The effect of bioinoculants on grapevine development

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How does hedonic aroma impact long-term anxiety, depression, and quality of life in women with breast cancer? a cross-lagged panel model analysis

Depression and anxiety are common symptoms during and after adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer (BC), with implications on quality of life (QoL). The present study evaluates the temporal relationship between anxiety, depression, and QoL (primary outcomes), as well as the impact of hedonic aroma (essential oils) on this relationship. This is a secondary analysis of a previously reported randomized controlled trial, with two groups: an experimental group (n=56), who were subjected to the inhalation of a self-selected essential oil during chemotherapy, and a control group (n=56), who were only subjected to the standard treatment. The hedonic aroma intervention occurred in the second (T1), third (T2), and fourth (T3) chemotherapy sessions, three weeks apart from each other. The follow-up (T4) assessments took place three months after the end of the treatment. Cross-lagged panel models were estimated in the path analysis framework, using structural equation modeling methodology. Regarding the control group, the cross-lagged panel model showed that anxiety at T1 predicted anxiety at T3, which in turn predicted both QoL and depression at T4. In the experimental group, hedonic aroma intervention was associated with stability of anxiety and QoL over time from T1 to T3, with no longitudinal prediction at T4. For women undergoing standard chemotherapy treatment, anxiety was the main longitudinal precursor to depression and QoL three months after chemotherapy. Thus, essential oils could complement chemotherapy treatment for early-stage BC as a way to improve long-term emotional and QoL-related adjustment.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and was supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (Ref.: UIDB/PSI/01662/2020), and a PhD fellowship awarded to first author (SFRH/BD/137321/2018 PHD Fellowship) supported by the FCT and European Social Fund (Human Capital Operational Programme—HCOP). The research of CSM was partially supported by CMUP, which is financed by national funds through FCT under the project with reference UIDB/00144/2020. CBMA was founded by “Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020, through the FCT I.Pinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Patients and family caregivers’ perceptions on two stress reduction interventions with patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a qualitative study

M.Graça Pereira, Susana Pedras, André Louro et al. Patients and Family Caregivers’ Perceptions on Two Stress Reduction Interventions with Patients with Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Qualitative Study, 05 August 2022, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1910181/v1]Background The present study aimed to assess the perceptions of patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and their informal caregivers regarding the impact of two stress reduction interventions, such as a progressive muscle relaxation and hypnosis, on patients’ DFU and psychological wellbeing. Methods This multicenter study used a qualitative exploratory design and included individual interviews with eight patients with chronic DFUs and six family caregivers, using a semi-structured interview guide. Transcripts analysis employed thematic content analysis. Results Four key themes common to patients and their caregivers were found: 1) perspectives regarding the intervention; 2) intervention effectiveness; 3) the role of psychology on the DFU treatment; and 4) emotions and consequences associated with the DFU. Although themes were common to both treatment groups, sub-themes from the last two themes differed for patients that received muscle relaxation versus those who received hypnosis. One additional theme emerged from the caregiver’s interviews: 5) promotion of self care behaviors. Conclusion According to patients and caregivers, overall the two stress reduction interventions were beneficial for the DFU healing progression and emotional wellbeing. The hypnosis group also reported lasting effects. Participants suggested that psychological interventions such as stress reduction interventions could be included in the DFU standard treatment as an adjuvant to the clinical protocol for DFU treatment, preferably offered early on, when the patient begins treatment at the diabetic foot consultation

Therapeutic options in the management of acromegaly: focus on lanreotide Autogel®

In acromegaly, expert surgery is curative in only about 60% of patients. Postoperative radiation therapy is associated with a high incidence of hypopituitarism and its effect on growth hormone (GH) production is slow, so that adjuvant medical treatment becomes of importance in the management of many patients. To delineate the role of lanreotide in the treatment of acromegaly. Search of Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases for clinical studies of lanreotide in acromegaly. Treatment with lanreotide slow release and lanreotide Autogel((R)) normalized GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations in about 50% of patients. The efficacy of 120 mg lanreotide Autogel((R)) on GH and IGF-I levels was comparable with that of 20 mg octreotide LAR. There were no differences in improvement of cardiac function, decrease in pancreatic beta-cell function, or occurrence of side effects, including cholelithiasis, between octreotide LAR and lanreotide Autogel(R). When postoperative treatment with somatostatin analogs does not result in normalization of serum IGF-I and GH levels after noncurative surgery, pegvisomant alone or in combination with somatostatin analogs can control these levels in a substantial number of patient

Stress reduction interventions for patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a qualitative study into patients and caregivers' perceptions

The present study aimed to assess the perceptions of patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and their family caregivers regarding the impact of two stress reduction interventions on DFU and psychological wellbeing. The intervention included progressive muscle relaxation and hypnosis sessions.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (CIPsi/UM) School of Psychology, the University of Minho, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through an FCT grant (PTDC/PSIGER/28163/2017) assigned to the frst author

Effect of the inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria on maize plants to improve their growth under drought stress

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Complex projects’ management using eva – a case study

Earned Value Analysis (EVA) is a method of measuring the project performance. Although the concept exists since the nineteen’s century and it has been in use since the 1960s, only now it is gaining considerable popularity. Those in favour will base their arguments in the cost savings from the project and the improved communication, analysis and control that come from its implementation. Those who have a different opinion will cite the limited benefit from its use and the effort to make it work. There is no doubt that these different opinions come from different experiences. Nevertheless, everybody agrees that EVA is a powerful tool if applied correctly. The aim of this work is to implement this tool to a project in concrete and to evaluate the use of EVA as a complementary tool of the system currently used – SAPE, in determining and controlling costs associated with the project, at every moment of the project. This allows to evaluate the possible deviations and to enable timely corrections