Patient information in radiation oncology: a cross-sectional pilot study using the EORTC QLQ-INFO26 module

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The availability of alternative sources of information, e. g. the internet, may influence the quantity and quality of information cancer patients receive regarding their disease and treatment. The purpose of the present study was to assess perception of information in cancer patients during radiotherapy as well as media preferences and specifically the utilization of the internet.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a cross-sectional, single-centre study 94 patients currently undergoing radiotherapy were asked to complete two questionnaires. The EORTC QLQ-INFO26 module was used to assess the quality and quantity of information received by patients in the areas disease, medical tests, treatment, other services, different places of care and how to help themselves, as well as qualitative aspects as helpfulness of and satisfaction with this information. The importance of different media, in particular the internet, was investigated by a nine-item questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The response rate was n = 72 patients (77%). Patients felt best informed concerning medical tests (mean ± SD score 79 ± 22, scale 0-100) followed by disease (68 ± 21). Treatment (52 ± 24) and different places of care and other services (30 ± 36 and 30 ± 30, respectively) ranked last. 37% of patients were very satisfied and 37% moderately satisfied with the amount of information received, 61% wished more information. Among eight media, brochures, television and internet were ranked as most important. 41% used the internet themselves or via friends or family, mostly for research of classic and alternative treatment options. Unavailability and the necessity of computer skills were most mentioned obstacles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In a single-center pilot study, radiotherapy patients indicated having received most information about medical tests and their disease. Patients very satisfied with their information had received the largest amount of information. Brochures, television and internet were the most important media. Individual patient needs should be considered in the development of novel information strategies.</p

Label-Free Time-Resolved Monitoring of Photolipid Bilayer Isomerization by Plasmonic Sensing

The photo-isomerization of the photolipid azo-PC, a derivative of phosphatidylcholine containing an azobenzene group in its sn2 acyl chain, enables optical control over key properties of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), such as membrane fluidity and bilayer thickness. However, azobenzenes are well-known for their interaction with various dyes through photo-modulation and -sensitization pathways, presenting a challenge in bilayer characterization by fluorescence microscopy. Label-free tools capable of monitoring the switching process of photolipid SLBs at the nanoscale are therefore highly desired. In this study, the use of dark field scattering spectroscopy on gold nanorods as a highly sensitive approach is demonstrated for analyzing the reversible photo-isomerization dynamics of photolipid SLBs in real time at the single particle level

Prospective evaluation of quality of life effects in patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases

Background: Recently published results of quality of life (QoL) studies indicated different outcomes of palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases. This prospective multi-center QoL study of patients with brain metastases was designed to investigate which QoL domains improve or worsen after palliative radiotherapy and which might provide prognostic information. Methods: From 01/2007-01/2009, n=151 patients with previously untreated brain metastases were recruited at 14 centers in Germany and Austria. Most patients (82 %) received whole-brain radiotherapy. QoL was measured with the EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL and brain module BN20 before the start of radiotherapy and after 3 months. Results: At 3 months, 88/142 (62 %) survived. Nine patients were not able to be followed up. 62 patients (70.5 % of 3-month survivors) completed the second set of questionnaires. Three months after the start of radiotherapy QoL deteriorated significantly in the areas of global QoL, physical function, fatigue, nausea, pain, appetite loss, hair loss, drowsiness, motor dysfunction, communication deficit and weakness of legs. Although the use of corticosteroid at 3 months could be reduced compared to pre-treatment (63 % vs. 37 %), the score for headaches remained stable. Initial QoL at the start of treatment was better in those alive than in those deceased at 3 months, significantly for physical function, motor dysfunction and the symptom scales fatigue, pain, appetite loss and weakness of legs. In a multivariate model, lower Karnofsky performance score, higher age and higher pain ratings before radiotherapy were prognostic of 3-month survival. Conclusions: Moderate deterioration in several QoL domains was predominantly observed three months after start of palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases. Future studies will need to address the individual subjective benefit or burden from such treatment. Baseline QoL scores before palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases may contain prognostic information

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Highly efficient multi-busbar solar cells with Ag nano-particle front side metallization

The main target for a commercially successful solar cell production is to decrease the cost/Watt-peak ratio. In the last years new techniques like fine line screen printing or plating of the front electrode entered the market. These new techniques enable a reduction of Ag or Ag containing paste of the front grid or even a substitution of this metal. Cu is a suited candidate because of its high conductivity and low price. But one should always keep in mind its high diffusivity and the associated risk of shunting the space charge region of the semiconductor device. In this work an advanced cell design with 15 round wires instead of the widely used 3-busbars and an Ag plated front metal grid is presented, leading to efficiencies of up to 19.6% for large area p-type Cz silicon solar cells with full Al BSF. This advanced cell design combines high efficiencies and low Ag consumption not only on cell, but also on module level. In addition, the Ag rear side pads which are essential for cell interconnection should be replaced by direct Sn deposition on the screen printed Al rear side. Hereby the amount of Ag needed for the solar cell metallization could be further reduced

Multi-busbar solar cells and modules : high efficiencies and low silver consumption

Ideally, future photovoltaic modules show higher power output without increasing costs during cell production or module interconnection. Today significant losses occur during stringing the cells in a module by using standard 3- busbar technology. In this paper an elegant approach for a front side design is discussed by using more busbars than the widely used 3-busbar design for the solar cell front electrode. Simulations demonstrated that the multi-busbar design allows higher cell and module efficiencies compared to a state of the art 3-busbar cell design, and in the same time reduces the amount of silver needed for the front electrode. “A conventional full area Al BSF and standard screen printing for the front contact was used for the 6” Cz-Si multi-busbar solar cells and efficiencies of up to 19.5% have been reached. The solar cells were analyzed on cell and module level and a reduction in Ag consumption for the front electrode of >50%abs could be achieved using the multi-busbar cell design. An additional silver reduction was achieved by replacing the rear side Ag/Al pads with tin pads for the soldering process. These changes in solar cell design reduce significantly the metallization costs and in the same time increase the efficiency