Prospective feasibility study of a mindfulness-based program for breast cancer patients in the southeastern US

BackgroundMindfulness interventions can improve psychological distress and quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors. Few mindfulness programs for cancer recovery exist in Southeastern U.S. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for breast cancer patients in Birmingham, Alabama. The secondary objective was to explore potential program effects on mindfulness skills and QoL.MethodsThis study was a prospective, quasi-experimental feasibility study conducted over 10 months at a university hospital. Feasibility was achieved if 80% of eligible patients screened enrolled in the study and 70% of enrolled patients attended all 8 program sessions. Effectiveness was estimated by changes in mindfulness and QoL indicators measured with validated scales administered at 3 time points and assessed with a non-parametric Friedman test. Sessions included meditation, yoga, and an attention practice called body scan. There were 3 groups of 2–5 patients.ResultsThe sample totaled 12 patients. Forty-four percent (12/27) of eligible patients enrolled in the study, and two out of 12 enrolled patients completed 8 program sessions, resulting in 16.7% (2/12) retention. However, more than half (66.7%) of participants completed at least 7 sessions. Between baseline and 8-week follow-up, patients demonstrated statistically significant improvements in distress, general wellbeing, and fatigue-related QoL.ConclusionsFeasibility objectives were not achieved. However, a majority of participants (66.7%) completed 7 of 8 program sessions. Program effects were promising for distress, fatigue, and wellbeing. Results warrant further research on MBSR-like programs for breast cancer patients in Alabama.     

LIF对体外培养小鼠孕早期胚胎发育及ICAM-1表达的影响

目的研究白血病抑制因子（ＬＩＦ）在胚胎发育中的作用并探讨其参与胚泡着床的机制。方法收集昆明种小鼠的单细胞受精卵,连续培养１２０ｈ,观察不同浓度ＬＩＦ对胚胎发育的影响;用免疫印迹法测定培养液中细胞间粘附分子（ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达水平。结果ＬＩＦ在０．１～１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ浓度之间对胚胎发育有促进作用,其作用在桑椹胚及胚泡期最明显（Ｐ＜０．０５）;ＬＩＦ增加胚胎ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达,其作用在０．１ｎｇ／ｍｌ浓度时最强,并随着浓度的增加而减弱。结论适应浓度的ＬＩＦ可促进胚胎发育,增加ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达,从而参与胚胎着床过程。     

Role of gonadotrophin releasing hormone baseline concentrations in the control of pituitary gonadotrophin and ovarian steroid secretion in the pseudopregnant rat

To study the effect of moderately elevated gonadotrophin releasinghormone (GnRH) baseline concentrations during the luteal andthe follicular phase, pseudopregnant rats were infused s.c withGnRH at several doses for 5 days. These rats were also treatedwith oestradiol or sham-treated during the last 3 days of GnRHtreatment GnRH infusions started on day 7 or day 3 of the lutealphase of the ovulatory cycle; in the rat, the luteal phase orpseudopregnancy lasts about 10 days. Luteinizing hormone (LH)and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) responses were inducedby i.v. injection of GnRH on day 12 (after expected luteolysis)or on day 8 (before expected luteolysis). In normal rats theLH and FSH responses induced by GnRH on day 12 were higher thanon day 8 (160 and 50% respectively). In GnRH-infused rats theLH and FSH responses were not increased. In these rats the lutealphase was extended (the plasma progesterone concentrations remainedhigh) and the onset of the follicular phase was postponed (plasmaoestrogen concentrations did not increase). Oestradiol increasedthe day 12 LH and FSH responses; this effect of oestradiol wassuppressed by GnRH infusion. On day 8, exogenous oestradiolalso increased the LH and FSH responses, but again the effectof oestradiol was suppressed when the animals were concomitantlyinfused with GnRH. These data may suggest that in the rat, GnRHbaseline concentrations participate in the neuroendocrine systemcontrolling gonadotrophin secretion and hence the ovulatorycycle.     

Erythromycin succinate in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Summary In 20 patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory tract infection the effectiveness of oral erythromicin succinate 3×500 mg daily has been tested. The duration of treatment was 10 days in all cases. The criteria of success, in addition to the clinical findings, were the results of bacteriological investigations and assessment of the appearance of the sputum. In all patients sputum and serum concentrations or erythromicin were determined. All pathogens isolated from the sputum of the patients were erythromicin-sensitive. One instance of development of resistance was observed. The drug was well tolerated.     

Variability in behavioral responses to benzodiazepines in the rat

The effects of chlordiazepoxide (10 mg/kg) were assessed in a holeboard by the reductions in head-dipping, rearing and locomotor activity; the correlations among all these measures were significant. Test-retest correlations were significant for all but the time spent head-dipping. On the basis of their behavioral responses to chlordiazepoxide six "strong" and six "weak" responders were identified and used for an in vitro electrophysiological study. There were no differences between the two groups in the extent to which flurazepam potentiated muscimol, but picrotoxin showed a greater antagonism of muscimol in slices from "strong" responders and flurazepam showed a greater reduction of picrotoxin potency. There was a significant correlation between the in vitro picrotoxin shift and the chlordiazepoxide-induced reduction in locomotor activity. The correlations between behavioral responses to chlordiazepoxide and the plasma benzodiazepine concentrations were low and only one (for locomotor activity) reached significance.     

