Updates in Pediatric Psycho-Oncology

Childhood cancer accounts for less than 2% of all cancers diagnosed each year. About 12–14,000 children will be diagnosed in a given year with any type of cancer. Over the past fifty years, treatments and cure rates have improved from 10–20% five year survival rates to between 80–85% five year survival rates. Psychosocial support of children with cancer and their families has grown and has been more fully integrated into pediatric care over the past five decades. Increasing acceptance of the importance of addressing mental health has led to oncologists referring patients to specific resources and services. This paper provides updated information on psychosocial issues for those who treat children and adolescents with cancer and focuses on unique challenges for the pediatric psycho-oncologist

Treatment of affective disorders in cardiac disease

Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) commonly have syndromal major depression, and depression has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Prevalence of depression is between 17% and 47% in CVD patients. Pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions have long been studied, and in general are safe and somewhat efficacious in decreasing depressive symptoms in patients with CVD. The impact on cardiac outcomes remains unclear. The evidence from randomized controlled clinical trials indicates that antidepressants, especially selective serotonin uptake inhibitors, are overwhelmingly safe, and likely to be effective in the treatment of depression in patients with CVD. This review describes the prevalence of depression in patients with CVD, the physiological links between depression and CVD, the treatment options for affective disorders, and the clinical trials that demonstrate efficacy and safety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy in this patient population. Great progress has been made in understanding potential mediators between major depressive disorder and CVD—both health behaviors and shared biological risks such as inflammation

Community Engagement newsletter, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Winter, 2013

IVSA Symposium 2013: community engagement day / Nicole Frohlich -- Walking with elephants / Jaco Brink -- Community excursion to Rust de Winter / Roxanne MavridesNews articles with colour photos about the various community engagement projects of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria.ab201

Helping survivors of human trafficking

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