Unintentional weight loss, its associated burden, and perceived weight status in people with cancer.

PURPOSE: Unintentional weight loss (UWL) is a prevalent problem in people with cancer and is associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. A gap exists in understanding whether and how perceived and/or weight status impacts experiences of UWL. Thus, we sought to examine subjective experiences of UWL in people with cancer, and whether perceived and/or actual weight status impacts these experiences. METHODS: Participants were recruited through Cancer Support Community's Cancer Experience Registry® and related networks. Participants completed an online survey that included the FAACT Anorexia-Cachexia subscale, and 19 items that captured six themes related to "beliefs and concerns" (positive beliefs, psychosocial impact, physical impact, cancer outcomes, self-esteem, relationships with others). Perceived weight status (PWS) was assessed using a single item. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported weight and height measurements. RESULTS: Of 326 respondents, 114 reported experiencing UWL. Over one-third misperceived their weight, with 29% perceiving weight status as below their BMI status. UWL in those with perceived weight status of overweight/obese was associated with positive beliefs. However, being underweight by BMI or perceiving oneself as underweight were both associated with greater concerns about weight loss. Perceived weight status of underweight compared to normal or overweight/obese weight status was associated with poorer psychosocial well-being, personal control, self-esteem, and relationships with others. CONCLUSION: In people with cancer, perceived weight status, rather than BMI, had greater impact on negative "beliefs and concerns" about UWL. Findings suggest assessment of both perceived and actual BMI to address the impact of UWL on psychosocial wellbeing.

Association between hypogonadism, symptom burden, and survival in male patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: A high frequency of hypogonadism has been reported in male patients with advanced cancer. The current study was performed to evaluate the association between low testosterone levels, symptom burden, and survival in male patients with cancer. METHODS: Of 131 consecutive male patients with cancer, 119 (91%) had an endocrine evaluation of total (TT), free (FT), and bioavailable testosterone (BT); high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP); vitamin B12; thyroid-stimulating hormone; 25-hydroxy vitamin D; and cortisol levels when presenting with symptoms of fatigue and/or anorexia-cachexia. Symptoms were evaluated by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. The authors examined the correlation using the Spearman test and survival with the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 64 years; the majority of patients were white (85 patients; 71%). The median TT level was 209 ng/dL (normal: ≥ 200 ng/dL), the median FT was 4.4 ng/dL (normal: ≥ 9 ng/dL), and the median BT was 22.0 ng/dL (normal: ≥ 61 ng/dL). Low TT, FT, and BT values were all associated with worse fatigue (P ≤ .04), poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (P ≤ .05), weight loss (P ≤ .01), and opioid use (P ≤ .005). Low TT and FT were associated with increased anxiety (P ≤ .04), a decreased feeling of well-being (P ≤ .04), and increased dyspnea (P ≤ .05), whereas low BT was only found to be associated with anorexia (P = .05). Decreased TT, FT, and BT values were all found to be significantly associated with elevated CRP and low albumin and hemoglobin. On multivariate analysis, decreased survival was associated with low TT (hazards ratio [HR], 1.66; P = .034), declining Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (HR, 1.55; P = .004), high CRP (HR, 3.28; P < .001), and decreased albumin (HR, 2.52; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In male patients with cancer, low testosterone levels were associated with systemic inflammation, weight loss, increased symptom burden, and decreased survival. A high frequency of hypogonadism has been reported in male patients with advanced cancer. In the current study, an increased symptom burden, systemic inflammation, weight loss, opioid use, and poor survival were found to be associated with decreased testosterone levels in male patients with cancer. Cancer 2014;120:1586-1593. © 2014 American Cancer Society.

Nutritional assessment of cancer patients in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Weight loss and malnutrition are common among cancer patients, these two factors greatly affecting survival and quality of life during treatment. Since cancer is becoming increasingly common in the world and in order to provide better treatment measures, it is important to identify and prevent side effects. The present study has been conducted in 2010 on a sample of cancer patients in the oncology center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences to determine the prevalence rates of malnutrition and the factors affecting it. METHODS: The PG-SGA standard questionnaire was administered to 416 cancer patients to evaluate their nutrition status and determine the frequency of each malnutrition stage. Correlations and ANOVA tests were used to analyze the relationship between factors and weight loss and how they might affect the development of malnutrition. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition among the patients was 53.1% out of which 29.1% had moderate and 24% had severe malnutrition. The most common factors inducing nutritional symptoms were depression and anorexia. Some 35 % of the patients had over 5% weight loss in the last mouth. The average PG-SGA score was 10.1 with 49 being the highest. 46.1 percent of the patients scored over 9 (requiring critical nutrient intervention). Malnutrition has a high correlation with weight loss, activity limitations, nutritional symptoms, and cancer stage, but low correlation with treatment and pathologic type. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition has a high prevalence in Iranian cancer patients and has a close relationship with mortality, morbidity and treatment-related problems and also quality of life. Therefore, periodical assessment by PG-SGA to detect malnutrition in patients should be made so that appropriate nutritional interventions can be provided.

