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1.
Nurs Outlook ; 72(4): 102194, 2024 May 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38788270

ABSTRACT

The National Institute of Health (NIH) policy, Consideration of Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) in NIH-funded Research (2015), focuses on the expectation that researchers account for the influence of SABV in vertebrate animal and human studies and provide a strong justification for single-sex investigations. When SABV is considered in the research design, data analyses, and reporting, the rigor and reproducibility of the research are elevated and inform best practices and precision health for all people. Additional recommendations include the appropriate use of terminology, integration into curricula, intersection with social determinants of health, and application of sex and gender equity guidelines when disseminating research. This paper is a "call to action" for nurse researchers to lean into and apply this policy's principles and our recommendations, from the bench to the bedside, to advance the equity and health of all people.

2.
Stress ; 25(1): 258-266, 2022 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35727023

ABSTRACT

Chronic stress is a well-established risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. Caregiving for individuals with cancer is perceived as a chronic stressor yet research on the risk for cardiometabolic disease in this population, opposed to the elderly and those with Alzheimer's disease, is limited. Additionally, few studies have explored the early physiological changes that occur in family caregivers suggesting an elevated risk for illness. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine levels of cardiometabolic risk biomarkers and their correlates in caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer. Caregivers completed questionnaires that measure exposures to stress and vulnerability factors, psychological distress, and health habits as potential correlates. Traditional lipid and nontraditional lipoprotein particle biomarkers (e.g. concentration and size for all lipoprotein classes) were assayed from blood serum. Caregivers (N = 83, mean age = 49.8, 73% female) displayed levels of cardiometabolic biomarkers that suggest an elevated risk for cardiometabolic disease. Caregivers who were Hispanic, married, highly educated, employed, reported more hours spent caregiving daily, experienced higher caregiver burden associated with the lack of family support and impact on schedule, and psychological distress, demonstrated an elevated risk for cardiometabolic disease; primarily determined by nontraditional lipid biomarkers - large TRL-P, LDL-P, small HDL-P, large HDL-P, TRL-Z, LDL-Z and HDL-Z. These findings suggest that traditional lipid biomarkers may not be robust enough to detect early physiological changes associated with cardiometabolic disease risk in family caregivers. Moreover, findings reiterate the importance of assessing caregiver burden and providing evidence-based interventions to manage caregiving stress with the potential to improve caregivers' cardiometabolic health.


Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases , Neoplasms , Caregivers/psychology , Cost of Illness , Cross-Sectional Studies , Family/psychology , Female , Humans , Lipids , Male , Middle Aged , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires
3.
N Engl J Med ; 376(16): 1540-1550, 2017 04 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28423296

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acquired aplastic anemia results from immune-mediated destruction of bone marrow. Immunosuppressive therapies are effective, but reduced numbers of residual stem cells may limit their efficacy. In patients with aplastic anemia that was refractory to immunosuppression, eltrombopag, a synthetic thrombopoietin-receptor agonist, led to clinically significant increases in blood counts in almost half the patients. We combined standard immunosuppressive therapy with eltrombopag in previously untreated patients with severe aplastic anemia. METHODS: We enrolled 92 consecutive patients in a prospective phase 1-2 study of immunosuppressive therapy plus eltrombopag. The three consecutively enrolled cohorts differed with regard to the timing of initiation and the duration of the eltrombopag regimen (cohort 1 received eltrombopag from day 14 to 6 months, cohort 2 from day 14 to 3 months, and cohort 3 from day 1 to 6 months). The cohorts were analyzed separately. The primary outcome was complete hematologic response at 6 months. Secondary end points included overall response, survival, relapse, and clonal evolution to myeloid cancer. RESULTS: The rate of complete response at 6 months was 33% in cohort 1, 26% in cohort 2, and 58% in cohort 3. The overall response rates at 6 months were 80%, 87%, and 94%, respectively. The complete and overall response rates in the combined cohorts were higher than in our historical cohort, in which the rate of complete response was 10% and the overall response rate was 66%. At a median follow-up of 2 years, the survival rate was 97%; one patient died during the study from a nonhematologic cause. Marked increases in bone marrow cellularity, CD34+ cell number, and frequency of early hematopoietic progenitors were noted. Rates of relapse and clonal evolution were similar to our historical experience. Severe rashes occurred in two patients, resulting in the early discontinuation of eltrombopag. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of eltrombopag to immunosuppressive therapy was associated with markedly higher rates of hematologic response among patients with severe aplastic anemia than in a historical cohort. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01623167 .).


Subject(s)
Anemia, Aplastic/drug therapy , Benzoates/therapeutic use , Hematologic Agents/therapeutic use , Hydrazines/therapeutic use , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Pyrazoles/therapeutic use , Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antigens, CD34 , Antilymphocyte Serum/therapeutic use , Benzoates/adverse effects , Cell Count , Cyclosporine/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Hematologic Agents/adverse effects , Humans , Hydrazines/adverse effects , Immunosuppression Therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Pyrazoles/adverse effects , Young Adult
4.
Psychooncology ; 29(11): 1794-1801, 2020 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32672866

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe levels of loneliness in cancer caregivers over a 6 month time period, and to examine factors that influence changes in loneliness in caregivers over time. METHODS: Prospective, repeated measures design was utilized to examine levels of loneliness and factors that influence loneliness in 129 family caregivers of individuals undergoing cancer treatment at three time points over a 6 month period. Measures included: PROMIS global health and sleep disturbance; NIH Toolbox loneliness, self-efficacy and perceived stress; Family Care Inventory mutuality scale; and Caregiver Reaction Assessment. RESULTS: Approximately one third (30.2%, n = 39) of the caregivers had high levels of loneliness, and levels of loneliness did not change over the three time points (P = .985). For any given time point, caregivers who were not married (P = .008), not working (P = .027), with worse mental health (P = .015), more perceived-stress (P < .0001), and more caregiver burden (P = .003) reported higher levels of loneliness. CONCLUSION: This study provides guidance for clinicians attempting to identify at-risk caregivers by confirming the findings of previous research that caregivers with higher burden, stress and in poor mental health are at increased risk for loneliness. This study provides preliminary evidence that continuing to work during the caregiving trajectory may be beneficial to caregivers by reducing levels of loneliness. Future research is needed to confirm these findings and to examine novel interventions to reduce loneliness in cancer caregivers.


Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Loneliness/psychology , Mental Health , Neoplasms/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/nursing , Prospective Studies , Young Adult
5.
J Psychosoc Oncol ; 38(6): 782-798, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32781919

ABSTRACT

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Approximately 2.8 million Americans care for an individual with cancer. Because the literature typically describes caregiving experiences within patient age-groups (e.g., pediatrics, geriatrics), the purpose of this narrative review was to describe common and unique burdens and distress among caregivers of cancer-patients of different ages. LITERATURE SEARCH: We identified representative peer-reviewed manuscripts related to caregivers of pediatric, adolescent, young-, middle-, and late-adult oncology patients. We combined search terms "caregiver" and "cancer" with "burden," "distress," and/or age-related terms ("pediatric" or "geriatric"). Included studies focused on factors of caregiver-burden and distress. DATA EVALUATION/SYNTHESIS: Universal cancer-caregiving experiences include negative impacts on work-productivity, finances, social-/family-dynamics, and physical/emotional health. Age-related life experiences shape outcomes; pediatric caregivers may have fewer financial resources, whereas concurrent comorbidities create challenges for geriatric caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving for cancer patients has universal, shared, and patient age-specific burdens. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Supportive care based on patient-age may improve caregiver well-being.


