Psychological, inflammation, leaky gut status in men with abnormal PSA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of Psychological Well-being, inflammatory related molecules, leaky gut, and fatty acids in men with age-specific elevated PSA (pre and post-diagnosis).
IRAS ID
308694
Contact name
Masood Khan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate 3 aspects of the patients’ well-being and their possible connection with each other. These include (i) Psychological well-being and lifestyle, (ii) Inflammation related-molecules and leaky-gut, (iii) Fatty acids. The psychological well-being and life style will be assessed through a series of questionnaires, the level of inflammation related-molecules and the level of fatty acids will be assessed using blood samples and leaky-gut will be assessed using both urine and blood samples. The results obtained from benign patients will then be analysed together and those obtained from the confirmed cancer patients. Thereafter, the results obtained from each of the above-mentioned questionnaires will be compared between those diagnosed as benign and those with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer, i.e., the results from the psychological evaluation, the level of inflammation-related and “leaky-gut” molecules and the level of fatty acid will be compared with between the 2 cohorts. Regression and network analysis methods will be used to test the relationship between variables and possible network hubs that might represent targets for future interventions will be identified. The questionnaires to be used include the PHQ9 survey (to measure severity of depression), the GAD-7 survey (to screen for general anxiety), the mental flexibility survey (to assess a person's ability to exert control on emotions) and rumination surveys (to assess tendency of ruminative thinking when in a negative mood). These together with the Intake 24 survey (to assess diet) will be used.
The results of this study will enable the researchers to understand more about the possible relationship between these different health aspects in patients and their connection with the presence of cancer. This will then allow the researchers to propose possible future interventions to improve the overall well-being of the patients.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0133
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion