[Neuropathic pain as a symptom in autonomic neuropathies and other rare diseases : Small fiber neuropathy: its recognition, diagnosis, and treatment]. / Neuropathische Schmerzen als Symptom bei autonomen Neuropathien und anderen seltenen Erkrankungen : Kleinfaserneuropathie erkennen, diagnostizieren und behandeln.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is difficult to diagnose and treat. Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) flies under the radar of nerve conduction studies. OBJECTIVES: The importance of a structured patient history and physical examination in the context of neuropathic pain is emphasized. Describing SFN as an important cause, the authors consider rare but partially treatable differential diagnoses. They conclude that autonomic symptoms are frequently associated, often presenting with diverse symptoms. METHODS: A selective literature research to present SFN symptoms as well as differential diagnostic and therapeutic steps in the context of SFN and rare diseases focusing on the autonomic nervous system. RESULTS: Neuropathic pain significantly reduces quality of life. To shorten the time until diagnosis and to initiate therapy, the authors recommend a structured patient history including sensory plus and minus symptoms and non-specific autonomic signs. If the initial search for the cause is not successful, rare causes such as treatable transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis and Fabry's disease or autoimmune causes should be considered, particularly in the case of progressive and/or autonomic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and therapy of rare SFN requires interdisciplinary collaboration and, in many cases, a referral to specialized centers to achieve the best patient care.

Suggestion of a new standard in measuring the mandible via MRI and an overview of reference values in young women.

PURPOSE: Adult idiopathic condylar resorption (AICR) mainly affects young women, but generally accepted diagnostic standards are lacking. Patients often need temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery, and often jaw anatomy is assessed by CT as well as MRI to observe both bone and soft tissue. This study aims to establish reference values for mandible dimensions in women from MRI only and correlate them to, e.g., laboratory parameters and lifestyle, to explore new putative parameters relevant in AICR. MRI-derived reference values could reduce preoperative effort by allowing physicians to rely on only the MRI without additional CT scan. METHODS: We analyzed MRI data from a previous study (LIFE-Adult-Study, Leipzig, Germany) of 158 female participants aged 15-40 years (as AICR typically affects young women). The MR images were segmented, and standardized measuring of the mandibles was established. We correlated morphological features of the mandible with a large variety of other parameters documented in the LIFE-Adult study. RESULTS: We established new reference values for mandible morphology in MRI, which are consistent with previous CT-based studies. Our results allow assessment of both mandible and soft tissue without radiation exposure. Correlations with BMI, lifestyle, or laboratory parameters could not be observed. Of note, correlation between SNB angle, a parameter often used for AICR assessment, and condylar volume, was also not observed, opening up the question if these parameters behave differently in AICR patients. CONCLUSION: These efforts constitute a first step towards establishing MRI as a viable method for condylar resorption assessment.

Exploring different stakeholders' perspectives on ward rounds in paediatric oncology: a qualitative study.

RATIONAL/AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Ward rounds are a core routine for interprofessional communication and clinical care planning: Health care professionals and patients meet regularly and it encourages patients to actively participate. In paediatric oncology, the long treatment process, the serious diagnosis, and involvement of both patients and their parents in shared-decision-making require specific ward round skills. Despite its high value for patient-centred care, a universal definition of ward round is lacking. Little is known about attitudes and expectations of different participants towards a 'good' ward round. This study aims to capture experiences and expectations of different stakeholders to better understand ward round needs in paediatric oncology and serve as a basis to improve future ward rounds. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, parents, nurses and medical doctors of a paediatric oncology ward until theoretical saturation (13 interviews). A standardised qualitative analysis using the phenomenological framework defined by Colaizzi was used to identify important aspects in the interviews. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified in the interviews: [1] Structure and Organisation; [2] Communication; [3] Education. Further analysis revealed 23 categories and elucidated several opportunities and unmet needs recognized by stakeholders: Ward round functions in comforting families in stressful situations, and relationship building. Interviewees expressed their concerns about missing structures. Families pleaded for smaller ward round teams and layperson language. Health care professionals underscored the lack of ward round training. Paediatric patients stated that ward round scared them without proper explanation. All interviewees emphasized the need for professionalization of the ward round in the setting of paediatric oncology. CONCLUSION: This study gives important insights into ward round functions and organisational requirements. It addresses special challenges for ward round participants in paediatric oncology, such as consideration of the emotional aspect of cancer treatment or the limits of shared decision making. Furthermore, this study underscores the great significance of ward rounds in paediatric oncology, with an emphasis on communication and relationship-building. Although performed universally, ward rounds are poorly explored or evaluated. This structured analysis synthesizes important expectations of different WR stakeholders, revealing opportunities of improvement and stressing the need for guidelines, training, and preparation.

Cluster-Analytic Identification of Clinically Meaningful Subtypes in MCAS: The Relevance of Heat and Cold.

BACKGROUND: Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a clinically heterogeneous disease with allergy-like symptoms and abdominal complaints. Its etiology is only partially understood and it is often overlooked. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify subgroups of MCAS patients to facilitate diagnosis and allow a personalized therapy. METHODS: Based on data from 250 MCAS patients, hierarchical and two-step cluster analyses as well as association analyses were performed. The data used included data from a MCAS checklist asking about symptoms and triggers and a set of diagnostically relevant laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Using a two-step cluster analysis, MCAS patients could be divided into three clusters. Physical trigger factors were particularly decisive for the classification as they showed remarkable differences between the three clusters. Cluster 1, labeled high responders, showed high values for the triggers heat and cold, whereas cluster 2, labeled intermediate responders, presented with high values for the trigger heat and low values for cold. The third cluster, labeled low responders, did not react to thermal triggers. The first two clusters showed more divers clinical symptoms especially with regard to dermatological and cardiological complaints. Subsequent association analyses revealed relationships between triggers and clinical complaints: Abdominal discomfort is mainly triggered by histamine consumption, dermatological discomfort by exercise, and neurological symptoms are related to physical exertion and periods of starvation. The reasons for the occurrence of cardiological complaints are manifold and triggers for respiratory complaints still need better identification. CONCLUSION: Our study identified three distinct clusters on the basis of physical triggers, which also differ significantly in their clinical symptoms. A trigger-related classification can be helpful in clinical practice for diagnosis and therapy. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to further understand the relationship between triggers and symptoms.

Evaluation of a tryptase depletion index for better pathologic identification of mast cell activation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory evidence supporting diagnosis of the prevalent condition of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) currently includes elevated levels in blood or urine of mediators relatively specific to mast cells (MCs) and/or increased numbers of MCs in luminal gastrointestinal (GI) tract tissues. However, identification of elevated mediators is technically challenging and expensive, and controversy persists regarding the normal ranges of numbers/counts of MCs in various GI tract segments, let alone challenges in determining how many of the visualized MCs are activated. To aid diagnosis of MCAS, we developed a potential new approach for the pathologist to identify the extent of GI tract MC activation easily and inexpensively. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Visualization of MCs in gastrointestinal biopsies from 251 patients vs. 95 controls using antibodies against CD117 and tryptase; MC counting per mm2; calculation of the difference between the CD117-positive MCs (identifying all MCs) vs. tryptase-positive MCs (identifying non-activated tryptase-containing MCs), which we define as the tryptase depletion index (TDI). RESULTS: Mean total MC counts did not differ significantly between patients and controls, but mean TDIs differed significantly. Non-overlapping confidence intervals at the 99.9% level identified cut-offs of TDIs between patients vs. controls of 26, 45 and 32 MCs/mm2 in gastric antrum, duodenum, and colon, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The TDI may discriminate between MCAS patients vs. controls. If this preliminary work can be independently confirmed, the TDI may become a useful additional minor diagnostic criterion for MCAS.

Health-related quality of life and health literacy in patients with systemic mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Systemic mastocytosis is a rare genetic disease characterized by aberrant proliferation and/or activation of mast cells, resulting in multi-organ, allergy-like symptoms. Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a clinically similar, but more prevalent disease with unclear etiology. In this study, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and health literacy of people suffering from SM and MCAS were assessed. RESULTS: Two validated questionnaires (QLQ-C30/QLQ-INFO25) from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were used to analyze HRQOL and level of information of SM and MCAS patients. In addition, a control group without any health issues was included. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and linear regression to detect significant differences. Questionnaire data from 66 patients with MCAS (83% female, mean 44 years), 32 patients with SM (78% female, mean 53 years) and 52 healthy participants (67% female, mean 48 years) resident in Germany were analyzed. HRQOL as measured by the Global health status was significantly worse in patients suffering from MCAS or SM compared to control group. Individuals with MCAS showed a slightly, but insignificantly lower score on Global health status, and a significantly lower score with respect to role function and fatigue. Patients with the rare disease SM felt significantly better informed on their disease compared to MCAS patients. Linear regression performed separately for both groups showed a direct influence of the level of information on patients' HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Overall, our study showed a significant negative impact on the HRQOL of both diseases, but only a small difference in quality of life and severity of symptoms between patients with MCAS and the supposedly more severe form, the rare disease SM. Our results demonstrate that the level of information patients receive impacts HRQOL, and that this is not only an issue in rare diseases, but also diseases with unclear etiology and pathology. Our data shows that even slight improvements in the patient's level of information can have a positive effect on their quality of life, further highlighting the importance of gaining more knowledge on rare and incompletely understood diseases and communicating these insights to patients.

