Acupuncture as Cancer Symptom Therapy: What a Difference a Decade Makes

Peter A.S. Johnstone 사단법인약침학회 2011 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.4 No.4

The author reviews the use of acupuncture in cancer symptom management based on mainly what his group has done for the past 10 years and new directions are presented for the future investigations.

Mathematical Modeling of Acupuncture as Cancer Symptom Therapy: First Steps

Peter A S Johnstone,Heiko Enderling 사단법인약침학회 2015 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.8 No.3

The practice of acupuncture (AP) is frequently traced to the Emperor Huangdi, whose Classic includes descriptions of the practice hundreds of years before the Christian era [1]. The practice has come far towards integration in modern medical practice in the intervening millennia, especially in the management of symptoms referable to cancer or its treatment [2]. However, the modern practice of acupuncture mirrors the modern practice of radiation therapy (RT) in that treatment schedules are practical rather than evidence-based.

The JCMT Transient Survey: Identifying Submillimeter Continuum Variability over Several Year Timescales Using Archival JCMT Gould Belt Survey Observations

Mairs, Steve,Johnstone, Doug,Kirk, Helen,Lane, James,Bell, Graham S.,Graves, Sarah,Herczeg, Gregory J.,Scicluna, Peter,Bower, Geoffrey C.,Chen, Huei-Ru Vivien,Hatchell, Jennifer,Aikawa, Yuri,Chen, Wen American Astronomical Society 2017 The Astrophysical journal Vol.849 No.2

<P>Investigating variability at the earliest stages of low-mass star formation is fundamental in understanding how a protostar assembles mass. While many simulations of protostellar disks predict non-steady accretion onto protostars, deeper investigation requires robust observational constraints on the frequency and amplitude of variability events characterized across the observable SED. In this study, we develop methods to robustly analyze repeated observations of an area of the sky for submillimeter variability in order to determine constraints on the magnitude and frequency of deeply embedded protostars. We compare 850 mu m JCMT Transient Survey data with archival JCMT Gould Belt Survey data to investigate variability over 2-4 year timescales. Out of 175 bright, independent emission sources identified in the overlapping fields, we find seven variable candidates, five of which we classify as Strong, and the remaining two we classify as Extended to indicate that the latter are associated with larger-scale structure. For the Strong variable candidates, we find an average fractional peak brightness change per. year of |4.0|% yr(-1), with a standard deviation of 2.7% yr(-1). In total, 7% of the protostars associated with 850 mu m emission in our sample show signs of variability. Four of the five Strong sources are associated with a known protostar. The remaining source is a good follow-up target for an object that is anticipated to contain an enshrouded, deeply embedded protostar. In addition, we estimate the 850 mu m periodicity of the submillimeter variable source, EC 53, to be 567 +/- 32 days, based on the archival Gould Belt Survey data.</P>

Biomaterials-based Approaches for Cardiac Regeneration

Samhita Vasu,Justin Zhou,Jeffrey Chen,Peter V. Johnston,Deok-Ho Kim 대한심장학회 2021 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.51 No.12

The limited ability of cardiomyocytes to proliferate is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in cardiovascular diseases. There exist therapies for cardiac regeneration that are cell-based as well as that involve bioactive molecules. However, delivery remains one of the major challenges impeding such therapies from having clinical impact. Recent advancements in biomaterials-based approaches for cardiac regeneration have shown promise in clinical trials and animal studies in improving cardiac function, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing adverse immune response. This review will focus on current clinical studies of three contemporary biomaterials-based approaches for cardiac regeneration (extracellular vesicles, injectable hydrogels, and cardiac patches), remaining challenges and shortcomings to be overcome, and future directions for the use of biomaterials to promote cardiac regeneration.

Quantification of Aging-Related Decreases in Sensory Innervation of the Bladder Trigone in Rats

Mathijs M. de Rijk,Saša Peter,Amanda Wolf-Johnston,John Heesakkers,Gommert A. van Koeveringe,Lori A. Birder 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2024 International Neurourology Journal Vol.28 No.-

Purpose: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), characterized by problems regarding storage and/or voiding of urine, is known to significantly increase with age. Effective communication between the lower urinary tract and the central nervous system (CNS) is essential for the optimal function of this system, and heavily relies on the efficient interaction between the bladder urothelium and the afferent nerve fibers situated in close proximity to the urothelium within the lamina propria. Methods: We aimed to quantify aging-related differences in the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP, an established marker for sensory nerve fibers) in the trigonal mucosal layers of young (3–4 months) and aged (25–30 months) rats. We evaluated trigonal tissue from 3 animals per age group. Tissue was serially sectioned at 10 μm and stained for CGRP. Images were taken along the full length of the tissue. For each image we computed the total CGRP-positive area (μm2 ) and the median value for each animal was used for further analysis. Results: Upon statistical analysis the aged rats show a significantly lower CGRP-positive area compared to young rats (P=0.0049). These results indicate that aging has a negative effect on the area of CGRP-positive signal in the trigone. Conclusions: The structural and functional integrity of the sensory web in the trigonum of rats is negatively affected by the aging process, potentially leading to impaired communication between the bladder urothelium the CNS. Consequently, these perturbations in the sensory system may contribute to the pathogenesis or exacerbation LUTS.

Role of interfacial interactions on the anomalous swelling of polymer thin films in supercritical carbon dioxide

Li, Yuan,Park, Eun J.,Lim, Kwon T.,Johnston, Keith P.,Green, Peter F. Interscience 2007 Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physic Vol.45 No.11

<P>It has recently been shown that thin polymer films in the nanometer thickness range exhibit anomalous swelling maxima in supercritical CO<SUB>2</SUB> (Sc-Co<SUB>2</SUB>) in the vicinity of the critical point of CO<SUB>2</SUB>. The adsorption isotherm of CO<SUB>2</SUB> on carbon black, silica surfaces, porous zeolites, and other surfaces, is known to exhibit anomalous maxima under similar CO<SUB>2</SUB> conditions. It is believed that because CO<SUB>2</SUB> possesses a low cohesive energy density, there would be an excess amount of CO<SUB>2</SUB> at the surfaces of these materials and hence the CO<SUB>2</SUB>/polymer interface. This might cause excess CO<SUB>2</SUB> in the polymer films near the free surface, and hence the swelling anomaly. In addition, an excess of CO<SUB>2</SUB> would reside at the polymer/substrate and polymer/CO<SUB>2</SUB> interfaces for entropic reasons. These interfacial effects, as have been suggested, should account for an overall excess of CO<SUB>2</SUB> in a thin polymer film compared to the bulk, and would be responsible for the anomalous swelling. In this study, we use in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to investigate the role of interfaces on the anomalous swelling of polymer thin films of varying initial thicknesses, h<SUB>0</SUB>, exposed to Sc-CO<SUB>2</SUB>. We examined three homopolymers, poly(1,1′-dihydroperflurooctyl methacrylate) (PFOMA), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), that exhibit very different interactions with Sc-CO<SUB>2</SUB>, and the diblock copolymer of PS-b-PFOMA. We show that the anomalous swelling cannot be solely explained by the excess adsorption of CO<SUB>2</SUB> at interfaces. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1313–1324, 2007</P>

Patient-reported Outcomes of Acupuncture for Symptom Control in Cancer

Lora M.A. Thompson,Sarah Rausch Osian,Paul B. Jacobsen,Peter A S Johnstone 사단법인약침학회 2015 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.8 No.3

Acupuncture is increasingly offered as a treatment option for managing cancer-related symptoms. In addition to randomized controlled trials, patient-reported outcomes may be needed to establish treatment effectiveness. This study retrospectively examined the symptoms and the satisfaction ratings of 90 patients receiving acupuncture at an integrative oncology clinic. At least two acupuncture sessions were completed by 72% of the sample. The prevalence rates of fatigue, pain, anxiety, physical distress, emotional distress, and poor quality of life before acupuncture were > 62%. Paired t tests revealed a significant reduction in symptoms from baseline until after the first acupuncture session and after the last session (p < 0.05). Fewer (21%) patients reported nausea, which was significantly reduced after the first session, but not the last session. Reductions represented clinically meaningful differences in 33–41% of patients after the first session and in 41–53% of patients after the last session for all symptoms, except nausea. A small subset of patients (0–8%) reported worsening symptoms after acupuncture. The majority were satisfied with the service. The results of this study suggest that acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment for cancer symptom management. While high-quality trials are still needed to establish the treatment's efficacy, patients may benefit from these primarily safe, low-cost services.

Molecular Imaging of CXCL12 Promoter-driven HSV1-TK Reporter Gene Expression

Lina Alon,Dara L. Kraitchman,Michael Schär,Angel Cortez,Nirbhay N. Yadav,Rebecca Krimins,Peter V. Johnston,Michael T. McMahon,Peter C. M. van Zijl,Sridhar Nimmagadda,Martin G. Pomper,Jeff W. M. Bulte 한국생물공학회 2018 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.23 No.2

The C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12, SDF1a) and its receptor, CXCR4, play a fundamental role in several biological processes, including hematopoiesis, cardiogenesis, cancer progression, and stem cell migration. Noninvasive monitoring of CXCL12 is highly desirable for optimizing strategies that combine mobilization of therapeutic cells to combat cancer or to assist in cardiac tissue repair after myocardial infarction. Here, we report on an MRI reporter gene system for directly monitoring CXCL12 expression in vivo. Glioma cells and human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC) were transduced with the herpes simplex virus type-1-thymidine kinase (HSV1- tk) reporter gene expressed under the CXCL12 promoter. HSV1-tk expression resulted in accumulation of the PET tracer [125I]FIAU in vitro and in vivo and induced cell death after ganciclovir treatment. Furthermore, the results show that conditional expression of the reporter gene can be induced by hypoxia in transduced cells. Transduced hADSC were incubated with the CEST MRI probe 5-methyl-5, 6- dihydrothymidine (5-MDHT) and transplanted into swine heart. Transplanted cells were clearly visible on Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI using a 3T clinical scanner. Therefore, we conclude that it is possible to image CXCL12 expression with MRI in a large animal model, opening up a possible route to clinical translation.