Approaches to engage an aging, rural cohort in southern India during the COVID-19 crisis and the psychological impact of COVID-19 in this cohort.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic produced an unprecedented crisis across the world. Long-term cohort studies were stalled, including our longitudinal aging cohort study in rural India.

Methods: We describe approaches undertaken to engage with our cohort (n = 1830) through multiple rounds of calls and how we provided useful services to our subjects during the lockdown period.

COVID-19 associated multisystemic mucormycosis from India: a multicentric retrospective study on clinical profile, predisposing factors, cumulative mortality and factors affecting outcome.

Purpose: The clinical course of COVID-19 has been complicated by secondary infections, including bacterial and fungal infections. The rapid rise in the incidence of invasive mucormycosis in these patients is very much concerning. COVID-19-associated mucormycosis was detected in huge numbers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, with several predisposing factors indicated in its pathogenesis.

Associations of Uncertainty With Psychological Health and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Advanced Cancer.

Context: Older adults with advanced cancer face uncertainty related to their disease and treatment.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations of uncertainty with psychological health and quality of life (QoL) in older adults with advanced cancer.

Methods: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a national clustered geriatric assessment trial.

Willingness to bear adversity and beliefs about the curability of advanced cancer in older adults.

Background: Older patients with advanced cancer who are 100% certain they will be cured pose unique challenges for clinical decision making, but to the authors' knowledge, the prevalence and correlates of absolute certainty about curability (ACC) are unknown.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in a geriatric assessment trial. ACC was assessed by asking patients, "What do you believe are the chances that your cancer will go away and never come back with treatment?" Response options were 100% (coded as ACC), >50%, 50/50, <50%, 0%, and uncertain.

Efficacy of Split Schedule Versus Conventional Schedule Neoadjuvant Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NAC; 70 mg/m) is standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC). Many patients (pts) cannot receive cisplatin because of renal impairment, and administration of cisplatin 35 mg/m on day 1 + 8 or 1 + 2 (i.e.

Use of Inpatient Palliative Care Services in Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Critical Care Therapies.

Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), dialysis for acute kidney failure, and other critical care therapies (CCTs) are associated with a high risk for complications in patients with metastatic cancer. Inpatient palliative care (IPC) can assist in assessing patients' preferences for life-prolonging treatment at the end of life. This study investigated the use pattern of IPC, outcomes (in-hospital mortality, length of stay [LOS], discharge destination, and cost of care), and predictors of IPC use in patients with metastatic cancer who received CCTs.

Symptomatic lower urinary tract dysfunction in sacral agenesis: Potentially high risk?

Introduction: Sacral agenesis (SA) is a caudal regression anomaly that can cause neurogenic bladder but is not generally recognized as high risk. We studied the clinical presentation, upper urinary tract, bone and spine abnormalities, and urodynamic findings in patients with SA and compared them with related high-risk conditions, anorectal malformation (ARM), and cloacal malformation.

Materials And Methods: Patient records between May 2011 and December 2015 were identified and grouped into isolated SA without an overt anomaly (Group I), SA with overt caudal regression anomalies (Group II), and ARM or cloacal malformation without the SA (Group III).

Developing a "toolkit" to measure implementation of concurrent palliative care in rural community cancer centers.

Objective: Despite national guidelines recommending early concurrent palliative care for individuals newly diagnosed with metastatic cancer, few community cancer centers, especially those in underserved rural areas do so. We are implementing an early concurrent palliative care model, ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends) in four, rural-serving community cancer centers. Our objective was to develop a "toolkit" to assist community cancer centers that wish to integrate early palliative care for patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer and their family caregivers.