Fatigue in advanced disease associated with palliative care: A systematic review of non-pharmacological treatments.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common complaint reported by patients with advanced disease, impacting their daily activities and quality of life. The pathophysiology is incompletely understood, and evidence-based treatment approaches are needed. AIM: This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions as treatment for fatigue in advanced disease. DESIGN: The review design follows the Cochrane guidelines for systematic reviews of interventions. DATA SOURCES: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and a selection of journals up to February 28th 2019, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of non-pharmacological treatments for fatigue in advanced disease associated with palliative care. Further potentially relevant studies were identified from the reference lists in relevant reviews, and in studies considered for this review. RESULTS: We screened 579 publications; 15 met the inclusion criteria, with data from 1179 participants: 815 were treated with physical exercise, 309 with psycho-educational therapy and 55 with an energy restoration approach. Sources of potential bias included lack of description of blinding and allocation concealment methods, and small study sizes. Physical exercise as treatment for fatigue in patients with advanced cancer was supported by moderate-quality evidence. CONCLUSION: Physical exercise should be considered as a measure to reduce fatigue in patients with advanced cancer, but data on other advanced diseases is lacking. Due to the differences between studies, no clear recommendations can be made with respect to the best type of physical therapy. Restoration exercise and psycho-educational therapy are promising treatment options, although further research is needed.

Improving quality of life in patients with metastatic prostate cancer following one cycle of 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic response of PSMA targeted radioligand therapy with 177Lu-PSMA-617 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The current study analyzed disease-related quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing PSMA therapy with a special focus on the association with simultaneous PSA response. METHODS: Thirty patients (age range 50-87 years, median 73.5 years) undergoing 177Lu-PSMA-617 therapy from 2014 to 2016 at our institution were included in this pilot study. Health-related QoL was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire filled in at baseline and two months after initializing the PSMA-therapy. The treatment response was evaluated under three categories with regard to changes in (a) global health status and other functional scales, (b) disease-related symptoms, and (c) effects of PSA values. RESULTS: Most patients underwent three treatment cycles (n = 12); at least 2 cycles (n = 6) or at most 8 cycles (n = 1) were performed. Out of 30 cases, PSA response after the first cycle was observed in 73 % (n = 22). Compared to baseline, QoL was significantly improved at 2-month follow-up revealing increase in global health status (p = 0.025), role functioning (p = 0.017) and emotional functioning (0.010), and decrease in pain (p = 0.033). Global health status variation can be explained up to 20.5 % by response in PSA (p = 0.012), this improved with PSA reduction. CONCLUSION: PSMA radioligand therapy seems to be an effective treatment option of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients as it improves their QoL in terms of increasing global health and mitigation of disease-related pain.

Multidisciplinary management and outcome in pancreatic cancer patients treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Introduction: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for pancreatic cancer is a growing therapeutic field which has been proven to reduce cancer pain and provide a local tumor control additionally to standard palliative care. However, less is known about the multidisciplinary and especially anesthesiological management of HIFU treatment although an interdisciplinary approach is crucial for treatment success.Material and methods: Anesthesiological and radiological records of 71 HIFU-treated pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed with regard to the following items: intervention time, sonication time, total energy, anesthesia time, peri-interventional medication, body temperature maximum and minimum, pain scores before and 1 day, 6 weeks and 3 months after intervention, peri-interventional complications. Effects on pain scores were estimated with a mixed panel data model. Bivariate associations between interventional variables were examined with the Spearman's correlation.Results: HIFU treatment was performed without major adverse events. Peri-procedural hyperthermia >37.5 °C occurred in 2 patients, hypothermia <35 °C in 8 cases. Interventional variables did not correlate significantly with pain scores, opioid dose, nor body temperature. 85.5% of patients experienced significant early pain relief within the first week after intervention. Post-interventional pain relief is associated with morphine equivalent opioid dose (p = 0.025) and treatment time (p = 0.040).Conclusion: While HIFU can be considered safe and effective treatment option, procedure-associated pain and temperature management represent challenges for the interdisciplinary HIFU intervention team. Especially short-term pain relief depends on the combined effort of the radiologist and anesthesiologist.

