Examine the relationships between workplace trust, interpersonal trust, and nurses' physical and mental health, and specifically investigate the mediating role of resilience.
Nurses are central to healthcare delivery but frequently experience workplace violence, adversely affecting their well-being. Trust represents a higher-order mechanism that fosters positive attitudes and professional growth, potentially safeguarding nurses' resilience in coping with adversity. However, research elucidating how trust influences nurses' health via resilience remains limited.
A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling. A total of 2855 clinical nurses from general hospitals in Fujian Province, China, were surveyed between August and October 2022. Workplace trust and interpersonal trust were served as independent variables, Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores as dependent variables, and resilience as a mediator. Mediation analysis was performed using Mplus 8.3. The study was prepared and reported according to the STROBE checklist.
Mean scores were Physical Component Summary: 51.12 ± 8.90, and Mental Component Summary: 48.20 ± 10.18. Workplace trust had significant direct effects on both Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary. Interpersonal trust had no significant direct effects on Physical Component Summary or Mental Component Summary. Resilience demonstrated significant mediating effects: for workplace trust on Physical Component Summary and on Mental Component Summary; and for interpersonal trust on Physical Component Summary and on Mental Component Summary.
Workplace trust directly enhances nurses' physical and mental health. While interpersonal trust lacks a direct link to health outcomes, both workplace and interpersonal trust significantly improve nurses' health indirectly by bolstering resilience. Resilience serves as a critical pathway through which trust fosters well-being.
No patient or public contribution.
Nurse managers and healthcare administrators should prioritise interventions to cultivate workplace trust (e.g., fostering trust among colleagues, and between nurses and the organisation/management) and strengthen interpersonal trust and psychological resilience. Enhancing these protective factors will better equip nurses to manage occupational and personal stressors, ultimately safeguarding and improving their physical and mental health.
Sympathetic activation is the hallmark of cardiac disease, driving disease progression and triggering ventricular arrhythmia (VA). Despite optimal medical therapy, many patients experience recurrent VAs refractory to medical therapy, leading to repetitive implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy, worse quality of life and adverse outcomes. Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) through surgical removal of the stellate ganglia is an effective treatment for refractory VAs but carries a high complication rate. We hypothesise that high precision image guided radiotherapy can be used to target the stellate ganglia to achieve CSD non-invasively.
RADIO-STAR (hypofractionated radiotherapy to the stellate ganglia for ventricular arrhythmia) is a first-in-human, phase 1 safety and dose finding study of radiotherapy to the stellate ganglia in patients with recurrent VAs. Patients with structural heart disease requiring recurrent ICD therapy for VAs are invited to undergo radiotherapy bilaterally to their stellate ganglia with a predetermined sample size of n=13. Radiotherapy dose will be determined by a prespecified dose escalation protocol. The primary outcome is safety defined as any treatment-related grade 3–5 toxicity occurring within 6 months of radiotherapy treatment, as defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events or any treatment-related side effects detected on patient symptom questionnaires and clinical examination during study visits. Secondary outcome measures to evaluate feasibility and efficacy include ability to safely deliver radiotherapy and consequent changes in circulating catecholamines and neuropeptide-Y, heart rate variability, structural changes in the stellate ganglia on MRI imaging and ICD therapy burden.
This study has received ethical approval by the South Central—Oxford B Research Ethics Committee (REC/SC/0005). Study findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at national and/or international scientific conferences.
To explore the lived experiences and daily interactions of older couples living with multimorbidity.
A descriptive-interpretive qualitative study based on a generic interpretive description framework.
A total of 20 dyads were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy, and 24 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between May 2023 and January 2025. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data.
Four overarching themes were generated: (1) dynamic relationship structures; (2) diverse interaction patterns; (3) double burdens; and (4) double resilience. Dynamic relationship structures occurred in dyadic and triadic forms. Diverse interaction patterns involved independence, interdependence and dependence. Double burdens manifested as physical toll, financial hardship, emotional contagion and perceptual misalignment, whereas double resilience was reflected in the nudge effect, emotional resonance and promotion of family ownership of health.
