ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: About one third of breast cancer survivors suffer from persistent severe fatigue after completion of curative cancer treatment. Face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (F2F CBT), especially designed for fatigue in cancer survivors, was found effective in reducing fatigue. However, this intervention is intensive and treatment capacity is limited. To extend treatment options, a web-based version of CBT requiring less therapist time was developed. This intervention is aimed at changing fatigue-perpetuating cognitions and behaviors. The efficacy of web-based CBT will be examined in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. METHODS: In total, 132 severely fatigued breast cancer survivors will be recruited and randomized to either an intervention condition or care as usual (ratio 1:1). Participants will be assessed at baseline and 6 months thereafter. The intervention group will receive web-based CBT, consisting of three F2F sessions and maximally eight web-based modules over a period of 6 months. The care as usual group will be on a waiting list for regular F2F CBT. The total duration of the waiting list is 6 months. The primary outcome of the study is fatigue severity. Secondary outcomes are functional impairments, psychological distress and quality of life. DISCUSSION: If web-based CBT is effective, it will provide an additional treatment option for fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Web-based CBT is expected to be less time-consuming for therapists than regular F2F CBT, which would result in an increased treatment capacity. Moreover, the intervention would become more easily accessible for a larger number of patients, and patients can save travel time and costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Registry--NTR4309.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/complications , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Fatigue/therapy , Internet , Adult , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Fatigue/psychology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Quality of Life , Severity of Illness Index , Survivors/psychologyABSTRACT
Four plastid genes, psaA, psaB, psbD and psbC, were localized on the barley plastid genome. PsaA was adjacent to psaB in one transcription unit and psbD was adjacent to psbC in a second transcription unit. The transcription units containing psaA-psaB and psbD-psbC are separated by approximately 25 kbp on the barley plastid genome and are transcribed convergently. Transcripts hybridizing to each transcription unit were characterized by northern blot analysis, S1 protection experiments and primer extension analysis. Two 5.3 kb transcripts hybridize to psaA-psaB. The two transcripts have a common 5' end but differ at their 3' ends by about 26 nucleotides. The transcription unit which contains psbD-psbC also includes trnS(UGA), trnG(GCC), and an open reading frame which codes for a 62 amino acid protein. Six large transcripts ranging from 5.7 kb to 1.7 kb hybridize to the psbD-psbC transcription unit as well as several RNAs of tRNA size. The large transcripts arise from three 5' ends and two clusters of 3' ends. The 3' ends map near trnG(GCC) and trnS(UGA) and could be generated by RNA processing or termination of transcription. Two of the six transcripts hybridize to psbC but not psbD suggesting that translation of psbD and psbC could occur on separate RNAs.
Subject(s)
Chloroplasts/metabolism , Edible Grain/genetics , Genes , Hordeum/genetics , Plants/genetics , Transcription, Genetic , Biological Evolution , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
DNA probes isolated from previously mapped spinach genes were used to locate 5 genes on pea ctDNA by heterologous hybridization. The genes mapped include psbC, psaA, psaB, psbB, and petB. PsbB and petB mapped to a 6.7 kbp XbaI DNA fragment adjacent to the petD gene. Northern probes from within the DNA which codes for psbB and petD hybridized to 6 RNAs ranging from 1.2 to 5.6 kbp. The psaA and psaB genes, which code for 65-70 kDa proteins of Photosystem I, were mapped to a 7.5 kbp. XbaI DNA fragment. A 5.8 kbp RNA is transcribed from the region which contains the psaA and psaB genes suggesting that these genes are co-transcribed. Finally the psbC gene which codes for a 44 kDa chlorophyll-protein of Photosystem II was mapped to a 12.3 kbp PstI DNA fragment. The pea psbC open reading frame overlaps the psbD coding sequence and this gene pair is within 3 kbp of the psaA-psaB genes. Overall, the organization of the 3 gene clusters analyzed in peas is similar to that reported for spinach.
ABSTRACT
The DNA encoding the luciferase alpha and beta subunits in the luminous marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi (strain 392) is contained within a 4.0-kilobase HindIII fragment. DNA from V. harveyi was digested with HindIII, and the resulting fragments were inserted into the HindIII site of plasmid pBR322. The recombinant plasmids were introduced by transformation into Escherichia coli RR1. The colonies were supplied with n-decanal, the substrate for the bioluminescence reaction, and 12 colonies (of ca. 6000 total) were observed to luminesce brightly. One of the recombinant plasmids, pTB7, has been studied in detail. The high level of expression of bioluminescence in pTB7 was the result not of native V. harveyi promoters but rather of a promoter in pBR322 which is within the tetracycline resistance gene but oriented in the direction opposite to the transcription of the tetracycline gene. Using antiluciferase antibody to probe proteins transferred from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to nitro-cellulose paper, we have shown that the E. coli transformants produce luciferase that cross-reacts with antiluciferase antibody and is the same molecular weight as V. harveyi luciferase. No alpha subunit could be detected by using antiluciferase antibody in lysates of a subclone, pTB104, which is identical with pTB7 except for deletion of the beta-subunit gene. Thus, the alpha subunit may be unstable and be degraded unless it is associated with beta. The bioluminescence emission spectra of V. harveyi and of E. coli transformants carrying pTB7 are indistinguishable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)