Acute Malnutrition among Children at Time of Cancer Diagnosis at a Paediatric Oncology Centre in South West Uganda

Background: Acute malnutrition is a frequent comorbidity in children with cancer and is associated with poor cancer treatment outcomes.This study describes the prevalence of acute malnutrition and its predictors at time of cancer diagnosis at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH). Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of children <15 years of age at diagnosis of cancer seen at the Children’s Cancer Unit of MRRH between May 2017 and May 2019. Using a data extraction tool, information regarding demographics, anthropometry at admission and cancer diagnosis was extracted from the children’s medical records. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the prevalence and patterns of acute malnutrition among children at diagnosis of cancer and the factors associated with acute malnutrition, respectively. The study was approved by the Mbarara University of Science and Technology Research and Ethics Committee. Results: One hundred and thirty-three children were included in the study with a mean age of 6.6 years (SD 3.9).54.9% of the children were male. Overall, 46 (34.6%) of subjects had acute malnutrition at time of cancer diagnosis. Of these, 25 (54.3%) had moderate acute malnutrition and 21/46 (45.7%) had severe acute malnutrition.The factors independently associated with acute malnutrition after multivariate logistical regression analysis were age >5 years (p<0.0001) and reduced appetite (p=0.002). Conclusion: Acute malnutrition is common among children with cancer at diagnosis, especially in older children and those reporting poor appetite. Nutrition assessment and care should be incorporated into routine childhood cancer care to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

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Reflections on the experiences of attending peer support groups for fathers of children with cancer

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/13591045211038668 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910452110386

Author(s):

Sarah-Jane Archibald ◽

Diana Luk ◽

Susan Potts ◽

Sally Davis ◽

Angela Kirby

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Group Structure ◽

Well Being ◽

Service Evaluation ◽

Paediatric Oncology ◽

Small Scale ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Set Up

Fathers appear to be less researched than mothers, in particular with regard to their emotional well-being during their child’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study investigates a small-scale service evaluation of a father’s support group for fathers of children with cancer in a paediatric oncology and haematology service. The group was set up in October 2017 to enable a safe and supportive reflective space for fathers of children with cancer. The group was open to fathers with a child on the ward on treatment, as well as fathers with children out of treatment, and in remission in the community. Data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. A number of themes are identified and discussed, including the emotional impact, ways of coping, gender roles, loss and feeling part of an oncology family. The fathers valued hearing each other’s stories about their child’s cancer diagnosis and experiences as this appeared to empower them in helping each other to feel a sense of normalisation for their feelings. They appreciated the group structure and discussed further ways for group improvement. Suggestions are made for developing services to meet emotional support needs of fathers of children with cancer.

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The Balancing Act: Mothers’ Experiences of Providing Care to Their Children With Cancer

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing ◽

10.1177/1043454218794667 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 439-446

Author(s):

Monica L. Molinaro ◽

Paula C. Fletcher

Keyword(s):

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Pediatric Cancer ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Treatment Process ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Entire Family ◽

Southern Ontario ◽

Family Unit

The effect of pediatric cancer and its treatment are overwhelming—these effects are multifaceted and felt by the entire family unit throughout the diagnosis and treatment process. Children experience a plethora of effects as a result of the treatment process; however, it is imperative to remember that a pediatric cancer diagnosis affects parents physically, emotionally, and psychologically as well. While much of the pediatric cancer treatment occurs at the hospital or in clinics, parents are often faced with additional caregiving responsibilities at home, and in many cases, it is mothers who provide care to their children, while also attempting to care for the siblings of their ill children. This secondary data analysis examines the caregiving responsibilities of mothers from Southern Ontario, Canada, during the time from diagnosis to after their children’s pediatric cancer treatment. Three subthemes emerged from the overall theme of caregiving: (1) “We tried to do as much as we could outside of the clinic,” (2) “I had to be there for everything,” and (3) “Most of the time we relied on other people.” Each will be discussed in turn. The findings from this work provides insight to health care professionals on how to create or improve the current supports and resources provided to caregivers of children with cancer.

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Recent Advances of Silver Nanoparticles in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520619666190710121727 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

pp. 1276-1287 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tran Q. Huy ◽

Pham T.M. Huyen ◽

Anh-Tuan Le ◽

Matteo Tonezzer

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Essential Role ◽

Review Paper ◽

Diagnosis And Treatment ◽

Antimicrobial Material ◽

Pathogenic Agents ◽

New Generation ◽

Carrier Systems

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are well-known as a promising antimicrobial material; they have been widely used in many commercial products against pathogenic agents. Despite a growing concern regarding the cytotoxicity, AgNPs still have attracted considerable interest worldwide to develop a new generation of diagnostic tool and effective treatment solution for cancer cells. Objective: This paper aims to review the advances of AgNPs applied for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The database has been collected, screened and analysed through up-to-date scientific articles published from 2007 to May 2019 in peer-reviewed international journals. Results: The findings of the database have been analysed and divided into three parts of the text that deal with AgNPs in cancer diagnosis, their cytotoxicity, and the role as carrier systems for cancer treatment. Thanks to their optical properties, high conductivity and small size, AgNPs have been demonstrated to play an essential role in enhancing signals and sensitivity in various biosensing platforms. Furthermore, AgNPs also can be used directly or developed as a drug delivery system for cancer treatment. Conclusion: The review paper will help readers understand more clearly and systematically the role and advances of AgNPs in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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First Attempts of the Use of 195Pt NMR of Phenylbenzothiazole Complexes as Spectroscopic Technique for the Cancer Diagnosis

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24213970 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (21) ◽

pp. 3970 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bruna T. L. Pereira ◽

Mateus A. Gonçalves ◽

Daiana T. Mancini ◽

Kamil Kuca ◽

Teodorico C. Ramalho

Keyword(s):

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Density Functional ◽

Chemical Shifts ◽

Chloride Ion ◽

Platinum Complexes ◽

Dft Method ◽

Ion Concentration ◽

Implicit Solvent ◽

Early Cancer Diagnosis

Platinum complexes have been studied for cancer treatment for several decades. Furthermore, another important platinum characteristic is related to its chemical shifts, in which some studies have shown that the 195Pt chemical shifts are very sensitive to the environment, coordination sphere, and oxidation state. Based on this relevant feature, Pt complexes can be proposed as potential probes for NMR spectroscopy, as the chemical shifts values will be different in different tissues (healthy and damaged) Therefore, in this paper, the main goal was to investigate the behavior of Pt chemical shifts in the different environments. Calculations were carried out in vacuum, implicit solvent, and inside the active site of P13K enzyme, which is related with breast cancer, using the density functional theory (DFT) method. Moreover, the investigation of platinum complexes with a selective moiety can contribute to early cancer diagnosis. Accordingly, the Pt complexes selected for this study presented a selective moiety, the 2-(4′aminophenyl)benzothiazole derivative. More specifically, two Pt complexes were used herein: One containing chlorine ligands and one containing water in place of chlorine. Some studies have shown that platinum complexes coordinated to chlorine atoms may suffer hydrolyses inside the cell due to the low chloride ion concentration. Thus, the same calculations were performed for both complexes. The results showed that both complexes presented different chemical shift values in the different proposed environments. Therefore, this paper shows that platinum complexes can be a potential probe in biological systems, and they should be studied not only for cancer treatment, but also for diagnosis.

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Changes in Children’s Body Composition and Posture during Puberty Growth

Children ◽

10.3390/children8040288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 288

Author(s):

