The Use of Novel Instrumented Socks to Detect Changes in Daily Life Mobility During an Exercise Intervention in Prostate Cancer Survivors Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To describe changes in daily life mobility in prostate cancer survivors treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) after a 6-month exercise intervention using novel instrumented socks and to identify characteristics of participants who exhibited changes in daily life mobility. METHODS: A subset of participants in a fall prevention exercise trial completed objective tests and patient-reported surveys of physical functioning, and wore instrumented socks for up to 7 days to measure daily life mobility. Changes in cadence, double support proportion, and pitch angle of the foot at toe-off were selected as measures of daily life mobility previously found to be different in men exposed to ADT for prostate cancer versus controls. Daily life mobility was compared from baseline to 6 months using paired t-tests. Characteristics of responders who improved their daily life mobility were compared to nonresponders using two-sample t-tests, Chi-squared proportion tests, or Fisher's Exact Tests. RESULTS: Our sample included 35 prostate cancer survivors (mean age 71.6 ± 7.8 years). Mean cadence, double support proportion, and pitch angle at toe-off did not change significantly over 6 months of exercise, but 14 participants (40%) improved in at least two of three daily life mobility measures ("responders"). Responders were characterized by lower physical functioning, lower cadence in daily life, fewer comorbidities, and better social and mental/emotional functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Certain daily life mobility measures potentially impacted by ADT could be measured with instrumented socks and improved by exercise. Men who start with lower physical functioning and better social and mental/emotional functioning appear most likely to benefit, possibly because they have more to gain from exercise and are able to engage in a 6-month intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Technology-based approaches could provide nurses with an objective measure of daily life mobility for patients with chronic illness and detect who is responding to rehabilitation.

Program evaluation of trauma-informed yoga for vulnerable populations.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is highly prevalent among vulnerable populations, including those who are incarcerated, in treatment for substance use, or seeking mental health services. Trauma-informed yoga seeks to create a safer yoga practice for individuals with a trauma history and may improve emotional and physical wellbeing. Thus, we conducted an evaluation of a trauma-informed yoga program to gain insight into participant experiences. METHODS: Trauma-informed yoga classes were led by trained volunteers and held in three sectors that work with vulnerable populations: corrections and reentry, substance use treatment and recovery, and community and mental health. Data were collected via anonymous survey using a retrospective pre-post design. The survey instrument captured reasons for student participation and perceived effects of yoga on emotional and physical wellbeing. RESULTS: Students were motivated to participate in yoga classes by expectations of physical, mental, and spiritual benefit. Students reported perceived improvements in emotional and physical wellbeing and greater use of self-regulation skills after starting yoga. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest trauma-informed yoga is perceived as beneficial by vulnerable individuals, especially those in the correctional system or recovering from substance use. Our results support the value of offering trauma-informed yoga in institutionalized and community settings. Improvements in emotional and physical wellbeing warrant formal study.

Integration of Cot analysis, DNA cloning, and high-throughput sequencing facilitates genome characterization and gene discovery.

Cot-based sequence discovery represents a powerful means by which both low-copy and repetitive sequences can be selectively and efficiently fractionated, cloned, and characterized. Based upon the results of a Cot analysis, hydroxyapatite chromatography was used to fractionate sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genomic DNA into highly repetitive (HR), moderately repetitive (MR), and single/low-copy (SL) sequence components that were consequently cloned to produce HRCot, MRCot, and SLCot genomic libraries. Filter hybridization (blotting) and sequence analysis both show that the HRCot library is enriched in sequences traditionally found in high-copy number (e.g., retroelements, rDNA, centromeric repeats), the SLCot library is enriched in low-copy sequences (e.g., genes and "nonrepetitive ESTs"), and the MRCot library contains sequences of moderate redundancy. The Cot analysis suggests that the sorghum genome is approximately 700 Mb (in agreement with previous estimates) and that HR, MR, and SL components comprise 15%, 41%, and 24% of sorghum DNA, respectively. Unlike previously described techniques to sequence the low-copy components of genomes, sequencing of Cot components is independent of expression and methylation patterns that vary widely among DNA elements, developmental stages, and taxa. High-throughput sequencing of Cot clones may be a means of "capturing" the sequence complexity of eukaryotic genomes at unprecedented efficiency.