A randomised controlled trial of nurse-managed trial conclusion following early phase cancer trial participation

The effect of a nurse-managed intervention, for early phase cancer trial participants at trial conclusion, on psychosocial outcomes was evaluated at two cancer centres in the Midlands, England using a randomised controlled trial. It involved 117 patients who were participating in an early phase cancer clinical trial. It was a nurse-managed trial exit, which included a trial exit interview, trial feedback information leaflet and telephone follow-up compared with standard care at trial conclusion. Psychological distress at 1 week and 4–6 weeks post-trial conclusion, patient's knowledge and understanding and patient's satisfaction were assessed. The results showed there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding scores for anxiety and depression at time one and time two. There is some suggestion that the intervention reduced anxiety from trial conclusion to follow-up (P=0.27). Patients in both groups felt they had contributed to cancer research through trial participation. However, intervention patients were more likely to feel that they knew how the trial was going (P<0.001), knew how other people in the trial were doing (P=0.001), had all the feedback they needed about the trial they took part in (P<0.01) and knew how they would be followed up (P=0.02). Patient satisfaction with the intervention was high (median score=4.5 where 5 is greatest satisfaction). In conclusion, nurse-managed trial conclusion led to positive outcomes for patients who had recently completed a clinical trial

Effects of two neuromuscular training programs on running biomechanics with load carriage: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background In recent years, athletes have ventured into ultra-endurance and adventure racing events, which tests their ability to race, navigate, and survive. These events often require race participants to carry some form of load, to bear equipment for navigation and survival purposes. Previous studies have reported specific alterations in biomechanics when running with load which potentially influence running performance and injury risk. We hypothesize that a biomechanically informed neuromuscular training program would optimize running mechanics during load carriage to a greater extent than a generic strength training program. Methods This will be a two group, parallel randomized controlled trial design, with single assessor blinding. Thirty healthy runners will be recruited to participate in a six weeks neuromuscular training program. Participants will be randomized into either a generic training group, or a biomechanically informed training group. Primary outcomes include self-determined running velocity with a 20 % body weight load, jump power, hopping leg stiffness, knee extensor and triceps-surae strength. Secondary outcomes include running kinetics and kinematics. Assessments will occur at baseline and post-training. Discussion To our knowledge, no training programs are available that specifically targets a runner’s ability to carry load while running. This will provide sport scientists and coaches with a foundation to base their exercise prescription on

Parenchyma cell wall structure in twining stem of Dioscorea balcanica

Anatomical adaptation of liana plants includes structural changes in cell walls of different tissues: fibers, vessel elements and tracheids. However, the contribution of parenchyma cells to stem twining in liana plants is mostly unknown. The aim of this investigation is to determine changes in stem parenchyma cell walls that are correlated with the twinning process in liana plants. Parenchyma cell wall structure was studied on the stem cross sections of straight and twisted internodes of monocotyledonous liana Dioscorea balcanica, by different microscopy techniques: light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence detected linear dichroism microscopy and Fourier transform infrared microspectrometry. In addition, chemical analysis of the entire stem internodes was performed using photometric and chromatographic methods. Parenchyma cell walls of twisted D. balcanica internodes are characterized by: lower amounts of cellulose (obtained by FTIR microspectrometry) with different cellulose microfibril orientation (shown by Scanning electron microscopy), but no changes in "cellulose fibril order" (obtained by Differential polarization laser scanning microscopy); lower amounts of xyloglucan, higher amounts of xylan, higher amounts of lignin with modified organization-less condensed lignin (obtained by FTIR microspectrometry). At the same time, chemical analysis of the entire internodes did not show significant differences in lignin content and cell wall bound phenols related to stem twining, except for the presence of diferulate cross-links exclusively in twisted internodes. Our results indicate that adaptations to mechanical strain in D. balcanica stems involve modifications in parenchyma cell wall structure and chemistry, which provide decreased stiffness, higher strength and increased elasticity of twisted internodes.Correction: [http://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2480

Thank you reviewers!

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