In Vivo-Acquired Resistance to Daptomycin during Methicillin-Resistant Bacteremia.

Daptomycin (DAP) represents an interesting alternative to treat methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections. Different mechanisms of DAP resistance have been described; however, in vivo-acquired resistance is uncharacterized. This study described the phenotypic and genotypic evolution of MRSA strains that became resistant to DAP in two unrelated patients with bacteremia under DAP treatment, in two hospitals in the South of France.

Improving emotion regulation in breast cancer patients in the early survivorship period: Efficacy of a brief ecologically boosted group intervention.

Purpose: This study reports the short- and mid-term benefits of an eight-session emotion and self-regulation group intervention ecologically boosted through daily app-based prompts. The intervention was designed for breast cancer patients in the early survivorship period meeting criteria for clinical levels of psychological symptoms.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to the immediate intervention arm (n = 61; intervention received immediately) or to the delayed intervention arm (n = 59; intervention received 5 months later).

Efficacy of a support intervention designed to improve parents' communication with children dealing with parental cancer: a randomized pilot trial.

Objective: Cancer-related communication is critical for parents' and children's adaptation to the disease. This randomized pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a 4-session intervention designed to improve parents' communication.

Methods: A 4-session intervention was developed to aid parents to support their children through more open/adapted communication.

[Hemolysis interference on clinical chemistry tests analyzed on DxC 700 AU (Beckman Coulter®) and kaliemia rendering algorithm].

The influence of hemolysis was evaluated for 26 clinical chemistry parameters on DxC 700AU (Beckman Coulter®). Ten sample pools were prepared and separated into six aliquots. These aliquots were overloaded with hemolysis in increasing amounts to reach levels equivalent to the maximum hemolysis thresholds H1 (+), H2 (++), H3 (+++) and H4 (++++).

How to support parenting in patients with cancer and co-parents? From research to practice.

Purpose Of Review: When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family is impacted. Patients with cancer and co-parents may no longer feel able to fulfill their parenting roles. The aims of this article are to describe interventions designed to support parenting in the oncological context and to make suggestions for the development and assessment of such interventions.

I Wanna Draw Like You: Inter- and Intra-Individual Differences in Orang-Utan Drawings.

This study analyses 749 drawings by five female Bornean orang-utans () at Tama Zoological Park in Japan. We searched for differences between individuals but also tried to identify possible temporal changes among the drawings of one individual, Molly, who drew almost 1300 drawings from 2006 to 2011. An analysis of the drawings was carried out after collecting quantitative and qualitative variables.

Isolated from Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis: Clonal Diversity, Resistance Profile, Virulence Potential, and Genome Adaptation.

This study assessed the clonal diversity, the resistance profile and the virulence potential of strains isolated from diabetic foot infection (DFI) and diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFOM). A retrospective single-centre study was conducted on patients diagnosed with isolated from deep DFI and DFOM at Clinique du Pied Diabétique Gard-Occitanie (France) over a two-year period. Phylogenetic backgrounds, virulence factors (VFs) and antibiotic resistance profiles were determined.

Effectiveness and Acceptance of Multimodal Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Considering Progressive Implementation and Complementary Strategies.

Multiple modes of interventions are available when implementing an antibiotic stewardship program (ASP), however, their complementarity has not yet been assessed. In a 938-bed hospital, we sequentially implemented four combined modes of interventions over one year, centralized by one infectious diseases specialist (IDS): (1) on-request infectious diseases specialist consulting service (IDSCS), (2) participation in intensive care unit meetings, (3) IDS intervention triggered by microbiological laboratory meetings, and (4) IDS intervention triggered by pharmacist alert. We assessed the complementarity of the different cumulative actions through quantitative and qualitative analysis of all interventions traced in the electronic medical record.

Efficacy of a dyadic intervention to improve communication between patients with cancer and their caregivers: A randomized pilot trial.

Objective: Cancer-related communication is critical for patients' and caregivers' adaptation to illness. This randomized pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a specific dyadic intervention to improve communication.

Methods: A four weekly-session intervention was developed to reinforce cancer-related patient-caregiver communication.

How does physicians' decisional conflict influence their ability to address treatment outcomes in a decision-making encounter with an advanced-stage cancer simulated patient? A descriptive study.

Objectives: This descriptive study assesses how physicians' decisional conflict influences their ability to address treatment outcomes (TOs) in a decision-making encounter with an advanced-stage cancer simulated patient (SP).

Methods: Physicians (N = 138) performed a decision-making encounter with the SP trained to ask for TOs information. The physicians' decisional conflict regarding patients' cancer treatments in general was assessed with the General Decisional Conflict Scale (Gen-DCS).

Influence of edaphic conditions and nitrogen fertilizers on cadmium and zinc phytoextraction efficiency of Noccaea caerulescens.

The success of cadmium phytoextraction operations with Noccaea caerulescens varies by a factor of 70 between sites of trials. However, soil factors driving the efficiency of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) phytoextraction are still poorly understood, as are the effects of nitrogen fertilizers. We studied biomass production and Cd and Zn uptake by two contrasting populations of N.

Development of the Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Patient Outcome Predictions (MD.POP) during medical encounters.

Objective: Our first objective was to develop the Multi-Dimensional analysis of Patient Outcome Predictions (MD.POP), an interaction analysis system that assesses how HCPs discuss precisely and exclusively patient outcomes during medical encounters. The second objective was to study its interrater reliability.

