Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Game-Based Symptom-Reporting App For Children With Cancer: Perspectives Of Children And Parents, Lauri Linder, Amy Rose Newman, Kristin Stegenga, Yin-Shun Chiu, Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Heidi Kramer, Charlene Weir, Scott Narus, Roger Altizer

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Children with cancer have difficulty identifying and describing the multiple symptoms they experience during hospitalization and between clinical encounters. Mobile health resources, including apps, are potential solutions to support child-centric symptom reporting. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed game-based symptom-reporting app for school-age children with cancer.

Procedure

Nineteen school-age children (6–12 years of age) receiving treatment for cancer at a COG institution in the Intermountain West of the United States used a game-based symptom-reporting app between clinical visits. Feasibility was evaluated through a summary of actual days of app use and interaction with each …

Priority Symptoms, Causes, And Self-Management Strategies Reported By Ayas With Cancer, Lauri Linder, Kristin Stegenga, Jeanne Erickson, Suzanne Ameringer, Amy Rose Newman, Yin-Shun Chiu, Catherine Fiona Macpherson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Context

Cancer and symptom experiences of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer can be highly variable, creating challenges for clinicians and researchers who seek to optimize AYAs' health outcomes. Understanding the heuristics AYAs use to designate priority symptoms can provide insight into the meaning they assign to their symptoms and self-management behaviors.

Objectives

This study described the frequency and characteristics of priority symptoms. It qualitatively explored reasons for a symptom's designation as a priority symptom, perceived causes of priority symptoms, and strategies AYAs use to manage priority symptoms.

Methods

Participants in this single-group, longitudinal study reported symptoms using a …

Temperature And Ph-Responsive Nano-Hydrogel Drug Delivery System Based On Lysine-Modified Poly (Vinylcaprolactam), Fatemeh Farjadian, Somayeh Rezaeifard, Mahsa Naeimi, Sahar Ghasemi, Soliman Mohammadi-Samani, Mark E. Welland, Lobat Tayebi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Smart materials capable of responding to external stimuli are noteworthy candidates in designing drug delivery systems. In many of the recent research, temperature and pH have been recognized as the main stimulating factors in designing systems for anti-cancer drugs delivery systems.

Purpose: In this study, thermo and pH-responsive character of a nano-carrier drug delivery platform based on lysine modified poly (vinylcaprolactam) hydrogel conjugated with doxorubicin was assessed.

Methods: Poly (vinylcaprolactam) cross-linked with poly (ethyleneglycol) diacrylate was prepared via RAFT polymerization, and the prepared structure was linked with lysine through ring-opening. The anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, was linked to lysine moiety …

Ibuprofen Ameliorates Fatigue- And Depressive-Like Behavior In Tumor-Bearing Mice, Diana M. Norden, Donna O. Mccarthy, Sabahattin Bicer, Raymond Devine, Peter J. Reiser, Jonathan P. Godbout, Loren E. Wold

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is often accompanied by depressed mood, both of which reduce functional status and quality of life. Research suggests that increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with skeletal muscle wasting and depressive- and fatigue-like behaviors in rodents and cancer patients. We have previously shown that treatment with ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, preserved muscle mass in tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the behavioral effects of ibuprofen in a mouse model of CRF.

Main methods: Mice were injected with colon-26 adenocarcinoma cells and treated with ibuprofen (10 mg/kg) in the …

Fluoxetine Prevents The Development Of Depressive-Like Behavior In A Mouse Model Of Cancer Related Fatigue, Diana M. Norden, Raymond Devine, Sabahattin Bicer, Runfeng Jing, Peter J. Reiser, Loren E. Wold, Jonathan P. Godbout, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Cancer patients frequently suffer from fatigue, a complex syndrome associated with tiredness and depressed mood. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) can be present at the time of diagnosis, escalates during treatment, and can persist for years after treatment. CRF negatively influences quality of life, limits functional independence, and is associated with decreased survival in patients with incurable disease. We have previously shown that increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the brain contributes to depressive- and fatigue-like behaviors in a mouse model of CRF. Inflammatory cytokines increase the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), which competitively reduce serotonin synthesis. Reduced serotonin …

Tumor Growth Increases Neuroinflammation, Fatigue And Depressive-Like Behavior Prior To Alterations In Muscle Function, Diana M. Norden, Sabahattin Bicer, Yvonne Clark, Runfeng Jing, Christopher J. Henry, Loren E. Wold, Peter J. Reiser, Jonathan P. Godbout, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Cancer patients frequently suffer from fatigue, a complex syndrome associated with loss of muscle mass, weakness, and depressed mood. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) can be present at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and persists for years after treatment. CRF negatively influences quality of life, limits functional independence, and is associated with decreased survival in patients with incurable disease. Currently there are no effective treatments to reduce CRF. The aim of this study was to use a mouse model of tumor growth and discriminate between two main components of fatigue: loss of muscle mass/function and altered mood/motivation. Here we show that …

Concept Analysis Of Empowerment From Survivor And Nurse Perspectives Within The Context Of Cancer Survivorship, Teresa Jerofke-Owen

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The liberal usage of the concept of empowerment has led to the development of a broad and ambiguous term. In health care, empowerment is a core principle of patient-centered care that promotes patient engagement in health management. This is an analysis of the concept of empowerment within the context of cancer survivorship using both Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis and Caron and Bower's dimensional analysis. The dimensional analysis followed the evolutionary concept analysis as the perspectives of patients and nurse providers emerged in the analysis. Data sources included a sample of 249 papers from multiple disciplines covering the period 2000–2013. Empowerment …

Myocardial Dysfunction In An Animal Model Of Cancer Cachexia, Hui Xu, Danielle Crawford, Kirk R. Hutchinson, Dane J. Youtz, Pamela A. Lucchesi, Markus Velten, Donna O. Mccarthy, Loren E. Wold

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims

Fatigue is a common occurrence in cancer patients regardless of tumor type or anti-tumor therapies and is an especially problematic symptom in persons with incurable tumor disease. In rodents, tumor-induced fatigue is associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and increased expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation. The purpose of the present study was to determine if muscle wasting and expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation occur in the hearts of tumor-bearing mice, and if these effects of tumor growth are associated with changes in cardiac function.

Main methods

The colon26 adenocarcinoma cell line was …

Nasa Light Emitting Diode Medical Applications From Deep Space To Deep Sea, Harry T. Whelan, Ellen V. Buchmann, Noel T. Whelan, Scott G. Turner, Vita Cevenini, Helen Stinson, Ron Ignatius, Todd Martin, Joan Cwiklinski, Glenn A. Meyer, Brian D. Hodgson, Lisa J. Gould, Mary P. Kane, Gina Chen, James Caviness

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

This work is supported and managed through the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center-SBIR Program. LED-technology developed for NASA plant growth experiments in space shows promise for delivering light deep into tissues of the body to promote wound healing and human tissue growth. We present the results of LED-treatment of cells grown in culture and the effects of LEDs on patients’ chronic and acute wounds. LED-technology is also biologically optimal for photodynamic therapy of cancer and we discuss our successes using LEDs in conjunction with light-activated chemotherapeutic drugs.