Variation of resting energy expenditure after the first chemotherapy cycle in acute leukemia patients

Changes in resting energy expenditure (REE) of cancer patients vary depending on type of tumor, treatment time point and kind of treatment. Little is known about REE of acute leukemia adult patients after treatment, especially with results related to body weight or fat free mass (FFM). This study aimed to assess changes in REE of acute leukemia adult patients before and after the first remission induction. Evaluation of REE was performed by indirect calorimetry and predicted REE was calculated by Harris-Benedict equation. Weight and height were measured and compared to a control group of healthy individuals. FFM was assessed by bioelectrical impedance for adjusting REE values. We evaluated 18 patients and 26 healthy individuals. At diagnosis, patients presented REE, REE/weight, and REE/FFM higher than the controls. Reductions of REE, REE/weight, and REE/FFM were also observed in patients after the first cycle of chemotherapy. The predicted REE for the patients group showed significant lower value compared with measured REE. Before the first cycle of chemotherapy REE was increased but undergoes a reduction after treatment, reaching values similar to the controls. For predictive Harris-Benedict equation, stress factors should be added to avoid underestimation of REE before and after chemotherapy.     

South African abortion attitudes from 2007-2016: the roles of religiosity and attitudes toward sexuality and gender equality

ABSTRACT

Abortion is legal in South Africa, but negative abortion attitudes remain common and are poorly understood. We used nationally representative South African Social Attitudes Survey data to analyze abortion attitudes in the case of fetal anomaly and in the case of poverty from 2007 to 2016 (n = 20,711; ages = 16+). We measured correlations between abortion attitudes and these important predictors: religiosity, attitudes about premarital sex, attitudes about preferential hiring and promotion of women, and attitudes toward family gender roles. Abortion acceptability for poverty increased over time (b = 0.05, p < .001), but not for fetal anomaly (b = ?0.008, p = .284). Highly religious South Africans reported lower abortion acceptability in both cases (Odds Ratio (OR)_anomaly = 0.85, p = .015; OR_poverty = 0.84, p = .02). Premarital sex acceptability strongly and positively predicted abortion acceptability (OR_anomaly = 2.63, p < .001; OR_poverty = 2.46, p < .001). Attitudes about preferential hiring and promotion of women were not associated with abortion attitudes, but favorable attitudes about working mothers were positively associated with abortion acceptability for fetal anomaly ((OR_anomaly = 1.09, p = .01; OR_poverty = 1.02, p = .641)). Results suggest negative abortion attitudes remain common in South Africa and are closely tied to religiosity, traditional ideologies about sexuality, and gender role expectations about motherhood.     

Neighborhood: A Conceptual Analysis

Researchers interested in measuring neighborhood‐level effects should understand how “neighborhood” is defined within nursing sciences and other sciences, and the inherent strengths and weaknesses of current research methodologies. This concept analysis provides clarity around the concept of neighborhood within the context of health, analyzes the current state of development of the neighborhood concept, and proposes areas for future nursing research. Using the Rodger's Method of analysis, the concept of neighborhood within nursing and public health research is described based on existing literature. The concept's attributes, related concepts, antecedents, and consequences are given from the literature. Comparisons of the use of neighborhood are made between nursing, public health, sociology, and other sciences. The evolution of the concept of neighborhood throughout history is described, and important implications for future research are discussed.