Assessment of self-reported negative affect in the NIH Toolbox.

We report on the selection of self-report measures for inclusion in the NIH Toolbox that are suitable for assessing the full range of negative affect including sadness, fear, and anger. The Toolbox is intended to serve as a "core battery" of assessment tools for cognition, sensation, motor function, and emotional health that will help to overcome the lack of consistency in measures used across epidemiological, observational, and intervention studies. A secondary goal of the NIH Toolbox is the identification of measures that are flexible, efficient, and precise, an agenda best fulfilled by the use of item banks calibrated with models from item response theory (IRT) and suitable for adaptive testing.

Longitudinal prospective assessment of sleep quality: before, during, and after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Purpose: Cross-sectional data suggest that many individuals with breast cancer experience significant sleep disturbance across the continuum of care. Understanding the longitudinal trajectory of sleep disturbance may help identify factors associated with its onset, severity, or influence on health-related quality of life (HRQL). Study objectives were to observe sleep quality in breast cancer patients prior to, during, and after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy, evaluate its relationship with HRQL and explore correlates over time.

Quality of life considerations in upper limb transplantation: review and future directions.

Purpose: As reconstructive transplantation emerges as an increasingly viable option for upper limb amputees, a better understanding of quality of life (QOL) outcomes is needed to evaluate the benefits and risks of the procedure from the patient perspective.

Methods: To address this need, we searched PubMed (1998-2011) to characterize QOL outcomes among upper limb transplant recipients. We identified 27 articles reporting on QOL outcomes in hand transplantation.

Single-incision surgery has higher cost with equivalent pain and quality-of-life scores compared with multiple-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized blinded comparison.

Background: Since the development of single-incision surgery, several retrospective studies have demonstrated its feasibility; however, randomized prospective trials are still lacking. We report a prospective randomized single-blinded trial with a cost analysis of single-incision (SI) to multi-incision (MI) laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Study Design: After obtaining IRB approval, patients with chronic cholecystitis, acute cholecystitis, or biliary dyskinesia were offered participation in this multihospital, multisurgeon trial.

General population norms for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index (FKSI).

Background: Metastatic renal cell cancer is associated with poor long-term survival and has no cure. Traditional clinical endpoints are best supplemented by patient-reported outcomes designed to assess symptoms and function. Normative data was obtained on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index (NFKSI) to aid in score interpretation and planning of future trials.

Breast cancer risk factors: a comparison between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.

Objective: To evaluate the difference between pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer regarding menstrual and reproductive risk factors

Methods: The case-control study was conducted in Mayo Hospital, Lahore, between October 2008 and April 2009. Cases were breast cancer patients admitted in the surgical and oncology floors of the hospital. Controls were hospital patients without breast cancer.

Validity of the FACT Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire for assessing disease-related symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Evaluate reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire and its derivative FACT Hepatobiliary Symptom Indexes (FHSI-18 and FHSI-8) in people with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Self-reported questionnaire data from a randomized controlled Phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of conatumumab (AMG 655), ganitumab (AMG 479) or placebo combined with gemcitabine were evaluated. The following were assessed: internal consistency, using Cronbach's α; discriminant validity, comparing baseline patient-reported outcomes (PRO) scores across Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) levels; and ability to detect change, comparing change from baseline PRO score at each cycle across PS and tumour response groups.

Development and validation of a symptom index for advanced hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers: the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (NCCN-FACT) Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Symptom Index (NFHSI).

Background: The 45-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire assesses health-related quality of life in patients with liver, bile duct, and pancreatic cancers. Although the FACT-Hep was initially derived from patient input, this study's researchers sought to verify adequate coverage of items by soliciting open-ended input from patients with advanced disease.

Methods: As part of a larger study in collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), 50 people (60% male, 80% caucasian, average age 60.

Health status in young adults two decades after pediatric liver transplantation.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients who underwent pediatric liver transplant (LT) between 1988 and 1992 to evaluate long-term health status. Survivors completed socio-demographic, medical and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) surveys by mail including the SF-36v2, PedsQL™4.0 Generic Core Scale, PedsQL™ Cognitive Functioning Scale and PedsQL™3.

Quality of life, risk assessment, and safety research in liver transplantation: new frontiers in health services and outcomes research.

Purpose Of Review: In this review, we briefly summarize three fruitful, emerging areas in liver transplantation research, quality of life; risk assessment; and patient safety. Our goal is to highlight recent findings in these areas, with a call for increased integration of social scientists and transplant clinicians to address how best to shape policy and improve outcomes.

Recent Findings: After liver transplantation, recipients generally experience clinically significant, sustained improvement in their physical, social and emotional well being.

Anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with dengue fever and their correlation with symptom severity.

Objective: To study the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with dengue and to examine their correlation with symptom severity.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, 531 consecutive patients who met the World Health Organization criteria for dengue fever admitted to Mayo Hospital, Lahore between September and November 2011 were administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In addition to the HADS, the severity of their symptoms, like headache, myalgias/arthralgias, fever, and retro/periorbital pain, was assessed on a 3-point scale (mild, moderate, and severe).

Patient-reported outcomes in a phase iii study of everolimus versus placebo in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the kidney that has progressed on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Purpose: A phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive oral everolimus 10 mg once daily or placebo.

Diagnostic accuracy of "pallor" for detecting mild and severe anaemia in hospitalized patients.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of pallor of conjunctiva, nailbed, and palm in detecting mild and severe anaemia.

Methods: Three hundred and five consecutive patients admitted in the medical and surgical wards of Mayo Hospital, Lahore were enrolled in the study. Conjunctiva, nailbed, and palm of patients were assessed.

Development of a parent-report cognitive function item bank using item response theory and exploration of its clinical utility in computerized adaptive testing.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of a parent-report perceived cognitive function (pedsPCF) item bank.

Methods: From the U.S.

Quality of life for donors after living donor liver transplantation: a review of the literature.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) decreases the shortage of liver grafts for patients in need of a liver transplant, but it involves 2 patients: a recipient and a living donor. Despite the magnitude of the procedure for LDLT donors, only a few studies have investigated the effect of LDLT on the quality of life (QOL) of donors. We performed a systematic search of the MEDLINE database to identify peer-reviewed articles assessing QOL in adults after LDLT donation.

Development and validation of participation and positive psychologic function measures for stroke survivors.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of Neurologic Quality of Life (NeuroQOL) item banks that assess quality-of-life (QOL) domains not typically included in poststroke measures.

Design: Secondary analysis of item responses to selected NeuroQOL domains.

Setting: Community.

Cholelithiasis in hepatic cirrhosis: evaluating the role of risk factors.

Objective: To determine the role of risk factors, which promote cholelithasis in Hepatic Cirrhosis (HC).

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on indoor cases with advanced HC. Outpatients with compensated Chronic Liver Disease were used as control.

Parent-perceived child cognitive function: results from a sample drawn from the US general population.

Purposes: This paper reports the development and evaluation of a perceived cognitive function (pedsPCF) item bank reported by parents of the pediatric US general population.

Methods: Based on feedback from clinicians, parents, and children, we developed a scale sampling concerns related to children's cognitive functioning. We administered the scale to 1,409 parents of children aged 7-17 years; of them, 319 had a neurological diagnosis.

Hepatitis C in Pakistan: a review of available data.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasingly recognized as a major health care problem, and is found frequently in Pakistani settings. In this article we reviewed published and unpublished data related to the seroepidemiology of HCV infection in Pakistan. For this article, data from 132 published studies and three unpublished data sets published/ presented between the period 1992-2008 were utilized.

Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy: factors associated with outcomes and complications.

Objectives: In recent years ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) has become an increasingly popular treatment for varicose veins. Although many published series detail the results of UGFS, little is known about the factors which are associated with outcomes and complications. The aim of this study was to identify these factors.

Age-associated differences in fatigue among patients with cancer.

Context: There has been some suggestion that the fatigue experienced by older cancer patients is more severe than that of younger cohorts; however, there is little empirical evidence to support this claim.

Objectives: The goal of the present study was to determine the differential impact of age and cancer diagnosis on ratings of fatigue using a validated self-report instrument.

Methods: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue subscale consists of 13 items measuring fatigue experience and its impact on daily life, with scores ranging from 0 (severe fatigue) to 52 (no fatigue).

The learning curve for robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

Objective: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy has the potential to cure patients from bladder cancer while offering the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. We sought to evaluate the learning curve for this technically demanding procedure.

Materials And Methods: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy was attempted in 100 consecutive patients.