Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A narrative review to inform dietetics practice

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are common nutrition-impact symptoms experienced by cancer patients. They exert a detrimental effect on dietary intake, risk of malnutrition and quality of life. While CINV are primarily managed with medication, dietitians play an important role in the management of CINV-related complications such as reduced dietary intake. This review discusses the burden of nausea and vomiting which cancer patients can experience, including its effect on quality of life, nutrition status, and treatment outcomes. Implications for dietetic practice include the need to explore the nature of reported symptoms, identify predisposing risk factors, and to consider the use of a variety of interventions that are individualised to the patient’s symptoms. There are little clinical data regarding effective dietetic interventions for nausea and vomiting. In summary, this review discusses dietetic-related issues surrounding CINV including the pathophysiology, risk factors, prevalence, and both pharmacological and dietetic treatment options

Structure and Dynamics of amorphous Silica Surfaces

We use molecular dynamics computer simulations to study the equilibrium properties of the surface of amorphous silica. Two types of geometries are investigated: i) clusters with different diameters (13.5\AA, 19\AA, and 26.5\AA) and ii) a thin film with thickness 29\AA. We find that the shape of the clusters is independent of temperature and that it becomes more spherical with increasing size. The surface energy is in qualitative agreement with the experimental value for the surface tension. The density distribution function shows a small peak just below the surface, the origin of which is traced back to a local chemical ordering at the surface. Close to the surface the partial radial distribution functions as well as the distributions of the bond-bond angles show features which are not observed in the interior of the systems. By calculating the distribution of the length of the Si-O rings we can show that these additional features are related to the presence of two-membered rings at the surface. The surface density of these structures is around 0.6/nm^2 in good agreement with experimental estimates. From the behavior of the mean-squared displacement at low temperatures we conclude that at the surface the cage of the particles is larger than the one in the bulk. Close to the surface the diffusion constant is somewhat larger than the one in the bulk and with decreasing temperature the relative difference grows. The total vibrational density of states at the surface is similar to the one in the bulk. However, if only the one for the silicon atoms is considered, significant differences are found.Comment: 30 pages of Latex, 16 figure

Listening comprehension of academic and everyday language in first language and second language students

Listening comprehension in academic contexts is an important prerequisite for the acquisition of school-related skills. However, the concept of academic language is generally the subject of much debate, and there is no consensus yet on what constitutes academic listening comprehension. To date, it remains unclear whether listening comprehension of academic language may be regarded as a distinct construct. The present study investigates the distinction of academic and everyday listening comprehension in 459 ninth-grade students speaking German as a first language or as a second language. Empirical results provide preliminary evidence that academic listening forms a separate facet of listening comprehension. Contrary to theoretical assumptions, second language students were not particularly disadvantaged in terms of academic listening comprehension.Peer Reviewe

Entwicklung einer Methode zum Wirkungsnachweis resistenzinduzierender Präparate (Pflanzenstärkungsmittel)

A method for testing the efficacy of products which improve the resistance of plants was developed in the Julius Kühn-Institute. The susceptible radish (Raphanus sativus) cultivar ´Saxa 3` was infected with Peronospora parasitica isolated in the field. Different plant resistance improvers (PRI) like plant or algal extracts were tested compared to aqua dest. as control and ß-aminobutyric acid (BABA) as a standard. PRI were sprayed twice on intact plants (BBCH 10: Cotyledons completely unfolded; growing point or true leaf initial visible). 24 h, 48 h or 72 h after the last application with PRI, the plants were inoculated with P. parasitica. 10 to 14 days after inoculation, the concentration of spore suspension from cotyledons was determined. The efficacy of all tested products was shown. Optimum time lags between two PRI applications as well as last application and inoculation were defined. This method is useful as a standard method in the lab to test the efficacy of products for improving the resistance of plants

Supplemental prophylactic intervention for chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis (spice) trial: Protocol for a multi-centre double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial

Aim: There is significant recent interest in the role of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) as an adjuvant therapy for chemotherapy‐induced nausea. The supplemental prophylactic intervention for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and emesis (SPICE) trial aims to assess the efficacy by reduced incidence and severity of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting, and enhanced quality of life, safety and cost effectiveness of a standardised adjuvant ginger root supplement in adults undergoing single‐day moderate‐to‐highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Methods: Multisite, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomised trial with two parallel arms and 1:1 allocation. The target sample size is n = 300. The intervention comprises four capsules of ginger root (totalling 60 mg of active gingerols/day), commencing the day of chemotherapy and continuing for five days during chemotherapy cycles 1 to 3. The primary outcome is chemotherapy‐induced nausea‐related quality of life. Secondary outcomes include nutrition status; anticipatory, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting; fatigue; depression and anxiety; global quality of life; health service use and costs; adverse events; and adherence. Results: During the five‐month recruitment period from October 2017 to April 2018 at site A only, a total of n = 33 participants (n = 18 female) have been enrolled in the SPICE trial. Recruitment is expected to commence at Site B in May 2018. Conclusions: The trial is designed to meet research gaps and could provide evidence to recommend specific dosing regimens as an adjuvant for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting prevention and management.No Full Tex

Promoting equity. A research overview on school development in socially disadvantaged settings

Schulen in sozial herausfordernden Lagen arbeiten häufig unter ungünstigen internen und externen Bedingungen. Gleichzeitig sind diese Schulen zentrale Akteure zur Reduzierung von Bildungsungleichheiten und die dort lernenden Schüler*innen in besonderem Maße auf eine hohe schulische Qualität angewiesen. Im Beitrag werden zunächst Charakteristika erfolgreicher Schulen in herausfordernden Lagen beschrieben, ehe Maßnahmen zur Schulentwicklung dargestellt werden, die zum Abbau sozialer Ungleichheit beitragen können. (DIPF/Orig.)Schools serving socially disadvantaged communities work under challenging internal and external conditions. At the same time, these schools are central stakeholders for the reduction of educational inequalities and their students are particularly dependent on high quality teaching and learning. The present article describes factors of effective schools in socially disadvantaged settings and illustrates school improvement measures that aim at promoting school quality and students’ learning outcomes. (DIPF/Orig.

Efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in ameliorating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and chemotherapy-related outcomes: a systematic review update and meta-analysis

Background: Ginger has been proposed as an adjuvant treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Objective: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analyses is to evaluate, in adult cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, the effects of ginger supplementation dose and duration on the incidence, duration, and severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and outcomes related to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (eg, quality of life and fatigue), compared with placebo or standard antiemetic medication. Method: Five electronic databases were searched from database inception to April 2018. The quality of evidence was appraised with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation level. Data were pooled using Revman software. Results: Eighteen articles were analyzed. The likelihood of acute vomiting was reduced by 60% with ginger supplementation ≤1 g/day for duration >3 days, compared with control groups (odds ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.81; P=0.01; n=3 studies; n=3 interventions; n=301 participants; I2=20%; Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation level: Moderate). The likelihood of fatigue was reduced by 80% with ginger supplementation of any dose for duration 2=0%; Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation level: Low). No statistically significant association was found between ginger and likelihood of overall or delayed vomiting, likelihood or severity of nausea, or other outcomes related to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Conclusions: Ginger supplementation might benefit chemotherapy-induced vomiting as well as fatigue. Due to clinical heterogeneity, this systematic review update found no association between ginger and chemotherapy-induced nausea and other chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting-related outcomes. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis provide a rationale for further research with stronger study designs, adequate sample sizes, standardized ginger products, and validated outcome measures to confirm efficacy of ginger supplementation and optimal dosing regimens.</p

Desaster 2.0: Einbeziehung von Bürgern in das Krisenmanagement

In dieser Arbeit soll untersucht werden, wie die im Krisenmanagement beteiligten Akteure (wie Polizei, Feuerwehr, Hilfsorganisationen, Infrastrukturbetreiber) und die betroffenen Bürger mittels Social Software kommunizieren und kollaborieren können. Anhand unserer Literaturstudie stellen wir einen Überblick über vergangene Forschung in diesem Bereich dar. Hierauf aufbauend präsentieren wir unsere beiden Fallstudien zur Nutzung von Social Software in Krisen: Zum einen während der Flugausfälle im Zuge des Vulkanausbruchs auf Island im April 2010, zum anderen im Zuge des Loveparade-Unglücks am 24.07.2010. Anschließend stellen wir identifizierte Stärken und Schwächen dar und fassen identifizierte Potentiale in einer Klassifikationsmatrix für Social Software im Krisenmanagement zusammen

A new plesiosaur from the Lower Jurassic of Portugal and the early radiation of Plesiosauroidea

A new plesiosaur partial skeleton, comprising most of the trunk and including axial, limb, and girdle bones, was collected in the lower Sinemurian (Coimbra Formation) of Praia da Concha, near São Pedro de Moel in central west Portugal. The specimen represents a new genus and species, Plesiopharos moelensis gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis places this taxon at the base of Plesiosauroidea. Its position is based on this exclusive combination of characters: Presence of a straight preaxial margin of the radius; transverse processes of mid-dorsal vertebrae horizontally oriented; ilium with sub-circular cross section of the shaft and subequal anteroposterior expansion of the dorsal blade; straight proximal end of the humerus; and ventral surface of the humerus with an anteroposteriorly long shallow groove between the epipodial facets. In addition, the new taxon has the following autapomorphies: Iliac blade with less expanded, rounded and convex anterior flank; highly developed ischial facet of the ilium; apex of the neural spine of the first pectoral vertebra inclined posterodorsally with a small rounded tip. This taxon represents the most complete and the oldest plesiosaur species in the Iberian Peninsula. It is also the most complete, best preserved, and oldest marine vertebrate in the region and testifies to the incursion of marine reptiles in the newly formed proto-Atlantic sea, prior to the Atlantic Ocean floor spreading in the Early Cretaceous.publishersversionpublishe

Cyclic Alkyl Amino Carbene (CAAC) Ruthenium Complexes as Remarkably Active Catalysts for Ethenolysis

An expanded family of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts bearing cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) ligands was prepared. These catalysts exhibited exceptional activity in the ethenolysis of the seed-oil derivative methyl oleate. In many cases, catalyst turnover numbers (TONs) of more than 100 000 were achieved, at a catalyst loading of only 3 ppm. Remarkably, the most active catalyst system was able to achieve a TON of 340 000, at a catalyst loading of only 1 ppm. This is the first time a series of metathesis catalysts has exhibited such high performance in cross-metathesis reactions employing ethylene gas, with activities sufficient to render ethenolysis applicable to the industrial-scale production of linear α-olefins (LAOs) and other terminal-olefin products