Exploring the integration of dentistry within a multidisciplinary palliative care team: does bedside dental care improve quality of life and symptom burden in inpatient palliative care patients?

BACKGROUND: Despite the significant impact of oral problems on the quality of life of palliative care patients, comprehensive studies are lacking. This study is the first of its kind to address this gap by including both a dental examination and an intervention and assessing quality of life using the EORTC QLQ OH 15 questionnaire. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to explore the impact of incorporating dentists into inpatient palliative care, with a focus on enhancing quality of life and alleviating symptom burden. METHODS: In this monocentric study, data were gathered from a palliative care unit over an 8-month period. At the beginning of the multidisciplinary treatment, T0, patients underwent both a dental examination and interviews utilizing established questionnaires, the EORTC QLQ-C30 (core, general) and OH 15 (oral health). A week later, at T1, patients underwent a follow-up examination and interview. The QLQ-C30 and OH15 are widely recognized instruments developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) for evaluating health related quality of life in cancer patients. RESULTS: A total of n = 103 patients (48.5% women) were enrolled in the study. The median duration since their last dental visit was 1 year, and the dental condition at T0 was desolate. At T1, statistically and clinically significant changes in oral quality of life and symptom burden were observed. Noteworthy changes were noted in the OH-QoL score (median 63 vs. 92, p < 0.001), sticky saliva (median 33 vs. 0, p < 0.001), sensitivity to food and drink (median 33 vs. 0, p < 0.001), sore mouth (median 33 vs. 0, p > 0.001), and poorly fitting dentures (median 33 vs. 0 p < 0.001). Additionally, improvements were observed in xerostomia candidiasis and mucositis. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the powerful contribution of integrating a dentist in inpatient palliative care. With very little dental effort and simple ward and bedside treatments, significant improvements in the oral symptom burden of critically ill palliative patients can be achieved. This contributes to improved care status, relief of distressing symptoms, and ultimately improved quality of life. The results strongly support the consideration of dental support as an integral part of palliative care units.

Value of a Panel of 6 Serum Biomarkers to Differentiate Between Healthy Controls and Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer Disease.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence suggesting that inflammatory responses may be involved in the neurodegenerative cascade of Alzheimer disease (AD). Blood-based biomarker analysis of inflammatory markers indicative of dementia could serve as a minimally invasive and easy-to-administer diagnostic tool in primary care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors quantified 6 markers (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta type 1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and interleukin-18) in blood serum of 68 healthy blood donors (controls), 42 patients with AD at the dementia stage, 55 patients with AD at the stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI-AD), and 25 patients with MCI non-AD. All patients have been fully characterized, including AD biomarker analyses in cerebrospinal fluid. Data were analyzed in an algorithm that was trained, validated, and then used for dichotomous classification of unknown data into data sets suspicious and not suspicious of AD. RESULTS: Using this algorithm, 47 of 55 MCI-AD (85.5%) and 20 of 25 MCI non-AD (80%) cases were classified as suspicious of AD. CONCLUSIONS: This panel of 6 markers in blood serum may indicate underlying neurodegenerative processes in patients with AD at the MCI stage. The authors assume that a deranged equilibrium of neuroprotective and inflammatory processes is an overall major cause for neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

Definition and quantification of six immune- and neuroregulatory serum proteins in healthy and demented elderly.

Aim: Blood-based biomarkers related to immune- and neuroregulatory processes may be indicative of dementia but lack standardization and proof-of-principle studies. Materials & methods: The blood serum collection protocol as well as the analytic procedure to quantify the markers BDNF, IGF-1, VEGF, TGF-ß 1, MCP-1 and IL-18 in blood serum were standardized and their concentrations were compared between groups of 81 Alzheimer's disease patients and 79 healthy controls. Results: Applying standardized methods, results for the quantification of the six markers in blood serum are stable and their concentrations significantly differ for all analytes except VEGF between patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls. Conclusion: Analyzing a panel of six markers in blood serum under standardized conditions may serve as a diagnostic tool in primary dementia care in the future.

