Browsing by Author "Wu, Wei"
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Item Acceptance and commitment therapy for patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden in advanced gastrointestinal cancer: Results of a pilot randomized trial(Sage, 2022) Mosher, Catherine E.; Secinti, Ekin; Wu, Wei; Kashy, Deborah A.; Kroenke, Kurt; Bricker, Jonathan B.; Helft, Paul R.; Turk, Anita A.; Loehrer, Patrick J., Sr.; Sehdev, Amikar; Al-Hader, Ahmad A.; Champion, Victoria L.; Johns, Shelley A.; Psychology, School of ScienceBackground: Fatigue often interferes with functioning in patients with advanced cancer, resulting in increased family caregiver burden. Acceptance and commitment therapy, a promising intervention for cancer-related suffering, has rarely been applied to dyads coping with advanced cancer. Aim: To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for patient-caregiver dyads coping with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Primary outcomes were patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden. Design: In this pilot trial, dyads were randomized to six weekly sessions of telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy or education/support, an attention control. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2 weeks and 3 months post-intervention. Setting/participants: Forty patients with stage III-IV gastrointestinal cancer and fatigue interference and family caregivers with burden or distress were recruited from two oncology clinics and randomized. Results: The eligibility screening rate (54%) and retention rate (81% at 2 weeks post-intervention) demonstrated feasibility. At 2 weeks post-intervention, acceptance and commitment therapy participants reported high intervention helpfulness (mean=4.25/5.00). Group differences in outcomes were not statistically significant. However, when examining within-group change, acceptance and commitment therapy patients showed moderate decline in fatigue interference at both follow-ups, whereas education/support patients did not show improvement at either follow-up. Acceptance and commitment therapy caregivers showed medium decline in burden at 2 weeks that was not sustained at 3 months, whereas education/support caregivers showed little change in burden. Conclusions: Acceptance and commitment therapy showed strong feasibility, acceptability, and promise and warrants further testing.Item Accepting a Terminal Cancer Prognosis: Associations with Patient and Caregiver Quality-of-Life Outcomes and Treatment Preferences(2024-05) Krueger, Ellen; Mosher, Catherine E.; Rand, Kevin L.; Wu, Wei; Hickman, SusanPatients who are aware of their terminal cancer prognosis are more likely to receive end-of-life care consistent with their values. However, prognostic awareness has shown mixed associations with quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Based on theories of acceptance (i.e., Erikson’s stages of life development, Kubler-Ross’s stage model of grief, coping theories) and the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, acceptance of cancer may moderate relationships between prognostic awareness and QoL outcomes and end-of-life treatment preferences. Dyadic coping theories, such as the Systemic Transactional Model and the Dyadic Cancer Outcomes Framework, suggest that patients’ degree of prognostic awareness and acceptance of their illness may also impact their family caregivers’ QoL and end-of-life treatment preferences for the patient. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential moderating role of patient acceptance of cancer in the relationships between patient prognostic awareness and both patient and caregiver QoL and end-of-life treatment preferences. This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from advanced cancer patients (n = 243) and their caregivers (n = 87) enrolled in the multi-institutional Coping with Cancer-II study. Patient outcomes of physical, psychological, and existential QoL were examined in a moderation path analysis. Caregiver physical and psychological QoL were examined in separate moderation regressions. Patient and caregiver end-of-life treatment preferences were examined in multiple logistic regression moderation models. Results did not support my hypothesis, as patient illness acceptance did not moderate the relationships between patient prognostic awareness and patient and caregiver QoL outcomes and end-of-life treatment preferences. However, there were significant main effects of patient illness acceptance on their own physical, psychological, and existential QoL as well as caregiver psychological QoL. There were also significant main effects of patient prognostic awareness on their own physical QoL and both their own and their caregivers’ end-of-life treatment preferences. Findings suggest that increasing patient’s prognostic awareness and illness acceptance may help improve values-consistent end-of-life care and QoL outcomes in advanced cancer patient-caregiver dyads. Findings support timely conversations to promote advanced cancer patients’ prognostic awareness as well as further research examining the impact of acceptance-based interventions in advanced cancer.Item Accuracy of Electronic Health Record Food Insecurity, Housing Instability, and Financial Strain Screening in Adult Primary Care(American Medical Association, 2023) Harle, Christopher A.; Wu, Wei; Vest, Joshua R.; Psychology, School of ScienceItem Addressing missing data in specification search in measurement invariance testing with Likert-type scale variables: A comparison of two approaches(Springer, 