Trends in SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values in the Czech Republic from April 2020 to April 2022.

The inability to predict the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic hampered abilities to respond to the crisis effectively. The cycle threshold (Ct) from the standard SARS-CoV-2 quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) clinical assay is inversely proportional to the amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample. We were interested to see if population Ct values could predict future increases in COVID-19 cases as well as subgroups that would be more likely to be affected.

Factors influencing the end-of-life decisionmaking process about care in hospitalized patients.

The quality of end-of-life care of hospitalized patients is an important topic, but so far little explored in the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to map the factors influencing the end-of-life care decision-making process in selected Czech hospitals and to describe it based on data from medical records and from the perspective of a doctor. The research included data obtained from the medical records of 240 deceased patients (mean age 76.

Effect of Acupuncture in Pain Management of Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: Prospective Randomized Unicentric Study.

This prospective randomized open-label trial aimed to evaluate the role of acupuncture in the treatment of pain related to curative and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. Patients in two arms (30 patients in each arm) underwent standard oncology therapy and standard supportive care with or without acupuncture. The stratification factors were the type of treatment and chemotherapy indication.

Acupuncture in the treatment of acute toxicity during and after head and neck cancer radiotherapy: Interim analysis of randomized prospective open-label trial.

Aims: The aim of this investigator-initiated prospective randomized open-label single institutional trial is to evaluate the role of acupuncture in the treatment of acute skin and mucosal toxicity, xerostomia, and perception of taste, pain, and nausea related to curative and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. This paper reports pilot data of the first 30 enrolled patients.

Methods: Patients were randomized to undergo standard of care radiotherapy ± chemotherapy and support care defined by our institutional standard operating procedures alone or in the combination with acupuncture which was initiated with the first signs of any toxicity.

Effects of Early and Systematic Integration of Specialist Palliative Care in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Randomized Controlled Trial PALINT.

A broad consensus on the optimal structure, intensity, and timing of early specialist palliative care (SPC) intervention is lacking. To evaluate the benefit of an early and systematic palliative intervention alongside standard oncology care compared with standard oncology care alone in patients with advanced solid tumors. PALINT, a single-center RCT, conducted at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, the largest comprehensive cancer center in the Czech Republic (CR).