The purpose of this research was to explore the nutrition practices among post-treatment cancer survivors across Ireland. Cancer survivors aged 18+ years living across Ireland, who were not ...palliative and had completed active cancer treatment at least six months previous, were recruited to complete an online survey assessing dietary quality, food choice and satisfaction with food-related life as well as clinical and nutrition status. It was circulated by cancer support networks and on social media. Descriptive statistics are presented. The cohort (n = 170) was predominantly female (85.9%) and had breast cancer (64.7%). Mean age was 51.5 ± 10.9 years and 42.7% of the cohort were >five years post-treatment. Only 20% and 12% of the cohort had been assessed by a dietitian during and post-treatment, respectively. The mean dietary quality score was 10.3 ± 1.7, which was measured by the Leeds short-form food frequency questionnaire (SFFFQ). Using a 5-point Likert scale, the median satisfaction with food-related life score was 19 (3.3), which evaluates cognitive judgements on the person's food-related life. The food choice questionnaire (FCQ) assesses the relative importance of a range of factors related to dietary choice to individuals. The primary determinant of food choice in this cohort was the natural content (31.7%) followed by health (24.7%). Vitamin and mineral supplement use was reported by 69.8% of the cohort; the most consumed was Vitamin D. Four themes emerged from an optional open-ended question: awareness of nutritional importance; desire for specific nutritional advice and dietetic referral; cancer and treatment nutrition impacts were highlighted; as well as struggles with weight gain. This research provides useful insight into the nutrition practices of Irish cancer survivors. A desire and need for individualised and specific advice are evident.
The ideal companion resource to 'Manual of Dietetic Practice', this book takes a problem-based learning approach to dietetics and nutrition with cases written and peer reviewed by registered ...dietitians, drawing on their own experiences and specialist knowledge * Each case study follows the Process for Nutrition and Dietetic Practice published by the British Dietetic Association in 2012 * Includes case studies in public health, an increasingly important area of practice
BackgroundLittle is known about how cancer survivors perceive nutrition through the cancer experience and how those perceptions may influence their diet.AimsThis study aimed to capture the meaning of ...nutrition for cancer survivors who are post-cancer treatment using a participatory photography method known as photovoice.MethodsWang and Burris’s photovoice procedure was followed. Recruitment took place via email through existing links with participants from a previous quantitative study. The participants were tasked with taking photographs to represent the meaning of nutrition for them post-treatment. Group workshops and semistructured interviews were conducted to facilitate reflection, dialogue and analysis. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis.ResultsOne man and seven women (n=8) across the Island of Ireland were recruited. Participants identified six themes (illustrated with photographs): (1) Fresh is Best, (2) Be kind to yourself, (3) Building Blocks. Be Informed., (4) Post-Treatment Healing Changes, (5) Chemo Rituals and (6) Food for the Soul–Healthy Mind. Healthy Body.ConclusionsParticipants displayed a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle for recovery post-treatment and maintaining health. While diverse, participants made post-treatment nutritional changes by introducing and eliminating certain foods or food groups. All agreed that being informed and building nutrition knowledge are essential. It is important to clarify the implications cancer has had on diet and health when providing nutrition guidance to ensure that it is appropriate and specific.
We present a hydrogen/deuterium exchange workflow coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HX-MS
) that supports the acquisition of peptide fragment ions alongside their peptide precursors. The approach ...enables true auto-curation of HX data by mining a rich set of deuterated fragments, generated by collisional-induced dissociation (CID), to simultaneously confirm the peptide ID and authenticate MS
-based deuteration calculations. The high redundancy provided by the fragments supports a confidence assessment of deuterium calculations using a combinatorial strategy. The approach requires data-independent acquisition (DIA) methods that are available on most MS platforms, making the switch to HX-MS
straightforward. Importantly, we find that HX-DIA enables a proteomics-grade approach and wide-spread applications. Considerable time is saved through auto-curation and complex samples can now be characterized and at higher throughput. We illustrate these advantages in a drug binding analysis of the ultra-large protein kinase DNA-PKcs, isolated directly from mammalian cells.
Cancer survivors consider nutrition to be highly important and are motivated to seek information about lifestyle changes, including nutrition, to improve their long-term health. Despite this, ...suboptimal dietary intake is still reported. Understanding cancer-specific barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among this population could help develop targeted interventions for this group. This study explored the barriers and facilitators to following a healthy diet among cancer survivors using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model. Semi-structured focus groups with 20 cancer survivors were conducted between February and August 2021, which were transcribed verbatim. Seven key TDF domains accounted for 87% of all coded responses. These were (a) environmental context and resources; (b) knowledge; (c) behavioural regulation; (d) social/professional role and identity; (e) belief about consequences; (f) social influences; and (g) skills. Key barriers were lack of knowledge, non-specific or irrelevant information, environmental aspects, and family. Facilitators were awareness of the importance of nutrition, the health benefits of a plant-based diet, confidence in cooking skills, organisation, balance, family, time, and viewing themselves as someone who eats healthily and access to fresh produce. Enablement was the most prominently linked intervention function. This work can inform future interventions in this area and ensure they are end-user-centred.
