Adverse effects and appetite suppression associated with particle beam therapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

AIM: This purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the appetite and various factors that are associated with particle beam therapy, including the adverse effects of radiation, dry-mouth period, analgesic medication use, frequency of oral care, and participants' characteristics, in 121 patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: A path analysis was used to evaluate the causal relationship of the factors that affected the participants' appetite. RESULTS: At a cumulative dose of 40 GyE, the factors that impacted the participants' appetite included xerostomia, oral mucositis, age, frequency of oral care, and analgesic medication use. At a cumulative dose of 50 GyE, the factors that affected the participants' appetite were xerostomia, sensitivity to taste, oral mucositis, dry-mouth period (in the morning), frequency of oral care, number of artificial teeth, and analgesic medication use. The results indicate that interventions to avoid appetite suppression during particle beam therapy will differ according to a radiation schedule of 40 GyE, compared to 50 GyE. CONCLUSIONS: These results are important to consider when deciding how best to maintain the dietary intake of patients who are receiving particle beam therapy.

Writers' award winner experiences of family members acting as primary caregivers for patients with traumatic brain injury.

Research on caregiving experiences of families of patients with traumatic brain injuries has been limited to studies emphasizing negative aspects of care. During this study, families caring for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) shared their experiences, allowing us to collect basic data about factors related to their psychosocial adjustment. Fifteen primary caregivers were interviewed using semistructured interviews, and content analysis was performed on obtained data. One thousand eighteen recording units were grouped into seven categories: (1) spending time with the patient with TBI and understanding invisible disabilities, (2) evaluating medical professionals' handling of the case, (3) devoting oneself to caring for the patient with TBI despite feeling psychological distress, (4) accepting the disability and constructing a care system, (5) seeking out and participating in specialized treatment (rehabilitation) for TBIs, (6) hoping for better understanding and creation of an appropriate response system for TBIs, and (7) making efforts to influence people around the caregiver and those in similar circumstances to promote deeper understanding of TBIs.

Analysis of causal models of diet for patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: This study seeks to establish causal models of diet which maintain the appetite of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. SAMPLE AND METHODS: We collected data from 208 patients at two radiation doses, 30/50 Gy, using a questionnaire on appetite and analyzed the items using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: In the causal model for 30 Gy, we established a path using the four intervening variables "ease of consuming foods in smooth forms," "ease of consuming foods with a chewable texture and suitable temperature," "ease of consuming lightly seasoned foods with a flavorful smell," and "overall ease of consuming a given meal" from the temporal relationship between "dietary preferences" and "maintaining appetite while caring for the oral cavity." In the causal model for 50 Gy, we established a path between "ease of consuming foods with a mild temperature and smell," and "maintaining appetite while caring for the oral cavity" using the four intervening variables "ease of consuming foods that are easy to swallow," "ease of consuming foods that dissolve well in the mouth," "ease of consuming foods with a mild taste," and "overall ease of consuming a given meal." The goodness of fit indices for both models were above 0.85 for both the goodness of fit index (GFI) and adjusted GFI (AGFI), and less than 0.08 for root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), indicating a satisfactory goodness of fit. CONCLUSIONS: Food characteristics help to maintain patient appetite at cumulative radiation doses of 30/50 Gy.

Appetite and adverse effects associated with radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: The relationship between radiation treatment and adverse effects resulting in changes in appetite was studied in patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer. METHODS AND SAMPLE: Path analysis was used to evaluate the following factors in 117 patients receiving radiation therapy for H&N cancer: daily fluctuations in saliva production, analgesic use, frequency of oral care, subject characteristics, and appetite. RESULTS: At 20 Gy of radiation, appetite was affected by Brinkman index value, age, and sensitivity to taste (R2=0.48, p<0.001); at 30 Gy of radiation, appetite was affected by frequency of oral care, xerostomia symptoms, age, sensitivity to taste, and oral mucositis (R2=0.52, p<0.001); and at 50 Gy of radiation, appetite was affected by low saliva production in the morning, frequency of oral care, xerostomia symptoms, sensitivity to taste, analgesic use, and oral mucositis (R2=0.62, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that care taken to avoid a decrease in appetite due to adverse effects of radiation therapy should differ according to the dosage and schedule of radiation therapy. These findings represent important data for health care professionals to understand and support appropriate dietary intake and improved quality of life for H&N cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

A programme to encourage participation of haemodialysis patients in an exercise regimen.

Recent research has reinforced the idea that haemodialysis (HD) patients should exercise to maintain their physical functioning and improve their quality of life. Some effective exercise programmes are available for HD patients. However, these programmes are not always completed by the patients who enrol in them, and therefore, these patients do not maintain long-term physical activity. In this study, a support programme based on the concepts of self-monitoring, verbal reinforcement and motivation was developed to encourage continued participation of HD patients in an exercise regimen. Intervention group participants were provided a support programme in addition to the exercise programme, whereas nonintervention group participants were only provided the exercise programme. The two groups were compared for 12 weeks. The intervention group participants showed a significantly higher rate of continuation of independent exercise than the nonintervention group participants.

Multi-modal treatment of primarily using continuous subcutaneous interferon-alpha injection in combination with surgery and/or radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Thirty-nine renal cell carcinoma patients with bony metastasis were intensively treated, primarily with immunotherapy using natural type interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) continuous subcutaneous injection in combination with surgical resection and radiation therapy. Long-term survival was achieved, including three patients with complete response. The results of this study are presented. METHODS: The mode of administration of IFN-alpha was as follows: natural-type IFN-alpha (25,000,000 IU) was dissolved in 60 mL of distilled water and administered via continuous subcutaneous injection (0.5 mL/h) as 'one course of the treatment'. Two courses of IFN-alpha therapy were given 2 weeks preoperatively, while 13 courses of IFN-alpha therapy were given postoperatively (one course per week). Thus, 15 courses of IFN-alpha therapy were administered during the trial period. Thereafter, IFN-alpha therapy was repeated either every week or every other week depending on the condition of the patient. Additionally, blood levels of IFN-alpha were monitored for four patients following initiation of IFN-alpha continuous subcutaneous injection therapy. RESULTS: Immediately after injection of IFN-alpha, blood levels of IFN-alpha started to rise, reaching 40.5 IU/mL on average at 24 h after initiation of IFN-alpha therapy. Thereafter, blood levels of IFN-alpha remained high and measurable blood levels of IFN-alpha were maintained for up to 24 h after completion of IFN-alpha injection. As a whole, IFN-alpha was detectable for 6-8 days and Cmax (maximum blood concentration of IFN) was 167 IU/mL. Thirty-nine patients with bony metastases were treated as follows: IFN mono-therapy (19 patients), IFN and radiation therapy (15 patients) and IFN and surgical resection of bony metastases (five patients). Fourteen patients survived and the details of these 14 patients are as follows: complete response in three cases, partial response in two, no change in six and progressive disease in three. Twenty-five patients died of renal cell carcinoma. The overall 5-year survival rate was 35.0%. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that IFN-alpha continuous subcutaneous injection therapy is a useful modality for renal cell carcinoma patients with bony metastasis if administered in combination of radical nephrectomy and radiation therapy.