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Pancreatic carcinoma incidence showed a significant increase in men over the last few years and the prognosis remains poor. Patients are treated with different pharmacological plans with no evidence about gender-specific adverse effects. We aimed to investigate differences in the incidence of chemotherapy side effects in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, to provide insights toward a personalized assistance based in individual needs. The sample population is composed of 207 patients. Regression model highlighted the predictive role of female gender for alopecia, constipation, hand- foot syndrome, and epigastric pain. Also, considering single therapeutic schemes, gender differences have been reported. Moreover, evaluating the effect of age, a general reduced risk of toxicity has been reported in younger patients. To personalize chemotherapy and increase patient survival rate and life quality during the therapy, gender medicine and pharmacology studies are recommended. Key words: gender differences, adverse effects, drugs toxicity, chemotherapy, pancreatic carcinoma. La frequence du cancer du pancreas chez l'homme a decrit une courbe nettement ascendante au cours des dernieres annees et le pronostic demeure defavorable. Les patients sont traites a l'aide de differents schemas pharmacologiques sans donnees probantes quant aux effets indesirables specifiques a leur sexe. Nous avons vise a etudier les differences entre la frequence des effets indesirables de la chimiotherapie dans le traitement du cancer du pancreas en vue de fournir des elements de reflexion quant a l'aide personnalisee fondee sur des besoins individuels. La population echantillonnee est composee de 207 patients. Le modele de regression a mis en evidence le role predictif du sexe feminin quant a l'alopecie, a la constipation, au syndrome pied-main et aux douleurs epigastriques. Nous avons aussi rapporte des differences entre les sexes selon des schemas therapeutiques individuels. En outre, une evaluation selon l'age a permis de rapporter un decroissement general du risque de toxicite chez les patients jeunes. Nous recommandons de proceder a des etudes medicales et pharmacologiques selon le sexe en vue d'offrir aux patients une chimiotherapie personnalisee et de faire augmenter leur taux de survie de meme que leur qualite de vie pendant le traitement. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : differences entre les sexes, effets indesirables, toxicite medicamenteuse, chimiotherapie, cancer du pancreas., 1. Introduction Recent studies demonstrate gender-specific incidence, progression, and severity of different tumors. Differences in parameters such as body weight, fat distribution, hormonal profile, metabolism, immune response, and genetics were [...]

Simple Summary: Sleep is a fundamental human need. Good-quality sleep has a protective role that allows people to carry out daily activities adequately, ensuring well-being. Prolonged wakefulness causes a wide spectrum of disabilities. This study aims to understand the effects of sleep complaints on health and quality of life for cancer patients, and it has been conducted through the creation of questionnaires for patients to investigate the potential alteration of the sleep pattern. The results obtained may serve as the foundation for designing awareness campaigns, providing information, and updating patients, healthcare personnel, and caregivers. It is definitively important, in fact, to begin an evaluation of the negative effects of sleep complaints in the field of cancer. The model developed can also be replicated in different clinical settings: data adjustment by different parameters (i.e., geographic locations, age, sex, and gender) can be the key to improving the patient's quality of life. Sleep is a fundamental human need; sleep disruption, in fact, causes an increase in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, metabolic effects, changes in circadian rhythms, and pro-inflammatory responses. The scientific literature is finally starting to pay attention to the central role of sleep alterations in patients health. Oxaliplatin is extensively used for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer and other malignancies, with an increased frequency of use in recent years. This study aims to understand the effects of sleep complaints on health and quality of life in cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin. A study has been conducted through the creation and distribution of questionnaires to patients to investigate their complaints about sleep quality. We observed significant differences between males and females in evaluating sleep hygiene scores, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and previous difficulty sleeping. Moreover, in females, stress, worries, and anxiety seem to play a negative role in the sleep hygiene score. The obtained results could improve the interest of healthcare personnel and caregivers in sleep quality in patients undergoing chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) is a central venous catheter suitable for patients who receive chemotherapy in Day Hospital regimen. The patient must be educated to a proper home management of the PICC through targeted education., Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted educational intervention through the comparison of: indi- vidual interview, brochure paper, informative video., Method: Single-centre randomized controlled clinical trial with a simple three-arm comparative scheme. The study population is represented by all patients undergoing the insertion of PICC at the Oncological Day Hospital and Breast Unit in the observation period between October 2013 and February 2014. The Standard educational session is performed by the nurse positioning the PICC. PICC team consists of two nurses in possession of the first level master in venous access management. Following randomization eligible patients were divided in three groups: group A received Standard educational session; group B received the standard information and the brochure; group C received the stan- dard information and the informative video. The level of the achieved knowledge was investigated by administering targeted questionnaires., Results: A total of 40 patients joined the study: a convenience sample represented by people between the ages of 18 and 75 years, in outpatient care. Statistically significant difference in key areas necessary for the proper management of PICC: when to change the dressing (p=0.001), when to wash the catheter (p=0), how to recognize signs and symptoms of infection (p=0.001), identify at-risk behaviors (p=0.005), when carrying out the inspection of the catheter's insertion site (p=0)., Conclusions: The administration of a multimedial educational tool was found to be superior in efficacy compared to the only Standard educational session to increase patient's knowledges. The video appears to be more effective than the brochure. The obtained results are influenced by the small sample size and by the shortness of the follow up timing; this leads to a low generalizability of the conclusions.