Analysis of Phenotypes Associated with Deficiency of PAX6 Haplotypes in Chinese Aniridia Families.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical phenotype and genetic deficiencies present in Chinese aniridia families with PAX6 haplotype deficiency. METHODS: A comprehensive questionnaire and ophthalmological assessments were administered to both affected patients and unaffected relatives. The clinical feature analysis included the evaluation of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp anterior segment examination, fundus photography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. To identify the mutation responsible for aniridia, targeted next-generation sequencing was used as a beneficial technique. RESULTS: A total of 4 mutations were identified, consisting of two novel frameshift mutations (c.314delA, p.K105Sfs*33 and c.838_845dup AACACACC, p.S283Tfs*85), along with two recurring nonsense mutations (c.307C>T, p.R103X and c.619A>T, p.K207*). Complete iris absence, macular foveal hypoplasia, and nystagmus were consistent in these PAX6 haplotype-deficient Chinese aniridia families, while corneal lesions, cataracts, and glaucoma exhibited heterogeneity both among the families and within the same family. CONCLUSION: In our study, two novel PAX6 mutations associated with aniridia were identified in Chinese families, which expanded the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of PAX6 mutations. We also analyzed the clinical characteristics of PAX6 haplotype deficiency in Chinese aniridia families.

An evidence-based breathing exercise intervention for chronic pain management in breast cancer survivors: A phase II randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Explore the preliminary effects of a breathing exercise (BE) intervention on chronic pain among breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This two-parallel-arm, open-label pilot randomized controlled trial recruited 72 breast cancer survivors who were randomly allocated to either the control or intervention group (n = 36 each). Both groups received usual care and a pain information booklet, while the intervention group received 4 weeks of additional BE. The primary clinical outcome was measured using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), with secondary clinical outcomes measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Quality of Life Patient/Cancer Survivor Version in Chinese (QOLCSV-C), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Breast (FACT-B) immediately post-intervention and at 4-week follow-up. Both adjusted and unadjusted Generalized Estimating Equation models were utilized to assess the BE's potential effects, with safety assessed through participant self-report. RESULTS: Sixty-eight participants completed the study. Statistical significance was observed in BPI in both adjusted and unadjusted models at post-intervention and follow-up (p < 0.05). BE demonstrated positive effects on anxiety, depression and quality of life improvement across all measures and timepoints in both adjusted and unadjusted models (p < 0.05). The effect sizes were smaller in the adjusted model. Three mild transient discomforts were reported associated with BE practice including dizziness, tiredness and yawning, without requirement of medical treatment. No severe adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: This BE intervention appears effective in alleviating chronic pain, anxiety and depression, and improving quality of life for breast cancer survivors. Fully powered large-scale studies are required to confirm its effects.

BK polyomavirus DNAemia, allograft rejection, and de novo donor-specific antibodies after lowering target tacrolimus levels in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: BK polyomavirus (BKV) DNAemia is a challenging infectious complication after kidney transplant (KT). Reduction of immunosuppression is the mainstay of management, and tacrolimus is often the first immunosuppressive medication adjusted upon the diagnosis of BKV DNAemia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a new institutional protocol with lower target tacrolimus levels on BKV DNAemia, allograft rejection, and de novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA) among pediatric KT recipients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all KT episodes between January 2013 and December 2018. The new protocol with lower target tacrolimus levels was implemented in March 2015. One hundred twenty-seven patients were included in primary analysis. All patients received induction with basiliximab and methylprednisolone and were maintained on a steroid-based immunosuppressive regimen. RESULTS: In the post-intervention cohort, cumulative incidence of BKV DNAemia at 100 days (13.4% vs. 17.8%, p = .605) and 18 months post-KT (34.1% vs. 26.7%, p = .504) was not significantly different from the pre-intervention cohort. Biopsy-proven rejection rate did not change. However, we observed a trend toward earlier development of dnDSA in the post-intervention cohort using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (log-rank p = .06). Younger recipient age at the time of transplant was found to slightly increase the risk of BKV DNAemia (OR: 1.09, 95% CI [1.01, 1.16], p = .024). There was an association between BKV DNAemia and biopsy-proven rejection of any type (adjustedOR: 2.77, 95% CI [1.26, 6.23], p = .012), especially acute T-cell-mediated rejection grade 1A and above (adjustedOR: 2.95, 95% CI [1.06, 8.30], p = .037), after adjusted for recipient age at the time of transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting lower tacrolimus levels did not decrease the incidence of BKV DNAemia within 100 days or 18 months post-KT, nor did it increase the risk of biopsy-proven rejection among pediatric KT recipients in our center. However, there was a trend toward earlier development of dnDSA, which may portend worse long-term graft outcome post-KT. Our findings highlight the need for individualized immunosuppressive regimens based on immunologic and infectious risk factors and the importance of implementing innovative biomarkers to guide therapy and improve outcomes.

