The prevalence of weight concerns in a smoking abstinence clinical trial.

Recent research has demonstrated there is a high prevalence of weight concerns in smokers and that smokers with weight concerns may respond poorly to treatment for tobacco dependence. Most studies have focused only on females or have consisted of small samples. In this study of a 12-week randomized trial of nicotine inhaler, bupropion or both for smoking cessation, 50% of the 1012 female smokers and 26% of the 680 male smokers, at study entry, were weight concerned.

Relationship between increased personal well-being and enhanced empathy among internal medicine residents.

Background: While resident distress and its potential to negatively effect patient care have been well documented, little is known bout resident well-being or its potential to enhance care.

Objective: We measured resident well-being and explored its relationship with empathy.

Design: Anonymous, cross-sectional survey.

The well-being and personal wellness promotion strategies of medical oncologists in the North Central Cancer Treatment Group.

Purpose: The well-being of oncologists is important to the well-being of their patients. While much is known about oncologist distress, little is known about oncologist well-being. We set out to evaluate oncologist well-being and the personal wellness promotion strategies used by oncologists.

Pilot evaluation of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes in women.

Background: Hot flashes cause significant morbidity in postmenopausal women, including women with breast cancer. We undertook a pilot study to estimate the effectiveness of black cohosh to reduce hot flashes.

Methods: Women who reported significant hot flashes (> or = 14 per week) were enrolled.

A contest to create media messages aimed at recruiting adolescents for stop smoking programs.

This project engaged adolescents in a contest to create advertising messages aimed at recruiting teens for stop smoking programs. Middle school students were invited to design a media message for television, radio, Web, or print (newspaper or billboard). Of 4,289 students in eight middle schools of Rochester, Minn.

Phase III, randomized, double-blind study of epoetin alfa compared with placebo in anemic patients receiving chemotherapy.

Purpose: To determine whether weekly epoetin alfa could improve hemoglobin (HgB) levels, reduce RBC transfusions, and improve quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced cancer and with anemia after receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomly assigned patients to placebo or epoetin alfa (Ortho Biotech, Bridgewater, NJ) 40,000 U subcutaneous weekly for 16 weeks. QOL, HgB, and RBC transfusions were measured pretreatment and monthly.

A pilot study on safety and pharmacokinetics of infliximab for the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Weight loss predicts a poor prognosis for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is a mediator of this weight loss, yet no studies have tested infliximab, an IgG monoclonal antibody that blocks the binding of TNFalpha to its p55 and p75 receptors, for this indication. The safety and pharmacokinetics of infliximab in combination with docetaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy agent for non-small-cell lung cancer, were explored in this pilot study.

Pilot evaluation of citalopram for the relief of hot flashes.

Symptoms associated with premature menopause are a significant problem for women with a history of breast cancer who cannot take hormone replacement therapy. Thus, effective nonhormonal alternatives are needed to manage hot flashes, the most prevalent symptom of menopause. Previous studies have defined that venlafaxine, an anti-depressant, is an effective treatment for such hot flashes.

Glutamine does not prevent paclitaxel-associated myalgias and arthralgias.

Myalgias and arthralgias are prominent toxicities associated with paclitaxel. Pursuant to pilot information suggesting that glutamine could markedly alleviate this toxicity, we developed a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized crossover trial to test this hypothesis. This trial studied 36 patients who had experienced myalgias/arthralgias related to a prior paclitaxel-containing regimen and who were then randomized to receive oral glutamine (10 grams three times a day, starting on the day of chemotherapy) x 5 days or an identical-appearing placebo.

Pilot evaluation of mirtazapine for the treatment of hot flashes.

This prospective, single-arm, pilot clinical trial, developed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine for alleviating hot flashes, was conducted between May 2001 and January 2002. Patients' baseline characteristics were collected during the first week of the study. At the beginning of the second week, patients were started on mirtazapine at a dose of 7.

Quality of life in 650 lung cancer survivors 6 months to 4 years after diagnosis.

Objective: To present the results of a quality-of-life (QOL) assessment performed with the current version of the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) questionnaire in a large single-institutional data set of 650 patients with lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: The study group included 650 patients with pathologically confirmed primary lung cancer whose conditions were diagnosed and/or treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001. The QOL assessment was performed using the self-administered LCSS questionnaire (version 2) 6 months to 4 years after the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Investigating the utility of serum cytokine measurements in a multi-institutional cancer anorexia/weight loss trial.

Background: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been implicated in the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome. However, previous smaller studies have yielded conflicting results as to whether circulating, serum concentrations of these cytokines are in fact elevated. As the translational component of a large multi-institutional trial, this study assessed the clinical value of serum concentrations of these cytokines in patients with this syndrome.

An eicosapentaenoic acid supplement versus megestrol acetate versus both for patients with cancer-associated wasting: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group and National Cancer Institute of Canada collaborative effort.

Purpose: Studies suggest eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, augments weight, appetite, and survival in cancer-associated wasting. This study determined whether an EPA supplement-administered alone or with megestrol acetate (MA)-was more effective than MA.

Patients And Methods: Four hundred twenty-one assessable patients with cancer-associated wasting were randomly assigned to an EPA supplement 1.

Are chemotherapy response rates related to treatment-induced survival prolongations in patients with advanced cancer?

Purpose: Patients with incurable cancer are faced with difficult decisions regarding whether to take chemotherapy in an attempt to preserve the quality and/or prolong the quantity of their lives. The average prolongation in survival with chemotherapy compared with best supportive care has not been well described.

Methods: We performed a literature search using PUBMED combined with expert inquiry to identify trials comparing cytotoxic chemotherapy with best supportive care.

Can the Gail model be useful in American Indian and Alaska Native populations?

Background: Very little is known about breast carcinoma risk factors for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women undergoing screening. The Gail model has been a useful tool for predicting the risk of breast carcinoma in several populations. It has not been applied systematically to AI/AN women.

Percutaneous image-guided radiofrequency ablation of painful metastases involving bone: a multicenter study.

Purpose: Few options are available for pain relief in patients with bone metastases who fail standard treatments. We sought to determine the benefit of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in providing pain relief for patients with refractory pain secondary to metastases involving bone.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-one US and 12 European patients with painful osteolytic metastases involving bone were treated with image-guided RFA using a multitip needle.

Intramural left atrial hematoma after aortocoronary artery surgery.

Unlabelled: We report the occurrence of an intraoperative left atrial hematoma during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Echocardiography proved to be of great help in diagnosis and monitoring of this patient. After severe hemodynamic impairment the patient recovered and could be transferred on postoperative day eight.

The hospice patient's primary caregiver. What is their quality of life?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the quality of life (QOL) of the primary caregivers of hospice patients and (2) to analyze the ability of the hospice staff to accurately judge caregiver QOL.

Methods: A longitudinal pilot study of QOL of caregivers of patients entering hospice was undertaken. Caregivers and hospice personnel completed numerous questionnaires every 2 weeks until patient death.

Relationship of mammographic parenchymal patterns to breast cancer risk factors and smoking in Alaska Native women.

The purpose is to determine breast cancer risk factors and correlates of mammographic parenchymal patterns among Alaska Native women. A retrospective review was performed of mammograms and mammogram records among 528 sequential screening mammogram examinations performed in Anchorage, Alaska. Mammogram density was classified by American College of Radiology (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) density patterns 1-4 (fat-->dense) and by percent density.

Correlates of mammogram density in southwestern Native-American women.

Little is known about the breast cancer risk factors or mammogram characteristics among Native-American women. Southwestern Native-American women have a low risk of breast cancer and a high risk of diabetes. Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of known clinical risk factors for breast cancer and their association with mammogram density in a sample of Southwestern Native-American women undergoing breast cancer screening.

Comparison of nicotine patch alone versus nicotine nasal spray alone versus a combination for treating smokers: a minimal intervention, randomized multicenter trial in a nonspecialized setting.

This multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted to determine whether the combined use of nicotine patch therapy and a nicotine nasal spray would improve smoking abstinence rates compared to either treatment alone, without behavioral counseling. Data were collected at 15 regional cancer control oncology centers within the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. Of the 1384 smokers randomized to the study, 20% were abstinent from smoking at 6 weeks and 8% were abstinent at 6 months.

Phase III double-blind study of glutamine versus placebo for the prevention of acute diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy.

Purpose: A phase III, randomized, double-blind study was conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group to determine the efficacy and toxicity of oral glutamine for the prevention of acute diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy (RT).

Patients And Methods: All 129 patients enrolled from 14 institutions between February 1998 and October 1999 were eligible. Patients received 4 g of glutamine or placebo orally, twice a day, beginning with the first or second day of RT and continuing for 2 weeks after RT.

A phase II trial of green tea in the treatment of patients with androgen independent metastatic prostate carcinoma.

Background: Recent laboratory and epidemiologic studies have suggested that green tea has antitumor effects in patients with prostate carcinoma. This Phase II trial explored green tea's antineoplastic effects in patients with androgen independent prostate carcinoma.

Methods: This study, which was conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, evaluated 42 patients who were asymptomatic and had manifested, progressive prostate specific antigen (PSA) elevation with hormone therapy.