2020-12) Chen, Po-Yi; Wu, Wei; Brandt, Holger; Jia, Fan; Psychology, School of ScienceIn measurement invariance testing, when a certain level of full invariance is not achieved, the sequential backward specification search method with the largest modification index (SBSS_LMFI) is often used to identify the source of non-invariance. SBSS_LMFI has been studied under complete data but not missing data. Focusing on Likert-type scale variables, this study examined two methods for dealing with missing data in SBSS_LMFI using Monte Carlo simulation: robust full information maximum likelihood estimator (rFIML) and mean and variance adjusted weighted least squared estimator coupled with pairwise deletion (WLSMV_PD). The result suggests that WLSMV_PD could result in not only over-rejections of invariance models but also reductions of power to identify non-invariant items. In contrast, rFIML provided good control of type I error rates, although it required a larger sample size to yield sufficient power to identify non-invariant items. Recommendations based on the result were provided.Item An IL1RL1 genetic variant lowers soluble ST2 levels and the risk effects of APOE-ε4 in female patients with Alzheimer’s disease(Springer Nature, 2022) Jiang, Yuanbing; Zhou, Xiaopu; Wong, Hiu Yi; Ouyang, Li; Ip, Fanny C. F.; Chau, Vicky M. N.; Lau, Shun-Fat; Wu, Wei; Wong, Daniel Y. K.; Seo, Heukjin; Fu, Wing-Yu; Lai, Nicole C. H.; Chen, Yuewen; Chen, Yu; Tong, Estella P. S.; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative; Mok, Vincent C. T.; Kwok, Timothy C. Y.; Mok, Kin Y.; Shoai, Maryam; Lehallier, Benoit; Morán Losada, Patricia; O'Brien, Eleanor; Porter, Tenielle; Laws, Simon M.; Hardy, John; Wyss-Coray, Tony; Masters, Colin L.; Fu, Amy K. Y.; Ip, Nancy Y.; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of MedicineChanges in the levels of circulating proteins are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), whereas their pathogenic roles in AD are unclear. Here, we identified soluble ST2 (sST2), a decoy receptor of interleukin-33-ST2 signaling, as a new disease-causing factor in AD. Increased circulating sST2 level is associated with more severe pathological changes in female individuals with AD. Genome-wide association analysis and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing identified rs1921622 , a genetic variant in an enhancer element of IL1RL1, which downregulates gene and protein levels of sST2. Mendelian randomization analysis using genetic variants, including rs1921622 , demonstrated that decreased sST2 levels lower AD risk and related endophenotypes in females carrying the Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ε4 genotype; the association is stronger in Chinese than in European-descent populations. Human and mouse transcriptome and immunohistochemical studies showed that rs1921622 /sST2 regulates amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology through the modulation of microglial activation and Aβ clearance. These findings demonstrate how sST2 level is modulated by a genetic variation and plays a disease-causing role in females with AD.Item Applying planned missingness designs to longitudinal panel studies in developmental science: An overview(Wiley, 2021-01) Wu, Wei; Jia, Fan; Psychology, School of ScienceLongitudinal panel studies are widely used in developmental science to address important research questions on human development across the lifespan. These studies, however, are often challenging to implement. They can be costly, time-consuming, and vulnerable to test-retest effects or high attrition over time. Planned missingness designs (PMDs), in which partial data are intentionally collected from all or some of the participants, are viable solutions to these challenges. This article provides an overview of several PMDs with potential utilities in longitudinal studies, including the multi-form designs, multi-method designs, varying lag designs, accelerated longitudinal designs, and efficient designs for analysis of change. For each of the designs, the basic rationale, design considerations, data analysis, advantages, and limitations are discussed. The article is concluded with some general recommendations to developmental researchers and promising directions for future research.Item Assessment of white matter loss using bond-selective photoacoustic imaging in a rat model of contusive spinal cord injury(Mary Ann Liebert, 2014-12-15) Wu, Wei; Wang, Pu; Cheng, Ji-Xin; Xu, Xiao-Ming; Department of Neurological Surgery, IU School of MedicineWhite matter (WM) loss is a critical event after spinal cord injury (SCI). Conventionally, such loss has been measured with histological and histochemical approaches, although the procedures are complex and may cause artifact. Recently, coherent Raman microscopy has been proven to be an emerging technology to study de- and remyelination of the injured spinal cord; however, limited penetration depth and small imaging field prevent it from comprehensive assessments of large areas of damaged tissues. Here, we report the use of bond-selective photoacoustic (PA) imaging with 1730-nm excitation, where the first overtone vibration of CH2 bond is located, to assess WM loss after a contusive SCI in adult rats. By employing the first overtone vibration of CH2 bond as the contrast, the mapping of the WM in an intact spinal cord was achieved in a label-free three-dimensional manner, and the physiological change of the spinal cord before and after injury was observed. Moreover, the recovery of the spinal cord from contusive injury with the treatment of a neuroprotective nanomedicine ferulic-acid-conjugated glycol