***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Background Many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue , mood , and sleep disturbances .  Purpose This study aims to compare a meditative movement practice , Qigong/Tai Chi Easy ( QG/TCE ) with sham Qigong ( SQG ) , testing effects of meditation/breath aspects of QG/TCE on breast cancer survivors ’ persistent fatigue and other symptoms . Methods This double-blind , r and omized controlled trial tested 12 weeks of QG/TCE versus SQG on fatigue , depression , and sleep among 87 postmenopausal , fatigued breast cancer survivors , stages 0–III , age 40–75 .  Results Fatigue decreased significantly in the QG/TCE group compared to control at post-intervention ( p = 0.005 ) and 3 months follow-up ( p = 0.024 ) , but not depression and sleep quality . Improvement occurred over time for both interventions in depression and sleep quality ( all p < 0.05 ) . Conclusions QG/TCE showed significant improvement over time compared to SQG  for fatigue , but not depression or sleep . Both QG/TCE and SQG showed improvement for two prevalent symptoms among breast cancer survivors , depression and sleep dysfunction Background Tai Chi is the Chinese traditional medicine exercise for mind-body health . The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of Tai Chi Chuan ( TCC ) exercise on the proliferative and cytolytic/tumoricidal activities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( P BMC s ) in postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) patients . Methods Patients ( n = 27 ) were r and omly divided into the control group ( n = 13 ) and the TCC group ( n = 14 ) . TCC group participated in Tai Chi 24-type exercise for 16 weeks , 60-min every time , and three times a week . Peripheral blood was collected and P BMC s isolated before and after the 16-week TCC , P BMC proliferation and co-culture of P BMC s with the NSCLC cell line A549 were performed for proliferation and cell cytolysis assays . Analysis of NKT cells , NK cells , and CD123 + and CD11c + dendritic cells were also performed . Results ( 1 ) After 16-week of TCC , cell proliferation increased significantly as compared with the control . ( 2 ) P BMC s from the TCC group also demonstrated enhanced cytolytic/oncolytic activity against A549 cells . ( 3 ) Significant differences were also found in NK cell percentage at t = 16 weeks , post-pre changes of NKT and DC11c between groups . Conclusion Regular Tai Chi exercise has the promise of enhancing P BMC proliferative and cytolytic activities in NSCLC patients . Our results affirm the value of a future trial with a larger scale and longer duration for cancer survivors . Trial registration ChiCTR-TRC-11001404 PURPOSE This study evaluated the effect of Tai Chi Chuan ( TCC ) on the autonomic nervous modulation in older persons . METHODS Twenty TCC practitioners and 20 normal controls were included in this study . The stationary state spectral heart rate variability ( HRV ) measures between TCC practitioners and normal controls , and the sequential changes in HRV measures after classical Yang 's TCC were compared . RESULTS The total power , very low-frequency power , low-frequency power , normalized low-frequency power , and low-/high-frequency power ratios in TCC practitioners were all significantly higher than those of normal controls , whereas the heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not different between these two groups of subjects . After TCC , the normalized high-frequency power increased significantly from 22.8 + /- 14.6 normalized units ( nu ) before TCC to 28.2 + /- 16.1 nu 30 min after TCC and to 30.6 + /- 18.4 nu 60 min after TCC . In contrast , the low-/high-frequency power ratio decreased significantly from 2.5 + /- 2.4 before TCC to 1.8 + /- 1.4 30 min after TCC and to 2.2 + /- 2.9 60 min after TCC . The heart rate , systolic blood pressure , diastolic blood pressure , mean arterial blood pressure , and pulse pressure also decreased sequentially after TCC . CONCLUSION The short-term effect of TCC was to enhance the vagal modulation and tilt the sympathovagal balance toward deceased sympathetic modulation in older persons . TCC might be good health-promoting calisthenics for older persons Background Evidence from quantitative studies suggest that Tai Chi produces a variety of health-related benefits , but few qualitative studies have investigated how older adults perceive the benefit of Tai Chi . The objective of the current study was to qualitatively evaluate the perceived benefits of Tai Chi practice among community older population . Methods This study was conducted with participants from a trial examining the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi training on ischemic stroke risk in community older adults ( n = 170 ) . A total of 20 participants were r and omly selected from a convenience sample of participants who had completed 12-week Tai Chi training ( n = 68 ) were interviewed regarding their perceived benefit on physical and mental health and whether Tai Chi exercise was suitable for the elderly . Results All participants agreed that Tai Chi training could relax their body and make them comfortable . Most of them thought Tai Chi training could promote physical health , including relieving pain , enhancing digestion , strengthening immunity , enhancing energy and improving sleep quality , enhancing their mental and emotional state ( e.g. improving mood and reducing anxiety , improving concentration and promoting interpersonal relationship ) . Most of participants also agreed that Tai Chi exercise was appropriate for community older people . Three primary themes emerged from content analysis : Improving physical health ; Enhancing mental and emotional state ; Conforming with the request of the elderly . Conclusion The findings indicate that regular Tai Chi exercise may have positive benefits in terms of improved physical health and mental state among community elderly population , and may be useful and feasible body-mind exercise to community elderly population for its positive effects and advantages . Trial registration ChiCTR ChiCTR-TRC-13003601 . Registered 23 July 2014 Goals Health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) and self-esteem are often diminished among women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer .  Tai Chi is a moderate form of exercise that may be an effective therapy for improving HRQL and self-esteem among these women . We sought to compare the efficacy of Tai Chi Chuan ( TCC ) and psychosocial support ( PST ) for improving HRQL and self-esteem among breast cancer survivors . Patients and methods A group of 21 women diagnosed with breast cancer , who had completed treatment within the last 30 months were r and omized to receive 12 weeks of TCC or PST . Participants in both groups met three times a week for 60 minutes . HRQL and self-esteem were assessed at baseline , 6 weeks , and 12 weeks . Results The TCC group demonstrated significant improvements in HRQL , while the PST group reported declines in HRQL , with the differences between the two groups approaching significance at week 12 . Additionally , the TCC group exhibited improvements in self-esteem , while the PST group reported declines in self-esteem , with the differences between groups reaching statistical significance at week 12 . These findings , coupled with a visual inspection of the raw change scores , support the plausibility of a dose-response relationship concerning Tai Chi . Conclusions In this pilot investigation , the TCC group exhibited improvements in HRQL and self-esteem from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks , while the support group exhibited declines . R and omized , controlled clinical trials with larger sample sizes are needed BACKGROUND / AIMS Treatment for breast cancer produces side effects that diminish functional capacity and quality of life ( QOL ) among survivors .  Tai Chi Chuan ( TCC ) is a moderate form of exercise that may improve functional capacity and QOL in these individuals . Women who completed treatment for breast cancer were r and omized to receive TCC or psychosocial support therapy for 12 weeks ( 60 min ; three times weekly ) . RESULTS The TCC group demonstrated significant improvements in functional capacity , including aerobic capacity , muscular strength , and flexibility , as well as QOL ; the psychosocial support therapy group showed significant improvements only in flexibility , with declines in aerobic capacity , muscular strength , and QOL . CONCLUSIONS The TCC group exhibited significant improvements in functional capacity and QOL . These data suggest that TCC may enhance functional capacity and QOL among breast cancer survivors Purpose Older cancer survivors are a vulnerable population due to an increased risk for chronic diseases ( e.g. , cardiovascular disease ) compounded with treatment late-effects and declines in physical functioning . Therefore , interventions that reduce chronic disease risk factors ( i.e. , blood pressure , chronic inflammation , and cortisol ) are important in this population . Tai chi chih ( TCC ) is a mind-body exercise associated with reductions in chronic disease risk factors , but has not been examined with older cancer survivors . In a feasibility r and omized controlled trial of TCC , we examined secondary outcomes of blood pressure , salivary cortisol , and inflammatory cytokines ( interleukin (IL)-6 , IL-12 , tumor necrosis factor-α , IL-10 , IL-4 ) due to their implication s in chronic diseases . Methods Sixty-three senior female