This study adopted a dyadic perspective to explore the experiences and interactions of older couples living with multimorbidity. The caring dynamics and blurred roles of patient and care partner deviate from the traditional unidirectional, linear model of ‘one person caring for the other’. Formal or informal caregiving support from third parties, as well as the nudge effect and emotional resonance between spouses, may help orient older couples as they navigate the challenges associated with multimorbidity.
Our findings indicate that community nurses can play a proactive role in identifying older couples living with multimorbidity through routine care attendance and assessments, enabling early recognition of health management needs. Geriatric nurses can leverage insights into couples' interaction patterns to tailor more effective care plans at different stages of illness, monitor emerging risks and identify optimal timing for third-party support. By facilitating a responsive triadic network, nurses can help ensure continuous and sustainable health care.
Adhered to SRQR guidelines for qualitative research.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
To examine the relationship between ethical conflicts and ethical decision-making ability, ethical sensitivity and demographic factors as mediator/moderator roles.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to December 2024.
This study involved 503 intensive care unit nurses from eight tertiary hospitals across Zhejiang, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Participants completed validated instruments including the Ethical Conflict Nursing Questionnaire-Critical Care Version, the Chinese Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire-Revised version and the Chinese Version of Judgement About Nursing Decision. SPSS 27.0 was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis, while PROCESS macro handled mediation and moderation analysis.
The relationship between ethical conflict and decision-making ability was significantly mediated by both moral responsibility/strength and burden, with the latter demonstrating a stronger indirect effect. Furthermore, exploratory moderated mediation analysis showed that this mediation model varied significantly across different levels of work experience and types of intensive care unit. Given the exploratory nature of these findings, they require verification in future confirmatory studies.
The association between ethical conflict and decision-making ability was mediated by ethical sensitivity. This pathway was moderated by work environment and qualifications, indicating the need for tailored interventions.
Developing nurses' ethical sensitivity is a key strategy for managers aiming to improve ethical decision-making when nurses face ethical conflicts.
This study addressed ambiguous findings regarding the relationship between ethical conflict and nurses' decision-making ability. For nurse managers, fostering ethical sensitivity among staff represents a key strategy for mitigating the ethical conflicts that are negatively associated with decision-making ability.
The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology statement (STROBE) was followed.
No patient or public contribution.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): MR-33-24-032956
Health coaching has emerged as a promising intervention to improve health outcomes in older adults. However, its effectiveness has not been comprehensively synthesized.
To evaluate the effectiveness of health coaching interventions on anxiety, depression, quality of life, self-management behavior, and self-efficacy among older adults.
A systematic search of six English databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global) was conducted from inception to October 20, 2024. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using meta-analysis with random or fixed effects. Sensitivity analyses, subgroup analyses, and publication bias tests were also performed.
Thirty-five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 20,200 older adults were included in this review. Meta-analysis results indicated that health coaching interventions could significantly improve anxiety (SMD: −0.09; 95% CI: −0.15, −0.04; I 2: 0%), quality of life (SMD: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.39; I 2: 76%), self-management behaviors (SMD: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.86; I 2: 95%), and self-efficacy (SMD: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.33; I 2: 69%) among older adults, but had no significant effects on depression (SMD: −0.26; 95% CI: −0.64, 0.12; I 2: 98%).
Health coaching interventions may enhance the well-being of older adults. However, the certainty of the current evidence was generally very low to moderate, and substantial heterogeneity existed across studies. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted with caution. More high-quality RCTs with extended follow-up, as well as analyses of differential effects across demographic information, are needed to provide more robust and generalizable evidence.
Loneliness and social isolation are prevalent and persistent in cancer patients, affecting their psychosocial adjustment. Non-pharmacological interventions have been shown to be effective in previous studies; however, the most effective types of non-pharmacological interventions for this population remain unclear.
The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) was to synthesize the existing evidence and compare the effectiveness of different types of non-pharmacological interventions in treating loneliness and social isolation among cancer patients.
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE databases from their inception to December 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating non-pharmacological interventions targeting loneliness and social isolation in cancer patients were included. NMA was performed using Stata 17.0 software under a frequentist framework.