Subject(s)
Caregiver Burden/psychology , Neoplasms/therapy , Age Distribution , Humans
6.
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant ; 25(7): 1416-1423, 2019 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30796997

ABSTRACT

Patient, caregiver, and family education and support was 1 of 6 key areas of interest identified by the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match 2-year project to prioritize patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) goals for the blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) community. PCOR focuses on research to help patients and their caregivers make informed decisions about health care. Therefore, each area of interest was assigned to a working group with broad representation, including patients, caregivers, and clinicians. Each working group was charged with identifying gaps in knowledge and making priority recommendations for critical research to fill those gaps. The report from this working group presents a conceptual framework to address gaps in knowledge regarding patient and caregiver education in BMT and recommendations for priority research questions on this topic.


Subject(s)
Bone Marrow Transplantation , Bone Marrow , Caregivers , Family , Patient Education as Topic , Patient Outcome Assessment , Female , Humans , Male
7.
Support Care Cancer ; 27(4): 1355-1363, 2019 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30136024

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine social adjustment to illness and to identify factors related to social adjustment in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were drawn from a longitudinal study of patients ≥ 3 years after their first HCT. The five subscales of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS) that reflect social adjustment, specifically vocational environment (VE); domestic environment (DE); sexual relationships (SEX); extended family relationships (ER); and social environment (SE) were examined in this analysis. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) measured cancer-related fatigue. RESULTS: Subjects (N = 171) were a median of 5.19 years from HCT (range 3-16). The most impaired dimension of social adjustment was ER with 38% of participants reaching clinically relevant (score ≥ 62) levels of social maladjustment. Unmarried and unemployed participants had lower levels of social adjustment in VE (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively) and DE (p = .004 and p = .006, respectively). Survivors with some college had poorer SEX adjustment than those with less or more education (p < .005). Hispanics reported lower adjustment with respect to ER adjustment (p = .002). Participants with higher fatigue had poorer adjustment in all five dimensions (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of survivors are well adjusted, subgroups may experience significant poor social adjustment. Specifically, survivors with fatigue are at risk to experience lower levels of social adjustment. Development of effective rehabilitation strategies to improve affected areas of social health is warranted, and all HCT survivors should be screened periodically for social maladjustment and provided with resources and referrals.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Cancer Survivors/psychology , Fatigue/psychology , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Social Adjustment , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/psychology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Sickness Impact Profile , Treatment Outcome
8.
Support Care Cancer ; 27(11): 4253-4264, 2019 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30850889

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) often involves a long hospitalization and recovery period, with patients generally required to have a caregiver. This study aimed to identify transplant center (TC) requirements for a caregiver, describe challenges that impact caregiver availability, and identify potential solutions. METHODS: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach was used. Qualitative data was obtained from focus groups of TC social workers in the United States (US) (three focus groups; n = 15 total participants). Results informed the development of a national, web-based survey that was administered to the primary social worker contact at TCs in the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match Network (n = 133). RESULTS: Respondents included social workers from adult (n = 47) and pediatric (n = 19) TCs (response rate = 49%). The majority (89%) of both adult and pediatric TCs required a caregiver for a patient to proceed to transplant, but requirements varied in length of time, formality, transplant type, and HCT setting. Regardless of transplant type or patient population, social workers identified loss of caregiver income as the greatest challenge to caregiver availability, with the most common solution being allowing patients to have multiple caregivers throughout the transplant course. DISCUSSION: Caregiver availability is an important concern for patients considering and receiving HCT, and may be a barrier proceeding to HCT when a caregiver is unavailable. Results from this study highlight caregiver availability barriers and solutions of TCs across the US. These results can inform TCs about other center experiences with caregiver availability and identify potential practice changes for individual TCs.


Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Social Workers/psychology , Transplantation Conditioning/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and Questionnaires
9.
J Nurs Manag ; 27(3): 599-608, 2019 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30223297

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To examine the health-promoting behaviours performed by registered nurses (RNs), as well as workplace factors that influence participation in those behaviours. BACKGROUND: Nurses have high levels of overweight/obesity and may not be engaging in health-promoting self-care. METHODS: A cross-sectional Web-based survey collected information from 335 RNs regarding their physical activity, sedentariness and fruit/vegetable consumption. RESULTS: More than half were overweight (34.1%) or obese (23.4%), and 80.1% were "sedentary" (≥3 hr sitting/day), particularly those working outside of direct patient care in management, research and education. Only 47.2% consumed 5+ servings of fruits/vegetables daily. Nurses who enjoyed their jobs (higher levels of compassion satisfaction) reported higher levels of physical activity (p = 0.03) and fruit/vegetable consumption (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: RNs who work outside of direct patient care might be at increased risk for sedentariness and obesity. RNs who enjoy their jobs may experience less stress and have more energy to exercise and to prepare/consume healthy meals. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers should practice self-care by engaging in exercise, proper nutrition and demonstrating work-life balance, both to protect their own health and to serve as role models for RNs in direct patient care.


Subject(s)
Health Promotion/standards , Nurses/psychology , Self Care/standards , Adult , Chi-Square Distribution , Cross-Sectional Studies , Exercise/psychology , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Female , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nurses/standards , Obesity/psychology , Self Care/methods , Self Care/psychology , Smoking/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires
10.
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant ; 23(4): 538-551, 2017 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27660168

ABSTRACT

In 2015, the National Institutes of Health convened six working groups to address the research needs and best practices for late effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Working Group, charged with summarizing the HRQOL evidence base, used a scoping review approach to efficiently survey the large body of literature in adult and pediatric HCT survivors over 1 year after transplantation. The goals of this paper are to (1) summarize the current literature describing patient-centered outcomes in survivors, including the various dimensions of health-related quality of life affected by HCT, and describe interventions tested to improve these outcomes; (2) highlight areas with sufficient evidence allowing for integration into standard practice; (3) address methodological issues that restrict progress in this field; (4) identify major gaps to guide future research; and (5) specify priority research recommendations. Patient-centered outcomes were summarized within physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains, as well as for adherence to treatment, and health behaviors. Interventions to improve outcomes were evaluated for evidence of efficacy, although few interventions have been tested in long-term HCT survivors. Methodologic issues defined included lack of consistency in the selection of patient-centered outcome measures, along with the absence of a standard for timing, frequency, and mode of administration. Recommendations for HCT survivorship care included integration of annual screening of patient-centered outcomes, use of evidence-based practice guidelines, and provision of treatment summaries and survivorship care plans after HCT. Three priority research recommendations included the following: (1) design and test risk-targeted interventions with dose-intensity modulation matching the needs of HCT survivors with priority domains, including sexual dysfunction, fatigue, sleep disruption, nonadherence to medications and recommended health care, health behaviors including physical inactivity and healthy eating, and psychological dysfunction, with particular consideration of novel technologies to reach HCT survivors distant from their transplantation centers; (2) design a consensus-based methodologic framework for outcomes evaluation; and (3) evaluate and compare existing practices for integrating patient-centered outcome screening and interventions across HCT survivorship programs.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/standards , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/standards , Humans , National Institutes of Health (U.S.) , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/methods , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Quality of Life/psychology , Research Design/standards , Research Report , Survivors/psychology , United States
11.
Blood ; 123(12): 1818-25, 2014 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24345753

ABSTRACT

About a quarter of patients with severe aplastic anemia remain pancytopenic despite immunosuppressive therapy. We have previously demonstrated that eltrombopag has efficacy in this setting with 44% (11/25) of patients having clinically significant hematologic responses. We now report safety and efficacy data on a further 18 patients and long-term follow-up on the entire cohort of 43 patients. The overall response rate was 17 of 43 patients (40%) at 3 to 4 months, including tri- and bilineage responses. The majority of patients who remained on eltrombopag in an extension study (14/17) continued to show improvement, and 7 eventually had significant increases in neutrophil, red cell, and platelet lineages. Five patients with robust near-normalization of blood counts had drug discontinued at a median of 28.5 months after entry (range, 9-37 months), and all maintained stable counts a median of 13 months (range, 1-15 months) off eltrombopag. Eight patients, including 6 nonresponders and 2 responders, developed new cytogenetic abnormalities on eltrombopag, including 5 with chromosome 7 loss or partial deletion. None evolved to acute myeloid leukemia to date. Eltrombopag is efficacious in a subset of patients with aplastic anemia refractory to immunosuppressive therapy, with frequent multilineage responses and maintenance of normalized hematopoiesis off treatment. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00922883.


