Conectar
by Yawen Xu, Jiangxuan Yu, Rui Shen, Xueqi Shan, Wenlu Zhou, Junjie Wang
ObjectiveAlthough several acupuncture and moxibustion therapies have been tested in managing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), there is little consensus regarding the best options for treating this condition. This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared the efficacy of various acupuncture and/or moxibustion therapies for BCRL.
MethodsSeven databases and two clinical registration centers were searched from their inception to December 1st, 2023. The Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias assessment tool evaluated the quality of included RCTs. A pairwise meta-analysis was performed in STATA 16.0, while a network meta-analysis was performed in R 4.2.2.
Results18 studies were included in this analysis. Our results showed that acupuncture and moxibustion methods had great advantages in improving BCRL of patients with breast cancer. In particular, needle-warming moxibustion (NWM) could be the optimal acupuncture and moxibustion method for improving clinical effectiveness and reducing the degree of swelling of affected limbs.
ConclusionOur findings suggest that NWM has great potential in treating BCRL. It may reduce arm circumference, lower swelling levels, and improve clinical effectiveness. Nevertheless, more multi-center, high-quality, and large sample RCTs will be needed in the future.
by Na Li, Jian Yang, Xiaodong Li, Yanting Shi, Kunhong Wang
Background and aimsGastric intestinal metaplasia is a precancerous disease, and a timely diagnosis is essential to delay or halt cancer progression. Artificial intelligence (AI) has found widespread application in the field of disease diagnosis. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of AI’s diagnostic accuracy in detecting gastric intestinal metaplasia in endoscopy, compare it to endoscopists’ ability, and explore the main factors affecting AI’s performance.
MethodsThe study followed the PRISMA-DTA guidelines, and the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and IEEE Xplore databases were searched to include relevant studies published by October 2023. We extracted the key features and experimental data of each study and combined the sensitivity and specificity metrics by meta-analysis. We then compared the diagnostic ability of the AI versus the endoscopists using the same test data.
ResultsTwelve studies with 11,173 patients were included, demonstrating AI models’ efficacy in diagnosing gastric intestinal metaplasia. The meta-analysis yielded a pooled sensitivity of 94% (95% confidence interval: 0.92–0.96) and specificity of 93% (95% confidence interval: 0.89–0.95). The combined area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.97. The results of meta-regression and subgroup analysis showed that factors such as study design, endoscopy type, number of training images, and algorithm had a significant effect on the diagnostic performance of AI. The AI exhibited a higher diagnostic capacity than endoscopists (sensitivity: 95% vs. 79%).
ConclusionsAI-aided diagnosis of gastric intestinal metaplasia using endoscopy showed high performance and clinical diagnostic value. However, further prospective studies are required to validate these findings.
This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore the trajectory and thematic developments of emotional labour research in nursing.
Utilizing descriptive and bibliometric analysis techniques.
The data analysis and graphical presentation were conducted using the Bibliometrix Package in R software.
The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched on October 20, 2023.
From 1992 to 2023, 842 authors published relevant articles, yielding 779 author keywords. There has been a general upward trend in the number of articles published over the past 30 years, with an annual growth rate of 11.71%. Keyword co-occurrence cluster analysis revealed the main focus areas of research on emotional labour antecedents and consequences, regulatory modalities, training and education, as well as research methods and application scenarios.
Emotional labour significantly influences nursing staff's well-being and patient care outcomes. Effective management and education regarding emotional labour are crucial for enhancing nursing staff performance and patient care quality. Future research should focus on long-term effects, training efficacy, regulatory strategies across clinical settings, and innovative approaches to address current challenges.
This study provides valuable insights into the unique trajectory and thematic developments of emotional labour research in nursing. The findings underscore the importance of addressing emotional labour in nursing practice and education to improve patient care outcomes and nursing staff well-being.
Adherence to recognized bibliometric reporting methods, following relevant EQUATOR guidelines.
