INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar prospectivamente os anticorpos anti-HLA após o transplante renal e associar estes achados com episódios de rejeição aguda, marcação por C4d e sobrevida do enxerto. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 926 soros de 111 pacientes no primeiro ano pós-transplante ou até a perda do enxerto. Os anticorpos foram analisados por PRA-ELISA (Panel Reactive Antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay). Anticorpos anti-HLA doador-específicos foram detectados por provas-cruzadas e caracterizados pelo método de microesferas marcadas com antígenos HLA. Episódios de rejeição aguda foram classificados conforme os Critérios de Banff 97, atualizados em 2003. RESULTADOS: Conforme o PRA-ELISA pós-transplante os pacientes foram classificados em 5 Grupos: Grupo A (n=80): sem evidência de anticorpos pré e pós-transplante; Grupo B (n=8): pacientes com anticorpos de novo; Grupo C (n=5): pacientes sensibilizados que permaneceram com mesmo nível de PRA-ELISA; Grupo D (n=4): pacientes sensibilizados que elevaram o nível de PRA-ELISA e Grupo E (n=14): pacientes sensibilizados que diminuíram o nível de PRA-ELISA durante o primeiro ano pós-transplante. A incidência de rejeição aguda foi de 23,4%. Pacientes dos Grupos B, C e D apresentaram mais episódios de rejeição aguda (respectivamente, 57%; 60% e 100%) que os dos Grupos A (18%) e E (7%), (p<0,001). Rejeições ocorridas no Grupo A foram histologicamente menos severas do que as dos outros Grupos (p=0,03) e com menor incidência de C4d+ (p<0,001). Entre os pacientes com rejeição aguda, 44% deles apresentaram anticorpos no momento da rejeição, sendo que em 90% dos casos esses anticorpos foram doadorespecíficos. Rejeição mediada por células, ou seja, sem anticorpos e com C4d-, ocorreu em 56% dos casos. A incidência global de rejeição mediada por anticorpos (RMA) foi de 11%. A sobrevida do enxerto censurada para óbito foi menor em pacientes com rejeição aguda (p<0,001), especialmente naqueles com anticorpos anti-HLA doador-específicos (p<0,001), com C4d+ (p=0,003) e nos casos de RMA (p<0,003). CONCLUSÃO: Nossos dados sugerem que a monitorização dos anticorpos anti-HLA após o transplante renal pode ser útil no diagnóstico das respostas mediadas por anticorpos e tem implicações em termos de sobrevida do enxerto. / INTRODUCTION: The aim was to follow prospectively anti-HLA antibodies (Abs) after kidney transplantation and to evaluate their association with acute rejection episodes, C4d staining and graft survival. METHODS: We analyzed 926 sera from 111 transplanted patients until graft lost or during 1 year posttransplant. The antibodies were analyzed using Panel Reactive Antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (PRA-ELISA). Donor-specific antibodies (DSA) were detected by crossmatch tests and characterized by single antigen beads. Acute rejections (AR) were classified by Banff 97 criteria, updated in 2003. RESULTS: According to post-transplant PRAELISA the patients were classified in 5 groups: Group A (n=80): no evidence of Abs pre and post-transplant; Group B (n=8): patients with Abs de novo; Group C (n=5): sensitized patients who sustained the same PRA-ELISA levels; Group D (n=4): sensitized patients who increased PRA-ELISA levels and Group E (n=14): sensitized patients who decreased PRA-ELISA levels during the first year. The overall incidence of acute rejection was 23,4%. Patients from Groups B, C and D had more AR (respectively, 57%; 60% and 100%) than patients from Groups A (18%) and E (7%), (p<0.001). Patients from Group A had lower Banff scores than other groups (p=0.03) and lower rates of C4d positivity on AR biopsies (p<0.001). Among patients with AR, 44% of them had antibodies which appeared/increased during the AR episodes, and 90% were DSA. AR were pure cell-mediated (C4d-/Abs-) in 56% of the cases. The overall incidence of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) was 11%. One-year censored graft survival was lower in patients with AR (p<0.001), specially in those with DSA (p<0.001), C4d+ (p=0.003), and AMR (p<0.003). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that monitoring of anti- HLA antibodies post-transplantation is an useful tool for the diagnosis of antibody-mediated responses, and has prognostic implications in terms of graft survival.

