Interpersonal positive reframing in the daily lives of couples coping with breast cancer

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined word use as an indicator of interpersonal positive reframing in daily conversations of couples coping with breast cancer and as a predictor of stress.

Design: The Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) were used to examine naturally occurring word use conceptually linked to positive reframing (positive emotion, negative emotion, and cognitive processing words).

Sample: Fifty-two couples coping with breast cancer.

Methods: Couples wore the EAR, a device participants wear, that audio-recorded over one weekend (>16,000 sound files), and completed self-reports of positive reframing (COPE) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). LIWC, a software program, measured word use.

Findings: Both partners’ word use (i.e., positive emotion and cognitive processing words) was associated with their own reported positive reframing, and spouses’ word use was also indicative of patients’ positive reframing. Results also revealed that, in general, words indicating positive reframing predicted lower levels of stress.

Conclusions: Findings supported the hypothesis that partners—and particularly spouses of breast cancer patients—may assist each other’s coping by positively reframing the cancer experience and other negative experiences in conversation.     

Influence of Prior Psychiatric Disorders on the Treatment Course of Gynaecological Cancer – A Nationwide Cohort Study

Aims

To examine the influence of pre-existing psychiatric disorder on the choice of treatment in patients with gynaecological cancer.

Clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease in female SLE patients: Interplay between body mass index and bone mineral density

Background and aims

Since accelerated atherosclerosis has been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), predictive biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are needed. Among non-traditional risk factors, bone mineral density (BMD) has been related to CVD. However, its role in SLE remains controversial. This study aims to analyze the associations of subclinical atherosclerosis with traditional and non-traditional CV risk factors.

Relationship between peripheral diabetic neuropathy and microvascular reactivity in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus -- neuropathy and microcirculation in diabetes.

The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in the relationship between peripheral diabetic neuropathy and microvascular reactivity in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Twenty-eight type 1 and 37 type 2 diabetic patients were included in the study. Control groups consisted of 18 and 25, age and body mass index matched healthy persons. The presence of peripheral neuropathy was estimated by vibration perception threshold higher than 20 V evaluated by biothesiometry. Microvascular reactivity was examined by laser doppler fluxmetry using postocclusive reactive hyperemia and thermal hyperemia. The following variables of vascular reactivity were examined: peak flow after occlusion as a difference between maximal and basal perfusion (PORH (max)), mean velocity increase during postocclusive hyperemia (PORH (max)/t (1)), peak flow during thermal hyperemia (TH (max)) and the mean velocity increase in the perfusion during thermal hyperemia (TH (max)/t (2)). These parameters are expressed in perfusion units (PU) or in perfusion units per second (PU . s (-1)). The microvascular reactivity in type 1 diabetic patients without evidence of peripheral neuropathy was comparable with that in healthy persons and it was significantly higher than in type 1 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy in all tested parameters (PORH (max): 64 [40; 81] PU vs. 24 [17; 40] PU, p < 0.001, PORH (max)/t (1): 5.41 [2.69; 8.18] PU/s vs. 1.21 [0.69; 2.5] PU/s, p < 0.001, TH (max): 105 [77; 156] PU vs. 56 [46; 85] PU, p < 0.001 and TH (max)/t (2): 2.48 [1.67; 3.33] PU/s vs. 0.87 [0.73; 1.06] PU/s, p < 0.001). On the contrary, no difference in the microvascular reactivity parameters was found between type 2 diabetic patients with and without neuropathy (PORH (max): 48 [30; 60] PU vs. 49 [36; 57] PU, NS, PORH (max)/t (1): 3.46 [2.15; 5.19] PU/s vs. 3.29 [2.45; 4.8] PU/s, NS, TH (max): 95 [78; 156] PU vs. 97 [73; 127] PU, NS and TH (max)/t (2): 1.45 [0.95; 2.84] PU/s vs. 1.37 [1.12; 1.95] PU/s, NS). In both these groups microvascular reactivity was comparable with that estimated in the age and BMI matched healthy persons. An inverse relationship was observed between microvascular reactivity and vibratory perception threshold in type 1 diabetic patients, but it was not true in type 2 diabetic patients. We suppose that the pathogenesis of neuropathy and impaired microvascular reactivity may be differently influenced by metabolic factors in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.     

Pseudoathetosis: report of three patients.

We report on 3 patients with pseudoathetosis, which are involuntary, slow, writhing movements due to loss of proprioception.     

Safety considerations for operating room personnel during hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy perfusion.

The new treatment strategy for Peritoneal Surface Malignancy combines a cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Cytoreduction removes all macroscopic tumor. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy avoids implantation of microscopic residual tumor cells on intra-abdominal surfaces when it is administered intraoperatively and/or early in the postoperative period. Delivering cytotoxic drugs directly into the peritoneal cavity maximizes dose intensity and minimizes systemic toxicity. Hyperthermia is selectively cytotoxic for malignant cells and potentiates the effect of chemotherapy. Implementation of this procedure makes the perioperative personnel to face a risk of exposure to cytotoxic agents. Furthermore, peritonectomies and electro-evaporation of tumor nodules are performed with high voltage electrocautery, generating a large amount of surgical smoke during several hours. Inhalation of these fumes may be also a risk for healthcare workers. In this article, we analyse in depth these new risks of the operating room personnel, we review the literature, and we give guidelines for secure performance of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, as well as for early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy administration. These new procedures are safe techniques for patients and healthcare workers provided adequate policies are adopted to avoid occupational exposure.