Parental origin of de novo cytogenetically balanced reciprocal non-Robertsonian translocations

De novo cytogenetically balanced reciprocal non-Robertsonian translocations are rare findings in clinical cytogenetics and might be associated with an abnormal phenotype. Knowledge of the parental origin and mechanisms of formation is still limited. By microdissection of the derivative chromosomes and their normal homologs from metaphases followed by microsatellite-mediated marker analysis we identified 7 cases of paternal and 3 cases of maternal origin in a cohort of 10 patients with de novo cytogenetically balanced reciprocal non-Robertsonian translocations. Neither in the maternal nor in the paternal group of our study parental age seems to be increased. Together with the data from the literature our results confirm that the majority of de novo cytogenetically balanced reciprocal translocations are of paternal origin, but the preponderance does not appear to be as distinct as previously thought and the paternal age does not seem to be necessarily a major contributing factor.

[The role of sex in voice restoration and emotional functioning after laryngectomy]

BACKGROUND

Data on psychosocial factors of laryngectomized women is rare. All means of alaryngeal voice production sound male due to low fundamental frequency and roughness, which makes postlaryngectomy voice rehabilitation especially challenging to women. Aim of this study was to investigate whether women use alaryngeal speech more seldomly and therefore are more emotionally distressed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional multi-centred study 12 female and 138 male laryngectomees were interviewed. To identify risc factors on seldom use of alaryngeal speech and emotional functioning, logistic regression was used and odds ratios were adjusted to age, time since laryngectomy, physical functioning, social activity and feelings of stigmatization.

RESULTS

Esophageal speech was used by 83% of the female and 57% of the male patients, prosthetic speech was used by 17% of the female and 20% of the male patients and electrolaryngeal speech was used by 17% of the female and 29% of the male patients. There was a higher risk for laryngectomees to be more emotionally distressed when feeling physically bad (OR=2,48; p=0,02) or having feelings of stigmatization (OR=3,94; p≤0,00). Besides more women tended to be socially active than men (83% vs. 54%; p=0,05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no influence of sex neither on use of alaryngeal speech nor on emotional functioning. Since there is evidence for a different psychosocial adjustment in laryngectomized men and women, more investigation including bigger sample sizes will be needed on this special issue.

[Pneumococcal sepsis in aged patients - implications for the vaccination of seniors against pneumococci]

In the years 2005-2010 pneumococci were isolated in the Limbach laboratory/Heidelberg from blood cultures of 1,085 patients. Obviously, older patients are more prone to these bacteria, since 66 % of the patients were older than 60 years. All isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime; 3 % of isolates were resistant to penicillin, 2 % were resistant to levofloxacin and 15 % were resistant to erythromycin. From 457 out of the isolates serotyping was achieved: more than 80 % of the isolates were covered by the 23-valent vaccine. This means that particularly old people should be vaccinated against pneumococci, because they will profit probably most from such preventive measurements.

Advanced well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcomas: role of chemotherapy and survival

BACKGROUND

Data regarding the role of systemic therapy in patients with advanced well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS/DDLPS) are limited.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2010, 208 patients with advanced WDLPS/DDLPS received chemotherapy in 11 participating institutions. Clinical and pathological data were collected by reviewing medical records.

RESULTS

Median age was 63 years (range 32-84). Combination chemotherapy was delivered in 85 cases (41%) and single agent in 123 cases (59%), respectively. One hundred and seventy-one patients (82%) received an anthracycline-containing regimen. Using RECIST, objective response was observed in 21 patients (12%), all treated with anthracyclines. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3-5.9]. On multivariate analysis, age and performance status (PS) were the sole factors significantly associated with poor PFS. Median overall survival (OS) was 15.2 months (95% CI 11.8 -18.7). On multivariate analysis, grade and PS were the sole factors significantly associated with OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy was associated with clinical benefit in 46% of patients with advanced WDLPS/DDLPS. OS remains poor, even though visceral metastatic disease is less frequent than in other sarcomas.

[Counselling centres for patients with cancer--analysis of service provision in Saxony]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to understand the quantity and quality of psychosocial services offered at counselling centres for outpatients with cancer in Saxony, a federal state of Germany.

METHODS

Structured interviews with employees on site at the counselling centres in Saxony (N=30) and an analysis of their yearly reports were undertaken.

RESULTS

The majority of the counselling centres (N=25) was situated at local health departments. All institutions document their activities regularly and offer continuous training for their employees. Services include primarily information on and admission to social services whereas psychological and psychotherapeutic services are rare. Considering the guideline criteria for staffing with a ratio of one counsellor per 75,000 inhabitants, a total of 23 counsellors were lacking in the federal state of Saxony at the time of investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

The method of situating counselling centres at local health departments ensures good access for almost all cancer patients and relatives seeking counselling. However, due to restricted financial resources the services offered are not sufficient according to the guidelines and solutions for this situation are needed.

[Current developments in measuring quality of life with instruments of the European organisation for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC)]

Since many years, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group develops and validates measures for the assessment of quality of life in cancer patients, using high standards of methodology. These questionnaires are meant to be used primarily in clinical trials.As treatment strategies are changing and because of some -methodological criticism, the head and neck module EORTC QLQ-H&N35 is currently being revised and updated.In this paper, we will present the current state of work and other recent developments regarding the EORTC Quality of Life questionnaire development.

Age- and sex-standardised prevalence rates of fatigue in a large hospital-based sample of cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine age- and sex-standardised prevalence rates of cancer-related fatigue in different groups of patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective study in a cohort of N=1494 cancer patients investigating fatigue at three time points t1-t3 (t1: admission to hospital, t2: discharge, t3: half a year after t1). Fatigue was measured with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Age- and sex-adjusted norms were derived from a representative community sample of N=2037, using a cutoff at the 75th percentile.

RESULTS

At admission to the hospital, 32% of the patients were classified as fatigued. At discharge, the overall prevalence rate was 40%, and at half a year after t1, prevalence was 34%. Fatigue prevalence rates differed according to tumour stage, site, age, and sex of the patients.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence rates provided by this study can be used for the planning of research and clinical routine.

Response shift in the assessment of anxiety, depression and perceived health in urologic cancer patients: an individual perspective

The assessment of quality of life in cancer patients is hampered because patients may change their frames of reference during the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to test individual differences in these response shift effects. Urologic cancer patients (n= 275) were examined during the stay in the hospital (T1), 2 weeks later (T2) and 3 months later (T3). Furthermore, at T3 they were asked to retrospectively assess their situation at T1 (then-test). The difference between this retrospective assessment and the original assessment at T1 was used to determine the response shift effect (recalibration). Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-2), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) and health dissatisfaction (Questionnaire on Life Satisfaction) were obtained at all points in time. The effect sizes of the mean response shift effects (recalibration) ranged between 0.26 and 0.48. Nevertheless, a large proportion of the sample showed no response shift (22-38%) or even negative response shift effects (20-30%). There were significant correlations among the response shift measures of the domains (anxiety, depression and health dissatisfaction) with coefficients between 0.29 and 0.51. The results indicate that response shift should not only be assessed on the mean score level, since it is also a dimension of individual difference.