Comparison of International Therapy Guidelines with Regard to the Treatment of Malignant Catatonia

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (01) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona ◽  
Maximilian Cronemeyer ◽  
Lilli Hiesener ◽  
Bernhard J. Connemann ◽  
Maximilian Gahr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
International Guidelines ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Autonomic Instability ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
Current Guidelines ◽  
Malignant Catatonia

Abstract Objective Malignant catatonia (MC) is an extremely rare, life-threatening disorder. It is characterized by catatonic symptoms accompanied by autonomic instability, hyperthermia, and changes in laboratory values. In many cases, MC is not recognized as such. Evidence-based guidelines are essential to ensure quality of treatment, but what do current national and international guidelines recommend? Method Online search for international guidelines from English-, French-, Italian-, and German-speaking countries whose medical care meets high standards addressing the treatment of MC. These were analyzed and compared regarding statements on MC, recommendations, and strength of scientific evidence. Results Fifteen of the identified guidelines were included. Only 5 of 15 comment on the treatment of MC. As for other rare diseases, no detailed recommendations are available. Suggested therapies are limited to benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation are predominantly low. Conclusion Many international guidelines do not mention MC. It is not possible to derive a clear algorithm for the treatment of MC from most current guidelines. A thorough update of most guidelines appears to be necessary. Lack of awareness and knowledge of MC among physicians and medical professionals might lead to inadequate or delayed care, worsened outcome, or death.

Validation of the “Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness—Family Carer Version” (QOLLTI-F) in German-speaking carers of advanced cancer patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 2783-2791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Schur ◽  
Alexandra Ebert-Vogel ◽  
Michaela Amering ◽  
Eva Katharina Masel ◽  
Marie Neubauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Family Carer ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Life Threatening

scholarly journals The Role of Physiotherapy in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1043
Author(s):  
Silvia Ortiz-Campoy ◽  
Cristina Lirio-Romero ◽  
Helena Romay-Barrero ◽  
David Martín-Caro Álvarez ◽  
Purificación López-Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Pediatric Palliative Care ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Respiratory Physiotherapy

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is a set of actions aimed at children who suffer from a severe or life-threatening disease to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life of both the child and his/her family. One of the tools used to control symptoms is physiotherapy; however, its application in the child population has not been thoroughly studied. The main objective of this study was to gather, analyze, and critically evaluate the available scientific evidence on physiotherapy in children who require palliative care through a systematic review of the studies published in the last 10 years in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL, and Scopus. Of a total of 622 studies, the inclusion criteria were only met by seven articles, which were focused on the relationship between physiotherapy and PPC. This study analyzed: (1) the main pathologies treated, with a predominance of cerebral palsy and cancer; (2) the interventions applied, such as respiratory physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, and virtual reality; (3) the effects achieved in the child and his/her family, highlighting the control of symptoms and the improvement of the quality of life; and (4) the knowledge of the physiotherapists on PPC, observing that most of the professionals had not received training in this scope. The findings of this review indicate a lack of an adequate evidence foundation for physiotherapy in PPC.

scholarly journals Organic Dairy Cattle: Do European Union Regulations Promote Animal Welfare?

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1786
Author(s):  
Eugénie Duval ◽  
Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk ◽  
Benjamin Lecorps
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Organic Dairy ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Vague Language ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Eu

Animal welfare is an emerging concept in EU law; with the advent of specific regulations intending to protect animals. The approach taken by European lawmakers is to provide “minimum standards” for conventional farming; argued by some as failing to adequately protect animals. In contrast, the EU organic farming regulations aim to “establish a sustainable management system for agriculture” and promote “high animal welfare standards”. The first aim of this review was to identify key areas where there are clear improvements in quality of life for dairy cattle housed under the EU organic regulations when compared to the conventional EU regulations. Using the available scientific evidence, our second aim was to identify areas where the organic regulations fail to provide clear guidance in their pursuit to promote high standards of dairy cattle welfare. The greater emphasis placed on natural living conditions, the ban of some (but unfortunately not all) physical mutilations combined with clearer recommendations regarding housing conditions potentially position the organic dairy industry to achieve high standards of welfare. However, improvements in some sections are needed given that the regulations are often conveyed using vague language, provide exceptions or remain silent on some aspects. This review provides a critical reflection of some of these key areas related to on-farm aspects. To a lesser extent, post farm gate aspects are also discussed