This study is based solely on existing literature and did not involve patients or the public in its design, conduct, analysis, interpretation, or preparation.
Examine the levels of variables and explore drivers associated with shared decision-making attitudes among newly graduated nurses.
This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study.
From August 2022 to October 2022, a cross-section of 216 newly graduated nurses from four comprehensive A-level hospitals in northern China was recruited using convenience sampling. Newly graduated nurses are generally defined as nurses with a service period of six months to one year. Data were collected using an online questionnaire support platform, including the Nursing Shared Decision-Making Attitude scale, Jefferson scale of Empathy-Health profession students and the Health Sciences Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire. All data were analysed descriptively, and correlational analysis and hierarchical regression were used to make identical connections between variables.
Newly graduated nurses supported shared decision-making. Perceptions of shared decision-making were correlated with the experiences of empathy and evidence-based practice. Additionally, perspective-taking of empathy and beliefs, and the ability to search for and apply existing scientific findings of evidence-based practice had a significant impact on more positive attitudes.
The survey showed that acceptance of shared decision-making was positive among newly graduated nurses. Clinical nursing managers and teachers should pay attention to cultivating the evidence-based practice and empathy of newly graduated nurses to adopt an optimistic attitude towards shared decision-making in the long term.
The survey addresses attitudes of shared decision-making among newly graduated nurses and determines whether empathy and evidence-based practice has an impact on it. The main finding is that newly graduated nurses have an optimistic outlook on the implementation of shared decision-making. This survey showed that empathy and evidence-based practice competencies are associated with shared decision-making attitudes among newly graduated nurses. The results of this survey have an impact on educational institutions and hospitals in the form of recommendations. Several training programmes on empathy and evidence-based practice can help adopt the shared decision-making attitudes of newly graduated nurses.
No patient or public contribution.
This study aimed to explore the mediating effect of self-management (SM) on the relationship between illness perception and quality of life (QOL) among Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).
A cross-sectional study.
We explored the effect of illness perception and self-management on QOL using the multiple regression model. Moreover, we conducted a simple mediation analysis to examine the role of SM in the relationship between illness perception and QOL. In addition, a parallel mediation analysis was performed to investigate the differences in domains of SM on the relationship between illness perception and QOL.
Among 300 Chinese HIV-positive MSM, the mean score of SM was 39.9 ± 6.97, with a range of 14.0–54.0. The higher score in SM indicated a higher level of HIV SM. SM was negatively related to illness perception (r = −0.47) while positively related to QOL (r = 0.56). SM partially mediated the relationship between illness perception and QOL, accounting for 25.3% of the total effect. Specifically, both daily self-management health practices and the chronic nature of the self-management domain played a parallel role in mediating the relationship between illness perception and QOL.
Our study demonstrated that SM was a significant factor influencing QOL among HIV-positive MSM. Focusing on daily self-management health practices and the chronic nature of self-management could be the potential key targets for enhancing HIV self-management strategies.
This study emphasized the role of SM in the well-being of HIV-positive MSM and underscored the importance of developing interventions that integrate SM strategies to improve QOL in this population.
No patient or public contribution.
This study aims to investigate the mediating role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-compassion in the relationship among anxiety, depression, body image distress and subjective well-being among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
A cross-sectional study.
The study recruited 510 women with polycystic ovary syndrome from a tertiary hospital affiliated with a university in Hunan Province, China. The study employed several tools to collect data, including the Generalized Anxiety Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Body Image States Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale and the Index of Well-being questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive analysis, spearman correlation analysis, ordinary least squares regression and bootstrapping.
The study's findings indicate that regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-compassion both act as mediators in the connection between anxiety, depression, body image distress and subjective well-being among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
The study emphasizes the significance of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-compassion in promoting well-being among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. It also implies that interventions targeted at enhancing these factors could potentially enhance the subjective well-being of women affected by PCOS.
