Sleep Treatment Education Program for Young Adult Cancer Survivors (STEP-YA): Protocol for an Efficacy Trial.

Background: Young adult cancer survivors (YACS) are at elevated risk for chronic insomnia, even years after completing treatment. In addition to potential health consequences, insomnia can interrupt social, educational, and vocational development just as they are trying to "make up" for time lost to cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) is recommended as first-line treatment for insomnia but remains largely unavailable to YACS due to several barriers (ie, shortage of trained providers, geographic limitations, financial limitations).

Evaluating SunSmart: a brief educational intervention promoting sun protection in young adult cancer survivors.

Purpose: Young adult cancer survivors (YACS) are at risk for secondary skin cancers but relevant interventions have not been validated in this population. To address this, we designed and tested SunSmart, a set of two educational videos designed to promote sun protection (SP). One provides SP education (Information) and the second combines SP education with content on negative appearance consequences of sun exposure (Information + Appearance).

Evaluating posttraumatic stress in young adult cancer survivors: Implications of revised DSM-5 traumatic event criteria.

Objective: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Diagnoses (DSM-5) significantly narrowed conditions under which life-threatening illnesses meet qualifying traumatic event (QTE) criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To investigate the impact of this change on identification of PTSD in young adult cancer survivors (YACS), we compared prevalence of QTE exposure using DSM-5 and earlier DSM-IV criteria.

Methods: The Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 (SCID-5) was customized for study goals and administered to a convenience sample of 250 YACS ages 18-40 followed at a single cancer center.

Validation of the Three-Item Insomnia Severity Index Short Form in Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Comparison with a Structured Diagnostic Interview.

Chronic insomnia affects ∼25% of young adult cancer survivors (YACS) but is often overlooked in routine follow-up. A recently introduced three-item version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-3) was compared with a diagnostic interview (SCID-5) in 250 YACS (ages 18-40) to evaluate its validity in this population. The ISI-3 had good discrimination compared with the SCID-5 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.

Validation of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) for identifying insomnia in young adult cancer survivors: comparison with a structured clinical diagnostic interview of the DSM-5 (SCID-5).

Objectives: Insomnia is a common problem affecting young adult cancer survivors (YACS) even years after treatment, yet it often goes unidentified and untreated. The Insomnia Severity Index is a widely-used insomnia measure, but has not been studied as an insomnia screener for YACS. The goal of this study was to validate the ISI in YACS by determining its utility in identifying YACS with insomnia disorder diagnosed with the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 (SCID-5).

Sleep in young-adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zhou ES, Michaud AL, Owens J, Recklitis CJ. Sleep in young-adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. .

Pediatric hematology and oncology fellow education in sexual and reproductive health: A survey of fellowship program directors in the United States.

Purpose: Pediatric oncology clinicians identify a need for increased sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education with adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. By surveying pediatric oncology fellowship directors, this study clarifies the state of current fellowship education about SRH for the AYA patient.

Methods: A survey was sent to all pediatric oncology fellowship program directors (PDs) in the United States consisting of 13 questions pertaining to three primary SRH domains: sexual health, fertility, and safe sex practices.

Developing efficient and effective behavioral treatment for insomnia in cancer survivors: Results of a stepped care trial.

Background: Insomnia is common among cancer survivors. Although behavioral treatments for insomnia are effective, access is limited. Stepped care delivery models may provide insomnia treatment that is more efficient and accessible to cancer survivors.

Regional practice norms for the care of childhood cancer survivors at risk for cardiomyopathy: A Delphi study.

Background: Treatment-associated cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for childhood cancer survivors (CCS). As evidence is not available to guide the management of CCS at risk for cardiomyopathy, we aim to describe the collective opinion of regional experts for the care of these patients using a consensus-based Delphi methodology.

Procedure: Nineteen physicians from the New England region who care for CCS treated with cardiotoxic therapy (anthracyclines, thoracic radiation) participated in a Delphi panel querying their management approach, using three rounds of anonymous questionnaires formatted as five clinical scenarios.

Finding sexual health aids after cancer: are cancer centers supporting survivors' needs?

Purpose: Sexual dysfunction is one of the most prevalent and distressing treatment-related side effects for both male and female cancer survivors. Survivorship care guidelines recommend therapeutic sexual aids to help improve sexual problems. However, little is known about the availability of sexual aids and resources at cancer centers.

