Search Results (4,272)

Psychological distress is an extremely relevant phenomenon in cancer patients due to its high prevalence, especially when cancer diagnoses are increasingly frequent. It is estimated that only one-third of patients with clinically significant levels of distress are referred to mental health services. To reinforce this point, most health centers lack the resources for distress screening. Background/Objectives: This study aims to systematically gather and critique information relevant to the operationalization of distress, as well as the instruments used to assess it. Methods: The data included in this systematic review were published after 2014 and collected through the meta-database EBSCO and the following databases: PsycArticles, PubMED, and SCOPUS. Results: A total of 1028 references were imported, and 54 duplicate articles were excluded. Of the 974 references, 934 were excluded because they had titles, keywords, or abstracts that were incompatible with the research objectives. Finally, of the 40 articles obtained, 3 were excluded due to the inclusion of cancer survivors, 1 for including a non-oncological sample, and 9 for not expressing a focus on distress, resulting in a total of 27 articles included in this systematic review. Conclusions: The field of psycho-oncology needs to improve the understanding and assessment of distress in cancer patients. The lack of a holistic and homogeneous vision, as well as the use of reductionist instruments are common problems. A more complete understanding of distress, especially its effective evaluation, and better communication with other health professionals and their patients concerning this health issue are needed. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a standardised assessment tool used to evaluate upper limb (UL) performance in individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). It consists of 15 timed movement tasks, two strength measures, and a functional ability scale that assesses the quality of movement from 0 to 5. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the WMFT for Spanish-speaking individuals with ABI. Methods: The translation and cultural adaptation process followed established guidelines and involved researchers from the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) and from the Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO) group. A joint committee of experts from both research groups unified two previous versions into the final Spanish version of the WMFT. The pilot study included 60 ABI survivors, who were evaluated for the clarity and usability of the adapted test. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate participant characteristics and test performance, with the results summarised for both the less-affected and most-affected UL. Results: The final version of the tool features inclusive language and a unified administration procedure. In the pilot study, execution times were longer when using the most-affected UL, particularly for tasks involving object manipulation, while grip strength was lower. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the WMFT is a suitable tool for evaluating UL function in ABI survivors and shows promising clinical and research implications. Full article

This article examines how gender shapes Holocaust memory through close analyses of two canonical women’s memoirs: Charlotte Delbo’s Auschwitz and After and Ruth Klüger’s Still Alive (2001), a considerably rewritten and culturally reinterpreted version of her earlier German book Weiter leben (1992). Delbo, a French political deportee, and Klüger, an Austrian Jewish survivor, provide testimonies that challenge the male-centered paradigms that have long dominated the Holocaust literature. Although pioneering feminist scholars have shown that women experienced and remembered the Holocaust differently, gender-based analysis remains underused—not only in Holocaust studies but also in broader memory studies, where it is often assumed to be already complete or exhausted. This view of theoretical saturation reflects a Eurocentric bias that equates critical maturity with Western academic prominence, thereby masking the ongoing influence of gender on the production, circulation, and reception of testimony worldwide. Drawing on trauma theory, concepts of multidirectional memory and postmemory, systems theory of media, and ethical approaches to testimony, this article argues that gender is not merely descriptive of Holocaust experience but also constitutive of how trauma is narrated, circulated, and archived. Testimony, as a cultural form, is inherently mediated, and that mediation is fundamentally gendered. This analysis illustrates how Delbo and Klüger create gendered testimonial forms through unique aesthetic strategies. Delbo’s writing focuses on seeing by invoking a feminist aesthetics of voir as imagined and ethical visualization, while Klüger’s narrative emphasizes voice, utilizing rhetorical sharpness and ambivalent narration to challenge postwar silencing. Instead of equating gender with femininity, the article understands gender as a relational and intersectional system—one that includes masculinity, non-binary identities, and structural power differences. It also questions Eurocentric assumptions that feminist critique has been fully explored within memory studies, urging renewed engagement with gender in transnational contexts, such as the often-overlooked testimonies from wartime Shanghai. Ultimately, this article argues that feminist approaches to Holocaust testimony expose the gendered structures of grievability that determine which kinds of suffering are preserved—and which remain unspoken. Full article

