Racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of germline or somatic DNA sequencing among patients with advanced prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer.

We sought to determine racial and ethnic differences in perceptions (quality of communication, expectations, and concerns) of germline or somatic DNA sequencing (genomic profiling). Patients with prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer were surveyed using a questionnaire that assessed previous experience, beliefs, expectations, and concerns regarding genomic profiling. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to identify factors associated with patients' perceptions of genomic profiling. A total of 150 consecutive patients were enrolled. The majority were male (74%) with a mean age of 68 years old. Most patients underwent somatic testing (54%), 24% undertook germline testing, and 21% undertook both tests. Significant differences were found across racial and/or ethnicity concerning factors that could have influenced patients' decision to pursue genomic profiling, including ability to guide the type of treatment (White: 54.1% vs. other ethnic groups: 43.9%, p = 0.04) and potential to improve treatment response (White: 10.1% vs. other ethnic groups: 22.0%, p = 0.04). Other ethnic group of patients were more concerned about learning that the cancer was less treatable or aggressive (43.8% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.01) and anxious about what would be learnt from genomic profiling (34.4% vs. 21.3, p = 0.01) as compared to White patients. Our findings reinforce the importance of developing culturally tailored education to help patients participate actively in decisions about genomic profiling.

Changes in Perception of Cure Among Patients With Genitourinary Cancers Initiating Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: We explored changes in perceptions of cure among patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers starting Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This longitudinal study assessed patients before starting therapy and 3-months later with a questionnaire that included patient perceptions of ICIs and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety scale. General linear modeling was used to investigate changes in expectation of cure over time, and chi-square tests were used to determine the association between expectation of cure and perceptions of ICIs and anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were recruited (73% male, 84% diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma). The proportion of patients who possessed an accurate expectation of cure increased over time (55.6%-66.7%, P = .001). An accurate expectation of cure was associated with lower rates of anxiety over time. Patients with inaccurate expectation of cure reported more severe side effects and worse self-reported ECOG score at the follow-up assessment (P = .04). CONCLUSION: We found that patients with GU metastatic cancer treated with ICI therapy have increasingly accurate expectations of cure over time. Accurate expectation of cure is associated with decreased anxiety. Further research is needed to fully explore this dynamic over time and help inform interventions that can help patients develop accurate expectations.

Ethnobotanical survey of wild plants used in Gümüshane province (Turkey) / Estudio etnobotánico de plantas silvestres utilizadas en la provincia de Gümüshane (Turquía)

This study aimed to document the traditional uses of plants in Gümüshane province. Ethnobotanical data on 74 taxa from 135 informants were collected between March 2018 and September 2019. Data were analyzed using quantitative indices of use-value (UV), information consent factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL). The plants were used for different purposes, mainly for medicinal, food, and equipment. Malva neglecta, was the most used taxa for medicinal purposes. Polygonum aviculare was the most used taxon for food. Quercus petraea subsp. iberica and Pinus sylvestris were the most preferred species for equipment. Salvia verticillata, Rhamnus cathartica, Bilacunaria microcarpa, Taraxacum bessarabicum, Silene vulgaris, Carduus nutans, Helichrysum plicatum, Euphorbia esula subsp. tommasiniana, Thymus pubescens, and Phlomis herba-venti subsp. pungens are reported for the first time in the present study for various purposes.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo documentar los usos tradicionales de las plantas en la provincia de Gümüshane. Se recopilaron datos etnobotánicos sobre 74 taxones de 135 informantes entre marzo de 2018 y septiembre de 2019. Los datos se analizaron utilizando índices cuantitativos de valor de uso (UV), factor de consentimiento de información (ICF) y nivel de fidelidad (FL). Las plantas se utilizaron para diferentes propósitos, principalmente para uso medicinal, alimenticio y de equipamiento. Malva neglecta, fue el taxón más utilizado con fines medicinales. Polygonum aviculare fue el taxón más utilizado como alimento. Quercus petraea subesp. iberica y Pinus sylvestris fueron las especies preferidas para el equipamiento. Salvia verticillata, Rhamnus cathartica, Bilacunaria microcarpa, Taraxacum bessarabicum, Silene vulgaris, Carduus nutans, Helichrysum plicatum, Euphorbia esula subsp. tommasiniana, Thymus pubescens y Phlomis herba-venti subsp. pungens se reportan por primera vez en el presente estudio para varios propósitos.