Some children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy experience few symptom-related adverse events, whereas others experience multiple adverse events. If oncology nurses could identify patients ...likely to have pronounced chemotherapy-related adverse events, tailored supportive care could be matched to these patients' symptom burdens.
The aim of this study was to identify symptom profiles in children and adolescents before and after chemotherapy, and the sociodemographic and psychological factors associated with profile classification and change.
Participants ranging from 7 to 18 years (n = 436) completed 6 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pediatric symptom measures within 72 hours preceding (T1) and 1 to 2 weeks after (T2) chemotherapy. Profile membership and change were determined by latent profile/latent transition analyses. Associations with profiles and profile transitions were examined using multinomial logit models and logistic regression.
Three symptom suffering profiles were identified at T1 and T2: high, medium, and low. The high symptom suffering profile included the fewest participants (T1, n = 70; T2, n = 55); the low symptom suffering profile included the most participants (T1, n = 200; T2, n = 207). Of the participants, 57% remained in the same profile from T1 to T2. Psychological stress was significantly associated with T1 and T2 profile classifications and profile transition; age was associated with profile classification at T1.
Three symptom suffering profiles existed in a sample of pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy, indicating that children and adolescents have differing cancer treatment experiences.
Oncology nurses could screen pediatric oncology patients for their symptom suffering profile membership and subsequently prioritize care efforts for those with a high suffering profile.
Reiki is often used but not well studied in children. Yet, this gentle, light-touch therapy promotes relaxation and is appropriate for those receiving palliative care. This quasi-experimental ...pre-post mixed-methods 1-group pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of Reiki therapy as a treatment for children aged 7 to 16 years receiving palliative care. During the study, we recorded recruitment, retention, data collection rates, and percent completion of the intervention. Structured interviews with the mothers and verbal children were conducted to elicit their experience. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Twenty-one parent-child dyads agreed to participate and signed consent, whereas 16 completed the study (including verbal n = 8 and nonverbal n = 8 children). Themes included "feeling better," "hard to judge," and "still going on." Mothers and children were generally positive regarding the experience of receiving Reiki therapy. Children reported they "felt really relaxed," and mothers stated, "It was a good experience" and "She was relaxed afterward." The results of this pilot study show that Reiki was feasible, acceptable, and well-tolerated. Most participants reported it was helpful. Reiki therapy may be a useful adjunct with traditional medical management for symptoms in children receiving palliative care.
Background:
Pain may be reported in one-half to three-fourths of children with cancer and other terminal conditions and anxiety in about one-third of them. Pharmacologic methods do not always give ...satisfactory symptom relief. Complementary therapies such as Reiki may help children manage symptoms.
Objective:
This pre–post mixed-methods single group pilot study examined feasibility, acceptability, and the outcomes of pain, anxiety, and relaxation using Reiki therapy with children receiving palliative care.
Methods:
A convenience sample of children ages 7 to 16 and their parents were recruited from a palliative care service. Two 24-minute Reiki sessions were completed at the children’s home. Paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were calculated to compare change from pre to post for outcome variables. Significance was set at P < .10. Cohen d effect sizes were calculated.
Results:
The final sample included 8 verbal and 8 nonverbal children, 16 mothers, and 1 nurse. All mean scores for outcome variables decreased from pre- to posttreatment for both sessions. Significant decreases for pain for treatment 1 in nonverbal children (P = .063) and for respiratory rate for treatment 2 in verbal children (P = .009). Cohen d effect sizes were medium to large for most outcome measures.