Our study's primary contribution is to underscore the crucial mediating roles of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-compassion in the relationship among anxiety, depression, body image distress and subjective well-being. Our study indicates that clinical practitioners should prioritize improving the regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-compassion of women with polycystic ovary syndrome, reducing their anxiety, depression and body image distress and improving their subjective well-being.
This study was reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).
No patient or public contribution outside of participation in the actual study for purposes of data collection.
Examine profiles of safety attitudes among novices and explore whether profiles moderate the occupational identity–turnover pathway.
Novice nurses face unique challenges in adopting positive safety attitudes, which influence outcomes like turnover. However, past research found only average levels of safety attitudes among novices, ignoring possible heterogeneity. Exploring whether meaningful subgroups exist based on safety perspectives and factors shaping them can provide insights to improve safety attitudes and retention.
This study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation.
Data were collected through the distribution of questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were first conducted, followed by latent profile analysis. We then carried out univariate analysis and ordinal multinomial regression to explore the factors shaping the different profiles. Finally, we examine the moderating effect of nurses' safety attitudes with different latent profiles on the relationship between professional identification and turnover intention.
A total of 816 novice nurses were included. Three profiles were identified: high, moderate and low safety attitudes – higher attitudes were associated with lower turnover intention. Interest in nursing, health status, identity and turnover predicted profile membership. Moderate profile had a stronger buffering effect on the identity–turnover link versus high profile.
Multiple safety attitude profiles exist among novice nurses. Certain factors like interest in nursing and occupational identity are associated with more positive safety profiles. Targeting these factors could potentially improve safety attitudes and reduce turnover among novice nurses. The moderating effects suggest that tailored interventions matching specific subgroups may maximize impact.
Assessing subgroup attitudes enables tailored training for novices' specific needs, nurturing continuous improvement. Supporting early career development and role identity may strengthen retention intentions.
Nurses, assuming a wide range of clinical and patient care responsibilities in a healthcare team, are highly susceptible to direct and indirect exposure to traumatic experiences. However, literature has shown that nurses with certain traits developed a new sense of personal strength in the face of adversity, known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). This review aimed to synthesize the best available evidence to evaluate personal and work-related factors associated with PTG among nurses.
Mixed studies systematic review.
Studies examining factors influencing PTG on certified nurses from all healthcare facilities were included. Published and unpublished studies were identified by searching 12 databases from their inception until 4th February 2023. Two reviewers independently screened, appraised, piloted a data collection form, and extracted relevant data. Meta-summary, meta-synthesis, meta-analysis, as well as subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Integration of results followed result-based convergent design.
A total of 98 studies with 29,706 nurses from 18 countries were included. These included 49 quantitative, 42 qualitative, and seven mixed-methods studies. Forty-six influencing factors were meta-analyzed, whereas nine facilitating factors were meta-summarized. A PTG conceptual map was created. Four constructs emerged from the integration synthesis: (a) personal system, (b) work-related system, (c) event-related factors, and (d) cognitive transformation.
The review findings highlighted areas healthcare organizations could do to facilitate PTG in nurses. Practical implications include developing intervention programs based on PTG facilitators. Further research should examine the trend of PTG and its dynamic response to different nursing factors.
Research on trauma-focused therapies targeting nurses' mental health is lacking. Therefore, findings from this review could inform healthcare organizations on the PTG phenomenon and developing support measures for nurses through healthcare policies and clinical practice.
To investigate the relationship between work readiness and work well-being for newly graduated nurses and the mediating role of emotional labor and psychological capital in this relationship.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in mainland China. A total of 478 newly graduated nurses completed the Work Readiness Scale, Emotional Labour Scale, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Work Well-being Scale. Descriptive statistical methods, Pearson correlation analysis, and a structural equation model were used to analyze the available data.
