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Journal of Cancer Survivorship :... Feb 2024The St. Jude's After Completion of Therapy (ACT) Clinic was established in 1984 to address the needs of long-term survivors treated at St. Jude Children's Research... (Review)
Review
The St. Jude's After Completion of Therapy (ACT) Clinic was established in 1984 to address the needs of long-term survivors treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Survivors eligible for transfer to ACT Clinic include those treated at St. Jude who are cancer-free, 5 years from diagnosis (5 years after completion of relapse therapy), and 2 years after completion of therapy. Services provided to clinic attendees include transportation, housing, and medical care costs not covered by insurance. The clinic's mission is to improve the quality of life of survivors by facilitating their access to resources that optimize physical and emotional health, social functioning, and educational and vocational achievement. ACT evaluations are undertaken by a multidisciplinary team comprised of nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, social workers, psychologists, and other medical subspecialists as needed. ACT interventions include the organization of a survivorship care plan/treatment summary, risk-based health screening, counseling about health risks/risk mitigation, comprehensive psychosocial assessment, assistance with care transitions, and case management for identification of local resources. The ACT Clinic offers educational opportunities to graduate medical trainees and precepts national and international visitors seeking guidance in the development of survivorship programs. The ACT Clinic also provides a robust infrastructure for research investigations that have aimed to characterize health outcomes in long-term survivors and test interventions to prevent/remediate adverse effects of childhood cancer and its therapy. Findings from research facilitated by the ACT Clinic have informed health surveillance recommendations for long-term survivors and guided interventions to promote healthy aging among this growing population. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: This review describes a model of care that addresses the medical and psychosocial challenges of survivorship while integrating research investigations to improve health outcomes among childhood cancer survivors.
Topics: Child; Humans; Cancer Survivors; Quality of Life; Survivors; Neoplasms; Hospitals
PubMed: 38294599
DOI: 10.1007/s11764-023-01519-6 -
The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Sep 2021Although contemporary analytical methods are available for application to data which exhibit a lack of equality of variances or a lack of normality in the error...
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Although contemporary analytical methods are available for application to data which exhibit a lack of equality of variances or a lack of normality in the error distribution, little guidance is provided for selecting the methods of data handling and analysis which best fit color difference data for stained esthetic materials.
PURPOSE
The purposes of this in vitro study were to apply information criteria of analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods of differing error distributions and covariance structures when analyzing color differences to determine the degree of alienation among 3 Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) color difference formulae to assess the linearity of relationships among these formulae and to independently assess differences among various computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD-CAM) materials in any color change after common forms of staining over time.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Hybrid ceramic, resin nanoceramic, feldspathic-ceramic, and lithium-disilicate ceramic specimens (N=128) were subjected to staining from water, tea, coffee, and red wine over 1, 7, and 30 days, with color differences calculated from baseline. Akaike information criteria (AIC) and Bayesian information criteria (BIC) values were determined for Gaussian and lognormal error distributions at covariance structures of standard variance components and compound-symmetry. The analysis of variance used to analyze any significant effects on these color differences was the one with the lowest AIC and BIC values. Then, for each solution, day, and CIE color difference formula, any significant difference in the color differences between all pairs of materials was found by Bonferroni-corrected Student t tests. Those statistically significant pairwise comparisons where the larger of the color differences met or exceeded the acceptability threshold were labeled as statistically and visually noteworthy.
RESULTS
For this color difference data set, the lognormal error distribution and the covariance structure of compound symmetry provided the best AIC and BIC. Because the interaction between material, solution, and day was statistically significant (P<.001), pairwise comparisons were made between all pairs of materials for each level of solution and day studied. Noteworthy differences were identified, where hybrid ceramic and resin nanoceramic each had color changes after staining in coffee and red wine that were greater than each of feldspathic-ceramic and lithium-disilicate ceramic.
