For whom and what outcomes does cognitive-behavioral-therapy work among cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of CBT for individuals diagnosed with cancer across a broad range of outcome domains, i.e., functional health, psychological health, health behaviors, social relational, and general wellness. METHODS: A comprehensive search of 7 databases, 91 published reviews, and 4 professional websites was performed on August 30th, 2021. English-language clinical trials of CBT for cancer patients/survivors were included. Studies were independently screened, and data were extracted by 2 reviewers, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus among the investigative team. A total of 151 clinical trials (154 articles) published between 1986 and 2021 were included in the analysis. RESULTS: CBT was overall effective for cancer patients/survivors in the domains of functional health, g = 0.931, p < 0.001, psychological health, g = 0.379, p < 0.001, and general wellness, g = 0.257, p < 0.001, but ineffective in domains of health behaviors, g = 0.792, p > 0.05, and social relational outcomes, g = 0.319, p > 0.05. Additional subgroup and moderator analyses further revealed CBT's differential treatment effect for different within domain outcomes, across different cancer disease stages, and CBT delivery format. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the study showed that CBT is an effective treatment for individuals diagnosed with cancer. However, treatment effects differ by important disease- and intervention-related factors, which should be considered when recommending CBT for cancer patients/survivors.

A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analyses to Assess the Effectiveness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Self-testing Distribution Strategies.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to identify which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing (HIVST) distribution strategies are most effective. METHODS: We abstracted data from randomized controlled trials and observational studies published between 4 June 2006 and 4 June 2019. RESULTS: We included 33 studies, yielding 6 HIVST distribution strategies. All distribution strategies increased testing uptake compared to standard testing: in sub-Saharan Africa, partner HIVST distribution ranked highest (78% probability); in North America, Asia, and the Pacific regions, web-based distribution ranked highest (93% probability), and facility based distribution ranked second in all settings. Across HIVST distribution strategies HIV positivity and linkage was similar to standard testing. CONCLUSIONS: A range of HIVST distribution strategies are effective in increasing HIV testing. HIVST distribution by sexual partners, web-based distribution, as well as health facility distribution strategies should be considered for implementation to expand the reach of HIV testing services.

Risk and protective factors of posttraumatic stress disorder among African American women living with HIV.

We sought to examine risk and protective factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among African American women living with HIV. This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized trial of an HIV stigma reduction intervention. We examined data from two-hundred and thirty-nine African American women living with HIV. We examined whether age, marital status, level of education, internalized HIV-related stigma, and social support as potential protective and risk factors for PTSD symptoms using logistic regression. We analyzed bi-variate associations between each variable and PTSD symptoms, and constructed a multivariate logistic regression model adjusting for all variables. We found 67% reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms at baseline. Our results suggest that age, education, and internalized stigma were found to be associated with PTSD symptoms (p < 0.001), with older age and more education as protective factors and stigma as a risk factor for PTSD. Therefore, understanding this relationship may help improve assessment and treatment through evidence- based and trauma-informed strategies.

Undercutting of marine-terminating glaciers in West Greenland.

Marine-terminating glaciers control most of Greenland's ice discharge into the ocean, but little is known about the geometry of their frontal regions. Here we use side-looking, multibeam echo sounding observations to reveal that their frontal ice cliffs are grounded deeper below sea level than previously measured and their ice faces are neither vertical nor smooth but often undercut by the ocean and rough. Deep glacier grounding enables contact with subsurface, warm, salty Atlantic waters (AW) which melts ice at rates of meters per day. We detect cavities undercutting the base of the calving faces at the sites of subglacial water (SGW) discharge predicted by a hydrological model. The observed pattern of undercutting is consistent with numerical simulations of ice melt in which buoyant plumes of SGW transport warm AW to the ice faces. Glacier undercutting likely enhances iceberg calving, impacting ice front stability and, in turn, the glacier mass balance.

Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in improving functional health in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors suffer from health deficits caused by their disease and treatment. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on how, and to what extent, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) impacts functional health outcomes in cancer survivors. METHODS: We searched 7 electronic databases, 91 published review articles, and 4 professional websites for eligible randomized and non-randomized controlled trials focusing on cancer survivors. RESULTS: We included 95 studies published between 1986 and 2021. Risk of bias across studies was low overall. We identified an overall statistically significant treatment effect size across functional health categories, d = 0.391, p < 0.001, and significant moderators associated with CBT's treatment effect, i.e., treatment phase and type of comparison. CONCLUSIONS: CBT was effective at improving functional health outcomes of cancer survivors, regardless of therapy delivery modality or number of cancer diagnoses patients had, but not for newly diagnosed patients or those currently benefiting from an active comparator intervention.

Absolute measurements of photoluminescence quantum yields of solutions using an integrating sphere.

We demonstrate that absolute measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yield of solutions can be made using an integrating sphere and a conventional fluorimeter. With this method the need for measurements against a luminescence standard is overcome. The sphere is mounted inside a commercial fluorimeter, which gives flexibility in excitation and emission wavelength ranges. A number of compounds have been investigated and the results are compared to literature values and data obtained using a comparative method.