Trude Balstad

Mar 29, 2024 | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Marianne J. Hjermstad |Gunnhild Jakobsen |Trude Balstad |Leo Brown

Introduction Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome defined by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass (with or without loss of fat mass), that cannot be fully reversed by conventional nutritional support and leads to progressive functional impairment.1 Cachexia in patients with cancer is very common,2 with a complex pathophysiology and multifaceted impact on patients.

Feb 11, 2024 | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Trude Balstad |Christine Greil |Ola Magne Vagnildhaug |Inger Ottestad

Introduction Loss of appetite is a critical phenotypic feature of cancer cachexia and, combined with reduced dietary intake, drives weight loss.1 The underlying biology of this is complex and attributable to disturbances of homeostatic mechanisms involved in the regulation of energy balance.2 The hypothalamus is the key regulator of appetite and can be modulated by several factors including inflammatory cytokines, hormones, neurotransmitters, and sympathetic nerves and vagal afferent fibres.3...

Sep 6, 2023 | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | James McDonald |James Mcdonald |Judith Sayers |Stefan Anker |Trude Balstad

Introduction It is well established in oncology that a person's physical function is a critical component of physiological reserves and guides their assessment and management. This is best evidenced by the use of performance status (PS), which routinely informs decision making and is a robust indicator for survival and treatment stratification. PS also indicates the extent to which a patient is limited in terms of their ability to perform activities of daily living.