Associations of nutrition impact symptoms with dietary intake and eating-related distress in patients with advanced cancer.

Background & Aims: There is no definition of nutrition impact symptoms (NISs) in cancer care. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence on the associations of NISs with dietary intake and eating-related distress (ERD) in advanced cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the associations of NISs with dietary intake and ERD in patients with advanced cancer.

Difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction in advanced cancer: association with the cachexia-related quality of life.

Background: Swallowing disorders including difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction, result in reduced dietary intake-a common occurrence that leads to cachexia in patients with advanced cancer. This study examined the effects of swallowing difficulty and food bolus obstruction on cachexia-related quality of life (QOL).

Methods: This study secondarily analyzed data from a self-reported questionnaire survey of adult patients with advanced cancer at 11 palliative care services.

Impact of taste/smell disturbances on dietary intakes and cachexia-related quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.

Purpose: Taste and smell are used to enjoy meals; however, impairments of these sensory perceptions seriously impact health and eating habits. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of taste and smell disturbances on dietary intakes and cachexia-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: Using a self-report questionnaire, we surveyed patients with advanced cancer undergoing treatment at 11 palliative care centers.

Development and validation of questionnaires for eating-related distress among advanced cancer patients and families.

Background: Eating-related distress (ERD) is one type of psychosocial distress among advanced cancer patients and family caregivers. Its alleviation is a key issue in palliative care; however, there is no validated tool for measuring ERD.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to validate tools for evaluating ERD among patients and family caregivers.

Beliefs and Perceptions About Parenteral Nutrition and Hydration by Advanced Cancer Patients.

Background: The beliefs and perceptions of parenteral nutrition and hydration (PNH) by advanced cancer patients have not been elucidated.

Objectives: To clarify their beliefs and perceptions and to explore the relationships between their beliefs and perceptions and cachexia stages.

Design/setting/subjects: A questionnaire survey of advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care across Japan.

Accuracy of the Palliative Prognostic Score With or Without Clinicians' Prediction of Survival in Patients With Far Advanced Cancer.

Context: Previous studies suggest that clinicians' prediction of survival (CPS) may have reduced the accuracy of objective indicators for prognostication in palliative care.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the accuracy of CPS alone, compared to the original Palliative Prognostic Score (PaP), and five clinical/laboratory variables of the PaP in patients with far advanced cancer.

Methods: We compared the discriminative accuracy of three prediction models (the PaP-CPS [the score of the categorical CPS of PaP], PaP without CPS [sum of the scores of only the objective variables of PaP], and PaP total score) across 3 settings: inpatient palliative care consultation team, palliative care unit, and home palliative care.

How successful are we in relieving terminal dyspnea in cancer patients? A real-world multicenter prospective observational study.

Purpose: Parenteral morphine is widely used for dyspnea of imminently dying cancer patients, but the outcomes to expect over time remain largely unknown. We examined outcomes after the administration of parenteral morphine infusion over 48 h in cancer patients with a poor performance status.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective observational study.

Preferences Regarding End-of-Life Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Results From a Comprehensive Multicenter Survey in Japan.

Context: Patient preferences influence end-of-life (EOL) care which patients receive. However, preferences regarding EOL care among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer population remain unclear.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate preferences regarding EOL care among AYA cancer population.

Problems of reproductive function in survivors of childhood- and adolescent and young adult-onset cancer revealed in a part of a national survey of Japan.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the current status of reproductive disorders as long-term complications in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients by comparing survivors of childhood-onset with those of AYA-onset cancer in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a national survey of AYA cancer survivors and healthy AYAs and analyzed the results from survivors who underwent chemotherapy and reported fertility problems as their current concern.

Results: Among all of the childhood-onset survivors, 27 (35.

Fertility preservation in adolescent and young adult cancer patients: From a part of a national survey on oncofertility in Japan.

Purpose: This study evaluated the current status of reproductive disorders and provision of information on oncofertility to female adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients in Japan.

Methods: A national survey of AYA cancer survivors was conducted. Children were <15 years old, and AYAs were 15-39 years old.

Eating-related distress in advanced cancer patients with cachexia and family members: a survey in palliative and supportive care settings.

Purpose: Few studies have investigated nutrition impact symptoms and eating-related distress among advanced cancer patients and their families. This is a questionnaire survey to examine the severity of nutrition impact symptoms and the prevalence of eating-related distress among them in palliative and supportive care settings.

Methods: Questionnaires for patients and their families were preliminarily developed.

A combination of routine laboratory findings and vital signs can predict survival of advanced cancer patients without physician evaluation: a fractional polynomial model.