Depression and Suicide

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Chovan
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Depression Assessment ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Natural Response ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines

Depression is a symptom that can negatively affect quality of life. Depressive symptoms are an expected response to psychosocial stress as well as grief. Although a depressed mood is a natural response of patients and their families to a diagnosis of, being treated for, living with, and dying from a chronic, life-threatening illness, depression can lead to thoughts and actions of self-harm that can result in death. In this chapter, depression assessment tools and interview questions are offered. Depression across the illness trajectory is discussed along with evidence-based guidelines to treatment approaches, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. Because self-harm or suicide is associated with severe depression, an assessment of suicide is offered as well.

scholarly journals The use of β2-adrenoreceptor agonists in viral bronchiolitis: scientific rationale beyond evidence-based guidelines

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 00135-2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Nino ◽  
Carlos E. Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
Jose A. Castro-Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Adrenergic Receptor ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Viral Pathogen ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
Current Guidelines ◽  
Probability Of Response

Despite scientific evidence proving that inhaled β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonists can reverse bronchoconstriction in all ages, current guidelines advocate against the use of β2-AR bronchodilators in infants with viral bronchiolitis because clinical trials have not demonstrated an overall clinical benefit. However, there are many different types of viral bronchiolitis, with variations occurring at an individual and viral level. To discard a potentially helpful treatment from all children regardless of their clinical features may be unwarranted. Unfortunately, the clinical criteria to identify the infants that may benefit from bronchodilators from those who do not are not clear. Thus, we summarised the current understanding of the individual factors that may help clinicians determine the highest probability of response to β2-AR bronchodilators during viral bronchiolitis, based on the individual immunobiology, viral pathogen, host factors and clinical presentation.

Psychological influences on wound healing

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 312-314
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Enhanced Recovery ◽  
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ◽  
Wound Complications ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Psychological Influences ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Care Costs

Surgical wound complications remain a major cause of morbidity; although usually not life threatening, they reduce the quality of life. They are also associated with excessive health care costs. Wound healing is affected by many factors – wound characteristics, infection, comorbidities and nutritional status of the patient. In addition, though, psychological stress and depression may decrease the inflammatory response required for bacterial clearance and so delay wound healing, as well. Although the patient´s state of mind can be influenced only to a certain extent, we should nevertheless stick to ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) guidelines and try to diminish fear and anxiety by providing enough information preoperatively, pay due attention to postoperative analgesia and seek to provide an agreeable environment.

ДИАГНОСТИКА ХРОНИЧЕСКИХ ИНДУЦИРОВАННЫХ КРАПИВНИЦ

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
E.Yu. Borzova
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Biological Therapy ◽  
Treatment Algorithm ◽  
The Novel ◽  
International Guidelines ◽  
Systemic Reactions ◽  
Significant Impairment ◽  
Challenge Tests

Хронические индуцированные крапивницы имеют важное социальноэкономическое значение вследствие риска развития системных реакций и значительного снижения качества жизни пациентов. Диагностика хронических индуцированных крапивниц основывается на анамнестических данных и проведении провокационных тестов. Современный протокол ведения больных хронической крапивницей включает применение неседативных антигистаминных препаратов. Международные согласительные документы по лечению крапивницы рекомендуют 4кратное увеличение суточной дозы неседативных антигистаминных препаратов при их неэффективности в стандартных дозах. Данные метаанализа указывают на эффективность омализумаба при хронических индуцированных крапивницах. В перспективе ожидается расширение арсенала генноинженерной биологической терапии хронических индуцированных крапивниц.Chronic inducible urticarias are characterized by the risks of systemic reactions and a significant impairment of patients quality of life. The diagnosis of chronic inducible urticarias relies on the patients history and the challenge tests. A treatment algorithm for the management of chronic inducible urticarias includes nonsedating antihistamines as a firstline treatment. The international guidelines for the management of chronic inducible urticarias recommend updosing of nonsedating antihistamines up to four fold if standard doses are not effective. The metaanalysis suggests the efficacy of omalizumab in chronic inducible urticarias. In the prospect, the novel options of biological therapy for chronic inducible urticarias are expected.