Quality of life in patients with midgut NET following peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

OBJECTIVES: There is convincing evidence that peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using 177Lu-DOTATATE compared to octreotide therapy has a positive effect on overall survival and progression-free survival in midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The current study analyzed health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing PRRT with a special focus on differences in functional performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, 70 patients (39 men or 31 female) suffering from midgut NET were included, with a mean age of 64.2 years. Functional performance was assessed by the index of the Eastern Cooperative of Oncology Group (ECOG). Thirty-three patients (47%) showed ECOG 0, 31 patients (44%) ECOG 1, and six patients (9%) ECOG 2. Health-related QoL was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire filled in at baseline and 3 months after each PRRT cycle. RESULTS: The median cumulative administered activity was 27.4 GBq. Global health status significantly improved compared to baseline status after 1st (p = 0.05), 2nd (p = 0.004), and 3rd (p = 0.04) treatment cycle. Analyzing specific aspects of QoL, emotional functioning significantly improved after 1st and 2nd treatment cycle (both p < 0.001) as well as after 3rd cycle (p = 0.001). With regard to cognitive functioning, there was a significant improvement after 1st and 2nd treatment cycle (p = 0.003 and p = 0.05 respectively). With regard to alleviation of somatic symptoms, a significant reduction in pain and diarrhea was observed after the 2nd cycle (p = 0.038) and 3rd cycle (p = 0.036). Furthermore, changes in QoL in relation to functional performance status as assessed by ECOG were analyzed. There were no significant differences with regard to QoL alterations between patients with high (ECOG 0 or 1) and moderate performance status. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed an equally positive effect of PRRT on quality of life in midgut NET patients with high or moderate functional status in terms of increasing global health, functional status, and alleviating symptoms.

[Cannabis and cannabinoids in palliative care]. / Cannabis und Cannabinoide in der Palliativversorgung.

Cannabis and cannabinoids are discussed as a potential treatment for a broad spectrum of diseases and symptoms. This article presents current evidence for the use of cannabis and cannabinoids in palliative care and delivers background information. For this purpose recent literature was examined and evaluated. The authors focused on a systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabinoids in palliative care by Mücke et al.Overall, there is no high-quality evidence for the use of cannabis and cannabinoids in palliative care. Cannabinoids may be considered as a therapeutic attempt in the treatment of cancer pain and weight gain in patients with HIV as well as other symptoms (such as nausea and loss of appetite) if established treatments fail.Further studies involving more patients are needed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of cannabis and cannabinoids. However, special conditions in the field of palliative care make it difficult to carry out high-quality studies.

Clinical Effectiveness and Potential Survival Benefit of US-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy in Patients with Advanced-Stage Pancreatic Cancer.

PURPOSE: Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is a life-limiting tumor with a wide range of incapacitating symptoms such as cancer pain in more than 80 % of patients. This prospective interventional study addresses the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for patients with advanced-stage PaC, including pain perception, tumor size and survival benefit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 patients with late-stage PaC underwent HIFU. Clinical assessment included evaluation of tumor volume by imaging and pain burden (pain severity, pain sensation, interference with daily activities) using the Brief Pain Inventory at baseline and follow-up. Median overall survival, progression-free survival and time to local progression were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: In 84 % of patients, significant early relief of cancer-induced abdominal pain was achieved by HIFU independent of metastatic status; it persisted during follow-up. Tumor volume reduction was 37.8 ±â€Š18.1 % after 6 weeks and 57.9 ± 25.9 % after 6 months. 21 % of HIFU-treated patients had local tumor progression with a median time of 14.4 months from intervention. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 16.2 and 16.9 months from diagnosis and 8.3 and 6.8 months from intervention. CONCLUSION: In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and otherwise limited treatment options, HIFU resulted in significant early and long-lasting pain relief and tumor size reduction over time independent of metastatic status. Clinical data suggest an additional potential survival benefit.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on non-opioid analgesics in palliative medicine.

