334 research outputs found
Addressing cancer anorexia-cachexia in older patients: potential therapeutic strategies and molecular pathways
No full textCancer cachexia (CC) syndrome, a feature of cancer-associated muscle wasting, is particularly pronounced in older patients, and is characterised by decreased energy intake and upregulated skeletal muscle catabolic pathways. To address CC, appetite stimulants, anabolic drugs, cytokine mediators, essential amino acid supplementation, nutritional counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, and enteral nutrition have been utilised. However, pharmacological treatments that have also shown promising results, such as megestrol acetate, anamorelin, thalidomide, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, have been associated with gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications. Emerging evidence on the efficacy of probiotics in modulating gut microbiota also presents a promising adjunct to traditional therapies, potentially enhancing nutritional absorption and systemic inflammation control. Additionally, low-dose olanzapine has demonstrated improved appetite and weight management in older patients undergoing chemotherapy, offering a potential refinement to current therapeutic approaches. This review aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning CC, with a particular focus on the role of anorexia in exacerbating muscle wasting, and to propose pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to mitigate this syndrome, particularly emphasising the needs of an older demographic. Future research targeting CC should focus on refining appetite-stimulating drugs with fewer side-effects, specifically catering to the needs of older patients, and investigating nutritional factors that can either enhance appetite or minimise suppression of appetite in individuals with CC, especially within this vulnerable group
Data Set of PLOS Computational Paper PCOMPBIOL-D-18-02181R1
No full textFigures Data of PLOS Computational paper:Modeling of the axon plasma membrane structure and its effects on protein diffusionAuthors: Yihao Zhang, Anastasios V. Tzingounis, and George LykotrafitisCorresponding Author: George Lykotrafitis, Ph.D.University of ConnecticutStorss, CT UNITED STATES</div
The state of modern Greek language as spoken in Victoria
No full textDeposited with permission of the author. © 1986 Dr. Anastasios TamisThis thesis reports a sociolinguistic study, carried out between 1981 and 1984, of the state of the Modern Greek (MG) language in Australia, as spoken by native-speaking first-generation Greek immigrants in Victoria. Particular emphasis is given to the analysis of those characteristics of the linguistic behaviour of these Greek Australians which can be attributed to the contact with English and to other environmental, social and linguistic influence. (For complete abstract open document
Development of a breast cancer specific patients concerns inventory (PCI)
No full textIntroduction
Treating breast cancer is based on a combination of therapies: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, as well as hormonal and biological agents. The full impact of the disease and its treatment at a human level is often underestimated, and the benefits of holistic cancer care are increasingly recognised. Furthermore, patients often face a frightening and uncertain journey that presents a variety of needs. Moreover, recovery is not necessarily the end-point of the cancer experience. The many complexities and challenges in the identification of patient issues along this journey can lead to unmet needs. This can be particularly difficult in the confines of a busy clinic, where time constraints, together with an over-reliance on verbal communication, can pose significant barriers to effective consultations.
A novel tool, known as the patient concerns inventory (PCI), has been successfully developed and introduced for use in patients with head and neck cancer. In this setting, it has helped to formulate an individualized record of patient concerns, needs, and priorities, thereby structuring outpatient consultations, and promoting and facilitating a multidisciplinary approach. This study aimed to develop and assess a PCI specific to breast cancer and to evaluate its impact on patient care; that is, to provide a “proof of concept” for a breast cancer PCI.
Methods
This was a four-phase study, as follows. (1) Item generation through a literature review, input from clinicians (n = 10), four patient focus groups (n = 24), and national breast cancer charities (n = 3). (2) A survey of breast cancer patients (n = 200) for cross-sectional validation, to compare the PCI with an established quality of life tool and to look at the relative frequency of items and any associations. (3) A pilot, before and after study, assessing the PCI in a clinical setting with breast cancer patients (n = 53). (4) Semi-structured interviews with a breast surgeon (n = 1) and specialist nurses (n = 2) who used the PCI during clinics, to identify the perceived benefits of using the PCI.
Results
In total 277 patients responded and participated in this work. The literature review identified 164 items; following input from clinicians, focus groups, and national charities, 56 items remained. The cross sectional study (phase 2; n=200, 80 % response rate) revealed that patients wanted to discuss the following: breast sensitivity or pain (46 %), fatigue (46 %), hot flushes (44 %), sleep (34 %); breast appearance (30 %), unable to control weight (28 %), mastectomy appearance (19 %), overall physical appearance (17 %); fear of recurrence (62 %), fear of cancer spreading (39 %), fear about the future (32 %), or one or more of these (72 %); ‘mood’ (15 %), ‘anxiety’ (21 %), ‘depression’ (17 %), or one or more of these (35 %); Phase 3 found that the PCI resulted in a focused consultation and no increase in consultation time. All the patients from phase 3 wanted to see a breast surgeon. Phase 4 revealed that clinicians involved with the PCI supported its use, and stated several advantages. In its final format, the breast cancer specific PCI had 57 items over several domains, with 16 referral options.
Conclusions
The PCI could identify issues that patients would like to discuss in the breast oncology clinic. The routine use of the PCI in follow-up clinics could ultimately improve care for women with breast cancer; however, the clinical environment continues to make it difficult to screen for issues related to intimacy, relationship, and sex.
Further research is essential to evaluate the breast cancer specific PCI. A larger patient cohort, a longitudinal approach, qualitative input, and a link to possible interventions, would each improve our understanding of the issues faced by breast cancer patients
New historical evidence for Anastasios Emm. Papas
No full textNo AbstractThe author’s attention has been drawn to the existence of this historicalevidence in the National Archives of Vienna, by his friend the writer EteoclesGregoriadis together with the numbers of the relevant files. Most of the documents were written in the old German script. Thus the author asked for the help of his friend and former colleague at the University of Thessaloniki and director of the Goethe Institute, Graf Kurt v. Posadowsky, for reading andstudying those documents. Without his help this study would have been impossible. This new evidence concerns the sojourn of Anastasios Papas·—son of Emmanuel Papas, leading figure of the Greek Revolution—in Austria andGermany between the 3rd January and 11th March 1822. There is informationabout his short imprisonment in Trieste, after his arival from Vienna. He then visits various towns in Germany and after negotiations with the Philhellene professor Fr. Thiersch in Munich, he purchases large quantities of ammunition to be despatched to Greece. He finally arrives in Greece early in 1824, and takes part—together with his three brothers who were already fighting—in the struggle for the liberation of the common great fartheland
Radiochemotherapy with Cisplatin and Oral Tegafur in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: Long-Term Results of a Phase II Study
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p53 Gene Mutations in Surgical Margins and Primary Tumor Tissues of Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
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