Associations between CD70 methylation of T cell DNA and age in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus and population controls: The Michigan Lupus Epidemiology & Surveillance (MILES) Program.

BACKGROUND: Environmental factors can influence epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, potentially contributing to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development and progression. We compared methylation of the B cell costimulatory CD70 gene, in persons with lupus and controls, and characterized associations with age. RESULTS: In 297 adults with SLE and 92 controls from the Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance (MILES) Cohort, average CD70 methylation of CD4+ T cell DNA across 10 CpG sites based on pyrosequencing of the promoter region was higher for persons with SLE compared to controls, accounting for covariates [ß = 2.3, p = 0.011]. Using Infinium MethylationEPIC array data at 18 CD70-annoted loci (CD4+ and CD8+ T cell DNA), sites within the promoter region tended to be hypomethylated in SLE, while those within the gene region were hypermethylated. In SLE but not controls, age was significantly associated with pyrosequencing-based CD70 methylation: for every year increase in age, methylation increased by 0.14 percentage points in SLE, accounting for covariates. Also within SLE, CD70 methylation approached a significantly higher level in Black persons compared to White persons (ß = 1.8, p = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: We describe altered CD70 methylation patterns in T lymphocyte subsets in adults with SLE relative to controls, and report associations particular to SLE between methylation of this immune-relevant gene and both age and race, possibly a consequence of "weathering" or accelerated aging which may have implications for SLE pathogenesis and potential intervention strategies.

Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment.

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Patients with breast cancer commonly use complementary and integrative therapies as supportive care during cancer treatment and to manage treatment-related side effects. However, evidence supporting the use of such therapies in the oncology setting is limited. This report provides updated clinical practice guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology on the use of integrative therapies for specific clinical indications during and after breast cancer treatment, including anxiety/stress, depression/mood disorders, fatigue, quality of life/physical functioning, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, pain, and sleep disturbance. Clinical practice guidelines are based on a systematic literature review from 1990 through 2015. Music therapy, meditation, stress management, and yoga are recommended for anxiety/stress reduction. Meditation, relaxation, yoga, massage, and music therapy are recommended for depression/mood disorders. Meditation and yoga are recommended to improve quality of life. Acupressure and acupuncture are recommended for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Acetyl-L-carnitine is not recommended to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy due to a possibility of harm. No strong evidence supports the use of ingested dietary supplements to manage breast cancer treatment-related side effects. In summary, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of integrative therapies, especially mind-body therapies, as effective supportive care strategies during breast cancer treatment. Many integrative practices, however, remain understudied, with insufficient evidence to be definitively recommended or avoided. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:194-232. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Cost-related prescription non-adherence and patient-reported outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: The Michigan Lupus Epidemiology & Surveillance program.

OBJECTIVES: Medication access and adherence play key roles in determining patient outcomes. We investigated whether cost-related non-adherence (CRNA) to prescription medications was associated with worse patient-reported outcomes in a population-based systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort. METHODS: Sociodemographic and prescription data were collected by structured interviews in 2014-2015 from patients meeting SLE criteria in the established Michigan Lupus Epidemiology & Surveillance (MILES) Cohort. We examined the associations between CRNA and potential confounders such as sociodemographics and health insurance coverage, and outcome measures of SLE activity and damage using multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: 462 SLE participants completed the study visit: 430 (93.1%) female, 208 (45%) Black, and mean age 53.3 years. 100 (21.6%) participants with SLE reported CRNA in the preceding 12 months. After adjusting for covariates, CRNA was associated with both higher levels of current SLE disease activity [SLAQ: ß coeff 2.7 (95% CI 1.3, 4.1), p < 0.001] and damage [LDIQ ß coeff 1.4 (95% CI 0.5, 2.4), p = 0.003]. Race, health insurance status, and fulfilling Fibromyalgia (FM) Survey Criteria were independently associated with both higher (worse) SLAQ and LDIQ scores; female sex was further associated with higher SLAQ scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with SLE who reported CRNA in the previous 12 months had significantly worse self-reported current disease activity and damage scores compared to those not reporting CRNA. Raising awareness and addressing barriers or concerns related to financial implications and accessibility issues in care plans may help to improve these outcomes.

