Role of psychological and emotional factors in cancer related fatigue (CRF) syndrome in advanced NSCLC patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy

Background: Cancer-related fatigue syndrome (CRF) is observed in most cancer patients, especially in those with advanced disease. Pathomechanism of CRF is complex and not fully understood. The aim of the study was to determine the role of psychological and emotional factors in CRF in non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients at advanced stage of the disease undergoing chemotherapy. Material and methods: 76 patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, undergoing palliative chemotherapy participated in the study. Prior to, during and after the treatment, the patients were asked to complete psychological questionnaires, like HADS, CERQ and daily diary constructed for the purpose of this study. Results: Coping strategies like concentrating on other positive aspects and acceptance are factors, which positively, while catastrophising, anxiety and depression – negatively, characterise the level of perceived cancer related fatigue. Conclusions: Results show that some coping and emotional strategies as well as psychological features may constitute predictors for CRF. It may suggest that psychological features can influence the performance status of patients and reduce fatigue perceived by patients. Further research is needed to fully explained the phenomenon. Adv. Pall. Med. 2010; 9, 3: 81–86Background: Cancer-related fatigue syndrome (CRF) is observed in most cancer patients, especially in those with advanced disease. Pathomechanism of CRF is complex and not fully understood. The aim of the study was to determine the role of psychological and emotional factors in CRF in non small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients at advanced stage of the disease undergoing chemotherapy. Material and methods: 76 patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, undergoing palliative chemotherapy participated in the study. Prior to, during and after the treatment, the patients were asked to complete psychological questionnaires, like HADS, CERQ and daily diary constructed for the purpose of this study. Results: Coping strategies like concentrating on other positive aspects and acceptance are factors, which positively, while catastrophising, anxiety and depression – negatively, characterise the level of perceived cancer related fatigue. Conclusions: Results show that some coping and emotional strategies as well as psychological features may constitute predictors for CRF. It may suggest that psychological features can influence the performance status of patients and reduce fatigue perceived by patients. Further research is needed to fully explained the phenomenon. Adv. Pall. Med. 2010; 9, 3: 81–8

Fluorescence spectrum of a two-level atom driven by a multiple modulated field

We investigate the fluorescence spectrum of a two-level atom driven by a multiple amplitude-modulated field. The driving held is modeled as a polychromatic field composed of a strong central (resonant) component and a large number of symmetrically detuned sideband fields displaced from the central component by integer multiples of a constant detuning. Spectra obtained here differ qualitatively from those observed for a single pair of modulating fields [B. Blind, P.R. Fontana, and P. Thomann, J. Phys. B 13, 2717 (1980)]. In the case of a small number of the modulating fields, a multipeaked spectrum is obtained with the spectral features located at fixed frequencies that are independent of the number of modulating fields and their Rabi frequencies. As the number of the modulating fields increases, the spectrum ultimately evolves to the well-known Mellow triplet with the sidebands shifted from the central component by an effective Rabi frequency whose magnitude depends on the initial relative phases of the components of the driving held. For equal relative phases, the effective Rabi frequency of the driving field can be reduced to zero resulting in the disappearance of fluorescence spectrum, i.e., the atom can stop interacting with the field. When the central component and the modulating fields are 180 degrees out of phase, the spectrum retains its triplet structure with the sidebands located at frequencies equal to the sum of the Rabi frequencies of the component of the driving field. Moreover, we shaw that the frequency of spontaneous emission can be controlled and switched from one frequency to another when the Rabi frequency or initial phase of the modulating fields are varied

Publisher Correction: Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper

Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology

Abstract: Diverse microbial ecosystems underpin life in the sea. Among these microbes are many unicellular eukaryotes that span the diversity of the eukaryotic tree of life. However, genetic tractability has been limited to a few species, which do not represent eukaryotic diversity or environmentally relevant taxa. Here, we report on the development of genetic tools in a range of protists primarily from marine environments. We present evidence for foreign DNA delivery and expression in 13 species never before transformed and for advancement of tools for eight other species, as well as potential reasons for why transformation of yet another 17 species tested was not achieved. Our resource in genetic manipulation will provide insights into the ancestral eukaryotic lifeforms, general eukaryote cell biology, protein diversification and the evolution of cellular pathways

Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology

Abstract: Diverse microbial ecosystems underpin life in the sea. Among these microbes are many unicellular eukaryotes that span the diversity of the eukaryotic tree of life. However, genetic tractability has been limited to a few species, which do not represent eukaryotic diversity or environmentally relevant taxa. Here, we report on the development of genetic tools in a range of protists primarily from marine environments. We present evidence for foreign DNA delivery and expression in 13 species never before transformed and for advancement of tools for eight other species, as well as potential reasons for why transformation of yet another 17 species tested was not achieved. Our resource in genetic manipulation will provide insights into the ancestral eukaryotic lifeforms, general eukaryote cell biology, protein diversification and the evolution of cellular pathways

Isolation and chromatographic behaviour of phenylalanine tRNA from barley embryos

Two fractions of phenylalanine tRNA (tRNA(Phe)(1) and tRNA(Phe)(2)) were purified by BD-cellulose and RPC-5 chromatography of crude tRNA isolated from barley embryos. Successive RPC-5 rechromatography runs of tRNA(Phe)(2) showed its conversion into more stable tRNA(Phe)(1), suggesting that the two fractions have essentially the same primary structure. Both tRNA(Phe)(1) and tRNA(Phe)(2) had about the same acceptor activity, but tRNA(Phe)(2) was aminoacylated much faster than tRNA(Phe)(1). RPC-5 chromatography of crude aminoacylated tRNA showed higher contents of phe-tRNA(Phe)(2) than of phe-tRNA(Phe)(1) but the ratio of these two fractions estimated by relative fluorescence intensity was about 1. Fluorescence spectra of tRNA(Phe) from barley embryos suggest that it contains Y base similar to Y(w) from wheat tRNA(Phe)