scholarly journals What Do Oncology Patients Know and Think About Apitherapy?

Author(s):  
Mehtap KAVURMACI ◽  
IDRIS YILDIZ

Abstract Purpose In clinical practice, the use of apitherapy products in the treatment of oncology patients is not very common. For this reason, it is extremely important for cancer patients to have accurate information about apitherapy and to use these products in a controlled manner. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge level of oncology patients about apitherapy, their use of apitherapy products and their opinions about these products.Methods This descriptive research was carried out between January 2019 and January 2020 at the oncology unit of a university hospital. Power analysis was used to determine the sample size of the study, and a total of 87 patients constituted the sample of the research with a confidence interval of 85%. A questionnaire consisting of questions investigating the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and their knowledge, opinions and practices about apitherapy was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the SPSS 21 package program. Results The level of knowledge of the patients about apitherapy is quite low (41.4%) and they received the information they gained from their family/friends (63.9%). The rate of use of apitherapy products by patients is low (27.6%) and the most frequently used product is honey (37.4%). Patients think that more scientific evidence is needed for the use of apitherapy methods in cancer patients (83.9%).Conclusions Healthcare professionals should conduct more scientific research on the use of apitherapy products in cancer treatment and inform patients about the usage areas and risks of apitherapy.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bangaly Traore ◽  
Thierno Souleymane Bah ◽  
Fode Amara Traore ◽  
Mamadou Saliou Sow ◽  
Solomana Diane ◽  
...  

Aim. To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients seen at the surgical oncology unit of Donka (Conakry, Guinea).Method. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study of HIV infection in cancer patients from May 2007 to December 2012. Social characteristics (age, gender, marital status, and education) and immune status (HIV type, CD4 count) were reviewed.Results. Out of 2598 cancer patients, 54 (2.1%) tested positive for HIV. There were 11 (20.4%) defining AIDS and 43 (79.6%) nondefining AIDS cancers. The most frequent cancers were breast (14) (26.0%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (6) (11.1%), liver (6) (11.1%), eye and annexes (6) (11.1%), and cervical cancer (5) (9.3%). These patients were female in 34 (63.0%) and had a median age of 39 years and body mass index was 20,3 Kg/m2. They were unschooled in 40 (74.1%) and married in 35 (64.8%). CD4 count showed a median of 317 cells/mL. Antiretroviral treatment was performed in 40 (74.1%).Conclusion. HIV prevalence is higher in patients in our unit of surgical oncology. Breast cancer was the most common in this association. A national survey of a large sample is needed to determine the true prevalence and impact of HIV on cancer prognosis.


2010 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 489-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaid H Baqain ◽  
Faleh A Sawair ◽  
Zaid Tamimi ◽  
Nazzal Bsoul ◽  
Ghazi Al Edwan ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION We describe our experience with oncology patients on a frequent dosing schedule of intravenous (i.v.) bisphosphonates at the Jordan University Hospital (JUH). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients treated by i.v. bisphosphonates in the medical oncology unit at the JUH were examined for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). Diagnosis was made according to the guidelines of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) original position paper. RESULTS Of the 41 patients, four developed BRONJ, two in maxilla, one in mandible and one bimaxillary. Patients with BRONJ were older; mean age was 69.3 ±3.1 years compared to 62.8 ± 12.5 years (P = 0.022). Dental co-morbidities were more commonly present in patients with the disease (P = 0.038). Patients who developed BRONJ were on treatment for a longer duration of time; the mean duration of treatment was 23.5 ± 8.4 months compared to 11.9 ± 13.4 months (P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS The results of this case series demonstrated that age and poor oral health status are significant risk factors of BRONJ for oncology patients on long-term frequent dosing schedule of i.v. bisphosphonates.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097603
Author(s):  
Cinzia Mazzini ◽  
Giulia Pieretti ◽  
Giulio Vicini ◽  
Cristina Nicolosi ◽  
Dario Giattini ◽  
...  

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has imposed the adoption of strategies to limit the risk of contagion for cancer patients without compromising their healthcare. As well as cancers of other sites, the treatment of certain ocular and periocular malignancies is considered non-deferrable and should proceed despite the pandemic. Delays in treatment of these patients may result in negative outcomes. Herein, we provide some practical considerations deriving from our experience at the Ocular Oncology Unit of Careggi University Hospital (Florence, Italy).


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20503-e20503
Author(s):  
Perran Fulden Yumuk ◽  
Benan Kahraman ◽  
Merve Yilmaz ◽  
Melike Koyyeri ◽  
Merve Binici ◽  
...  

e20503 Background: To determine lifestyle changes in cancer patients after the diagnosis of malignancy. Methods: Between March 16th and September 30th, 2011, a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was administered via a face-to-face interview to 150 patients at the Marmara University Hospital Oncology Unit. Each patient was queried during the administration of their chemotherapy. Six of the questions were independent choices, and 14 were dependent (multiple choice). A local ethical committee approval is obtained. Results: Of the 150 patients, 70 (46%) were male and 80 were female, and their median age was 55 (range 22-82) years old. An unusually large percentage (28%) of the patients reported that they did not know their diagnosis, and in another question 25% reported that they did not want to talk about their illness. Following their diagnosis, 71% of males and 50% of females reported that they were complying with guidelines for a healthy lifestyle, and 19% of the patients said that they were eating healthier food. At the time they filled out the questionnaire, 61% said that they were hopeful; however, close to 10% said that they felt hopeless. Approximately 53% of the participants said that following their diagnosis, they had a more sympathetic view of the underserved and underprivileged. Conclusions: It was surprising that an unexpectedly high percentage of the respondents reported that they did not make any changes in their lifestyles after their diagnosis of cancer, including eating healthier food. It appears Turkish cancer patients are coping with cancer in different means and ways than we expected of them.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Nursyamsi Nursyamsi ◽  
Habibah Setyawati Muhiddin ◽  
Gonardy Jennifer

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness that rises significantly each year  along with the increasing diabetic population. It is estimated that 1 out of 3 people with diabetes will suffer from DR and 1 in 10 of them will be threatened with blindness. The main problem on DR management is the delay in diagnosis since most patients in the early stages do not experience visual impairment.Methods: Descriptive research was conducted over three months on 175 patients diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) within the Internal Medicine Clinic at Hasanuddin University Hospital. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess knowledge of DR amongst the diabetic patients.Results: The level of DR knowledge among type 2 DM was split into three categories. The level of knowledge on DM complication was within the good category for 109 patients (61.6%), whilst the level of knowledge on DR screening was within the the sufficient category for 150 patients (84.7%) and knowledge on DR management was within the good category for 98 patients (55.4%). Although the level of knowledge was categorized good for the majority of respondents, the remaining 45 (25.4%) respondents had never done DR screening, and most patients (57.1%) believed that DM patients tend not to screen due to the lack of knowledge about DR.Conclusion: In general, patients with type 2 DM have a good level of knowledge about diabetic retinopathy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
I. Pabinger ◽  
C. Ay

SummaryVenous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, and its prevention is of major clinical importance. However, the VTE rates in the cancer population vary between 0.5% - 20%, depending on cancer-, treatment- and patient-related factors. The most important contributors to VTE risk are the tumor entity, stage and certain anticancer treatments. Cancer surgery represents a strong risk factor for VTE, and medical oncology patients are at increased risk of developing VTE, especially when receiving chemotherapy or immunomodulatory drugs. Also biomarkers have been investigated for their usefulness to predict risk of VTE (e.g. elevated leukocyte and platelet counts, soluble P-selectin, D-dimer, etc.). In order to identify cancer patients at high risk of VTE and to improve risk stratification, risk assessment models have been developed, which contain both clinical parameters and biomarkers. While primary thromboprophylaxis with lowmolecular- weight-heparin (LMWH) is recommended postoperatively for a period of up to 4 weeks after major cancer surgery, the evidence is less clear for medical oncology patients. Thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medical oncology patients is advocated, and is based on results of randomized controlled trials which evaluated the efficacy and safety of LMWH for prevention of VTE in hospitalized medically ill patients. In recent trials the benefit of primary thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in the ambulatory setting has been investigated. However, at the present stage primary thromboprophylaxis for prevention of VTE in these patients is still a matter of debate and cannot be recommended for all cancer outpatients.