Wojciech Rusek ◽

Joanna Baran ◽

Justyna Leszczak ◽

Marzena Adamczyk ◽

Rafał Baran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Body Mass ◽

Pelvic Obliquity ◽

The Body ◽

Body Posture ◽

Older Children ◽

The Difference ◽

The Right

The main goal of our study was to determine how the age of children, puberty and anthropometric parameters affect the formation of body composition and faulty body posture development in children. The secondary goal was to determine in which body segments abnormalities most often occur and how gender differentiates the occurrence of adverse changes in children’s body posture and body composition during puberty. The study group consisted of 464 schoolchildren aged from 6–16. Body posture was assessed with the Zebris system. The composition of the body mass was tested with Tanita MC 780 MA body mass analyzer and the body height was measured using a portable stadiometer PORTSTAND 210. The participants were further divided due to the age of puberty. Tanner division was adopted. The cut-off age for girls is ≥10 years and for boys it is ≥12 years. The analyses applied descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation, stepwise regression analysis and the t-test. The accepted level of significance was p < 0.05. The pelvic obliquity was lower in older children (beta = −0.15). We also see that age played a significant role in the difference in the height of the right pelvis (beta = −0.28), and the difference in the height of the right shoulder (beta = 0.23). Regression analysis showed that the content of adipose tissue (FAT%) increased with body mass index (BMI) and decreased with increasing weight, age, and height. Moreover, the FAT% was lower in boys than in girls (beta negative equal to −0.39). It turned out that older children (puberty), had greater asymmetry in the right shoulder blade (p < 0.001) and right shoulder (p = 0.003). On the other hand, younger children (who were still before puberty) had greater anomalies in the left trunk inclination (p = 0.048) as well as in the pelvic obliquity (p = 0.008). Girls in puberty were characterized by greater asymmetry on the right side, including the shoulders (p = 0.001), the scapula (p = 0.001) and the pelvis (p < 0.001). In boys, the problem related only to the asymmetry of the shoulder blades (p < 0.001). Girls were characterized by a greater increase in adipose tissue and boys by muscle tissue. Significant differences also appeared in the body posture of the examined children. Greater asymmetry within scapulas and shoulders were seen in children during puberty. Therefore, a growing child should be closely monitored to protect them from the adverse consequences of poor posture or excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the body.

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EUROPEAN PAEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY OFF-PATENT MEDICINES CONSORTIUM (EPOC): A PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF DOXORUBICIN IN CHILDREN WITH CANCER

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2015-310148.14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 101 (1) ◽

pp. e1.6-e1

Author(s):

Miriam Krischke ◽

Alan V Boddy ◽

Georg Hempel ◽

Swantje Völler ◽

Nicolas André ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pharmacokinetic Study ◽

Cardiac Troponin ◽

Troponin T ◽

Paediatric Oncology ◽

Patient Acceptance ◽

Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Population Pharmacokinetic ◽

Older Children ◽

Treatment Regimens

BackgroundDoxorubicin is a key component of a number of treatment regimens used in paediatric oncology. The pharmacology data on which current dosing regimens are based are very limited.MethodsWe conducted a multicentre, multinational pharmacokinetic study investigating age-dependency in the clearance of doxorubicin in children with solid tumours and leukaemia. Blood samples for measurement of doxorubicin and its metabolite doxorubicinol were collected after 2 administrations, with 5 samples collected in children 3 yrs. A population pharmacokinetic approach was used for analysis, including pharmacogenetic covariates. NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin T were measured to evaluate their role as early indicators of cardiotoxicity.Results101 children could be recruited including 27 patients less than 3 years and among those 5 infants younger than 1 year. Overall, the patient acceptance of the trial was very good.Age dependence of doxorubicin clearance was demonstrated, with children less than 3 years having a lower clearance (21.1±5.8 l/h/m2) than older children (26.6±6.7 l/h/m2) (p=0.0004), after correcting for body weight. Pharmacogenetic variants, including those in transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes, had little influence on pharmacokinetic parameters.Natriuretic peptides plasma levels increased significantly shortly after doxorubicin administration, whereas cardiac troponin levels increased only with the administered cumulative anthracycline dose. Only limited correlation could be observed between their blood levels and doxorubicin pharmacokinetics.ConclusionThe paediatric need concerning missing PK-data could be addressed with limited burden for the patients. Empirically used dose adaptations for infants were found to be justified based on our PK analyses.

