Patterns of Social Support Communicated in Response to Expressions of Uncertainty in an Online Community of Young Adults with Cancer

In order to develop more effective ways of helping adolescents and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors cope with cancer-related uncertainty, it is important to understand how AYAs respond communicatively to each other's uncertainty. We designed this project to gain insight into the patterns of social support that occur in response to AYAs' expressions of uncertainty. We analyzed 510 responses to posts in an AYA-focused online discussion group. Eighty-two percent of messages responding to uncertainty contained informational support. Sixty-seven percent contained multiple types of support. Among medical, personal, and social sources of uncertainty, the most typical response tended to be a combination of informational support accompanied by emotional and/or esteem support. AYAs who express uncertainty in online support groups should be advised that their posts are likely to be met with information, such as advice and referrals, which may either facilitate or impede their uncertainty management goals.     

No Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase [MMP]-2 (−735C > T) and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase [TIMP]-2 (−418G > C) Gene Polymorphisms with Cervical Cancer Susceptibility

Matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase [TIMP]-2 are emerging as pivotal players in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of MMP-2 (−735C > T) [rs 2285053] and TIMP-2 (−418G > C) [rs 8179090] gene polymorphisms in cervical cancer susceptibility in Indian women. We recruited 200 cervical cancer patients from North India and 200 unrelated, age-matched, cancer-free healthy female controls of similar ethnicity. Genomic DNA extraction from peripheral blood samples, collected from the study subjects, was carried out using salting-out method. MMP-2 and TIMP-2 genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our findings demonstrated no significant association between MMP-2 (−735C > T) and TIMP-2 (−418G > C) gene polymorphisms and the risk of developing cervical cancer in the study population. Further stratified analysis using a case-only study approach revealed that there was no effect of MMP-2/TIMP-2 polymorphisms on early and advanced stages of cervical cancer. Further MMP-2 and TIMP-2 polymorphisms did not modulate the risk in cervical cancer patients who smoked tobacco/cigarettes. Overall, the present study demonstrated a lack of association between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 gene polymorphisms and cervical cancer susceptibility in women of Northern India.     

Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview

The recognition of vitamin C is associated with a history of an unrelenting search for the cause of the ancient haemorrhagic disease scurvy. Isolated in 1928, vitamin C is essential for the development and maintenance of connective tissues. It plays an important role in bone formation, wound healing and the maintenance of healthy gums. Vitamin C plays an important role in a number of metabolic functions including the activation of the B vitamin, folic acid, the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and the conversion of the amino acid, tryptophan, to the neurotransmitter, serotonin. It is an antioxidant that protects body from free radical damage. It is used as therapeutic agent in many diseases and disorders. Vitamin C protects the immune system, reduces the severity of allergic reactions and helps to fight off infections. However the significance and beneficial effect of vitamin C in respect to human disease such as cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease and metal toxicity however remains equivocal. Thus further continuous uninterrupted efforts may open new vistas to understand its significance in disease management.     

The impact of screening and advice on inattentive,hyperactive and impulsive children

ABSTRACT

This short report is about the experiences, views and perspectives of eight parents whose children experience difficulties in learning or have disabilities. These parents have been involved in or innovated parent groups around England. Their views are presented in the light of education policy which relates to school choice and to children and young people with statements of their ‘special educational needs’. These parents’ perspectives on integration emerged as one of the main themes from the interview data     

金属离子水解常数的计算

在改进失屏参数计算方法的基础上,根据失屏参数与许多金属元素化学性质相关联,研究得到只用一个参数计算各类金属离子水解常数的方法。     

Perverse outcomes of intense competition in the popular arts and its implications for product quality

A theoretical model is presented demonstrating how the quality of art output can fall when competition intensifies. When search costs are high, additional entries beyond a certain threshold are not reviewed, leading to no quality improvement from increasing the number of products in the pool of potential entries beyond this point. Furthermore, adding marginal quality products into the pool can dilute the quality of the pool. When firms have perfect judgment, the product selected is the best in the pool making dilution of the pool unimportant. However, when firms make large errors in judging the quality of entries, the quality of the selected product will fall when the average quality in the pool falls. A simulation model is utilized in addition to an analytical model to show likely outcomes with reasonable model parameters.

Roles and molecular mechanisms of physical exercise in cancer prevention and treatment

Exercise can enhance motivation to change lifestyle behaviors, improve aerobic fitness, improve physical function, control fatigue, and enhance quality of life. Studies have demonstrated the benefits to be gained from physical exercise, highlighting the importance of popularizing the concept of physical exercise for individuals and making professional exercise-treatment programs available to patients with cancer. However, the correlation between physical exercise and carcinogenesis is easily overlooked, and exercise interventions are not routinely provided to patients with cancer, especially those with advanced cancer. In this article, we present a literature review of the effects of exercise on cancer development and progression and give recent evidence for the type of exercise best suited for different types of cancer and in different disease stages. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms about regulating metabolism and systemic immune function in cancer are summarized and discussed. In conclusion, physical exercise should be considered as an important intervention for preventing and treating cancer and its complications.     

几个宫颈癌相关抑癌基因的研究进展

目前,人们研究肿瘤的热点已经从癌基因转到抑癌基因,在已发现的数个抑癌基因中,p53、Fas、p16、Fhit、nm23、BLCAP与宫颈癌的关系密切,也是宫颈癌研究的热点.p53和p16基因通过调控细胞周期来抑制细胞增殖;Fas通过与其配体FasL或其单克隆抗体结合后,诱导Fas所在细胞凋亡;Fhit通过诱导细胞凋亡、细胞周期阻滞发挥着抑制肿瘤细胞增殖的作用;nm23则是通过改变nm23基因的编码产物二磷酸核苷酸激酶(NDPK)从而引起NTP产生不足,参与浸润、转移过程;BLCAP是一个新近发现的宫颈癌相关抑癌基因,其功能及性质尚不大清楚.     

细胞质lncRNAs与肿瘤信号调控（英文）

恶性肿瘤疾病长期作为危害人类健康的重要隐患,目前针对重要信号调控通路的一系列靶向抑制剂在临床后期业已出现耐药现象,迫切要求人们在肿瘤生物学研究和靶向治疗方向不断寻找新的可替代性靶点。长链非编码RNAs(lnc RNAs)作为最新关注的研究热点,其在肿瘤发生和转移中的重要调节功能不断被我们及相关学者重点报道。随着RNA通量深度测序等相关研究技术的推广和发展,使人们得以饱览赏析lnc RNAs作为健康和疾病重要调节因子的宏观图谱。本综述总结了胞质lnc RNAs在调节肿瘤重要信号通路中的研究进展及其在肿瘤发生发展中的作用,为癌症的预前预后和靶向治疗提供帮助。