Cultural adaptation of a supportive care needs measure for Hispanic men cancer survivors

Objective. Research with ethnic minority populations requires instrumentation that is cultural and linguistically relevant. The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Cancer Survivor Unmet Needs measure into Spanish. Methods. We describe the iterative, community-engaged consensus-building approaches used to adapt the instrument for Hispanic male cancer survivors. We used an exploratory sequential mixed method study design. Methods included translation and back-translation, focus groups with cancer survivors (n = 18) and providers (n = 5), use of cognitive interview techniques to evaluate the comprehension and acceptability of the adapted instrument with survivors (n = 12), ongoing input from the project's community advisory board, and preliminary psychometric analysis (n = 84). Results. The process emphasized conceptual, content, semantic, and technical equivalence. Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches offered a rigorous, systematic, and contextual approach to translation alone and supports the cultural adaptation of this measure in a purposeful and relevant manner. Conclusion. Our findings highlight the importance of going beyond translation when adapting measures for cross-cultural populations and illustrate the importance of taking culture, literacy, and language into consideration.     

Protein kinase C-alpha(1b)-adrenoceptor coimmunoprecipitation: effect of hormones and phorbol myristate acetate

alpha(1b)-Adrenoceptors immunoprecipitated with protein kinase C alpha, delta, and epsilon isoforms under basal conditions and such coimmunoprecipitations were increased in cells treated with phorbol myristate acetate. The increased coimmunoprecipitations induced by phorbol myristate acetate were concentration-dependent and reached their maxima 1 to 2 min after the addition of the tumor promoter. No coimmunoprecipitation of protein kinase C zeta and alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors was detected. Norepinephrine, endothelin-1, lysophosphatidic acid and epidermal growth factor were also able to increase the coimmunoprecipitation of protein kinase C isoenzymes and alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors. These data support the idea that protein kinase-receptor complexes might form and could be relevant in receptor desensitization.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">IL1B -511C/-31T</Emphasis> haplotype and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori vacA</Emphasis> genotypes with gastric ulcer and chronic gastritis

Background  

The association between proinflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms and gastric diseases related to Helicobacter pylori varies by population and geographic area.     

Formative research on HPV vaccine acceptability among Latina farmworkers

The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers and benefits to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in a low-income, Latina farmworker population in central Florida. This study reports on formative qualitative research conducted on perceptions of benefits, barriers, costs, place, and promotion related to the HPV vaccine from surveys and interviews with a sample of 46 low-income, Latina farm workers and 19 health care workers serving this population. It was found that Latina farmworkers hold many misperceptions about the HPV vaccine and the potential links between HPV infection and cervical cancer. In addition, it was observed that HPV vaccination intention was inversely related to concerns about adolescent sexual behavior and low perceived risk of infection but might be positively influenced by belief in illness prevention and physician recommendation. These findings add to the growing research on HPV vaccine acceptability among Latina subgroups to inform intervention development, marketing materials, education, and policy.     

In vitro studies of polyphenols, antioxidants and other dietary indices in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

The main aim of the present study was the evaluation of proteins and antioxidant potential in ethylene-treated kiwifruit during the first 10 days of ripening. Kiwifruit samples were randomly divided into two groups: treated and untreated. Flesh firmness, sensory value, visual score, free sugars, soluble solids, ethylene biosynthesis, proteins, dietary fibers, total polyphenols and antioxidant potential were determined in both groups. Ethylene (100 ppm) at 20 degrees C for 24 h was used in the treated group. The flesh firmness and acidity in treated samples decreased significantly in the early stage of ripening simultaneously with significant increase in the contents of free sugars, soluble solids, endogenous ethylene production, sensory value, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) content, ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activities, total polyphenols and related antioxidant potential, and was significantly higher than in untreated samples (P < 0.05). Proteins were extracted from kiwifruit and separated by modified sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The separation was resolved into 14 protein bands. Some minor quality changes were found only in the 32 kDa band, which was more pronounced in the treated samples. In conclusion, ethylene treatment of kiwifruits leads to positive changes in most of the studied kiwifruit compounds and to an increase in the fruit antioxidant potential. It shortens the ripening time and improves fruit quality by decreasing its flesh firmness and acidity. Some minor changes in the protein profile did not affect the fruit taste and quality.     

