisms than modulation of inflammation or might become relevant at a later age. Groups at high risk for cardiovascular disease should be a target for further research concerning the effects of BF.     

Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with celiac disease: patient-driven data from focus group interviews

Purpose

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease requiring constant management with a gluten-free diet (GFD). Little is known about how CD impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents, and how they feel about and cope with CD and GFD. This qualitative study explores the impact of CD and GFD on HRQOL in everyday living of children and adolescents.

Methods

In focus group interviews, we investigated HRQOL in children and adolescents with CD in order to identify patient concerns in living with CD and on a GFD. Seven focus groups were formed with 23 children/adolescents and 3 parents. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Grounded theory approach was applied to analyse the interviews.

Results

CD had varying impact on the children and adolescents HRQOL. Two major categories emerged with importance for HRQOL in children and adolescents with CD, having CD (constructed from the six subcategories: symptoms, the diagnosis-process, self-perception, awareness of CD, social and emotional impact of CD, and thoughts about the future) and coping with CD (constructed from the two subcategories: coping with food and coping with social situations). The complexity of coping with CD in social situations that involve food is presented in a flowchart.

Conclusions

Children and adolescents showed large diversity in how much impact CD has on their HRQOL. Different ways of coping with CD and GFD were identified. Findings will be used to generate a patient-driven disease-specific questionnaire to measure HRQOL in children and adolescents with CD.     

Children and adolescents in outpatient chemotherapy: nursing implications

Hospitalization was common in the care to the child with cancer. However, a great focus is being given to dehospitalization, whose viability occurred through the outpatient clinic follow up, the outpatient clinic chemotherapy, the day-hospitals and/or home care. This paper aims at analyzing the difficulties that the families face at the home environment when their children or adolescents are submitted to the outpatient clinic chemotherapy. The study was developed at the chemotherapy room of the University of S?o Paulo Hospital at Ribeir?o Preto School of Medicine and the empirical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the children's parents in January and February, 2000. Results showed the following difficulties: changes in family daily life, health team inefficient communication; self-image alteration and chemotherapy side effects. This work enabled access to information that is of real interest in the care to children and/or adolescents with cancer and their families. Based on empirical data, authors elaborated a booklet on home care.     

北京海淀区户籍与流动儿童少年家庭食物选购及消费教育情况调查

目的了解北京海淀区户籍与流动儿童少年家庭食物选购及消费教育状况,为制定相应的干预措施提供依据。方法采用二阶段分层随机整群抽样原则,选取北京海淀区969名中小学生作为研究对象,采用问卷调查法进行调查。结果25．3％的家长当孩子表现好时给零用钱作为奖励（海淀区户籍儿童少年家长的比例低于流动儿童少年家长,P〈0．05）,14．1％的家长想到孩子需要就给零用钱,2．3％的家庭中孩子要多少零用钱家长就给多少。76．9％的家庭由母亲经常购买食物,31．8％的儿童少年经常和家长一起购买食物。19．7％的儿童少年经常独立购买食物（海淀区户籍儿童少年的比例低于流动儿童少年,P〈0．05）。海淀区户籍和流动儿童少年选购食物时经常考虑的主要因素前四位相同,依次为“是否卫生”、“食物的新鲜度”、“食物的味道”、“食物的品质”。22．5％的儿童少年经常要求家长购买某种食物（海淀区户籍儿童少年的比例高于流动儿童少年,P〈0．01）。对于儿童少年购买食物的要求,5．6％的家庭中孩子要什么家长就给买什么（海淀区户籍儿童少年家长的比例高于流动儿童少年家长,P〈0．001）,14．0％的家庭由家长决定是否购买,但不加任何说明,2．4％的家长一律不准购买。结论海淀区户籍与流动儿童少年家庭在食物选购及消费教育方面存在诸多不合理现象,应积极采取措施对儿童少年及其家长进行干预,改变不合理行为。     

中国2014年7~18岁儿童青少年血压偏高流行的区域分析

目的 分析2014年我国7~18岁儿童青少年血压偏高流行的地域分布特点,为制定儿童高血压防控策略和措施提供依据。方法 收集2014年"全国学生体质与健康调研"资料中31个省、自治区和直辖市（除我国香港、澳门、台弯地区外）的数据,选择血压数据记录完整的7~18岁216 299名学生作为研究对象。以血压偏高检出率<4%为低流行区,4%~7%为中等流行区,>7%为高流行区,分析儿童青少年血压偏高流行的地域分布特点。收集2014年全国31个省会城市的环境数据,分析儿童青少年血压Z评分与环境指标的相关性。结果 2014年全国7~18岁儿童青少年血压偏高平均检出率为6.4%（1.5%~14.2%）,血压偏高的高流行区主要分布在东部和沿海地区,尤其是环渤海地区,低流行区主要分布在中西部地区以及东部部分省份。关联性分析显示,2014年年均气温、年均气湿以及当地的海拔高度与血压（SBP和DBP）Z评分均呈负相关,男女生呈现相同趋势;年均日照时间、年均PM_2.5和PM₁₀浓度以及SO₂含量与血压Z评分均呈正相关,男女生呈现相同趋势。结论 2014年全国7~18岁儿童青少年血压偏高检出率存在较大差异,应重视高流行区域,并了解影响其血压的环境因素。     

Utility of different measures of body fat distribution in children and adolescents

The distribution of body fat has been shown to be an important determinant of cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate which method of evaluating body fat distribution compares most favorably with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The study included 201 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years who were recruited from Cincinnati, Ohio, schools in 1992-1993. The strongest correlate of fat distribution was waist circumference (r = 0.80). Age was a more important determinant of fat distribution than was pubertal maturation. There was a greater relative deposition of central body fat with increasing age. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that waist circumference was the best simple measure of fat distribution, since it was least affected by gender, race, and overall adiposity. Waist circumference is easy to determine and is a useful measure of fat distribution for children and adolescents.     

Living with a mentally ill parent: exploring adolescents' experiences and perspectives

Although a considerable body of research has described the implications of parental mental illness, the perspectives of children and adolescents have rarely been addressed. In this article, I explore adolescents' experiences in everyday life, based on an action-oriented study of a Norwegian online self-help group for adolescents (aged 15 to 18) with mentally ill parents. The analysis was conducted through participant observation of the group for 2 years. The adolescents experienced a variety of difficult challenges related to their parent's mental illness: lack of information and openness; unpredictability and instability; fear; loneliness; and loss and sorrow. However, they also discussed strategies for active management of the challenges arising from the family situation. I argue that these adolescents can be understood as vulnerable as well as active participants in managing their everyday lives. I emphasize the importance of including perspectives of children and adolescents in further research so as to improve health care for families with parental mental illness.     

Mathematical modelling of infection and disease due to Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica

BACKGROUND: Invasive meningococcal disease, due to Neisseria meningitidis, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in young children and adolescents. Nasopharyngeal carriage of meningococci (MC), is most prevalent in young adults whereas carriage of Neisseria lactamica (LC), a related non-pathogenic organism, is most prevalent in young children. The objective of this study was to use modelling techniques to test hypotheses on the processes that govern the incidence of meningococcal disease (MD). METHODS: Deterministic compartmental models were fitted to age structured data sets of MC, LC and MD. RESULTS: The model most consistent with the available data sets is one where LC inhibits MC, an inhibition that lasts for a mean of 4.7 years. The hypothesis that LC also acts as a natural immunogen against MD was consistent with this model. The second peak of MD observed among adolescents could be due to the peak in the acquisition of MC in this age group. CONCLUSIONS: The role of LC as a natural immunogen against asymptomatic and symptomatic meningococcal infection was consistent with available field data. If the introduction of novel meningococcal vaccines into a population changes the prevalence of MC or LC, this could have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of immunization programmes. This paper demonstrates the potential utility of modelling to estimate these effects.     

Association of steroid therapy with vaccine-associated rashes in children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia who received Oka/Merck varicella vaccine

Oka strain varicella vaccine generally has been well tolerated by children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) in remission and has induced protection against disease caused by wild-type varicella virus. At the end of 1985, four extensive vaccine-associated rashes were reported among children on maintenance chemotherapy. Steroid therapy in the week before vaccination or in the week following vaccination was significantly associated with rash in a retrospective analysis (odds ratio = 3.84, P = 0.0006). These findings were confirmed prospectively (OR = 2.38, p < 0.05, one-sided) in a second smaller group of children with ALL on maintenance therapy who received varicella vaccination after the end of the data collection for the initial study but before the relationship between rash and steroids was discovered. As a result of these studies, investigators have been asked to withhold steroids for 1 week before vaccination and to delay resumption of steroid therapy for at least 2 weeks after vaccination. These results should serve as a caution that vaccination of these children should be undertaken only with full knowledge of their therapeutic regimen and a thorough clinical understanding of the competing risks of varicella, vaccination and modification of the child's chemotherapy.     