Subject(s)
Anemia, Aplastic/drug therapy , Benzoates/therapeutic use , Hematopoiesis/drug effects , Hydrazines/therapeutic use , Pyrazoles/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anemia, Aplastic/blood , Anemia, Aplastic/genetics , Benzoates/administration & dosage , Benzoates/adverse effects , Bone Marrow/drug effects , Bone Marrow/pathology , Clonal Evolution/drug effects , Clonal Evolution/genetics , Female , Hematologic Agents/administration & dosage , Hematologic Agents/adverse effects , Hematologic Agents/therapeutic use , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/drug effects , Humans , Hydrazines/administration & dosage , Hydrazines/adverse effects , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Pyrazoles/administration & dosage , Pyrazoles/adverse effects , Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists , Young Adult
12.
Stress ; 19(2): 175-84, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26949170

ABSTRACT

There is growing evidence linking caregiver stress with an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. While the emotional and practical burden experienced by caregivers is well established, the physiological changes that may affect the caregiver's health are less understood. This study sought to compare self-reported stress, anxiety and depression along with neuroendocrine and immune markers of stress among adult caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients during the acute transplant recovery period to matched non-caregivers controls. Biomarkers and self-reported data were collected at three points during the patient's HSCT: (1) before transplant, (2) after initial transplantation discharge (±7 days) and (3) 6 weeks after initial transplantation discharge. Mixed linear modeling was used to examine differences by group and time. Twenty-one caregivers and 20 controls completed all study procedures. The majority of caregivers were female (57% or 57.1%) and married (95.2%), with a mean age of 52 ± 11.4 years. Caregiver perceived stress, anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.001) with effect sizes (ES) ranging from 1.37 to 1.80 and they did not change over time (p > 0.05) for either group. Caregivers had significantly lower serum cortisol levels than controls at both discharge (p = 0.013; ES = 0.81) and 6 weeks after discharge (p = 0.028; ES = 0.72) but exhibited no significant relationship between self-reported stress and serum cortisol. In addition, caregivers showed a significant inverse relationship between stress and epinephrine levels (r(s)=-0.654, p = 0.021). These findings support the evidence of the caregiving experience being stressful. The counter-intuitive relationship between cortisol and epinephrine might suggest dysregulation of the HPA axis and central nervous system but additional research on the physiological impact of caregiving is warranted.


Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/nursing , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology , Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology , Stress, Psychological/physiopathology , Adult , Anxiety/etiology , Anxiety/physiopathology , Anxiety/psychology , Cost of Illness , Depression/etiology , Depression/physiopathology , Depression/psychology , Emotions/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Stress, Psychological/complications , Stress, Psychological/psychology
13.
Support Care Cancer ; 24(3): 1167-74, 2016 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26275767

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is performed in select centers in the United States (U.S.), and patients are often required to temporarily relocate to receive care. The purpose of this study was to identify housing barriers impacting access to HCT and potential solutions. METHODS: A mixed-methods primary study of HCT social workers was conducted to learn about patient housing challenges and solutions in place that help address those barriers. Three telephone focus groups were conducted with adult and pediatric transplant social workers (n = 15). Focus group results informed the design of a national survey. The online survey was e-mailed to a primary social worker contact at 133 adult and pediatric transplant centers in the U.S. Transplant centers were classified based on the patient population cared for by the social worker. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 49%. Among adult programs (n = 45), 93% of centers had patients that had to relocate closer to the transplant center to proceed with HCT. The most common type of housing option offered was discounted hotel rates. Among pediatric programs (n = 20), 90% of centers had patients that had to relocate closer to the transplant center to proceed with HCT. Ronald McDonald House was the most common option available. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to explore housing challenges faced by patients undergoing HCT in the U.S. from the perspective of social workers and to highlight solutions that centers use. Transplant centers will benefit from this knowledge by learning about options for addressing housing barriers for their patients.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Housing/standards , Social Workers/psychology , Transplantation Conditioning/methods , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male
14.
Brain Behav Immun ; 46: 168-79, 2015 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25653192

