Fan therapy for breathlessness - how do you do it and why?

Purpose Of The Review: This review summarises high-level evidence for fan therapy and adds a commentary on the relatively-neglected question of how to optimise benefits based on qualitative evidence, clinical experience and broader research and theory.

Recent Findings: Recent high-level evidence suggests the fan reduces time to recovery from episodic breathlessness rather than reduces daily levels over a longer period. Lower grade evidence suggests the fan can also help people increase their physical activity.

Accounting for unmet needs resulting from cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) causes a wide range of unmet needs for cancer survivors. It is unknown which clinical, demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors underpin and account for these various unmet needs. This study aimed to (a) identify factors associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, and (b) establish the most pertinent factors that account for CRCI-related unmet needs.

Effect of Concurrent Exercise Training on Stress, Depression and Anxiety in Inactive Academics: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of concurrent training (CT) on the mental health of inactive academics and examined associations between changes in stress (effort-reward imbalance and general stress), depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation. Fifty-nine inactive academics were randomly assigned to a CT ( = 29) or control (non-exercise) group ( = 30). CT performed supervised group training at an onsite facility 3 times per week for 14-weeks.

Harms of Morphine for Chronic Breathlessness in Relation to Dose, Duration and Titration Phase.

Context: Morphine to treat severe chronic breathlessness might increase adverse events (AEs).

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the risk of AEs in relation to dose, duration and titration phase of regular, low-dose sustained-release (SR) oral morphine for chronic breathlessness in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Secondary analysis of a double-blind, randomized, trial of SR morphine titrated to 0-32 mg/day over three weeks in people with COPD and chronic breathlessness.

Removal of Microplastics from Laundry Wastewater Using Coagulation and Membrane Combination: A Laboratory-Scale Study.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has recently emerged as a critical global environmental issue. Laundry wastewater is a significant contributor to MP pollution, containing high concentrations of MPs. Although coagulation has recently been widely applied to remove MPs from such wastewater, its efficiency remains poor, and the removal mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated.

Implementing a nurse-enabled, integrated, shared-care model involving specialists and general practitioners in early breast cancer post-treatment follow-up (EMINENT): a single-centre, open-label, phase 2, parallel-group, pilot, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Current models of post-treatment cancer care rely heavily on hospital-based, medical specialists and do not sufficiently leverage primary care. Many breast cancer survivors face ongoing unmet needs that may benefit from a multidisciplinary, shared-care approach. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of implementing nurse-enabled, shared-follow-up care between the acute and primary care setting for early-stage breast cancer.

The effect of non-pharmacological interventions on cognitive function in cancer: an overview of systematic reviews.

Purpose: A significant number of cancer survivors experience cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), which can impact their ability to think, reason, make decisions, and perform daily actions. In recent years, non-pharmacological interventions for CRCI have gained significant attention. These interventions include exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive training/remediation, dietary, mind-body, and multi-modal/complex interventions.

Smartphone-Based Experimental Analysis of Rainfall Effects on LTE Signal Indicators.

This work investigates the impact of rainfall on cellular communication links, leveraging smartphone-collected measurements. While existing studies primarily focus on line-of-sight (LoS) microwave propagation environments, this work explores the impact of rainfall on typical signal metrics over cellular links when the LoS path is not guaranteed. We examine both small-scale and large-scale variations in signal measurements across dry and rainy days, considering diverse locations and time windows.

Do Academic Libraries Contribute to Students' and Communities' Wellbeing?: A Scoping Review.

: Academic libraries offer a range of activities and initiatives for their students and community users. However, wellbeing, as a concept in academic libraries, is not very well defined and is poorly understood. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the role of academic libraries in student and community wellbeing, identify the various kinds of activities and initiatives that they carry out to address their wellbeing, and uncover gaps that might require further research.

The MASCC COG-IMPACT: An unmet needs assessment for cancer-related cognitive impairment impact developed by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) can have a profound impact on the lives of cancer survivors. A multitude of subjective and objective assessment tools exist to assess the presence and severity of CRCI. However, no purpose-built tool exists to assess the unmet needs of cancer survivors directly relating to CRCI.

Developing a co-designed, culturally responsive physical activity program for Pasifika communities in Western Sydney, Australia.

Pasifika communities in Western Sydney experience significant health disparities, particularly related to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and diabetes. Physical activity is known to improve both physical and mental health, yet access to culturally responsive physical activity programs for Pasifika communities is limited. This study leveraged expertise from an Advisory Committee to adopt community-based participatory research (CBPR) through Talanoa to co-design a physical activity program specifically tailored for Pasifika people in Western Sydney.

