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Purpose: The study aims to describe work status at diagnosis and 8 years post-diagnosis in a nationwide sample of breast cancer survivors (BCSs), and investigate associated and self-reported factors of reduced work status. Methods: Women aged 20–65 years when diagnosed with stage I–III breast cancer (BC) in 2011 or 2012 were invited to participate in a questionnaire study in 2019 (n = 2803), of whom 49% (n = 1361) responded. For this sub-study, we included 974 BCSs below the legal retirement age in Norway (< 67 years) at survey and with complete work status data. Reduced work status was defined as being in paid work at BC diagnosis and not working at time of survey. Logistic regression analyses were applied to identify factors associated with reduced work status. Results: Of BCSs who were in paid work at diagnosis (n = 845), 63% maintained their work status to 8 years later. Reduced work status was associated with not living with children (OR.44, 95% CI.24–.82), age (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.11–1.21), chemotherapy (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.24–6.61), > 2 comorbid conditions (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.16–4.32), cognitive function (OR.99, 95% CI.98–.99), fatigue (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03), and neuroticism (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.00–2.46). BC and late effects were reported as reasons for reduced work status and disability. Conclusions: The majority of BCSs who were in paid work at diagnosis were working 8 years later. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Our results suggest a need to focus on fatigue and reduced cognitive function among long-term BCSs, with the ultimate aim of improving work sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chronic fatigue (CF) affects 25–30% of lymphoma survivors, but interventions designed to reduce fatigue are lacking. The main aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a multidimensional intervention study in lymphoma survivors with CF. Secondary aims were to describe individual changes in fatigue, quality of life (QoL) and physical performance from pre (T0) to post (T1) intervention. Methods: This feasibility study was as a one-armed intervention study performed in 2021. Hodgkin or aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors received mailed study information and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire and were asked to respond if they suffered from fatigue. The 12-week intervention included patient education, physical exercise, a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based group program and nutritional counselling. Feasibility data included patient recruitment, completion of assessments, adherence to the intervention and patient-reported experience measures. Participants responded to questionnaires and underwent physical tests at T0 and T1. Results: Seven lymphoma survivors with CF were included. Of all assessments, 91% and 83% were completed at T0 and T1, respectively. Adherence to the interventional components varied from 69% to 91%. At T1, all participants rated exercise as useful, of whom five rated the CBT-based program and five rated individual nutritional counselling as useful. Five participants reported improved fatigue, QoL and physical performance. Conclusion: Lymphoma survivors with CF participating in a multidimensional intervention designed to reduce the level of fatigue showed high assessment completion rate and intervention adherence rate. Most of the participants evaluated the program as useful and improved their level of fatigue, QoL and physical performance after the intervention. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04931407. Registered 16. April 2021-Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgen deprivation therapy ( ADT) improves life expectancy in prostate cancer ( PCa) patients, but is associated with adverse effects on muscle mass. Here, we investigated the effects of strength training during ADT on muscle fiber cross-sectional area ( CSA) and regulators of muscle mass. PCa patients on ADT were randomized to 16 weeks of strength training ( STG) ( n = 12) or a control group ( CG; n = 11). Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Muscle fiber CSA increased with strength training (898 μm2, P = 0.04), with the only significant increase observed in type II fibers (1076 μm2, P = 0.03). There was a trend toward a difference in mean change between groups myonuclei number (0.33 nuclei/fiber, P = 0.06), with the only significant increase observed in type I fibers, which decreased the myonuclear domain size of type I fibers ( P = 0.05). Satellite cell numbers and the content of androgen receptor and myostatin remained unchanged. Sixteen weeks of strength training during ADT increased type II fiber CSA and reduced myonuclear domain in type I fibers in PCa patients. The increased number of satellite cells normally seen following strength training was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To identify and screen dominant Bacillus spp. strains isolated from Bikalga, fermented seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa for their antimicrobial activities in brain heart infusion ( BHI) medium and in a H. sabdariffa seed-based medium. Further, to characterize the antimicrobial substances produced. Methods and Results The strains were identified by gyrB gene sequencing and phenotypic tests as B. amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum. Their antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar spot and well assay, being inhibitory to a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus was produced in H. sabdariffa seed-based medium. PCR results revealed that the isolates have potential for the lipopeptides iturin, fengycin, surfactin, the polyketides difficidin, macrolactin, bacillaene and the dipeptide bacilysin production. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis of antimicrobial substance produced in BHI broth allowed identification of iturin, fengycin and surfactin. Conclusions The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial properties. They produced several lipopeptide antibiotics and showed good potential for biological control of Bikalga. Significance and Impact of the Study Pathogenic bacteria often occur in spontaneous food fermentations. This is the first report to identify indigenous B. amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum strains as potential protective starter cultures for safeguarding Bikalga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical activity is an important component in promoting a healthy life style in cancer survivors. We estimated the proportion of cancer survivors who are physically active, defined as meeting public health exercise guidelines, and changes in level of physical activity (LPA) from before diagnosis to after treatment. We also identified medical and demographic factors associated with LPA and its changes.Methods: A cross-sectional survey assessing LPA before diagnosis and after treatment, together with demographic and medical variables in 975 cancer survivors.Results: Forty-five percent of the cancer survivors were physically active after treatment. Before diagnosis and after treatment 33% were active, whereas 40% were inactive at both time points. Fifteen percent were active before diagnosis but inactive after treatment, and 12% were inactive before diagnosis but active after treatment. Increasing age and weight, low education, comorbidity and smoking were associated with physical inactivity after treatment. Change in LPA from active to inactive was associated with comorbidity, distant disease and smoking, while a change from inactive to active was associated with high education.Conclusions: Less than half of cancer survivors were physically active. Almost three quarters of cancer survivors remained stable in LPA. The remaining quarter changed LPA, with slightly more cancer survivors becoming inactive than active. Age, weight, education, comorbidity, disease stage and smoking can identify survivors at risk of physical inactivity after treatment.Implications For Cancer Survivors: Recognizable variables can be used to identify physically inactive cancer survivors after treatment and give these survivors support to start or maintain LPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GJERSET G.M., FOSSÅ S.D., COURNEYA K.S., SKOVLUND E., JACOBSEN A.B. & THORSEN L. (2011) European Journal of Cancer Care, 96-105 To be able to make suitable exercise intervention programmes for cancer survivors, we need more information about exercise preferences. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the interest and preferences for exercise among Norwegian cancer survivors. A secondary aim was to identify demographic and medical characteristics associated with interest in exercise counselling. A questionnaire was completed by 1284 cancer survivors. Overall, 76% of participants were interested or maybe interested in receiving exercise counselling at some point during their cancer experience. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the interest in exercise counselling in men was associated with younger age, presence of comorbidity and having received chemotherapy. In women, the interest was associated with younger age, higher education and change in physical activity level. The participants preferred face-to-face exercise counselling with an exercise specialist from a cancer centre, at a hospital, immediately after treatment. Most cancer survivors were interested in an exercise programme, walking as activity, at moderate intensity and they wanted to start immediately after treatment. The knowledge from this study can contribute to make suitable physical rehabilitation available to cancer patients in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We reviewed physical activity (PA) studies in prostate cancer (PC) survivors investigating (a) the effects of PA on health outcomes, (b) the prevalence of PA, and (c) the determinants of PA.Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the literature identified nine studies on the outcomes of PA, six studies on the prevalence of PA, and four studies on the determinants of PA in PC survivors.Results: Results showed promising effects of PA on muscular fitness, physical functioning, fatigue, and health-related quality of life. The prevalence of PA varied widely from <30% to >70%, depending on the type of measure used. PA in PC survivors was predicted by motivational variables such as intentions, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms.Conclusion: Although preliminary research is promising, there remains a significant amount of research to be done on the role of PA in PC survivors. Moreover, future research would benefit from larger samples using randomized controlled trial methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Sialorrhea is a frequent problem in ALS patients with bulbar symptoms, because of progressive weakness of oral, lingual and pharyngeal muscles. This prospective study aimed to investigate the putative effect of palliative single-dose radiotherapy on problematic sialorrhea in patients with ALS. Twenty patients with ALS and problematic drooling were included; 14 were given radiotherapy with a single fraction of 7.5 Grey (Gy). Five patients were treated with botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections (20 U) into the parotid glands; two of these were later given radiotherapy. Symptom assessment, clinical examination and measurements of salivary flow (ml/min) were performed before and after treatment (1–2 weeks, 3 months). Salivary secretion was significantly reduced after radiation treatment, with a mean reduction of 60% (1 week) and 51% (2 weeks). Three months post-treatment, 21% reduction of the salivary secretion was observed compared with salivation before treatment. Mean salivary flow was not reduced after BTX-A treatment in five patients. No serious side-effects were observed with either of the two treatment modalities. Single-dose radiotherapy (7.5 Gy) significantly reduces sialorrhea and is an effective and safe palliative treatment in patients with ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Radiotherapy Reduces Sialorrhoea in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis," is presented.