Moderators of the response to a nurse-led psychosocial intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: Little is known about the variables that moderate the response to psychosocial interventions to decrease depressive symptoms in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether variables associated with depressive symptoms in cancer patients in general moderate the response to a nurse-led psychosocial intervention in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the nurse counseling and after intervention (NUCAI) on depressive symptoms 12 months after cancer treatment in patients with head and neck cancer.

Long-term effect of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention on health-related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are prone to have a poor health-related quality of life after cancer treatment. This study investigated the effect of the nurse counselling and after intervention (NUCAI) on the health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms of HNC patients between 12 and 24 months after cancer treatment.

Methods: Two hundred and five HNC patients were randomly allocated to NUCAI (N=103) or usual care (N=102).

One-year effect of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention on depressive symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Many patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience depressive symptoms after treatment. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a psychosocial nurse counseling and after intervention (NUCAI) versus usual care on the depressive and HNC-related physical symptoms of patients with HNC at 1 year after diagnosis.

Methods: A total of 205 patients with HNC were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 103) or usual care (n = 102), with stratification for gender and tumor stage.

Improved depiction of pterygopalatine fossa anatomy using ultrahigh-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 7 tesla.

Purpose: To study the anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) using ultrahigh-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: A human cadaveric tissue block containing the pterygopalatine fossa was examined on a clinical 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging system. Subsequently, cryosections of the tissue block were created in a coronal plane.

Neurochemical characterization of pterygopalatine ganglion branches in humans.

Background: Pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG) branches, seem to be involved in the pathophysiology of facial pain. The functions of these branches, including a recently discovered orbital branch, are not completely known but could be of clinical significance. This study was designed to characterize PPG branches through immunohistochemical stain and study their anatomy, specifically the orbital branches.