Yoga for cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: Health-related quality of life outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Yoga is a meditative movement therapy focused on mind-body awareness. The impact of yoga on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is unclear. METHODS: We conducted a pilot randomized wait-list controlled trial of 8 weeks of yoga (n = 21) versus wait-list control (n = 20) for CIPN in 41 breast and gynecological cancer survivors with persistent moderate to severe CIPN. HRQOL endpoints were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The Treatment Expectancy Scale (TES) was administered at baseline. We estimated mean changes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from baseline to weeks 8 and 12 and compared arms using constrained linear mixed models. RESULTS: At week 8, HADS anxiety scores decreased -1.61 (-2.75, -0.46) in the yoga arm and -0.32 (-1.38, 0.75) points in the wait-list control arm (p = 0.099). At week 12, HADS anxiety scores decreased -1.42 (-2.57, -0.28) in yoga compared to an increase of 0.46 (-0.60, 1.53) in wait-list control (p = 0.017). There were no significant differences in HADS depression, BFI, or ISI scores between yoga and wait-list control. Baseline TES was significantly higher in yoga than in wait-list control (14.9 vs. 12.7, p = 0.019). TES was not associated with HADS anxiety reduction and HADS anxiety reduction was not associated with CIPN pain reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga may reduce anxiety in patients with CIPN. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03292328.

A Bayesian Approach to German Personal and Demonstrative Pronouns.

When faced with an ambiguous pronoun, an addressee must interpret it by identifying a suitable referent. It has been proposed that the interpretation of pronouns can be captured using Bayes' Rule: P(referent|pronoun) ∝ P(pronoun|referent)P(referent). This approach has been successful in English and Mandarin Chinese. In this study, we further the cross-linguistic evidence for the Bayesian model by applying it to German personal and demonstrative pronouns, and provide novel quantitative support for the model by assessing model performance in a Bayesian statistical framework that allows implementation of a fully hierarchical structure, providing the most conservative estimates of uncertainty. Data from two story-continuation experiments showed that the Bayesian model overall made more accurate predictions for pronoun interpretation than production and next-mention biases separately. Furthermore, the model accounts for the demonstrative pronoun dieser as well as the personal pronoun, despite the demonstrative having different, and more rigid, resolution preferences.

Delayed Application of Binding Condition C During Cataphoric Pronoun Resolution.

Previous research has shown that during cataphoric pronoun resolution, the predictive search for an antecedent is restricted by a structure-sensitive constraint known as 'Condition C', such that an antecedent is only considered when the constraint does not apply. Evidence has mainly come from self-paced reading (SPR), a method which may not be able to pick up on short-lived effects over the timecourse of processing. This study investigates whether or not the active search mechanism is constrained by Condition C at all points in time during cataphoric processing. We carried out one eye-tracking during reading and a parallel SPR experiment, accompanied by offline coreference judgment tasks. Although offline judgments about coreference were constrained by Condition C, the eye-tracking experiment revealed temporary consideration of antecedents that should be ruled out by Condition C. The SPR experiment using exactly the same materials indicated, conversely, that only structurally appropriate antecedents were considered. Taken together, our results suggest that the application of Condition C may be delayed during naturalistic reading.

Structural constraints on pronoun binding and coreference: evidence from eye movements during reading.

A number of recent studies have investigated how syntactic and non-syntactic constraints combine to cue memory retrieval during anaphora resolution. In this paper we investigate how syntactic constraints and gender congruence interact to guide memory retrieval during the resolution of subject pronouns. Subject pronouns are always technically ambiguous, and the application of syntactic constraints on their interpretation depends on properties of the antecedent that is to be retrieved. While pronouns can freely corefer with non-quantified referential antecedents, linking a pronoun to a quantified antecedent is only possible in certain syntactic configurations via variable binding. We report the results from a judgment task and three online reading comprehension experiments investigating pronoun resolution with quantified and non-quantified antecedents. Results from both the judgment task and participants' eye movements during reading indicate that comprehenders freely allow pronouns to corefer with non-quantified antecedents, but that retrieval of quantified antecedents is restricted to specific syntactic environments. We interpret our findings as indicating that syntactic constraints constitute highly weighted cues to memory retrieval during anaphora resolution.

The online application of binding condition B in native and non-native pronoun resolution.

Previous research has shown that anaphor resolution in a non-native language may be more vulnerable to interference from structurally inappropriate antecedents compared to native anaphor resolution. To test whether previous findings on reflexive anaphors generalize to non-reflexive pronouns, we carried out an eye-movement monitoring study investigating the application of binding condition B during native and non-native sentence processing. In two online reading experiments we examined when during processing local and/or non-local antecedents for pronouns were considered in different types of syntactic environment. Our results demonstrate that both native English speakers and native German-speaking learners of English showed online sensitivity to binding condition B in that they did not consider syntactically inappropriate antecedents. For pronouns thought to be exempt from condition B (so-called "short-distance pronouns"), the native readers showed a weak preference for the local antecedent during processing. The non-native readers, on the other hand, showed a preference for the matrix subject even where local coreference was permitted, and despite demonstrating awareness of short-distance pronouns' referential ambiguity in a complementary offline task. This indicates that non-native comprehenders are less sensitive during processing to structural cues that render pronouns exempt from condition B, and prefer to link a pronoun to a salient subject antecedent instead.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma arising in an acquired naevus of Ota.

Naevus of Ota is a dermal melanocytosis most commonly found in black or Asian skin and is usually a benign malformation, but with a low risk of melanoma. We describe a 32-year-old Caucasian man with an acquired naevus of Ota with subtle pigmentation, in which a melanocytic papule developed. The lesion, deceptively, had no clinically suspicious features, but investigation revealed an aggressive cutaneous malignant melanoma, extensive orbital ring melanocytosis and metastatic brain and subsequent liver disease.

Successful treatment of cutaneous sarcoid by photodynamic therapy with minimal discomfort using a fractionated dosing regime.

We report the case of a 42-year-old lady with an 8-year history of a persistent tumid plaque on her forehead. Investigations and presentation were consistent with cutaneous sarcoid with no systemic involvement. Multiple topical and oral treatments had been ineffective. She received seven sessions of 5-aminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (PDT) over the course of 16 months. Each treatment was delivered in discontinuous and fractionated time intervals. Improvement was seen after the first treatment and continued with subsequent treatments. She found the treatment almost painless and was pleased with the cosmetic outcome. We conclude that PDT is a useful therapy in the treatment of facial cutaneous sarcoid. Fractionated exposure may allow the treatment to be less painful and therefore better tolerated.

Granuloma faciale successfully treated with topical tacrolimus.

Granuloma faciale (GF) is a benign chronic condition characterized by recurrent plaques and nodules most commonly found on the face. We report a man with a 6-month history of plaques on his forehead and preauricular area consistent with GF that responded to twice-daily application of topical tacrolimus ointment, and who remains in remission 1 year later. This case supports previous reports of the successful use of topical tacrolimus in treating GF.

UV radiation-induced immunosuppression is greater in men and prevented by topical nicotinamide.

UV radiation-induced immunosuppression augments cutaneous carcinogenesis. The incidence of skin cancer continues to increase despite increased use of sunscreens, which are less effective at preventing immunosuppression than sunburn. Using the Mantoux reaction as a model of skin immunity, we investigated the effects of solar-simulated (ss) UV and its component UVA and UVB wavebands and tested the ability of topical nicotinamide to protect from UV-induced immunosuppression. Healthy, Mantoux-positive volunteers were UV-irradiated on their backs, with 5% nicotinamide or vehicle applied to different sites in a randomized, double-blinded manner. Subsequent Mantoux testing at irradiated and adjacent unirradiated sites enabled measurement of UV-induced immunosuppression with and without nicotinamide. Suberythemal ssUV caused significant immunosuppression, although component UVB and UVA doses delivered independently did not. Men were immunosuppressed by ssUV doses three times lower than those required to immunosuppress women. This may be an important cause of the higher skin cancer incidence and mortality observed in men. Topical nicotinamide prevented immunosuppression, with gene chip microarrays suggesting that the mechanisms of protection may include alterations in complement, energy metabolism and apoptosis pathways. Nicotinamide is a safe and inexpensive compound that could be added to sunscreens or after-sun lotions to improve protection from immunosuppression. immunosuppression.JID JOURNAL CLUB ARTICLE: For questions, answers, and open discussion about this article, please go to http://network.nature.com/group/jidclub

The topical isoflavonoid NV-07alpha reduces solar-simulated UV-induced suppression of Mantoux reactions in humans.

UV radiation suppresses delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to intradermally injected tuberculin purified protein derivative in Mantoux-positive individuals. The effect of the topically administered isoflavonoid NV-07alpha, a synthetic derivative of the isoflavonoid equol, on UV-induced suppression of Mantoux reactions was assessed in 18 healthy Mantoux-positive volunteers. A single, fixed dose of solar-simulated UV radiation was delivered to the volunteers' lower backs. Different concentrations of NV-07alpha or its vehicle were applied to different sites within the irradiated field immediately after UV exposure and again 24 h later. Forty-eight hours after irradiation, Mantoux testing was performed at both the irradiated sites and adjacent, unirradiated sites. The intensity of Mantoux reactions was measured 72 h later with a reflectance erythema meter and by measuring the diameter of each reaction. Although lower concentrations of NV-07alpha (0.5 and 2 mM) did not prevent UV immunosuppression, 4 mM NV-07alpha partially but significantly attenuated UV-induced suppression of Mantoux-induced erythema. Minimal erythema doses were also determined for sites treated with NV-07alpha or its vehicle immediately after UV exposure. NV-07alpha had no significant effects on UV erythema. We conclude that 4 mM NV-07alpha prevented the suppressive effects of UV radiation on Mantoux responses in humans but did not affect UV-induced erythema at the concentrations used.