Symptoms of patients with head and neck cancers undergoing radiotherapy

PubMed: 27726226Radiotherapy is a reliable and effective treatment method for the treatment of head and neck cancers. This study was conducted as a descriptive work with the purpose of determining the symptoms experienced by patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing radiotherapy. The study was carried out on 47 patients receiving treatment in oncology clinics. Data were obtained at mid-radiotherapy (RT), at the end of radiotherapy and 1 month after the end of radiotherapy using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and Personal Information Forms. The mean scores of MSAS GDI (Global Distress Index), MSAS Physical, MSAS Psychological and Total Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, which were highest by the end of radiotherapy, declined during the 1-month period following the end of radiotherapy. A statistically significant difference (p <.05) was found between the subscale groups in the evaluations made at mid-RT, at the end of RT and 1 month after the end of RT. Patients generally experienced symptom frequency, severity and distress levels at highest rates at the end of RT. During the radiotherapy process, determining these symptoms will contribute to improve the well-being of the patient. These results may be useful to control symptoms effectively. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Lt

Influence of Palliative Care Training on Last-Year Nursing Department Students’ Perception on Regarding Spirituality and Spiritual Care: A Single-Group Pretest–Posttest Intervention Study

PubMed: 30229412Spiritual care is a part of integrated care and should not be considered as a separate aspect of palliative care. Spirituality is seen as a requirement that must be met for all patients. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of palliative care on the perception levels of student nurses regarding spirituality and spiritual care. The research was carried out as a single-group pretest–posttest intervention study. The study was conducted with 70 student nurses. Data were collected via personal information form and spirituality and spiritual care grading scale (SSCGS). Frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon test were used to analyze the data. 55.7% of the students who participated in research stated that they had never heard of spiritual care, and 81.4% of the students stated that they had not obtained any information regarding spiritual care. The point average of the student nurses related to SSCGS was found to be 3.27 ± 0.21 before training and 3.35 ± 0.22 after training. The difference between the total point averages of the student nurses pre- and posttraining was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).As a result of the research, the perception of the student nurses regarding spirituality and spiritual support was found to be above the middle and increased significantly after the training. In accordance with these results, it is suggested that spiritual care training should be included more into nursing education. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Changes in phenolic compounds during storage of pasteurized strawberry

This study aimed to establish mathematical models to describe changes in phenolics of pasteurized strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) during storage at 23 °C for 90 days. Freshly cut strawberries cubes were pasteurized for 5 min in a water bath at 90 °C following a heating time of 15 min. Antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and individual phenolic compounds were assessed immediately before or after pasteurization and at regular time intervals during storage. The results indicated that (1) pasteurization did not affect (P <0.05) the concentrations of total phenolics or total anthocyanins, but significantly reduced the concentrations of quercetin-3-rutinoside, kaempferol, and cyanidin-3- glucoside, and increased the concentrations of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin-3- galactoside, and ellagic acid; (2) changes in antioxidant capacity, total anthocyanin, and individual compounds during storage were described by a pseudo-first-order model with the exception of total phenolic and specifically kaempferol and ellagic acid which followed zero-order kinetic models. Pelargonidin-3- glucoside degraded at the highest rate (k =0.07 day−1), followed by ellagic acid (k =0.004 day−1) and kaempferol (k = 0.003 day−1). The rate constants can be used to predict phytochemical changes in strawberry products during storage.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio