Research on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: An Observational Pilot Study.

Objective: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy has been very effective intervention across worldwide. Herein we aimed to investigate the effect of MBSR intervention on anxiety, depression among breast cancer patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy. Methods: 225 breast cancer patients in our hospital were divided into two groups, 106 patients in the MBSR group received Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention, while 111 patients in the control group were given routine nursing. The Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast cancer (FACT-B) were used to assess the effect of MBSR intervention on breast cancer patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy. Results: There were significant differences in the scores of physiological statuses, social and family status, emotional status, functional status, additional attention and total score after intervention between two groups (P < .05). The difference between SDS and SAS were statistically significant between the two groups (P < .05). The score of SDS and SAS were significantly improved in the MBSR group compared with the control group (P < .05). Conclusion: MBSR therapy could effectively improve the quality of life of patients with breast cancer patients with chemotherapy, mainly focusing on psychological aspects, while the effect of the physiological intervention was not significant.

The cGAS-STING signaling in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: Future novel target option for pharmacotherapy.

The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling exert essential regulatory function in microbial-and onco-immunology through the induction of cytokines, primarily type I interferons. Recently, the aberrant and deranged signaling of the cGAS-STING axis is closely implicated in multiple sterile inflammatory diseases, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, aortic aneurysm and dissection, obesity, etc. This is because of the massive loads of damage-associated molecular patterns (mitochondrial DNA, DNA in extracellular vesicles) liberated from recurrent injury to metabolic cellular organelles and tissues, which are sensed by the pathway. Also, the cGAS-STING pathway crosstalk with essential intracellular homeostasis processes like apoptosis, autophagy, and regulate cellular metabolism. Targeting derailed STING signaling has become necessary for chronic inflammatory diseases. Meanwhile, excessive type I interferons signaling impact on cardiovascular and metabolic health remain entirely elusive. In this review, we summarize the intimate connection between the cGAS-STING pathway and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. We also discuss some potential small molecule inhibitors for the pathway. This review provides insight to stimulate interest in and support future research into understanding this signaling axis in cardiovascular and metabolic tissues and diseases.

Shenmai Injection Protects Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Maintaining Mitochondrial Homeostasis.

Shenmai injection (SMI), as a patented traditional Chinese medicine, is extracted from Panax ginseng and Ophiopogon japonicus. It commonly used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and in the control of cardiac toxicity induced by doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. However, its anti-cardiotoxicity mechanism remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying mitochondrial protective mechanisms of SMI on DOX-induced myocardial injury. The cardioprotective effect of SMI against DOX-induced myocardial damage was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice and H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In vivo, myocardial injury, apoptosis and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB/Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3ß) signaling pathway related proteins were measured. In vitro, apoptosis, mitochondrial superoxide, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial morphology, levels of mitochondrial fission/fusion associated proteins, mitochondrial respiratory function, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity were assessed. To further elucidate the regulating effects of SMI on AMPK and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway, compound C and LY294002 were utilized. In vivo, SMI decreased mortality rate, levels of creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-MB. SMI significantly prevented DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction and apoptosis, decreased levels of Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved-Caspase3, increased levels of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-GSK-3ß. In vitro, SMI rescued DOX-injured H9c2 cardiomyocytes from apoptosis, excessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and descending mitochondrial membrane potential, which were markedly suppressed by LY294002. SMI increased ratio of L-OPA1 to S-OPA1, levels of AMPK phosphorylation, and DRP1 phosphorylation (Ser637) in order to prevent DOX-induced excessive mitochondrial fission and insufficient mitochondrial fusion. In conclusion, SMI prevents DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, inhibits mitochondrial oxidative stress and mitochondrial fragmentation through activation of AMPK and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway.

[Rat plasma metabolomics in blood stasis model based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry].

Acute blood stasis syndrome was induced in rats by adrenaline hydrochloride and ice water. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was conducted on plasma metabolites of normal and model rats. Principal component analysis (PCA), differentiation analysis of supervised partial least squares method (PLS-DA), and orthogonal to partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) on metabolomics data for multidimensional statistical analysis were employed, and the resulting biomarkers were screened. Compared to the normal group, there were 46 endogenous metabolites in blood stasis-rat plasma. Of these, 21 metabolites were significantly upregulated, such as acetylcholine, N6,N6,N6-trimethyl-L-lysine, cytosine, and acetylcarnitine, while 25 metabolites were reduced, including indoleacrylic acid, and lysoPC(14:0). These metabolites were mainly related to metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, galactose metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, glycolysis, and arachidonic acid metabolism. In conclusion, these results indicated that metabolites could be used as important biomarkers for blood stasis syndrome, and could help in revealing the mechanism of blood stasis disease and provide a reference network to determine the disease development stage and appropriate follow-up treatment. Studying altered metabolites in blood stasis model rats can provide insights useful for the diagnosis of blood stasis in the clinic and for the development of drug therapies.

The relationship of social support, mental health, and health-related quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus-positive men who have sex with men: From the analysis of canonical correlation and structural equation model: A cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study was to reveal the relationships of mental health, social support, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as well as their dimensions in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).HIV-positive MSM were interviewed by a cross-sectional study design using the world Health Organization quality of life bref scale, social support rating scale, and self-rated anxiety and depression scales. Canonical correlation analysis and structural equation model (SEM) were utilized to analyze to the collected data.Three first pair of canonical variables that was statistically significant (P < .0001) and verified could account for the largest cumulative proportion were computed from canonical correlation analysis. The results showed, among the dimensions, depression and anxiety were negatively correlated with support utilization and physical health, while subjective support and support utilization were positively correlation with social relationship health. Structural equation model results showed that support utilization (0.632, T = 10.44), depression (0.816, T = 20.37), and environmental dimension (0.833, T = 38.47) had the largest standardized factor loading in social support, mental health, and HRQOL. The structural coefficient between social support and mental health was -0.433 (T = -5.88), between mental health and HRQOL was -0.592 (T = -10.33), between social support and HRQOL was 0.290 (T = 4.10), indicated social support not only exerted a direct influence, but also mediated mental health to have an indirect effect on HRQOL for HIV-positive MSM.Environmental dimension is the foremost factor of HRQOL for HIV-positive MSM. Alleviating anxiety symptoms maybe improve physical health, while promoting the support utilization is an effective measure of alleviating depression and improving social relationship health for this special group.