A qualitative study of sexual and reproductive health communication with adolescent and young adult oncology patients.

Background: Adolescent and young adult patients with cancer (AYAs) identify sexual and reproductive health (SRH) as an important but often neglected aspect of their comprehensive cancer care. The purpose of this study was to explore AYA perceptions and experiences of SRH communication with oncology clinicians.

Methods: Twenty-three AYA patients and survivors ages 15-25 years from a large academic oncology center participated in semistructured qualitative interviews investigating their experiences discussing SRH issues, including specific topics discussed, conversation barriers and facilitators, suggestions for clinicians on how to improve conversations, and education and resource needs.

Open-label placebo reduces fatigue in cancer survivors: a randomized trial.

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common and challenging late effect for many cancer survivors. Clinical trials demonstrate robust placebo effects on CRF in blinded trials. Recently, open-label placebo (OLP) has been shown to improve a variety of symptoms in other populations.

The management of childhood cancer survivors at risk for stroke: A Delphi survey of regional experts.

Background: Evidence is not available to guide management of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) at risk for radiation-associated cerebral vascular disease (CVD) and stroke. We propose to use a consensus-based methodology to describe the collective opinion of regional experts for the care of these patients and identify areas of controversy.

Procedure: Thirty physicians from the New England region who care for CCS participated in a Delphi panel querying their management approach (imaging, laboratory tests, medications, counseling, referrals) to a CCS treated with cranial radiation formatted as five clinical scenarios (asymptomatic, small- and large-vessel CVD, transient ischemia, stroke) in three rounds of anonymous questionnaires.

Improvement in sexual function after ovarian cancer: Effects of sexual therapy and rehabilitation after treatment for ovarian cancer.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a distressing long-term effect after gynecological cancer and affects the majority of survivors for years after the completion of therapy. Despite its prevalence, treatment-related sexual dysfunction is underrecognized and undertreated for survivors. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and test a brief psychoeducational intervention for managing sexual dysfunction for women who have undergone treatment for ovarian cancer (OC).

Evaluation and treatment of insomnia in adult cancer survivorship programs.

Purpose: Insomnia is commonly experienced by cancer survivors. Chronic insomnia is associated with significant physical and psychosocial consequences if not properly treated. Both the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommend the evaluation of sleep disturbances and evidence-based treatment of insomnia during routine survivorship care.

Evaluating a handbook for parents of children with food allergy: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Educational materials are needed to support parent management of and coping with childhood food allergy.

Objectives: To evaluate whether a food allergy handbook can improve parental knowledge, confidence, and quality of life associated with the management of food allergy.

Methods: Participants included 153 parents of children diagnosed as having food allergy within the past 12 months who were recruited from hospital-based allergy clinics and food allergy organizations.

Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by O-acetyl-GD2-specific monoclonal antibody 8B6 inhibits tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

O-Acetyl-GD2 ganglioside is suitable antigen for tumor immunotherapy with specific therapeutic antibody. Here, we investigate the anti-tumor activity of O-acetyl-GD2-specific monoclonal antibody 8B6 on O-acetyl-GD2-positive tumor cells. The results indicated that mAb 8B6 induced growth inhibition of O-acetyl-GD2-expressing tumor cell lines in vitro with features of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Tonal contrasts and initial consonants: a case study of tamang, a 'missing link' in tonogenesis.

Tamang (Bodic division of Tibeto-Burman) is spoken at the edge of the East Asian 'tone-prone' zone, next to the almost tone-free Indian linguistic area, and is, chronologically, at the late end of the tone multiplication wave which has swept through East Asia in the course of the last two millennia. It can be regarded as a 'missing link' in tonogenesis: following the loss of voicing contrasts on syllable-initial consonants, Tamang has four tonal categories instead of its earlier two-tone system; the present state of the prosodic system is typologically transitional, in that these four tonal categories are realised by several cues which include fundamental frequency (F(0)), phonation type, and allophonic variation in the realisation of consonants. Acoustic and electroglottographic recordings of 131 words in two carrier sentences by 5 speakers were conducted (total number of target syllables analysed: n = 1,651).

Final consonants and glottalization: new perspectives from Hanoi Vietnamese.

The evolution from final obstruents to final glottal stop and then to rhyme glottalization (i.e. from /at/ to /a?/, then to /a'/) is a well-established general trend in the history of the Sino-Tibetan language family and beyond.