Resveratrol: A new potential therapeutic agent for melanoma?

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Hossein Pourhanifeh ◽  
Kazem Abbaszadeh-Goudarzi ◽  
Mohammad Goodarzi ◽  
Sara G.M. Piccirillo ◽  
Alimohammad Shafiee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Therapeutic Agent ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Apoptosis Inducer ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
First Time

: Melanoma is the most life-threatening and aggressive class of skin malignancies. The incidence of melanoma has steadily increased. Metastatic melanoma is greatly resistant to standard anti-melanomatreatments such as chemotherapy, and 5-year survival rate of cases with melanoma who have metastatic form of disease is less than 10%. The contributing role of apoptosis, angiogenesis and autophagy in the pathophysiology of melanoma has been previously demonstrated. Thus, it is extremely urgent to search for complementary therapeutic approachesthat couldenhance the quality of life of subjects and reduce treatment resistance and adverse effects. Resveratrol, known as a polyphenol component present in grapes and some plants, has anti-cancer properties due to its function as an apoptosis inducer in tumor cells, and anti-angiogenic agent to prevent metastasis. However, more clinical trials should be conducted to prove resveratrol efficacy. : Herein, for first time, we summarize current knowledge of anti-cancerous activities of resveratrol in melanoma.

scholarly journals More comprehensively measuring quality of life in life-threatening illness: the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire – Expanded

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Robin Cohen ◽  
Lara B. Russell ◽  
Anne Leis ◽  
Javad Shahidi ◽  
Pat Porterfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Healthcare Environment ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Order Factor

Abstract Background Domains other than those commonly measured (physical, psychological, social, and sometimes existential/spiritual) are important to the quality of life of people with life-threatening illness. The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) – Revised measures the four common domains. The aim of this study was to create a psychometrically sound instrument, MQOL – Expanded, to comprehensively measure quality of life by adding to MQOL-Revised the domains of cognition, healthcare, environment, (feeling like a) burden, and possibly, finance. Methods Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on three datasets to ascertain whether seven new items belonged with existing MQOL-Revised domains, whether good model fit was obtained with their addition as five separate domains to MQOL-Revised, and whether a second-order factor representing overall quality of life was present. People with life-threatening illnesses (mainly cancer) or aged > 80 were recruited from 15 healthcare sites in seven Canadian provinces. Settings included: palliative home care and inpatient units; acute care units; oncology outpatient clinics. Results Good model fit was obtained when adding each of the five domains separately to MQOL-Revised and for the nine correlated domains. Fit was acceptable for a second-order factor model. The financial domain was removed because of low importance. The resulting MQOL-Expanded is a 21-item instrument with eight domains (fit of eight correlated domains: Comparative Fit Index = .96; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .033). Conclusions MQOL-Expanded builds on MQOL-Revised to more comprehensively measure the quality of life of people with life-threatening illness. Our analyses provide validity evidence for the MQOL-Expanded domain and summary scores; the need for further validation research is discussed. Use of MQOL-Expanded will enable a more holistic understanding of the quality of life of people with a life-threatening illness and the impact of treatments and interventions upon it. It will allow for a better understanding of less commonly assessed but important life domains (cognition, healthcare, environment, feeling like a burden) and their relationship to the more commonly assessed domains (physical, psychological, social, existential/spiritual).

Proton Pump Inhibitors in 2021: Pros, Cons, and Everything in Between

2021 ◽  
pp. 263451612110217
Author(s):  
Joshua A. Sloan ◽  
Philip O. Katz
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Proton Pump Inhibitors ◽  
Proton Pump ◽  
Drug Class ◽  
Life Threatening

The medical and lay literature has exploded with reports of adverse events associated with proton pump inhibitors over the last 10 to 15 years. The dissemination of these reports to patients and clinicians have created substantial concerns regarding what has been an exceptionally valuable drug class, dramatically improving patient quality of life, and in many cases preventing life threatening side effects of other medication. Patients are more frequently seeking to avoid these medications, and practitioners are reducing or discontinuing them to the patient’s detriment due to a misunderstanding of the data. This review will discuss the data regarding the most commonly publicized adverse events and attempt to put them in perspective.

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