Non-opioid analgesics are widely used for pain relief in palliative medicine. However, there is a lack of evidence-based recommendations addressing the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of non-opioids in this field. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on current evidence can provide a basis for sound recommendations in clinical practice. A database search for controlled trials on the use of non-opioids in adult palliative patients was performed in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE from inception to 18 February 2018. Endpoints were pain intensity, opioid-sparing effects, safety, and quality of life. Studies with similar patients, interventions, and outcomes were included in the meta-analyses. Our systematic search was able to only identify studies dealing with cancer pain. Of 5991 retrieved studies, 43 could be included (n = 2925 patients). There was no convincing evidence for satisfactory pain relief by acetaminophen alone or in combination with strong opioids. We found substantial evidence of moderate quality for a satisfactory pain relief in cancer by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), flupirtine, and dipyrone compared with placebo or other analgesics. There was no evidence for a superiority of one specific non-opioid. There was moderate quality of evidence for a similar pain reduction by NSAIDs in the usual dosage range compared with up to 15 mg of morphine or opioids of equianalgesic potency. The combination of NSAID and step III opioids showed a beneficial effect, without a decreased tolerability. There is scarce evidence concerning the combination of NSAIDs with weak opioids. There are no randomized-controlled studies on the use of non-opioids in a wide range of end-stage diseases except for cancer. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flupirtine, and dipyrone can be recommended for the treatment of cancer pain either alone or in combination with strong opioids. The use of acetaminophen in the palliative setting cannot be recommended. Studies are not available for long-term use. There is a lack of evidence regarding pain treatment by non-opioids in specific cancer entities.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabinoids in palliative medicine.

We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids in palliative medicine. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and http://clinicaltrials.gov, and a selection of cancer journals were searched up until 15th of March 2017. Of the 108 screened studies, nine studies with a total of 1561 participants were included. Overall, the nine studies were at moderate risk of bias. The quality of evidence comparing cannabinoids with placebo was rated according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation as low or very low because of indirectness, imprecision, and potential reporting bias. In cancer patients, there were no significant differences between cannabinoids and placebo for improving caloric intake (standardized mean differences [SMD]: 0.2 95% confidence interval [CI]: [-0.66, 1.06] P = 0.65), appetite (SMD: 0.81 95% CI: [-1.14, 2.75]; P = 0.42), nausea/vomiting (SMD: 0.21 [-0.10, 0.52] P = 0.19), >30% decrease in pain (risk differences [RD]: 0.07 95% CI: [-0.01, 0.16]; P = 0.07), or sleep problems (SMD: -0.09 95% CI: [-0.62, 0.43] P = 0.72). In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, cannabinoids were superior to placebo for weight gain (SMD: 0.57 [0.22; 0.92]; P = 0.001) and appetite (SMD: 0.57 [0.11; 1.03]; P = 0.02) but not for nausea/vomiting (SMD: 0.20 [-0.15, 0.54]; P = 0.26). Regarding side effects in cancer patients, there were no differences between cannabinoids and placebo in symptoms of dizziness (RD: 0.03 [-0.02; 0.08]; P = 0.23) or poor mental health (RD: -0.01 [-0.04; 0.03]; P = 0.69), whereas in HIV patients, there was a significant increase in mental health symptoms (RD: 0.05 [0.00; 0.11]; P = 0.05). Tolerability (measured by the number of withdrawals because of adverse events) did not differ significantly in cancer (RD: 1.15 [0.80; 1.66]; P = 0.46) and HIV patients (RD: 1.87 [0.60; 5.84]; P = 0.28). Safety did not differ in cancer (RD: 1.12 [0.86; 1.46]; P = 0.39) or HIV patients (4.51 [0.54; 37.45]; P = 0.32) although there was large uncertainty about the latter reflected in the width of the CI. In one moderate quality study of 469 cancer patients with cancer-associated anorexia, megestrol was superior to cannabinoids in improving appetite, producing >10% weight gain and tolerability. In another study comparing megestrol to dronabinol in HIV patients, megestrol treatment led to higher weight gain without any differences in tolerability and safety. We found no convincing, unbiased, high quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids are of value for anorexia or cachexia in cancer or HIV patients.