Impact of the Integrative Oncology Scholars Program on Oncology Providers' Key Knowledge of Dietary Supplements and Antioxidants for Providing Evidence-based Oncology Care.

Dietary supplements are commonly used among cancer survivors. Oncology providers rarely receive training about dietary supplements. We evaluated whether e-learning modules could improve oncology providers' dietary supplement knowledge. Oncology providers participated in the National Cancer Institute funded Integrative Oncology Scholars (IOS) program. We used posttest readiness assurance tests (RAT) to measure knowledge acquisition from modules. One cohort completed a pre and posttest RAT to assess change in knowledge. Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for gender, race, profession, and years in practice were used to determine if these characteristics were associated with posttest RAT performance and change in pre to posttest RAT scores. Scholars (N = 101) included 86% (N = 87) females; age 44 ± 10 years; 72% (N = 73) Non-Hispanic White; years in practice mean range 11-15 ± 10. There were 37 physicians, 11 physician assistants, 23 nurses, 21 social workers, 2 psychologists, 4 pharmacists, and 2 physical therapists. The posttest dietary supplement and antioxidant RAT scores for all Scholars were 67 ± 18% and 71 ± 14%. In adjusted models there were no significant associations between dietary supplement and antioxidant posttest RAT scores with Scholar characteristics. Change in RAT scores for dietary supplement and antioxidants were 25% ± 23 and 26% ± 27 (P < 0.0001). In adjusted models, there were no significant predictors of change in dietary supplement RATs. For antioxidant RATs, profession was associated with change in scores (P = 0.021). Improvement in Scholar's test scores demonstrate the IOS program can significantly increase oncology providers' knowledge of dietary supplements and antioxidants.

Education Competencies for Integrative Oncology-Results of a Systematic Review and an International and Interprofessional Consensus Procedure.

Integrative oncology is a burgeoning field and typically provided by a multiprofessional team. To ensure cancer patients receive effective, appropriate, and safe care, health professionals providing integrative cancer care should have a certain set of competencies. The aim of this project was to define core competencies for different health professions involved in integrative oncology. The project consisted of two phases. A systematic literature review on published competencies was performed, and the results informed an international and interprofessional consensus procedure. The second phase consisted of three rounds of consensus procedure and included 28 experts representing 7 different professions (medical doctors, psychologists, nurses, naturopathic doctors, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, yoga practitioners, patient navigators) as well as patient advocates, public health experts, and members of the Society for Integrative Oncology. A total of 40 integrative medicine competencies were identified in the literature review. These were further complemented by 18 core oncology competencies. The final round of the consensus procedure yielded 37 core competencies in the following categories: knowledge (n = 11), skills (n = 17), and abilities (n = 9). There was an agreement that these competencies are relevant for all participating professions. The integrative oncology core competencies combine both fundamental oncology knowledge and integrative medicine competencies that are necessary to provide effective and safe integrative oncology care for cancer patients. They can be used as a starting point for developing profession-specific learning objectives and to establish integrative oncology education and training programs to meet the needs of cancer patients and health professionals.

Prescription Opioid Use in Patients With and Without Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance Program, 2014-2015.

Rheumatic diseases are a leading cause of chronic, noncancer pain. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by periodic flares that can result in irreversible target organ damage, including end-stage renal disease. Both intermittent and chronic musculoskeletal pain, as well as fibromyalgia (considered a centralized pain disorder due to dysregulation of pain processing in the central nervous system), are common in SLE. Opioids are generally not indicated for long-term management of musculoskeletal pain or centralized pain (fibromyalgia) because of lack of efficacy, safety issues ranging from adverse medical effects to overdose, and risk for addiction (1,2). In this study of 462 patients with SLE from the population-based Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance (MILES) Cohort and 192 frequency-matched persons without SLE, nearly one third (31%) of SLE patients were using prescription opioids during the study period (2014-2015), compared with 8% of persons without SLE (p<0.001). Among the SLE patients using opioids, 97 (68%) were using them for >1 year, and 31 (22%) were concomitantly on two or more opioid medications. Among SLE patients, those using the emergency department (ED) were approximately twice as likely to use prescription opioids (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-3.6; p = 0.004). In SLE, the combined contributions of underlying disease and adverse effects of immunosuppressive and glucocorticoid therapies already put patients at higher risk for some known adverse effects attributed to long-term opioid use. Addressing the widespread and long-term use of opioid therapy in SLE will require strategies aimed at preventing opioid initiation, tapering and discontinuation of opioids among patients who are not achieving treatment goals of reduced pain and increased function, and consideration of nonopioid pain management strategies.

Diets for Health: Goals and Guidelines.

Diet is the single most significant risk factor for disability and premature death. Patients and physicians often have difficulty staying abreast of diet trends, many of which focus primarily on weight loss rather than nutrition and health. Recommending an eating style can help patients make positive change. Dietary patterns that support health include the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the Healthy Eating Plate. These approaches have benefits that include prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. These dietary patterns are supported by strong evidence that promotes a primary focus on unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables, plant-based fats and proteins, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Added sugars should be limited to less than 5% to 10% of daily caloric intake. Vegetables (not including potatoes) and fruits should make up one-half of each meal. Carbohydrate sources should primarily include beans/legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. An emphasis on monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax, cold-water fish, and nuts, helps prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline. A focus on foods rather than macronutrients can assist patients in understanding a healthy diet. Addressing barriers to following a healthy diet and utilizing the entire health care team can assist patients in following these guidelines.

Pilot clinical study of the effects of ginger root extract on eicosanoids in colonic mucosa of subjects at increased risk for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant cause of mortality. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and thus prostaglandin E2, are promising CRC preventives, but have significant toxicities. Ginger has been shown to inhibit COX, to decrease the incidence and multiplicity of adenomas, and decrease PGE2 concentrations in subjects at normal risk for CRC. This study was conducted to determine the effects of 2.0 g/d of ginger given orally on the levels of PGE2, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 13-hydroxy-octadecadienoic acids, and 5-, 12-, & 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, in the colonic mucosa of subjects at increased risk for CRC. We randomized 20 subjects to 2.0 g/d ginger or placebo for 28 d. At baseline and Day 28, a flexible sigmoidoscopy was used to obtain colon biopsies. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method was used to determine eicosanoid levels in the biopsies, and levels were expressed per amount of protein or free arachidonic acid (AA). There was a significant decrease in AA between baseline and Day 28 (P = 0.05) and significant increase in LTB4 (P = 0.04) when normalized to protein, in subjects treated with ginger versus placebo. No other changes in eicosanoids were observed. There was no difference between the groups in total adverse events (AE; P = 0.06). Ginger lacks the ability to decrease eicosanoid levels in people at increased risk for CRC. Ginger did appear to be both tolerable and safe; and could have chemopreventive effects through other mechanisms. Further investigation should focus on other markers of CRC risk in those at increased CRC risk.

Self-administered Acupressure for Persistent Cancer-related Fatigue: Fidelity Considerations.