Author(s):  
Abdullah Kabbani ◽  
Abdulwahab Albuali ◽  
Musaad Aljughaiman ◽  
Abdullah Alfrayyan ◽  
Abdulrahman Althomali ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Da Hyun Kang ◽  
Chaeuk Chung ◽  
Pureum Sun ◽  
Da Hye Lee ◽  
Song-I Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the standard of care for a variety of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we investigated the frequency of pseudoprogression and hyperprogression in lung cancer patients treated with ICIs in the real world and aimed to discover a novel candidate marker to distinguish pseudoprogression from hyperprogression soon after ICI treatment. Methods This study included 74 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors at Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH) between January 2018 and August 2020. Chest X-rays were examined on day 7 after the first ICI dose to identify changes in the primary mass, and the response was assessed by computed tomography (CT). We evaluated circulating regulatory T (Treg) cells using flow cytometry and correlated the findings with clinical outcomes. Results The incidence of pseudoprogression was 13.5%, and that of hyperprogression was 8.1%. On day 7 after initiation of treatment, the frequency of CD4+CD25+CD127loFoxP3+ Treg cells was significantly decreased compared with baseline (P = 0.038) in patients who experienced pseudoprogression and significantly increased compared with baseline (P = 0.024) in patients who experienced hyperprogression. In the responder group, the frequencies of CD4+CD25+CD127loFoxP3+ Treg cells and PD-1+CD4+CD25+CD127loFoxP3+ Treg cells were significantly decreased 7 days after commencement of treatment compared with baseline (P = 0.034 and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Circulating Treg cells represent a promising potential dynamic biomarker to predict efficacy and differentiate atypical responses, including pseudoprogression and hyperprogression, after immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 484
Author(s):  
Wasan Katip ◽  
Suriyon Uitrakul ◽  
Peninnah Oberdorfer

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is one of the most commonly reported nosocomial infections in cancer patients and could be fatal because of suboptimal immune defenses in these patients. We aimed to compare clinical response, microbiological response, nephrotoxicity, and 30-day mortality between cancer patients who received short (<14 days) and long (≥14 days) courses of colistin for treatment of CRAB infection. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in cancer patients with CRAB infection who received short or long courses of colistin between 2015 to 2017 at Chiang Mai University Hospital (CMUH). A total of 128 patients met the inclusion criteria. The results of this study show that patients who received long course of colistin therapy had a higher rate of clinical response; adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 3.16 times in patients receiving long-course colistin therapy (95%CI, 1.37–7.28; p value = 0.007). Microbiological response in patients with long course was 4.65 times (adjusted OR) higher than short course therapy (95%CI, 1.72–12.54; p value = 0.002). Moreover, there was no significant difference in nephrotoxicity (adjusted OR, 0.91, 95%CI, 0.39–2.11; p value = 0.826) between the two durations of therapy. Thirty-day mortality in the long-course therapy group was 0.11 times (adjusted OR) compared to the short-course therapy group (95%CI, 0.03–0.38; p value = 0.001). Propensity score analyses also demonstrated similar results. In conclusion, cancer patients who received a long course of colistin therapy presented greater clinical and microbiological responses and lower 30-day mortality but similar nephrotoxicity as compared with those who a received short course. Therefore, a long course of colistin therapy should be considered for management of CRAB infection in cancer patients.


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