Barriers to and facilitators of adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercises and vaginal dilator use among gynecologic cancer patients: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Women with gynecologic cancer may suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Before radiotherapy, prehabilitation with pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) and vaginal dilator (VD) might prevent it and foster sexual life. This study aims to explore the experience of gynecologic cancer patients getting external beam radiation treatments regarding barriers to and facilitators of adherence to a prehabilitation program to prevent PFD. METHODS: This qualitative research with thematic content analysis included 11 women with gynecologic cancer and different levels of adherence to PFME and VD. Participants were interviewed based on a semi-structured script. The information was analyzed manually, assisted with Nvivo12® software, and triangulated with open coding. RESULTS: High self-motivation, desire to improve their health, symptoms of improvement, availability of time, the desire to resume sexual life, and the support of the partner were facilitators of adherence. The instructional exercise audio, clarity of the information, and closer communication with the physical therapist were also valued. The main barriers were general malaise secondary to oncological treatments, forgetfulness, lack of time, misinformation, lack of coordination with the treatment team, discomfort with the VD, and a feeling of shame. Feedback from the attending physician was a facilitator when present or a barrier when absent. CONCLUSION: These barriers and facilitators should be considered when designing and implementing preventive programs with PFME and VD. Behavioral counselling should consider the desire to remain sexually active; in such cases, including the partner in the therapeutic process is appraised. Otherwise, the focus should be on benefits for maintenance of pelvic floor function.

CRISPR/Cas13-Based Platforms for a Potential Next-Generation Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer through Exosomes Micro-RNA Detection: A Review.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer with the second highest mortality rate worldwide. CRC is a heterogenous disease with multiple risk factors associated, including obesity, smoking, and use of alcohol. Of total CRC cases, 60% are diagnosed in late stages, where survival can drop to about 10%. CRC screening programs are based primarily on colonoscopy, yet this approach is invasive and has low patient adherence. Therefore, there is a strong incentive for developing molecular-based methods that are minimally invasive and have higher patient adherence. Recent reports have highlighted the importance of extracellular vesicles (EVs), specifically exosomes, as intercellular communication vehicles with a broad cargo, including micro-RNAs (miRNAs). These have been syndicated as robust candidates for diagnosis, primarily for their known activities in cancer cells, including immunoevasion, tumor progression, and angiogenesis, whereas miRNAs are dysregulated by cancer cells and delivered by cancer-derived exosomes (CEx). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has shown good results detecting specific cancer-derived exosome micro-RNAs (CEx-miRNAs) associated with CRC, but qPCR also has several challenges, including portability and sensitivity/specificity issues regarding experiment design and sample quality. CRISPR/Cas-based platforms have been presented as cost-effective, ultrasensitive, specific, and robust clinical detection tools in the presence of potential inhibitors and capable of delivering quantitative and qualitative real-time data for enhanced decision-making to healthcare teams. Thereby, CRISPR/Cas13-based technologies have become a potential strategy for early CRC diagnosis detecting CEx-miRNAs. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas13-based platforms' ease of use, scalability, and portability also showcase them as a potential point-of-care (POC) technology for CRC early diagnosis. This study presents two potential CRISPR/Cas13-based methodologies with a proposed panel consisting of four CEx-miRNAs, including miR-126, miR-1290, miR-23a, and miR-940, to streamline novel applications which may deliver a potential early diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.

Pre-rehabilitation of the pelvic floor before radiation therapy for cervical cancer: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to evaluate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function regarding strength, activation and incontinence, approximately 1 month before and after radiation therapy in women with cervical cancer. METHODS: This was a pilot study of 49 women with cervical cancer at stages I to III. These women attended an educational session with a physical therapist who taught them to perform preventive pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs; slow and fast contractions and the "knack") at home before, during and after radiation therapy. The women received instructions for performing PFME prior to radiation therapy. The modified Oxford scale, electromyography (EMG), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form to assess urinary incontinence and two questions for faecal and gas incontinence were used. RESULTS: Twenty-eight women (57%; mean age = 44 years, range 27-66) completed the study, 21 (43%) were lost to follow-up. There was no significant change from baseline to post-radiation therapy in muscle strength, EMG records and incontinence (p > 0.05). The median of PFM strength was equal at baseline and after intervention (median = 2; IQR = 1). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that pre-rehabilitation teaching PFMEs might be a protective factor for preserving PFM strength and preventing incontinence 1 month after radiation therapy. It is a feasible intervention.