Effect of controlled volumetric tissue heating with radiofrequency on cellulite and the subcutaneous tissue of the buttocks and thighs

BACKGROUND: Regardless of diet and exercise, genetics plays an important part in creating puckering skin or dimples, which are difficult to hide at any age. The demand for a nonsurgical, noninvasive treatment of cellulite has inspired some manufacturers to invest in a new age of sophisticated devices and treatment therapies to repair the skin and improve contours. Although many of these new choices have demonstrated a smoothing effect (following a multitude of treatments), the objective documentation has in most cases been limited to biopsies, circumference measurements, and photographic evidence. HYPOTHESIS: We believe that the application of noninvasive high-energy radiofrequency (RF) to the skin of the thigh and buttocks heats the subcutaneous adipose tissue, causing collagen fibers to contract. The resulting impact to the subcutaneous tissue and collagen is expected to improve the skin's external architecture. Given that the subcutaneous tissue and adipose tissue are difficult to evaluate through histological methods, this investigation seeks to demonstrate the changes that occur when applying 2 treatments of high-energy RF on the subcutaneous tissue of thighs and buttocks utilizing real-time ultrasound image scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six healthy female patients (ages 18 to 50) with visible bilateral cellulite (grade 1 to 3) on either the buttocks and/or thighs received 2 treatment sessions (15 days apart) of unipolar RF using the Accent RF System (Alma Lasers Inc). The system utilizes a unipolar RF applicator that is electrically cooled to aid in patient comfort during the treatment. Appropriate energy was set and the treatment was delivered in 3 passes of 30 seconds each. Evaluation of the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue on buttocks and thighs took place before the first treatment, second treatment, and 15 days following the second treatment with a with real-time scanning image ultrasound (Philips Medical Systems). Clinical improvement was objectively evaluated through comparative pre- and post-treatment measurements of the distance between the stratum corneum to the Camper's fascia and from the stratum corneum to the muscle. The study also evaluated the structure and changes of the collagen (thickening and realignment of septae) resulting from 2 treatments of RE Photography was used to document contour and superficial changes. RESULTS: From the measurements of the distance between the stratum corneum to the Camper's fascia and from the stratum corneum to the muscle we were able to demonstrate that 68% of the patients presented a contraction of the volume of approximately 20%. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the demonstrated results with real-time ultrasound scanning, we have observed that 2 RF treatments on the subcutaneous tissue of the buttocks and thighs provide a volumetric contraction effect in the majority of patients. This validates the primary hypothesis of our protocol and establishes that the RF energy works on the connective tissue of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. This effect should be the same on any other body part.     

Nitrofurylsemicarbazone rhenium and ruthenium complexes as anti-trypanosomal agents

Rhenium and ruthenium complexes of the type [Re(V)OCl(2)(PPh(3))L] and [Ru(II)Cl(2)(DMSO)(2)L], where L are 5-nitrofurylsemicarbazone derivatives, were prepared in an effort to obtain new anti-trypanosomal agents combining the recognized biological activity of these metals and the trypanocidal activity of the free ligands. Rhenium complexes resulted unstable in aqueous solution not allowing their use as potential drugs. On the other hand, complexation to ruthenium of the bioactive ligands lead to the lack of antiprotozoa activity even though free radical production and redox cycling induction were detected when the compounds were incubated in presence of Trypanosoma cruzi cells. The lack of anti-trypanosomal activity of ruthenium complexes could be explained on the basis of their high protein binding capacity and their high hydrophilicity.