Introdução: O transplante renal é a terapia substitutiva de escolha para a insuficiência renal crônica. O número absoluto de transplantes renais vem aumentando mundialmente e consequentemente as complicações deste procedimento têm sido evidenciadas com maior recorrência, dentre elas a estenose na artéria renal transplantada. A técnica endovascular vem mostrando bons resultados iniciais, com boa taxa de perviedade e baixa taxa de complicações pósoperatórias quando comparadas a técnica aberta para tratamento da estenose. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os resultados primários da angioplastia da artéria renal do rim transplantado secundário a processo de re-estenose. Métodos: Realizado estudo retrospectivo no período de setembro de 2009 a outubro de 2015, baseado em protocolos de seguimento pós-transplante com perfil dos pacientes submetidos a tratamento por estenose em artéria de rim transplantado e o seguimento em curto prazo com critérios clínicos, laboratoriais e ultrassonográficos. Resultados: Dentre um total de 391 transplantes, 19 pacientes foram diagnosticados com Estenose na Artéria renal transplantada. Evidenciado um tempo médio entre o transplante e o diagnóstico de 172,6 dias. As estenoses ou acotovelamentos com alterações hemodinâmicas foram evidenciadas na anastomose (47%), no terço proximal (35%) e terço médio (18%) da artéria transplantada. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a angioplastia com balão e posicionamento de stent metálico com sucesso técnico de 94,7 %. A creatinina média evoluiu de 3,63 mg/dl para 2,69 mg/dl em 24h e para 1,81 mg/dl em 30 dias (p<0.05). A taxa de filtração glomerular melhorou de 32,66 ml/min para 41,61 ml/min após 24 horas e 51,05 ml/min após 30 dias (p<0.05). Os critérios ultrassonográficos avaliados de velocidade da artéria renal e índice reno-iliaco (368,9 cm/seg e 3,71 pré angioplastia) normalizaram e se estabilizaram durante o período estudado (211,45 cm/seg e 1,69 90 dias pós angioplastia; p<0.05). Conclusão: A abordagem endovascular utilizando de angioplastia primária e colocação de stent metálico foi segura com boa uma taxa de sucesso técnico. O procedimento foi efetivo na melhora da função renal do enxerto transplantado e na correção das alterações ultrassonográficas evidenciadas no pré-operatório. / Introduction: Renal transplantation is the substitutive therapy of choice for chronic renal failure. The absolute number of renal transplants has increased worldwide and consequently the complications of this procedure have been evidenced with greater recurrence, among them stenosis in the transplanted renal artery. The endovascular technique has shown good initial results, with good patency rate and low rate of postoperative complications when compared to the open technique for stenosis treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the primary results of ATP from the renal artery of the transplanted kidney secondary to the restenosis process. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out from September 2009 to October 2015, based on post-transplant follow-up protocols with a profile of patients submitted to stenosis in a transplanted kidney artery and a short-term follow-up with clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographics criteria. Results: Out of a total of 391 transplants, 19 patients were diagnosed with transplanted renal artery stenosis. An average time between transplantation and the diagnosis of 172.6 days was evidenced. Stenting or flexing with hemodynamic changes were evident in the anastomosis (47%), in the proximal third (35%) and the middle third (18%) of the transplanted artery. All patients underwent balloon angioplasty and metallic stent placement with technical success of 94.7%. Mean creatinine increased from 3.63 mg / dL to 2.69 mg / dL in 24 hours and to 1.81 mg / dL in 30 days (p <0.05). The glomerular filtration rate improved from 32.66 ml / min to 41.61 ml / min after 24 hours and 51.05 ml / min after 30 days (p <0.05). The ultrasound criteria evaluated for renal artery velocity and reno-iliac index (368.9 cm / sec and 3.71 pre angioplasty) normalized and stabilized during the study period (211.45 cm / sec and 1.69 Angioplasty, p <0.05). Conclusion: The endovascular approach using primary angioplasty and stent placement was safe with good technical success rate. The procedure was effective in improving the renal function of the transplanted graft and in correcting the ultrasound changes evidenced in the preoperative period.

