Delirium in corticosteroid-treated advanced cancer patients may be predicted by PS, drowsiness, and concurrent opioid use. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

BackgroundThe association between C‐reactive protein (CRP) level, symptoms, and activities of daily living (ADL) in advanced cancer patients is unclear.MethodsSecondary data analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study consisted of 2426 advanced cancer patients referred to palliative care settings was conducted to examine the cross‐sectional relationships between CRP level, symptoms, and ADL disabilities. Laboratory data, symptoms, ADL, and manual muscle testing (MMT) results were obtained at baseline. Participants were divided into four groups: low (CRP < 1 mg/dl), moderate (1 = < CRP <5 mg/dl), high (5 = < CRP < 10 mg/dl), and very high CRP (10 mg/dl = < CRP). The proportions of eight symptoms, five ADL disabilities, and three categories of MMT according to the CRP groups were tested by chi‐square tests. Multiple‐adjusted odd ratios (ORs) were calculated by using ordinal logistic regression after adjustment for age, gender, site of primary cancer, metastatic disease, performance status, chemotherapy, and setting of care.ResultsA total of 1702 patients were analysed. Positive rates of symptoms and ADL disabilities increased with increasing CRP level. In the very high‐CRP group, rates of positivity for anorexia, fatigue, and weight loss were 89.8%, 81.0%, and 79.2%, respectively, and over 70% of patients received assistance for bathing, dressing, going to the toilet, and transfer. The grade of MMT also deteriorated with increasing CRP level. Adjusted ORs for the accumulated symptoms significantly increased with increasing CRP level in the moderate‐CRP, high‐CRP, and very high‐CRP groups [1.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2–2.0), P < 0.001; 2.5 (1.9–3.2), P < 0.001; 3.5 (2.7–4.6), P < 0.001, respectively]. Adjusted ORs for the accumulated ADL disabilities significantly increased in the very high‐CRP groups [2.1 (1.5–2.9), P < 0.001].ConclusionsAssociations between CRP level, symptoms, and ADL were observed in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care.

Abstract— The ideal frame rate for the highest motion‐image quality with respect to blur and jerkiness is presented. In order to determine the requirements for avoiding these impairments, motion images from a high‐speed camera and computer graphics were combined with a high‐speed display to perform a psychophysical evaluation. The camera, operating at 1000 fps, and image processing were used to simulate various frame rates and shutter speeds, and a 480‐Hz CRT display was used to present motion images simulating various frame rates and time characteristics of the display. Subjects were asked to evaluate the difference in quality between motion images at various frame rates. A frame rate of 480 fps was chosen to be an appropriate reference frame rate that, as a first estimation, enables coverage up to the human‐dynamic‐resolution (HDR) limit based on another experiment using real moving charts. The results show that a frame rate of 120 fps provides good improvement compared to that of 60 fps, and that the maximum improvement beyond which evaluation is saturated is found at about 240 fps for representative standard‐resolution natural images.

No abstract

Introduction Although various phrases to communicate prognoses based on a certain concept have been proposed, no study has systematically investigated preferences of patients with cancer for actual phrases. We investigated whether phrases with a wider range and additional “hope for the best, and prepare for the worst” (hope/prepare) statement would be more preferable and explored variables associated with patients’ preferences. Materials and Methods In a cross‐sectional survey, 412 outpatients with cancer self‐assessed their preferences for 13 phrases conveying prognostic information (e.g., phrases with or without median, typical range, and/or best/worst cases, and those with or without a hope/prepare statement) on a 6‐point scale (1 = not at all preferable; 6 = very preferable). We evaluated demographic data and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and conducted multivariate regression analysis. Results Regarding phrases with various ranges, the one including the median, typical range, and best/worst cases was more preferable (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6–3.9) than the one with the median and typical range (3.4 ± 1.2; 3.3–3.6) or the one with only the median (3.2 ± 1.3; 3.1–3.3). Concerning the hope/prepare statement, the phrase including the median, typical range, uncertainty, and hope/prepare statement was more preferable (3.8 ± 1.4; 3.7–3.9) than the one without the statement (3.5 ± 1.2; 3.4–3.6). In multivariate analyses, task‐oriented coping was significantly correlated with preferences for phrases with explicit information. Conclusion Overall, phrases with a wider range and the hope/prepare statement were preferable to those without them. When patients with cancer ask about prognoses, especially those with task‐oriented coping, clinicians may provide explicit information with a wider range and the hope/prepare statement. Implications for Practice Discussing prognoses with patients with advanced cancer is among the most important conversations for clinicians. In this cross‐sectional survey to systematically investigate preferences of 412 patients with cancer for phrases conveying prognostic information, phrases with the median, typical range, and best/worst cases and those with the “hope for the best and prepare for the worst” (hope/prepare) statement were the most preferred. When patients with cancer ask about prognoses, clinicians may provide explicit information with a wider range and include the hope/prepare statement.