Nutritional status and quality of life of cancer patients needing exclusive chemotherapy: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to report nutritional status in a large panel of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy and to study the influence of nutritional status on their quality of life (QoL). METHODS: This work was a longitudinal cohort study performed at a French university teaching hospital. Eligible patients were individuals with a cancer needing treatment based on exclusive chemotherapy. Three work-ups were performed: i) before the administration of the first course of chemotherapy: T1, ii) before the administration of the second (for patients with 3 planned courses) or third (patients with 6 planned courses) course: T2, and iii) before the administration of the last planned course: T3. The following data were collected: general health (performance status) and nutritional status (weight, anorexia grading, albuminemia, pre-albuminemia, and C-reactive protein) and QoL. RESULTS: The nutritional status of patients with cancer was preserved. Functional impairment, the presence of anorexia, the palliative nature of the chemotherapy, and an elevated C-reactive protein dosage were independent predictive factors of a lower QoL among patients assessed at the end of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although larger studies should corroborate these findings, clinicians may include this information in the management of patients with cancer requiring exclusive chemotherapy to identify the most vulnerable patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials NCT01687335 (registration date: October 6, 2011).

European College of Orthodontics: Commission of affiliation and titularization.

Date of birth: 12/10/1987; sex: female. A. PRETREATMENT RECORDS: 24 years 8 months; 16/06/2011. DIAGNOSIS: Skeletal and dental Class I, maxillary endognathia, anterior vertical excess with open bite; teeth missing prior to treatment: 18, 28, 38, 48. TREATMENT PLAN: Appliances and devices: single-stage surgical-orthodontic treatment using pretorqued and preangled bimaxillary multibracket appliances with 0.022×0.028″ archwire, along with an expander during the surgical phase and then a transpalatal arch to stabilize the transverse correction. START OF TREATMENT: 24 years 8 months; 16/06/2011. B. POSTTREATMENT RECORDS: 26/10/2012; 26 years. RETENTION: Maxillary: bonded wire from 13 to 23 and slip-cover retainer; 29/01/2013; mandibular: bonded wire from 33 to 43; 29/01/2013. C. POST-RETENTION RECORDS (1 YEAR MINIMUM): 14/12/2013; 27 years; date of end of retention: 14/12/2013: maxillary: bonded wire from 13 to 23; mandibular: bonded wire from 33 to 43; duration of retention: 12 months.

Level of dependency: a simple marker associated with mortality during the 2003 heatwave among French dependent elderly people living in the community or in institutions.

BACKGROUND: In France, the August 2003 heat wave was responsible for considerable excess mortality among the elderly. We wonder whether the dependency level could be a marker of the risk for mortality during this heat wave. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of deaths that occurred between 1 and 20 August 2003, conducted in five departments in the Paris area (Ile-de-France) among the beneficiaries of the Allocation personnalisée d'autonomie (APA), a stipend specifically allocated to dependent subjects > or =60 years of age. Their dependency level was determined by the GIR group (defined by the French law) used to fix the APA amount. Subjects' GIR group classification and demographic variables were obtained from departmental administrative files. RESULTS: Among the 31,603 APA beneficiaries alive on 31 July 2003, 16,779 were community dwellers and 14,824 lived in institutions. Between 1 and 20 August 2003, 858 subjects died: 300 community dwellers and 558 institutionalised (mortality rates of 2.7, 1.8 and 3.8 per cent, respectively). Independent risk factors for mortality were: age, sex and GIR group in community dwellers; age, GIR group and living in a region highly exposed to heatwave mortality for institutionalised elderly; independent factors for mortality were age, sex, GIR group, type of residence (institution/community), living in a region highly exposed to heatwave mortality and income for the overall population. CONCLUSION: The dependency level was associated with mortality during the 2003 heatwave in France, especially for elderly community dwellers. Dependency might help identify high-risk subjects and guide targeted prevention measures against heatwave-associated mortality.