Evaluación hermodinámica y respuesta al óxido nítrico inhalado / Hemodynamic assessment and response to inhaled nitric oxide to hypoxia and acidosis un newborn pigs

La hipertensión pulmonar (HTP) es un trastorno de la adaptación a la vida extrauterina de muchos recién nacidos. La hipoxia y la acidosis son factores desencadenantes y perpetuadores de la misma. Objetivos: evaluar el efecto del óxido nítrico inhalado (ONi) a la respuesta vascular pulmonar a la hipoxia y acidosis en cerdos recién nacidos. Material y método: se diseñó una serie de intervenciones experimentales en cerdos recién nacidos, sedados, anestesiados y en asistencia ventilatoria mecánica. El protocolo experimental consistió en inducir hipoxia en forma controlada y progresiva (FiO2 desde 0,21 (basal) hasta 0,14; 0,10 o 0,08, mezclando nitrógeno con aire), entre 6 y 10 minutos, valorando la respuesta hemodinámica. Estabilizada la respuesta a la hipoxia con elevación en meseta de la presión arterial pulmonar (PAP) y sistémica, se administró ONi a 20 ppm. Mediante infusión de HCl 0,1 N i/v se estabilizó el pH en diferentes valores en los cuales se reiteraron esta serie de experimentos. Resultados: se encontró que el descenso de la FiO2 (debajo de 0,21) produce una caída de la saturación y un aumento inmediato de la PAP a diferentes pH y una efectividad del ONi para descender la PAP próximo a 70%. Sin embargo a pH más bajo la existencia de acidosis genera un nivel basal de PAP elevado con respecto a pH 7,4, que el ONi no desciende. En cuanto a la HTP desarrollada ante diferentes FiO2 se confirmó que la elevación de la PAP es gradualmente más elevada. Conclusión: en la investigación experimental en cerdos recién nacidos se observa que los eventos hipóxicos de breve duración generan HTP e inestabilidad sobre la hemodinamia sistémica. De igual modo la acidosis induce un incremento en la PAP basal en este modelo experimental. En estas condiciones la aplicación de ONi desciende la PAP eficazmente sin alterar la hemodinamia sistémica. Es más efectiva su acción a pH normal que en acidosis.

Pulmonary hypertension (HTP) is a frequently pathological situation of maladaptation to the extratuerine life in newborns. Hypoxia and acidosis are key factors capable of evoking the referred situation and can also act as a perpetuator factor of it. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia and acidosis in newborn pigs. Material and methods: we performed a series of experimental interventions in newborn pigs, sedated, anesthetized and mechanical ventilation. The experimental protocol was to induce hypoxia in a controlled and progressive (FiO2 from 0.21 (baseline) to 0.14, 0.10 or 0.08, mixing nitrogen with air), between 6 and 10 minutes, evaluating the hemodynamic response. Stabilized response to hypoxia plateau elevation in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and systemic administered iNO at 20 ppm. By infusion of HCl 0.1 N i/v was stable at different pH values which were reiterated in this series of experiments. Results: we found that the decrease in FiO2 (below 0,21) produces a fall in saturation and an immediate increase in PAP at different pH and an ERA of iNO for the PAP down near 70%. However, at lower pH, the presence of acidosis produces a basal level of PAP high relative to pH 7.4, which does not descend iNO. As PH developed at different FiO2 was confirmed that the elevation of the PAP is gradually higher.Conclusion: experimental research in newborn pigs shows that the short-term hypoxic events generate HTP and instability on systemic hemodynamics. Similarly acidosis induces an increase in baseline PAP in this experimental model. Under these conditions the application of iNO decreases the PAP effectively without altering systemic hemodynamics...

Inter-rater reliability and Waterlow's pressure ulcer risk assessment tool.

AIM: To ascertain whether a lack of inter-rater reliability with the original Waterlow (1996) pressure ulcer risk assessment scale is due to different perceptions of patients by nurses or different interpretations of Waterlow as a tool. METHOD: A sample of 110 qualified nurses, who used the Waterlow pressure ulcer risk assessment scale in their daily work and were delegates at five study days, were given a case study and an uncompleted copy of the tool. They were asked to complete a risk assessment for the patient. The risk assessment score obtained by delegates was analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test to measure the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the median of the nurses' scores and the patient's actual or 'gold standard' score. RESULTS: Nurses tend to over-rate (n=72, 65 per cent) rather than under-rate (n=25, 23 per cent) the patient's risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Only 13 of the 110 nurses (12 per cent) accurately rated the patient's score as 18. The Wilcoxon Test rejected the null hypothesis that there was no difference in the risk scores arrived at by individual nurses and the patient's actual score, that is, there is a significant difference between the scores obtained by the nurses in the study and the gold standard score. CONCLUSION: The results show poor inter-rater reliability when using the Waterlow pressure ulcer risk assessment scale. Part of the problem is that nurses are not using the tool in the way it was intended.

The causes and consequences of cancer-associated malnutrition.

Cancer-associated malnutrition can result from local effects of a tumour, the host response to the tumour and anticancer therapies. Although cancer patients often have reduced food intake (due to systemic effects of the disease, local tumour effects, psychological effects or adverse effects of treatment), alterations in nutrient metabolism and resting energy expenditure (REE) may also contribute to nutritional status. Several agents produced by the tumour directly, or systemically in response to the tumour, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and hormones, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of malnutrition and cachexia. The consequences of malnutrition include impairment of immune functions, performance status, muscle function, and quality of life. In addition, responses to chemotherapy are decreased, chemotherapy-induced toxicity and complications are more frequent and severe, and survival times are shortened. Depression, fatigue and malaise also significantly impact on patient well-being. In addition, cancer-related malnutrition is associated with significant healthcare-related costs. Nutritional support, addressing the specific needs of this patient group, is required to help improve prognosis, and reduce the consequences of cancer-associated nutritional decline.

Validity and epidemiology of reported poor appetite among Peruvian infants from a low-income, periurban community.

To assess the validity of maternal reports of poor infant appetite, these histories were compared with measured energy consumption on 1621 d of observation of 131 Peruvian infants in a low-income community. Mean (+/- SD) total energy intakes on days with reported anorexia were 338 +/- 88 kJ/kg body wt in infants 1-6 mo of age and 299 +/- 92 kJ/kg body wt in infants aged > 6 mo compared with 395 +/- 92 and 342 +/- 88 kJ/kg body wt in the respective age groups when appetites were reportedly normal (P < 0.001). Energy intake from non-breast-milk sources was more affected than energy from breast milk. The epidemiology of poor appetite was assessed in 153 infants who were monitored longitudinally during their first year of life. The prevalence of reported anorexia increased progressively from 22 to 317/1000 d of observation from < 1 to 11 mo of age. Infant age and the presence of fever, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses were each associated negatively with the presence of reduced appetite. Poor appetite, rather than lack of food, may explain in part the low energy intakes by infants in this community.

PIP: In Huascar (a low-income, periurban community in eastern Lima), Peru, a study followed 131 low birth infants (2.5 kg) for one year to compare mothers' reports of poor appetite with dietary intake (1621 days of observation). Infants consumed lower energy intakes during days mothers reported anorexia than during days mothers reported a normal appetite (1-6 month olds, 338 vs. 395 kJ/kg body weight; 6 month olds, 299 vs. 342 kJ/kg body weight) (p 0.001). In fact, when the researchers controlled for age, body weight, and the presence of specific symptoms of illness, intraindividual total energy intakes were almost 15% less on days of reported anorexia. Energy intake from non-breast milk sources was about 25-35% less in both age groups on days of reported anorexia (p 0.01). The researchers examined longitudinal data on 153 infants who were monitored during their first year of life to determine the epidemiology of poor appetite. As the age of the infant increased so did the prevalence of reported anorexia (22-317/1000 days of observation from 1 to 11 months of age). Mothers reported anorexia on about 15% of the 48,057 days of observation. A significant positive association between anorexia and fever, severe diarrhea, and respiratory illness existed. These findings suggest that poor appetite, instead of insufficient food, may partially account for the low energy intakes by infants in Huascar.