Interference of gadolinium-based contrast agents on colorimetric calcium assays.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential interference of five gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), gadodiamide (Omniscan®), gadobenate dimeglumine (Multihance®), gadoxetate disodium (Primovist®), gadobutrol (Gadovist®), and gadoteridol (Prohance®), on three clinical laboratory widely used colorimetric calcium assays including the newly developed 5-nitro-5'methyl-l,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (NM-BAPTA) method.

Methods: Plasma was collected from healthy volunteers aged 23-52, and spiked with varying concentrations of the five GBCAs. Calcium determinations were performed in duplicates using the o-cresolphthalein complexone (OCP), arsenazo-III dye, and NM-BAPTA methods on the Roche Integra 400, Abbott Architect 16000, and Roche Modular P automated analyzers respectively.

It's the "good" cancer, so who cares? Perceived lack of support among young thyroid cancer survivors.

Purpose/objectives: To describe the survivorship experience of young adult patients with thyroid cancer.

Research Approach: A qualitative, descriptive study.

Setting: Four Canadian provinces, with most participants from Ontario.

Comparing urban and rural young adult cancer survivors' experiences: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Large administrative data set analyses demonstrate that geography has a significant impact on access to health care and subsequent health outcomes. In general, rural populations have poorer access to healthcare services. This article explores the reality of this issue for young adult cancer survivors.

Performance evaluation of Siemens ADVIA Centaur and Roche MODULAR Analytics E170 Total 25-OH Vitamin D assays.

Objectives: To evaluate the newly developed Roche MODULAR Analytics E170 Total Vitamin D and the Siemens ADVIA Centaur Vitamin D Total assays.

Materials And Methods: Assays were evaluated using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols. Split patient samples were compared with LC-MS/MS and DiaSorin LIAISON assays (n=79 including 15 specimens with detectable endogenous 25-OH vitamin D(2)).

Performance evaluation of Siemens ADVIA Centaur enhanced estradiol assay and a split sample comparison with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the newly developed Siemens ADVIA Centaur enhanced Estradiol (eE2) assay and compare it with a well-established estradiol liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method.

Design And Methods: The Siemens eE2 assay was evaluated using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute evaluation protocols. Split patient samples were compared with the eE2 assay, the current ADVIA Centaur E2-6 Ill assay; and LC-MS/MS method by API5000 mass spectrometer.

Do breast cancer survivors' post-surgery difficulties with recreational activities persist over time?

Introduction: Most longitudinal breast cancer studies have found that treatment-related sequelae such as arm morbidity [lymphedema, pain, and range of motion (ROM) restrictions] can have a significant impact on quality of life. In a previous study, we found that at 6-12 months after breast cancer surgery, 49% of participants had difficulties engaging in recreational activities and that arm morbidity significantly predicted difficulties with participation in recreation.

Methods: A longitudinal national study employing clinical assessments and survey methods followed 178 women over 43 months (3.

Barriers to rehabilitative care for young breast cancer survivors: a qualitative understanding.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the rehabilitation needs of young women breast cancer survivors under the age of 50 and to identify factors that may impact or prevent cancer rehabilitation utilization.

Methods: Utilizing a grounded theory methodology, 35 young breast cancer survivors were interviewed twice in four Atlantic Canadian provinces.

Results: A considerable number of barriers exist to receiving rehabilitative care post-treatment for young breast cancer survivors.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a new biomarker for non--acute kidney injury (AKI) diseases.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, or NGAL, an acute phase protein, is part of the lipocalin family. NGAL is highly induced in inflammatory conditions and ischemia, and is a critical component of innate immunity to bacterial infection. Recently, NGAL has been proven as an emerging biomarker for predicting acute kidney injury (AKI).

"You can only take so much, and it took everything out of me": coping strategies used by parents of children with cancer.

Objective: This study qualitatively assesses the coping strategies of parents who care for a child with cancer.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 French and English families who had had a child diagnosed with cancer in the last ten years in two Eastern Canadian provinces. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded with a focus on parental coping strategies.

Prevalence of abusive encounters in the workplace of family physicians: a minor, major, or severe problem?

Objective: To examine the career prevalence of abusive encounters for family physicians in Canada.

Design: A 7-page cross-sectional mailed survey in English and French.

Setting: Canada.

Monthly incidence rates of abusive encounters for canadian family physicians by patients and their families.

Objective. The goal of this study was to examine the monthly incidence rates of abusive encounters for family physicians in Canada. Methods.

Predicting recreational difficulties and decreased leisure activities in women 6-12 months post breast cancer surgery.

Introduction: A Canadian research team is conducting a multi-centered, non-interventional national study with the objective of charting the course of arm morbidity after breast cancer surgery. This paper examined the relationship between arm morbidity and leisure and recreational activities of affected women.

Methods: Five hundred and forty seven women with stage I-III breast cancer were recruited in four centers across Canada: Surrey (BC); Winnipeg (MB), Montreal (QB) and Fredericton (NB).

Young adults' experiences with cancer: comments from patients and survivors.

Objective: To examine the experiences with cancer of adults diagnosed when between 20 and 35 years old.

Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Setting: Largest health care region in the province of New Brunswick.

Beyond dichotomies of health and illness: life after breast cancer.

While there has been a vast amount of research on breast cancer in recent years, areas within this domain remain unexplored. For instance, there have been few attempts to marry an understanding of the social context in which breast cancer occurs with an understanding of subjective experiences of this condition. The purpose of this study was to explore women's experiences of embodiment after breast cancer, utilizing a phenomenological approach rooted in a feminist perspective.

Support for very old people in Sweden and Canada: the pitfalls of cross-cultural studies; same words, different concepts?

The Swedish and Canadian 80+ studies are collecting longitudinal data regarding medical, psychological and sociological aspects of the lives of people who are 80 years of age and older. A paper entitled 'Informal and formal support from a multidisciplinary perspective: a Swedish follow-up between 80 and 82 years of age', was based on the Swedish 80+ study. It examined psychosocial and health measures by support type (i.

Breast and cervical cancer screening for women between 50 and 69 years of age: what prompts women to screen?

The objective of this study was to examine mammography and cervical cancer screening rates among women aged 50 to 69 and to understand which prompts are effective for improving screening compliance. A self-administered survey was sent to 800 randomly selected participants in a health region in a relatively poor, rural province in Eastern Canada with a universal health care system. Since 1995, New Brunswick has instituted a biannual self-referral mammography screening program for women between 50 and 69 years of age.

Cancer follow-up care. Patients' perspectives.

Objective: To assess family physicians' and specialists' involvement in cancer follow-up care and how this involvement is perceived by cancer patients.

Design: Self-administered survey.

Setting: A health region in New Brunswick.