CONCLUSIONS
AIC and BIC values evaluate distinctively the Gaussian and lognormal error distributions when analyzing highly varying color differences. Although there is a high linear correlation between the 3 color difference formulae studied, each formula is unique, and each represents a different assessment of the perceived color difference. CAD-CAM materials, staining liquids, and time points affected the notable color changes.
Topics: Bayes Theorem; Ceramics; Color; Computer-Aided Design; Dental Materials; Dental Porcelain; Esthetics, Dental; Humans; Materials Testing; Surface Properties
PubMed: 32958303
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2020.08.006 -
Journal of Career Development Aug 2023Veterans living with mental health conditions have ambitious career goals and want support to find employment that meets their interests and preferences. Despite calls...
Veterans living with mental health conditions have ambitious career goals and want support to find employment that meets their interests and preferences. Despite calls from researchers to "invest" and "commit" to career development research and practice for individuals living with psychiatric conditions, we still do not have empirically tested models for facilitating career development among individuals with mental health conditions, especially veterans. This qualitative study investigates the career development needs and recommended intervention strategies of veterans living with mental health conditions. Vocational counselors from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation services ( = 13) participated in semi-structured focus groups. Findings illuminate the tasks, barriers, interventions, implementation strategies, and transitional work context that hinder and support career development of veterans with mental health conditions. Findings offer theoretical and applied guidance to researchers and counselors regarding career development of veterans living with mental health conditions.
PubMed: 37463233
DOI: 10.1177/08948453221137344 -
RSC Advances Mar 2024Nanoparticle (NP) drug delivery systems have shown promise in tumor therapy. However, limitations such as susceptibility to immune clearance and poor targeting in a... (Review)
Review
Nanoparticle (NP) drug delivery systems have shown promise in tumor therapy. However, limitations such as susceptibility to immune clearance and poor targeting in a complex intercellular environment still exist. Recently, cancer cell membrane-encapsulated nanoparticles (CCM-NPs) constructed using biomimetic nanotechnology have been developed to overcome these problems. Proteins on the membrane surface of cancer cells can provide a wide range of activities for CCM-NPs, including immune escape and homologous cell recognition properties. Meanwhile, the surface of the cancer cell membrane exhibits obvious antigen enrichment, so that CCM-NPs can transmit tumor-specific antigen, activate a downstream immune response, and produce an effective anti-tumor effect. In this review, we first provided an overview of the functions of cancer cell membranes and summarized the preparation techniques and characterization methods of CCM-NPs. Then, we focused on the application of CCM-NPs in tumor therapy. In addition, we summarized the functional modifications of cancer cell membranes and compiled the patent applications related to CCM-NPs in recent years. Finally, we proposed the future challenges and directions of this technology in order to provide guidance for researchers in this field.
PubMed: 38567339
DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01026d -
PloS One 2021Located in the Eurasian continent's hinterland, Xinjiang is a typical arid and resource-developing region in China's northwest. Problems such as excessive resource...
Located in the Eurasian continent's hinterland, Xinjiang is a typical arid and resource-developing region in China's northwest. Problems such as excessive resource consumption, environmental pollution, and ecological imbalance are becoming severe, which have become the bottleneck that further restricts Xinjiang's sustainable development. Due to its outstanding quantitative advantages, ecological efficiency has become a significant indicator and analytical tool for measuring the green economy and sustainable development. In this study, we analyzed ecological efficiency variation for Xinjiang's 14 prefectures between 2001 and 2015 using a super-efficient data envelopment model (DEA), Malmquist Index, and Tobit model. These analyses indicated that: (1) The overall ecological efficiency level of Xinjiang is low, and development among regions is unbalanced, out of sync, lacks sustainability. (2) From 2001 to 2015, Xinjiang's ecological efficiency showed a W-shaped rising trend and finally increased by 5.7%. It is due to the substantial improvement in environmental efficiency. (3) By analyzing the environmental efficiency and resource efficiency, 14 prefectures in Xinjiang consist of four development modes: low energy consumption and low emission, high energy consumption and low emission, low energy consumption and high emission, and high energy consumption and high emission. (4) Water resources are restricting factors of arid regions. In most prefectures, there exist excessive water resource investment, excessive COD, and NH3-N emissions. (5) By analyzing the Malmquist index, it shows that the technical progress index(TC) restricted ecological efficiency. In contrast, the technical efficiency index (EC) promoted ecological efficiency.(6)The ecological efficiency was positively correlated with the utilization of foreign capital, urbanization rate, and average education degree but negatively correlated with the marketization degree. The study has guidance and reference function for the sustainable development of Xinjiang-a vital corridor of the Silk Road Economic Belt, and also provides a reference to the research work of other arid resource-based regions.
Topics: China; Conservation of Natural Resources; Desert Climate; Economic Development; Efficiency; Environmental Pollution; Industry; Investments; Socioeconomic Factors; Sustainable Development; Urbanization; Water Resources
PubMed: 33945573
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251088 -
Journal of Environmental and Public... 2022The development of information technology has a profound impact on the development of education. The integration of information technology into the teaching of...
The development of information technology has a profound impact on the development of education. The integration of information technology into the teaching of professional courses has changed not only teaching methods and means, but more importantly, the teaching philosophy, teaching organization, and teaching evaluation are supported by information technology. Changes and progress have also been made. Piano improvisational accompaniment is an indispensable and important course in the teaching of music majors in colleges and universities. Relying on the information-based teaching environment and means, systematically designing piano impromptu accompaniment teaching for music performance majors to improve the effectiveness of teaching is a new exploration in the education and teaching reform of the current higher vocational music performance talent training courses. This study analyzes and studies the problems existing in the current teaching of piano improvisation accompaniment in colleges and universities and proposes the feasible strategies of piano improvisation accompaniment teaching in a targeted manner, to provide reference and guidance for the majority of educators.
Topics: Educational Status; Humans; Music; Universities
PubMed: 35844941
DOI: 10.1155/2022/5245256 -
BMC Psychology May 2024During emerging adulthood, vocational indecision (i.e., the inability to make coherent career choices) develops in a heterogeneous fashion, with three distinct patterns:...
BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVE AND HYPOTHESES
During emerging adulthood, vocational indecision (i.e., the inability to make coherent career choices) develops in a heterogeneous fashion, with three distinct patterns: low; decreasing (i.e., developmental or adaptative); high and stable or increasing (i.e., chronic or maladaptive). Among the determinants of vocational indecision that have been identified in past research, academic motivation is a crucial an excellent choice, since it is at school that students' vocational choices are validated or not. According to SDT, this motivation can vary both in quantity and quality, and students tend to experience more positive academic outcomes when their motivational profile is optimal (high quantity, high quality) as opposed to suboptimal (e.g., low quantity, low quality). Thus, the purpose of this longitudinal study was to verify if the patterns found with emerging adulthood students characterized vocational indecision in adolescent students, and if supported, to predict the belonging to the most problematic trajectory by using students' academic motivational profiles. We expected several distinct trajectories of vocational indecision that would differ in shape and magnitude, and several motivational profiles that vary in quality as well as in quantity. We also expected students in high-quality or quantity motivational profiles to be less likely to follow a chronic indecision trajectory.
METHOD AND RESULTS
Using data from 384 students (56% female; Mage = 13.52 years; SD = .52 at Secondary 2) surveyed annually from Secondary 2 to 5, person-centered analyses enabled estimation of motivational profile in Secondary 2 and vocational indecision trajectories during the 4-year period. Results revealed four distinct patterns of vocational indecision during adolescence labelled Low and Stable, Moderate and Stable, Developmental and Chronic Intermittent. Four motivational profiles were also identified in Secondary 2, ranging from poor (Highly Amotivated) to moderate (Autonomous-Introjected) quality of self-determination level. Also, in reference to the most self-determined profile, students in the Mixed profile were at greatest risk of following Chronically-Intermittently Undecided trajectory. Finally, the most self-determined students were at greatest probability of following the Developmentally Undecided trajectory.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the findings suggest that the student motivational functioning in early secondary school years could be used to identify students at risk of experiencing the negative indecision patterns across secondary school. Several theoretical and practical implications are suggested.
Topics: Humans; Motivation; Adolescent; Female; Male; Career Choice; Longitudinal Studies; Students; Young Adult; Adolescent Behavior
PubMed: 38702790
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01747-0 -
Medicina Intensiva May 2023SEMICYUC's first Mentoring Programme aims to support the research careers of the Society's youngest members. Added benefits include acquiring new research and/or...
SEMICYUC's first Mentoring Programme aims to support the research careers of the Society's youngest members. Added benefits include acquiring new research and/or clinical skills, increasing the ability of critical thought, and fostering the development of the next generation of research leaders. This project would not be possible without the exceptional team of mentors or research experts willing to embark on the journey with the young trainees. This article sets out the foundations of such a programme and proposes future changes for continuous improvement.
Topics: Humans; Mentors; Mentoring
PubMed: 36948924
DOI: 10.1016/j.medine.2023.03.006 -
Pharmaceutics Nov 2022Carbon dots (CDs), a new member of carbon nanostructures, rely on surface modification and functionalization for their good fluorescence phosphorescence and excellent... (Review)
Review
Carbon dots (CDs), a new member of carbon nanostructures, rely on surface modification and functionalization for their good fluorescence phosphorescence and excellent physical and chemical properties, including small size (<10 nm), high chemical stability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, low cost, and easy synthesis. In the field of medical research on cancer (IARC), CDs, a new material with unique optical properties as a photosensitizer, are being applied to heating local apoptosis induction of cancer cells. In addition, imaging tools can also be combined with a drug to form the nanometer complex compound, the imaging guidance for multi-function dosage, so as to improve the efficiency of drug delivery, which also plays a big role in genetic diagnosis. This paper mainly includes three parts: The first part briefly introduces the synthesis and preparation of carbon dots, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different preparation methods; The second part introduces the preparation methods of carbon dot composites. Finally, the application status of carbon dot composites in biomedicine, cancer theranostics, drug delivery, electrochemistry, and photocatalysis is summarized.
PubMed: 36432673
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112482 -
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Jul 2020Childhood cancer can have short- and long-term impacts on parents' finances and employment. It is important to understand how families adjust to the financial and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
Childhood cancer can have short- and long-term impacts on parents' finances and employment. It is important to understand how families adjust to the financial and employment changes caused by childhood cancer, the ongoing impacts after treatment completion, and which families need more targeted support. Qualitative research is necessary to facilitate an in-depth understanding of the employment and financial impacts on families and to capture parents' complex and nuanced experiences and perspectives.
METHODS
We interviewed 56 parents of childhood cancer survivors (M = 2.13 years after treatment completion; 89% mothers) using the vocational and financial impact section of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Carer Interview Form. We analyzed interviews using content analysis.
RESULTS
Parents reported multiple sources of financial toxicity including travel to and from the hospital and needing to reduce their working hours during their child's cancer treatment. Workplace flexibility was an important factor to protect against unwanted vocational changes. After treatment completion, families living in low socioeconomic areas commonly reported ongoing financial difficulties. Mothers, particularly those who were on maternity leave when their child was diagnosed with cancer, reported ongoing employment impacts including unemployment.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical staff including social workers could more consistently assess families' financial distress and refer to professional services who can offer guidance for financial decision-making as standard care. Flexible workplace agreements appear important for parents of children with cancer. Our findings can assist organizations to understand that cancer-related disruptions are likely to continue after treatment completion, and therefore should offer benefits to parents where possible.
Topics: Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Conflict, Psychological; Cost of Illness; Employment; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Parents; Prognosis; Qualitative Research; Retrospective Studies; Return to Work; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32333636
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28345