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Experimental methods
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| Inclusion of suitable controls (non-chemotherapy cancer patients with similar demographics). |
To account for cytokine levels and cognitive impairment in cancer patients without chemotherapy. |
Did the study include controls who do not require chemotherapy, and who had the identical type of cancer and demographics as the sample population? |
| Account for co-morbidities |
To account for changes in cytokine levels and cognitive impairment as a result of chemotherapy, rather than other factors. |
Did the study account for non-cancer disease states? |
| (anemia, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, dementia, traumatic brain injury, etc.). |
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| Account for other forms of treatment than chemotherapy. |
To account for changes in cytokine levels and cognitive impairment as a result of chemotherapy, rather than other forms of treatment. |
Did the study account for patients who were receiving other forms of therapy that may affect cytokine levels and cognitive impairment? |
| (hormonal therapy, cytokine therapy, radiation, antidepressants, etc.). |
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Chemotherapy information
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| Inclusion of specific chemotherapeutic agents or regimens for assessment. |
To understand the pharmacological effects of cytokine-induced cognitive impairment. |
Did the study provide clear data regarding the type of chemotherapeutic drugs/regimen involved, the duration, cycles, doses, dose intensity and route of administration of the chemotherapy treatment? |
| Inclusion of specific dose intensity, route of administration and duration of chemotherapeutic treatment. |
To understand whether there is a correlation between route of administration/strength and duration of dosing with cytokine levels and cognitive impairment. |
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Cytokine measurement
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| Inclusion of both pre-chemotherapy baseline and post-chemotherapy assessments at appropriate intervals. |
To account for changes in cytokine levels as a result of chemotherapy by comparing baseline measurement with post-chemotherapy measurement. |
Were measurements carried out before and after patients received chemotherapy/surgery? |
| If applicable, inclusion of pre-surgical baseline and post-surgical assessments at appropriate intervals. |
To account for changes in cytokine levels as a result of tumor progression/tumor load by comparing pre-surgical measurement with post-surgical measurement. |
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| Inclusion of specific cytokines involved in the study. |
To identify the specific cytokine and its effects on cognitive impairment. |
Did the study specify the types of cytokines to be tested for? |
| Accounting for accuracy of testing. |
To minimize discrepancies in results due to the handling and processing of samples. |
Did the study utilize published procedures for the testing of cytokine levels? |
| Inclusion of standardized timing across the samples for extraction of blood samples. |
Different timings of extraction may result in different levels of cytokines. |
Did the study indicate a specific time for the extraction of cytokines from the sample and control population? |
