Palliative care units in lung cancer in the real-world setting: a single institution's experience and its implications.

Objective: Palliative care plays a crucial role in the overall management of patients with advanced lung cancer and was shown to lead to clinically meaningful improvement in quality of life, less aggressive endof-life care, and potentially prolonged survival. Here we summarize our single institution experience on palliative care in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: The data of patients with lung cancer treated at the palliative care unit of the Medical University of Vienna between June 2010 and March 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the thighs in cardiac patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Background: The aim of this systematic review was to update scientific knowledge concerning the safety of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to increase exercise capacity and prevent cardiac cachexia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).

Methods: A systematic review including the electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS was conducted for the time period from 1966 to March 31, 2016.

Results: Only four articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria (three original articles/safety studies and one case report).

Cancer rehabilitation in Austria--aspects of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

In Austria, cancer rehabilitation is an important issue in the management of cancer patients. Survival rates and survival time of cancer patients are increasing, and cancer rehabilitation is an important part in the treatment and care of cancer patients with the goal to improve functional status, quality of life, and (social) participation. Today, in Austria there are approximately 600 beds for inpatient rehabilitation.

Psyche at the end of life: Psychiatric symptoms are prevalent in patients admitted to a palliative care unit.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the frequency and treatment of psychiatric symptoms in patients at palliative care units (PCUs).

Method: Patients admitted to one of five participating PCUs in Austria were included. The short version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D) was used to evaluate their mental health status.

Strength of skeletal muscle and quality of life in patients suffering from "typical male" carcinomas.

Aim: This pilot study aimed to compare muscle strength and quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients suffering from two different "typical male" cancer entities (prostate cancer and head and neck cancer).

Methods: The Biodex System 3 device was used for isokinetic strength testing of thigh muscles in both groups. QOL was evaluated by using the SF-36 Health Survey.