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine (NE) is one of the primary catecholamines of the sympathetic nervous system released during a stress response and plays an important role in modulating immune function. NE binds to the adrenergic receptors on immune cells, including T cells, resulting in either suppressed or enhanced function depending on the type of cell, activation status of the cell, duration of NE exposure and concentration of NE. Here, we aim to analyze the effects of NE on the functionality of naïve (Tn), central memory (Tcm) and effector memory (Tem) CD8 T cells. METHODS: We isolated CD8 T cell subsets from healthy human adults and treated cells in vitro with NE (1×10(-6)M) for 16h; we then stimulated NE treated and untreated CD8 T cell subsets with antibodies for CD3 and CD28 for 24 and 72h. We assessed the level of beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) expression in these cells as well as global gene expression changes in NE treated Tcm cells by microarray analysis. Altered expressed genes after NE treatment were identified and further confirmed by RT-qPCR, and by ELISA for protein changes. We further determined whether the observed NE effects on memory CD8 T cells are mediated by ADRB2 using specific adrenergic receptor agonist and antagonists. Finally, we examined the levels of mRNA and protein of the NE-induced genes in healthy adults with high serum levels of NE (>150pg/mL) compared to low levels (<150pg/mL). RESULTS: We found that memory (Tcm and Tem) CD8 T cells expressed a significantly higher level of ADRB2 compared to naïve cells. Consequently, memory CD8 T cells were significantly more sensitive than naïve cells to NE induced changes in gene expressions in vitro. Global gene expression analysis revealed that NE induced an elevated expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in resting and activated memory CD8 T cells in addition to a reduced expression of growth-related cytokines. The effects of NE on memory CD8 T cells were primarily mediated by ADRB2 as confirmed by the adrenergic receptor agonist and antagonist assays. Finally, individuals with high serum levels of NE had similar elevated gene expressions observed in vitro compared to the low NE group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that NE preferentially modulates the functions of memory CD8 T cells by inducing inflammatory cytokine production and reducing activation-induced memory CD8 T cell expansion.


Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cytokines/metabolism , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Norepinephrine/pharmacology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Humans , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism
15.
J Psychosoc Oncol ; 33(6): 635-54, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26315721

ABSTRACT

Research suggests that spiritual well-being positively contributes to quality of life during and following cancer treatment. This relationship has not been well-described in ethnically diverse survivors of allogeneic transplantation.  This study compares spiritual well-being and quality of life of Hispanic (n = 69) and non-Hispanic (n = 102) survivors. Hispanic participants were significantly younger and reported significantly greater spiritual well-being than non-Hispanic survivors. Survivors with higher spiritual well-being had significantly better quality of life. Meaning and Peace significantly predicted quality of life. Although Hispanic survivors report greater spiritual well-being, Meaning and Peace, irrespective of ethnicity, have a salutary effect on quality of life.


Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/ethnology , Hispanic or Latino/psychology , Quality of Life , Spirituality , Survivors/psychology , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/psychology , Hispanic or Latino/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Survivors/statistics & numerical data , Transplantation, Homologous , Young Adult
16.
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant ; 20(3): 387-95, 2014 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24355521