A total of 13 RCTs were included, including 9 non-pharmacological interventions and 1151 cancer patients. In order of probability, group logotherapy (SUCRA: 99.9%, SMD: −1.62, 95% CI: −2.23 to −1.01) was the most effective intervention for alleviating loneliness and social isolation, followed by psychoeducational therapy (SUCRA: 76.9%, SMD: −0.62, 95% CI: −1.16 to −0.07) and supportive expressive group therapy (SUCRA: 65.7%, SMD: −0.40, 95% CI: −0.75 to −0.05).
The NMA suggests that, in terms of short-term efficacy, group logotherapy may be considered the optimal choice for reducing loneliness and social isolation levels in cancer patients. Healthcare professionals could regularly conduct group logotherapy among cancer patients to promote their psychosocial adaptation.
PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42024616937
Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, contributing to complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and lower-limb amputations. Diabetic foot complications, such as structural deformities, ulceration and infection, present significant risks, necessitating early detection and intervention. This study explores the development and validation of artificial intelligence (AI) image analysis for diabetic foot screening, focusing on structural deformity identification which includes callus, hallux valgus and hammer toes, because they represent the earliest detectable visual risk markers for ulceration, preceding wound formation. Leveraging datasets comprising over 1000 healthy foot images and 215 diabetic foot deformity images, the model employed YOLOv5 for object detection, a convolutional autoencoder for anomaly detection, and DenseNet201 for anomaly classification. Initial internal validation yielded 91.1% anomaly detection accuracy, while anomaly classification accuracy improved to 88.57% following refinement. External validation using 27 participants achieved an overall accuracy of 85.2% and anomaly classification accuracy of 66.7%. Final evaluation on 35 unlabelled images demonstrated promising performance, with 88.57% accuracy, 90.47% precision and an F1 score of 86.11%. Integrated into the ‘Foot at Risk’ (FAR) mobile application, this AI-driven solution offers a scalable tool for early diabetic foot deformity detection. With larger dataset input for training and development, it can be utilised as an early screening tool for diabetic foot and integrated into existing community diabetic care model, facilitating timely intervention and improving patient outcomes.
This study aimed to investigate the impacts of chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes on personal and household income among ageing Chinese adults. The primary hypothesis was that these chronic diseases have differential effects on the socioeconomic status of individuals and households, with gender and age influencing these relationships.
Prospective cohort study using double/debiased machine learning (DDML) techniques to analyse data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).
Nationally representative sample of ageing Chinese adults, with data collected from multiple regions across China. The sample represents a variety of both urban and rural settings.
A total of 69 457 participants entered the study, with 69 457 completing it. The sample included both male and female participants, with the majority being of Han Chinese ethnicity. Participants were selected based on the presence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes, and exclusion criteria included: no information on age (n=4307), no information on gender (n=12), no information on medical insurance (n=177).
The primary outcome measures, as outlined in the study protocol, were the associations between three chronic diseases (hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes) and personal income (LPI) as well as household income (LHI). These associations were measured using the DDML method, which provided both overall measurements and gender-specific subgroup analyses. There were no significant deviations between the planned and actual outcome measures, and all outcomes were assessed as originally intended.
Dyslipidaemia was positively associated with LPI (coefficient=0.078, 95% CI 0.052 to 0.105) but negatively associated with LHI (coefficient=–0.049, 95% CI –0.084 to –0.015). Diabetes showed stronger positive effects on LPI (coefficient=0.093, 95% CI 0.052 to 0.135) and negative effects on LHI (coefficient=–0.094, 95% CI –0.147 to –0.041). Gender-specific analyses revealed that dyslipidaemia had a stronger association with LPI in males (95% CI 0.080 to 0.163) compared with females (95% CI 0.007 to 0.075). For diabetes, males experienced larger increases in LPI (95% CI 0.053 to 0.190) compared with females (95% CI 0.015 to 0.117). Additionally, reductions in LHI were more pronounced in females with diabetes (95% CI –0.187 to –0.043).
Chronic diseases, particularly dyslipidaemia and diabetes, significantly affect the socioeconomic status of ageing Chinese adults, with distinct gender-specific impacts. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to address the income disparities linked to chronic diseases. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of disease management on socioeconomic outcomes.
Prospective, observational, community-based cohort study using 2011–2018 CHARLS data from 28 provinces in mainland China, with the registration number IRB00001052-11015, following ethical approval from the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Peking University.
The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting psychosocial adaptation in intestinal stoma patients and to identify central symptoms that might guide future interventions through network analysis.
