Cytokine gene variations associated with subsyndromal depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: This study explored the relationships between variations in cytokines genes and depressive symptoms in a sample of patients who were assessed prior to and for six months following breast cancer surgery. Phenotypic differences between Resilient (n = 155) and Subsyndromal (n = 180) depressive symptom classes, as well as variations in cytokine genes were evaluated.

Method: Patients were recruited prior to surgery and followed for six months.

Associations between cytokine gene variations and self-reported sleep disturbance in women following breast cancer surgery.

Purpose Of The Research: To attempt to replicate the associations found in our previous study of patients and family caregivers between interleukin 6 (IL6) and nuclear factor kappa beta 2 (NFKB2) and sleep disturbance and to identify additional genetic associations in a larger sample of patients with breast cancer.

Methods And Sample: Patients with breast cancer (n = 398) were recruited prior to surgery and followed for six months. Patients completed a self-report measure of sleep disturbance and provided a blood sample for genomic analyses.

Trajectories and predictors of symptom occurrence, severity, and distress in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Context: Radiation therapy (RT) is a common treatment for prostate cancer. Despite available research, prostate cancer patients report that information about side effects is their most important unmet need. Additional research is needed that focuses on specific dimensions of the patient's symptom experience.

Associations between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes and breast pain in women prior to breast cancer surgery.

Unlabelled: The purposes of this study were to determine the occurrence rate for preoperative breast pain; describe the characteristics of this pain; evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics; and evaluate for variations in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes between women who did and did not report pain. Patients (n = 398) were recruited prior to surgery and completed self-report questionnaires on a number of pain characteristics. Genotyping was done using a custom genotyping array.

Differences in sleep disturbance and fatigue between patients with breast and prostate cancer at the initiation of radiation therapy.

Context: Little is known about the occurrence and severity of sleep disturbance and fatigue between patients with common cancer diagnoses.

Objectives: Study purposes were to evaluate for differences in the occurrence rates of sleep disturbances and fatigue; evaluate for differences in the severity of sleep disturbance using both subjective and objective measures; and evaluate for differences in the severity of self-reported fatigue in patients with breast and prostate cancer at the initiation of radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: Patients with breast (n=78) and prostate (n=82) cancer were evaluated before the initiation of RT using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, General Sleep Disturbance Scale, Lee Fatigue Scale, and wrist actigraphy.

Differences in sleep disturbance parameters between oncology outpatients and their family caregivers.

Purpose: This study compared the occurrence rates for and severity ratings of sleep disturbance in patient-family caregiver (FC) dyads.

Patients And Methods: In total, 102 dyads were recruited from two radiation therapy (RT) departments. Patients and their FCs completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS) and wore wrist actigraphs to obtain subjective and objective measures of the occurrence and severity of sleep disturbance at the initiation of RT.

The effects of pain, gender, and age on sleep/wake and circadian rhythm parameters in oncology patients at the initiation of radiation therapy.

Unlabelled: To date, no studies have evaluated for differences in subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance in oncology outpatients with and without pain. This descriptive study, recruited 182 patients from 2 radiation therapy (RT) departments at the time of the patient's simulation visit. Approximately 38% of the sample reported moderate to severe pain (ie, worst pain intensity of 6.

Predictors of the trajectories of self-reported attentional fatigue in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Purpose/objectives: To examine how attentional fatigue changed from the time of simulation to four months after the completion of radiation therapy and to investigate whether specific variables predicted initial levels and trajectories of attentional fatigue.

Design: Descriptive, longitudinal study.

Setting: Two radiation therapy departments.

Relationship between mood disturbance and sleep quality in oncology outpatients at the initiation of radiation therapy.

Purpose Of The Research: The purpose of this study was to describe the occurrence of significant mood disturbance and evaluate for differences in sleep quality among four mood groups (i.e., neither anxiety nor depression, only anxiety, only depression, anxiety and depression) prior to the initiation of radiation therapy (RT).

Changes in sexual function on mood and quality of life in patients undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose/objectives: To describe the percentages of men with and without changes in sexual function from the beginning to end of radiation therapy and evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, mood states, and quality of life (QOL) among patients who did and did not experience changes in sexual function.

Design: Descriptive, longitudinal.

Setting: Two radiation therapy departments in northern California.

Differences in the prevalence and severity of side effects based on type of analgesic prescription in patients with chronic cancer pain.

An understanding of the relationship between the type of analgesic prescription and the prevalence and severity of side effects is crucial in making appropriate treatment decisions. The purposes of this study were to determine if there were differences in the prevalence of side effects among four different types of analgesic prescriptions (i.e.