Upper limb (UL) impairment after stroke negatively influences stroke survivors’ quality of life (QOL). This study aims to evaluate, through clinical assessment and accelerometric measures, the efficacy of anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (a-tDCS) combined with the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) in post-acute stroke UL rehabilitation. Subjects were enrolled if they were aged ≥18 years and had a first stroke diagnosis, UL motor impairment and adequate trunk control. The subjects underwent combined administration of intensive a-tDCS and GRASP (15 sessions/30 min each). Before and after treatment, a subgroup of subjects was evaluated through wearable accelerometers. A total of 30 subjects were included in this study (mean age 68.34 ± 14.08 years; 19 males/11 females). Medical Research Council (MRC), Hand Grip Strength (HGS), Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), Box and Block Test (BBT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) scores significantly improved after treatment. The accelerometric-derived measurements all revealed a significant increase in the affected UL activity as indicated by the Vector Magnitude value. No side effects were reported. In conclusion, an intensive a-tDCS and GRASP application proved to be effective and safe in UL rehabilitation after stroke. The association of accelerometric monitoring might be of paramount importance for the evaluation of UL recovery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a beneficial approach to improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer survivors. This study explored key research topics and emerging trends in studies related to PA and HRQoL among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Titles and abstracts of 3847 English-language research articles (2000–2024) were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus using keywords related to ‘breast cancer’, ‘PA/exercise’, and ‘HRQoL’. A text-mining algorithm based on the Dirichlet-multinomial regression approach in Python was applied to identify the top 10 research topics and their trends over time. Results: In total, 10 key topics emerged: (1) Quality of Life and Well-being, (2) Cancer Treatment and Health-Related Fitness, (3) Supportive Care and Psychosocial Factors, (4) Survivorship, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine, (5) Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors, (6) Upper Limb-Related Side Effects, (7) Cancer-Related Fatigue and Symptoms, (8) Epidemiological and Clinical Factors, (9) Side Effects of Cancer Treatment, and (10) Weight Management. Among these, Topics 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9 followed upward trajectories, while others showed relatively stable trends. Conclusions: Findings highlight that PA research on breast cancer survivors’ HRQoL spans all stages of survivorship and considers both clinical outcomes and psychosocial and emotional well-being. Understanding how PA and HRQoL have been represented in research helps clarify which survivor needs have received attention and which remain underexplored. These thematic patterns underscore growing acknowledgement of survivors’ lived experiences and offer a roadmap for addressing future research and care gaps. Full article

Background: There is evidence that pancreatic cancer arises from different pre-malignant conditions, which can take decades to transform to invasive cancers. Some individuals can benefit from surveillance and early access to surgery. Patients that have disease that is detected whilst it is resectable may have the disease cured by total or partial pancreatectomy. It is already known that pancreatic cancer, whether advanced or localised, causes impairment in quality of life, and survivors of surgery can have quality of life impaired by recognised and predictable pancreatic deficiencies. Methods: A literature review of key themes affecting quality of life in pancreatic cancer are presented here. Results: The biological features of the precursors of pancreatic cancer are described, with the rationale for surveillance and effects of surgical management in different conditions. Conclusions: Surgery for pancreatic cancer carries the potential for high impact on quality of life after survivorship after initial surgical intervention. Identification of issues that affect patients are discussed with the aim of improving the quality of care for patients. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inflammation plays a key role in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), which integrates immune and inflammatory markers, may serve as a valuable prognostic tool. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of SII as a short-term predictor of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) in ACS patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 964 ACS patients admitted in 2023. SII was calculated from admission hematological parameters. Primary and secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality and MACCE, respectively. Results: SII levels differed significantly across ACS subtypes (p < 0.001), highest in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and lowest in unstable angina. SII was markedly higher in deceased patients (2003.79 ± 1601.17) vs. survivors (722.04 ± 837.25; p < 0.001) and remained an independent predictor of mortality (OR = 1.038, p < 0.001). Similarly, SII was elevated in MACCE cases (1717 ± 1611.32) vs. non-MACCE (664.68 ± 713.11; p < 0.001) and remained predictive in multivariate analysis (OR = 1.080, p < 0.001). Predictive accuracy for MACCE was moderate (AUC = 0.762), improved when combined with GRACE 2, especially in specificity (p = 0.07). In STEMI, SII had excellent accuracy (AUC = 0.874), outperforming neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein. SII rose at 24 h and declined at 48 h in STEMI, with a slower decline in MACCE patients. Conclusions: SII proved to be a cost-effective biomarker reflecting inflammation, immunity, and thrombosis. Elevated SII predicted short-term MACCE and mortality in ACS, with improved prognostic power when combined with GRACE 2. Persistent elevation may signal ongoing inflammation and increased MACCE risk. Full article

Background: Severe burn injuries often lead to lasting physical and psychological consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among burn survivors and may be influenced by persistent somatic complaints. This study examined whether PTSD is associated with a higher burden of physical symptoms during and after inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study involving 103 adult burn patients in inpatient rehabilitation. Based on Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R) scores and clinical evaluation, patients were grouped as PTSD (n = 43) or No PTSD (n = 60). Physical symptoms assessed included skin dryness (xerosis), temperature sensitivity (cold/heat), numbness, skin tightness, and increased sweating. Results: Patients with PTSD reported significantly more physical symptoms at follow-up than those without PTSD: xerosis (74% vs. 50%, p = 0.03), cold sensitivity (61% vs. 35%, p = 0.02), heat sensitivity (63% vs. 39%, p = 0.03), numbness (63% vs. 33%, p = 0.006), skin tightness (82% vs. 52%, p = 0.004), and sweating (45% vs. 19%, p = 0.01). PTSD patients also had more severe burns, reflected in higher full-thickness TBSA (2% vs. 0%, p = 0.03) and elevated ABSI scores (median 6 vs. 5, p = 0.04). Conclusion: PTSD is associated with a higher and more persistent burden of physical skin symptoms after severe burns. These findings underscore the importance of early PTSD screening and integrated psychological-somatic rehabilitation to improve long-term recovery and quality of life. Full article

Invasive yeast infections (IYIs) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic diseases. We retrospectively analyzed 193 IYI episodes among 179 patients admitted to a tertiary hematology hospital (2012–2023). Candida species accounted for 91.7% (n = 177), while non-Candida yeasts comprised 8.3% (n = 16). Among invasive candidiasis, non-albicans Candida spp. were predominant, representing 76.8% (136/177), with C. tropicalis (36.2%, 64/177) being the most frequently isolated species. Among non-Candida yeasts, Cryptococcus neoformans (n = 10) was the most commonly identified pathogen. The incidence and 42-day mortality rate of IYIs were 0.199 and 0.095 per 1000 patient-days, respectively. The 42-day case-fatality rate remained high at 47.7%. In categorical analysis, age >65 years, corticosteroid use, elevated lactate (>2 mmol/L), neutropenia (<500/mm³), vasopressor use, and mechanical ventilation were more common in non-survivors. Primary bloodstream infections were more frequent in non-survivors, whereas catheter-related and abdominal-origin infections were predominant among survivors. Concomitant bacteremia was observed in 32.6% of IYI cases (n = 63), with Enterococcus faecium being the most frequently isolated co-pathogen. Our findings illustrate the evolving epidemiology of IYIs in hematologic patients, marked by the emergence of C. tropicalis as the predominant species, sustained mortality, and frequent bacterial co-infections, collectively reflecting the substantial clinical burden of IYIs. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men worldwide. Although traditionally considered a disease of older men, the incidence of early-onset PCa (diagnosis < 55 years) is steadily rising. Advances in screening and therapy have significantly improved survival, creating a growing cohort of younger survivors for whom post-treatment quality of life—notably reproductive function—is paramount. Curative treatments such as radical prostatectomy, pelvic radiotherapy, androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and chemotherapy often cause irreversible infertility via multiple mechanisms, including surgical disruption of the ejaculatory tract, endocrine suppression of spermatogenesis, direct gonadotoxic injury to the testes, and oxidative sperm DNA damage. Despite these risks, fertility preservation is frequently overlooked in pre-treatment counseling, leaving many patients unaware of their options. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on how PCa therapies impact male fertility, elucidates the molecular and physiological mechanisms of iatrogenic infertility, and evaluates both established and emerging strategies for fertility preservation and restoration. Key interventions covered include sperm cryopreservation, microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (TESE), and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Psychosocial factors influencing decision-making, novel biomarkers predictive of post-treatment spermatogenic recovery, and long-term offspring outcomes are also examined. The review underscores the urgent need for timely, multidisciplinary fertility consultation as a routine component of PCa care. As PCa increasingly affects men in their reproductive years, proactively integrating preservation into standard oncologic practice should become a standard survivorship priority. Full article