BackgroundIn Ireland, continuing increases in cancer survivorship rates have placed cancer survivorship care to the forefront in terms of strategic planning and service requirements.1 Nutrition is an ...important component of the cancer care continuum,2 however despite this those with cancer report poor access to credible nutrition advice.3 AimsThe aim of this research was to investigate 1) current nutritional issues; 2) proportion receiving nutrition advice from a dietitian and 3) additional sources of nutrition advice.MethodsThis cross-sectional study recruited Irish cancer survivors over the age of 18, who were not palliative and had completed active cancer treatment at least six months ago. A questionnaire on Microsoft Forms consisting of open and closed demographic, clinical and nutritional questions was developed and recruitment took place via social media platforms between October and December 2020.ResultsParticipants (n=169) were mainly female (n=145, 85.8%); diagnosed with breast cancer (n=109, 64.5%); living in the Republic of Ireland (n=154, 91.1%) and had completed active treatment in the last five years (n=101, 59.9%). The mean age was 51.4 ± 10.9 years. 3.6% were underweight and 56.5% overweight or obese. One third (n=57, 33.3%) had experienced weight gain in the previous six months, 10.1% (n-17) weight loss and 22.5% (n=38) weight fluctuations. The majority reported decreased energy levels post treatment (n=87, 51.5%) and fatigue (n=129, 76.3%). Other nutrition related impact symptoms were still present: pain (n=61, 36.1%); constipation (n=56, 33.1%); diarrhoea (n=28, 16.6%); dry mouth (n=44, 26%); no appetite (n=23, 13.6%); sore mouth (n=21, 12.4%); taste changes (n=21, 12.4%); smells bothering them (n=18, 10.7%). One-fifth (n=35, 10.7%) had access to a dietitian during treatment, only 11.8% (n=20) had access post treatment. One quarter sought advice elsewhere (n=42, 24.9%); with the main additional source of advice being online (n=16; 9.5% of total cohort).ConclusionThe majority of this cohort were classified as overweight or obese with one third reporting recent weight gain. This can increase risk of recurrence and decrease overall survival in those with cancer (4,5), in particular breast cancer (6,7). The majority were still experiencing fatigue, which has been shown to affect those with cancer more than any other symptom (8). The persistence of other nutrition impact symptoms could further impact quality of life. There is a clear need for the provision of nutrition advice to Irish Cancer Survivors. There is a role for all healthcare professionals to provide basic nutrition advice or signpost to evidence-based nutrition resources.References O’Connor M, O’Donovan B, Drummond F. The Unmet needs of cancer survivors in Ireland: A Scoping Review 2019. Cork: National Cancer Registry Ireland; 2019. 90p. Arends J, Bachmann P, Baracos V, Barthelemy N, Bertz H, Bozzetti F et al. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clinical Nutrition. 2017;36(1):11–48. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.07.015. Sullivan ES, Rice N, Kingston E, Kelly A, Reynolds JV, Feighan J, Power DG, Ryan AM. A national survey of oncology survivors: examining nutrition attitudes, problems and behaviours, and access to dietetic care throughout the cancer journey. Clinical Nutrition. 2021;41:331–339. Wright ME, Chang SC, Schatzkin A, et al. Prospective study of adiposity and weight change in relation to prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Cancer 2007;109:675–684. Siegel EM, Ulrich CM, Poole EM, Holmes RS, Jacobsen PB, Shibata D. The effects of obesity and obesity-related conditions on colorectal cancer prognosis. Cancer Control 2010;17:52–57. Protani M, Coory M, Martin JH. Effect of obesity on survival of women with breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2010;123:627–635. Patterson RE, Cadmus LA, Emond JA, Pierce JP. Physical activity, diet, adiposity and female breast cancer prognosis: a review of the epidemiologic literature. Maturitas 2010;66:5. Stone P, Richardson A, Ream E, Smith AG, Kerr DJ, Kearney N. Cancer-related fatigue: inevitable, unimportant and untreatable? Results of a multi-centre patient survey. Cancer Fatigue Forum. Ann Oncol 2010;11(8):971–5. doi: 10.1023/a:1008318932641.
The requirement for the serine/threonine protein kinase ATM in coordinating the cellular response to DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation has been studied extensively. Many of the anti-tumor ...chemotherapeutics in clinical use today cause DNA double strand breaks; however, few have been evaluated for their ability to modulate ATM-mediated pathways. We have investigated the requirement for ATM in the cellular response to doxorubicin, a topoisomerase II-stabilizing drug. Using several ATM-proficient and ATM-deficient cell lines, we have observed ATM-dependent nuclear accumulation of p53 and ATM-dependent phosphorylation of p53 on seven serine residues. This was accompanied by an increased binding of p53 to its cognate binding site, suggesting transcriptional competency of p53 to activate its downstream effectors. Treatment of cells with doxorubicin led to the phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine 139 with dependence on ATM for the initial response. Doxorubicin treatment also stimulated ATM autophosphorylation on serine 1981 and the ATM-dependent phosphorylation of numerous effectors in the ATM-signaling pathway, including Nbs1 (Ser343), SMC1 (Ser957), Chk1 (Ser317 and Ser345), and Chk2 (Ser33/35 and Thr68). Although generally classified as a topoisomerase II-stabilizing drug that induces DNA double strand breaks, doxorubicin can intercalate DNA and generate reactive oxygen species. Pretreatment of cells with the superoxide scavenger ascorbic acid had no effect on the doxorubicin-induced phosphorylation and accumulation of p53. In contrast, preincubation of cells with the hydroxyl radical scavenger, N-acetylcysteine, significantly attenuated the doxorubicin-mediated phosphorylation and accumulation of p53, p53-DNA binding, and the phosphorylation of H2AX, Nbs1, SMC1, Chk1, and Chk2, suggesting that hydroxyl radicals contribute to the doxorubicin-induced activation of ATM-dependent pathways.
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