ABSTRACT

The number of survivors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) continues to increase, yet their survivorship experience has not been fully characterized. This study examines the health status and health-related quality of life (HRQL) of HSCT survivors. The aims of the study were to: (1) explore the baseline and change over time in these health outcomes, and (2) characterize subgroups experiencing adverse outcomes. In this longitudinal study, adults who survived >3 years from date of allogeneic HSCT completed a series of patient-reported outcome measures annually, including measures of health status, HRQL, and symptoms. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Subjects (N = 171) were on average 44 (±13.5) years of age and primarily male (62.6%); 40% were Hispanic. Mean scores for physical and mental health and HRQL were preserved relative to population norms. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed no significant change in the mean trajectories of these outcomes, although significant between-individual variability was observed. When controlling for demographic and clinical factors, physical symptom distress negatively affected all outcomes. The impact of symptom distress on physical health varied based on time since HSCT; impairment in physical health was greatest in survivors experiencing high symptom distress and who were within the first decade post transplantation. Extended treatment with systemic immunosuppressive therapy also predicted inferior physical health. These findings suggest that patient-centered outcomes are preserved relative to normative values and are generally stable after allogeneic HSCT, although survivors with persistent symptoms and those receiving systemic immunosuppression experience impairments in health status and HRQL.


Subject(s)
Hematologic Neoplasms/psychology , Hematologic Neoplasms/therapy , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Quality of Life/psychology , Stress, Psychological/physiopathology , Survivors/psychology , Adult , Female , Health Status , Hematologic Neoplasms/immunology , Hematologic Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Mental Health , Middle Aged , Patient Outcome Assessment , Transplantation, Homologous
17.
Res Nurs Health ; 37(5): 423-36, 2014 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25176315

ABSTRACT

Family caregiving is a significant rite of passage experienced by family caregivers of individuals with protracted illness or injury. In an integrative review of 26 studies, we characterized family caregiving from the sociocultural perspective of liminality and explored associated psychosocial implications. Analysis of published evidence on this dynamic and formative transition produced a range of themes. While role ambiguity resolved for most, for others, uncertainty and suffering continued. The process of becoming a caregiver was transformative and can be viewed as a rebirth that is largely socially and culturally driven. The transition to family caregiving model produced by this review provides a holistic perspective on this phenomenon and draws attention to aspects of the experience previously underappreciated. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Caregivers/psychology , Chronic Disease/nursing , Family/psychology , Humans , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Uncertainty
18.
Nurs Outlook ; 62(5): 339-45, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25015409

ABSTRACT

All nurses are interested in the effects of diseases and treatments on individuals. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are used to obtain self-reported information about symptoms, function, perceptions, and experiences. However, there are challenges to their use, including multiple measures of the same concept, widely varying quality, excessive length and complexity, and difficulty comparing findings across studies and conditions. To address these challenges, the National Institutes of Health funded the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), a web-based repository of valid and reliable PRO measures of health concepts relevant to clinician and researchers. Through the PROMIS Assessment Center, clinicians and researchers can access PRO measures, administer computerized adaptive tests, collect self-report data, and report instant health assessments. The purpose of this article was to summarize the development and validation of the PROMIS measures and to describe its current functionality as it relates to nursing science.


Subject(s)
Data Collection/methods , Data Collection/standards , Diagnostic Self Evaluation , Nursing Research/methods , Patient Outcome Assessment , Quality of Life , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Program Evaluation , Psychometrics/methods , Psychometrics/standards , United States
20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22927885

ABSTRACT

Background. Yoga shows promise as a therapeutic intervention, but relationships between yoga practice and health are underexplored. Purpose. To examine the relationship between yoga practice and health (subjective well-being, diet, BMI, smoking, alcohol/caffeine consumption, sleep, fatigue, social support, mindfulness, and physical activity). Methods. Cross-sectional, anonymous internet surveys distributed to 4307 randomly selected from 18,160 individuals at 15 US Iyengar yoga studios; 1045 (24.3%) surveys completed. Results. Mean age 51.7 (± 11.7) years; 84.2% female. Frequency of home practice favorably predicted (P < .001): mindfulness, subjective well-being, BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, vegetarian status, sleep, and fatigue. Each component of yoga practice (different categories of physical poses, breath work, meditation, philosophy study) predicted at least 1 health outcome (P < .05). Conclusions. Home practice of yoga predicted health better than years of practice or class frequency. Different physical poses and yoga techniques may have unique health benefits.

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