Discussion:
Decreased mean scores for outcome measures indicate that Reiki therapy did decrease pain, anxiety, heart, and respiratory rates, but small sample size deterred statistical significance. This preliminary work suggests that complementary methods of treatment such as Reiki may be beneficial to support traditional methods to manage pain and anxiety in children receiving palliative care.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Little is known about pediatric caregivers' perceptions of religious or spiritual (R/S) care provided by physicians. We conducted a qualitative, semistructured interview study to understand ...perceptions of pediatric caregivers toward physician-led R/S care. Participants were 20 primary caregivers whose children were hospitalized and receiving palliative care services. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using constant comparative methods. Three recurrent themes emerged regarding physician-led R/S care: (1) Most caregivers view providing R/S care as a positive sign of physician empathy, while a minority (3/20) prefer to keep R/S and medical care separate, (2) many caregivers prefer R/S care from a physician with whom they have a close relationship and/or share a faith background, and (3) physicians should open the door, but allow families to lead conversations about R/S care. Caregivers have mixed perceptions on physicians engaging in R/S care; most prefer that families set the direction of R/S care for themselves and their loved ones. Physicians should be trained to evaluate families' spiritual backgrounds and needs in ways that respectfully open the door to these conversations.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Children with medical complexity (CMC) are a medically fragile pediatric population that experience severe chronic illnesses resulting in significant health care needs, functional limitations, and ...health care utilization, and are at the highest risk for morbidity and mortality among all children. Furthermore, families and parents of CMC experience significant caregiver hardships and diminished quality of life. The field of pediatric palliative care has grown in recent years, in part to address the physical and psychosocial issues inherent to the care of these chronically ill children. However, as the prevalence and long-term survival of CMC increases with medical advancements, the demand for pediatric palliative care will likely exceed the capacity of current and future pediatric palliative care specialists. Therefore, alternative strategies to ensure access to essential aspects of palliative care must be considered. This article focuses on why and how high-quality palliative care should be integrated into the patient- and family-centered medical home, the ideal care delivery model for CMC and their families. We first discuss how palliative care principles naturally align with and complement the goals of the CMC medical home. Next, we detail what actions pediatric palliative care specialists can take to best support the CMC medical home as "medical neighbors." Lastly, we describe the fundamental aspects of pediatric palliative care that all clinicians caring for CMC should be able to provide, referred to as "primary pediatric palliative care."
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ, UPUK
The poly(ADP-ribose) binding protein CHFR regulates cellular responses to mitotic stress. The deubiquitinase UBC13, which regulates CHFR levels, has been associated with better overall survival in ...paclitaxel-treated ovarian cancer. Despite the extensive use of taxanes in the treatment of ovarian cancer, little is known about expression of CHFR itself in this disease. In the present study, tissue microarrays containing ovarian carcinoma samples from 417 women who underwent initial surgical debulking were stained with anti-CHFR antibody and scored in a blinded fashion. CHFR levels, expressed as a modified H-score, were examined for association with histology, grade, time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). In addition, patient-derived xenografts from 69 ovarian carcinoma patients were examined for CHFR expression and sensitivity to paclitaxel monotherapy. In clinical ovarian cancer specimens, CHFR expression was positively associated with serous histology (
= 0.0048), higher grade (
= 0.000014) and higher stage (
= 0.016). After correction for stage and debulking, there was no significant association between CHFR staining and overall survival (
= 0.62) or time to progression (
= 0.91) in patients with high grade serous cancers treated with platinum/taxane chemotherapy (N = 249). Likewise, no association between CHFR expression and paclitaxel sensitivity was observed in ovarian cancer PDXs treated with paclitaxel monotherapy. Accordingly, differences in CHFR expression are unlikely to play a major role in paclitaxel sensitivity of high grade serous ovarian cancer.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The objective of this study was to test a low dose of (25 mg weekly) of the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase inhibitor temsirolimus for patients with relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).
Patients ...with relapsed or refractory MCL were eligible to receive temsirolimus 25 mg intravenously every week as a single agent. Patients who had a tumor response after 6 cycles were eligible to continue drug for a total of 12 cycles or 2 cycles after complete remission and then were observed without maintenance.
