Importance of the Correct Diagnosis of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression in Adult Cancer Patients and Titration of Naloxone.

Importance of the correct diagnosis of opioid-induced respiratory depression in adult cancer patients and titration of naloxone.

Clin Med. 2013 Apr; 13(2): 149-51
Boland J, Boland E, Brooks D

Opioids can induce respiratory depression by invoking a centrally mediated decrease in involuntary respiratory rate, which in severe cases can cause a decrease in oxygen saturation. If respiratory depression is opioid induced, both low respiratory rate and low oxygen saturation will be present. If this is the case, oxygenation, rousing by verbal and physical stimulation and decreasing the opioid dose should be tried first. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, should be avoided if at all possible but, if essential, titrate slowly to respiratory function administering 20-100 µg intravenously every two minutes. If used as a bolus for a patient on long-term opioids for chronic cancer pain, then refractory pain and symptomatic opioid withdrawal can result. HubMed – depression

Erectile dysfunction in general medicine.

Clin Med. 2013 Apr; 13(2): 136-40
Grant P, Jackson G, Baig I, Quin J

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects millions of men worldwide with implications that go far beyond sexual activity. ED is now recognised as an early marker of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus (DM) and depression. The risk factors that are associated with ED (sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia and the metabolic syndrome) are very similar to those for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arguably, the awareness of ED as a symptomatic entity in the post-Viagra™ age is on the rise. Nevertheless, ED is commonly missed when evaluating patients in the hospital setting, either because of lack of consideration or awareness, or through simple embarrassment (of both clinician and patient). This article provides an overview of the aetiology, assessment and importance of ED and hopes to promote its consideration in day-to-day clinical practice. HubMed – depression

Quality of life estimate in stomach, colon, and rectal cancer patients in a hospital in China.

Tumour Biol. 2013 May 17;
Deng M, Lan Y, Luo S

The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome and coping patterns of patients with stomach, colon, and rectal cancer in a hospital in China. Health-related quality of life was assessed in 118 stomach, colon, and rectal cancer patients in Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China, using the generic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaire Core 30 Items, Self-rated Anxiety Scores (SAS), Self-rated Depression Scores (SDS), Medical Coping Modes of Questionnaire (MCMQ), and Social Support Requirement Scale (SSRS) questionnaires. The overall QOL was 50.7?±?6.5, 48.1?±?7.7, and 47.6?±?6.4, respectively, for stomach, colon, and rectal cancer groups. Correlations between QOL and SAS and SDS in stomach cancer patients were significantly higher than observed in the cohort of colon or rectal cancer patients (Spearman coefficient of 0.366 and 0.129, respectively). Cluster analysis of MCMQ data revealed four identifiable patterns (resign, confront, avoid-confront, and avoid-resign) of coping in the study group. Subjective support was significantly higher than objective support (p?HubMed – depression