ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The acceptability of videoconferencing delivery of yoga interventions in the advanced cancer setting is relatively unexplored. The current report summarizes the challenges and solutions of the transition from an in-person (ie, face-to-face) to a videoconference intervention delivery approach in response to the Coronavirus Disease pandemic. METHOD: Participants included patient-family caregiver dyads who were enrolled in ongoing yoga trials and 2 certified yoga therapists who delivered the yoga sessions. We summarized their experiences using recordings of the yoga sessions and interventionists' progress notes. RESULTS: Out of 7 dyads participating in the parent trial, 1 declined the videoconferenced sessions. Participants were between the ages of 55 and 76 and mostly non-Hispanic White (83%). Patients were mainly male (83%), all had stage III or IV cancer and were undergoing radiotherapy. Caregivers were all female. Despite challenges in the areas of technology, location, and setting, instruction and personal connection, the overall acceptability was high among patients, caregivers, and instructors. Through this transition process, solutions to these challenges were found, which are described here. CONCLUSION: Although in-person interventions are favored by both the study participants and the interventionists, videoconference sessions were deemed acceptable. All participants had the benefit of a previous in-person experience, which was helpful and perhaps necessary for older and advanced cancer patients requiring practice modifications. In a remote setting, the assistance of caregivers seems particularly beneficial to ensure practice safety. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT03948100; NCT02481349.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Caregivers , Neoplasms/therapy , Videoconferencing , Yoga , Adult , Aged , Attitude of Health Personnel , COVID-19/psychology , Caregivers/psychology , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Meditation/methods , Meditation/psychology , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/psychology , Pandemics , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Perception , Telemedicine/methods , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Treatment Outcome , Yoga/psychologyABSTRACT
AIMS: It is well known that in the aging process a variety of physiological functions such as cardiac physiology and energy metabolism decline. Imbalance in production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may induce oxidative stress. Research shows that oxidative stress is an important factor in the aging process. Studies suggest that É·-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and moderate physical exercise modulate the ROS system. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether É·-3 present in fish oil supplementation coupled with moderate physical training could improve antioxidant and metabolic enzymes in the hearts of adult and aged rats and, if these effects could be associated to glycemia, plasma lipid profile or murinometric parameters. MAIN METHODS: Adult (weighing 315.1±9.3g) and aged rats (weighing 444.5±11.8g) exercised and receive fish oil supplementation for 4weeks. Then they were used to evaluate murinometric parameters, fasting glucose and lipid profile. After this, their hearts were collected to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT, glutathione peroxidase-GPx) and oxidative metabolism marker (citrate synthase-CS activity). KEY FINDINGS: Fish oil supplementation increases HDL concentration and activity of CAT and CS. Moreover, physical training coupled with fish oil supplementation induces additional effects on SOD, GPx and CS activity mainly in aged rats. SIGNIFICANCE: Our data suggest that combined treatment in aged rat hearts improves the antioxidant capacities and metabolic enzyme that can prevent the deleterious effects of aging.