Engineering nanoliposomal tiotropium bromide embedded in a lactose-arginine carrier forming Trojan-particle dry powders for efficient pulmonary drug delivery: A combined approach of in vitro-3D printing and in silico-CFD modeling.

Nanocarrier-based dry powders for lung disease treatment are crucial, with in vitro and in silico research being pivotal to their success. This study introduces a method for creating Tiotropium-bromide liposomal inhalation dry powder, termed "Trojan-particles," utilizing thin-film hydration and spray-drying with lactose-arginine carriers. Encapsulating tiotropium-bromide in nanoliposomes enhances lung treatment via liposomes' unique features.

Feasibility and psychometric quality of smartphone administered cognitive ecological momentary assessments in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is associated with burdensome side effects, including cognitive changes that require ongoing monitoring. Cognitive ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) allow for assessment of individual cognitive functioning in natural environments and can be administered via smartphones. Accordingly, we sought to establish the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a commercially available cognitive EMA platform.

Exploring Australian knowledge and practice for maternal postnatal transition of care between hospital and primary care: A scoping review.

Problem: Despite the significance of the perinatal period, postnatal care remains insufficient for optimising long-term health.

Background: The perinatal period is a vulnerable time in a woman's life-course health trajectory. Supporting transitions from hospital to primary care is essential to promote health and guide evidence-based follow-up care.

Exploring the dimensions of HIV-related stigma: the impact on social connectedness and quality of life.

Although the biomedical advancements in HIV treatment have improved the original prognosis of the illness, people living with HIV (PLHIV) continue to encounter psychosocial challenges that impact their quality of life (QoL), including HIV-stigma and social connectedness. The present study investigates how different types of HIV-related stigma, as per the Conceptual Model of Perceived Stigma, respectively relate to QoL in the context of social connectedness in PLHIV. A total of 213 PLHIV attending a tertiary HIV clinic in Sydney Australia, completed questionnaires assessing HIV-related stigma, social connectedness, and QoL.

The living centre: an innovative open-access model of breast cancer survivorship care.

People affected by breast cancer experience a multitude of toxicities and unmet needs across physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and economic domains that adversely impact their quality of life. High-quality and diverse supportive care is required to improve outcomes and rehabilitation for people affected by breast cancer. However, the availability and access to high-quality supportive care services is limited due to factors including cost and demand.

Living with Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Qualitative Study.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, autoinflammatory disorder characterized by rapidly progressive painful ulcers that are challenging to diagnose and treat. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of patients living with pyoderma gangrenosum. Using an inductive qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were completed with a purposive sample of 21 patients with pyoderma gangrenosum recruited from a public dermatology outpatient clinic in Melbourne, Australia.

The status quo of global geriatric radiation oncology education: A scoping review.

Purpose: To identify potential gaps in geriatric radiation oncology (RO) education worldwide, as measured by geriatric oncology (GO) content within postgraduate RO training program (TP) curricula across 8 focus countries.

Methods And Materials: The need for improved education around GO is internationally recognized and is a key strategic priority of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG).Two reviewers undertook a systematic scoping review from March to September 2023.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Symptom Monitoring in Adult Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care may afford new avenues for personalized and patient-centered care. This systematic review explored the role of AI in symptom monitoring for adult cancer survivors.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed from inception to November 2023 in seven bibliographic databases and three clinical trial registries.

A systematic review of evidence relating to the use of telesupervision for speech-language pathology students on clinical placements.

Background: The use of telepractice in delivering speech-language pathology services is increasing and speech-language pathologists are providing supervision to students on clinical placements through telesupervision. The review examined literature on telesupervision for speech-language pathology students on a clinical placement.

Aims: To systematically review the literature on how, when, and why telesupervision is used by speech-language pathologists supervising students; and the views and experiences of students, practice educators, and clients on telesupervision.

Visual Implicit Pre-Cueing Improves Response Time in Decision-Making in Dyslexic Children.

This study aimed to examine the effect of visual pre-cueing presented at different time intervals in the response time of dyslexic and non-dyslexic children. Fifteen dyslexic and 15 non-dyslexic children performed a computerised four-choice reaction time task across four conditions: no pre-cue and a 43-ms time interval (or duration) of a centralised dot appearing in the stimulus circle at 43, 86 or 129 ms prior to the stimulus. Each condition was repeated eight times, totaling 32 trials, and presented in a random order.

Supporting cancer-related fatigue self-management: A conversation analytic study of nurse counsellor and cancer survivor consultations.

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a prevalent and distressing symptom experienced by people affected by cancer. A breakdown of the clinician-patient partnership and suboptimal clinician communication has been identified as a significant barrier to implementing into clinical practice effective self-management strategies for CRF. This study examined the use and impact of communication practices employed by trained cancer nurse counsellors when providing CRF self-management support to cancer survivors.