Despite the relatively large number of parents with cancer, relatively little is known about the extent to which having cancer affects the parenting experience. Qualitative studies have identified issues and concerns that create distress among parents with cancer, but quantitative studies have yet to be conducted. Studies demonstrate that parents with cancer experience psychological distress, and that parenting self-efficacy is related to psychological distress among parents without cancer. However, no study to date has examined the relationships between parenting self-efficacy and psychological distress among parents with cancer. This study sought to address these gaps in the literature by comparing parents with cancer to parents without cancer on measures of parenting self-efficacy and psychological distress. It was hypothesized that cancer patients would report lower parenting self-efficacy and higher levels of psychological distress than parents without cancer. This study also sought to explore whether parenting or general self-efficacy mediated the relationship between cancer status and psychological distress. A sample of 57 patients who had been diagnosed with cancer and undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and a control group of 57 parents with no history of cancer were recruited for participation in the study. Patients were recruited during routine outpatient visits or by mail, and controls were recruited using community outreach. Medical record reviews were conducted to assess clinical variables, and participants filled out a standard demographic questionnaire as well as self-report measures of parenting self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and psychological distress. As hypothesized, results demonstrated that parents with cancer reported less parenting self-efficacy, and more psychological distress than controls (all p-values < .05). Furthermore, findings indicated that both parenting self-efficacy and general self-efficacy mediated the relationship between cancer status and psychological distress. This study fills several gaps in the quantitative literature on parenting with cancer, and suggests that both parenting and general self-efficacy are possible targets for interventions seeking to lessen distress among parents with cancer. Future research should use matched case-control designs to examine longitudinal relationships between parenting self-efficacy and psychological distress, and empirically evaluate interventions aimed at improving parenting and general self-efficacy.

The transplantation of bone marrow - more generally said of hematopoietic cells - is in the present time one of the modern therapeutical methods used in cases of malfunction of haematogenesis inside of the bone. The ususal reason for going through with transplantation is leukemia, lymphomas, also anemia, congenital metabolic disorders, autoimmune disorders or some of the solid tumors. Thanks to the transplantation of hematopoietic cells, it is possible to highten the chance of restoration in more than 50 % of patients suffering from oncological disease. The submitted thesis is processed in theoretical form, it is goal is to present the important points leading to progress of this presently very much used treatment and also thorough descripton of present trends in the area of transplantation of hematopoietic cells, that are almost identical in local transplatation centers as they are in the world. Another goal is to describe the role of a general nurse during providing of the care for a patient before and after transplantation of hematopoietic cells. The thesis is focused on the key areas of the issues of transplatation of hematopoietic cells and it is divided into several parts. The first part deals with the general description of the topic, it presents short introduction into the transplantation of hematopoietic cells, the basic division, historical and current indications and short preamble into todays trends. It describes closely the area of the registry of the bone marrow donors, which is the basics for the choosing of the suitable unrelated donor. The second part of the thesis deals with the desciption of historical progress since the very beginnings, through the progress during postwar period, the development of 70s and 80s of the previous century and also the 90s of the 20th century up until the present day. The third part is focused on current methods of collection of hematopoietic cells and following transplatation, it also describes closely the ways of donating hematopoietic cells, the preparation of the patient for transplantation, the course of transplantation and what should the patient prepare for during the early posttransplantation period. The fourth part is focused on nursing, it states thoroughly the role of a nurse in the nursing care before and after transplantation of hematopoietic cells, the principles a nurse has to abide by, and it also closely describes the role of a nurse during transplant application. It also describes dietary and important regimen measures the patient is set to follow after transplantation. The last part is focused especially on complications that are possible after hemopoetic cells transplantation. The necessary data have been obtained through thorough study of professional Czech and foreign monoghraphs and scientific periodicals. The acquisition of the data was significantly contributed to by the attended internsip in Internal hematological and oncological clinic of the Faculty hospital Brno Bohunice. The findings regarding nursing were obtained especially by the study of nursing standards. This thesis points out the important role of transplatation of hemopoetic cells as a method of treatment predominantly of hemooncological illnesses in current medicine and the most important roles of a nurse during the nursing of transplantation patients. The thesis provides a comperehensive overview on the issue of transplants of the hematopoietic cells and describes key areas that are considered as important. It focuses on the historical progress and the desciption of present trends thanks to which the transplantology can be considered as a highly professional and top field. It also highlights the main roles of a nurse during nursing that must be proffesional, qualified, meticulous, considerate and individualized. The results of the survey are supposed to provide the professional and amateur public enough information about the issue of transplantation of the hematopoietic cells.

