A whole food, plant-based diet reduces amino acid levels in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Amino acids are critical to tumor survival. Tumors can acquire amino acids from the surrounding microenvironment, including the serum. Limiting dietary amino acids is suggested to influence their serum levels.

SATB2 is an Emergent Biomarker of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: A Series with Comprehensive Biomarker and Molecular Studies.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare and aggressive thyroid malignancy typically comprised of undifferentiated tumor cells with various histologic morphologies, which makes the diagnosis challenging. These tumors commonly show loss of thyroglobulin and TTF1 with preservation of cytokeratin (67%) and Paired Box Gene 8 (PAX8) (55%) expression. Identification of a sensitive immunohistochemical stain to aid in the diagnosis of ATC would be beneficial.

A whole food, plant-based diet reduces amino acid levels in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Amino acids are critical to tumor survival. Tumors can acquire amino acids from the surrounding microenvironment, including the serum. Limiting dietary amino acids is suggested to influence their serum levels.

Circadian rhythms of macrophages are altered by the acidic tumor microenvironment.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are prime therapeutic targets due to their pro-tumorigenic functions, but varying efficacy of macrophage-targeting therapies highlights our incomplete understanding of how macrophages are regulated within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The circadian clock is a key regulator of macrophage function, but how circadian rhythms of macrophages are influenced by the TME remains unknown. Here, we show that conditions associated with the TME such as polarizing stimuli, acidic pH, and lactate can alter circadian rhythms in macrophages.

The effect of YOCAS©® yoga on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in older (60+) vs. younger (≤ 59) cancer survivors: Secondary analysis of a nationwide, multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Older cancer survivors consistently express the need for interventions to reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and maintain quality of life (QOL). Yoga is a promising treatment to address CRF and QOL. However, research comparing the efficacy of yoga for improving fatigue and QOL in older survivors (60+) vs.

Association between lifetime hallucinogen use and psychological distress varies by sexual identity in a nationally representative sample.

Background: Clinical trials demonstrate that psychedelic-assisted therapy can improve mental health outcomes; however, few studies have recruited sexually diverse samples or reported information on sexual identity.

Aims: The purpose of this analysis was to examine the relationship between hallucinogen use and mental health outcomes with respect to sexual identity.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine the relationship between hallucinogen use and psychological distress.

Sweet Taste Preference as a Moderator of Links Between Internalizing Symptoms and Alcohol Craving.

Objective: Strong positive links exist between mood, alcohol craving, and sweet taste preference. During alcohol abstinence, individuals have increased cravings for alcohol and sweets, in association with anxiety and depression symptoms. Research also suggests a substitution effect of alcohol with sweets.

Circadian rhythms of macrophages are altered by the acidic pH of the tumor microenvironment.

Macrophages are prime therapeutic targets due to their pro-tumorigenic and immunosuppressive functions in tumors, but the varying efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting macrophages highlights our incomplete understanding of how the tumor microenvironment (TME) can influence regulation of macrophages. The circadian clock is a key internal regulator of macrophage function, but how circadian rhythms of macrophages may be influenced by the tumor microenvironment remains unknown. We found that conditions associated with the TME such as polarizing stimuli, acidic pH, and elevated lactate concentrations can each alter circadian rhythms in macrophages.

Chewing the fat for good health: ACSM3 deficiency exacerbates metabolic syndrome.

The origin of metabolic syndrome, a pathophysiological condition facilitating cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other comorbidities, remains poorly understood. Recent work by Xiao et al (2023) identifies the mitochondrial enzyme ACSM3 as a determinant of lipid homeostasis and hepatic health in mice and patients. Additionally, the authors identified deleterious downstream p38-MAPK signalling as a targetable feature of ACSM3 deficiency that may help to ameliorate metabolic syndrome.

Methodological approach for an integrated female-specific study of anxiety and smoking comorbidity.

Two primary ovarian hormones that fluctuate across the female menstrual cycle-estradiol and progesterone-have been independently linked in separate literatures to nicotine reinforcement and anxiety psychopathology. We identify existing methodological limitations in these literatures, describe an example protocol that was developed to address such limitations, highlight case examples, and offer insights on the resulting advantages and challenges. This protocol was an observational, prospective, within-subjects study of female cigarette smokers who were followed over the course of a complete menstrual cycle.

Development of the Protective Strategies for Psychedelics Scale: A novel inventory to assess safety strategies in the context of psychedelics.

Background: Individuals who use psychedelics take efforts to mitigate unintended consequences. Despite the demonstrated utility of analogous protective behavioral strategies (PBS) assessments for other substances, no standardized scale exists to capture these protective strategies for psychedelic use.

Objective: The present study addresses a notable gap concerning the assessment of psychedelic use, specifically by developing a scale measuring the protective strategies employed around use, called the Protective Strategies for Psychedelics Scale (PSPS).

Leadership and the regenerative economy - Concepts, cases, and connections: Leveraging the Sustainable Development Goals to move toward sustainability leadership.

How leadership is taught and applied must take into account the complexities of socio-ecological systems, the opportunities found in diverse viewpoints, the ability to parse conflict and power differences, and the ability to resource expert knowledge for more sustainable futures. We discuss and chart resources linked to leadership concepts critical to constructively harness business engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying eight that are primary to active learning and application: systems resilience, strength through interdependence, scaling adaption, innovation for transformation, context and collectiveness, diversity of learning, negotiating power, and elevating the normative nature of the Global Goals.

MYC disrupts transcriptional and metabolic circadian oscillations in cancer and promotes enhanced biosynthesis.

The molecular circadian clock, which controls rhythmic 24-hour oscillation of genes, proteins, and metabolites in healthy tissues, is disrupted across many human cancers. Deregulated expression of the MYC oncoprotein has been shown to alter expression of molecular clock genes, leading to a disruption of molecular clock oscillation across cancer types. It remains unclear what benefit cancer cells gain from suppressing clock oscillation, and how this loss of molecular clock oscillation impacts global gene expression and metabolism in cancer.

Do macrophages follow the beat of circadian rhythm in TIME (Tumor Immune Microenvironment)?

Advances in cancer research have made clear the critical role of the immune response in clearing tumors. This breakthrough in scientific understanding was heralded by the success of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies such as anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/ programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), as well as the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in treating liquid tumors. Thus, much effort has been made to further understand the role of the immune response in tumor progression, and how we may target it to treat cancer.

Policing Pot: State-Level Cannabis Arrests Increase Perceived Risks and Costs but Not Use.

Legal sanctions are purported to play a role in cannabis use and related consequences. General models of deterrence suggest that increases in arrests should decrease consumption by heightening perceptions of the negative consequences of use as well as the likelihood and severity of penalties. The present study examined if arrests resulting from cannabis possession relate to cannabis consumption, perceptions of use, and likelihood and severity of related penalties.

Expectancies for Cannabis- Induced Emotional Breakthrough, Mystical Experiences and Changes in Dysfunctional Attitudes: Perceptions of the Potential for Cannabis-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has established antidepressant effects. Cannabis users appear to expect high doses administered in a session much like psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to create comparable subjective effects. The current studies explored expectations of antidepressant effects of such cannabis-assisted sessions to replicate and extend previous work.

Cannabis's Link to Schizotypy: Phenomenon, Measurement Bias, or Delusion?

Links between cannabis use and psychosis generate research and media attention. Cannabis users have outscored non-users on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) in multiple studies, but previous work suggests that groups do not differ if biased items are removed. The present study examined links between schizotypal personality and cannabis use in a large sample recruited from Amazon's MTurk platform (N = 705).

Undergraduate student perceptions of cognitive behavioral therapy, aerobic exercise, and their combination for depression.

Objective: Both aerobic exercise and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) improve depression, but perceptions of their credibility and efficacy are underexplored. These perceptions can contribute to treatment seeking and outcome. A previous online sample ranging in age and education rated a combined treatment higher than individual components and underestimated their efficacy.

Induced negative affect's impact on self-reported cannabis use, expectancies, and problems.

Substance use disorders and affective disturbances often covary. Even momentary experiences of negative affect (NA) appear linked with substance use. While strong evidence of these relations exists, NA might bias endorsements of substance use due to hindered recall and reporting processes.

Effect of Yoga and Mediational Influence of Fatigue on Walking, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life Among Cancer Survivors.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) negatively affects survivors' walking, engagement in physical activity (PA), and quality of life (QoL). Yoga is an effective therapy for treating CRF; however, evidence from large clinical trials regarding how reducing CRF through yoga influences CRF's interference with survivors' walking, engagement in PA, and QoL is not available. We examined the effects of yoga and the mediational influence of CRF on CRF's interference with walking, PA, and QoL among cancer survivors in a multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial.

MYC disrupts transcriptional and metabolic circadian oscillations in cancer and promotes enhanced biosynthesis.

The molecular circadian clock, which controls rhythmic 24-hour oscillation of genes, proteins, and metabolites in healthy tissues, is disrupted across many human cancers. Deregulated expression of the MYC oncoprotein has been shown to alter expression of molecular clock genes, leading to a disruption of molecular clock oscillation across cancer types. It remains unclear what benefit cancer cells gain from suppressing clock oscillation, and how this loss of molecular clock oscillation impacts global gene expression and metabolism in cancer.

Circadian disruption enhances HSF1 signaling and tumorigenesis in -driven lung cancer.

Disrupted circadian rhythmicity is a prominent feature of modern society and has been designated as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization. However, the biological mechanisms that connect circadian disruption and cancer risk remain largely undefined. We demonstrate that exposure to chronic circadian disruption [chronic jetlag (CJL)] increases tumor burden in a mouse model of KRAS-driven lung cancer.

Time-restricted Eating to Address Cancer-related Fatigue among Cancer Survivors: A Single-arm Pilot Study.

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent, debilitating condition that can persist for months or years after treatment. In a single-arm clinical trial, the feasibility and safety of a time-restricted eating (TRE) intervention were evaluated among cancer survivors, and initial estimates of within-person change in cancer-related fatigue were obtained.

Methods: Participants were 4-60 months post-cancer treatment, were experiencing fatigue (≥ 3 on a scale 0-10), and were not following TRE.

The indirect effect of negative emotionality via alcohol craving on abstinence self-efficacy among women in alcohol treatment.

Women with alcohol use disorder (AUD) often present to treatment with heightened negative emotionality, including negative affect, anxiety, stress, and depression. Negative emotionality might impact women's alcohol abstinence self-efficacy (AASE), or confidence in their ability to remain sober, which is an important predictor of treatment outcomes. It is also plausible that other variables, such as alcohol craving, influence AASE.