Communication about uncertainty and hope: A randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a communication skills training program for physicians caring for cancer patients.

Background: Although previous studies have reported the efficacy of communication skills training (CST) programs, specific training addressing communication about uncertainty and hope in oncology has not yet been studied. This paper describes the study protocol of a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a CST program aimed at improving physician ability to communicate about uncertainty and hope in encounters with cancer patients.

Methods/design: Physician participants will be randomly assigned in groups (n = 3/group) to a 30-h CST program (experimental group) or to a waiting list (control group).

Predictors of physicians' communication performance in a decision-making encounter with a simulated advanced-stage cancer patient: A longitudinal study.

Objectives: Physicians' characteristics that influence their communication performance (CP) in decision-making encounters have been rarely studied. In this longitudinal study, predictors of physicians' CP were investigated with a simulated advanced-stage cancer patient.

Methods: Physicians (n=85) performed a decision-making encounter with a simulated patient (SP).

Cognitive compensatory processes of older, clinically fit patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy: A longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: Despite the well-known negative impacts of cancer and anticancer therapies on cognitive performance, little is known about the cognitive compensatory processes of older patients with cancer. This study was designed to investigate the cognitive compensatory processes of older, clinically fit patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: We assessed 89 consecutive patients (age ≥ 65 y) without severe cognitive impairment and 89 age-, sex-, and education level-matched healthy controls.

Improving anxiety regulation in patients with breast cancer at the beginning of the survivorship period: a randomized clinical trial comparing the benefits of single-component and multiple-component group interventions.

Objective: To compare in a multicenter randomized controlled trial the benefits in terms of anxiety regulation of a 15-session single-component group intervention (SGI) based on support with those of a 15-session multiple-component structured manualized group intervention (MGI) combining support with cognitive-behavioral and hypnosis components.

Methods: Patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned at the beginning of the survivorship period to the SGI (n = 83) or MGI (n = 87). Anxiety regulation was assessed, before and after group interventions, through an anxiety regulation task designed to assess their ability to regulate anxiety psychologically (anxiety levels) and physiologically (heart rates).

Is it possible to improve communication around radiotherapy delivery: A randomized study to assess the efficacy of team training?

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 38-h communication skills training program designed for multidisciplinary radiotherapy teams.

Materials And Methods: Four radiotherapy teams were randomly assigned to a training program or to a waiting list. Assessments were scheduled at baseline (T1) and then after the training was completed or four months later (T2), respectively.

Predictors of physicians' satisfaction with their management of uncertainty during a decision-making encounter with a simulated advanced stage cancer patient.

Objectives: To optimize their training, predictors of physicians' satisfaction with their management of uncertainty should be examined. This study investigated these predictors by using a simulated advanced stage cancer patient.

Methods: Physicians (n=85) rated their satisfaction with their management of uncertainty (Visual Analog Scale-100mm) after a decision-making encounter.

Factors associated with self-perceived burden to the primary caregiver in older patients with hematologic malignancies: an exploratory study.

Objective: Although cancer patients frequently experience self-perceived burden to others, this perception has not been enough studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-perceived burden to the primary caregiver (SPB-PC) and associated factors in an older patient population with hematologic malignancies at the time of chemotherapy initiation.

Methods: In total, 166 consecutive patients with hematologic malignancies aged ≥65 years were recruited at the time of chemotherapy initiation.

Transfer of communication skills to the workplace: impact of a 38-hour communication skills training program designed for radiotherapy teams.

Purpose: This study assessed the efficacy of a 38-hour communication skills training program designed to train a multidisciplinary radiotherapy team.

Methods: Four radiotherapy teams were randomly assigned to a training program or a waiting list. Assessments were scheduled at baseline and after training for the training group and at baseline and 4 months later for the waiting list group.

[Breaking bad news in oncology: the Belgian experience].

Breaking bad news is a complex and frequent clinical task for physicians working in oncology. It can have a negative impact on patients and their relatives who are often present during breaking bad news consultations. Many factors influence how the delivery of bad news will be experienced especially the communication skills used by physicians.

Anxiety at the first radiotherapy session for non-metastatic breast cancer: key communication and communication-related predictors.

Background And Purpose: Patients may experience clinically relevant anxiety at their first radiotherapy (RT) sessions. To date, studies have not investigated during/around the RT simulation the key communication and communication-related predictors of this clinically relevant anxiety.

Material And Methods: Breast cancer patients (n=227) completed visual analog scale (VAS) assessments of anxiety before and after their first RT sessions.

Anxiety and its time courses during radiotherapy for non-metastatic breast cancer: a longitudinal study.

Purpose: To our knowledge, no study has specifically assessed the time course of anxiety during radiotherapy (RT). The objective of this study was to assess anxiety time courses in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

Material And Methods: This multicenter, descriptive longitudinal study included 213 consecutive patients with breast cancer who completed visual analog scales (VASs) assessing state anxiety before and after the RT simulation and the first and last five RT sessions.

Is it possible to improve the breaking bad news skills of residents when a relative is present? A randomised study.

Background: Although patients with cancer are often accompanied by a relative during breaking bad news (BBN) consultations, little is known regarding the efficacy of training programmes designed to teach residents the communication skills needed to break bad news in a triadic consultation.

Methods: Residents were randomly assigned to a 40-h dyadic and triadic communication skills training programme (n=48) or a waiting list (n=47). A simulated BBN triadic consultation was audiotaped at baseline, and after training for the training group, and 8 months after baseline for the waiting list group.