Das Verfahren der Hochdosischemotherapie mit nachfolgender autologer Stammzelltransplantation ist eine etablierte, gut untersuchte Therapieoption in der Behandlung hämatoonkologischer Erkrankungen. Die sich dabei entwickelnde Thrombozytopenie stellt einen der therapielimitierenden Faktoren dar, wobei sich hier große interindividuelle Unterschiede zeigen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, mögliche Einflussfaktoren auf die Regeneration der Thrombozytenzahlen nach Hochdosistherapie und autologer Transplantation zu untersuchen. Hierzu erfolgte eine retrospektive Untersuchung von 110 Patientendaten, die von 1994 bis 2003 an der Medizinischen Klinik und Poliklinik II des Universitätsklinikums behandelt wurden. Die Thrombozytenzahlen wurden vier Wochen, drei Monate und sechs Monate nach Transplantation dokumentiert, außerdem wurde die Dauer in Tagen bis zu dem Erreichen der beiden Thrombozytenschwellenwerte 10.000/µl und 20.000/µl untersucht. An potentiellen Einflussfaktoren gingen das Alter zum Zeitpunkt der Transplantation, der body mass index zum Zeitpunkt der Transplantation, das Geschlecht, das Vorhandensein einer vorausgegangenen Ganzkörperbestrahlung, das Vorhandensein einer Antibiotikagabe aufgrund einer transplantationsassoziierten Infektion, die Aplasiedauer, die Anzahl der transfundierten CD34+-Zellen, die Anzahl der transfundierten colony forming units (CFUs), die Anzahl der transfundierten blood forming units (BFUs), das Vorliegen eines Rezidivs und der Thrombozytenausgangswert vor Hochdosistherapie in die Analyse ein. An statistischen Testverfahren wurde der Mann-Whitney-U-Test, der Kruskal-Wallis-Test und der Korrelationskoeffizient nach Spearman verwendet, bei nachgewiesenem potentiellen Zusammenhang erfolgte eine Quantifizierung mittels multipler Regressionsanalysen. Anhand der beiden nichtparametrischen Testverfahren und der Bestimmung des Korrelationskoeffizienten nach Spearman konnte gezeigt werden, dass für die Parameter „Ausgangswert der Thrombozyten vor Hochdosistherapie“, „Dauer der Aplasie“ und „Vorliegen einer Ganzkörperbestrahlung“ ein systematischer Zusammenhang zu den Thrombozytenwerten nach vier Wochen, drei Monaten bzw. sechs Monaten vorliegt. An den beiden Schwellenwerten „Dauer bis Thrombozytenzahl 10.000/µl“ und „Dauer bis Thrombozytenzahl 20.000/µl“ galt das für die Variablen „Dauer der Aplasie“, „Vorhandensein einer Antibiotikatherapie“ und „Geschlecht“. Für die restlichen Parameter konnte keine signifikante Korrelation zu den Thrombozytenzahlen gezeigt werden, was insbesondere für Anzahl der transfundierten CD34+-Zellen, CFUs bzw. BFUs überraschte und anhand klinischer Vorüberlegungen nicht zu erwarten war. Mit Hilfe der oben genannten Parameter, für die ein nichtzufälliger Zusammenhang zu den Thrombozytenzahlen gezeigt werden konnte, erfolgten zu den drei Messpunkten und den zwei Schwellenwerten separate multiple Regressionsanalysen. Im Ergebnis konnten fünf Gleichungen formuliert werden, die, nach Einsetzen der Prädiktoren „Dauer der Aplasie“, „Thrombozytenausgangswert vor Transplantation“ und „Geschlecht“ eine Prognose der Thrombozytenzahlen zu den entsprechenden Zeitpunkten und Zielwerten ermöglichen. Ein möglicher klinischer Einsatz dieser Ergebnisse wäre die Identifikation von Risiko- und Hochrisikogruppen im Vorfeld einer Hochdosischemotherapie und autologer Stammzelltransplantation anhand prognostizierter Thrombozytenwerte. Dies würde ein angepasstes therapeutisches und diagnostisches Vorgehen ermöglichen, wodurch die Sicherheit des Verfahrens und der Krankheitsverlauf verbessert werden könnten. / The protocol of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation is an approved and established option in the treatment of haematological malignancies. The developing thrombocytopenia is one of the limiting factors of this therapy, but there are large interindividual differences. The purpose of this study was to identify possible factors of influence for the recovery of the platelet count after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. In order to do this we did a retrospective study that analyses the data of 110 patients, who were treated by the department of medical clinic II of the University Hospital in Würzburg in the years 1994 to 2003. The platelet counts were documented four weeks, three months and six months after the autologous transplantation. Furthermore the duration of time taken for the platelet count of 10.000/µl and 20.000/µl was reviewed. The following parameters were used as potential predictors: age at the time of transplantation, body mass index at the time of transplantation, gender, previous total body irradiation, antibiotics given because of transplantation-associated infections, duration of aplasia, number