Ethical climate and intention to leave among critical care clinicians: an observational study in 68 intensive care units across Europe and the United States.

Purpose: Apart from organizational issues, quality of inter-professional collaboration during ethical decision-making may affect the intention to leave one's job. To determine whether ethical climate is associated with the intention to leave after adjustment for country, ICU and clinicians characteristics.

Methods: Perceptions of the ethical climate among clinicians working in 68 adult ICUs in 12 European countries and the US were measured using a self-assessment questionnaire, together with job characteristics and intent to leave as a sub-analysis of the Dispropricus study.

Ethical decision-making climate in the ICU: theoretical framework and validation of a self-assessment tool.

Background: Literature depicts differences in ethical decision-making (EDM) between countries and intensive care units (ICU).

Objectives: To better conceptualise EDM climate in the ICU and to validate a tool to assess EDM climates.

Methods: Using a modified Delphi method, we built a theoretical framework and a self-assessment instrument consisting of 35 statements.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcome in a large multicentre observational cohort of PDGFRA exon 18 mutated gastrointestinal stromal tumour patients.

Purpose: Patients, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) D842V-mutated gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are known for their insensitivity to imatinib. However, in clinical practice responses have been observed in some patients. We describe the natural history and treatment outcomes in a cohort of PDGFRA exon 18 mutated GIST patients.

Metallic Taste in Cancer Patients Treated with Systemic Therapy: A Questionnaire-based Study.

A metallic taste is reported by cancer patients as a side effect of systemic therapy. Despite the high prevalence, this taste alteration has received limited attention. The present study investigated: 1) the prevalence of metallic taste in cancer patients treated with systemic therapy; 2) possible predictors of metallic taste; and 3) characteristics of metallic taste.

Nuclear COMMD1 Is Associated with Cisplatin Sensitivity in Ovarian Cancer.

Copper metabolism MURR1 domain 1 (COMMD1) protein is a multifunctional protein, and its expression has been correlated with patients' survival in different types of cancer. In vitro studies revealed that COMMD1 plays a role in sensitizing cancer cell lines to cisplatin, however, the mechanism and its role in platinum sensitivity in cancer has yet to be established. We evaluated the role of COMMD1 in cisplatin sensitivity in A2780 ovarian cancer cells and the relation between COMMD1 expression and response to platinum-based therapy in advanced stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients.

Predictors of enduring clinical distress in women with breast cancer.

To date, little is known about enduring clinical distress as measured with the commonly used distress thermometer. We therefore used the distress thermometer to examine: (a) the prevalence of enduring clinical distress, distress-related problems, and subsequent wish for referral of women with breast cancer, and (b) sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of enduring clinical distress. The study had a multicenter, prospective, observational design.

Don't forget the dentist: Dental care use and needs of women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Patients with breast cancer may develop dental problems due to treatment. We examined the prevalence of their dental care use and needs, compared the prevalence of use with that of the general population, and examined which factors predict patients' dental care use.

Methods: Patients with primary breast cancer completed a questionnaire at 6 and 15 months post-diagnosis.

Taste and smell function in testicular cancer survivors treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in relation to dietary intake, food preference, and body composition.

Background: Chemotherapy can affect taste and smell function. This may contribute to the high prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome in testicular cancer survivors (TCS). Aims of the study were to evaluate taste and smell function and possible consequences for dietary intake, food preference, and body composition in TCS treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

The palatability of oral nutritional supplements: before, during, and after chemotherapy.

Purpose: Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are commonly prescribed to malnourished patients to improve their nutritional status. Taste and smell changes in patients with cancer can affect the palatability of ONS. The present study investigated: (1) the palatability of six ONS in testicular cancer patients before, during the first two cycles, and after chemotherapy; (2) the relation between the palatability and taste and smell function; (3) the metallic taste of these ONS.

Internet-based support programs to alleviate psychosocial and physical symptoms in cancer patients: a literature analysis.

In this review the effect of internet-based support programs on psychosocial and physical symptoms resulting from cancer diagnosis and treatment is analyzed. Selection of studies was based on the following criteria: (non-)randomized controlled trials, performed in adult cancer patients, comparing quantitative psychosocial and/or physical outcomes of an internet-based support program with (a) comparison group(s). Literature search yielded 2032 studies of which 16 fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

Assessment of estrogen receptor expression in epithelial ovarian cancer patients using 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-estradiol PET/CT.

Unlabelled: The estrogen receptor α (ERα) is expressed in approximately 70% of ovarian cancer tumors. PET of tumor ERα expression with the tracer 16α-(18)F-fluoro-17β-estradiol ((18)F-FES) may be valuable to select ovarian cancer patients for endocrine therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of (18)F-FES PET to determine tumor ERα expression noninvasively in epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

Radical surgery in patients with residual disease after (chemo)radiation for cervical cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine possible impact of routinely scheduled biopsies and more radical surgery for residual central disease in locally advanced cervical cancer after (chemo)radiation.

Methods/materials: Data were analyzed of a consecutive series of cervical cancer patients (The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IB1-IVA) treated with (chemo) radiation between 1994 and 2011. Patients underwent gynecologic examination with biopsies 8 to 10 weeks after treatment.

Dexamethasone for the prevention of a pain flare after palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases: a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Background: Radiotherapy has a good effect in palliation of painful bone metastases, with a pain response rate of more than 60%. However, shortly after treatment, in approximately 40% of patients a temporary pain flare occurs, which is defined as a two-point increase of the worst pain score on an 11-point rating scale compared to baseline, without a decrease in analgesic intake, or a 25% increase in analgesic intake without a decrease in worst pain score, compared to baseline. A pain flare has a negative impact on daily functioning and mood of patients.

Inappropriate care in European ICUs: confronting views from nurses and junior and senior physicians.

Background: ICU care providers often feel that the care given to a patient may be inconsistent with their professional knowledge or beliefs. This study aimed to assess differences in, and reasons for, perceived inappropriate care (PIC) across ICU care providers with varying levels of decision-making power.

Methods: We present subsequent analysis from the Appropricus Study, a cross-sectional study conducted on May 11, 2010, which included 1,218 nurses and 180 junior and 227 senior physicians in 82 European adult ICUs.

Effect of age on response to palliative radiotherapy and quality of life in patients with painful bone metastases.

Background: Multimorbidity and declining performance in elderly cancer patients may result in less treatment benefit. We investigated whether age is a predictor for pain response and quality of life (QoL) after radiotherapy in patients with painful bone metastases.

Methods: The database of the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study was used (1996-1999).

Positron emission tomography imaging of oestrogen receptor-expression in endometrial stromal sarcoma supports oestrogen receptor-targeted therapy: case report and review of the literature.

Although the majority of endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) express oestrogen receptor (ER), data on the efficacy of ER-targeted therapies are scarce. Using PubMed search engine we identified nine case reports and small series in a total of 25 patients reporting on the efficacy of palliative ER-targeted therapies. Literature supports the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors after the failure of progestins, but not of the partial ER-antagonist tamoxifen.

Heart rate variability parameters do not correlate with pain intensity in healthy volunteers.

Objective: When patients cannot indicate pain, physiological parameters may be useful. We tested whether heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, as reflection of sympathetic and vagal tone, can be used to quantify pain intensity.

Design: Prospective study.

Measurement of tumor VEGF-A levels with 89Zr-bevacizumab PET as an early biomarker for the antiangiogenic effect of everolimus treatment in an ovarian cancer xenograft model.

Purpose: The mTOR pathway is frequently activated in ovarian cancers. mTOR inhibitors, such as everolimus, can reduce VEGF-A production by cancer cells. We investigated whether early everolimus treatment effects could be monitored by positron emission tomography (PET) with (89)Zr-bevacizumab.

Surgical management of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background: Five percent of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are primarily localized in the rectum. We analyzed the outcome of multimodality treatment for rectal GIST in a multicenter retrospective series.

Methods: All surgically treated patients with a rectal GIST were identified from four specialized centers in the Netherlands.

Sexual functioning of cervical cancer survivors: a review with a female perspective.

Objective: Sex is an important, often deteriorated, dimension of quality of life after cancer treatment. We conducted a systematic review on sexual functioning of cervical cancer survivors.

Methods: Studies between January 1988 and April 2010 were rated on their internal validity.

Multiple VEGF family members are simultaneously expressed in ovarian cancer: a proposed model for bevacizumab resistance.

Objective: Insight into the expression of multiple vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members can support the implementation of anti-angiogenic therapy. This study aimed to assess VEGF family member expression in ovarian cancers and related omental metastases.

Methods: Tissue microarrays encompassing 270 primary cancers and 112 paired metastases were immunostained for VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C and VEGF-D.

Translating TRAIL-receptor targeting agents to the clinic.

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway can be activated by the endogenous ligand TRAIL (Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand) by binding to the death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 on the cell surface. This pathway is currently evaluated as an anticancer treatment strategy. Both recombinant human TRAIL and several agonistic antibodies against TRAIL-R1 and R2 have been studied in single agent and combination studies and proved to be safe and well tolerated.

Turning promise into progress for antiangiogenic agents in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Despite efforts to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy in epithelial ovarian cancer, outcome for patients with advanced disease has remained unchanged since the introduction of standard carboplatin and paclitaxel. Interest has therefore shifted toward molecularly targeted therapies that interfere with important features of ovarian carcinogenesis, such as angiogenesis. Several angiogenesis inhibitors, targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ligands (bevacizumab, VEGF-Trap) or their receptors (VEGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors) have been clinically evaluated.