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Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs have consistently been shown to enhance the psychosocial well-being of participants. Given the well-established association between psychosocial factors and immunologic functioning, it has been hypothesized that enhanced psychosocial well-being among MBSR participants would be associated with corresponding changes in markers of immune activity. Objective To examine changes in psychosocial and immunologic measures in a heterogeneous patient sample following participation in a MBSR program. Design A single-group, pre-test post-test design was utilized. Setting The intervention was conducted at an academic health center. Subjects This pilot study involved twenty-four participants (aged 28–72 years). Inclusion criteria were: ≥18 years of age, English-speaking, no known autoimmune disorder. Intervention The intervention was an 8-week MBSR program. Outcome Measures Distress and quality of life (QOL) measures included the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 and the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. Immunologic measures included natural killer (NK) cell cytolytic activity and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results Patients completed psychosocial assessments and provided a blood sample at baseline (pre-MBSR) and within 2 weeks post-MBSR. Significant improvements in anxiety and overall distress as well as across multiple domains of QOL were observed from baseline to post-MBSR. Reductions in anxiety and overall distress were associated with reductions in CRP. Patients who reported improvement in overall mental well-being also showed increased NK cytolytic activity from pre- to post-MBSR, whereas patients who reported no improvement in mental well-being showed no change in NK cytolytic activity. Conclusion Positive improvement in psychological well-being following MBSR was associated with increased NK cytolytic activity and decreased levels of CRP.

The relationship between oxygen deficiency-reduced high energy phosphate levels and their resynthesis upon return to aerobic conditions was investigated in the isolated perfused rat heart. Any net adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis during anoxia tended to impair ATP resynthesis with subsequent aerobic perfusion. Thirty minutes of ischemia reduced myocardial ATP 50%, and with restoration of aerobic conditions ATP increased to only 60% of control levels. The major source of postischemic and postanoxic ATP was adenosine 5'-monophosphate and adenosine 5'-disphosphate. Loss of purine base from oxygen-deficient cells limited restoration of ATP. The inclusion of adenosine, ATP, or creatine phosphate (CP) in the perfusate did not enhance postischemic tissue adenine-nucleotide concentrations. Postischemic and postanoxic CP concentrations returned to control values and were independent of ischemic and anoxic ATP and CP concentrations. Complete resynthesis of CP suggests that cellular energy-producing pathways were functional. Ventricular performance was directly related to tissue ATP concentration in aerobic control, postischemic, and postanoxic hearts. Thus, loss of adenine nucleotides during oxygen deficiency may impair subsequent aerobic synthesis of ATP and mechanical function.

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of an adapted 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for elders in a continuing care community. This mixed-methods study used both quantitative and qualitative measures. A randomized wait-list control design was used for the quantitative aspect of the study. Thirty-nine elderly were randomized to MBSR (n=20) or a wait-list control group (n=19); mean age 82 years. Both groups completed pre-post measures of health related quality of life, acceptance and psychological flexibility, facets of mindfulness, self-compassion, and psychological distress. A subset of MBSR participants completed qualitative interviews. MBSR participants showed significantly greater improvement in acceptance and psychological flexibility and in role limitations due to physical health. In the qualitative interviews, MBSR participants reported increased awareness, less judgment and greater self-compassion. Study results demonstrate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of an adapted MBSR program in promoting mind-body health for elders.