of transfused CD34+-cells, number of transfused colony forming units (CFUs), number of transfused blood forming units (BFUs), relapse, and the platelet count before high-dose therapy. For the statistical evaluation the Mann-Whitney-U-Test, the Kruskal-Wallis-Test and Spearman´s rank correlation coefficient were used. The quantification of proved correlation was done by multiple regression analyses. The results of the two nonparametric tests and Spearman´s correlation coefficient showed that there was a systematic correlation for the parameters “platelet count before high-dose therapy”, “duration of aplasia” and “previous total body irradiation” to the platelet count after four weeks, three months and six months. There were also significant correlations to the two thresholds “duration until platelet count 10.000/µl” and “duration until platelet count 20.000/µl” for the variables “duration of aplasia”, “antibiotics because of associated infections” and “gender”. The remaining parameters were tested negative. This was surprising under clinical considerations, especially for the numbers of transfused CD34+-cells, CFUs and BFUs. The above mentioned significant, non-random parameters were used for the multiple regression analyses, one analysis for each of the three measurement points and the two thresholds. In the result there were five equations, which allow you to predict the platelet counts at the measurement points and thresholds. You only have to know and insert the duration of aplasia, the gender and the platelet count before high-dose therapy. A possible clinical application of predicted platelet counts could be the identification of risk and high risk groups before the application of high-dose therapy with autologous transplantation. Adjusted therapeutic and diagnostic procedures could improve the safety of the protocol with a possible positive effect on the course of the disease.

O transplante autólogo de células-tronco hematopoéticas (TACTH) é efetivo para o tratamento da esclerose sistêmica (ES), com controle do acometimento pulmonar, e melhora da fibrose cutânea, da qualidade de vida e aumento da sobrevida global, quando comparado a pacientes não transplantados. Neste tratamento, utiliza-se ciclofosfamida em altas doses, uma droga imunossupressora associada a cardiotoxicidade, potencialmente fatal. A avaliação de potenciais fatores de risco e monitorização clínica durante o procedimento podem contribuir para identificar precocemente a lesão cardíaca aguda e, assim, melhorar o desfecho clínico do paciente. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a ocorrência de disfunções cardíacas e avaliar os fatores de risco clínicos e laboratoriais para o desenvolvimento de toxicidade cardíaca aguda induzida pela ciclofosfamida, em pacientes com ES submetidos ao TACTH. Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal e prospectivo, conduzido no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, em pacientes com ES com idade superior a 18 anos, no período de novembro de 2016 a maio de 2018, aprovado por Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Os pacientes foram avaliados quanto aos dados clínicos e laboratoriais, incluindo dosagem de peptídeo natriurético, no período pré, durante e 6 meses após o transplante. Foram incluídas 16 mulheres com ES, das quais uma optou por descontinuar a participação no estudo, tendo seus dados excluídos. Nenhum dos participantes apresentava história de uso de substâncias psicoativas ou diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus. Uma paciente era tabagista passiva e uma era tabagista ativa há 24 anos, abstinente desde há três meses antes do início do transplante. Duas pacientes eram hipertensas, controladas com medicamentos anti-hipertensivos. Durante o transplante, 7 (46,7%) pacientes apresentaram alterações cardíacas associadas à ciclofosfamida. As pacientes apresentaram taquicardia, ganho ponderal, aumento de pressão venosa central e dispneia iniciados em menos de 24 horas e até 4 dias após o término da infusão da dose total de ciclofosfamida (200mg/kg) do transplante. Em três, de cinco pacientes submetidas a ecocardiografia, foram detectadas alterações sugestivas de disfunção cardíaca, corroborando os achados clínicos. Uma paciente evoluiu com choque refratário e posterior óbito por falência múltipla de órgãos. Uma paciente necessitou de pericardiocentese de alívio e, nos demais, o manejo com medicações reverteu as alterações clínicas. A dosagem dos níveis séricos de peptídeo natriurético mostrouse mais elevada (p<0,0005) nos pacientes que apresentaram sinais de toxicidade cardíaca. Concluímos que as avaliações clínicas sistematizadas por equipe de enfermagem permitiram a detecção de disfunções cardíacas pós-infusão