Perceived information provision and satisfaction among lymphoma and multiple myeloma survivors—results from a Dutch population-based study

To improve posttreatment care for (long-term) lymphoma survivors in the Netherlands, survivorship clinics are being developed. As information provision is an important aspect of survivorship care, our aim was to evaluate the current perceived level of and satisfaction with information received by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and multiple myeloma (MM) survivors, and to identify associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry was used to select all patients diagnosed with NHL, HL and MM from 1999 to 2009. In total, 1,448 survivors received a questionnaire, and 1,135 of them responded (78.4?%). The EORTC QLQ-INFO25 was used to evaluate the perceived level of and satisfaction with information. Two thirds of survivors were satisfied with the amount of received information, with HL survivors being most satisfied (74?%). At least 25?% of survivors wanted more information. Young age, having had chemotherapy, having been diagnosed more recently, using internet for information and having no comorbidities were the most important factors associated with higher perceived levels of information provision. Although information provision and satisfaction with information seems relatively good in lymphoma and MM survivors, one third expressed unmet needs. Furthermore, variations between subgroups were observed. Good information provision is known to be associated with better quality of life. Survivorship care plans could be a way to achieve this.     

How disabling are pediatric burns? Functional independence in Dutch pediatric patients with burns

Although the attention for functional outcomes after burn injury has grown over the past decades, little is known about functional independence in performing activities of daily living in children after burn injury. Therefore, in this prospective cohort study functional independence was measured by burn care professionals with the WeeFIM^® instrument in 119 pediatric patients with burns (age: 6 months–16 years; 58.8% boys) in the Netherlands. In order to identify whether functional independence was affected, participants’ total scores on the WeeFIM^® instrument were compared to American norm values. Of the participants assessed at 2 weeks post burn (n = 117), 3 months post burn (n = 68) and/or 6 months post burn (n = 38), 22, 9 and 9 participants showed affected performance, respectively. Improvements in WeeFIM^® total scores for the total study population between 2 weeks and 6 months post burn were significant (Wilcoxon T = 2.5; p < .001, effect size = ?0.59). Individual improvements were found to be significant for 30.3% of the assessed participants between 2 weeks and 3 months post burn, and for 12.1% between 3 and 6 months post burn. This study is unique in providing data on functional independence for this large and special population. However, a proportion of participants were lost to follow-up and the use of the WeeFIM^® instrument in this specific population and setting has its limitations. To conclude, burn injury impacts functional independence in children, yet the vast majority of Dutch pediatric patients with burns returns to functional independence typical for age within 6 months post burn.     

Peptidoglycan increases firm adhesion of monocytes under flow conditions and primes monocyte chemotaxis

The Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain ligand peptidoglycan (PG) has been shown to be present in macrophage-rich regions within atherosclerotic lesions, and stimulation of TLR2 promotes atherosclerotic plaque and intima formation in in vivo mouse models. We determined the effect of a PG preparation and Pam(3)Cys-SK(4), a synthetic TLR2 activator, on (1) adhesion molecule expression by flow cytometry; (2) monocyte adhesion under flow conditions, and (3) monocyte migration. The total adhesion (rolling and firm adhesion) of the PG-preparation-stimulated monocytes to L cells, constitutively expressing ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and E-selectin, was decreased. This was most likely due to the L-selectin shedding, since monocyte incubation with a blocking L-selectin antibody resulted in a comparable number of adherent monocytes as PG-stimulated cells. The PG preparation induced an increased percentage of firmly adherent, polarized cells and a beta(2)-integrin-dependent binding to ICAM-1-coated beads. Interestingly, the PG preparation induced a priming of the monocytes for increased migration towards the chemoattractant C5a which was TLR2 and beta(2)-integrin dependent. Pam(3)Cys-SK(4) gave comparable results to the PG preparation in all assays tested. This study demonstrates that PG activation of monocytes results in an increase in adhesive and migratory capacities of these cells. This might be a mechanism by which PG promotes atherosclerotic disease in vivo.     

Cardiovascular disease risk factors and the relationships with physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body fat in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele

Buffart LM, van den Berg-Emons RJ, Burdorf A, Janssen WG, Stam HJ, Roebroeck ME. Cardiovascular disease risk factors and the relationships with physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body fat in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele.

Objectives

To describe cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele (MMC) and to explore relationships with physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body fat.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Outpatient clinic.

Participants

Adolescents and young adults (N=31) with MMC (58% men) age 16 through 30 years; 13 were ambulatory and 18 were nonambulatory.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

We studied biologic and lifestyle-related CVD risk factors, including lipid and lipoprotein profiles, blood pressure, aerobic fitness (Vo₂peak), body fat, daily physical activity, and smoking behavior. We considered subjects at increased CVD risk when 2 or more of the following risk factors clustered: systolic blood pressure, total serum cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and cigarette smoking. Relationships were studied using regression analyses.

Results

Levels of TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were elevated in 29%, 38%, and 3% of the participants, respectively. HDL-C was reduced in 19%. Hypertension was found in 20%, and 19% were current cigarette smokers. Based on the clustering of risk factors, 42% of the participants were at increased CVD risk: 15% of ambulatory participants and 61% of nonambulatory participants (P=.03). Adjusted for sex and ambulatory status, participants with higher aerobic fitness tended to be more likely to have no CVD risk (odds ratio=13.0; P=.07). CVD risk was not associated to physical activity and body fat.

Conclusions

A large proportion of the study sample was at CVD risk, indicated by clustering of risk factors. Improving aerobic fitness in young adults with MMC may contribute in reducing CVD risk; this needs to be confirmed in future studies.