Anti-thymocyte globulin exposure in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation improves event-free survival and lung function and reduces skin thickening in patients with progressive diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Anti-thymocyte globulin is a key lymphoablative constituent of conditioning protocols and is administered in a weight-based dosage. However, whether anti-thymocyte globulin exposure contributes to response to autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and lymphocyte reconstitution in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis patients is unknown.

Is poor sleep quality associated with poor neurocognitive outcome in cancer survivors? A systematic review.

Purpose: Cancer-related neurocognitive impairment and poor sleep are prevalent in cancer survivors and have a negative impact on their quality of life. This systematic review studies the association between sleep disturbance and neurocognitive functioning, as well as the potential positive effects of sleep interventions on neurocognitive functioning in cancer survivors. In addition, we aimed at determining the potential positive effects of sleep interventions on neurocognitive functioning in this population.

A Web-Based Lifestyle Intervention Aimed at Improving Cognition in Patients With Cancer Returning to Work in an Outpatient Setting: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A high percentage of patients with cancer experience cognitive impairment after cancer treatment, resulting in a decreased health-related quality of life and difficulty returning to work. Consequently, there is a need for effective treatment options to improve cognitive functioning in these patients. In a healthy aging population, multidomain web-based lifestyle interventions have been found to be effective in preventing cognitive decline and improving cognitive functioning.

Objective neurocognitive functioning and neurocognitive complaints in patients with high-grade glioma: Evidence of cognitive awareness from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer brain tumour clinical trials.

Background: Neurocognitively impaired patients with brain tumour are presumed to have reduced cognitive awareness preventing them from adequately valuing and reporting their own functioning, for instance, when providing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) such as health-related quality of life instruments. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed at assessing the concordance of neurocognitive complaints (NCCs) and objective neurocognitive functioning (NCF) as a measure of cognitive awareness.

Methods: NCF was assessed using an internationally accepted clinical trial battery.

Memory in low-grade glioma patients treated with radiotherapy or temozolomide: a correlative analysis of EORTC study 22033-26033.

Background: EORTC study 22033-26033 showed no difference in progression-free survival between high-risk low-grade glioma receiving either radiotherapy (RT) or temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy alone as primary treatment. Considering the potential long-term deleterious impact of RT on memory functioning, this study aims to determine whether TMZ is associated with less impaired memory functioning.

Methods: Using the Visual Verbal Learning Test (VVLT), memory functioning was evaluated at baseline and subsequently every 6 months.