Purpose: The effectiveness of continuous intravenous infusion of fentanyl for pain due to stomatitis, pharyngitis, and esophagitis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was investigated. Methods: Subjects included 15 HSCT patients with pain due to mucosal damage. Continuous intravenous infusion of fentanyl was commenced at a dose of 12.5 μg/hour. Pain was controlled through an increase or decrease in volume as needed. Grade of oral mucosal damage, pain scale, and QOL index such as the number of tooth brushing or gargles were measured at the start of administration of fentanyl and at the time of maximum dosage. Results: The median time to start of fentanyl administration was day 7 after transplantation. The median duration of administration was 12 days. The median maximum dosage of fentanyl was 980 (range, 243.8∼3,010) μg/day, and it was reached at a median of day 5 after administration of fentanyl was started. Compared to that observed at the start of fentanyl administration, the grade of oral mucosal damage was significantly increased at the time of maximum administration. However, pain scale was significantly decreased and QOL index was maintained. Conclusion: Continuous intravenous infusion of fentanyl suppressed the increase of pain when mucosal damage increased, maintained QOL, and possibly contributed to selfcare. Palliat Care Res 2011; 6(2):246-252

Purpose and Methods: Based on the medical records of 56 cases of death from hematologic malignancy, we investigated who decided end-of-life care in the terminal phase and at the end of life, what factor discourages patients from making self-decisions and whether an advance directive about end-of-life care is present. We then extracted the story of the family in decision-making for end-of-life care. Results: In 45 cases, the patient decided end-of-life care at the terminal phase. In 11 cases, the family made the decision on behalf of the patient. In the terminal phase, the factor that most discouraged patients from making a self-decision was dementia, but at the end of life the factor was symptomatic worsening in all cases. In 49 cases, the family decided end-of-life care at the end of life on behalf of the patient. Regarding end-of-life care policy, 49 cases hoped for "do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR)" and 7 cases hoped for life-support treatment. Advance directives were confirmed in 7 cases. Mental conflict about end-of-life care policy was perceived from the family's story. Despite small number of cases, it was suggested that an advance directive reduced psychological burden on the family. Conclusion: It is difficult for the patient to make self-decisions about end-of-care life at the end of life as compared to end-of-care life in the terminal phase. Further studies are required to assess the efficacy of an advance directive.

Background/Aims: Recent studies indicate that probiotics, which have attracted attention as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, affect intestinal homeostasis. In this study, we investigated whether Zygosaccharomyces sapae (strain I-6), a probiotic yeast isolated from miso (a traditional Japanese fermented food), could improve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS). The number of defecations during WAS and the visceral hypersensitivity before and after WAS were evaluated using colorectal distension. Tight junction changes were assessed by Western blotting. Some rats were fed with strain I-6 or β-glucan from strain I-6. Changes in the intestinal microbiota were analyzed.The effect of fecal microbiota transplantation after WAS was evaluated similarly. Caco-2 cells were stimulated with interleukin-1β and tight junction changes were investigated after coculture with strain I-6. Results: The increased number of stool pellets and visceral hypersensitivity induced by WAS were suppressed by administering strain I-6. The decrease in tight junction protein occludin by WAS was reversed by the administration of strain I-6. β-Glucan from strain I-6 also suppressed those changes induced by WAS. In the rat intestinal microbiota, treatment with strain I-6 altered the β-diversity and induced changes in bacterial occupancy. Upon fecal microbiota transplantation, some symptoms caused by WAS were ameliorated. Conclusions These results suggest that traditional fermented foods such as miso in Japan are valuable sources of probiotic yeast candidates, which may be useful for preventing and treating stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity.