Rapid Review on COVID-19, Work-Related Aspects, and Age Differences

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the labor market and multiple aspects of work and workers' life. The present rapid review analyzes this impact considering the effects that COVID-19 pandemic had on employment and work-related aspects across different age groups. A comprehensive literature search was performed on scientific contributions published between 2019 and March 2021, resulting in 36 papers pertinent to the scope of this review. Findings were grouped according to different topics, all linked to age: occupational risk, implications on the labor market (i.e., job loss and reemployment, job insecurity, turnover intentions and retirement, and healthcare workers' return-to-work phase), remote work, and key individual and organizational resources and strategies. Overall, the review revealed variability across age groups in the impact this pandemic had on employment and several work-related aspects (i.e., occupational risk, remote work). Findings supported an age-differential effect of normative history-graded events such as the current pandemic, highlighting different responses and consequences depending on workers' age.

A structured group exercise program for patients with metastatic cancer receiving chemotherapy and CTNNB1 (β-catenin) as a biomarker of exercise efficacy

Introduction

Exercise can improve the symptoms of cancer. However, is it a cancer treatment? We tested the feasibility of group exercise for metastatic cancer patients while on chemotherapy. A biomarker for exercise efficacy in colorectal cancer (CRC), β-catenin, was tested.

Methods

Patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy were eligible for a pre–post, single-arm study comprising an indefinite, weekly group exercise intervention using strength and aerobic training. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) and Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) questionnaires were administered, and aerobic capacity assessed using the 6-minute walk test. Selection bias, as measured by invitation rate, as well as participation, compliance, and attrition rates, was measured. CRC patients had surgical sections stained for β-catenin and correlated to survival. The statistical analysis was primarily exploratory and hypothesis generating.

Results

Of the 124 eligible patients, 53 (43%) patients were invited and 35 (28%) patients participated. The median number of classes attended was 16, the compliance rate was 73.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 67.0–79.4), and the modified attrition rate was 24%. There were no injuries. No significant improvements were seen in the FACIT or PFS at 30 weeks. Aerobic capacity significantly improved at 30 weeks. Participation of CRC patients in the exercise pilot vs nonparticipation was not associated with a change in survival (hazard ratio [HR] =0.98, 95% CI 0.32–2.97). For all CRC patients, strong nuclear staining for β-catenin, compared to weak, suggested a lower risk of mortality (HR =0.54, 95% CI 0.14–1.96). However, CRC participants in the exercise program with weak nuclear staining for β-catenin had a trend to lower mortality (HR =0.39, 95% CI 0.025–6.1).

Conclusion

Exercise for patients with metastatic cancer receiving chemotherapy is feasible and safe. β-Catenin is a potential biomarker for exercise anticancer effect in CRC.

Impact of leukapheresis cell composition on immunomagnetic cell selection with the Baxter Isolex 300i device: a statistical analysis

Immunomagnetic cell selection (ICS) of CD34(+) cells is increasingly adopted in allogeneic and autologous transplant settings. Because many variables can affect the final results of ICS, we focused our study toward the influence exerted by the leukapheresis (LKF) cell composition on recovery, purity, and log of T and B depletion of the immunoselected cells. A total of 39 consecutive CD34(+) ICS were performed with the Isolex 300i (Baxter) device on 39 LKF from 9 HLA haploidentical donors and 20 patients. Flow cytometric analysis was performed both on the leukapheresis content and on the immunoselected cells. The statistical analysis was performed utilizing the Pearson's correlation test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The median purity and recovery of the immunoselected CD34(+) cells were 95.3% (IR: 93.0-99.0) and 55.1% (IR: 41.8-68.2), respectively. The median log of T and B depletion were 3.87 (IR: 3.5-4.3) and 2.9 (IR: 2.5-3.5), respectively. Our data indicate that not only the CD34(+) cell load but also the ratio among the cells belonging to the starting fraction can influence the results of ICS. LKF collection protocols have to be addressed to collect an high number of CD34(+) cells (>500 x 10(6)) without taking care of the contaminating cells when the Baxter Isolex 300i device is employed.

Expression of p53, bcl-2 and ras oncoproteins and apoptosis levels in acute leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes

We analysed by immunocytochemistry the expression of p53, bcl-2 and ras proteins in bone marrow blasts from 59 patients with acute leukaemia (AL), 36 myeloid (AML) and 23 lymphoid (ALL), and from 22 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS); our aim was to examine if abnormalities in their expression were associated with peculiar biological and clinical findings, or with an altered apoptosis rate, as measured by TUNEL technique. The oncoproteins were expressed with extreme variability, without significant differences among the various morphological or immunological AL subtypes. The mean percentages of bcl-2+ blasts were significantly higher in AML than in MDS (p = 0.01), and in MDS with bone marrow blastosis than in the forms without excess of blasts (p = 0.007). The lowest percentages of apoptotic cells were observed in ALL (mean 1%, p = 0.006), whereas in MDS the apoptotic index was higher (16.7%) than in AML (8.6%) and than in the normal controls (10.8%). but the difference tended to be statistically significant only for cases of refractory anaemia. Whereas in AML and MDS the apoptotic rate was independent of the oncoprotein expression, in ALL there was a significant linear relationship between TUNEL and ras positivity (p = 0.01). Among AML patients treated with intensive polychemotherapy, no differences were observed in oncoprotein expression and apoptotic rate between responders and resistant cases. In conclusion, our data are in agreement with the hypothesis that decreased apoptosis and enhanced cell survival are associated with AL, whereas a high level of apoptosis may be responsible for the ineffective hematopoiesis in MDS; abnormal expression of oncoproteins, even if not strictly related to apoptosis level, may influence disease behaviour.