Low-Frequency Blood Group Antigens in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: High-frequency blood group antigens (HFA) are present in >90% of the human population, according to some reports even in >99% of individuals. Therefore, patients lacking HFA may become challenging for transfusion support because compatible blood is hardly found, and if the patient carries alloantibodies, the cross-match will be positive with virtual every red cell unit tested. METHODS: In this study, we applied high-throughput blood group SNP genotyping on >37,000 Swiss blood donors, intending to identify homozygous carriers of low-frequency blood group antigens (LFA). RESULTS: 326 such individuals were identified and made available to transfusion specialists for future support of patients in need of rare blood products. CONCLUSION: Thorough comparison of minor allele frequencies using population genetics revealed heterogeneity of allele distributions among Swiss blood donors which may be explained by the topographical and cultural peculiarities of Switzerland. Moreover, geographically localized donor subpopulations are described which contain above-average numbers of individuals carrying rare blood group genotypes.

Current hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in Swiss blood donors and apparent decline from 1997 to 2016.

Background and aimHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a virus of emerging importance to transfusion medicine. Studies from several European countries, including Switzerland, have reported high seroprevalence of hepatitis E as a consequence of endemic infections. Published HEV seroprevalence estimates within developed countries vary considerably; primarily due to improved diagnostic assays. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in Swiss blood donations. Methods: We used the highly sensitive Wantai HEV IgG EIA and assessed regional distribution patterns. We analysed age- and sex-matched archive plasma dating back 20 years from canton Bern to investigate recent changes in HEV seroprevalence levels. Results: On average, 20.4% (95% confidence intervals: 19.1-21.8) of the 3,609 blood samples collected in 2014-16 were anti-HEV IgG positive; however, distinct differences between geographical regions were observed (range: 12.8-33.6%). Seroprevalence increased with age with 30.7% of males and 34.3% of women being positive donors over > 60 years old. Differences between sexes may be attributed to dissimilarities in the average age of this group. Within the specified region of the Bern canton, overall prevalence has declined over two decades from 30.3% in 1997/98 to 27.0% in 2006 and 22.3% in 2015/6. Conclusions: HEV seroprevalence in Switzerland is high, but has declined over the last decades. The result shows that primarily endemic HEV infections occur and that current blood products may pose a risk to vulnerable transfusion recipients. Nucleic acid screening of all blood products for HEV will begin in November 2018.

Red blood cell use in Switzerland: trends and demographic challenges.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have raised concerns that future demand for blood products may not be met. The ageing of the general population and the fact that a large proportion of blood products is transfused to elderly patients has been identified as an important driver of blood shortages. The aim of this study was to collect, for the first time, nationally representative data regarding blood donors and transfusion recipients in order to predict the future evolution of blood donations and red blood cell (RBC) use in Switzerland between 2014 and 2035. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood donor and transfusion recipient data, subdivided by the subjects' age and gender were obtained from Regional Blood Services and nine large, acute-care hospitals in various regions of Switzerland. Generalised additive regression models and time-series models with exponential smoothing were employed to estimate trends of whole blood donations and RBC transfusions. RESULTS: The trend models employed suggested that RBC demand could equal supply by 2018 and could eventually cause an increasing shortfall of up to 77,000 RBC units by 2035. DISCUSSION: Our study highlights the need for continuous monitoring of trends of blood donations and blood transfusions in order to take proactive measures aimed at preventing blood shortages in Switzerland. Measures should be taken to improve donor retention in order to prevent a further erosion of the blood donor base.

Too Many Blood Donors - Response Bias in the Swiss Health Survey 2012.

BACKGROUND: Data on blood donor status obtained from general surveys and health interview surveys have been widely used. However, the integrity of data on self-reported blood donor status from surveys may be threatened by sampling and non-sampling error. Our study aimed to compare self-reported blood donors (including one-time as well as regular donors) from the Swiss Health Survey 2012 (SHS) with register-based blood donors recorded by blood establishments and evaluate the direction and magnitude of bias in the SHS. METHODS: We compared population-weighted SHS point estimates of the number of blood donors with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals to the respective figures from blood donor registries (birth cohorts 1978-1993) and estimates of donors based on period donor tables derived from blood donor registries (birth cohorts 1920-1993). RESULTS: In the birth cohorts 1978-1993, the SHS-predicted number of donors was 1.8 times higher than the respective number of donors based on registry data. Adjusting for foreign and naturalized Swiss nationals that immigrated after their 18th birthday, the SHS overall predicted number of donors was 1.6 times higher. Similarly, SHS estimates for the 1920-1993 birth cohorts were 2.4 and 2.1 times higher as compared to register-based estimates. Generally, the differences between SHS and register-based donors were more pronounced in men than in women. CONCLUSION: Self-reported blood donor status in the SHS is biased. Estimates of blood donors are substantially higher than respective estimates based on blood donor registries.