CONTEXT: Complementary therapies are frequently used by breast cancer patients for symptom management; however, documentation of the components of intervention fidelity for studies is not widely available. OBJECTIVE: This report examines the components of intervention fidelity, as put forth by the Treatment Fidelity Workgroup of the Behavior Change Consortium at the National Institutes for Health (NIH-BCC Workgroup), within an ongoing acupressure study of breast cancer survivors with persistent cancer-related fatigue (PCRF). DESIGN: For the acupressure study, the research team designed a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) with 3 parallel groups: (1) stimulating acupressure (intervention group); (2) relaxing acupressure (intervention group); and (3) standard care (control group). SETTING: At baseline and at wk 3 and wk 6 of the study, women in the acupressure study attended sessions for training and data collection at clinics in the counties of Michigan where they lived. The self-administration of acupressure occurred in participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: Targeted enrollment for the acupressure study is 300 breast cancer survivors who had experienced moderate-to-severe PCRF lasting longer than 1 y beyond treatment. The women are being recruited from 5 counties in Michigan, using the Michigan Tumor Registry to identify potential participants. The subsample report includes 183 participants who have completed all 10 wk of the acupressure study. Most participants in the acupressure study are Caucasian, are married, and have some college education. INTERVENTION: The acupressure study's educators teach participants in the intervention groups to self-administer either relaxing or stimulating acupressure for a 30-min period on a daily basis for 6 wk. All 3 groups receive the usual care for breast cancer survivors. OUTCOME MEASURES: For the acupressure study, the participants log the frequency of the self-administered acupressure sessions and their fatigue levels. Symptom assessments are made for all groups by telephone in the acupressure study at wk 2 through wk 5 to assess fatigue. A competency checklist is used at each session of training and retraining of both acupressure educators and participants. For this report, the 5 recommended fidelity components for interventions are (1) dose, (2) training, (3) intervention delivery, (4) intervention receipt, and (5) enactment of the intervention. RESULTS: The ongoing RCT incorporated all 5 components of fidelity and can serve as a model for future work in this area. CONCLUSIONS: Research protocols that address intervention fidelity can provide results that support internal and external validity. Clinicians should consider recommending complementary interventions that have incorporated fidelity components into their efficacy testing.

Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: An Update on the Guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: ASCO and the Society for Integrative Oncology have collaborated to develop guidelines for the application of integrative approaches in the management of anxiety, depression, fatigue and use of cannabinoids and cannabis in patients with cancer. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes and quality of life by enhancing conventional cancer treatment with integrative modalities. METHODS: All studies that informed the guideline recommendations were reviewed by an Expert Panel which was made up of a patient advocate, an ASCO methodologist, oncology providers, and integrative medicine experts. Panel members reviewed each trial for quality of evidence, determined a grade quality assessment label, and concluded strength of recommendations. RESULTS: Strong recommendations for management of cancer fatigue during treatment were given to both in-person or web-based mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and tai chi or qigong. Strong recommendations for management of cancer fatigue after cancer treatment were given to mindfulness-based programs. Clinicians should recommend against using cannabis or cannabinoids as a cancer-directed treatment unless within the context of a clinical trial. The recommended modalities for managing anxiety included Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), yoga, hypnosis, relaxation therapies, music therapy, reflexology, acupuncture, tai chi, and lavender essential oils. The strongest recommendation in the guideline is that MBIs should be offered to people with cancer, both during active treatment and post-treatment, to address depression. CONCLUSION: The evidence for integrative interventions in cancer care is growing, with research now supporting benefits of integrative interventions across the cancer care continuum.

Self-administered acupressure for veterans with chronic back pain: Study design and methodology of a type 1 hybrid effectiveness implementation randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain is prevalent and disabling in Veterans, but effective pain management is challenging. Clinical practice guidelines emphasize multimodal pain management including evidence-based complementary and integrative health treatments such as acupressure as a first line of care. Unfortunately, the ability to replicate interventions, cost, resources, and limited access are implementation barriers. Self-administered acupressure has shown positive effects on pain and can be practiced anywhere with little to no side effects. METHODS/DESIGN: The aims of this Type 1 hybrid effectiveness implementation randomized controlled trial are 1) to determine effectiveness of a self-administered acupressure protocol at improving pain interference and secondary outcomes of fatigue, sleep quality, and disability in 300 Veterans with chronic low back pain, and 2) evaluate implementation barriers and facilitators to scale-up acupressure utilization within Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Participants randomized to the intervention will receive instruction on acupressure application using an app that facilitates daily practice for 6 weeks. During weeks 6 through 10, participants will discontinue acupressure to determine sustainability of effects. Participants randomized to waitlist control will continue their usual care for pain management and receive study materials at the end of the study period. Outcomes will be collected at baseline and at 6- and 10-weeks post baseline. The primary outcome is pain interference, measured by the PROMIS pain interference scale. Using established frameworks and a mixed methods approach, we will evaluate intervention implementation. DISCUSSION: If acupressure is effective, we will tailor strategies to support implementation in the VHA based on study findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05423145.