Vaginal Dilator and Pelvic Floor Exercises for Vaginal Stenosis, Sexual Health and Quality of Life among Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation: Clinical Report.

This clinical report aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of vaginal dilator (VD) and pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) on vaginal stenosis, sexual health and quality of life among women undergoing radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer; PFME were instructed prior to radiotherapy with six-month follow-up. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed for the 28 women. At four-months after radiotherapy, most of the women (90.9%) maintained/increased one size of the VD and were sexually active (81.8%). Adherence to VD was high. Regarding quality of life, there was more limitation in emotional functioning. VD and PFME were effective at preventing stenosis.

Autopercepción de aumento de volumen de extremidades superiores y cuatro criterios diagnósticos para linfedema en mujeres tratadas por cáncer de mama / Self-perception of upper limbs swelling and four diagnostic criteria for lymphedema in women treated for breast cancer

La autopercepción de aumento de volumen de extremidad superior, puede ser una herramienta eficaz en la pesquisa e intervención temprana del linfedema. El objetivo del estudio fueverificar la asociación entre autopercepción de aumento de volumen de extremidad superior y criterios objetivos de uso común para linfedema en mujeres tratadas por cáncer de mama. Se evaluaron 112 mujeres con cáncer de mama, quienes tenían entre 6 y 18 meses post cirugía. Se realizó el cálculo de volumetría indirecta de extremidades superiores, a través de cuatro criterios diagnósticos basados en diferencia de volumen de extremidades (≥2 cm, ≥ 200 mL, ≥10% ≥20%). La autopercepción de volumen fue evaluada con una pregunta. Para el análisis de datos, se utilizó la prueba de chi cuadrado. La media de edad fue 56,3 años (DE=13,1). La prevalencia observada para el criterio de diferencia de volumen ≥ 200 mL fue de 13,4%, 17% para criterio ≥10%, 6,25% para criterio ≥ 20% y 33% para criterio ≥2 cm. Stemmer fue positivo en 51,8% y fóvea positiva en 17,9% de las mujeres. La autopercepción de aumento de volumen se asoció con los criterios ≥ 200 mL y ≥10% y con la presencia de Stemmer y fóvea (p<0,05). En conclusión, la información entregada por las pacientes respecto de la autopercepción del volumen de su extremidad, se asoció con los criterios diagnósticos de linfedema más conservadores, así como para la presencia de signos de Stemmer y fóvea positiva. Estos se debiera considerar dentro de la evaluación clínica.

Self-perception of upper limbs swelling can be an effective tool in diagnostic and early intervention of lymphedema. The aim of the present paper was to verify the association between self-perception of swelling of upper extremities and objective criteria commonly used for lymphedema diagnostic in women treated for breast cancer. We evaluated 112 women with breast cancer between 6- and 18-months post-surgery. Indirect calculation of the volume of upper extremities through four criteria commonly used was employed (≥2 cm, ≥ 200 mL, ≥10%, ≥20%). The self-perception of swelling was evaluated with a question. The chi square test was used for data analysis. The mean age was 56.3 years (DE=13.1). The prevalence of lymphedema according to limb volume difference ≥ 200 ml criterion was 13.4%; 17% for criterion ≥10 %; 6.25% for criterion ≥ 20%; and 33% for criterion ≥2 cm. Stemmer was positive in 51.8% and 17.9% women presented positive fovea. Self-perception of swelling was associated with the criteria ≥ 200 mL and ≥10 % and the presence of positive Stemmer and fovea (p <0.05). In conclusion, the information provided by the patient about her perception of swelling, is associated with objective diagnostic criteria and the Stemmer and fovea positive signs. Self-perception should be considered in the clinical evaluation.