Analysis of the circumstances at the end of life in children with cancer: Symptoms, suffering and acceptance

BACKGROUND: In an effort to improve the quality of life of children with cancer, this study analyzes the signs and symptoms at the end of life in such children. It is hoped that these data will contribute to the development of appropriate programs to address the challenges faced by these children. PROCEDURE: Between 1994 and 2000, 28 children died after treatment for cancer at Hamamatsu University Hospital, Japan. The circumstances, signs and symptoms at the end of life of these children were analyzed through their medical records. RESULTS: Of the 28 children, the underlying diseases were leukemia/lymphoma (LL group; n=11), brain tumors (BT group; n=7), and other solid tumors (OST group; n=10). Records showed poor appetite (100%), dyspnea (82.1%), pain (75.0%), fatigue (71.4%), nausea/vomiting (57.1%), constipation (46.4%) and diarrhea (21.4%) among these children. Anxiety was reported in 53.6% of the entire group of 28 children; however, no child in the BT group manifested anxiety. However, disturbance of consciousness was reported in all children in the BT group, which was significantly greater than in the other groups. Awareness, fear or acceptance of the imminence of his/her own death as indicated by verbal expression was reported in nine children (32.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the data obtained in the present study, we describe situations faced in the terminal care of children. It is important to address the problems revealed by this analysis in order to achieve improvements in both the physical and psychological care of children with terminal cancer.     

Learning to Observe Relationships and Coping

Milieu relationships provide the critical background presence to staff's attempts to motivate, regulate, and teach patients how to cope with stress. Forging a connection with hospitalized children and adolescents demands attention to how they respond to adults and engage with staff around milieu expectations. Assessment guides that deal with these issues are presented. Important aspects of children's relatedness are presented in the context of their working models of adults and the influence of these representations on their response to staff. Coping skills are explained with particular emphasis on behavioral coping strategies. Tied to the assessment process are interventions that emphasize staff's role in helping patients manage strong affects and avoid the use of nonproductive behavior regulation strategies.     

Time and cost involved in the care of newly registered patients with diabetes mellitus and other lifestyle diseases at diabetes clinics in Japan (JDDM 4).

AIMS: To study the time and cost involved in the care of newly registered outpatients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), compared with patients with hypertension and/or hyperlipidaemia (HTL). METHODS: A total of 313 patients with DM and 58 patients with HTL without diabetes were registered on their first visits to 11 diabetes clinics across Japan. The time and cost involved in their care was recorded over the following 5 months. RESULTS: In the first 3 months, there was an extensive time commitment to both groups. The time spent by physicians was 1.5 times longer for DM than for HTL. The total care time spent by all the care providers for DM was twice that for HTL. The cost of DM care was twice that for HTL, with the cost of medicines excluded. However, half of the cost for DM was for laboratory tests. When these were excluded, and the remaining cost divided by the time spent, the amount for DM was half of that for HTL. Over the 5 months, mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) in DM patients improved from 8.0% to 6.5%, and 72% of DM patients achieved the glycaemic target of HbA(1c) < or = 6.5%. CONCLUSIONS: DM care in a diabetes clinic requires a great deal more time and resources than HTL to achieve the best outcome. An educational system for self care, presently lacking in the primary care setting in Japan, would improve glycaemic control for DM patients in the community.     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

Acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and other viral infections

Acute encephalopathy is the most serious complication of pediatric viral infections, such as influenza and exanthem subitum. It occurs worldwide, but is most prevalent in East Asia, and every year several hundreds of Japanese children are affected by influenza-associated encephalopathy. Mortality has recently declined, but is still high. Many survivors are left with motor and intellectual disabilities, and some with epilepsy. This article reviews various syndromes of acute encephalopathy by classifying them into three major categories. The first group caused by metabolic derangement consists of various inherited metabolic disorders and the classical Reye syndrome. Salicylate is a risk factor of the latter condition. The second group, characterized by a systemic cytokine storm and vasogenic brain edema, includes Reye-like syndrome, hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac sodium and mephenamic acid, may aggravate these syndromes. Severe cases are complicated by multiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Mortality is high, although methylprednisolone pulse therapy may be beneficial in some cases. The third group, characterized by localized edema of the cerebral cortex, has recently been termed acute encephalopathy with febrile convulsive status epilepticus, and includes hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia syndrome and acute infantile encephalopathy predominantly affecting the frontal lobes. Theophylline is a risk factor of these syndromes. The pathogenesis is yet to be clarified, but an increasing body of evidence points to excitotoxicity and delayed neuronal death.     

