OBJECTIVE The study objective was to determine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Ascites Index (FACIT-AI). METHODS A forward-backward translation procedure was adopted to develop the Chinese version of the FACIT-AI, which was tested in 69 patients with malignant ascites. Cronbach's α, split-half reliability, and test-...

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of Reminiscence Cognitive Behavior Therapy (RCBT) for improvement of spiritual well-being and self-esteem in patients. Five patients received the therapy over three sessions. The patients received RCBT consisting of reminiscence therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. They completed the FACIT-Sp, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem scale, numeric rating...

BACKGROUND Patients with advanced cancer have reduced quality of life, which tends to worsen towards the end of life. We assessed the effect of early palliative care in patients with advanced cancer on several aspects of quality of life. METHODS The study took place at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Toronto, ON, Canada), between Dec 1, 2006, and Feb 28, 2011. 24 medical oncology clinics...

OBJECTIVES To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in methotrexate (MTX)-naive patients (defined as no prior treatment or ≤3 doses) receiving tofacitinib versus MTX. METHODS In the 24-month, phase III, randomised, controlled, ORAL Start trial (NCT01039688), patients were randomised 2:2:1 to receive tofacitinib 5 mg two times per day (n=373), tofacitinib 10 mg two times per day (n=397) or ...

Background: Fatigue is an important outcome for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As recommended by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) task force in 2008, fatigue should be measured all RA clinical trials whenever possible. Despite these recommendations, it largely ignored and rarely assessed practice. Objectives: The aim this study was ...

Type XIX collagen is a newly discovered member of the FACIT (fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices) group of extracellular matrix proteins. Based on the primary structure, type XIX collagen is thought to act as a cross-bridge between fibrils and other extracellular matrix molecules. Here we describe the complete exon/intron organization of COL19A1 and show that it contains...

8129 Background: Fatigue has been reported as a late effect of cancer therapy. Limited data are available assessing fatigue and sleep among large populations of long-term survivors of pediatric and adolescent cancer. METHODS The CCSS is a cohort of 5+ yr survivors diagnosed with cancer before age 21, between 1970-1986. A selected sample of CCSS participants (lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), brai...

BACKGROUND The population of survivors following allogeneic HSCT continues to increase, and yet their experiences of recovery and long-term survivorship have not been fully characterized. This paper presents a study protocol examining over time the functional status, psychosocial adjustment, health-related quality of life, and symptom experience of survivors who have undergone allogeneic transp...