Hyperinsulinemic and Pro-Inflammatory Dietary Patterns and Metabolomic Profiles Are Associated with Increased Risk of Total and Site-Specific Cancers among Postmenopausal Women.

We evaluated associations of the Empirical Dietary Index for Hyperinsulinemia (EDIH), Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) and Healthy Eating Index (HEI2015) and their metabolomics profiles with the risk of total and site-specific cancers. We used baseline food frequency questionnaires to calculate dietary scores among 112,468 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for cancer risk estimation. Metabolomic profile scores were derived using elastic-net regression with leave-one-out cross validation. In over 17.8 years, 18,768 incident invasive cancers were adjudicated. Higher EDIH and EDIP scores were associated with greater total cancer risk, and higher HEI-2015 with lower risk: HRQ5vsQ1(95% CI): EDIH, 1.10 (1.04-1.15); EDIP, 1.08 (1.02-1.15); HEI-2015, 0.93 (0.89-0.98). The multivariable-adjusted incidence rate difference(Q5vsQ1) for total cancer was: +52 (EDIH), +41 (EDIP) and -49 (HEI-2015) per 100,000 person years. All three indices were associated with colorectal cancer, and EDIH and EDIP with endometrial and breast cancer risk. EDIH was further associated with luminal-B, ER-negative and triple negative breast cancer subtypes. Dietary patterns contributing to hyperinsulinemia and inflammation were associated with greater cancer risk, and higher overall dietary quality, with lower risk. The findings warrant the testing of these dietary patterns in clinical trials for cancer prevention among postmenopausal women.

Feasibility study of a modified yoga program for chronic pain among elderly adults in assisted and independent living.

CONTEXT: Yoga improves quality of life in elders ≥65 years, but studies among elders with chronic pain are limited. OBJECTIVE: Conduct a feasibility study of gentle yoga among elders in assisted and independent living. DESIGN: Single arm pre/post clinical trial. SUBJECTS: Adults (≥65 years of age) with self-identified chronic pain (≥3 on a 10-point scale, lasting for ≥3 months) and no current yoga practice. INTERVENTION: Ten weekly 60-min gentle yoga classes tailored to elderly adults. OUTCOME MEASURES: At baseline, weeks 5, 10 (end of intervention), and 20 (follow-up), we collected data on feasibility (adherence, retention, safety), pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and physical function. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants enrolled (88% women, 77% white, 58% in assisted living) with average age of 86.6 ± 4.4 (Mean, STD). Twenty participants completed the intervention, with 90% adhering (completing ≥6 classes). Nine participants (45% of completers) experienced adverse events, which were non-serious and related to transient musculoskeletal pain. No adverse events resulted in study withdrawal. Participants reported being somewhat likely to recommend yoga to a friend, and quite a bit likely to do yoga again. At the end of the intervention, four of twenty participants reported practicing yoga outside of class. Anxiety significantly decreased from 5.80 (SE=0.90) to 4.44 (SE=0.74) (p = 0.014), but there were no changes in other measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot 10-week yoga study was generally safe for and suitable to assisted and independent living elderly adults. Future studies are needed to examine other effects of yoga in assisted/independent living adults with chronic pain.

Relaxation acupressure reduces persistent cancer-related fatigue.