Introduction: The combination of ceftazidime−avibactam (CAZ-AVI) with aztreonam (ATM) may be an option for the treatment of infections due to metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) producing bacteria, as recommended by current guidelines. MBLs protect the pathogen from any available β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI). Moreover, in vitro and clinical data suggest that double carbapenem therapy (DCT) may be an option for such infections. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in two mixed intensive care units (ICUs) at the University Hospital of Larissa, Thessaly, Greece, and the General Hospital of Larissa, Thessaly, Greece, during a three-year period (2022−2024). Mechanically ventilated patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by K. pneumoniae resistant to all BL/BLI combinations were studied. Patients were divided into three groups: in the first, patients were treated with CAZ-AVI + ATM; in the second, with DCT; and in the third, with antibiotics other than BL/BLIs that presented in vitro susceptibility. The primary outcome of the study was the change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score between the onset of infection and the fourth day of antibiotic treatment. Secondary outcomes were SOFA score evolution during the treatment period, total duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), ICU length of stay (LOS), and ICU mortality. Results: A total of 95 patients were recruited. Among them, 23 patients received CAZ-AVI + AZT, 22 received DCT, and 50 patients received another antibiotic regimen which was in vitro active against the pathogen. The baseline characteristics were similar. The mean (SE) overall age was 63.2 (1.3) years. Mean (SE) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and SOFA scores were 16.3 (0.6) and 7.6 (0.3), respectively. The Charlson Index was similar between groups. The control group presented a statistically lower SOFA score on day 4 compared to the other two groups [mean (SE) 8.9 (1) vs. 7.4 (0.9) vs. 6.4 (0.5) for CAZ-AVI + ATM, DCT and control group, respectively (p = 0.045)]. The duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU LOS, and mortality were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Comparison between survivors and non-survivors revealed that survivors had a lower SOFA score on the day of BSI, higher PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio, higher platelet counts, and lower lactate levels (p < 0.05). Septic shock was more frequent among non-survivors (60.3%) in comparison to survivors (27%) (p = 0.0015). Independent factors for mortality were PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio and lactate levels (p < 0.05). None of the antibiotic regimens received by the patients was independently associated with survival. Conclusions: Treatment with CAZ-AVI + ATM or DCT may offer similar clinical outcomes for patients suffering from BSI caused by K. pneumoniae strains resistant to all available BL/BLIs. However, larger studies are required to confirm the findings. Full article

Objectives: Early death after trauma has been described several times. Little is known about it after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and decompressive craniectomy (DC). The aim of this study was to characterize patients who die after a TBI and DC during their in-hospital stay. Methods: In a subgroup analysis of a retrospective, multicenter, and observational study, non-survivors from in-hospital stays treated for severe TBI and DC were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used. Results: A total of 223 patients with severe TBI were treated with DC, and there were 65 (29.1%) patients who did not survive. Of these, 22 (33.8%) died within the first 24 h. Non-survivors were older (p = 0.010), and pupillomotor dysfunction and a higher heart rate on admission were more common (p < 0.001). PSM patients for overall survival (41, 18.4%) differed in mean heart rate from the deceased (p = 0.030). In a multivariate model, age (OR: 1.045, p = 0.013, CI95%: 1.010 to 1.082), Quick value (OR: 0.965, p = 0.049, CI95%: 0.931 to 1.000), and heart rate (OR: 1.099, p = 0.030, CI95%: 1.009 to 1.197) were confirmed as predictive factors. Conclusions: Even after DC, known factors, such as chronological age and comorbidities, have a significant influence on mortality. The value of DC in an aging society for a particular severity of TBI should be further assessed on the basis of prospective studies. Full article