Mesenteric Vessel Patency Following HIFU Therapy in Patients with Locally Invasive Pancreatic Cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of HIFU therapy on visceral vessel patency in patients with inoperable locally invasive pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 pancreatic cancer patients (26 men, 24 women) aged 41 - 82 years (65.0 ±â€Š10.2) underwent ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) examinations before and within one day after HIFU treatment, as well as at follow-up at six weeks, three months and six months. Evaluation and grading were performed by two experienced independent radiologists according to a classification scheme based on vessel involvement, vessel diameter, patency, and defects in flow. RESULTS: Before HIFU treatment, arterial vessel involvement was noted in 42 patients, venous involvement in 47, and 47 patients presented with both. Superior mesenteric artery occlusion was found in three carcinomas while nearly half of the cases (n = 24) displayed signs of superior mesenteric vein, portal vein, or splenic vein occlusion. High-grade tumor-associated arterial narrowing was seen in ten patients. Despite vessel encasement and partially extensive propagation of collateral vessels, it was possible to safely perform HIFU treatment in all patients without complications. US and CT studies performed within one day after therapy did not show any change in vessel patency in 47 patients (94 %). Follow-up controls at the six-week mark revealed increased vessel narrowing and finally occlusion after six months in 11 patients due to tumor progression. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that HIFU treatment can be safely applied to pancreatic cancers enveloping large mesenteric vessels despite vessel narrowing or extensive collateral propagation. Most patients (94 %) did not experience adverse effects regarding vessel patency.

Improving quality of life in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor following peptide receptor radionuclide therapy assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have proven to be appropriate neoplasms for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), as the majority of these slow-growing malignancies overexpress somatostatin receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in quality of life (QoL) of patients with P-NET following PRRT. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with P-NET (31 female, mean age 61.4 y) underwent PRRT: 12 with NET of grade 1, 40 of grade 2, 8 of grade 3 (grade non-available n = 8). Prior to treatment, 39 patients showed ECOG 0, 26 patients ECOG 1, and three patients ECOG 2. Clinical assessment included evaluation of QoL and symptom changes using a standardized questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and was performed at baseline and every three months following each therapy cycle up to 12 months. Primary analysis compared QoL at baseline and after the fourth treatment cycle (N = 53). RESULTS: Up to four treatment cycles PRRT were performed for each patient. The median cumulative administered activity was 28.2 GBq. Primary analysis revealed that compared to baseline QoL was significantly improved revealing increased global health status (p = 0.008) and social functioning (p = 0.049) at the end of the study. Furthermore, fatigue and appetite loss showed a significant improvement after the last PRRT cycle (fatigue: p = 0.029, appetite loss p = 0.015). Sub-analyses showed that QoL was improved revealing increased global health status (3 months after first, second, and third treatment cycle p = 0.048, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively), emotional functioning (3 months after first-third cycle p = 0.003, p = 0.049, and p = 0.001, respectively) and social functioning (3 months after the first and second p < 0.001, and after the third cycle p = 0.015, respectively). Furthermore, some symptoms were significantly alleviated compared with baseline: fatigue (after first-third cycle p = 0.026, p = 0.050, and p = 0.008, respectively), nausea and vomiting (after first and second cycle p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively), dyspnea (after third cycle p = 0.025), appetite loss (after first-third cycle p = 0.010, p = 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively), constipation (after first-third cycle p = 0.050, p = 0.003, and p = 0.060, respectively). CONCLUSION: PRRT is an effective treatment of P-NET improving QoL of patients in terms of increasing global health and mitigation of physical complaints.

[Pain and fatigue - a systematic review]. / Schmerz und Fatigue ­ ein systematischer Überblick.

Pain and fatigue - a systematic review Introduction: Chronic pain and fatigue are symptoms that often occur together and characterize the symptom picture of various diseases. Nevertheless, integrative explanatory approaches have so far received little attention in medical practice. METHODS: Based on a systematic literature search in the Embase, Medline, PsychInfo, and CENTRAL databases, we searched for high-quality intervention studies for the simultaneous treatment of pain and fatigue. RESULTS: From 1,496 total hits, 158 studies were included in the evaluation. The most commonly studied clinical pictures of the symptomcomplex were tumor catabolism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.Current explanations of the symptom complex focus on the activation of proinflammatory microglia in centralized pain syndrome with multiple effects on neurotransmission, neuroendocrinology, neuroplasticity, and the autonomic nervous system. In this model, fatigue can be understood as an evolutionary, meaningful symptom protective of the organism. CONCLUSIONS: A deeper understanding of the relationship between centralized pain syndrome and fatigue allows for new explanatory and treatment approaches.