Persistent cancer-related fatigue (PCRF) is a symptom experienced by many cancer survivors. Acupressure offers a potential treatment for PCRF. We investigated if acupressure treatments with opposing actions would result in differential effects on fatigue and examined the effect of different "doses" of acupressure on fatigue. We performed a trial of acupressure in cancer survivors experiencing moderate to severe PCRF. Participants were randomized to one of three treatment groups: relaxation acupressure (RA), high-dose stimulatory acupressure (HIS), and low-dose stimulatory acupressure (LIS). Participants performed acupressure for 12-weeks. Change in fatigue as measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) was our primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were assessment of blinding and compliance to treatment. Fatigue was significantly reduced across all treatment groups (mean ± SD reduction in BFI: RA 4.0 ± 1.5, HIS 2.2 ± 1.6, LIS 2.7 ± 2.2), with significantly greater reductions in the RA group. In an adjusted analysis, RA resulted in significantly less fatigue after controlling for age, cancer type, cancer stage, and cancer treatments. Self-administered RA caused greater reductions in fatigue compared to either HIS or LIS. The magnitude of the reduction in fatigue was clinically relevant and could represent a viable alternative for cancer survivors with PCRF.

Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Despite being the most commonly used herbal for sleep disorders, chamomile's (Matricaria recutita) efficacy and safety for treating chronic primary insomnia is unknown. We examined the preliminary efficacy and safety of chamomile for improving subjective sleep and daytime symptoms in patients with chronic insomnia. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial in 34 patients aged 18-65 years with DSM-IV primary insomnia for ≥ 6-months. Patients were randomized to 270 mg of chamomile twice daily or placebo for 28-days. The primary outcomes were sleep diary measures. Secondary outcomes included daytime symptoms, safety assessments, and effect size of these measures. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in changes in sleep diary measures, including total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep quality, and number of awakenings. Chamomile did show modest advantage on daytime functioning, although these did not reach statistical significance. Effect sizes were generally small to moderate (Cohen's d ≤ 0.20 to < 0.60) with sleep latency, night time awakenings, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), having moderate effect sizes in favor of chamomile. However, TST demonstrated a moderate effect size in favor of placebo. There were no differences in adverse events reported by the chamomile group compared to placebo. CONCLUSION: Chamomile could provide modest benefits of daytime functioning and mixed benefits on sleep diary measures relative to placebo in adults with chronic primary insomnia. However, further studies in select insomnia patients would be needed to investigate these conclusions.

A Multi-Mineral Intervention to Modulate Colonic Mucosal Protein Profile: Results from a 90-Day Trial in Human Subjects.

The overall goal of this study was to determine whether Aquamin®, a calcium-, magnesium-, trace element-rich, red algae-derived natural product, would alter the expression of proteins involved in growth-regulation and differentiation in colon. Thirty healthy human subjects (at risk for colorectal cancer) were enrolled in a three-arm, 90-day interventional trial. Aquamin® was compared to calcium alone and placebo. Before and after the interventional period, colonic biopsies were obtained. Biopsies were evaluated by immunohistology for expression of Ki67 (proliferation marker) and for CK20 and p21 (differentiation markers). Tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry-based detection was used to assess levels of multiple proteins. As compared to placebo or calcium, Aquamin® reduced the level of Ki67 expression and slightly increased CK20 expression. Increased p21 expression was observed with both calcium and Aquamin®. In proteomic screen, Aquamin® treatment resulted in many more proteins being upregulated (including pro-apoptotic, cytokeratins, cell-cell adhesion molecules, and components of the basement membrane) or downregulated (proliferation and nucleic acid metabolism) than placebo. Calcium alone also altered the expression of many of the same proteins but not to the same extent as Aquamin®. We conclude that daily Aquamin® ingestion alters protein expression profile in the colon that could be beneficial to colonic health.

Integrative Oncology Education: An Emerging Competency for Oncology Providers.