Of 29 enrolled patients, 28 were evaluable for toxicity, and 27 were evaluable for efficacy. The median age was 69 years (range, 51-85 years), 86% of patients had stage IV disease, and 71% had > or = 2 extranodal sites. Patients had received a median of 4 prior therapies (range, 1-9 prior therapies), and 50% were refractory to the last treatment. The overall confirmed response rate was 41% (11 of 27 patients; 90% confidence interval CI, 22%-61%) with 1 complete response (3.7%) and 10 partial responses (37%). The median time to progression in all eligible patients was 6 months (95% CI, 3-11 months), and the median duration of response for the 11 responders was 6 months (range, 1-26 months). Hematologic toxicities were the most common, with 50% (14 of 28 patients) grade 3 and 4% (1 of 28 patients) grade 4 toxicities observed. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent cause of dose reduction.
Single-agent temsirolimus at a dose of 25 mg weekly is an effective new agent for the treatment of MCL. The 25-mg dose level retained the antitumor activity of the 250-mg dose with less myelosuppression. Further studies of temsirolimus in combination with other active drugs for MCL and other lymphoid malignancies are warranted.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Pediatric Palliative Care Pilot Curriculum Barnett, Michael D.; Maurer, Scott H.; Wood, Gordon J.
American journal of hospice & palliative medicine,
11/2016, Volume:
33, Issue:
9
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Background:
Prior research has shown that less than 40% of pediatric program directors believe their graduating residents competent in palliative care. While many curricula have been developed to ...address this need, few have demonstrated improved comfort and/or knowledge with palliative care principles. The purpose of this study was to test a pocket card educational intervention regarding resident knowledge and comfort with palliative care principles.
Methods:
Pocket reference cards were created to deliver fundamentals of pediatric palliative care to resident learners; didactics and case studies emphasized principles on the cards. Self-reported comfort and objective knowledge were measured before and after the curriculum among residents.
Results:
Of 32 post-graduate year 2 (PGY2) residents, 23 (72%) completed the pre-test survey. The post-test was completed by 14 PGY2 residents (44%) and 16 of 39 PGY3/4 residents (41%). There was improvement in comfort with communication, as well as pain and symptom management among the residents. Knowledge of palliative care principles improved in part, with only a few survey questions reaching statistical significance. 100% of respondents recommended the cards be provided to their colleagues.
Conclusion:
This longitudinal curriculum, designed specifically for pediatric residents, was built into an existing training program and proved to be popular, feasible, and effective at improving comfort with basic palliative care principles.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
In preclinical studies the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor tanespimycin induced down-regulation of checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) and other client proteins as well as increased sensitivity of ...acute leukemia cells to cytarabine. We report here the results of a phase I and pharmacological study of the cytarabine + tanespimycin combination in adults with recurrent or refractory acute leukemia.
Patients received cytarabine 400 mg/m(2)/day continuously for 5 days and tanespimycin infusions at escalating doses on days 3 and 6. Marrow mononuclear cells harvested before therapy, immediately prior to tanespimycin, and 24 hours later were examined by immunoblotting for Hsp70 and multiple Hsp90 clients.
Twenty-six patients were treated at five dose levels. The maximum tolerated dose was cytarabine 400 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days along with tanespimycin 300 mg/m(2) on days 3 and 6. Treatment-related adverse events included disseminated intravascular coagulation (grades 3 and 5), acute respiratory distress syndrome (grade 4), and myocardial infarction associated with prolonged exposure to tanespimycin and its active metabolite 17-aminogeldanamycin. Among 21 evaluable patients, there were two complete and four partial remissions. Elevations of Hsp70, a marker used to assess Hsp90 inhibition in other studies, were observed in more than 80% of samples harvested 24 hours after tanespimycin, but down-regulation of Chk1 and other Hsp90 client proteins was modest.
Because exposure to potentially effective concentrations occurs only for a brief time in vivo, at clinically tolerable doses tanespimycin has little effect on resistance-mediating client proteins in relapsed leukemia and exhibits limited activity in combination with cytarabine. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00098423).
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