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Simple Summary: Pancreatic cancer remains as one of the most life-threatening cancers with a 5-year overall survival rate less than 6%. As a transmembrane protein, capillary formation gene 2 (CMG2) mediates cell–matrix adhesion and migration. Recent studies have revealed emerging roles of CMG2 in various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate expression of CMG2 in pancreatic cancer and its implication in the disease progression and distant metastasis. Interestingly, the significant upregulation of CMG2 was seen in pancreatic cancer, which was associated with poor survival and distant metastases highlighting the potential of targeting this molecule for the prevention of dissemination of pancreatic cancer cells. Capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2) mediates cell–matrix interactions to facilitate cell adhesion and migration. CMG2 has been implicated in the disease progression of breast cancer, prostate cancer and gastric cancer. The present study aims to determine the role of CMG2 in the disease progression and peritoneal metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic tumour samples were collected from Peking University Cancer Hospital. CMG2 expression was determined using quantitative PCR. After the creation of knockdown and overexpression of CMG2 in pancreatic cancer cells, the effect of CMG2 on several cell functions and adhesion to the peritoneum was examined. Potential pathways regulated by CMG2 were found via proteomics analysis and drug tests. CMG2 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. CMG2 was increased in metastatic lesions and those primary tumours with distant metastases. CMG2 promotes cell–cell, cell–matrix and cell–hyaluronic acid adhesion, which may be mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single session therapy (SST) is an increasingly popular approach to mental health treatment that aims to address clients' presenting difficulties in a single appointment. However, experiential approaches to SST are limited. In this paper I describe the theory and practice of "chairwork" – an integrative, action-focused method of intervention centred on the concept of self-multiplicity – and outline how these procedures can be coherently applied in a single-session format. A preliminary protocol for delivering single-session chairwork (SSC) or "brief dialogical psychotherapy" is presented, alongside a case illustration that demonstrates features of this approach. Finally, directions for future research and the continued development of chairwork as a psychotherapeutic modality are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To synthesise young person and family member perspectives on processes of change in family therapy for anorexia nervosa (AN), including systemic family therapy and manualised family-based treatments, to obtain an understanding of what helps and hinders positive change. Method: A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify qualitative studies focussing on experiences of therapeutic change within family therapies for AN from the perspectives of young people and their families. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria and underwent quality appraisal following which they were synthesised using a meta-synthesis approach. Results: Six overarching themes were generated: "A holistic focus on the young person's overall development"; "The therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for change"; "The therapist's confinement to a script and its impact on emotional attunement"; "A disempowering therapeutic context"; "Externalisation of the eating disorder (ED)"; and "The importance of family involvement". Positive change was helped by understanding and support given to the young person's overall development including their psychological, emotional, social and physical wellbeing, positive therapeutic relationships, relational containment within the family system and externalising conversations in which young people felt seen and heard. Positive change was hindered by inflexibility in the treatment approach, counter-effects of externalisation, negative experiences of the therapist, a narrow focus on food-intake and weight, as well as the neglect of family difficulties, emotional experiences, and psychological factors. Conclusions: Positive change regarding the young person's eating-related difficulties ensued in the context of positive relational changes between the young person, their family members, the therapist and treatment team, highlighting the significance of secure and trusting relationships. The findings of this review can be utilised by ED services to consider how they may adapt to the needs of young people and their families in order to improve treatment satisfaction, treatment outcomes, and in turn reduce risk for chronicity in AN. Plain English summary: This review synthesises the views of young people and their family members regarding their perspectives of therapeutic change within family therapies for Anorexia Nervosa (AN), including both manualised eating disorder-focussed family therapy models (family-based treatment; FBT and AN-focussed family therapy; FT-AN), as well as systemic family therapy (SyFT), to understand which aspects of these treatment approaches are helpful versus hindering to recovery from an eating disorder (ED). Parental involvement was crucial in facilitating the restoration of physical health through the process of parents taking temporary responsibility for the young person's eating behaviours until they can feed themselves again. However, treatment often failed to acknowledge and address the psychological and emotional difficulties that made the young person vulnerable to developing AN, as well as the psychological distress caused by increasing food-intake and weight. A positive therapeutic relationship in which families felt well supported by their therapist was important in providing containment during a time of familial strain and instability, yet there was a need for greater flexibility and individualisation within manualised ED-focussed family therapy approaches, particularly FBT. The findings highlight the importance of eliciting the young person's voice to enhance their personal agency in treatment and the value of therapeutic space to improve family functioning and enhance family unity. Lastly, they illuminate the need for manualised ED-focussed family therapy models to allow space for the therapist to emotionally attune to young people and families in order to contain their experience of distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Chairwork" is a collection of experiential methods that utilize movement between chairs and dialogue with parts of the self to bring about change. Because of their emotionally intense nature, therapists often assume that a robust therapeutic relationship is a prerequisite for these tasks. However, it could be said that chairwork also supports the development and strengthening of the alliance. This article presents a single‐session, chairwork‐centered treatment with an individual experiencing social anxiety. Verbatim extracts and post‐intervention feedback illustrate the reciprocal and reinforcing roles of client participation, therapist facilitation, and the therapeutic bond during chairwork. Moreover, the case demonstrates that relationship and technique are intimately bound when using experiential methods, suggesting that therapists do not always need to privilege the former to implement the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recombinant granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) is frequently administered to patients with cancer to enhance granulocyte recovery post‐chemotherapy. Clinical trials have also used G‐CSF to modulate myeloid cell function in pregnancy and inflammatory diseases. Although the contribution of G‐CSF to expanding normal granulocytes is well known, the effect of this cytokine on the phenotype and function of immunosuppressive granulocytic cells remains unclear. Here, we investigate the impact of physiological and iatrogenic G‐CSF on an as yet undescribed granulocyte phenotype and ensuing outcome on T cells in the settings of cancer and pregnancy. Methods: Granulocytes from patients treated with recombinant G‐CSF, patients with late‐stage cancer and women enrolled on a trial of recombinant G‐CSF were phenotyped by flow cytometry. The ability and mechanism of polarised granulocytes to suppress T‐cell proliferation were assessed by cell proliferation assays, flow cytometry and ELISA. Results: We observed that G‐CSF leads to a significant upregulation of CD14 expression on CD15+ granulocytes. These CD15+CD14+ cells are identified in the blood of patients with patients undergoing neutrophil mobilisation with recombinant G‐CSF, and physiologically in women early in pregnancy or in those treated as a part of a clinical trial. Immunohistochemistry of tumor tissue or placental tissue identified the expression of G‐CSF. The G‐CSF upregulates the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in CD15+CD14+ cells leading to the suppression of T‐cell proliferation. Conclusions: G‐CSF induces a population of ROS+ immunosuppressive CD15+CD14+ granulocytes. Strategies for how recombinant G‐CSF can be scheduled to reduce effects on T‐cell therapies should be developed in future clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent years have seen a significant and rapid increase in the provision of tele-therapies. Chairwork methods such as empty-chair dialogues and role-play represent a "common" category of therapeutic interventions which are utilized in many psychotherapeutic approaches. However, guidelines for facilitating chairwork in tele-therapy are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to survey expert providers regarding how chairwork is best provided in internet-delivered psychotherapy. Method: Forty one experts were recruited from a range of therapeutic backgrounds including cognitive behaviour therapy, compassion focused therapy, emotion focused therapy, psychodrama, schema therapy, and voice dialogue. Participants completed a brief questionnaire survey exploring the delivery of tele-chairwork. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were identified: (i) divided opinion; (ii) convergence between therapy and home; (iii) disconnection and depth; (iv) practical impediments and benefits; and (v) revising and re-visioning chairwork. Overall, results indicate that chairwork can be successfully incorporated into tele-therapy, but requires adaption and special considerations. Discussion: Despite challenges, tele-chairwork appears to be a feasible method of psychotherapeutic intervention. Preliminary guidelines for initiating, facilitating, and concluding tele-chairwork are presented, alongside future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAlthough prevalent among those given a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN), the internal anorexic voice (AV) is little understood. This study aimed to explore the AV’s role in the development and maintenance of AN from a new perspective – that of the AV itself. Nine women with a diagnosis of AN participated. Data was collected via dialogical enquiry, which entailed direct, semi-structured interviews with participants’ AVs. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes build a picture of a symbiotic yet destructive relationship between AV and individual. Firstly, “Pragmatism” describes the AV’s supposedly invaluable, problem-solving persona. Secondly, “Relationship” depicts the valued yet fraught, unbalanced, and often unwanted bond between AV and individual. Thirdly, “Self-preservation” presents the AV’s drive to retain control for its own survival. In clinical practice, curiosity regarding relationships with AVs could highlight barriers to recovery and inform treatment. Future research should focus on diverse samples and consider ways of working with eating disorder voices to promote recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not available.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor clinical outlook. Responses to immune checkpoint blockade are suboptimal and a much more detailed understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment is needed if this situation is to be improved. Here, we characterized tumor-infiltrating T-cell populations in patients with PDAC using cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and single-cell RNA sequencing. T cells were the predominant immune cell subset observed within tumors. Over 30% of CD4+ T cells expressed a CCR6+CD161+ Th17 phenotype and 17% displayed an activated regulatory T-cell profile. Large populations of CD8+ tissue-resident memory (TRM) T cells were also present and expressed high levels of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and TIGIT. A population of putative tumor-reactive CD103+CD39+ T cells was also observed within the CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes population. The expression of PD-1 ligands was limited largely to hemopoietic cells whilst TIGIT ligands were expressed widely within the tumor microenvironment. Programmed death-ligand 1 and CD155 were expressed within the T-cell area of ectopic lymphoid structures and colocalized with PD-1+TIGIT+ CD8+ T cells. Combinatorial anti-PD-1 and TIGIT blockade enhanced IFNγ secretion and proliferation of T cells in the presence of PD-1 and TIGIT ligands. As such, we showed that the PDAC microenvironment is characterized by the presence of substantial populations of TRM cells with an exhausted PD-1+TIGIT+ phenotype where dual checkpoint receptor blockade represents a promising avenue for future immunotherapy., (©2023 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)