Activity

The aim of this pretest-posttest study was to investigate the reach and effects of My Changed Body (MyCB), an expressive writing activity based on self-compassion, among head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.

This pilot study had a pretest-posttest design. HNC survivors received an invitation to complete a baseline survey on body image-related distress. At the end of the survey, HNC survivors were asked if they were interested in the intervention study. This entailed the writing activity and a survey 1 week and 1 month post-intervention. The reach was calculated by dividing the number of participants in the intervention study, by the number of (1) eligible HNC survivors and (2) those who filled in the baseline survey. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the effect on body image-related distress. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with the reach and reduced body image-related distress. Ipatasertib purchase MyCB was evaluated using study-specific questions.

The reach of MyCB was 15-33% (depending on reference group) and was associated with lower education level, more social eating problems, and fewer wound healing problems. Among the 87 participants, 9 (10%) showed a clinically relevant improvement in body image-related distress. No significant effect on body image-related distress was found. Self-compassion improved significantly during follow-up until 1 month post-intervention (p=0.003). Users rated satisfaction with MyCB as 7.2/10.

MyCB does not significantly improve body image-related distress, but is likely to increase self-compassion, which sustains for at least 1 month.

MyCB does not significantly improve body image-related distress, but is likely to increase self-compassion, which sustains for at least 1 month.

Coping behaviors may play a mediating role in producing the negative health outcomes observed in financially burdened cancer patients and survivors.

Exploratory factor and latent class analysis of survey data.

A total of 510 people completed the survey, ages ranged from 25 to over 75 [over half greater than 55 years old (57.8%)]. Most respondents identified as female (64.7%), white (70.8%), or African American (18.6%). A four-factor model of financial coping was revealed care-altering, lifestyle-altering, self-advocacy, and financial help-seeking. Respondents grouped into three financial coping classes low burden/low coping (n = 212), high self-advocacy (n = 143), and high burden/high coping (n = 155). African American respondents were at far greater odds than white respondents of being in the high burden/high coping class (OR = 5.82, 95% CI 3.01-6.64) or the self-advocacy class (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.19-2.80) than the low burden/low coping class. Compared to respondents aged 65 years and older, those 35-44 were more likely in the high burden/high coping class (OR = 12.27, 95% CI 7.03-19.87) and the high self-advocacy class (OR = 7.08, 95% CI 5.89-8.28) than the low burden/low coping class.

One-third of respondents were in the high burden/high coping class. Age and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with class membership. Some coping strategies may compromise health and well-being. Program and policy interventions that reduce the odds that patients will use strategies that undermine treatment outcomes and increase patient use of protective strategies are needed.

One-third of respondents were in the high burden/high coping class. Age and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with class membership. Some coping strategies may compromise health and well-being. Program and policy interventions that reduce the odds that patients will use strategies that undermine treatment outcomes and increase patient use of protective strategies are needed.Prostate MRI has seen rapid growth in use in recent years as an advanced diagnostic modality to detect focal areas of clinically significant prostate cancer, to identify an area for targeted biopsy and to guide management and surveillance. The increase in use has also led to increased diagnosis of incidental lesions arising from structures around the prostate. These incidental findings may be related to the genitourinary system or non- genitourinary system and may have a benign aetiology which needs no additional follow-up, or it may require surveillance and management. The field of view in a multiparametric prostate MRI includes other pelvic organs, neurovascular bundles, bowel, lymph nodes and bones. Being familiar with standard MRI characteristics and a sound knowledge of anatomy of the prostate and surrounding structures can help in distinguishing normal anatomy from pathology. Given that patients undertaking a prostate MRI are usually a cohort with increased anxiety from their known or suspicion of prostate cancer, it is important that radiologists are familiar with these common incidental findings to minimise anxiety to the patient, have a well-informed discussion with the referring clinician and reduce costs associated with unnecessary further testing and follow-up of benign incidental findings. Additionally, being able to diagnose more serious incidental pathologies early can be life-saving and potentially significantly alter patient management.

Chemotherapy is a major etiology of cachexia. Ginseng products are known to have various anti-cachectic and health-promoting effects, such as inhibiting inflammation and promoting energy production. In particular, BST204, purified ginseng dry extract, contains multiple ginsenosides that can reduce chemotherapy-related fatigue and toxicity.

To investigate the effects of BST204 on the alleviation of chemotherapy-induced cachexia using a multimodal approach.

In a CT26 mouse syngeneic colon cancer model, cachexia was predominantly induced by chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) than by tumor growth. BST204 at a dose of 100 or 200mg/kg was administered to 5-FU-treated mice.

BST204 significantly mitigated the decrease in tumor-excluded body weight (change in 5-FU group and BST204 groups – 13% vs. – 6% on day 7; – 30% vs. – 20% on day 11), muscle volume (- 19% vs. – 11%), and fat volume (- 91% vs. – 56%). The anti-cachectic effect of BST204 was histologically demonstrated by an improved balance between muscle regeneration and degeneration and a decrease in muscle cross-sectional area reduction.