Growth regulation of simian and human AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell lines by TGF-β1 and IL-6

BACKGROUND: AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (AIDS-NHL) is the second most frequent cancer associated with AIDS, and is a frequent cause of death in HIV-infected individuals. Experimental analysis of AIDS-NHL has been facilitated by the availability of an excellent animal model, i.e., simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SAIDS) in the rhesus macaque consequent to infection with simian immunodeficiency virus. A recent study of SAIDS-NHL demonstrated a lymphoma-derived cell line to be sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of the ubiquitous cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The authors concluded that TGF-beta acts as a negative growth regulator of the lymphoma-derived cell line and, potentially, as an inhibitory factor in the regulatory network of AIDS-related lymphomagenesis. The present study was conducted to assess whether other SAIDS-NHL and AIDS-NHL cell lines are similarly sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-beta, and to test the hypothesis that interleukin-6 (IL-6) may represent a counteracting positive influence in their growth regulation. METHODS: Growth stimulation or inhibition in response to cytokine treatment was quantified using trypan blue exclusion or colorimetric MTT assay. Intracellular flow cytometry was used to analyze the activation of signaling pathways and to examine the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and distinguishing hallmarks of AIDS-NHL subclass. Apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometric analysis of cell populations with sub-G1 DNA content and by measuring activated caspase-3. RESULTS: Results confirmed the sensitivity of LCL8664, an immunoblastic SAIDS-NHL cell line, to TGF-beta1-mediated growth inhibition, and further demonstrated the partial rescue by simultaneous treatment with IL-6. IL-6 was shown to activate STAT3, even in the presence of TGF-beta1, and thereby to activate proliferative and anti-apoptotic pathways. By comparison, human AIDS-NHL cell lines differed in their responsiveness to TGF-beta1 and IL-6. Analysis of a recently derived AIDS-NHL cell line, UMCL01-101, indicated that it represents immunoblastic AIDS-DLCBL. Like LCL-8664, UMCL01-101 was sensitive to TGF-beta1-mediated inhibition, rescued partially by IL-6, and demonstrated rapid STAT3 activation following IL-6 treatment even in the presence of TGF-beta1. CONCLUSION: These studies indicate that the sensitivity of immunoblastic AIDS- or SAIDS-DLBCL to TGF-beta1-mediated growth inhibition may be overcome through the stimulation of proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals by IL-6, particularly through the rapid activation of STAT3

The eCALM Trial-eTherapy for cancer appLying mindfulness: online mindfulness-based cancer recovery program for underserved individuals living with cancer in Alberta: protocol development for a randomized wait-list controlled clinical trial

Abstract Background Elevated stress can exacerbate cancer symptom severity, and after completion of primary cancer treatments, many individuals continue to have significant distress. Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) is an 8-week group psychosocial intervention consisting of training in mindfulness meditation and yoga designed to mitigate stress, pain, and chronic illness. Efficacy research shows face-to-face (F2F) MBCR programs have positive benefits for cancer patients; however barriers exist that impede participation in F2F groups. While online MBCR groups are available to the public, none have been evaluated. Primary objective: determine whether underserved patients are willing to participate in and complete an online MBCR program. Secondary objectives: determine whether online MBCR will mirror previous efficacy findings from F2F MBCR groups on patient-reported outcomes. Method/design The study includes cancer patients in Alberta, exhibiting moderate distress, who do not have access to F2F MBCR. Participants will be randomized to either online MBCR, or waiting for the next available group. An anticipated sample size of 64 participants will complete measures online pre and post treatment or waiting period. Feasibility will be tracked through monitoring numbers eligible and participating through each stage of the protocol. Discussion 47 have completed/completing the intervention. Data suggest it is possible to conduct a randomized waitlist controlled trial of online MBCR to reach underserved cancer survivors. Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01476891</p

The eCALM Trial-eTherapy for cancer appLying mindfulness: online mindfulness-based cancer recovery program for underserved individuals living with cancer in Alberta: protocol development for a randomized wait-list controlled clinical trial

Elevated stress can exacerbate cancer symptom severity, and after completion of primary cancer treatments, many individuals continue to have significant distress. Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) is an 8-week group psychosocial intervention consisting of training in mindfulness meditation and yoga designed to mitigate stress, pain, and chronic illness. Efficacy research shows face-to-face (F2F) MBCR programs have positive benefits for cancer patients; however barriers exist that impede participation in F2F groups. While online MBCR groups are available to the public, none have been evaluated

Moving Towards Effective Governance of Fisheries and Freshwater Resources

Governance of fish, fisheries, and freshwater resources encompasses bothecological and human well-being. Nevertheless, achieving both is challenging because of thediverse sectors competing for finite resources. This challenge is not related to a lack ofunderstanding of what contributes to effective governance, but rather is due to the tendency todivide freshwater resource users into sectors that do not coordinate their use of freshwater. Apanel of experts identified six issues and recommendations for improving governance of inlandfisheries. These issues are (1) the lack of cross-sectoral integration in the development andmanagement agendas for freshwater ecosystems, (2) the need for governance mechanisms onshared water bodies, (3) the recognition of the rights and wishes of indigenous people and otherstakeholders dependent on inland fisheries, (4) recognizing the important role of aquacultureand how to incorporate aquaculture into governance mechanisms, (5) how to improve fisherymanagement, and (6) how to improve communication among institutions and stakeholders.To facilitate addressing these six issues, this paper systematically explores how governanceof inland freshwater resources, and specifically freshwater fisheries, can be made more effectiveby focusing on the following:1. Guiding principles of governance?the values and ideals that guide the process of governing;2. Governing institutions?those that are charged with overseeing and controlling253the governance processes by which problems are solved and opportunities cre-ated; and3. Opportunities and solutions?the manner, method, and system by which the fish-ery sector is governed, including the policies and management actions that are the tasks of fishery managers and policymakers for the fishery sector, and the need for more integration between all sectors using freshwater.Fil: Bartley, Devin M.. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Fisheries and Aquaculture Department Viale delle Terme di Caracalla; ItaliaFil: Leonard, Nancy J.. Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Estados UnidosFil: Youn, So Jung. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Taylor, William W.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Baigún, Claudio Rafael M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Barlow, Chris. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; AustraliaFil: Fazio, John. Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Estados UnidosFil: Fuentevilla, Carlos. Office for the Caribbean. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Subregional; BarbadosFil: Johnson, Jay. Okanagan Nation Alliance; CanadáFil: Kone, Bakary. Wetlands International; MalíFil: Meira, Kristin. Pacific Northwest Waterways Association; Estados UnidosFil: Metzner, Rebecca. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla; ItaliaFil: Onyango, Paul. University of Dar es Salaam Mlimani Dar es Salaam; TanzaniaFil: Pavlov, Dmitry. I.D. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters Russian Academy of Sciences; RusiaFil: Riley, Betsy. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Ruff, Jim. Northwest Power and Conservation Council; Estados UnidosFil: Terbasket, Pauline. Okanagan Nation Alliance; CanadáFil: Valbo Jorgenssen, John. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Itali