清开灵注射液治疗脑血管性痴呆32例

目的观察清开灵注射液治疗脑血管性痴呆的疗效.方法将中医学辨证属于实证的64例脑血管性痴呆患者随机分为治疗组(清开灵注射液组)和对照组(脑复康组),治疗5周后,将两组治疗前后在智力障碍程度、肢体功能、血液流变学指标、中医证型疗效方面的变化进行比较.结果经治疗后治疗组和对照组相比较,智力障碍程度变化(有效率、MMSE、ADL积分)、肌力、步行能力改变有显著性差异,p＜0.05.而治疗前后组内及组间血流变指标虽有一定下降,但无统计学意义(p＞0.05).结论清开灵注射液对脑血管性痴呆患者,在改善智力障碍、肌力、步行能力方面有较好的疗效.     

236例无痛人工流产术的疗效观察

目的:探讨异丙酚和芬太尼混合液静脉麻醉、笑气吸入麻醉及2%利多卡因宫颈局部浸润麻醉三种镇痛方法在人工流产手术中的疗效比较。方法:自2003年8月至2004年1月对236例妇科门诊早孕要求终止妊娠的妇女实施无痛人工流产术。随机分成3组。A组:异丙酚+芬太尼静脉麻醉(85例);B组:N2O(笑气)吸入麻醉(88例);C组:2%利多卡因宫颈局部浸润麻醉(63例),观察人流术中其镇痛效果并对疼痛进行分级。结果:A组85例100%可达到完全不痛(疼痛分级为0级);B组65.90%可达到完全不痛,Ⅰ级23.86%,Ⅱ级9.09%,Ⅲ级1.15%;C组0例可达到完全不痛,Ⅰ级63.49%,Ⅱ级30.16%,Ⅲ级6.35%。结论:受术者如无心肺疾患及人流禁忌证,无痛人工流产术应选择异丙酚+芬太尼静脉麻醉可达到完全无痛,痛苦最小。     

学生课堂教学质量评价问题浅析

综合分析河南中医学院近三年以来学生课堂教学质量评价反馈的信息，认为引发课堂教学评价偏差的人为因素有评价者的能力水平、责任心、情感倾向。其对策为：改变教师的被动地位，进一步修订评价体系，加强对组织评价者的培训，强化临床课的教学，进一步提高学生的认识，跟踪调查课堂教学质量评价。     

关于中成药口腔崩解片开发应用的思考

通过对口腔崩解片的特点及主要制备工艺的分析,结合当前中成药工业的现状及具体实际,认为口腔崩解片可以应用于中成药制剂的开发。     

大学新生心理健康状况的调查研究

目的　了解大学新生的心理健康状况 ,探讨提高其心理健康水平的措施。方法　采用大学生人格问卷(UPI) ,以班级为单位 ,在新生正式上课两周以后进行测试。结果　学生一类筛选率 9.2 4 %。UPI关键题选择中 ,以常常失眠占的比例最高 ,想轻生的比例最低 (P <0 .0 5 )。UPI附加题选择中 ,以自身健康方面有问题及有健康或心理卫生方面想要咨询的问题较多 (P <0 .0 5 )。选择“想轻生”的男生的比例略高于女生 ,选择“常常失眠”的女生的比例却明显高于男生 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;选择“常常失眠”、“对任何事情都不感兴趣”和“感觉自己的过去及家庭不幸”的农村学生的比例都高于城市学生 (P <0 .0 5 )。选择“想轻生”和“对任何事情都不感兴趣”的独生子女的比例明显高于非独生子女 ,而选择“自己的过去和家庭是不行的”和“常常失眠”的非独生子女的比例又明显高于独生子女 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　单亲家庭学生、残疾学生、家庭经济困难学生、独生子女学生是心理问题高危人群