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Background: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been shown to reduce psychological distress in cancer patients but not their partners. Whether MBSR can support patients and partners in coping with the dying and grieving process is less well examined. Aim: We aimed to gain more insight in the role of mindfulness in the dying and grieving process from the perspective of the partner after the patient's death. Design: As part of a pilot study or subsequent randomized controlled trial, partners had participated together with the patient in MBSR. After the patient's death partners were invited for qualitative in-depth interviews. Data from the interviews was analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Setting/participants: Interviews were conducted with 11 partners in their homes, on average 11 months after the patient's death (SD = 7.8). Results: Mindfulness helped couples to allow and regulate difficult thoughts and feelings, which in turn helped them to accept the patient's impending death. It also facilitated them to enjoy things together and communicate more openly. For a few couples, however, participation was physically too burdensome or emotionally too confrontational. During the partners' grieving process, mindfulness helped allowing difficult thoughts and feelings, and taking the time to grieve, which helped them to take good care of themselves, giving them faith in the future. Conclusion: The present study showed that MBSR can facilitate lung cancer patients and their partners in accepting the forthcoming death and openly communicating about this, which can support a peaceful death and healthy grieving process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

18 F-FDG PET/CT is potentially applicable to predict response to chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: In 25 patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC, 18 F-FDG PET/CT was performed before treatment and after 2 wk, at the end of the second week of first cycle carboplatin-paclitaxel and bevacizumab (CPB) treatment. Patients received up to a total of 4 cycles of CPB treatment. Maintenance treatment with bevacizumab monotherapy was continued until progressive disease without significant treatment-related toxicities of first-line treatment. In the case of progressive disease, bevacizumab was combined with erlotinib. SUV corrected for lean body mass (SUL and SUL peak ) were obtained. PERCIST were used for response evaluation. These semiquantitative parameters were correlated with progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). Results: Metabolic response, defined by a significant reduction in SUL peak of 30% or more after 2 wk of CPB, was predictive of progression-free survival and OS. For partial metabolic responders ( n = 19), the median OS was 22.8 mo. One-year and 2-y OS were 79% and 47%, respectively. Nonmetabolic responders ( n = 6) (stable metabolic disease or progressive disease) showed a median OS of 4.4 mo (1-y and 2-y OS was 33% and 0%, respectively) ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: 18 F-FDG PET/CT after 1 treatment cycle is predictive of outcome to first-line chemotherapy with bevacizumab in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. This enables identification of patients at risk of treatment failure, permitting treatment alternatives such as early switch to a different therapy., (© 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Background: Nifedipine is used as a first choice tocolytic agent in many Dutch hospitals, but its use is discouraged in multiple gestations. Atosiban, a selective oxytocin receptor antagonist that rarely causes systemic side effects, is used as an alternative., Case Description: A 32-year-old primigravida with spontaneous triplet pregnancy was admitted at 33 3/7 weeks for threatened preterm labour. For tocolysis, atosiban was administered for 48 hours together with betamethasone for foetal lung maturation. One day after treatment with atosiban she developed dyspnoea caused by pulmonary oedema. After a caesarean section and furosemide treatment the pulmonary oedema resolved. Analysis showed that atosiban was a likely cause of the pulmonary oedema., Conclusion: Every patient with multiple gestation is at increased risk of pulmonary oedema. Any tocolytic agent may elicit that response, even the relatively safe atosiban.

Introduction: Lung cancer was a major epidemic in the last decades; 10 to 15% of lung cancer consists of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Several changes in the diagnostic and treatment procedures took place during the last 20 years. This article focuses on trends in incidence, treatment, and survival of SCLC observed since the 1990 s., Methods: All cases with SCLC diagnosed in 1989 to 2009 in the Netherlands were included (n = 34,100). Follow-up was complete until January 1, 2010., Results: The proportion of patients with extensive disease increased from 47 to 63%. The proportion of patients with limited disease receiving chemoradiation increased from 22% in 1989 to 2003 to 72% in 2004 to 2009 among those younger than 45 to 59 years, from 15 to 58% among those aged 60 to 74 years, and from 7 to 27% among those 75 years or older. Among patients with extensive disease, the proportion receiving chemotherapy remained stable over time (84, 75, and almost 50% for the above mentioned age groups, respectively). Significant improvements in 1-year relative survival occurred for patients aged 45 to 59 years, but not for the other age groups. Relative survival has significantly increased for both stage groups., Conclusion: Improved staging resulted in improved survival for both stage groups, whereas survival of the total group has only significantly improved for patients aged 45 to 59 years. The latter is possibly related with improved treatment strategies. As survival is still very poor, prevention of lung cancer remains important.