Characterization of extrachromosomal circular DNAs in plasma of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) have been recognized for their significant involvement in numerous biological processes. Nonetheless, the existence and molecular characteristics of eccDNA in the peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not yet been reported. Our aim was to identify potentially marked plasma eccDNAs in ccRCC patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The detection of plasma eccDNA in ccRCC patients and healthy controls was performed using the Tn5-tagmentation and next-generation sequencing (NGS) method. Comparisons were made between ccRCC patients and healthy controls regarding the distribution of length, gene annotation, pattern of junctional nucleotide motif, and expression pattern of plasma eccDNA. RESULTS: We found 8,568 and 8,150 plasma eccDNAs in ccRCC patients and healthy controls, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the length distribution, gene annotation, and motif signature of plasma eccDNAs between the two groups. A total of 701 differentially expressed plasma eccDNAs were identified, and 25 plasma eccDNAs with potential diagnostic value for ccRCC have been successfully screened. These up-regulated plasma eccDNAs also be indicated to originate from the genomic region of the tumor-associated genes. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the characterization of plasma eccDNAs in ccRCC and suggests that the up-regulated plasma eccDNAs could be considered as a promising non-invasive biomarker in ccRCC.

Recent progress and outlooks in rhodamine-based fluorescent probes for detection and imaging of reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and reactive sulfur species (RSS) serve as vital mediators essential for preserving intracellular redox homeostasis within the human body, thereby possessing significant implications across physiological and pathological domains. Nevertheless, deviations from normal levels of ROS, RNS, and RSS disturb redox homeostasis, leading to detrimental consequences that compromise bodily integrity. This disruption is closely linked to the onset of various human diseases, thereby posing a substantial threat to human health and survival. Small-molecule fluorescent probes exhibit considerable potential as analytical instruments for the monitoring of ROS, RNS, and RSS due to their exceptional sensitivity and selectivity, operational simplicity, non-invasiveness, localization capabilities, and ability to facilitate in situ optical signal generation for real-time dynamic analyte monitoring. Due to their distinctive transition from their spirocyclic form (non-fluorescent) to their ring-opened form (fluorescent), along with their exceptional light stability, broad wavelength range, high fluorescence quantum yield, and high extinction coefficient, rhodamine fluorophores have been extensively employed in the development of fluorescent probes. This review primarily concentrates on the investigation of fluorescent probes utilizing rhodamine dyes for ROS, RNS, and RSS detection from the perspective of different response groups since 2016. The scope of this review encompasses the design of probe structures, elucidation of response mechanisms, and exploration of biological applications.

CCR5 regulates Aß1-42-induced learning and memory deficits in mice.