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Mucositis reduction with probiotics in children with cancer: a randomised-controlled feasibility study

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2020-319968 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. archdischild-2020-319968

Author(s):

Hadeel Hassan ◽

Sally Kinsey ◽

Bob Phillips

Keyword(s):

Direct Contact ◽

Randomised Controlled Trials ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Paediatric Oncology ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Patient Diary ◽

Registration Number ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

To Receive

BackgroundA recent systematic review and meta-analysis identified a paucity of randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of probiotics to reduce or prevent mucositis and infection in children with cancer.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the feasibility of undertaking an RCT and investigated the efficacy of probiotics for reducing or preventing mucositis and infection in children with cancers.SettingThe Paediatric Oncology and Haematology department at Leeds Teaching Hospital, UK.PatientsChildren aged 1 year or older, receiving chemotherapies likely to cause mucositis.InterventionsParticipants were randomised to receive the probiotic or placebo on day 1–14 of a chemotherapy cycle. Participants were also required to complete a patient diary for 21 days.Main outcome measuresTo assess whether it is feasible to recruit children diagnosed with cancer who are at risk of developing mucositis to an adequately powered RCT.ResultsBetween May and November 2019, 34 out of 39 eligible participants were approached. Ten patients were recruited (4 probiotic and 6 placebo) of which 2 participants withdrew. Seven participants partially completed the diary but only two participants completed 80% or more. Eligible participants appeared to prefer giving informal verbal feedback when in direct contact with research and healthcare professionals.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that recruitment needs to be improved prior to undertaking an adequately powered RCT.Trial registration numberNCT03785938.

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Integrative care for children with cancer. Project design for the development of an integrative care programme for use in paediatric oncology

Complementary Therapies in Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ctim.2018.10.005 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 247-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wiebke Stritter ◽

Britta Rutert ◽

Alfred Längler ◽

Angelika Eggert ◽

Christine Holmberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Paediatric Oncology ◽

Project Design ◽

Integrative Care ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Care Programme ◽

Cancer Project

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Digital Interventions to Support Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Systematic Review

JMIR Cancer ◽

10.2196/12071 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. e12071 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lisa McCann ◽

Kathryn Anne McMillan ◽

Gemma Pugh

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Digital Health ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Research Papers ◽

Digital Interventions ◽

Diagnosis Of Cancer

Background The last decade has seen an increase in the number of digital health interventions designed to support adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Objective The objective of this review was to identify, characterize, and fully assess the quality, feasibility, and efficacy of existing digital health interventions developed specifically for AYAs, aged between 13 and 39 years, living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. Methods Searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify digital health interventions designed specifically for AYA living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. Data on the characteristics and outcomes of each intervention were synthesized. Results A total of 4731 intervention studies were identified through the searches; 38 interventions (43 research papers) met the inclusion criteria. Most (20/38, 53%) were website-based interventions. Most studies focused on symptom management and medication adherence (15, 39%), behavior change (15, 39%), self-care (8, 21%), and emotional health (7, 18%). Most digital health interventions included multiple automated and communicative functions such as enriched information environments, automated follow-up messages, and access to peer support. Where reported (20, 53% of studies), AYAs’ subjective experience of using the digital platform was typically positive. The overall quality of the studies was found to be good (mean Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields scores >68%). Some studies reported feasibility outcomes (uptake, acceptability, and attrition) but were not sufficiently powered to comment on intervention effects. Conclusions Numerous digital interventions have been developed and designed to support young people living with and beyond a diagnosis of cancer. However, many of these interventions have yet to be deployed, implemented, and evaluated at scale.

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The Role of Physical Activity in Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life

10.21203/rs.3.rs-15957/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tayah M. Liska ◽

Angie Kolen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Adult Cancer Survivors

Abstract Purpose: As a result of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, many cancer survivors experience persistent physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that affect their quality of life. Physical activity has been identified as an intervention that may help to manage the side effects of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of physical activity on overall quality of life in adult cancer survivors. Methods: One-on-one semi structured interviews were conducted in person or via telephone with 13 adult (≥18 yrs) cancer survivors who had completed cancer treatment. Results: These cancer survivors described their physical activity as improving their physical functioning and mental health, as a means of positive social engagement, and adding positivity to their daily life. Conclusion: These results support the role of physical activity to enhance cancer survivors’ quality of life regardless of the individuals’ treatment(s) type, duration, or time since the end of active cancer treatment. Further research is warranted to (a) expand this research with a larger sample, (b) examine healthcare providers’ knowledge and application of exercise guidelines to cancer survivors in cancer care, and (c) explore implementation strategies for greater advocacy for healthcare providers to share the exercise recommendations with cancer survivors.

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