Treatment and Outcomes for Central Nervous System Tumors in Australian Adolescents and Young Adults: A Population-Based National Study.

While central nervous system (CNS) tumors account for only 10% of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers, they are the leading cause of cancer death in this age group. Using national data for Australia, we describe the presentation, treatment, and survival for AYAs diagnosed with CNS tumors. A population-based study of 15-24 year-olds diagnosed with CNS tumors (low- and high-grade glioma [LGG, HGG], medulloblastoma [MB], primitive neuroectodermal tumors [PNET], ependymoma [EP]) or other (e.

Stringent Control of Opioids: Sound Public Health Measures, but a Step Too Far in Palliative Care?

Purpose Of Review: Opioids are the only class of drug with the proven ability to control severe pain. The introduction of stringent opioid prescribing restrictions has inevitably impacted upon the ability of those prescribing opioids for advanced life-limited disease to practice as previously and could limit the supply of adequate pain relief to patients with cancer. This review considers the evidence that symptom management of patients with advanced cancer contributes to the "opioid problem" and whether there is adequate recognition of the risks involved.

Prevalence of QTc Prolongation in Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Palliative Care-A Cause for Concern?

Context: Medications commonly used for symptom control along with other known risk factors have the potential to prolong ventricular repolarization as measured by the QT interval (the time from the start of the Q wave to the end of the T wave) on a standard electrocardiogram (ECG).

Objectives: To document the prevalence of a prolonged QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) interval in the palliative/oncology setting, compare automatic ECG QTc measurements with manual readings and identify any correlation between QTc prolongation and the use of drugs or other risk factors.

Methods: A convenience sample of consecutive patients with cancer, admitted under or known to the palliative/supportive care teams in two metropolitan hospitals, and willing to provide an ECG recording and basic demographic information including QTc risk factors were included.

Prevalence of Virulence Genes in Enteroaggregative Isolates from Young Children from Rural South Africa.

In this study, we report on the prevalence of 19 virulence genes in enteroaggregative (EAEC) isolates from northern South Africa. Stool samples obtained prospectively from 97 children from 1 to 12 months of age were analyzed, and EAEC isolates were confirmed based on the presence of or genes. We investigated 177 enteroaggregative isolates for the prevalence of virulence genes using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Management of Sarcoma in Adolescents and Young Adults: An Australian Population-Based Study.

While overall survival (OS) for cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYA) has improved, there has been little change in AYA survival for several types of sarcomas. Using national data for Australia we describe (1) the treatment centers caring for AYA sarcoma, (2) treatments provided, and (3) survival outcomes. National population-based study assessing treatment of 15-24 year-olds diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma (STS), bone sarcoma (BS), and Ewing family tumors (ET) between 2007 and 2012.