The Effects of Virtual Reality on Anxiety and Self-Efficacy Among Patients With Cancer: A Pilot Study

IntroductionPatients with cancer undergoing surgery often suffer from reduced quality of life and various forms of distress. Untreated distress can negatively affect coping resources as well as surgical and oncological outcomes. A virtual reality-based stress reduction intervention may increase quality of life and well-being and reduce distress in the perioperative phase for patients with cancer. This pilot trial aims to explore the feasibility of the proposed intervention, assess patient acceptability and obtain estimates of effect to provide data for sample size calculations.Methods and analysisPatients with colorectal cancer and liver metastasis undergoing elective surgery will be recruited for this single-centre, randomised pilot trial with a three-arm design. A total of 54 participants will be randomised at 1:1:1 ratio to one of two intervention groups or a control receiving standard treatment. Those randomised to an intervention group will either receive perioperative virtual reality-based stress reduction exercises twice daily or listen to classical music twice daily. Primary feasibility outcomes are number and proportions of participants recruited, screened, consented and randomised. Furthermore, adherence to the intervention, compliance with the completion of the quality of life questionnaires and feasibility of implementing the trial procedures will be assessed. Secondary clinical outcomes are measurements of the effectiveness of the interventions to inform sample size calculations.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol, the patient information and the informed consent form have been approved by the ethics committee of the Ludwigs-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany (Reference Number: 19–915). Study findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberDRKS00020909.

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Plasma Exosomal miRNA Levels after Radiotherapy Are Associated with Early Progression and Metastasis of Cervical Cancer: A Pilot Study

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10102110 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 2110

Author(s):

Oyeon Cho ◽

Do-Wan Kim ◽

Jae-Youn Cheong

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Initial Stage ◽

Exosomal Mirnas ◽

Early Progression ◽

Before And After ◽

Microenvironmental Factors ◽

Exosomal Mirna

Plasma exosomal miRNAs are key regulators of cell-cell interactions associated with several biological functions in patients with cancer. This pilot study aimed to investigate the log2 fold change (log2FC) of the expression of exosomal miRNAs and related mRNAs in the blood of patients with cervical cancer to identify prognostic markers better than those currently available. We sequenced plasma exosomal RNA from 56 blood samples collected from 28 patients with cervical cancer, who had been treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Changes in the expression of miRNAs and mRNAs before and after CCRT were represented as log2FC. Their biological functions were studied by miRNA-mRNA network analysis, using ingenuity pathway analysis, after the selection of two groups of miRNAs, each associated with early progression (EP) and metastasis, also described as initial stage. Seven patients experienced EP, three of whom died within four months after progression. Reduced levels of miR-1228-5p, miR-33a-5p, miR-3200-3p, and miR-6815-5p and increased levels of miR-146a-3p in patients with EP revealed unresolved inflammation, with accompanying increased expression of PCK1 and decreased expression of FCGR1A. Increased levels of miR-605-5p, miR-6791-5p, miR-6780a-5p, and miR-6826-5p and decreased levels of miR-16-1-3p (or 15a-3p) were associated with the degree of metastasis and led to the systemic activation of myeloid, endothelial, and epithelial cells, as well as neurons, phagocytes, and platelets. Log2FCs in the expression of miRNAs and mRNAs from plasma exosomes after CCRT are associated with EP and metastasis, reflecting unresolved inflammation and systemic microenvironmental factors, respectively. However, this study, supported by preliminary data insufficient to reach clear conclusions, should be verified in larger prospective cohorts.

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Parental Self-Efficacy to Promote Children’s Healthy Lifestyles: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4794

Author(s):

Cayetana Ruiz-Zaldibar ◽

Inmaculada Serrano-Monzó ◽

Olga Lopez-Dicastillo ◽

María Jesús Pumar-Méndez ◽

Andrea Iriarte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Parenting Styles ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Positive Parenting ◽

Parenting Programs ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Lifestyles

Positive parenting programs are a key strategy to promote the development of parental competence. We designed a pilot study based on parental self-efficacy to promote healthy lifestyles in their children aged between 2 to 5 years old. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the effects of a parenting program on parental self-efficacy and parenting styles. Twenty-five parents were allocated into intervention (N = 15) and control group (N = 10). Parents from the intervention group received four group sessions (120 mi per session) to develop a positive parenting, parenting styles and parenting skills regarding to children’s diet, exercise, and screen time, and two additional sessions about child development and family games. Parents from the control group received these two latter sessions. Parental self-efficacy, parenting styles, and meal-related parenting practices were measured before and after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Acceptability and feasibility of the program was also measured. Quantitative data were analyzed using the repeat measures ANOVA and ANCOVA tests and the effect size calculation. Content analysis was used to analyse open questions. Positive trends were found regarding parental self-efficacy and the use of authoritative parenting style. Parents also reported a great acceptability of the program getting high satisfaction. According to the feasibility barriers and facilitators aspects were identified. The positive trends founded in this study support the development of parenting programs to promote healthy lifestyle in children.

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