Newly graduated nurses' work readiness was significantly positively correlated with work well-being (r = 0.21, p < 0.01), deep acting (r = 0.11, p < 0.05), and psychological capital (r = 0.18, p < 0.01). Emotional labor and psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between work readiness and work well-being. Additionally, emotional labor and psychological capital had a chain-mediating effect on the association.
Work readiness not only affects newly graduated nurses' work well-being directly but also indirectly through emotional labor and psychological capital. These results provide theoretical support and guidance for the study and improvement of newly graduated nurses' work well-being and emphasize the importance of intervention measures to improve work readiness and psychological capital and the adoption of deep-acting emotional-labor strategies.
A Community of Practice is briefly defined as a group of people with a shared interest in a given area of practice who work collaboratively to grow collective knowledge. Communities of Practice have been used to facilitate knowledge exchange and improve evidence-based practice. Knowledge translation within the residential aged care sector is lacking, with barriers such as inadequate staffing and knowledge gaps commonly cited. In Australia, a Federal inquiry into residential aged care practices led to a recommendation to embed pharmacists within residential aged care facilities. Onsite practice in aged care is a new role for pharmacists in Australia. Thus, support is needed to enable pharmacists to practice in this role.
The primary aim is to evaluate the processes and outcomes of a Community of Practice designed to support pharmacists to work in aged care.
A longitudinal, single-group, pretest–post-test design in which the intervention is a Community of Practice. The Community of Practice will be established and made available for 3 years to all Australian pharmacists interested in, new to or established in aged care roles. The Community of Practice will be hosted on online discussion platforms, with additional virtual meetings and annual symposia. The following data will be collected from all members of the Community of Practice: self-evaluation of the processes and outcomes of the Community of Practice (via the CoPeval scale) and confidence in evidence-based practice (EPIC scale), collected via online questionnaires annually; and discussion platform usage statistics and discussion transcripts. A subset of members will be invited to participate in annual semi-structured individual interviews.
Data from the online questionnaire will be analysed descriptively. Discussion transcripts will be analysed using topic modelling and content analysis to identify the common topics discussed and their frequencies. Qualitative data from individual interviews will be thematically analysed to explore perceptions and experiences with the intervention for information/knowledge exchange, impact on practice, and sharing/promoting/implementing evidence-based practice.
Human ethics approval has been granted by the University of Western Australia’s Human Ethics Committee (2023/ET000000). No personal information will be included in any publications and reports to funding bodies.
Findings will be disseminated to all members of the Community of Practice, professional organisations, social and mass media, peer-review journals, research and professional conferences and annual reports to the funding body.
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are increasingly recognised as sensitive windows for cardiometabolic disease risk. Growing evidence suggests environmental exposures, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications that are associated with long-term cardiometabolic risk. However, the impact of perinatal EDC exposure on subsequent cardiometabolic risk post-pregnancy is less understood. The Environmental Reproductive and Glucose Outcomes (ERGO) Study was established to investigate the associations of environmental exposures during the perinatal period with post-pregnancy parental cardiometabolic health.
Pregnant individuals aged ≥18 years without pre-existing diabetes were recruited at
We enrolled 653 unique pregnancies and retained 633 through delivery. Participants had a mean age of 33 years, 10% (n=61) developed gestational diabetes and 8% (n=50) developed pre-eclampsia. Participant pregnancy and postpartum urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and postpartum glycaemic biomarkers were quantified. To date, studies within ERGO found higher exposure to phthalates and phthalate mixtures, and separately, higher exposure to radioactive ambient particulate matter, were associated with adverse gestational glycaemic outcomes. Additionally, certain personal care products used in pregnancy, notably hair oils, were associated with higher urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations, earlier gestational age at delivery and lower birth weight.
Future work will leverage the longitudinal data collected on pregnancy and cardiometabolic outcomes, environmental exposures, questionnaires, banked biospecimens and paediatric data within the ERGO Study.
