Physical exercise during adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer-a non-randomized feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and a large proportion of the patients receive adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Most of these experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), affecting quality of life. Evidence to advise exercise to reduce CIPN is limited. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an exercise intervention and data collection among CRC patients during adjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This non-randomized feasibility study included CRC patients admitted to adjuvant chemotherapy to an intervention consisting of supervised aerobic endurance, resistance, and balance exercises twice a week at the hospital in addition to home-based exercise once a week. A physiotherapist supervised the patients, and the intervention lasted throughout the period of adjuvant chemotherapy (12-24 weeks). Participants performed physical tests and filled in questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nineteen (63%) of 30 invited patients consented. A major barrier to recruit or consent to participation was long travel distance to the hospital. The completion rate of questionnaires and physical tests were near 100%. Seven participants dropped out, five before the intervention started. Median attendance to supervised exercise was 85%. There were no serious adverse events related to the intervention. Except for a planned higher intensity of endurance exercise, we found the intervention feasible and safe. Based on experiences in this study, some adjustments have been made for an upcoming randomized trial, including the supervised exercise taking place close to participants' homes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03885817, March 22, 2019, retrospectively registered.

Validation of the Consensus-Definition for Cancer Cachexia and evaluation of a classification model--a study based on data from an international multicentre project (EPCRC-CSA).

BACKGROUND: Weight loss limits cancer therapy, quality of life and survival. Common diagnostic criteria and a framework for a classification system for cancer cachexia were recently agreed upon by international consensus. Specific assessment domains (stores, intake, catabolism and function) were proposed. The aim of this study is to validate this diagnostic criteria (two groups: model 1) and examine a four-group (model 2) classification system regarding these domains as well as survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from an international patient sample with advanced cancer (N = 1070) were analysed. In model 1, the diagnostic criteria for cancer cachexia [weight loss/body mass index (BMI)] were used. Model 2 classified patients into four groups 0-III, according to weight loss/BMI as a framework for cachexia stages. The cachexia domains, survival and sociodemographic/medical variables were compared across models. RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty-one patients were included. Model 1 consisted of 399 cachectic and 462 non-cachectic patients. Cachectic patients had significantly higher levels of inflammation, lower nutritional intake and performance status and shorter survival. In model 2, differences were not consistent; appetite loss did not differ between group III and IV, and performance status not between group 0 and I. Survival was shorter in group II and III compared with other groups. By adding other cachexia domains to the model, survival differences were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic criteria based on weight loss and BMI distinguish between cachectic and non-cachectic patients concerning all domains (intake, catabolism and function) and is associated with survival. In order to guide cachexia treatment a four-group classification model needs additional domains to discriminate between cachexia stages.

[Screening for cardiovascular risk factors in a large workplace]. / Screening for kardiovaskulaere risikofaktorer på en stor arbejdsplads.

A screening investigation was carried out in a large industry in the Copenhagen region and 1,472 of the employees were offered examination of blood cholesterol and measurement of blood pressure. At this examination the employees completed a one-page questionnaire about other cardiovascular risk factors. 45% of those invited participated in the investigation, the poorest participation was among women and the greatest among the male officials. On account of the limited number of female employees, the majority of results were only calculated for men. Over 1/3 of these had hypercholesteremia (greater than or equal to 7.0 mmol/l) and nearly 1/3 had, simultaneously, at least two cardiovascular risk factors in addition to age and male sex. Extensive occupational investigations under the auspices of WHO have demonstrated that energetic intervention at the place of work aimed at the cardiovascular risk factors can reduce the risk of development of coronary heart disease and death within a six-year follow-up period. It is therefore emphasized that similar interventions are very necessary also in Denmark.

Effect of physical exercise on muscle mass and strength in cancer patients during treatment--a systematic review.

Cancer treatment and its side effects may cause muscle wasting. Physical exercise has the potential to increase muscle mass and strength and to improve physical function in cancer patients undergoing treatment. A systematic review was conducted to study the effect of physical exercise (aerobic, resistance or a combination of both) on muscle mass and strength in cancer patients with different type and stage of cancer disease. Electronic searches were performed up to January 11th 2012, identifying 16 randomised controlled trials for final data synthesis. The studies demonstrated that aerobic and resistance exercise improves upper and lower body muscle strength more than usual care. Few studies have assessed the effect of exercise on muscle mass. Most studies were performed in patients with early stage breast or prostate cancer. Evidence on the effect of physical exercise on muscle strength and mass in cancer patients with advanced disease is lacking. More exercise studies in patients with advanced cancer and at risk of cancer cachexia are warranted.

Biomechanical evaluation of the Pinless external fixator.

In open fractures especially in those with severe soft tissue damage, fracture stabilisation is best achieved by using external fixators. There are some intrinsic complications which occur during classical external pin fixation. To overcome the problem of pin track infection and vascular damage from drilling, the Pinless external fixator was developed. It is based on the idea of a forceps with trocar points, which only penetrate the bone cortex superficially. The function of the device was tested in two mechanical trials and two in vitro tests in which one pinless clamp was put under a controlled load of 50 N, 150 cycles/day and studied over a 5 week period in sheep. The loads and time range of the experiment were chosen to simulate a temporary fracture stabilisation in a patient not bearing weight. The main question to be answered was whether the Pinless external fixator would be able to maintain stable fixation. Furthermore, it was to determine the changes at the trocar-to-bone interface. The clamp was found to maintain 72% of the initially applied clamping force after 5 weeks of in vivo application and it was found to be tight at removal. Some decrease of clamping force was found during the first 20 days and then the force tended to level off. There was no slippage nor did the clamp penetrate the cortex. There were no obvious signs of infection around the trocar-holes and in the bacterial tests no pathological cultures were grown. Histology revealed very localised bone reactions, the indentation caused by the trocar tips being only 1.2 mm deep. The study concludes, as far as could be ascertained from these tests, that it is safe to use pinless external fixation for temporary fracture fixation.

[The incidence of acute complications in children with diabetes mellitus]. / Insidensen av akutte komplikasjoner hos barn med diabetes mellitus.

The incidence of acute complications in children with diabetes mellitus was investigated from April 1992 to April 1993. During this period 27 of 66 children (40%) had experienced at least one episode of serious hypoglycemia, and six (9%) had been hospitalized because of hyperglycemia or ketoacidosis. Children whose parents were divorced or single, experienced more episodes of serious hypoglycemia than children of married or cohabitant parents. The children who had experienced serious hyperglycemia or ketoacidosis had higher HbA1c, used a relatively higher daily dose of insulin and were older than the other children.

[Diabetes mellitus in children. Therapeutic control, social conditions and self care]. / Diabetes mellitus hos barn. Behandlingskontroll, sosiale forhold og egenomsorg.

We present a descriptive study of children with diabetes mellitus in Sør-Trøndelag county. The study included 66 children. Eight of these children had at least one other chronic disease in addition to diabetes. 31 children used more than two insulin injections daily. The median value of HbA1c was 8.6%. HbA1c was positively correlated with duration of diabetes. However, for the children who were out of remission, HbA1c was positively correlated with age and negatively with number of meals per day. Children whose parents were divorced or single had higher HbA1c than children whose parents were married or lived together. HbA1c was also higher among children who received special lessons at school than among children who did not receive such lessons. Thus, age, duration of diabetes and psychosocial factors were the most important determinants for metabolic control in our study.