A multicenter cross-sectional study.
All intestinal stoma patients were evaluated for psychosocial adaptation using the Ostomy Adjustment Inventory-20 (OAI-20). Univariate and multivariate linear regression were used to analyse the potential relationship between the level of psychological adjustment of intestinal stoma patients and individual factors. By network analysis, we calculated the centrality indicators for each node in the ostomy psychosocial adaptation network at different levels of low, medium and high, respectively.
This study ultimately enrolled a total of 19,909 intestinal stoma patients from 202 Chinese hospitals, out of which 6408 reported low psychosocial adaptation. It was found that there is a negative association between being female, partially self-care, completely dependent on others for care and having no medical insurance with psychosocial adaptation scores. In the low-level psychosocial adaptation network, no. OAI-14:limited activity, no. OAI-9: worried about ostomy, and no. OAI-11:always like a patient were identified as central indicators.
Being female, partially self-care, completely dependent on others for care, and having no health insurance can be considered characteristics of patients with lower psychosocial adaptation. Network analysis results provide intervention targets to improve adaptation.
Individualised and precise interventions can be carried out in terms of both the influencing factors and the most influential nodes of psychosocial adaptation in order to improve the level of psychosocial adaptation in intestinal stoma patients.
No patient or public contribution.
The study examines the associations between nursing competence, work environment, and health system resilience. It also analyzes how nursing competence and work environment relate to different patterns of health system resilience.
A multiple center cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 across 33 hospitals in eastern China, involving 2435 nurses.
Questionnaires measuring nursing competence, work environment resources, nurse disaster resilience, and organizational commitment to resilience were utilised, along with the collection of additional personal demographic data. Structural equation modelling and cluster analysis were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms within the overall model and across multiple groups. Multivariable regression was conducted to identify variables associated with resilience in different subgroups.
Structural equation modelling demonstrated significant influences of nursing competence and work environment support on system resilience. Cluster analysis identified four resilience patterns: strong, marginal, low, and critical vulnerability. Strong resilience correlated with balanced individual-organizational resources, while vulnerable systems relied heavily on environmental support.
Our findings support policymakers and managers in developing systematic strategies with distinct focal points—targeting nurse workforce investment and optimised work environment—to enhance health system resilience across varying levels of public health emergencies.
This study validated the framework connecting individual and organizational resilience, offering evidence-based insights for nurse training and resource allocation to enhance healthcare systems' adaptability during disasters.
The study addressed how nursing competence and work environment significantly influenced resilience during public health emergencies, identified four resilience patterns, and provided insights to guide policymakers and healthcare managers in developing targeted, effective strategies.
Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology checklist.
No patient or public contribution.
Nurse-led self-care interventions represent a promising approach for chronic pain management. However, a comprehensive synthesis of their efficacy is lacking.
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the impact of the interventions on four key outcomes in chronic pain patients: pain intensity, quality of life, anxiety levels, and depression severity.
The study was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. An electronic search for relevant articles spanning from inception to November 2024 was carried out across multiple databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, CENTRAL, Web of Science (Core Collection), CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 18 and Review Manager 5.4, and a GRADE evidence profile was subsequently generated.
The systematic review and meta-analysis involved 30 studies in total. The results of the data analysis indicated that the interventions alleviated pain intensity (SMD = −0.30, 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.20, Z = 5.57, p < 0.001). They also enhanced quality of life (SMD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.42, Z = 3.83, p < 0.001), while reducing anxiety (SMD = −0.15, 95% CI: −0.29 to −0.01, Z = 2.11, p = 0.03) and depression symptoms (SMD = −0.27, 95% CI: −0.45 to −0.09, Z = 2.88, p = 0.004).
This systematic review demonstrated that nurse-led self-care interventions benefit chronic pain patients. Future research should conduct more rigorous randomized controlled trials to strengthen the evidence base for using such interventions in chronic pain management.
To summarise the symptom clusters (SCs), assessment tools and their evolution at different stages of postsurgical chemotherapy in oesophageal cancer patients, providing reference for future research design and precise symptom management.
A systematic search and literature review were conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review Methodology framework and PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines.
Databases searched include PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP Chinese Journal and China Biomedical Literature Database. The search covered the period from database inception to 30 November 2024, and references were traced backward.
Patients aged ≥18 years with postsurgical oesophageal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy; studies focusing on SCs before, during or after chemotherapy; original quantitative research; published in Chinese or English. Exclusion criteria included neoadjuvant or palliative chemotherapy, reviews, conference abstracts and inaccessible full-text articles.
Two independent reviewers screened, extracted and cross-checked the data. Content analysis was employed to summarise the SCs, assessment tools and phase-related changes.
A total of 11 studies were included (8 in Chinese, 3 in English). Twelve SCs were identified, with gastrointestinal-related, eating-related and physical function-related clusters being the most common. Eleven assessment tools were used, with MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Gastrointestinal Cancer Module and its Chinese version being the most frequently applied. Difficulty eating was the most prominent SC before chemotherapy, gastrointestinal symptoms were the most severe during chemotherapy and psychological-physical symptoms dominated in the postchemotherapy phase.
The composition of SCs in oesophageal cancer chemotherapy evolves dynamically across different stages. However, the existing evidence is mainly derived from small sample cross-sectional studies, with high heterogeneity in tools and methods. Standardised assessment criteria and longitudinal validation are needed to develop stage-specific, evidence-based interventions that can be widely applied.
To assess the current situation of nursing staff exposed to workplace violence in a teaching hospital in China, and analyze the relationship between workplace violence and their physical and mental health status, aiming to establish a foundation for enhancing the working conditions for nursing staff.
Cross-sectional study.
In 2024, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at a teaching hospital in Hubei Province, China, involving 3681 nursing staff. Assessments included workplace violence experiences and health outcomes using validated scales such as the Depression Screening Scale, Anxiety Disorder Screening Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, and Self-rating Symptom Scale. Statistical analyses incorporated propensity score matching and logistic regression.
Among the 3681 nursing staff surveyed, 33.4% (1228) reported experiencing workplace violence. Moreover, 53.6% (1974) reported symptoms of mild to severe depression, and 34.5% (1270) reported symptoms of mild to severe anxiety. Commonly reported physical health conditions included peptic ulcers (6.8%, 250), autoimmune diseases (6.6%, 241), hypertension (3.0%, 112), malignant tumors (2.0%, 73), and diabetes (1.5%, 54). Workplace violence exposure showed significant associations with gender, weekly working hours, professional roles, living situations, and alcohol consumption.
Workplace violence significantly increases the risk of both physical and psychological health problems among nursing staff. Relevant authorities should implement proactive prevention strategies to reduce the occurrence of workplace violence and thereby mitigate its associated adverse outcomes, including anxiety, depression, elevated stress levels, and chronic physical conditions.
This study found a high prevalence of workplace violence (33.4%) among nursing staff, linked to physical and mental health impairments. Screening for vulnerabilities and providing tailored psychological support can enhance resilience, reducing the frequency of violence and its detrimental impacts on staff well-being.
This study adhered to the STROBE checklist for observational studies.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting. The contribution of patients/members of the public was limited solely to data collection.
Nurses commonly experience negative experiences after experiencing a patient safety event, triggering a domino effect on the nurses themselves, subsequent patients, and healthcare organisations, thus requires urgent attention.
To explore the mediating role of psychological capital and coping styles between neurotic personality and negative experiences of nurses' second victims, and to provide theoretical guidance for nursing administrators to develop targeted strategies to mitigate negative experiences of nurses' second victims.
In June–July 2023, a general information questionnaire, a neurotic personality subscale, the Chinese version of the Second Victim Experience and Support Scale, the Nurses' Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and the Coping Styles Questionnaire were used to conduct an online survey of 213 nurses' second victims and structural equation modelling was constructed to clarify the relationship between these elements.
Psychological capital and coping styles partially mediated the relationship between neurotic personality and negative experiences in the nurses' second victims, with a total indirect effect value of 0.203 and a total effect value of 0.303, for a mediating effect of 33.00%.
Neurotic personality and immature coping styles negatively predict the degree of negative experience, while psychological capital and mature coping styles positively predict the degree of negative experience. Psychological capital and coping styles play a partial mediating role between neurotic personality and negative experience.
After a patient safety incident, nursing managers can mitigate the negative experiences of nurses' second victims in patient safety incidents by reducing their neurotic personality tendencies, enhancing their level of psychological capital, and guiding them to adopt mature coping styles.
No patient or public contribution.
People living with HIV (PLWH) frequently encounter mental health symptoms. Yet, a notable gap exists regarding the divergence in core mental health symptoms among PLWH across developed and developing regions. This study aims to explore the differences in mental health symptom networks among PLWH in both developed and developing regions.
A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in China from April 2022 to April 2023. Six designated HIV hospitals enrolled 2436 participants, including 1430 PLWH from developed regions and 1006 PLWH from developing regions. The study assessed 40 mental health symptoms across six dimensions: somatization symptoms, negative affect, cognitive processes, cognitive function, interpersonal communication, and social adaptation among PLWH.
The diverse developed regions exhibited varying mental health symptoms among PLWH, particularly concerning their core symptoms. In the developed regions of China, PLWH predominantly experience core symptoms centered around “Sadness,” “Anger,” and “Distress.” In contrast, PLWH from developing regions tends to manifest core symptoms such as “Inability to integrate into society,” “Difficulty in managing daily work and study,” and “Hostility.”
The regional variation in mental health symptoms among PLWH underscores the disparities in their circumstances. This insight is crucial for crafting tailored intervention strategies for urban PLWH. In developed regions, psychological interventions such as catharsis and empathy are integral to clinical practice, while in less developed regions, family support interventions are paramount, given the limited social interactions available to PLWH.
This study was reported according to the STROBE checklist.
No patient or public contribution.
Smoking cessation is a pressing public health concern. Behavioral therapy has been widely promoted as a means to aid smoking cessation. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, can help participants accept, rather than suppress, the physical and emotional experiences and thoughts associated with not smoking, identify experiential avoidance behaviors, strengthen the determination to quit, and ultimately commit to adaptive behavioral changes guided by smoking-cessation-related values, thereby achieving the goal of quitting smoking.
To assess the effects of ACT compared with other smoking cessation interventions by examining three key outcomes: cessation rates, smoking behaviors, and psychological outcomes.
We searched 8 databases and 2 registration platforms, covering the period from inception to March 26, 2025. We included only randomized controlled trials that recruited adult smokers and implemented ACT for smoking cessation, with the comparison group receiving either active treatment, no treatment, or any other intervention.
A total of 23 studies involving 8951 participants were included. The findings indicated that, compared with all types of control interventions, ACT significantly increased smoking cessation rates both immediately postintervention (RR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.03, 2.14], p = 0.04, I 2 = 81%) and at short-term follow-up (RR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.31 to 2.01, p < 0.01, I 2 = 0%). Subgroup analyses showed that ACT significantly improved short-term cessation rates compared with behavioral support (RR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.27, 2.02], p < 0.01, I 2 = 0%), while, compared with the blank control, ACT significantly increased smoking cessation rates across three different time points (postintervention: RR = 3.11, 95% CI [2.13, 4.54], p < 0.01, I 2 = 0%; medium-term follow-up: RR = 2.55, 95% CI [1.32, 4.93], p < 0.01; long-term follow-up: RR = 3.33, 95% CI [1.66, 6.68], p < 0.01). Narrative synthesis suggested that compared with behavioral therapy, ACT may confer benefits in improving psychological outcomes, while compared with the blank control, it may also reduce daily cigarette consumption and nicotine dependence, and enhance psychological outcomes.
Acceptance and commitment therapy may be a beneficial approach for improving cessation rates, enhancing smoking cessation behaviors, and promoting psychological well-being among adult smokers. However, the quality of the included evidence was limited, thereby weakening the strength of these findings. Future rigorously designed trials with larger sample sizes, particularly those comparing ACT against other smoking cessation interventions, are warranted to further confirm its effects.
by Yinli Shi, Shuang Guan, Sicun Wang, Muzhi Li, Yanan Yu, Jun Liu, Weibin Yang, Zhong Wang
BackgroundAlthough filgotinib, a selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, has been increasingly applied in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, its comprehensive safety profile remains insufficiently characterized. Using data from the FAERS database covering Q1 2014 to Q2 2024, this study attempts to analyze adverse event signals linked to filgotinib and provide guidance for the safe and sensible clinical usage of filgotinib.
MethodsFrom Q1 2014 to Q2 2024, information on adverse drug events (ADEs) associated with filgotinib was gathered. The reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) were among the signal detection methods that were employed for analysis following data normalization.
ResultsFilgotinib was shown to be the main suspected medication in ADE reports, exposing 103 preferred terms (PTs) in 17 system organ classes (SOCs). Infections, gastrointestinal disorders, and musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders were the most commonly reported adverse effects. Additionally, atrial fibrillation, alopecia, elevated serum creatinine, blood creatinine increased, pulmonary embolism, epididymitis, respiratory failure, and osteopenia were identified as potential disproportionate reporting signals for filgotinib, although these were not listed in the official drug label. Notable significant signals included large intestine erosion (ROR 2186.05, 95%CI(ROR): 1015.94–4703.86, PRR 2176.18, 95%CI(PRR): 1014.64–4667.42), mesenteric arterial occlusion (ROR 1832.17, 95%CI(ROR): 897.68–3739.48, PRR 1822.71, 95%CI(PRR): 896.17–3707.20), repetitive strain injury (ROR 1149.27, 95%CI(ROR): 363.16–3637.01, PRR 1147.05, 95%CI(PRR): 363.24–3622.15), oligoarthritis (ROR 755.02, 95%CI(ROR): 310.74–1834.54, PRR 752.59, 95%CI(PRR): 310.60–1823.51), and periostitis (ROR 676.03, 95%CI(ROR): 319.36–1431.06, PRR 672.98, 95%CI(PRR): 318.97–1419.87). The subgroup analysis identified obvious sex and age-specific trends in filgotinib-related adverse reactions, emphasizing a higher risk of renal disorders in females, a preponderance of gastrointestinal events in males, and age-dependent trends involving mesenteric occlusion, increased serum creatinine, and immunoglobulin reduction.
ConclusionWhile filgotinib demonstrates therapeutic efficacy, it is associated with a range of potential adverse events, underscoring the need for vigilant clinical monitoring. Particular attention should be given to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic complications.
by Zihang Zhao, Xiang Zhang, Xi Hou, Zihan Liu, Zhiyong Hou, Lianxin Song, Ruipeng Zhang
Percutaneous Bunnell repair and open modified Kessler repair remain debated options for acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR). We retrospectively compared a minimally invasive percutaneous Bunnell technique (Group A) with an open modified Kessler repair (Group B) within a standardized early functional rehabilitation (EFR) protocol at a single center. Fifty-five adults with closed AATR treated between January 2021 and December 2022 were analyzed (Group A, n = 25; Group B, n = 30). Between-group comparisons used Welch t tests for continuous variables and χ² or Fisher exact tests for categorical variables; American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) were assessed at 12 and 24 weeks, with Holm adjustment applied within each scale. Compared with Group B, Group A had shorter operative time (56.6 ± 15.1 vs 68.2 ± 23.2 minutes; mean difference −11.6; 95% CI −22.05 to −1.15; P = 0.030), less intraoperative blood loss (28.4 ± 8.4 vs 74.7 ± 19.4 mL; −46.3; 95% CI −54.22 to −38.38; Pby Jianhua Liao, Jun Cheng, Baoqing Liu, Yuzhi Shao, Chunyan Meng
The growing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, coupled with the increasing resistance to existing antibiotics, underscores the critical need for novel therapeutic approaches to combat this pathogen. In this study, the role of yqhG, a conserved gene encoding a periplasmic protein, in MRSA virulence and stress adaptation was investigated. yqhG deletion in MRSA significantly attenuated virulence in a murine infection model, leading to reduced bacterial burden in infected organs and improved host survival. In vitro, the yqhG mutant exhibited impaired membrane integrity, reduced motility, and increased sensitivity to oxidative stress, but did not affect biofilm formation. These defects were fully restored upon genetic complementation. These findings highlight the critical role of yqhG in maintaining MRSA’s ability to withstand host-imposed stresses, suggesting that yqhG is a key determinant of MRSA pathogenesis. The study provides new insights into the stress-defense mechanisms employed by MRSA and underscores yqhG as a potential target for therapeutic strategies aimed at combating MRSA infections.