Assessing the need for multimodal care in anorexia and cachexia patients with advanced cancer referred to palliative care: a secondary analysis of a multicenter survey in Japan.

Purpose: There are no methods for assessing the need for multimodal care in cancer cachexia. We examined nine components in evaluating needs among advanced cancer patients.

Methods: This was a self-administered survey.

A comparative evaluation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition vs the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment in assessing nutrition status in patients diagnosed with terminal cancer: A retrospective study.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as a nutrition screening tool and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria as a diagnostic framework in a cohort of patients with terminal cancer. This single-institution, retrospective cohort study included adults who were diagnosed with cancer and a predicted life expectancy <3 months intolerant to anticancer treatment who received palliative care between October 2023 and March 2024. Of 104 patients screened, 78 (54% male) were included in the analysis and 26 were excluded because of a terminal condition that precluded completion of the PG-SGA.

Association between baseline inflammation and the effectiveness of nutritional support among terminally ill patients with cancer: A secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Inflammatory status may influence the response to nutritional support. We aimed to determine associations between calorie intake and survival considering serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among advanced cancer patients.

Methods: Data on characteristics and CRP levels were obtained at baseline.

Determination of cutoff values for severe low muscle mass using calf circumference in the global leadership initiative on malnutrition (GLIM) criteria.

Background & Aims: Calf circumference is a simple and practical indicator of muscle mass. However, an appropriate cutoff value reflecting severely reduced muscle mass when using calf circumference as an indicator of muscle loss for severity assessment after malnutrition diagnosis has not yet been established. Therefore, we identified a cutoff value and evaluated its validity.

Assessing mortality and malnutrition using calf circumference adjusted for body mass index and edema as muscle mass reduction indicators within the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria: A retrospective study.

Background: Although calf circumference (CC) may be used to distinguish body composition, methods applying adjustment coefficients based on body mass index (BMI) and edema have been reported. This study evaluated whether malnutrition assessed using BMI- and edema-adjusted CC predicts mortality in hospitalized adult patients compared with unadjusted CC across cutoff values.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the medical records of patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized between December 2017 and March 2022 and at risk for nutrition disorders through nutrition screening.

SARC-F questionnaire and its predictive value for mortality risk in hospitalized younger adults: A retrospective study.

Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that can also occur in younger adults. The validity of the SARC-F questionnaire in younger populations has not been extensively investigated.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using medical records of patients aged <65 years who were admitted to and discharged from a 900-bed university hospital between April 2019 and March 2021.

Sex-related differences in eating-related distress experienced by patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Sex-related differences in eating-related distress (ERD) experienced by cancer patients have not previously been clarified.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter survey among advanced cancer patients referred to palliative care. Data on patient characteristics were collected from the electronic medical records, and data on measurement outcomes were obtained from a questionnaire.

Clinical Implications of the C-Reactive Protein-Albumin Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Terminally Ill Patients with Cancer.

Few studies investigated the clinical implications of C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR) in palliative care. To determine the association of CAR with overall survival among terminally ill patients with cance. Datasets were obtained through two multicenter prospective cohort studies.

Association of Systemic Inflammation with Dietary Intake, Nutrition Impact Symptoms, and Eating-Related Distress Among Patients with Advanced Cancer.

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are correlated with patient outcomes in cancer. This study aimed to determine associations between the CRP level and the dietary intake, symptoms, and eating-related distress (ERD).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter survey among advanced cancer patients.

Low handgrip strength as a marker of severity in the diagnostic criteria for cancer cachexia.

Background & Aims: The diagnostic criteria for cachexia, as proposed by the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC), include weight loss, a low body mass index, and additional factors such as a low handgrip strength (HGS), anorexia, or elevated CRP levels. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of low HGS as a diagnostic criterion in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: This single-centre, retrospective cohort study was conducted between April 2019 and March 2023.

Oral hypofunction and social aspects in older adults visiting frailty outpatient clinic.

Background: Oral and social problems can exacerbate long-term care. Understanding the relationship between social aspects and oral hypofunction can help identify high-risk factors for long-term care.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the social aspects of oral hypofunction among medical outpatients.

Impacts of fluid retention on prognostic abilities of cachexia diagnostic criteria in cancer patients with refractory cachexia.

Background & Aims: The international cancer cachexia criteria with a cutoff of 5% weight loss (WL) was proposed in Western patients. The Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) developed new criteria in Asian patients. The AWGC criteria are not cancer-specific and employ a cutoff of 2% WL.

Fluid retention and weight loss in refractory cancer cachexia.

Objectives: It is unknown to what extent the fluid retention (FR) status disrupts the detection of weight loss rate (WLR) in adult patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to determine the association of FR status with WLR.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Validity of the diagnostic criteria from the Asian Working Group for Cachexia in advanced cancer.

Background: Recently, the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) published a consensus statement on diagnostic criteria for cachexia in Asians. We aimed to validate the criteria in adult patients in Japan with advanced cancer.

Methods: We conducted a single-institution retrospective cohort study between April 2021 and October 2022.

Cancer-related breathlessness: opioids other than morphine - comprehensive literature review.

Introduction: Although there is low-quality evidence, there has been an increase in publications on the experience of evaluating and managing cancer-related breathlessness using opioids other than morphine.

Methods: The author conducted a non-systematic literature review in the PubMed/Medline and Embase until 4 October 2022. Eligible studies have evaluated the efficacy of opioids other than morphine for cancer-related breathlessness.

Levosimendan Increases Survival in a D-Galactosamine and Lipopolysaccharide Rat Model.

Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, has an organ protective profile through the inhibition of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in critical conditions, such as heart failure, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and sepsis. The survival effect of levosimendan for acute liver failure has not been examined yet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were examined in the D-galactosamine hydrochloride and lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS) model.

Hydromorphone for dyspnoea in terminally ill patients with cancer: case series.

Objective: Opioids can mitigate dyspnoea, but the efficacy of hydromorphone use for dyspnoea in patients with cancer is not well known.

Methods: Patients with cancers with more than mild dyspnoea treated with subcutaneous injection of hydromorphone between March 2020 and February 2022 at Kitano Hospital (Osaka, Japan) were reviewed retrospectively. Only patients who could self-report their symptoms ≥3 days after the start of hydromorphone therapy were included.

Fentanyl titration for cancer pain: continuous subcutaneous injection and a once-daily transdermal patch - case series.

Objectives: Continuous subcutaneous injection (CSCI) followed by a once-daily transdermal patch is a reasonable strategy for rapid titration of fentanyl in patients with cancer pain who are unable to take oral medication or have renal impairment, but the effectiveness and safety have not been demonstrated.

Methods: Medical records of patients with moderate to severe cancer pain who underwent titration of fentanyl by CSCI between October 2019 and October 2021 at Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan, were retrospectively reviewed. The dose of fentanyl was increased to a maximum of 0.

Risk factors and treatment strategy for clinical hepatico-jejunostomy stenosis defined with intrahepatic bile duct dilatation after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A retrospective study.

Backgrounds/purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors and establish a treatment strategy for clinical hepatico-jejunostomy stenosis defined with intrahepatic bile duct dilatation after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: The 443 patients who underwent PD from April 2006 to December 2015 were analyzed. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with and without clinical HJ stenosis, and risk factors for clinical HJ stenosis were analyzed.