| Title |
A cross-sectional study of carnitine deficiency and fatigue in pediatric cancer patients
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Child's Nervous System, January 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00381-015-2983-0 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Jin-Shei Lai, Tracy Haertling, Joanna Weinstein, Alfred W. Rademaker, Stewart Goldman |
| Abstract |
Carnitine deficiency has been found in cancer patients and has been associated with fatigue. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of carnitine deficiency in pediatric cancer patients and its relationship with fatigue and other potential contributing factors. Children with cancer or Langerhans cell histiocytosis who were receiving treatment or had completed therapy were eligible. Patients completed the Pediatric Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness-Fatigue, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, a numeric fatigue rating, and had carnitine levels obtained. Carnitine deficiency was defined as a total and/or free carnitine level less than normal for age or an acylcarnitine value higher than normal for age. Data from 142 children aged 8-17 were analyzed. Twenty-eight of 142 (19.7 %) had decreased total and 42.8 % (12/28) had decreased free carnitine levels. No patients had elevated acylcarnitine levels or elevated ratios. Patients with versus without carnitine deficiency differed by age (p = 0.043), treatment (p = 0.037), duration since last chemotherapy (p = 0.020), and body mass index (p = 0.010), but not fatigue, when all data were analyzed together. Yet, a negative relationship between fatigue and carnitine levels was found on a subgroup (off-therapy; fatigue worse than the norm). No significant association between fatigue and carnitine level was demonstrated when data from all patients were analyzed together; however, a significant yet unexpected relationship was found for patients who completed therapy and reported elevated fatigue. Given the small sample size, these results should be interpreted with caution. Future studies to explore impact upon excessive carnitine levels are warranted. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 3 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1 | 33% |
| Unknown | 2 | 67% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 2 | 67% |
| Scientists | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 28 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1 | 4% |
| Unknown | 27 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Master | 7 | 25% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 3 | 11% |
| Student > Bachelor | 3 | 11% |
| Lecturer | 2 | 7% |
| Student > Postgraduate | 2 | 7% |
| Other | 5 | 18% |
| Unknown | 6 | 21% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing and Health Professions | 8 | 29% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 5 | 18% |
| Psychology | 3 | 11% |
| Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 2 | 7% |
| Sports and Recreations | 2 | 7% |
| Other | 2 | 7% |
| Unknown | 6 | 21% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 15 April 2016.
All research outputs
#14,832,901
of 22,842,950 outputs
Outputs from Child's Nervous System
#878
of 2,755 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#221,086
of 396,750 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Child's Nervous System
#10
of 60 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 22,842,950 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 32nd percentile – i.e., 32% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,755 research outputs from this source. They receive a mean Attention Score of 1.9. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 63% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 60 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done well, scoring higher than 80% of its contemporaries.