Optimizing the Communication with Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Patient Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: During curfew, patients are self-isolated at home and worried. Patient-doctor interactions may be disrupted and therefore need to be replaced by alternative effective communication methods. PURPOSE: To describe the preferences of cancer patients with respect to communication methods and the use of patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs). To record the impact on cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and the knowledge and attitude of the patients towards it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We created a self-administered electronic survey that was piloted and evaluated for its clinical relevance. Using convenient sampling methods, we surveyed the cancer patients in our Oncology Center. RESULTS: We received 385 responses between April 15 and April 30, 2020. The preferred method for communication was a phone call with a 92% response rate followed by the electronic patient portal, mobile application, telemedicine and text message in 75%, 76%, 73%, and 72%, respectively. The majority (97%) preferred the use of PAEHRs for appointments, 95% for drug delivery and to view laboratory tests, and 92% in requesting medical reports. In our survey, 22% of patients with cancer reported that their medical cancer care had not been affected by COVID-19. They reported that trusted sources of information during COVID-19 included the Ministry of Health with 98% and doctors with 94%. Sixty-one percent know that they are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and 91% of respondents supported the notion of digital transformation in the caring of cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a general acceptance of patients to telecommunication as substitute to in-person interaction with their physicians. Interaction between cancer patients and health care providers should not be disrupted but should be augmented with more effective platforms to improve health care outcomes.

Position statement on defining and standardizing an oncoplastic approach to breast-conserving surgery in Canada.

Although mastectomy is an effective procedure, it can have a negative effect on body image, sense of attractiveness, and sexuality. As opposed to the combination of breast oncologic surgery and plastic surgery, whose primary focus is on replacing lost volume, breast-conserving oncoplastic surgery (ops) redistributes remaining breast tissue in a manner that requires vision, anatomic knowledge, and an appreciation of esthetics, symmetry, and breast function. Modern surgical treatment of breast cancer can be realized only with breast and plastic surgeons working together using oncoplastic techniques to deliver superior cosmetic and cancer outcomes alike. Using this collaborative approach, oncologic and plastic surgeons in Canada have a significant opportunity to improve the care of their breast cancer patients. We propose a tri-level classification for volume displacement procedures to act as a rubric for the training of general surgeons and oncologic breast surgeons in oncoplastic breast-conserving therapy techniques. It is our position that ops enhances outcomes for many women with breast cancer and should become part of the standard repertoire of procedures used by Canadian oncologic surgeons treating breast cancer.

Purification and Light-Dependent Molecular Modulation of the Cytosolic Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase in Sugarbeet Leaves.

Cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) was purified 472-fold from sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaves by ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion-exchange chromatography (DEAE Sepharose), cation-exchange chromatography (S-Sepharose), gel filtration (Sephacryl S-300), and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Phenyl Sepharose). The dissociated polypeptide (molecular mass of 37 kD) was used to generate polyclonal antibodies. Western blot analysis revealed a single band that was identified as the cytosolic FBPase. Enzyme activity and protein and transcript levels were measured under various light and dark conditions in growth chamber-grown plants. FBPase protein level remained unchanged during a diurnal cycle, but enzyme activity and transcript levels were highest and lowest at the end of the light and dark periods, respectively. Light-dependent increase in the enzyme activity and transcript level was gradual, occurring several hours after the onset of light. At the end of an extended dark period (48 h), FBPase activity was negligible, protein level was unchanged, and transcript level had declined (but considerable amounts of transcript remained). Neither activity nor protein and transcript were detected in etiolated leaves. Nearly 24 h of continuous exposure to light was required before the FBPase protein and activity reached maximal levels. Unlike the chloroplastic FBPase, which is light activated (direct regulation), changes in the cytosolic FBPase activity and transcription appear to be light dependent in an indirect manner. The data provide first evidence on the coarse control of this enzyme via a light-dependent modulation of transcription and posttranslational modification.

The synthesis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in imbibing sorghum seeds.

When sorghum seeds were imbibed either in the light or in the dark, the presence of newly synthesized phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) could be detected immunologically after approximately 6 h. In addition, both PEPC mRNA and enzyme activity were detected in extracts of dry seeds prior to inhibition. By contrast, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase mRNA, protein, and activity, as well as chlorophyll, were not detected even after 24 h of inhibition. These observations suggest that the nonphotosynthetic form of PEPC is synthesized during seed development and may play an important role in the germinative process.

Biotechnological approaches to breeding and cultivation of ornamental crop plants.

Recent advances in plant biotechnology hold great potential for the ornamental horticulture industry. In addition to conventional methods, breeders can now introduce genetic variation into ornamentals by the application of recombinant DNA technology. This technology is particularly useful for effecting changes in phenotypic expression encoded by single genes such as corolla and foliage color and texture, stem length, scent, temporal regulation of flowering, vase life of cut flowers and resistance to stressful environments. In part, the commercial success of this technology will depend on developing reliable methods of transformation of ornamentals and on the stability of the introduced or altered genes. In addition, new and improved strategies of in vitro culture have been commercially implemented for the propagation and breeding of a wide variety of ornamental crops and will undoubtedly play a major role in the screening and propagation of chimeric plants developed by recombinant DNA technology.

Effect of Night Temperature on the Activity of Sucrose Phosphate Synthase, Acid Invertase, and Sucrose Synthase in Source and Sink Tissues of Rosa hybrida cv Golden Times.

Sucrose phosphate synthase and acid invertase activities in the mature leaves of roses (Rosa hybrida cv Golden Times) were greater in plants grown under a higher night temperature than under a lower temperature regime. In young shoots, the activity of acid invertase was promoted by the lower temperature while that of sucrose synthase was increased at the higher temperature. At both temperatures benzyladenine when applied to the axillary bud stimulated sucrose phosphate synthase activity and advancement of its peak of activity in the leaf subtending to the bud, and also stimulated sucrose synthase activity in the young shoot. At the lower temperature, application of benzyladenine to the axillary bud stimulated acid invertase activity in the young shoot but not in the leaves.