Spirituality in Coping with Pain in Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Spirituality has been identified as an adaptive coping strategy and a predictor of better quality of life in cancer patients. Despite the relevance of spirituality in the health-disease process, it is noted that the assessment of the impact of spirituality in coping with pain is still incipient. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of spirituality in coping with pain in cancer patients. This quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out in a medium-sized hospital and a cancer patient support institution located in northeastern Brazil. A questionnaire with sociodemographic and clinical variables was used and the following instruments were applied: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); Neuropathic Pain 4 Questions (DN4); Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (SWBS); WHOQOL Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs (WHOQOL-SRPB). Most people with no pain had higher scores on the SWBS. Neuropathic pain was identified in 23 patients and was associated with the highest level of spirituality used as a way of coping with pain. As faith increases, pain decreases in intensity by 0.394 points. On the other hand, as inner peace increases, pain increases by 1.485 points. It is concluded that faith is a strategy for coping with pain, in particular neuropathic pain, minimizing its intensity. On the other hand, greater levels of inner peace allow to increase the awareness of the painful sensation. It is expected that these findings may be useful to integrate spirituality care in healthcare facilities as a resource for positive coping for people in the process of becoming ill, contributing to the therapeutic path and favouring a new meaning to the experience of the disease.

Aerosolized Lipid Amphotericin B for Complementary Therapy and/or Secondary Prophylaxis in Patients with Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Experience with aerosolized lipid amphotericin B (aeLAB) as therapy or secondary prophylaxis in patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is anecdotal. METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy of systemic antifungal therapy with and without aeLAB in patients with proven or probable IPA. Complete or partial response at 3 months was the primary end-point. Clinical response and mortality at 12 months, occurrence of adverse drug reactions and respiratory fungal colonization were secondary end-point. RESULTS: Eleven patients (39%) received aeLAB in addition to systemic antifungal therapy (group A), and 22 (61%) received systemic antifungal therapy only (group B). The use of aeLAB was not standardized. Amphotericin B lipid complex was used in all patients but one, who received liposomal amphotericin B. Five patients received aeLAB as antifungal complementary therapy and 6 received it as secondary prophylaxis. Except for the requirement of inhaled corticosteroids and home oxygen therapy, more frequent in group A, both groups were similar in baseline conditions. A better (nonsignificant) clinical outcome was observed at 3 months in patients receiving aeLAB. Only uncontrolled baseline condition was associated with one-year mortality in univariate analysis (p = 0.002). A multivariate Cox regression analysis suggests that aeLAB, corrected for uncontrolled underlying disease, reduces mortality at 12 months (HR 0.258; 95% CI 0.072-0.922; p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Although no significant difference was observed in the main variable (3-month clinical response) and in spite of methodological limitations of the study, the possible survival benefit of aeLAB, adjusted for the control of the underlying disease, could justify the performance of well-controlled studies with a greater number of patients.

Adherencia a las recomendaciones sobre la linfadenectomía de las guías clínicas del 2009 en el Registro Nacional de Cáncer de Próstata-2010 / Adherence to the lymphadenectomy recommendations of the 2009 clinical guidelines in the 2010 National Prostate Cancer Registry

Objetivo: Evaluar la adherencia a las recomendaciones de las GC de 2009 en la realización de LFD durante la prostatectomía radical, y análisis de las variables que influyen en esa decisión en el Registro Nacional de Cáncer de Próstata de 2010. Material y método: Análisis de 1.272 pacientes tratados con prostatectomía en 25 hospitales nacionales. Clasificación de los pacientes según los criterios de riesgo de pN+ contemplados en las GC de la EAU y de la CNNC. Cálculo de la concordancia bruta y del índice de concordancia kappa. Regresión logística para evaluar las variables predictoras en la decisión de realizar una linfadenectomía. Resultados: Se realizó linfadenectomía a 225 (17,7%) pacientes con una variabilidad entre centros del 0-62,2% (p < 0,001). En 17 (7,5%) pacientes existía invasión linfática (pN + ). La concordancia bruta con la GC de la EAU-09 fue de 0,672 (0,48-0,96 en los distintos centros) y el índice kappa de 0,289. La concordancia bruta con la GC de la NCCN-09 fue de 0,814 (0,51-1 en los distintos centros) y el índice kappa de 0,228. En el análisis multivariable se identificaron como variables predictoras independientes en la realización de linfadenectomía el score de Gleason, el estadio clínico, el PSA, el centro hospitalario y la vía de abordaje quirúrgica a la prostatectomía (todas p < 0,001). Conclusiones: En nuestro estudio la adherencia a las recomendaciones de las GC sobre la realización de linfadenectomía fue moderada. En la decisión para la realización de la linfadenectomía, además de las variables clínicas clásicas, fueron determinantes la vía de abordaje y el hospital donde se realizó la prostatectomía

Objective: To assess the adherence to the recommendations of the 2009 clinical guidelines in the implementation of lymphadenectomy during radical prostatectomy and analysis of the variables that influence this decision in the 2010 National Prostate Cancer Registry. Material and method: Analysis of 1,272 patients who underwent prostatectomy in 25 national hospitals. Patient classification according to the pathological node-positive (pN + ) risk criteria included in the clinical guidelines of the European Association of Urology (EAU) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Calculation of the raw agreement and index of agreement kappa. Logistic regression to assess the predictors in the decision to perform lymphadenectomy. Results: Lymphadenectomy was performed on 225 (17.7%) patients, with a variability among centers of 0-62.2% (p<.001). There was lymphocytic invasion (pN + ) in 17 (7.5%) patients. The raw agreement with the EAU-09 clinical guidelines was .672 (.48-.96 in the various centers), and the kappa index was .289. The raw agreement with the NCCN-09 clinical guidelines was.814 (.51-1 in the various centers), and the kappa index was .228. In the multivariate analysis, the independent predictors for performing lymphadenectomy were the Gleason score, the clinical stage, the prostate-specific antigen, the hospital center and the surgical approach route to prostatectomy (all P < .001). Conclusions: In our study, adherence to the recommendations of the clinical guidelines on the implementation of lymphadenectomy was moderate. When deciding on lymphadenectomy, the determinants (in addition to the classic clinical variables) were the approach route and the hospital where the prostatectomy was performed

Adherence to the lymphadenectomy recommendations of the 2009 clinical guidelines in the 2010 National Prostate Cancer Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the adherence to the recommendations of the 2009 clinical guidelines in the implementation of lymphadenectomy during radical prostatectomy and analysis of the variables that influence this decision in the 2010 National Prostate Cancer Registry. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Analysis of 1,272 patients who underwent prostatectomy in 25 national hospitals. Patient classification according to the pathological node-positive (pN+) risk criteria included in the clinical guidelines of the European Association of Urology (EAU) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Calculation of the raw agreement and index of agreement kappa. Logistic regression to assess the predictors in the decision to perform lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: Lymphadenectomy was performed on 225 (17.7%) patients, with a variability among centers of 0-62.2% (p<.001). There was lymphocytic invasion (pN+) in 17 (7.5%) patients. The raw agreement with the EAU-09 clinical guidelines was .672 (.48-.96 in the various centers), and the kappa index was .289. The raw agreement with the NCCN-09 clinical guidelines was.814 (.51-1 in the various centers), and the kappa index was .228. In the multivariate analysis, the independent predictors for performing lymphadenectomy were the Gleason score, the clinical stage, the prostate-specific antigen, the hospital center and the surgical approach route to prostatectomy (all P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, adherence to the recommendations of the clinical guidelines on the implementation of lymphadenectomy was moderate. When deciding on lymphadenectomy, the determinants (in addition to the classic clinical variables) were the approach route and the hospital where the prostatectomy was performed.

A mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7315 and CECT 7316 enhances systemic immunity in elderly subjects. A dose-response,double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot trial / Una mezcla de Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7315 y CECT 7316 mejora la inmunidad sistémica en ancianos. Un ensayo aleatorio piloto, de dosis-respuesta, doble ciego y controlado con placebo

Background & aim: Immunosenescence can increase morbi-mortality. Lactic acid producing bacteria may improve immunity and reduce morbidity and mortality in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the effects of a mixture of two new probiotic strains of Lactobacillus plantarum-CECT 7315 and 7316- on systemic immunity in elderly. Methods: 50 institutionalized elderly subjects were randomized, in a double-blind fashion, to receive for 12 weeks 1) 5·108 cfu/day of L. plantarum CECT7315/7316 ("low probiotic dose") (n = 13), 2) 5·109 cfu/day of the probiotic mixture ("high probiotic dose") (n = 19), or 3) placebo (n = 15). Leukocyte subpopulations, and cytokine levels (IL-1 , IL-10, TGF-β1) were measured in venous blood at baseline, end of treatment (week 12), and end of follow-up (week 24). Infection and survival rates were recorded. Results: After treatment, high probiotic dose resulted in significant increases in the percentages of activated potentially T-suppressor (CD8+CD25+) and NK (CD56+ CD16+) cells, while low probiotic dose increased activated T-helper lymphocytes (CD4+CD25+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), and antigen presenting cells (HLA-DR+). Also, plasma TGF-β1 concentration significantly decreased after treatment with both probiotic doses. Most of these changes remained 12 weeks after probiotic discontinuation. Incidence of infections during treatment showed a significant trend to be lower in the high probiotic dose group. In addition, there was a significant trend for mortality to be greater in the placebo group vs. both probiotic groups. Conclusions: Depending on the dose, L. plantarum CECT7315/7316 have different immune-enhancing effects in elderly subjects. These effects might result in a better clinical outcome (AU)

Introducción y objetivos: La inmunosenescencia puede aumentar la morbi-mortalidad. Las bacterias productoras de ácido láctico pueden mejorar la inmunidad y disminuir la morbilidad y mortalidad en los ancianos. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar los efectos de una mezcla de dos nuevas cepas probióticas de Lactobacillus plantarum -CECT 7315 y 7316- sobre la inmunidad sistémica en ancianos. Métodos: 50 ancianos institucionalizados se aleatorizaron, en un diseño a doble-ciego, para recibir durante 12 semanas 1) 5·108 ufc/día de L. plantarum CECT7315/ 7316 ("dosis baja de probiótico") (n = 13), 2) 5·109 ufc/día de la mezcla probiótica ("dosis alta de probiótico") (n = 19), o 3) placebo (n = 15). Se determinaron las subpoblaciones leucocitarias y los niveles de citokinas (IL-1 , IL-10, TGF-β1) en sangre venosa periférica basalmente, al final del tratamiento (sem. 12) y al final del seguimiento (sem. 24). Se registró la tasa de infecciones y la mortalidad. Resultados: Tras el tratamiento, la dosis alta de probiótico indujo aumentos significativos en los porcentajes de células potencialmente T-supresoras (CD8+CD25+) y NK (CD56+CD16+) activadas, en tanto que la dosis baja aumento los linfocitos T-colaboradores activados (CD4+CD25+), los linfocitos B (CD19+), y las células presentadoras de antígeno (HLA-DR+). Asimismo, la concentración plasmática de TGF-β1 disminuyó tras el tratamiento con ambas dosis de probiótico. La mayor parte de estos cambios se mantuvieron 12 semanas después de suspender el tratamiento. La incidencia de infecciones durante el tratamiento mostró una tendencia significativa a ser menor con la dosis alta de probiótico, mientras que se observó una tendencia significativa a que la mortalidad fuera mayor el grupo placebo vs. ambos grupos tratados con probiótico. Conclusiones: Dependiendo de la dosis, L. plantarum CECT7315/7316 tiene distintos efectos inmunoestimulantes en ancianos. Dichos efectos podrían contribuir a una mejor evolución clínica (AU)