Self-efficacy for coping. Utility of the Cancer behavior inventory (Italian) for use in palliative care

Background: Newer models of palliative and supportive cancer care view the person as an active agent in managing physical and psychosocial challenges. Therefore, personal efficacy is an integral part of this model. Due to the lack of instruments in Italian to assess coping self-efficacy, the present study included the translation and validation of the Italian version of the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief (CBI-B/I) and an initial analysis of the utility of self-efficacy for coping in an Italian sample of palliative care patients. Methods: 216 advanced cancer patients who attended palliative care clinics were enrolled. The CBI-B/I was administered along with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Mini Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC), the Cancer Concerns Checklist (CCL), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) ratings of functional capacity were completed by physicians. Results: Factor analysis confirmed that the structure of the CBI-B/I was consistent with the English version. Internal consistency reliability and significant correlations with the EORTC QLQ-C30, Mini-MAC, and HADS supported the concurrent validity of the CBI-B/I. Differences in CBI-B/I scores for high versus low levels of the CCL and ECOG-PS supported the clinical utility of the CBI-B/I. Conclusions: The CBI-B/I has strong psychometric properties and represents an important addition to newer model of palliative and supportive care. In order to improve clinical practice, the CBI-B/I could be useful in identifying specific self-efficacy goals for coping in structured psychosocial intervention

La criminalité de sang en Corse sous la domination génoise (fin XVIIe-début XVIIIe siècles)

Utilisant les rôles de la mortalité violente, tenus à jour par les gouverneurs génois en charge de la Corse à la fin du XVIIe siècle et durant les deux premières décennies du siècle suivant, cette communication permet de cerner avec précision l’impact de la criminalité de sang. À cette époque, avec un taux annuel de mortalité par homicide s’élevant à 45,3 pour 100 000 habitants, l’île comptait incontestablement parmi les régions les plus criminogènes de l’Europe occidentale. Toutefois, pour aussi effrayants qu’ils soient, ces chiffres sont bien en deçà de ceux qui ont été véhiculés par toute une tradition historiographique. Après avoir clairement mis cela en exergue, l’auteur s’attache à étudier les différents aspects de cette criminalité – la nature des homicides, l’impact microrégional, les saisons et les armes de la mort, etc.- en relation avec les mesures prises par la République de Gênes pour essayer de la juguler.Using the registers of violent deaths kept by the Genoese governors in charge of Corsica at the end of the 17th century and during the first two decades of the 18th century, this contribution neatly circumscribes the impact of homicide. In this period, with an annual homicide rate of 45.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, the island was indisputably one of the most crime-ridden regions of Western Europe. However frightening these figures may be, though, they are well below those reported by a whole historiographical tradition. Having made this clear, the author turns to the different aspects of this kind of crime : the nature of the homicides, their impact on the micro-region, the seasons and the weapons chosen, etc., which he relates to the steps taken by the Republic of Genoa to attempt to curb such crimes

Effects of fluoride on primary cultured haemocytes from the marine gastropod Haliotis tuberculata

International audienceAs a consequence of human's activities, fluoride concentration in many aquatic ecosystems is significantly increasing. Nevertheless, little is known about fluoride toxicity to aquatic life. In this study the effect of exposure to different concentrations of sodium fluoride (2, 10, 50, 250 and 1,250 μg mL −1) during 24 h on primary cultured haemocytes of the gastropod Haliotis tuberculata was realized. Results indicate no significant effect of NaF on cell viability, Lysosomal membrane stability, phagocytosis and ROS production at concentrations of 2, 10, 50 and 250 μg mL −1. Nevertheless, lysosomal membrane alterations, a decrease of phagocytosis and morphological changes of H. tuberculata haemocytes were observed at concentration of 1,250 µg mL −1 NaF suggesting a potential impact of NaF at high concentration in the environment

Assessing the impacts of several algae-based diets on cultured European abalone (Haliotis tuberculata)