Adverse events and retention of donors of double red cell units by apheresis.

BACKGROUND: Safety of double-erythrocyte (2RBC) collection and reasons for ceasing 2RBC donation were retrospectively analysed in the blood donor population of Basel, Switzerland. METHODS: Donors with at least 1 2RBC apheresis were included in the study. Minimal requirements were Hb ≥140 g/L and body weight ≥70 kg; serum ferritin (SF) values were measured routinely, but were not part of the selection criteria. 2RBC collections were performed with ALYX devices at 6-month intervals. Adverse events (AEs) were systematically recorded and classified according to the ISBT EHN 2008 criteria. Data of procedures were retrieved from the ALYX software. Demographics, apheresis data and AEs were analysed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Data of 4,377 2RBC aphereses performed in 793 donors (779 males) between 1(st) January 2003 and 31(st) May 2015 were evaluated. Mean donor age at first 2RBC donation was 44 years (standard deviation [SD] 21), median number of donations was 4 (interquartile range [IQR] 8); 32% of the donors underwent a single procedure. There were 161 AEs, mostly local haematomas (55%) and vasovagal reactions (20%); fatigue was reported in 6% of the cases and was more frequent than citrate toxicity. Two severe AEs were observed. The most frequent reasons for abandoning 2RBC donation were low SF levels and donor choice (both 11%), but most donors simply did not reply to invitations (16%). Overall, procedure-related causes (AEs, low SF levels, no time for apheresis, inadequate venous access) were observed in 14% of the cases. At the end of the observation period, 40% of the donors were still active blood donors, but only 20% were donating 2RBC. DISCUSSION: 2RBC donation is overall safe. Donor retention was low over a period of 11 years. An important reason for abandoning 2RBC was the detection of low SF levels. The impact of fatigue on donor retention and the course of iron stores after repeated 6-monthly 2RBC apheresis require further investigation.

PRO-ONKO-selection of patient-reported outcome assessments for the clinical use in cancer patients-a mixed-method multicenter cross-sectional exploratory study.

PURPOSE: Cancer patients frequently suffer from multiple symptoms often impairing functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A comprehensive assessment including patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is recommended to enable individualized supportive care. However, PRO assessments are still not part of routine clinical practice. Therefore, this project aimed to compile an item pool from validated assessment instruments to facilitate the use of PROs for clinical decision-making in oncology clinics. METHODS: This qualitative dominant mixed-method cross-sectional exploratory study was carried out in four centers and comprised two stages. Stage I: Six interdisciplinary focus groups were conducted to choose questionnaires meeting particular clinical requirements. Stage II: Adult patients with heterogeneous cancer diagnoses, receiving in- or out-patient treatment were asked to participate and complete the chosen questionnaires (participation 71/74). Resulting PROs were compared with clinical records. Health care professionals (HCPs) and patients rated the usefulness for routine clinical practice. RESULTS: The European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and Distress Thermometer were chosen for screening and M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) and EORTC single items for monitoring. Comparison of n = 88 PRO assessments with clinical records showed consistent documentation of side effects like fever and emesis. Symptoms like fatigue, sadness, or sleep disturbance were not documented regularly in the medical records but captured by PRO assessments. Patients and HCPs judged the chosen questionnaires and electronic data collection as useful. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies should examine how PROs can complement or substitute routine documentation in order to achieve standardized assessment and documentation during the treatment process in different settings and examine possible benefits for patients.

Platelet transfusion: basic aspects.

Platelet transfusions have been shown to prevent major haemorrhage and improve survival in thrombocytopenic patients. Since then, advances in the preparation of platelet components, including the introduction of pathogen reduction techniques, have been achieved. The number of transfused platelet components is still growing owing to the increasing number of patients treated for haemato-oncological diseases. Additionally, indications have been extended, for example to patients with drug-induced platelet dysfunction. This review focuses on current platelet component production and storage techniques, including pathogen reduction, indications for platelet transfusion and safety issues including alloimmunisation and management of platelet refractoriness.