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Introduction: Smoking-related diseases are major contributors to disability and shorter life expectancy among opioid-dependent patients. Smoking prevalence is considerably higher for opioid-dependent persons than among the general population, and only a minority quit smoking in treatment settings. Studies show that pharmacological smoking cessation interventions have modest success rates. This study aimed to investigate patients' receiving opioid agonist therapy perspectives on factors affecting behavior and decisions related to smoking cessation, and their experiences with smoking cessation. Methods: This is a qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews. The participants were asked, among others, to elaborate on the participants' thoughts about smoking, previous attempts to quit tobacco use, and what could prompt a smoking cessation attempt. We analyzed the transcripts with systematic text condensation. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were followed. Opioid-dependent patients receiving opioid agonist therapy in outpatient clinics were invited to participate using a purposive sampling method. In total, fourteen individuals participated in this study. Results: We identified six themes which were: (1) reflections on how smoking affected decisions, (2) smoking and its impact on physical and mental health, (3) the economy as a motivator to stop smoking, (4) emotions, desires, and habits related to smoking, (5) knowledge of smoking, smoking cessation, and quit attempts, and (6) social factors influencing the participants' choices and activities. The participants were well informed about the consequences of smoking and had some knowledge and experience in quitting. The participants' pulmonary health was an important motivational factor for change. Withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and fear of using other substances discouraged several from attempting to quit smoking. In contrast, social support from partners and access to meaningful activities were considered important factors for success. Few reported being offered help from health professionals to make a smoking cessation attempt. Discussion: Experiencing social support, being encouraged to quit smoking, and patients' concerns for their physical health were important reasons for wanting to quit smoking. Smoking cessation interventions based on patient preferences and on the behavior change wheel may enable a higher success rate among patients receiving opioid agonist therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to establish a feasible and convenient method for selection of the subset of patients with left-sided breast cancer for whom respiratory-gated radiotherapy (RT) would be necessary to meet the national recommendation regarding radiation dose to the heart. Material and methods. The volume of heart receiving a dose equal to or higher than 25 Gy (V25Gy), the mean heart dose (Dmean) and total lung volume (TLV-CT) were obtained from treatment plans based on computer tomography (CT) series recorded during free breathing (FB), and the correlation between dose to the heart and TLV-CT was studied. Second, the correlation between TLV-CT and TLV defined from three pulmonary function tests (PFTs); spirometry, gas diffusion and plethysmograhy, was evaluated. Results. Dose to the heart (V25Gy and Dmean) decreased with increasing TLV-CT. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) for TLV-CT versus V25Gy and Dmean was equal (r = −0.809, p < 0.01) for patients planned for tangential breast RT only, and r = −0.853 and −0.861 (p < 0.01) for patients planned for loco-regional RT. Regression analysis showed good correlation between TLV-CT and TLV calculated from pulmonary function tests (R2 ≥ 0.717, p < 0.01). Conclusion. TLV defined by routine pulmonary function tests can be used to identify the subset of left-sided breast cancer patients who require respiratory-gated RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Targeted therapy (TT), chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine herbal treatment (TCM) can improve the prognosis of advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients. Their independent prognostic value is unknown. Objective: To study whether TCM improves survival in stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with platinum-based chemotherapy (PBT), or combined PBT and second-line TT. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 133 fully ambulant clinical outpatients treated with PBT alone or PBT with/without second-line TT, with/without TCM. Univariate (Kaplan—Meier) and multivariable (Cox model) survival analysis were performed, using disease-specific mortality as an endpoint. Results: Gender (P = .002), TT (P < .0001), and TCM (P < .0001) had univariate prognostic value but not age, radiotherapy, or TCM syndrome differentiation (P > .10). TCM herbal treatment (P < .0001) and TT (P = .03) had multivariable independent prognostic value. TCM-treated patients (n = 103, PBT+TT+TCM+ = 62; PBT+TT−TCM+ =41) had 88% 1-year overall survival rate with median survival time (MST) of 27 months, contrasting 27% 1-year overall survival and MST of 5.0 months for non-TCM-treated (n = 30) patients. Patients with chemotherapy/TT/TCM (PBT+TT+TCM+, n = 62), TCM without TT (PBT+TT−TCM+, n = 41), or chemotherapy only (PBT+TT−TCM−, n = 30), had 1-year survival rates of 94%, 78%, and 27% respectively; for these 3 groups, respectively, MST was not reached (MST of 30.9 months), 22.6, and 5.0 months (P < .0001). Conclusions: TCM herbal treatment may improve survival of stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients treated with chemotherapy without or with second-line TT. This warrants formal phase 1 and 2 trials and ultimately properly designed prospective clinical validation trials with adequate methodology developed for data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Targeted therapy (TT), chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine herbal treatment (TCM) can improve the prognosis of advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients. Their independent prognostic value is unknown., Objective: To study whether TCM improves survival in stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with platinum-based chemotherapy (PBT), or combined PBT and second-line TT., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 133 fully ambulant clinical outpatients treated with PBT alone or PBT with/without second-line TT, with/without TCM. Univariate (Kaplan-Meier) and multivariable (Cox model) survival analysis were performed, using disease-specific mortality as an endpoint., Results: Gender (P = .002), TT (P < .0001), and TCM (P < .0001) had univariate prognostic value but not age, radiotherapy, or TCM syndrome differentiation (P > .10). TCM herbal treatment (P < .0001) and TT (P = .03) had multivariable independent prognostic value. TCM-treated patients (n = 103, PBT+TT+TCM+ = 62; PBT+TT-TCM+ =41) had 88% 1-year overall survival rate with median survival time (MST) of 27 months, contrasting 27% 1-year overall survival and MST of 5.0 months for non-TCM-treated (n = 30) patients. Patients with chemotherapy/TT/TCM (PBT+TT+TCM+, n = 62), TCM without TT (PBT+TT-TCM+, n = 41), or chemotherapy only (PBT+TT-TCM-, n = 30), had 1-year survival rates of 94%, 78%, and 27% respectively; for these 3 groups, respectively, MST was not reached (MST of 30.9 months), 22.6, and 5.0 months (P < .0001)., Conclusions: TCM herbal treatment may improve survival of stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients treated with chemotherapy without or with second-line TT. This warrants formal phase 1 and 2 trials and ultimately properly designed prospective clinical validation trials with adequate methodology developed for data collection.