Publications by authors named "Jessica A Casas"
Context: More than 74% of pediatric deaths occur in an intensive care unit (ICU), with 40% occurring after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies (WOLST). No needs assessment has described provider needs or suggestions for improving the WOLST process in pediatrics.
Objectives: This study aims to describe interdisciplinary provider self-reported confidence, needs, and suggestions for improving the WOLST process.
Article Synopsis
- Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is an emerging field facing resource shortages, especially in Latin America, where services are underdeveloped compared to other regions.
- A lack of consensus exists regarding quality indicators and outcome measurements for PPC, which complicates program development.
- The article examines the unique sociocultural factors in Latin America that influence the perception and implementation of PPC, highlighting the need for tailored standards of care and indicators relevant to the local context.
Article Synopsis
- Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare cancer in children linked to mutations in the Ras pathway, leading to severe treatment outcomes with standard therapies.
- Researchers used patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to explore targeted treatment options by examining the effects of various kinase inhibitors on specific mutations (PTPN11 and CBL) found in JMML.
- Results indicated that PTPN11-mutant cells respond well to MEK inhibitors, while CBL-mutant cells are more sensitive to JAK inhibitors, suggesting a need for tailored therapies based on genetic mutations in JMML patients.
Purpose: Children with advanced cancer are often not referred to palliative or hospice care before they die or are only referred close to the child's death. The goals of the current project were to learn about pediatric oncology team members' perspectives on palliative care, to collaborate with team members to modify and tailor three separate interdisciplinary team-based interventions regarding initiating palliative care, and to assess the feasibility of this collaborative approach.
Methods: We used a modified version of experience-based codesign (EBCD) involving members of the pediatric palliative care team and three interdisciplinary pediatric oncology teams (Bone Marrow Transplant, Neuro-Oncology, and Solid Tumor) to review and tailor materials for three team-based interventions.