de altas doses de ciclofosfamida, quadros retrospectivamente comprovados por elevação dos níveis sérico de peptídeo natriurético. O número reduzido de participantes não permitiu fazer análises estatísticas preditoras de cardiotoxicidade e foi uma limitação do estudo. Futuramente, objetivamos aumentar o número de pacientes do estudo e identificar marcadores preditivos de toxicidade cardíaca antes e durante o transplante / Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is effective for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with stabilization of pulmonary involvement and improvement of cutaneous fibrosis, quality of life and overall survival, when compared to non-transplanted patients. Transplant includes high dose cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressive drug associated with potentially fatal cardiotoxicity. The evaluation of potential risk factors and clinical monitoring during the procedure may contribute to early identification of acute cardiac injury and thus improve the patient\'s clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to detect cardiac dysfunctions and to evaluate clinical and laboratory risk factors for the development of acute cardiac toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in SSc patients submitted to AHSCT. This is a longitudinal and prospective study, conducted in the University Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School (Brazil), in patients with SSc, older than 18 years of age, from November 2016 to May 2018. The protocol has been approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee and all patients signed informed consent. Patients were evaluated for clinical and laboratory data, including natriuretic peptide dosage before, during and at the 6 months post-transplant time point Sixteen women with SSc were included, one of whom chose to discontinue participation in the study, having their data excluded. None of the participants had a history of psychoactive substance abuse or a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. One patient was a passive smoker and another, an active smoker for 24 years, not smoking in the three months before transplantation. Two patients had their blood pressure controlled with antihypertensive drugs. During transplantation, 7 (46.7%) patients had cardiac changes associated with cyclophosphamide. The patients presented tachycardia, weight gain, increased central venous pressure and dyspnoea initiated in less than 24 hours and up to 4 days after the end of the infusion of the total cyclophosphamide dose (200mg / kg) of the transplant. In three of five patients investigated by echocardiography, alterations suggestive of cardiac dysfunction were detected, corroborating the clinical findings of cardiac dysfunction. One patient evolved with refractory shock and subsequent death due to multiple organ failure. One patient required pericardiocentesis due to cardiac tamponade and, in the others, management with medications reversed the clinical alterations. Serum natriuretic peptide levels were higher (p<0,0005) in the patients with than in the patients without any signs of cardiac toxicity. Clinical evaluations by the nursing staff allowed the detection of cardiac dysfunctions after infusion of high dose cyclophosphamide, retrospectively confirmed by elevation of serum levels of natriuretic peptide. The reduced number of participants did not allow for statistical analyzes to predict cardiotoxicity and was a limitation of the study. In the future, we aim to increase the number of patients in the study and to identify predictive markers of cardiotoxicity before and during transplant procedure

Master of Science / Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complicated and high-risk procedure used to cure disease or stop the spread of disease in a range of cancers. HSCT carries a high incidence of mortality and is associated with distressing short and long-term side effects. In addition, patients remain at risk of recurrence or mortality years after transplantation. Therefore, patients undergoing HSCT have been found to experience significant emotional and psychosocial distress because of the trauma associated with treatment. The literature suggests that about 50% of HSCT patients will experience clinical levels of distress. Carers and family members play an important role in caring for these ill patients in the short and long-term. Major role changes and financial stressors are experienced in many families, adding to the burden of care. However, very little is known about the rates of psychopathology in carers of HSCT patients. Due to the arduous nature of HSCT, psycho-educational programmes have been developed by major transplant centres and hospitals in