Burkitt lymphoma risk in U.S. solid organ transplant recipients

Case reports of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in transplant recipients suggest that the risk is markedly elevated. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of BL in 203,557 solid organ recipients in the U.S. Transplant Cancer Match Study (1987–2009) and compared it with the general population using standardized incidence ratios. We also assessed associations with demographic and clinical characteristics, and treatments used to induce therapeutic immunosuppression. BL incidence was 10.8 per 100,000 person‐years, representing 23‐fold (95% confidence interval (CI) 19–28) greater risk than in the general population, and it peaked 3–8 years after the time of transplantation. In adjusted analyses, BL incidence was higher in recipients transplanted when <18 vs. ≥35 years (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 3.49, 95% CI 2.08–5.68) and in those transplanted with a liver (IRR 2.91, 95% CI 1.68–5.09) or heart (IRR 2.39, 95% CI 1.30–4.31) compared with kidney. BL incidence was lower in females than males (IRR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28–0.71), in blacks than whites (IRR 0.33, 95% CI 0.12–0.74), in those with a baseline Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐seropositive versus EBV‐seronegative status (IRR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13–0.93), and in those treated with azathioprine (IRR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34–0.89) or corticosteroids (IRR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29–0.82). Tumors were EBV‐positive in 69% of 32 cases with results. EBV positivity was 90% in those aged <18 years and 59% in those aged 18+ years. In conclusion, BL risk is markedly elevated in transplant recipients, and it is associated with certain demographic and clinical features. EBV was positive in most but not all BL cases with results. Am. J. Hematol. 88:245–250, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Foot Problems in Children

For general practitioners, who handle more than 85 per cent of all pediatric care, POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE here presents authoritative, up-to-date summaries, prepared by specialists in pediatric problems.     

The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database

The field of antibiotic drug discovery and the monitoring of new antibiotic resistance elements have yet to fully exploit the power of the genome revolution. Despite the fact that the first genomes sequenced of free living organisms were those of bacteria, there have been few specialized bioinformatic tools developed to mine the growing amount of genomic data associated with pathogens. In particular, there are few tools to study the genetics and genomics of antibiotic resistance and how it impacts bacterial populations, ecology, and the clinic. We have initiated development of such tools in the form of the Comprehensive Antibiotic Research Database (CARD; http://arpcard.mcmaster.ca). The CARD integrates disparate molecular and sequence data, provides a unique organizing principle in the form of the Antibiotic Resistance Ontology (ARO), and can quickly identify putative antibiotic resistance genes in new unannotated genome sequences. This unique platform provides an informatic tool that bridges antibiotic resistance concerns in health care, agriculture, and the environment.     

Assessment of long-term rectal function in patients who received pelvic radiotherapy: a pooled North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial analysis, N09C1

Purpose

Pelvic radiotherapy (PRT) is known to adversely affect bowel function (BF) and patient well-being. This study characterized long-term BF and evaluated quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving PRT.

Methods

Data from 252 patients were compiled from two North Central Cancer Treatment Group prospective studies, which included assessment of BF and QOL by the BF questionnaire (BFQ) and Uniscale QOL at baseline and 12 and 24 months after completion of radiotherapy. BFQ scores (sum of symptoms), Uniscale results, adverse-event incidence, and baseline demographic data were compared via t test, χ ², Fisher exact, Wilcoxon, and correlation methodologies.

Results

The total BFQ score was higher than baseline at 12 and 24 months (P?<?0.001). More patients had five or more symptoms at 12 months (13 %) and 24 months (10 %) than at baseline (2 %). Symptoms occurring in greater than 20 % of patients at 12 and 24 months were clustering, stool–gas confusion, and urgency. Factors associated with worse BF were female sex, rectal or gynecologic primary tumors, prior anterior resection of the rectum, and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. Patients experiencing grade 2 or higher acute toxicity had worse 24-month BF (P values, <.001–.02). Uniscale QOL was not significantly different from baseline at 12 or 24 months, despite worse BFQ scores.

Conclusions

PRT was associated with worse long-term BF. Worse BFQ score was not associated with poorer QOL. Further research to characterize the subset of patients at risk of significant decline in BF is warranted.     

Psychosocial service use: a qualitative exploration from the perspective of rural Australian cancer patients

Purpose

This study aims to identify key issues associated with the provision of psychosocial care from the perspective of rural Australian cancer patients and determine culturally appropriate methods that may reduce barriers to service use.

Method

Seventeen purposively sampled adult South Australians who lived outside metropolitan Adelaide, had a diagnosis of cancer and various demographic and medical histories participated in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Five key themes were identified: (1) psychosocial support is highly valued by those who have accessed it, (2) having access to both lay and professional psychosocial support is vitally important, (3) accessing psychosocial services is made difficult by several barriers (lack of information about services, initial beliefs they are unnecessary, feeling overwhelmed and concerns about stigma and dual relationships), (4) medical staff located in metropolitan treatment centres are not sufficiently aware of the unique needs of rural patients and (5) patients require better access to psychosocial services post-treatment. Methods through which rural patients believe access to psychosocial services could be improved include: (1) providing more rural-specific information on psychosocial care, (2) improving communication between health care providers and referral to psychosocial services and (3) making psychosocial services a standard part of care.

Conclusions

Rural cancer patients want their unique needs to be recognised and to be treated differently to their urban counterparts. There is a need for more targeted and rurally relevant information for rural cancer patients, both to inform them of, and change their attitudes towards, psychosocial services. Other practical recommendations are also discussed.     

Met and unmet needs reported by severely disabled people in Southern England

Purpose : To examine the met and unmet needs for rehabilitation of disabled people living in the community in Southern England. Method : A cross sectional interview study of people with a primary physical disability, aged 16-65. Disabled people were randomly selected from two existing disability registers, which comprised disabled people who had been identified by community rehabilitation services as being in need of regular surveillance by formal assessment of their care needs. A new semi-structured needs assessment questionnaire was developed and validated for the study (the Southampton Needs Assessment Questionnaire, SNAQ). Level of disability was examined with the OPCS Disability and Severity Scales. Results : Ninety three disabled people participated. Their median (IQR) OPCS score was 8 (6-10). Participants reported a median (IQR) of three unmet needs (2-7). The most prevalent unmet needs were for adaptations, equipment, physiotherapy and wheelchairs, rather than unmet needs for intellectual and social fulfilment. Conclusions : Disabled people who were already in touch with community rehabilitation services continued to express unmet needs for further services. Meeting the more basic needs relating to people's housing, equipment, physiotherapy and wheelchairs may enable them to be more independent and fulfilled in other areas of their lives.