Types of Prayer and Depressive Symptoms among Cancer Patients: The Mediating Role of Rumination and Social Support

We examined the association between different types of prayer and depressive symptoms—with rumination and social support as potential mediators—in a sample of predominantly White, Christian, and female ambulatory cancer patients. In a cross-sectional design, 179 adult cancer outpatients completed measures of prayer, rumination, social support, depressive symptoms, and demographic variables. Type and stage of cancer were collected from electronic medical charts. Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with adoration prayer (r = −.15), reception prayer (r = −.17), thanksgiving prayer (r = −.29), and prayer for the well-being of others (r = −.26). In the path analysis, rumination fully mediated the link between thanksgiving prayer and depressive symptoms (β for indirect effect = −.05), whereas social support partially mediated the link between prayer for others and depressive symptoms (β for indirect effect = −.05). These findings suggest that unique mechanisms may link different prayer types to lower depressive symptoms among cancer patients

Patient Follow-Up After Participating in a Beach-Based Skin Cancer Screening Program

Many skin cancer screenings occur in non-traditional community settings, with the beach being an important setting due to beachgoers being at high risk for skin cancer. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of a skin cancer intervention in which participants (n = 312) had a full-body skin examination by a clinician and received a presumptive diagnosis (abnormal finding, no abnormal finding). Participants’ pursuit of follow-up was assessed post-intervention (n = 283). Analyses examined: (1) participant’s recall of screening results; and (2) whether cognitive and behavioral variables were associated with follow-up being as advised. Just 12% of participants (36/312) did not correctly recall the results of their skin examination. One-third (33%, 93/283) of participants’ follow-up was classified as being not as advised (recommend follow-up not pursued, unadvised follow-up pursued). Among participants whose follow-up was not as advised, 71% (66/93) did not seek recommended care. None of the measured behavioral and cognitive variables were significantly associated with recall of screening examination results or whether follow-up was as advised. Research is needed to determine what factors are associated with follow-up being as advised and to develop messages that increase receipt of advised follow-up care

Assessment of a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, in juvenile rats

BACKGROUND: The timing and duration of oral administration of letrozole was designed to encompass the majority of postnatal development in the rat with the intent of evaluating the potential for diverse chronic effects as well as expected effects on skeletal maturation. METHODS: Sprague- Dawley rats were administered letrozole via oral gavage at doses of 0.003, 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg/day (mkd) on beginning on post partum day (PPD) 7 and up to PPD 91. Clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, developmental, bone, ophthalmology, behavioral, clinical/anatomic pathology, toxicokinetics, and reproductive assessments were conducted. RESULTS: Increases in females and decreases in males were seen for growth (body weight progression and crown-to-rump length) and food consumption. Delays in sexual maturation and adverse effects upon reproductive function were seen in both sexes. Skeletal changes were noted for males and females with recovery for males at 0.003 mkd and females at 0.003 and 0.03 mkd. Pathological changes were limited to adverse effects in the pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis, correlating with the adverse effects upon reproductive function. CONCLUSIONS: The observed effects in juvenile rats were considered predictable and primarily related to the mechanism of action of letrozole upon estrogen synthesis