order to provide HSCT patients and their families with information on the treatment process, side effects, risks, and long-term outcomes. Research on patient education in oncology has shown that providing patients and carers with information about their illness and treatment reduces anxiety and distress. To date, there have been no empirical evaluations to support the use of education programmes for HSCT patients. While it could be assumed that information would be helpful in reducing anxiety and depression in HSCT as it is in oncology generally, the information provided to these patients is usually more confronting and therefore, may be less reassuring. Thus, it is not known whether providing patients with education about HSCT reduces patient and carer distress or whether it might actually increase adverse outcomes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the rates and correlates of distress in carers and patients and examine the effect of a psychoeducation programme for patients undergoing HSCT and their carers on knowledge, distress, information satisfaction, social support and caregiver burden. A randomised control trial was conducted to provide empirical data in relation to the latter aim. The following hypotheses were proposed. Firstly, it was hypothesised that patients and carers who received the education programme would have higher levels of knowledge, not evidenced in a group waiting to receive the programme. Secondly, it was hypothesised that the education program would not lead to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms. Thirdly, patients who know more about their condition would be the least distressed. As predicted, this study found high levels of distress, particularly in carers. Higher patient distress was related to having more concern about one’s illness and experiencing more symptoms. Education was effective in increasing patient and carer knowledge. Importantly there were no adverse effects of knowledge and greater patient knowledge following the education program was associated with less distress, although there was no direct effect of education on distress. Future research should aim to identify what aspects of the education program are helpful to patients. Finally, support interventions such as CBT are needed to help patients and carers, in particular, cope with the high levels of distress inherent in the HSCT experience.

A practical consideration in the development of cellular therapy technology for the inner ear is the development of an in vitro model for assessing the optimal conditions for successful application of cells. The first part of this thesis describes the adaptation of the cochleovestibular structure harvested from P1 mouse pups for analysis of factors critical for the optimal implantation of stem cells in the inner ear. Results of these studies establish that the c17.2 neural stem cell line can be introduced into the cochleovestibular structure in vitro. Using this model, c17.2 cells demonstrated survival predominantly within the vestibule and basal spiral ganglion regions. Furthermore, the addition of the ototoxin, cisplatin and the neurotrophin, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Growth Factor (BDNF) enhanced the survival and migration/dispersion of c17.2 cells within the cochleovestibular explant. The second part of this thesis examines the hypothesis that olfactory neurosphere (ONS) and progenitor cells harvested from the olfactory epithelium represent a viable source of graft material for potential therapeutic applications in the inner ear. Olfactory epithelium represents a unique source of pluripotent cells that may serve as either homografts or autografts. The feasibility of ONSs to survive and integrate into a mammalian cochlea in vivo was assessed. The ONSs were isolated as a crude fraction from the olfactory epithelium of P1 to P3 day old swiss webster mouse pups, ubiquitously expressing the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) marker. The ONSs were microinjected into the cochleae of adult CD1 male mice. Four weeks following their implantation, ONS cells expressing the GFP marker and stained by Nestin were identified in all areas of the cochlea and vestibule, including the spiral ganglion. Robust survival and growth of the implanted ONS and ONS derived cells in the cochlea also included the development of ???tumor-like??? clusters, a phenomenon not observed in control animals implanted with c17.2 neural stem cells. Collectively, the results of this thesis illustrate the potential of olfactory neurosphere and progenitor cells to survive in the inner ear and expose a potential harmful effect of their transplantation.

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Abstract not available