Reading numbers aloud as a tool for the evaluation of breathlessness in Polish cancer patients

Background: The aim of the study was to verify the usefulness of the test of reading numbers aloud(ReNA) in the assessment of the intensity of dyspnoea at rest or on minimal exertion in Polish patients with advanced cancer. Material and methods: The study group included patients with advanced cancer who were breathless at rest or on minimal exertion. A modified Borg scale, a numeric rating scale (NRS) and a visual analogue scale(VAS) to assess breathlessness and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were performed. Patients then read aloud from a page containing a grid of numbers as quickly and clearly as they could for 60 seconds. It was intended to repeat the reading five times. The maximal amount of numbers read during the test (NNmax) and the maximal numbers read per breath (NN/Bmax) were noted. Results: Thirty-one patients with evidence of cancer participated in the study. However, for statistical analysis we included 28 patients (17 males, mean age 64.1 ± SD = 8.8) who were able to read numbers aloud at least once. The mean value for the modified Borg scale was 4.07 ± 1.89, NRS 5.75 ± 2.37 and VAS 5.11 ± 2.34. The average value for PEF was 183.26 ± 89.97. Twelve patients (42.86%) were unable to complete all five readings due to tiredness and fatigue. The mean value for the NNmax was 50.39 ± 29.93 and for NN/Bmax was 2.92 ± 2.45. No correlation was observed between the results for NRS, VAS or PEF and NNmax or NN/Bmax. Only the modified Borg scale correlated moderately with NNmax and NN/Bmax (R = –0.52 and R = –0.44, respectively). Conclusion: The ReNA seems to be a useful tool for assessing the intensity of dyspnoea at rest or on minimal exertion in Polish patients with advanced cancer. However, fatigue and tiredness due to the reading were a problem for almost half of the advanced cancer patients, who were unable to complete the whole test. Adv. Pall. Med. 2010; 9, 3: 73–80Background: The aim of the study was to verify the usefulness of the test of reading numbers aloud(ReNA) in the assessment of the intensity of dyspnoea at rest or on minimal exertion in Polish patients with advanced cancer. Material and methods: The study group included patients with advanced cancer who were breathless at rest or on minimal exertion. A modified Borg scale, a numeric rating scale(NRS) and a visual analogue scale(VAS) to assess breathlessness and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were performed. Patients then read aloud from a page containing a grid of numbers as quickly and clearly as they could for 60 seconds. It was intended to repeat the reading five times. The maximal amount of numbers read during the test (NNmax) and the maximal numbers read per breath (NN/Bmax) were noted. Results: Thirty-one patients with evidence of cancer participated in the study. However, for statistical analysis we included 28 patients (17 males, mean age 64.1 ± SD = 8.8) who were able to read numbers aloud at least once. The mean value for the modified Borg scale was 4.07 ± 1.89, NRS 5.75 ± 2.37 and VAS 5.11 ± 2.34. The average value for PEF was 183.26 ± 89.97. Twelve patients (42.86%) were unable to complete all five readings due to tiredness and fatigue. The mean value for the NNmax was 50.39 ± 29.93 and for NN/Bmax was 2.92 ± 2.45. No correlation was observed between the results for NRS, VAS or PEF and NNmax or NN/Bmax. Only the modified Borg scale correlated moderately with NNmax and NN/Bmax (R = –0.52 and R = –0.44, respectively). Conclusion: The ReNA seems to be a useful tool for assessing the intensity of dyspnoea at rest or on minimal exertion in Polish patients with advanced cancer. However, fatigue and tiredness due to the reading were a problem for almost half of the advanced cancer patients, who were unable to complete the whole test. Adv. Pall. Med. 2010; 9, 3: 73–8

An insight into the stages of ion leakage during red blood cell storage

Packed red blood cells (pRBCs), the most commonly transfused blood product, are exposed to environmental disruptions during storage in blood banks. In this study, temporal sequence of changes in the ion exchange in pRBCs was analyzed. Standard techniques commonly used in electrolyte measurements were implemented. The relationship between ion exchange and red blood cells (RBCs) morphology was assessed with use of atomic force microscopy with reference to morphological parameters. Variations observed in the Na+, K+, Cl−, H+, HCO3−, and lactate ions concentration show a complete picture of singly-charged ion changes in pRBCs during storage. Correlation between the rate of ion changes and blood group type, regarding the limitations of our research, suggested, that group 0 is the most sensitive to the time-dependent ionic changes. Additionally, the impact of irreversible changes in ion exchange on the RBCs membrane was observed in nanoscale. Results demonstrate that the level of ion leakage that leads to destructive alterations in biochemical and morphological properties of pRBCs depend on the storage timepoint

Label-free testing strategy to evaluate packed red blood cell quality before transfusion to leukemia patients

Abstract Patients worldwide require therapeutic transfusions of packed red blood cells (pRBCs), which is applied to the high-risk patients who need periodic transfusions due to leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood diseases or disorders. Contrary to the general hospital population where the transfusions are carried out mainly for healthy trauma patients, in case of high-risk patients the proper quality of pRBCs is crucial. This leads to an increased demand for efficient technology providing information on the pRBCs alterations deteriorating their quality. Here we present the design of an innovative, label-free, noninvasive, rapid Raman spectroscopy-based method for pRBCs quality evaluation, starting with the description of sample measurement and data analysis, through correlation of spectroscopic results with reference techniques' outcomes, and finishing with methodology verification and its application in clinical conditions. We have shown that Raman spectra collected from the pRBCs supernatant mixture with a proper chemometric analysis conducted for a minimum one ratio of integral intensities of the chosen Raman marker bands within the spectrum allow evaluation of the pRBC quality in a rapid, noninvasive, and free-label manner, without unsealing the pRBCs bag. Subsequently, spectroscopic data were compared with predefined reference values, either from pRBCs expiration or those defining the pRBCs quality, allowing to assess their utility for transfusion to patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)