Chairside Yoga Therapy Alleviates Symptoms in Patients Concurrently Receiving Outpatient Cancer Infusions: A Promising Feasibility Study.

Purpose: To evaluate effectiveness of chairside yoga therapy on perceptions of fatigue, pain, nausea, anxiety, and distress among oncology patients concurrently receiving outpatient cancer infusion therapy. Design: This prospective pilot study used pre-/post-survey design in convenience sample of cancer patients in outpatient setting. Methods: Researchers developed and administered the Outpatient Cancer Symptom Assessment Scale (OCSAS) comprised of cancer- or treatment-related symptoms commonly reported in the oncology population (nausea, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and distress). Following IRB approval, symptoms were rated using Likert scale of 0 (not present) to 10 (severe) before and after chairside yoga therapy delivered concurrently with outpatient infusions. Qualitative data was collected related to patients' overall infusion experience. Findings: Participants (n = 82) reported positive patient experiences and statistically less pain (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and distress (p < 0.001) following the yoga intervention compared to baseline. Nausea was not significantly impacted by the yoga intervention. Conclusions: Yoga therapy received concurrently during outpatient cancer infusion is consistent with a holistic and integrative approach to care for the oncology population. Yoga therapy offers promise for reducing symptoms which negatively impact quality of life, including pain, fatigue, anxiety, and distress. Qualitative data suggests patients' overall infusion experience was enhanced with yoga therapy.

[Environmental chemicals and the growing prevalence of obesity. A literature review]. / Hormonforstyrrende stoffer og udvikling af fedme. En litteraturgennemgang.

Obesity is increasing globally. Lifestyle and genetic factors alone cannot explain this increase. This review study describes possible associations between environmental chemicals and the growing prevalence of obesity. The review mainly focuses on halogenated organic compounds and their possible effect on obesity development. The literature is, however, limited and knowledge of the mechanisms insufficient. Consequently, it is difficult to describe the risks from these chemicals on obesity development.