Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Compared to Psychoeducational Support for Persistently Fatigued Breast and Colorectal Cancer Survivors

Purpose Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a disruptive symptom for many survivors. Despite promising evidence for efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing CRF, no trials comparing it to an active comparator for fatigued survivors have been published. The purpose of this trial was to compare MBSR to psychoeducation for CRF and associated symptoms. Methods Breast (n=60) and colorectal (n=11) cancer survivors (stage 0–III) with clinically significant CRF after completing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy an average of 28 months prior to enrollment were randomized to MBSR or psychoeducation/support groups (PES). MBSR focused on mindfulness training; PES focused on CRF self-management. Outcomes included CRF interference (primary), CRF severity and global improvement, vitality, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and pain. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 6-month follow-up (T3) using intent-to-treat analysis. Results Between-group differences in CRF interference were not significant at any time point; however, there was a trend favoring MBSR (d=−0.46, p=0.073) at T2. MBSR participants reported significantly greater improvement in vitality (d=0.53, p=0.003) and were more likely to report CRF as moderately-to-completely improved compared to the PES group (χ2 (1)=4.1765, p=0.041) at T2. MBSR participants also reported significantly greater reductions in pain at T2 (d=0.53, p=0.014). In addition, both MBSR and PES produced moderate-to-large and significant within-group improvements in all fatigue outcomes, depression, anxiety, and sleep at T2 and T3 compared to T1. Conclusion MBSR and PES appear efficacious for CRF and related symptoms. Larger trials including a usual care arm are warranted

The Vehicle, Spring 1985

Vol. 26, No. 2 Table of Contents Beyond the FieldsKeila Tooleypage 3 Lonely Sculptor Accustomed to Living AloneMichelle Mitchellpage 4 Mona LisaBob Zordanipage 4 Poet Born in Pearl HarborAngelique Jenningspage 5 IntroductionsGraham Lewispage 6 Living InsideJennifer Soulepage 9 PictureKathy Greypage 10 Salvadore Dali in a Wheelchair on TVAngelique Jenningspage 11 Sonata in E FlatBecky Lawsonpage 12 Myopia and Wild KingdomMichelle Mitchellpage 12 On Becoming a GrandmotherKeila Tooleypage 13 A VisionJennifer D. Pringlepage 14 The Covered BridgeDebbie Woodleypage 14 Jacob\u27s LifeJoan Sebastianpage 15 ForgotGraham Lewispage 15 A Dozen and One TrainsongsAngelique Jenningspage 16 Women\u27s PlaceJennifer Soulepage 19 Night SailingKim Dumentatpage 20 She Isn\u27t There WhenMichelle Mitchellpage 20 A Case for the Common ColdMaggie Kennedypage 21 the cityTammy Batespage 22 The RattlesnakeEric S. McGeepage 22 New PictureKeila Tooleypage 23 Lewis and SinGraham Lewispage 24 Funny BarbecueBob Zordanipage 26 In a DreamF. Link Rapierpage 26 The Winter\u27s ColdJennifer Soulepage 27 Diary EntryTammy Batespage 27 Minor God and Patron Saint of Rabbits SpeaksAngelique Jenningspage 28 A MomentBrett Wilhelmpage 29 The Bishop SeatF. Link Rapierpage 30 The Thought of Being Rid of MyselfKeila Tooleypage 33 I Saw A ChildBea Cessnapage 33 Complacent gourmetGary Burrowspage 34 Night DreamsJennifer Soulepage 35 Changing ImagesAmy Callpage 35 Olsen Rug Co. Waterfall & ParkMaggie Kennedypage 36 Edge of the WildF. Link Rapierpage 37 DragonS. Hillpage 37 Harvests of CornBob Zordanipage 38 The Club JeromeGary Burrowspage 39 Tarzan And The CabPatrick Peterspage 39 The Rain That Never CameLynanne Feilenpage 40 Wonderment of the Far CrescentF. Link Rapierpage 40https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1047/thumbnail.jp

The Vehicle, Fall 1985

Vol. 27, No. 1 Table of Contents Satchel AssMichael D. Smithpage 3 PhotoDoug Andersonpage 7 CounselingChristy Dunphypage 8 Grave SiteJay D. Fiskpage 8 Sight-Seeing Outside PhoenixBob Zordanipage 9 PerformanceDan Von Holtenpage 10 NightmareKandy Bellpage 10 Photo (The Loft)Lawrence McGownpage 11 LaboringJanet Gracepage 12 Blood DonorDan Von Holtenpage 13 Photo (Pier)Lawrence McGownpage 14 ExamplesChristopher Albinpage 14 Three PoemsPatrick Peterspage 15 Sometimes I Dream in Cotton CandyKathy Graypage 16 One Day While BoatingF. Link Rapierpage 17 DepartureBob Zordanipage 17 140 Print That\u27s Life Peter Dowlingpage 18 Photo (Around the Bend)Mike Freckerpage 20 Light ConversationDan Hintzpage 22 She Waits For the WorldJim Harrispage 22 HoneyKathy Graypage 23 Photo AlbumPatrick Peterspage 24 Photo (Stairs)Lawrence McGownpage 25 Fallen From Grace to SaturdayF. Link Rapierpage 26 Post MortemF. Link Rapierpage 27 ConfessionJohn Kayserpage 27 Child\u27s PlayChristopher Albinpage 27 Seeking A Friend\u27s Advice on DietingKathy Graypage 28 PhotoDoug Andersonpage 28 She Came Back to MeJim Harrispage 29 Farm BoyDiana Winsonpage 30 DilemmaJanet Wilhelmpage 31 In a Rock or StoneRichard Donnellypage 32 In November He Came To MeJean Kover Chandlerpage 33 EndingChristy Dunphypage 34 The Honor GradEddie Simpsonpage 35 Photo (Thirst)Mike Freckerpage 40https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1046/thumbnail.jp

A Sequential Targeting Strategy Interrupts AKT-Driven Subclone-Mediated Progression in Glioblastoma

Purpose: Therapy resistance and fatal disease progression in glioblastoma are thought to result from the dynamics of intra-tumor heterogeneity. This study aimed at identifying and molecularly targeting tumor cells that can survive, adapt, and subclonally expand under primary therapy. Experimental design: To identify candidate markers and to experimentally access dynamics of subclonal progression in glioblastoma, we established a discovery cohort of paired vital cell samples obtained before and after primary therapy. We further used two independent validation cohorts of paired clinical tissues to test our findings. Follow-up preclinical treatment strategies were evaluated in patient-derived xenografts. Results: We describe, in clinical samples, an archetype of rare ALDH1A1+ tumor cells that enrich and acquire AKT-mediated drug resistance in response to standard-of-care temozolomide (TMZ). Importantly, we observe that drug resistance of ALDH1A1+ cells is not intrinsic, but rather an adaptive mechanism emerging exclusively after TMZ treatment. In patient cells and xenograft models of disease, we recapitulate the enrichment of ALDH1A1+ cells under the influence of TMZ. We demonstrate that their subclonal progression is AKT-driven and can be interfered with by well-timed sequential rather than simultaneous antitumor combination strategy. Conclusions: Drug-resistant ALDH1A1+/pAKT+ subclones accumulate in patient tissues upon adaptation to TMZ therapy. These subclones may therefore represent a dynamic target in glioblastoma. Our study proposes the combination of TMZ and AKT inhibitors in a sequential treatment schedule as a rationale for future clinical investigation

A plasmid DNA-launched SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system and coronavirus toolkit for COVID-19 research

The recent emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the underlying cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has led to a worldwide pandemic causing substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic devastation. In response, many laboratories have redirected attention to SARS-CoV-2, meaning there is an urgent need for tools that can be used in laboratories unaccustomed to working with coronaviruses. Here we report a range of tools for SARS-CoV-2 research. First, we describe a facile single plasmid SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system that is simple to genetically manipulate and can be used to rescue infectious virus through transient transfection (without in vitro transcription or additional expression plasmids). The rescue system is accompanied by our panel of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (against nearly every viral protein), SARS-CoV-2 clinical isolates, and SARS-CoV-2 permissive cell lines, which are all openly available to the scientific community. Using these tools, we demonstrate here that the controversial ORF10 protein is expressed in infected cells. Furthermore, we show that the promising repurposed antiviral activity of apilimod is dependent on TMPRSS2 expression. Altogether, our SARS-CoV-2 toolkit, which can be directly accessed via our website at https://mrcppu-covid.bio/, constitutes a resource with considerable potential to advance COVID-19 vaccine design, drug testing, and discovery science

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms: Chapter 20: Analytical Methods Workgroup Report

The topic of exposure assessment overlaps with other topic areas of this workshop. It includes considerations of establishment of long term monitoring and event response, sampling protocols, development and standardization of organism and toxin assays, funding mechanisms, and public outreach. The development of a coordinated infrastructure (funding, human resources, and facilities, materials and equipment) is key to successfully addressing the threat posed by CHABs. The establishment of validated standardized protocols to detect cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins is of considerable importance given the increased occurrence of CHABs worldwide. Standardized methods are needed for studies assessing occurrence, monitoring and toxicity studies which are essential aspects of risk assessment and management and the development of guidance and regulation