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lisuride in healthy volunteers after intravenous,intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection

Summary The plasma concentration of lisuride and prolactin have been measured in twelve healthy male volunteers after IV, IM or SC injection of 25 g lisuride hydrogen maleate as an aqueous solution.After IV administration the plasma lisuride fell in two phases with half-lives of 14 min and 1.5 h. Total clearance was 13 ml·min^–1·kg^–1. After IM and SC injection the plasma concentrations peaked at 12 to 15 min and the profiles were similar to that found after IV administration. The systemic availabilities were 90% and 94%, respectively. Prolactin concentrations were reduced by a maximum of 60% relative to the normal circadian rhythm after all three routes of administration.The treatments were well tolerated, the only adverse reactions reported by some of the volunteers being mild, transient dizziness, tiredness, and nausea.     

Divalent Cations Modulate the Inhibitory Substrate Properties of Murine Glia-derived J1-160 and J1-180 Extracellular Matrix Glycoproteins for Neuronal Adhesion

J1-160 and J1-180 are developmentally late appearing J1 extracellular matrix glycoproteins derived from oligodendrocytes. They prevent adhesion of neurons (but not of astrocytes or fibroblasts) when offered as a substrate in mixture with laminin (Pesheva et al., J. Cell Biol., 109, 1765 - 1778, 1989). In the present study we have examined the influence of divalent cations on the inhibitory substrate properties of J1-160/180 glycoproteins towards adhesion of neurons. By metal chelate affinity chromatography, we show that J1-180, but not J1-160, binds Ca2+, while both J1 components are capable of binding Zn2+ and other divalent metal ions. Divalent cation binding was observed by gel filtration, aggregation assays with coated latex beads and electron microscopic examination to elicit aggregation of the molecules. Divalent cation binding also affects their non-permissive substrate properties towards neurons from early postnatal mouse cerebellum. Without divalent cations, J1-160 and J1-180 are inhibitory for substrate adhesion of neurons independently of the adhesive substrate present (laminin or poly-l-lysine). This effect is neutralized when J1-180 is preincubated with Ca2+ or Zn2+ prior to coating as substrate. In contrast, preincubation with Ca2+ ions does not affect the inhibitory substrate properties of J1-160 under these conditions. These observations show that J1-160/180 molecules may undergo self-aggregation in a divalent cation-dependent mechanism, which correlates with the neutralization of their inhibitory effect on neuronal adhesion. The aggregation state of the molecules may thus influence the process of myelination by a homophilic binding mechanism and determine the effectiveness of neurite extension during central nervous system development and under traumatic conditions in the adult.     

Excitatory Connections Between CA1 Pyramidal Cells Revealed by Spike Triggered Averaging in Slices of Rat Hippocampus are Partially NMDA Receptor Mediated

Spike triggered averaging was used to record local circuit connections between pairs of CA1 pyramidal neurons in isolated slices of rat hippocampus. Of 795 pairs of neurons tested, six were connected. These epsps were only partially blocked by 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP-5), which decreased the amplitude and half width of the epsp, but did not affect the early rising phase. In contrast, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) blocked all phases of the epsp and combinations of AP-5 and CNQX blocked the epsp almost entirely. These results indicate that these epsps were mediated by both N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptors. Moreover, they exhibited a voltage relation typical of neuronal responses to NMDA, increasing in amplitude and duration as the postsynaptic cell was depolarized. These epsps were brief (10 - 90% rise time < 5 ms, width at half amplitude < 20 ms), indicating a proximal location. Increasing presynaptic firing rate (1 - 4 spikes/s) reduced average epsp amplitude by almost 50%. When epsps were evoked by pairs of spikes (interval 3 - 25 ms), a large response to the first spike precluded a large response to the second. No evidence for selective enhancement of the NMDA receptor component by paired spike activation was found. It is concluded that a significant NMDA receptor mediated input to CA1 is provided by local circuit CA1 - CA1 connections and that these synapses can be demonstrated under control conditions.     

Circadian rhythm of lithogenic substances in the urine

Summary After determination of the lithogenic and inhibitory substances in serum and urine of 18 healthy control subjects and 20 patients with calcium oxalate urolithiasis on an uncontrolled diet, the alteration of the parameters while taking a standard diet was investigated. After attainment of a steady state, the investigations were performed over 48h on 3-h aliquots of urine. Typical circadian rhythms were detected for all lithogenic parameters in the urine and normal ranges were established. This special investigation permits detection of peaks in the excretion of lithogenic substances which were masked in investigation of 24-h urine samples alone.