The effectiveness of antibiotics for treating gonococcal infections is compromised due to escalating antibiotic resistance; and the development of an effective gonococcal vaccine has been challenging. Emerging evidence suggests that the licensed meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine, 4CMenB is effective against gonococcal infections due to cross-reacting antibodies and 95% genetic homology between the two bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, that cause the diseases. This project aims to undertake epidemiological and genomic surveillance to evaluate the long-term protection of the 4CMenB vaccine against gonococcal infections in the Northern Territory (NT) and South Australia (SA), and to determine the potential benefit of a booster vaccine doses to provide longer-term protection against gonococcal infections.
This observational study will provide long-term evaluation results of the effectiveness of the 4CMenB vaccine against gonococcal infections at 4–7 years post 4CMenB programme implementation. Routine notifiable disease notifications will be the basis for assessing the impact of the vaccine on gonococcal infections. Pathology laboratories will provide data on the number and percentage of N. gonorrhoeae positive tests relative to all tests administered and will coordinate molecular sequencing for isolates. Genome sequencing results will be provided by SA Pathology and Territory Pathology/New South Wales Health Pathology, and linked with notification data by SA Health and NT Health. There are limitations in observational studies including the potential for confounding. Confounders will be analysed separately for each outcome/comparison.
The protocol and all study documents have been reviewed and approved by the SA Department for Health and Well-being Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/2022/HRE00308), and the evaluation will commence in the NT on receipt of approval from the NT Health and Menzies School of Health Research Human Research Ethics Committee. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings and public forums.
Most people with schizophrenia in China are supported by their family members in community. The patient’s family is confronted with severe care burden and pressure, which directly affects the caregiver’s own health and social life, and indirectly affects the patient’s rehabilitation. Adequate family resources can reduce the burden and pressure on families. But there is an absence of systematic family resource indicators for people with schizophrenic disorder in China.
This study aimed to develop a set of family resource indicators for people with schizophrenic disorder in China.
Preliminary family resource indicators were generated and refined by literature review and an expert consultation meeting. Two rounds of email-based Delphi survey were carried out to identify family resource indicators.
Two rounds of email-based Delphi survey were performed from July to September 2021 in Beijing, China.
There were 15 mental health doctors from community health service centres and four psychiatrists from tertiary hospitals, and two primary care researchers from universities in the first and second rounds Delphi survey.
All the 21 experts participated in both rounds of Delphi survey. A total of 46 indicators achieved consensus for inclusion in the final set of indicators after two rounds of Delphi survey. The final set of indicators was grouped into 10 domains: financial support (three indicators), psychological and spiritual support (eight indicators), medical treatment (three indicators), information and education (three indicators), structural support (two indicators), external family resources included social resources (five indicators), cultural resources (two indicators), economic resources (seven indicators), environmental resources (four indicators) and medical resources (nine indicators).
A set of 46 family resource indicators for people with schizophrenic disorder in community was identified by an iterative Delphi process in Beijing, China. However, the indicators still need to be validated by testing in further studies.
This study aimed to investigate the caregiving behaviours and supportive needs of caregivers of patients with HIV/AIDS and provide a basis for healthcare institutions to carry out caregiver interventions.
A purposive sampling method was used to select 11 caregivers of patients with HIV/AIDS in the Infectious Disease Department of a tertiary hospital in Nanjing, China, to conduct semistructured interviews. Colaizzi analysis was used to collate and analyse the interview data.
All interviews were conducted at a tertiary hospital specialising in infectious diseases in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.
We purposively sampled 11 caregivers of people with HIV/AIDS, including nine women and two men.
Analysing the results from the perspective of iceberg theory, three thematic layers were identified: behavioural, value and belief. The behavioural layer includes a lack of awareness of the disease, physical and mental coping disorders, and an increased sense of stigma; the values layer includes a heightened sense of responsibility, the constraints of traditional gender norms, the influence of strong family values and the oppression of public opinion and morality and the belief layer includes the faith of standing together through storms and stress.
Healthcare professionals should value the experiences of caregivers of patients with HIV/AIDS and provide professional support to improve their quality of life.
Venous access in patients with obesity presents significant challenges. The success of central venous catheterisation largely depends on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the internal jugular vein (IJV). While techniques like the Trendelenburg position have been traditionally used to increase IJV CSA, recent studies suggest its ineffectiveness in patients with obesity. Conversely, the potential of the effect of passive leg raising (PLR) has not been thoroughly investigated in this group of patients.
This protocol outlines a planned randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of PLR on the CSA of the IJV in patients with obesity slated for central venous catheterisation. The protocol involves dividing 40 participants into two groups: one undergoing PLR and another serving as a control group without positional change. The protocol specifies measuring the CSA of the IJV via ultrasound as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include the success rates of right IJV cannulation. The proposed statistical approach includes the use of t-tests to compare the changes in CSA between the two groups, with a significance threshold set at p
This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shanghai Tongren Hospital. All the participants will provide informed consent prior to enrolment in the study. Regarding the dissemination of research findings, we plan to share the results through academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, we will communicate our findings to the public and professional communities, including patient advocacy groups.
ChiCTR: ChiCTR2400080513.
To investigate the status of the midwifery workforce and childbirth services in China and to identify the association between midwife staffing and childbirth outcomes.
A descriptive, multicentre cross-sectional survey.
Maternity hospitals from the eastern, central and western regions of China.
Stratified sampling of maternity hospitals between 1 July and 31 December 2021.
The sample hospitals received a package of questionnaires, and the head midwives from the participating hospitals were invited to fill in the questionnaires.
A total of 180 hospitals were selected and investigated, staffed with 4159 midwives, 412 obstetric nurses and 1007 obstetricians at the labour and delivery units. The average efficiency index of annual midwifery services was 272 deliveries per midwife. In the sample hospitals, 44.9% of women had a caesarean delivery and 21.4% had an episiotomy. Improved midwife staffing was associated with reduced rates of instrumental vaginal delivery (adjusted β –0.032, 95% CI –0.115 to –0.012, p
The rates of childbirth interventions including the overall caesarean section in China and the episiotomy rate, especially in the central region, remain relatively high. Improved midwife staffing was associated with reduced rates of instrumental vaginal delivery and episiotomy, indicating that further investments in the midwifery workforce could produce better childbirth outcomes.
This study sought to evaluate the perceptions of pressure injury (PI) management staff regarding skin failure (SF). Additionally, an analysis of influencing factors based on the collected data was conducted to establish a foundation for targeted SF training. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was undertaken in October–November 2023, utilising a convenience sampling method involving selected management staff of PI from 16 provinces in China. A total of 501 nursing participants were included, exhibiting an overall perception level that was moderately low. Although the majority were aware of the possibility of SF (n = 417, 83.23%), only 60% reported an understanding of the fundamentals of SF, with the lowest level of comprehension observed in differentiating between SF and PI (n = 212, 42.31%). Overall attitudes were generally positive. Regarding behaviour, active learning was more prevalent (n = 340, 67.86%), but training is less (n = 287, 57.29%). Family education (n = 401, 80.04%) and nursing record monitoring (n = 426, 85.03%) demonstrated better behaviour. Further analysis revealed that training (t = 13.937, p < 0.001) and professional title (F = 4.681, p = 0.010) had a significant effect on participants' perceptions. These findings underscore that there remains a substantial lack of perception about SF amongst participants. Overall, participants exhibited a positive attitude towards SF, highlighting the need for future improvements in SF training.
This study aims to analyse the trends in the incidence, prevalence and medical costs of pressure injuries (PIs) among genders in Taiwan.
The treatment of PIs is complex and costly, often leading to complications and increased mortality. This issue significantly impacts healthcare quality and incurs substantial medical and social costs, warranting attention.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database to obtain and calculate the incidence, prevalence, and medical costs of PIs in the country between 2001 and 2015 as well as to analyse high-risk groups and the medical care utilisation of patients following the STROBE reporting guidelines.
Between 2001 and 2015, 15,327 incident case of PIs were diagnosed. During the study period, the prevalence rate of PIs per 100,000 population rose from 26.3 to 189.6, with approximately 11.5%–16.3% of patients undergoing surgical debridement. The PIs prevalence rate increased by 7.2-fold, and hospitalisation costs accounted for 91.7%–96.0% of the total medical costs. Patients with older age, comorbidities, poorer financial status and lower education levels were found to be likely to develop PIs. These predisposing factors differed between males and females. The prevalence of PIs was higher in patients ≥75 years old than in patients from other age groups. Moreover, PI-related medical expenses have been increasing annually.
In Taiwan, the rising incidence of PIs is driving up medical costs. Effective care and prevention of PIs necessitate a comprehensive plan from the entire healthcare system.
This research fills a gap in the available data on the incidence, prevalence, and medical costs of PIs in Taiwan and Asia.
The findings can be used to help develop clinical guidelines for preventive education and treatment of PIs.
by Jiankun Cui, Qinwen Wang, Minghao Li
Xinnaotongluo liquid has been used to improve the clinical symptoms of patients with myocardial infarction. However, the molecular mechanism of Xinnaotongluo liquid is not completely understood. H9c2 cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) was used to simulate damage to cardiomyocytes in myocardial infarction in vitro. The biological indicators of H9c2 cells were measured by cell counting kit-8, enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay, and western blot assay. In H/R-induced H9c2 cells, a markedly reduced murine double minute 2 (MDM2) was observed. However, the addition of Xinnaotongluo liquid increased MDM2 expression in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. And MDM2 overexpression strengthened the beneficial effects of Xinnaotongluo liquid on H9c2 cells from the perspective of alleviating oxidative damage, cellular inflammation, apoptosis and ferroptosis of H/R-induced H9c2 cells. Moreover, MDM2 overexpression reduced the protein expression of p53 and Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of Prostate 3 (STEAP3). Whereas, STEAP3 overexpression hindered the function of MDM2-overexpression in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. Our results insinuated that Xinnaotongluo liquid could protect H9c2 cells from H/R-induced damage by regulating MDM2/STEAP3, which provide a potential theoretical basis for further explaining the working mechanism of Xinnaotongluo liquid.Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent type of cancer affecting women globally, and chemotherapy plays a pivotal role in its treatment by diminishing tumour recurrence and enhancing the survival rates of patients. However, chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) often occurs in patients undergoing treatment. Although multiple clinical trials have indicated that exercise therapy can improve CRCI in patients with breast cancer, there are variations in the types of exercise interventions and their effectiveness. We aim to perform a pioneering network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess and prioritise the effectiveness of various exercise interventions in enhancing cognitive function in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
We will search multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Wanfang and Sinomed databases, from their inception to May 2023. The main outcome is the cognitive function changes in patients with breast cancer, including subjective and objective results. We will specifically include randomised controlled trials reported in English and Chinese languages, whose primary outcome consists of an assessment of the cognitive function of patients with breast cancer using standardised and validated assessment tools, encompassing both subjective and objective outcomes. The quality of all the trials included will be evaluated based on ‘Version 2 of the Cochrane tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials (RoB2)’. We will conduct a Bayesian NMA to thoroughly evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different exercise interventions. We will use cumulative ranking probability plots to estimate the ranking of the best interventions for various exercises. Network plots and funnel plots will be employed to display the study sizes and participants of each exercise intervention, as well as potential publication biases.
The study findings will be shared via peer-reviewed journals to ensure the highest quality and credibility of the research. As the reporting will not include any private patient data, there are no ethical considerations associated with this protocol.
CRD42023406597.
FreshRSS 