bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Communicating with children and teenagers with cancer—difficult for the doctor but worse for the patient
Authors: Watts E. J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAt the age of 12 (in 1960) I developed a neuroblastoma, which later recurred resulting in prolonged hospitalisation. My natural curiosity led me to ask numerous questions about my condition and treatment but the doctors and nurses treating me would not give me the information I required. Although this was normal practice at the time I feel it was a misguided policy. There have been considerable improvements in communication since then but I still meet patients—either professionally or through cancer self help groups who feel that they have not been given adequate information. I have therefore written this report to document the problems that may arise through poor communication.
The psychological significance of rejection reactions to chemotherapy in cancer patients
Authors: Carbone Paola 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn a series of brief clinical accounts, this article elaborates the thesis that cancer patients' intolerance of the side effects of chemotherapy is not merely the effect of the drugs' toxicity but also a way of displacing onto the treatment the fears and anxieties related to the disease. In relational terms, the rejection reaction to the side effects may be a ‘pretext’ for seeking psychological support and in some cases the occasion for initiating psychotherapy.
Antidepressant medications in cancer patients
Authors: Chaturvedi Santosh K. , Maguire Peter , Hopwood Penelope 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe patterns of psychotropic medications usage were analysed in 146 cancer patients consecutively referred to an urban psychiatric facility. Antidepressants were prescribed for 67%. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were noted in 34%, the commonest ADRs were sedation, dry mouth, restlessness and constipation. The ADRs were selflimiting and tolerable in 16% and severe and intolerable in 17%. Most patients (80%) receiving antidepressants showed a good clinical response in terms of amelioration of psychological symptoms. Most patients found relief from distressing psychological symptoms; the majority did not suffer significant adverse effects.
Multidimensional determinants of psychological adjustment to cancer
Authors: Rodrigue James R. , Behen Joseph M. , Tumlin Timothy 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between psychological adjustment and illness‐related, demographic, intrapersonal, family and socio‐ecological variables. A total of 132 men and women receiving active cancer treatment completed a battery of instruments designed to measure global psychological functioning, depression, anxiety, coping strategies, domestic and extended family relations, social support quantity and perceived quality, and satisfaction with the health care system. Results revealed that the majority of subjects were experiencing little or no psychological distress; however, 30–35% reported experiencing clinically significant levels of depression, anxiety or global adjustment difficulties. Results further revealed that coping strategies characterized by avoidance or acceptance‐resignation, family disturbance and quantity and perceived quality of social support distinguished good versus poor adjustment and were most predictive of psychological distress in this sample.
Psychological side effects induced by interleukin‐2/α interferon treatment
Authors: Smith M. J. , Mouawad R. , Vuillemin E. , Benhammouda A. , Soubrane C. , Khayat D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractTreatment of certain cancers by interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and alpha interferon (INF) is currently widely‐used in oncology and serious psychological side effects of such treatments have been reported. This study attempts to describe and analyse such side effects in a series of hospitalized cancer patients. Fifty‐two patients undergoing a protocol of cisplatinum, intravenous interleukin‐2 infusions and subcutaneous alpha interferon injections for metastatic melanoma and renal cancer were systematically screened for psychiatric disorders before, during and after each of four cycles of 4–5 day EL‐2 infusions. Fatigue was constant and treatment‐limiting in some cases and was highly correlated with depressive symptoms, which were very frequent at the end of the treatment cycle. Patients regularly showed varying degrees of obtundedness at the height of physical symptoms induced by IL‐2. Some patients also had transient, predominantly hallucinatory deliria occurring or persisting several days after the termination of the infusions and complete resolution of concurrent somatic distress; neuroleptics were effective treatment. Certain lymphocyte phenotype counts (total lymphocytes, total CD8 cells, total T3s, stimulated Ts, non‐stimulated Ts) correlated negatively with depressive symptomatology whereas fatigue tended to correlate negatively with polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts. Delirium correlated positively with total CD8 cells. Hallucinatory delirium, but not fatigue or depression, seems to be a direct cerebral effect of the interleukin‐2α interferon combination that is not merely a consequence of the somatic effects. Patients undergoing lymphokine treatments should be carefully screened for psychological side effects and preventive or curative treatments should be given.