The effects of different algal diets on the mortality, apparent ingestion, weight, length and conversion rates of the European abalone (Haliotis tuberculata) maintained in a semi-closed seawater system throughout the year were compared. Various combinations of red algae (Palmaria palmata, Ceramium rubrum and Chondrus crispus cultured or harvested from the natural environment, as well as Porphyra spp. collected), brown algae (Laminaria digitata) and green algae (fresh or frozen Ulva intestinalis) were tested. The results showed that P. palmata, C. rubrum and U. intestinalis administered alone were associated with significantly higher weight growth rates than the other species of algae tested. However, some combinations of algae (i.e. different proportions of L. digitata in association with P. palmata) were more favorable for weight increase when compared with the expected rates calculated for the diet based on L. digitata alone. Limiting the amount of any of these foods substantially reduced the conversion rate. Seasonal trends were apparent in both weight increase and food conversion rates, with the result that growth in weight on a diet of L. digitata was fastest in summer. Growth on P. palmata was faster in each season, and reached a maximum in early spring. The data collected allowed us to model weight increase and month-to-month food conversion rates for a diet based on P. palmata and L. digitata. The data obtained in this study were coupled with data regarding the availability of algae during the year, enabling us to suggest an optimal diet for each of the four seasons. Finally, the effects of different algae diets were investigated on hemocyte parameters, and the result suggested that P. palmata would reinforce the immune system of abalone

The international phase 4 validation study of the EORTC QLQ-SWB32: a stand-alone measure of spiritual wellbeing (SWB) for people receiving palliative care for cancer

The EORTC Quality of Life (QL) Group has just completed the final phase (field-testing and validation) of an international project to develop a stand-alone measure of spiritual wellbeing (SWB) for palliative cancer patients. Participants (n= 451) - from 14 countries on four continents; 54% female; 188 Christian, 50 Muslim, 156 with no religion - completed a provisional 36-item measure of SWB plus the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL (PAL), then took part in a structured debriefing interview. All items showed good score distribution across response categories. We assessed scale structure using Principal Component Analysis and Rasch analysis, and explored construct validity, and convergent/divergent validity with the PAL. Twenty-two items in four scoring scales (Relationship with Self, Relationships with Others, Relationship with Something Greater, and Existential) explained 53% of the variance. The measure also includes a global SWB item and nine other items. Scores on the PAL global QL item and Emotional Functioning scale weakly-moderately correlated with scores on the global SWB item and two of the four SWB scales. This new validated 32-item SWB measure addresses a distinct aspect of QL, and is now available for use in research and clinical practice, with a role as both a measurement and an intervention tool

Psychometric validation of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Quality of Life Questionnaire Sexual Health (EORTC QLQ-SH22)

BACKGROUND: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group developed a questionnaire to assess sexual health in patients with cancer and cancer survivors. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. METHODS: The 22-item EORTC sexual health questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-SH22) was administered with the EORTC QLQ-C30 to 444 patients with cancer. The hypothesised scale structure, reliability and validity were evaluated through standardised psychometric procedures. RESULTS: The cross-cultural field study showed that the majority of patients (94.7%) were able to complete the QLQ-SH22 in less than 20 min; 89% of the study participants did not need any help to fill in the questionnaire. Multi-item multi-trait scaling analysis confirmed the hypothesised scale structure with two multi-item scales (sexual satisfaction, sexual pain) and 11 single items (including five conditional items and four gender-specific items). The internal consistency yielded acceptable Cronbach's alpha coefficients (.90 for the sexual satisfaction scale, .80 for the sexual pain scale). The test-retest correlations (Pearson's r) ranged from .70 to .93 except for the scale communication with professionals (.67) and male body image (.69). The QLQ-SH22 discriminates well between subgroups of patients differing in terms of their performance and treatment status. CONCLUSION: The study supports the reliability, the content and construct validity of the QLQ-SH22. The newly developed questionnaire is clinically applicable to assess sexual health of patients with cancer at different treatment stages and during survivorship for clinical trials and for clinical practice