Pain in Children and Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease: An Analysis of Daily Pain Diaries

The purpose of this study was to analyze daily patterns of pain, medication use, health care use, and activity reduction during pain episodes in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). The parents of 34 children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years completed a daily diary about their children's pain response for 14 days. Eight of the adolescents (ages 13-17) concurrently but independently completed the same diaries. The results indicate that children with SCD usually experienced low levels of pain that was managed at home, sometimes without any medications. Multilevel random effects models indicated that as pain levels increased, children were more likely to use narcotic medications and health care services, although overall health care utilization during the 2-week period tended to be relatively infrequent. On average, children considerably reduced school, household, and social activities when in pain. Moreover, parents and adolescents generally agreed on daily pain response, especially for salient events such as health care visits.     

Adherence rates to the Mediterranean diet are low in a representative sample of Greek children and adolescents

Data from studies in pediatric samples exploring adherence to the Mediterranean diet are scarce. The aim of the present work was to explore adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern in a representative sample of Greek children and adolescents. The study sample (n = 1305, 3-18 y) was representative of the Greek pediatric population in terms of sex and age. Information on participants' sociodemographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle characteristics were collected through telephone interviews. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet guidelines for adults and to the general dietary guidelines for children was evaluated using KIDMED scores: the higher the score, the more favorable the dietary pattern. The Goldberg cut-off limits for the ratio of energy intake:basal metabolic rate were used to evaluate dietary underreporting and children were accordingly classified as low energy reporters (LER) or non-LER. Only 11.3% of children and 8.3% of adolescents had an optimal KIDMED score (>/=8). In adolescents, partial correlation analysis revealed a negative weak association between KIDMED and BMI (r = -0.092; P = 0.031), which remained significant in the non-LER subgroup (r = -0.137, P = 0.011). Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher KIDMED scores were associated, in non-LER children, with less time spent on sedentary activities (P = 0.002) and higher paternal education (P = 0.050), whereas in adolescents, with younger age (P = 0.001), less time spent on sedentary activities (P = 0.015), higher maternal education (P = 0.014), and higher eating frequency (P = 0.041). In conclusion, low adherence rates to the Mediterranean diet were observed in Greek children and adolescents; this evidence needs to be further explored regarding its impact on health and disease.     

Nutrient intakes of adolescents with phenylketonuria and infants and children with maple syrup urine disease on semisynthetic diets.

Adequacy of nutrient intakes of adolescents with and without phenylketonuria (PKU) and infants and children with and without maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) were assessed using 3-day diet records sorted by disease and by age of the subject. Mean intakes of all nutrients were greater than two-thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) or Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Dietary Intakes (ESADDI) for all adolescents studied, with the exception of selenium (Se) in PKU adolescents, which averaged 27.8 micrograms. For adolescents with PKU, > 50% of the RDA or ESADDI for all nutrients was provided by elemental or modified protein hydrolysate medical foods, except for vitamin A in children aged 11-15 years and Se in children 11-18 years. Mean nutrient intakes of all infants and children were greater than two-thirds of the RDA or ESADDI for all nutrients except Se in MSUD children aged 1-11 years, where intakes ranged from 6.4 to 13.2 micrograms (21-66% of the RDA). The medical foods provided for most of the RDA and ESADDI recommendations, with the exception of Se in MSUD children.     

Factors associated with waiting time for access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Norway

The present study addresses the question of equality of access, as it relates to waiting time for specialised mental health treatment for children and adolescents. The aim was to investigate whether demographic, clinical factors and service‐related factors were associated with waiting time. Data was based on a documentation system in which all Norwegian children and adolescents receiving specialised mental health services were recorded. The analysis was based on a sample of 6497 children, who were referred for, and received, outpatient treatment in 2001, and for whom there was a complete data‐set on dates for referral and first appointment at the clinic. The following factors were included for analysis: age at referral, gender, reason for referral and referring agent, place of residence, as well two aspects related to the clinic providing services (i.e. mean number of consultations provided per patient per year, and mean number of consultations done by one therapist per year). Analysis of variance, Student's t‐tests and logistic regression analysis were applied. Children aged 6‐12 years, and children with externalised behaviour disorders were statistically significantly more likely to wait longer for services as compared with children in the other age groups, and with other disorders. Furthermore, children referred from the school sector waited statistically significantly longer for treatment than those referred from other agencies. Results also suggest that the waiting time varies with how available resources and treatment capacity of the outpatient clinic is utilised. Waiting time for services is an important indicator of the accessibility of services, and should be included in evaluations of national mental health reforms. This study suggests unevenness in access to services, which is related both to clinical‐demographical characteristics as well as to service‐related aspects of individual clinics. Efforts should be made to break down barriers to care that are related to unequal access to mental health treatment for children and adolescents.