Post‐traumatic stress after childhood cancer II: A family model
Authors: Stuber Margaret L. , Gonzalez Sandra , Meeske Kathleen , Guthrie Donald , Houskamp Beth M. , Pynoos Robert , Kazak Anne 
Published: February 2007

AbstractRecent studies have suggested that parental responses to pediatric cancer can include symptoms of post‐traumatic stress even years after the end of successful treatment. This paper proposes a family model, based on data about the relationship between post‐traumatic stress symptoms in parents of cancer survivors and the child's perceptions, symptoms and treatment. Parents of 30 childhood cancer survivors 8–19 years old, who were at least 22 months off treatment and disease free after a malignancy, were evaluated using self‐report questionnaires. Neither diagnostic category (leukemia versus solid tumor), nor time since completion of treatment significantly correlated with severity of post‐traumatic stress symptoms reported by parents. Although there was a significant correlation between symptom severity of mothers and fathers, neither mothers nor fathers' scores were significantly correlated with the survivors'. Maternal symptoms were significantly correlated with mothers' trait anxiety, survivors' appraisal of treatment intensity, and with duration of treatment. Further study of the interaction of family variables in parental post‐traumatic response to pediatric illness appears to be indicated.
How breast cancer patients are perceived: Effects of treatment method, age, and time since surgery
Authors: Hailey B. J. , Antick Jennifer , Billie Sandra , Butler Marianne 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThree hundred undergraduate students read one of 12 vignettes about a hypothetical breast cancer patient, completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) as they thought she would, and completed a questionnaire (Perception of Medical Patients Questionnaire; PMPQ) designed to elicit their perceptions of her. Vignettes differed according to time since surgery (5 days, 3 months, or 15 months), treatment method (lumpectomy with radiation or mastectomy) and age of the patient (32 or 62 years). As predicted, patients whose surgery occurred most recently were viewed as more distressed than the other patients. Subjects perceived mastectomy patients to have greater sexual problems, be more likely to need counselling, and to be more embarrassed than lumpectomy patients. On the other hand, patients treated with lumpectomy and radiation were rated higher on an index of fatigue than were mastectomy patients. No differences between treatment method were found in terms of the amount of additional emotional support patients would need. Subjects expected younger patients to survive longer and look less ill, but the predicted differences between older and younger patients in terms of likelihood of sexual adjustment problems was not found.
Influence of age on psychological adjustment to cancer
Authors: Harrison Judy , Maguire Peter 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA total of 520 patients were assessed within 8 weeks of diagnosis to explore the effect of age on psychological adjustment to cancer. Patients with cancers of the breast, colon, testicle, female reproductive tract and with lymphoma were included. Three measures of adjustment were used: DSM‐III diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety, frequency of specific concerns and the total number of patient concerns. For depression and anxiety diagnoses combined, the cases were significantly younger than the non‐cases (mean = 49.4 versus 53.7 years, p < 0.01). Younger patients also had significantly higher concern scores (p < 0.001). Younger patients were more likely to report concerns relating to the illness itself, treatment, feeling different, feeling upset, the future, finances, relationship with partner and others and sexuality. No age effect was seen for more practical concerns relating to physical symptoms, restriction of activities, job or amount of support received. Younger patients appear to experience greater difficulties adjusting to a cancer diagnosis but particular attention should be paid to the practical issues faced by older cancer patients.
Hypnotherapy for control of anticipatory nausea and vomiting in children with cancer: Preliminary findings
Authors: Hawkins P. J. , Liossi C. , Ewart B. W. , Hatira P. , Kosmidis V. H. , Varvutsi M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPaediatric oncology patients often experience significant chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting (NV). A number of controlled studies have shown that a variety of behavioural interventions are effective in treating both anticipatory and postchemotherapy NV.The present randomised, controlled‐design study aims to assess the possible therapeutic gains that may be derived from hypnosis while controlling for gains that may be derived from non‐specific therapeutic factors.Thirty paediatric oncology patients (5–17 years of age), following baseline assessment, were randomly assigned to one of three groups—‘treatment as usual’ control group, therapist contact group, and a hypnosis training group—during an identical chemotherapy pulse.Statistical analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of hypnosis for the reduction of anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Therapist contact alone was also found to be effective in reducing anticipatory nausea but it is suggested that this may be a statistical rather than a clinical effect. The results of the present study suggest that hypnosis is effective in the treatment of ANV in children.
Psychological distress in women with a familial risk of breast cancer
Authors: Valdimarsdottir Heiddis B. , Bovbjerg Dana H. , Kash Kathryn M. , Holland Jimmie C. , Osborne Michael P. , Miller Daniel G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn the present study women at familial risk for breast cancer (N = 26, risk group) underwent psychological assessments on two occasions: immediately prior to mammography screening and a month after notification of their normal results. Assessments included standardized measures of: acute distress; non‐specific distress; intrusive thoughts; and avoidance about breast cancer. Normal risk women not undergoing mammography (N = 27, comparison group) completed the same measures, to provide an indication of concurrent levels of distress in women recruited from the same community. Results revealed that, prior to mammography, the risk group had high levels of acute distress, which were reduced to the level of the comparison group following notification of normal mammography results. On the other hand, despite notification of normal results, the risk group continued to have higher levels of non‐specific distress, avoidance and intrusive thoughts about breast cancer. These results confirm and extend previous reports of high levels of non‐specific distress and intrusive thoughts in women at familial risk for breast cancer. The findings highlight the need for further studies to determine the sources of this distress and its possible negative consequences for these individuals at risk for cancer.