Background: Fluid management is a critical aspect of care for neurocritically ill patients, yet the optimal approach remains unclear. The relationship between fluid balance and clinical outcomes in these patients requires further investigation, particularly regarding the timing and volume of fluid administration. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed 2186 adult patients admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2013 to December 2022. We employed a generalized additive model (GAM) with cubic spline smoothing to examine non-linear relationships between fluid balance and mortality. The maximally selected rank statistics method was used to determine the optimal cutoff value for fluid balance. Associations between fluid balance patterns and 28-day mortality were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Initial analysis identified fluid balance on day 1 as the most significant predictor of mortality; patients with positive fluid balance showed a higher 28-day mortality. Non-survivors showed significantly higher fluid input throughout the 7-day observation period, particularly during the first 24 h (4444 mL vs. 3978 mL, p = 0.007). Multivariable analysis confirmed that fluid balance on day 1 remained independently associated with 28-day mortality after adjusting for confounders (adjusted odd ratio 1.705, 95% confidence interval: 1.001–2.905, p = 0.049). Additionally, the relationship between fluid input day 1 and mortality demonstrated a progressively increasing probability of 28-day mortality with higher fluid volumes. Early fluid balance, particularly during the first 24 h of ICU admission, shows a significant association with mortality in neurocritically ill patients. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the crucial importance of careful fluid management in the early phase of neurocritical care and suggest that implementation of strict fluid monitoring protocols, especially during the initial period of care, may improve patient outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: COVID-19 is a systemic viral infection that may lead to serious complications including acute kidney injury that requires kidney replacement therapy. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate urinary SerpinA3 (uSerpinA3) excretion as a biomarker of kidney recovery at 90 days, and the mortality in patients with critical COVID-19 and AKI requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Methods: The study included patients with critical COVID-19 on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) requiring KRT. Blood and urine samples were obtained when KRT was initiated (day zero), and thereafter on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 post-replacement. uSerpinA3, kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) were measured in urine, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in peripheral blood. In addition, metabolomics in sample days zero and 3, and in the survivors on sample day 90 was performed by employing gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results: A total of 60 patients were recruited, of whom 29 (48%) survived hospitalization and recovered kidney function by day 90. In the survivors, 79% presented complete recovery (CRR) and the remaining (21%) recovered partially (PRR). In terms of uSerpinA3, levels on days 7 and 14 predicted CRR, with AUC values of 0.68 (p = 0.041) and 0.71 (p = 0.030), respectively, as well as mortality, with AUC values of 0.75 (p = 0.007) and 0.76 (p = 0.015), respectively. Among the other biomarkers, the excretion of uKIM-1 on day zero of KRT had a superior performance as a CRR predictor [(AUC, 0.71 (p = 0.017)], and as a mortality predictor [AUC, 0.68 (p = 0.028)]. In the metabolomics analysis, we identified four distinct profiles; the metabolite that maintained statistical significance in predicting mortality was p-cresol glucuronide. Conclusions: This study strongly suggests that uSerpinA3 and uKIM-1 can predict CRR and mortality in patients with critical COVID-19 and AKI requiring KRT. Metabolic analysis appears promising for identifying affected pathways and their clinical impact in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic factors, features of the acute infection, and post-infection health status in survivors of COVID-19, assessing their association with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Methods: A multidisciplinary public clinic in Brazil assessed COVID-19 survivors between June 2020 and February 2022. Patients were classified as having PACS or subacute infection (SI). Data on the history of the acute infection, current symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory findings were collected and analyzed using multivariate models with PACS as the outcome. Results: Among the 113 participants, 63.71% were diagnosed with PACS at a median of 130 days (IQR: 53–196) following acute symptom onset. Admission to the intensive care unit was more frequent among individuals with PACS than those with SI (83.3% vs. 65.0% respectively; p = 0.037). Symptoms significantly more prevalent in the PACS group when compared to the SI cohort included hair loss (44.4% vs. 17.1% respectively; p = 0.004), lower limb paresthesia (34.7% vs. 9.8% respectively; p = 0.003), and slow thinking speed (28.2% vs. 0.0% respectively; p < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that only the time interval between the onset of acute symptoms and the clinical evaluation was independently associated with a PACS diagnosis (β = 0.057; 95% CI: 1.03–1.08; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with PACS had a higher frequency of intensive care unit admission compared to those with subacute infection. However, in the multivariate analysis, the severity of the acute infection did not predict the final diagnosis of PACS, which was associated only with the time elapsed since symptom onset. Full article