cancer survivors ( M age = 67 years , SD = 7.15 ) with physical functioning limitations ( SF-12 physical functioning ≤80 or role-physical ≤72 ) were r and omized to 12-weeks ( 60-min , three times a week ) of TCC or Health Education control ( HEC ) classes . Resting blood pressure , 1-day salivary cortisol sample s , and fasting plasma sample s for cytokine multiplex assays were collected at baseline and 1-week post-intervention . Results Controlling for baseline values , the TCC group had significantly lower systolic blood pressure ( SBP , p = 0.002 ) and cortisol area-under-curve ( AUC , p = 0.02 ) at post-intervention than the HEC group . There was no intervention effect on inflammatory cytokines ( p ’s > 0.05 ) . Conclusions This TCC feasibility trial was associated with significant reductions in SBP and cortisol AUC in senior female cancer survivors . Larger , definitive trials are needed to confirm these findings . Implication s for Cancer SurvivorsSenior survivors ’ have an increased risk for chronic diseases ; however , TCC interventions may help reduce associated risk factors Treatment of breast cancer can significantly diminish functional capacity in patients months and even years after the completion of treatments . Tai chi chuan ( TCC ) is a moderate form of exercise that may be an effective therapy for improving functional capacity among breast cancer survivors . We sought to provide pilot data comparing the efficacy of TCC and psychosocial therapy ( PST ; physical activity control ) for improving functional capacity among breast cancer survivors post treatment . Twenty-one women who had completed treatment of breast cancer were r and omized to receive TCC or PST 3 times/wk for 12 weeks . Functional capacity was assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks . The TCC group demonstrated significant improvement in functional capacity ( specifically aerobic capacity , muscular strength , and flexibility ) whereas the PST group showed significant improvement in flexibility only . These data suggest that TCC may be an efficacious intervention for enhancing functional capacity among breast cancer survivors and may support the need for larger r and omized , controlled clinical trials to further eluci date these relationships OBJECTIVE Breast cancer survivors ( BCSs ) experience symptoms affecting overall quality of life ( QOL ) , often for a prolonged period post-treatment . Meditative Movement ( MM ) , including Qigong and Tai Chi Easy ( QG/TCE ) , has demonstrated benefit for improving QOL issues such as fatigue and sleep , but there is limited evidence of its impact on cognitive function , overall physical activity , and body weight for BCSs . DESIGN This double-blind , r and omized controlled pilot study with 87 female BCSs explored effects of QG/TCE on mental and physical QOL ( Medical Outcomes Survey , Short Form ) , cognitive function ( Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function and two cognitive performance tests from the WAIS III ) , overall levels of physical activity (PA)(Brief Physical Activity Question naire ) and body mass index ( BMI ) . INTERVENTIONS Twelve weekly sessions of QG/TCE were compared to sham Qigong ( SQG ) , a gentle movement control intervention similar to QG/TCE but without the focus on breathing and meditative state . RESULTS Both groups demonstrated pre-to-post-intervention improvements in physical and mental health , level of PA , self-reported cognitive function , and cognitive performance tests , though without significant differences between QG/TCE and SQG . For a subset of women enrolled later in the study , a significant reduction in BMI [ -0.66 ( p=0.048 ) ] was found for QG/TCE compared to SQG . CONCLUSIONS Practice s that include gentle movement ( such as QG/TCE or our sham protocol ) among women with a history of breast cancer may improve many facets of the cancer experience , including QOL , cognitive function , and PA patterns . Practicing QG/TCE may show some advantage for BMI reduction compared to non-meditative gentle exercise Changes in psychological and physiological functioning following participation in Tai Chi  were assessed for 33 beginners and 33 practitioners . The variables in the three-way factorial design were experience ( beginners vs practitioners ) , time ( morning vs afternoon vs evening ) , and phase ( before Tai Chi vs during Tai Chi vs after Tai Chi ) . Phase was a repeated measures variable . Relative to measures taken beforeh and , practice of Tai Chi  raised heart rate , increased noradrenal 
    Output:
    
There is low-level evidence suggesting that Tai Chi  improves physical and mental dimensions of QOL and sleep .
There is moderate-level evidence suggesting Tai Chi  reduces levels of cortisol and CRF and improves limb function .