Social support adequacy and depression in older patients with metastatic cancer
Authors: Hann Danette M. , Oxman Thomas E. , Ahles Tim A. , Furstenberg Charlotte T. , Stuke Therese A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAlthough the highest proportion of cancer patients are over 55 years, the psychosocial aspects of cancer in this age group has received little systematic attention. Many older patients who report psychological distress, especially depressive symptoms, also report a perception of inadequate social support. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived adequacy of social support and depression in a group of older patients with metastatic cancer. The association of social support network variables (e.g. number in household, etc.) with depression was also evaluated. A second study aim was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a measure of social support adequacy, that had been originally developed with college students, for its usefulness with a cancer population. The measure of perceived adequacy of social support used in this study was found to be a reliable and valid measure with older cancer patients. Total perceived adequacy and each of three subtypes (significant other, family and friends) were significantly associated with lower levels of depression. In a multiple regression procedure, both perceived adequacy and network characteristics were significantly associated with less depression. These findings suggest that older cancer patients who are depressed may be good candidates for psychosocial interventions aimed at improving social support and subsequently quality of life.
Quality of life and ethics: Opinions about chemotherapy among patients with advanced melanoma, next of kin and care‐providers
Authors: Sigurdardóytir Valgerdur , Bolund Christina , Nilson Bo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe treatment of generalized malignant melanoma is purely experimental and palliative. Despite rather pessimistic results from numerous clinical trials with aggressive combination chemotherapy clinical trials are still considered among the main options for making progress. During a period of three years, a longitudinal quality of life (QoL) study was performed in connection with one such clinical trial, part of the Swedish Melanoma Programme. Parallel to the QoL measures, questions concerning the value of treatment and communication about treatment toxicity were consecutively put to patients with advanced disease, their next‐of‐kin and nurses. During this period we followed professionals dealing with everyday medical, psychological and ethical aspects of aggressive chemotherapy in the context of palliation. In connection with the official closure of the QoL assessments, a questionnaire study addressing opinions on chemotherapy and ethical conflicts related to the current treatment was performed. All professional categories working at the Melanoma Unit of The Karolinska Hospital participated in this study. By combining these two sources of information, we have tried to give a broad picture of attitudes towards chemotherapy for palliation of metastatic melanoma. After 2–3 months of therapy half of the patients reported the treatment troublesome, 50% felt it had been helpful and very few had thought about stopping the treatment. The patients communicated mainly with their family about treatment toxicity, leaving the nurses with insufficient information to assess effects on an individual level. The relatives therefore seem to be more appropriate proxy raters than the nurses in the present palliative situation, at least concerning the value of treatment. The questionnaire study revealed fewer differences between staff members than expected. The staff had an overwhelmingly positive attitude to chemotherapy and found satisfaction in their work. They sought motivation in this meaningful work and the feeling of being really needed by patients. The environment, a university clinic with an active treatment tradition, undoubtedly modifies the personnel's attitudes and coping strategies. It seems reasonable to assume that the professional's view increases the patient's enthusiasm for chemotherapy.
Agreement between cancer patients and their physicians in the assessment of patient anxiety at follow‐up visits
Authors: Lampic Claudia , Nordin Karin , Sjödén Per‐Olow 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAgreement between cancer patients and their physicians in assessing patient anxiety during a follow‐up visit was studied in two samples: one at the Department of Gynaecological Oncology (GYN, n = 60) and one at the Department of Surgery (SURG, n = 141). All were ambulatory cancer patients attending regular follow‐up visits. Physicians estimated patient anxiety immediately after the visit, while patients assessed this aspect at home later the same day or some days later. The results show that physicians were unable to adequately estimate patients, general anxiety during the visit. Physicians typically overrated the anxiety of not anxious or mildly anxious patients, and showed limited ability to estimate individual patients, anxiety in terms of rank. Physicians made gross misjudgements ( >4 points on a 0–10 scale) of patient anxiety in 20% of cases. Theoretical explanations for this lack of patient‐physician agreement are discussed.
Palliative care teaching, what can we learn?
Authors: Haines Ian E. , Lethborg Carrie , Schwarz Max A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractLack of palliative care education is being identified by many universities as a deficiency in their undergraduate medical teaching programme which requires urgent implementation into the undergraduate curriculum.A comprehensive teaching programme in palliative care was devised and commenced at our institution at the beginning of 1991. This consists of seven one and half hour modules given to students in the last years of their course. The modules cover the broad range of aims of the course (as outlined) by using a diverse range of educational principles and methods and only a minimum of traditional non‐interactive didactic teaching.Students complete anonymous evaluation form at the completion of the course and responses from the medical students have been overwhelmingly positive. 89 percent of students rated the course ‘very useful’ or ‘extremely useful’. The students' rating placed this course above all other components of their undergraduate teaching programme.However, written comments from students have provided us with even more significant insights into the importance of the programme, such as ‘why weren't we taught this before’ and ‘I would like to see more space given to discussion on how to cope with the stress of the medical profession.’The skills involved in palliative care are basic to good doctoring generally and we believe that this teaching programme could help form the basis for future medical undergraduate teaching programmes in palliative care.
FMR line shift for γ‐Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles embedded in a nonmagnetic matrix
Authors: Guskos N. , Typek J. , Maryniak M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractTemperature dependence of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra of magnetic nanoparticles or agglomerates of γ‐Fe2O3 in nonmagnetic matrixes has been studied. Samples with two types of magnetic nanofillers have been studied: a solid powder and a suspension. Magnetic anisotropy present in the samples allowed analysis of the observed FMR spectrum in terms of two lines arising from the perpendicular (the more intense) and parallel (the weaker) components of the resulting dipolar field. It was observed that the temperature changes of the resonance lines have been effected by the presence of critical phenomena in polymer matrix, especially the freezing processes connected with the arrested movements of certain matrix fragments. A simple model has been put forward to explain partially the shift of the resonance field with the temperature change. It is proposed that an essential part (50%) of the temperature shift of the position of FMR resonance could be caused by change of an effective magnetic moment due to thermal expansion of the matrix. Application of low concentration of magnetic nanoparticles in the polymeric systems, especially possessing extraordinary physical properties, would allow studying them by the FMR method. This might be very helpful for understanding of the critical or exotic phenomena observed in certain materials. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Defect‐induced ferrimagnetism in the half‐metallic Co2CrAl and Co2CrSi compounds
Authors: Özdog̃an Kemal , Galanakis Iosif , Şaşıog̃lu Ersoy , Aktaş Bekir 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCo2CrAl and Co2CrSi are amongst the most studied Heusler alloys due to their half‐metallic character. These compounds are also well‐known to present ferromagnetism with high Curie temperatures. We show using first‐principles calculations that the creation of Cr antisites (Cr atoms at the Co sites) induces ferrimagnetism in these compounds without destroying the half‐metallic character of these alloys. The reduction of the total spin moment causes lower external fields and thus smaller energy losses in realistic magnetoelectronic, also known as spintronic, devices. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
QSAR Modeling of Acute Toxicity for Nitrobenzene Derivatives Towards Rats: Comparative Analysis by MLRA and Optimal Descriptors
Authors: Toropov Andrey A. , Rasulev Bakhtiyor F. , Leszczynski Jerzy 
Published: February 2007

AbstractQuantitative Structure–Activity Relationships (QSAR) have been developed for a set of 28 benzene derivatives. LD50 oral toxicity of these compounds towards rats has been modeled by Multiple Linear Regression Analysis (MLRA) based on descriptors generated by DRAGON software and by optimal descriptors approach. Twenty‐eight benzene derivatives have been split into training (n= 14) and test (n=14) sets. In the case of MLRA, a two‐variable model has the best predictive potential. Comparison of the quality of MLRA and optimal descriptor models showed that the predictive potential of a one‐variable model based on optimal descriptors is better than a two‐variable MLRA model.
To improve the quantification sensitivity of large molecular weight compounds – with ginsenosides as example
Authors: Ding Li , Luo Xubiao , Tang Fei‐Li , Nie Lihua , Yao Shouzhuo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractHigh cone voltage was used to improve the quantification sensitivity of large molecular weight compounds in high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI‐MS), with ginsenosides as example. Investigations on the effect of cone voltage showed that within a voltage range of 30–130 V, for all the ginsenosides tested, i.e., Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf and Rg1, an increase in the applied cone voltage can significantly increase the sensitivity of the method. The maximum sensitivity in the determination decreases with the decreasing molecular weight of the ginsenosides in the order of Rb1 > Rb2 > Rc > Re > Rd > Rg1 > Rf. At the high cone voltage of 130 V, both molecular weight and structural information was obtained from a single mass spectrum. It can also be used for isomer differentiation and determination of O‐glycosidic linkages in ginsenosides. Linear relationships between the peak area response and concentration were observed in the range of 50–2 × 105 ng/mL, with the correlation coefficients >0.99. The limits of detection reached down to pg for ginsenosides. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ginsenosides in commercial ginseng samples. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.