Entwicklung von Biosensoren für die biotechnologische Praxis

Zur Verbesserung biotechnologischer Prozesse ist es notwendig, die wichtigsten Schlüsselkomponenten in den Kultivierungsmedien zu überwachen und zu regeln. Voraussetzung dafür ist die In-situ- und On-line-Messung dieser Größen. Dazu müssen die Analyseninstrumente an den Produktionsreaktor direkt angekoppelt werden. Wegen des hohen Preises dieser Instrumente würde die Ausstattung eines jeden Reaktors mit einem Analysensystem sehr aufwendig und teuer. Hier können die einfachen und preisgünstigen Biosensoren Abhilfe schaffen. Biosensoren bestehen aus einem chemisch-spezifischen Empfänger (Enzym, Antikörper, Zelle), der mit einem sog. Transducer verbunden ist. Der Transducer ist ein physikalischer Sensor, der die chemischen Änderungen in der Empfängerschicht in Licht- oder elektrische Signale umwandelt. Abhängig davon, welchen physikalischen Sensor man verwendet, unterscheidet man zwischen - potentiometrischen, amperometrischen, kalorimetrischen, optischen und mechanischen Sensoren. Im Institut für Technische Chemie (TCI) der Universität Hannover werden potentiometrische, kalorimetrische und optische Sensoren entwickelt und zur Überwachung und Regelung biotechnologischer Prozesse eingesetzt. Daher werden hier nur diese Sensoren behandelt

Infecção por clonorchis sinensis em imigrantes asiáticos no Brasil: tratamento com praziquantel

Fifteen adult patients with assymptomatic infection due to Clonorchis sinensis, diagnosed by coprological examination, were studied. They all came from Asia (twelve from Taiwan, two from South Korea and one from Hong Kong) and were examined at the Adolfo Lutz Institute and the Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil. Six patients were women and nine men. All studied patients were admitted to hospital and treated with praziquantel (60 mg/ kg). Previous to treatment and on the 15th, 30th and 60th days after praziquantel administration, patients were submitted to quantitative stool examinations, according to Kato-Katz's technique and to hematological and biochemical serum analysis. After a 60 day follow-up nine patients (609c) were negative for C. sinensis eggs in stools. Those not cured after praziquantel administration (six patients, 40%) revealed a sharp decline in faecal elimination of C. sinensis eggs.Estudaram-se quinze pacientes com infecção assintomática por Clonorchis sinensis, revelada através de exame parasitológico de fezes. Todos eram de origem asiática e procuraram o Laboratório Central do Instituto Adolfo Lutz para se submeterem a exames laboratoriais necessários à regularização de sua situação, face à nova legislação sobre imigrantes. Eram todos indivíduos adultos, seis pertencendo ao sexo feminino e nove ao masculino. Os quinze pacientes com clonorquíase foram internados no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP e tratados com Praziquantel, na dosagem de 60 mg/kg de peso corporal, dividida em duas tomadas. Foram realizados exames coprológicos quantitativos (método de Kato-Katz), antes do tratamento específico e no 15º, 30º e 60º dias após a terapêutica. Na última avaliação (60? dia após terapêutica), em nove pacientes (60,0%) não se encontraram ovos do trematódeo nas fezes e nos seis (40,0%), que continuavam eliminando ovos, notou-se redução na quantidade eliminada (superior a 90% em cinco e a 30% no paciente restante). Os pacientes foram também submetidos a exames subsidiários, para avaliação do estado geral e função hepática, antes da administração de Praziquantel e, posteriormente, no seguimento ambulatorial. A medicação foi relativamente bem tolerada pelos pacientes, verificando-se a ocorrência de efeitos colaterais representados por náuseas e vômitos (dois casos), vertigens e tonturas (dois casos), epigastralgia (dois casos) e diarréia no 3? dia após tratamento (um caso)