Introduction: There have been no reports about predicting survival of patients with advanced cancer constructed entirely with objective variables. We aimed to develop a prognostic model based on laboratory findings and vital signs using a fractional polynomial (FP) model.

Methods: A multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted at 58 specialist palliative care services in Japan from September 2012 to April 2014.

Correction to: Current situation of cancer among adolescents and young adults in Japan.

In the original publication, Tables 4 and 5 have not been published in a readable format. The corrected clear version is given in this Correction.

Current situation of cancer among adolescents and young adults in Japan.

Background: Cancer is rare among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Affected persons need generation-specific attention and care; however, no nationwide study has investigated the medical care structure for AYA cancer treatment in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey of AYA cancer for frequency of AYA patients, type of cancer, medical facilities, and certified cancer professionals.

Perception of need for nutritional support in advanced cancer patients with cachexia: a survey in palliative care settings.

Purpose: Few studies have investigated the need for nutritional support in advanced cancer patients in palliative care settings. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire to examine the relationship between the perception of need for nutritional support and cancer cachexia and the prevalence of specific needs, perceptions, and beliefs in nutritional support.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire in palliative care settings.

A prospective, multicenter cohort study to validate a simple performance status-based survival prediction system for oncologists.

Background: Survival prediction systems such as the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI), which includes the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS), are used to estimate survival for terminally ill patients. Oncologists are, however, less familiar with the PPS in comparison with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS). This study was designed to validate a simple survival prediction system for oncologists, the Performance Status-Based Palliative Prognostic Index (PS-PPI), which is a modified form of the PPI based on the ECOG PS.

Clinical Implications of C-Reactive Protein as a Prognostic Marker in Advanced Cancer Patients in Palliative Care Settings.

Context: Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are elevated in patients with advanced cancer.

Objectives: To investigate CRP as a prognostic marker in palliative settings.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study comprised 2426 patients.

Effect of continuous deep sedation on survival in patients with advanced cancer (J-Proval): a propensity score-weighted analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Background: Continuous deep sedation (CDS) before death is a form of palliative sedation therapy that has become a focus of strong debate, especially with respect to whether it shortens survival. We aimed to examine whether CDS shortens patient survival using the propensity score-weighting method, and to explore the effect of artificial hydration during CDS on survival.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a large multicentre prospective cohort study that recruited and followed up patients between Sept 3, 2012, and April 30, 2014, from 58 palliative care institutions across Japan, including hospital palliative care settings, inpatient palliative care units, and home-based palliative care services.

Survival prediction for advanced cancer patients in the real world: A comparison of the Palliative Prognostic Score, Delirium-Palliative Prognostic Score, Palliative Prognostic Index and modified Prognosis in Palliative Care Study predictor model.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of the Palliative Prognostic Score (PaP score), Delirium-Palliative Prognostic Score (D-PaP score), Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) and modified Prognosis in Palliative Care Study predictor model (PiPS model).

Patients And Methods: This multicentre prospective cohort study involved 58 palliative care services, including 19 hospital palliative care teams, 16 palliative care units and 23 home palliative care services, in Japan from September 2012 to April 2014. Analyses were performed involving four patient groups: those treated by palliative care teams, those in palliative care units, those at home and those receiving chemotherapy.

Surprise Questions for Survival Prediction in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Predicting the short-term survival in cancer patients is an important issue for patients, family, and oncologists. Although the prognostic accuracy of the surprise question has value in 1-year mortality for cancer patients, the prognostic value for short-term survival has not been formally assessed. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of the surprise question for 7-day and 30-day survival in patients with advanced cancer.

Need for nutritional support, eating-related distress and experience of terminally ill patients with cancer: a survey in an inpatient hospice.

Objectives: Cancer cachexia creates a large burden for terminally ill patients with cancer. The main causes are a lack of knowledge of cancer cachexia and unsuccessful attempts to increase body weight. The role of nutritional support has not been clarified, and patients' eating-related distress is poorly understood.

Association between early palliative care referrals, inpatient hospice utilization, and aggressiveness of care at the end of life.

Background: Palliative care has a positive effect on many clinical outcomes, yet most referrals to palliative care have occurred late. End-of-life (EOL) cancer care has become increasingly aggressive. There have been no studies investigating the association between early palliative care referrals and aggressive EOL care in Japan.

Assessment of Intervention by a Palliative Care Team Working in a Japanese General Hospital: A Retrospective Study.

Our objective was to explore the effectiveness of a palliative care team (PCT) by investigating potential differences in opioid prescription between patients who had had PCT involvement before admission to an inpatient hospice and those who had not. A total of 221 patients met the criteria; they were divided into an intervention group (n = 140) and a control group (n = 81). The daily dose of opioid before admission to the hospice was significantly higher in the intervention group (P < .