A growing number of cancer patients use complementary and alternative therapies during and after conventional cancer treatment. Patients are often reluctant to discuss these therapies with their oncologist, and oncologists may have limited knowledge and confidence on how to advise patients on the appropriate use. Integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field that utilizes mind-body practices, lifestyle modifications and/or natural products interwoven with conventional cancer treatment. It prioritizes safety and best available evidence to offer appropriate interventions alongside conventional care. There are few opportunities for oncologists to learn about integrative oncology. In this commentary, we highlight the Integrative Oncology Scholars (IOS) program as a means to increase competency in this growing field. We provide an overview of several integrative oncology modalities that are taught through this program, including lifestyle modifications, physical activity, and mind-body interventions. We conclude that as more evidence is generated in this field, it will be essential that oncology healthcare providers are aware of the prevalent use of these modalities by their patients and cancer centers include Integrative Oncology trained physicians and other healthcare professionals in their team to discuss and recommend evidence-based integrative oncology therapies alongside conventional cancer treatments to their patients.

Access and Cost-Related Nonadherence to Prescription Medications Among Lupus Patients and Controls: The Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance Program.

OBJECTIVE: Medication access and adherence are important determinants of health outcomes. We investigated factors associated with access and cost-related nonadherence to prescriptions in a population-based cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and controls. METHODS: Detailed sociodemographic and prescription data were collected by structured interview in 2014-2015 from participants in the Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance (MILES) cohort. We compared access between cases and frequency-matched controls and examined associated factors in separate multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 654 participants (462 SLE patients, 192 controls) completed the baseline visit; 584 (89%) were female, 285 (44%) were Black, and the mean age was 53 years. SLE patients and controls reported similar frequencies of being unable to access prescribed medications (12.1% versus 9.4%, respectively; P was not significant). SLE patients were twice as likely as controls to report cost-related prescription nonadherence in the preceding 12 months to save money (21.7% versus 10.4%; P = 0.001) but were also more likely to ask their doctor for lower cost alternatives (23.8% versus 15.6%; P = 0.02). Disparities were found in association with income, race, and health insurance status, but the main findings persisted after adjusting for these and other variables in multivariable models. CONCLUSION: SLE patients were more likely than controls from the general population to report cost-related prescription nonadherence, including skipping doses, taking less medicine, and delaying filling prescriptions; yet, <1 in 4 patients asked providers for lower cost medications. Consideration of medication costs in patient decision-making could provide a meaningful avenue for improving access and adherence to medications.

A Calcium-Rich Multimineral Intervention to Modulate Colonic Microbial Communities and Metabolomic Profiles in Humans: Results from a 90-Day Trial.

Aquamin is a calcium-, magnesium-, and multiple trace element-rich natural product with colon polyp prevention efficacy based on preclinical studies. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of Aquamin on colonic microbial community and attendant metabolomic profile. Thirty healthy human participants were enrolled in a 90-day trial in which Aquamin (delivering 800 mg of calcium per day) was compared with calcium alone or placebo. Before and after the intervention, colonic biopsies and stool specimens were obtained. All 30 participants completed the study without serious adverse event or change in liver and renal function markers. Compared with pretreatment values, intervention with Aquamin led to a reduction in total bacterial DNA (P = 0.0001) and a shift in the microbial community measured by thetaYC (θYC; P = 0.0087). Treatment with calcium also produced a decline in total bacteria, but smaller than seen with Aquamin, whereas no reduction was observed with placebo in the colon. In parallel with microbial changes, a reduction in total bile acid levels (P = 0.0375) and a slight increase in the level of the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) acetate in stool specimens (P < 0.0001) from Aquamin-treated participants were noted. No change in bile acids or SCFAs was observed with calcium or placebo. We conclude that Aquamin is safe and tolerable in healthy human participants and may produce beneficial alterations in the colonic microbial community and the attendant metabolomic profile. Because the number of participants was small, the findings should be considered preliminary.