chitosan (FA-GC) was also observed. Our study suggests that bond-selective PA imaging is a valuable tool to assess the progression of WM pathology after SCI as well as neuroprotective therapeutics in a label-free manner.Item Caregiver Adaptation among Black and White Families of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Comparison of the Two Racial Groups(2020-08) Yu, Yue; McGrew, John; Mosher, Catherine; Zapolski, Tamika; Wu, Wei; Ruble, LisaTo date, only two studies, both using the same sample at two different time points, have quantitatively examined outcomes in Black caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined family adaptational outcomes in Black and White caregivers of individuals with ASD using the double ABCX model of family adaptation to examine the impacts of stressors, the A in the model (e.g., autism symptom severity, general life demands), resources/supports, the B in the model (e.g., social support), and individual coping/stress appraisal styles, the C in the model (e.g., cognitive appraisal, religious coping) on caregiver positive and negative adaptation outcomes, the X in the model, (e.g., caregiver strain, benefit finding, family quality of life). Black and White caregivers were compared on adaptation outcomes at the family, dyadic, and individual level, including both positively valenced (e.g., benefit finding) and negatively valenced outcomes (e.g., depression, caregiver strain). Participants were Black (N = 24) and White (N = 32) primary caregivers of individuals with ASD. Racial differences were found for both the general and racial-specific factors in the ABCX model. White and Black caregivers reported moderate and equal levels of caregiver strain. However, Black caregivers reported greater levels of anxiety and depression and lower levels of life satisfaction. When adjusting for potential ABC covariates, racial differences in outcomes were no longer significant. That is, racial differences in outcomes could be explained by differences in the proximal elements represented by the ABC variables of the model (e.g., passive-avoidance coping, religious coping). Black caregivers reported higher levels of pile-up of demands, formal social support, threat appraisal, passive-avoidance coping, and positive and negative religious coping than White caregivers. Different factors were related to caregiver strain in the two racial groups. Conscientiousness was a protective factor against caregiver strain for Black caregivers, whereas greater use of passive-avoidance coping and threat appraisal, higher levels of neuroticism and barriers to care, and lower levels of satisfaction with services, parenting self-efficacy, and formal social support were explanatory factors for increased caregiver strain among White caregivers. These results are helpful in informing interventions and support the cultural adaptation of care as provided to Black caregivers of individuals with ASD.Item Chondroitinase ABC combined with Schwann cell transplantation enhances restoration of neural connection and functional recovery following acute and chronic spinal cord injury(Wolters Kluwer, 2025) Qu, Wenrui; Wu, Xiangbing; Wu, Wei; Wang, Ying; Sun, Yan; Deng, Lingxiao; Walker, Melissa; Chen, Chen; Dai, Heqiao; Han, Qi; Ding, Ying; Xia, Yongzhi; Smith, George; Li, Rui; Liu, Nai-Kui; Xu, Xiao-Ming; Neurological Surgery, School of MedicineSchwann cell transplantation is considered one of the most promising cell-based therapy to repair injured spinal cord due to its unique growth-promoting and myelin-forming properties. A the Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase I clinical trial has been conducted to evaluate the safety of transplanted human autologous Schwann cells to treat patients with spinal cord injury. A major challenge for Schwann cell transplantation is that grafted Schwann cells are confined within the lesion cavity, and they do not migrate into the host environment due to the inhibitory barrier formed by injury-induced glial scar, thus limiting axonal reentry into the host spinal cord. Here we introduce a combinatorial strategy by suppressing the inhibitory extracellular environment with injection of lentivirus-mediated transfection of chondroitinase ABC gene at the rostral and caudal borders of the lesion site and simultaneously leveraging the repair capacity of transplanted Schwann cells in adult rats following a mid-thoracic contusive spinal cord injury. We report that when the glial scar was degraded by chondroitinase ABC at the rostral and caudal lesion borders, Schwann cells migrated for considerable distances in both rostral and caudal directions. Such Schwann cell migration led to enhanced axonal regrowth, including the serotonergic and dopaminergic axons originating from supraspinal regions, and promoted recovery of locomotor and urinary bladder functions. Importantly, the Schwann cell survival and axonal regrowth persisted up to 6 months after the injury, even when treatment was delayed for 3 months to mimic chronic spinal cord injury. These findings collectively show promising evidence for a combinatorial strategy with chondroitinase ABC and Schwann cells in promoting remodeling and recovery of function following spinal cord injury.Item Combining Proration and Full Information Maximum Likelihood in Handling Missing Data in Likert Scale Items: A Hybrid Approach(2020-10-10) Wu, Wei; Gu, Fei; Fukui, SadaakiThis is example SAS code for a manuscript entitled “Combining Proration and Full Information Maximum Likelihood in Handling Missing Data in Likert Scale Items: A Hybrid Approach" coauthored by Wei Wu, Fei Gu, and Sadaaki Fukui.