Publications by authors named "T Kunst"
Article Synopsis
- Sleep-wake disturbances are prevalent among primary brain tumor patients, and this study explores the relationship between patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and data from smart wearables like Fitbits over a 4-week period.
- Fifty-four patients participated, wearing Fitbits to track their sleep patterns and completing various PROs at the start and end of the study, showing high compliance and reliability in the data collected.
- Results indicated that while some patients experienced significant improvements in sleep disturbance, a notable correlation was found between wake after sleep onset and sleep disturbance, highlighting a need for further research into sleep mechanics in this patient population.
Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain malignancy with <45% living a year beyond diagnosis. Previously published investigations of long-term survivors (LTS) provided clinical data but rarely incorporated a comprehensive clinical and molecular analysis. Herein, we identify clinical, imaging, molecular, and outcome features for 23 GBM-LTS patients and compare them with a matched cohort of short-term survivors (STS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Cancer patients experience distress and anxiety when undergoing imaging studies to monitor disease status, yet these symptoms are not always appropriately identified or well-managed. This interim analysis of a phase 2 clinical trial explored feasibility and acceptability of a virtual reality relaxation (VR) intervention for primary brain tumor (PBT) patients at the time of clinical evaluation.
Methods: English speaking, adult PBT patients with previous reports of distress and upcoming neuroimaging were recruited between March of 2021 and March 2022.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer patients often face anxiety during imaging studies, leading to the need for effective management of their distress.
- A phase 2 clinical trial tested a virtual reality relaxation (VR) intervention for primary brain tumor patients, assessing its feasibility and acceptability before neuroimaging.
- Out of 55 approached, 20 patients enrolled, with high satisfaction reported (90%) and minimal adverse effects, indicating the potential of VR as a supportive tool for managing psychological symptoms in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Astroblastoma, -altered is a new classification of rare CNS tumors added by the WHO in 2021, characterized by unique DNA methylation patterns and specific genetic fusions but has variable histological features.
- These tumors are most frequently found in children, especially females, and their clinical outcomes vary widely, with some patients facing multiple recurrences despite aggressive treatment while others do well after surgery alone.
- The report details the cases of three female adults with these tumors, highlights the need for better clinical data collection, and suggests a standardized method for gathering neuropathological and patient-reported outcomes to enhance understanding of the tumor's clinical diversity.