C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a chemokine receptor involved in immune responses and a co-receptor for HIV infection. Recently, CCR5 has also been reported to play a role in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, and cognitive deficits associated with normal aging, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). In contrast, the role of CCR5 in cognitive deficits associated with other disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), is much less understood. Studies have reported an increase in expression of CCR5 or its ligands in both AD patients and AD rodent models, suggesting a correlation between AD and CCR5 expression. However, whether blocking CCR5 in specific brain regions, such as the hippocampus, could improve memory deficits in AD mouse models is unknown. To study the potential causal role of CCR5 in cognitive deficits in AD, we injected soluble Aß1-42 or a control (Aß42-1) oligomers in the dorsal CA1 region of the hippocampus and found that Aß1-42 injection resulted in severe memory impairment in the object place recognition (OPR) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. Aß1-42 injection caused an increase in Ccr5, Ccl3, and Ccl4 in the dorsal hippocampus, and the expression levels of CCR5 and its ligands remained elevated at 2 weeks after Aß1-42 injection. Knocking down Ccr5 in the CA1 region of dorsal hippocampus reversed the increase in microglia number and size in dorsal CA1 and rescued memory deficits. These results indicate that CCR5 plays an important role in modulating Aß1-42-induced learning and memory deficits, and suggest that CCR5 antagonists may serve as a potential treatment to improve cognitive deficits associated with AD.

Water-soluble vitamins and trace elements in children with chronic kidney disease stage 5d.

Children receiving maintenance dialysis (chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5d) have unique risk factors for micronutrient deficiency or toxicity. Children receiving chronic dialysis often require specialized diet plans that may provide more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of water-soluble vitamins and micronutrients, with or without the addition of a kidney-friendly vitamin. The following is a comprehensive review of current literature on disorders of micronutrients in this population including those of water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and vitamin B complexes) and trace elements (copper, selenium, and zinc) and has three areas of focus: (1) the risk factors and clinical presentations of disorders of micronutrients, both deficiency and toxicity, (2) the tools to evaluate micronutrient status, and (3) the central role of renal dietitians in optimizing nutritional status from a micronutrient perspective.

Highly Selective and Rapid "Turn-On" Fluorogenic Chemosensor for Detection of Salicylic Acid in Plants and Food Samples.

Salicylic acid (SA) is one of the chemical molecules, involved in plant growth and immunity, thereby contributing to the control of pests and pathogens, and even applied in fruit and vegetable preservation. However, only a few tools have ever been designed or executed to understand the physiological processes induced by SA or its function in plant immunity and residue detection in food. Hence, three Rh6G-based fluorogenic chemosensors were synthesized to detect phytohormone SA based on the "OFF-ON" mechanism. The probes showed high selectivity, ultrafast response time (<60 s), and nanomolar detection limit for SA. Moreover, the probe possessed outstanding profiling that can be successfully used for SA imaging of callus and plants. Furthermore, the fluorescence pattern indicated that SA could occur in the distal transport in plants. These remarkable results contribute to improving our understanding of the multiple physiological and pathological processes involved in SA for plant disease diagnosis and for the development of immune activators. In addition, SA detection in some agricultural products used probes to extend the practical application because its use is prohibited in some countries and is harmful to SA-sensitized persons. Interestingly, the as-obtained test paper displayed that SA could be imaged by ultraviolet (UV) and was directly visible to the naked eye. Given the above outcomes, these probes could be used to monitor SA in vitro and in vivo, including, but not limited to, plant biology, food residue detection, and sewage detection.

Rhodamine-based fluorescent sensors for the rapid and selective off-on detection of salicylic acid and their use in plant cell imaging.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a key hormone that regulates plant growth and immunity, and understanding the physiologic processes induced by SA enables the development of highly pathogen-resistant crops. Here, we report the synthesis of three new SA-sensors (R1-R3) from hydroxyphenol derivatives of a rhodamine-acylhydrazone scaffold and their characterization by NMR and HRMS. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that structural variations in R1-R3 resulted in sensors with different sensitivities for SA. Sensor R2 (with the 3-hydroxyphenyl modification) outperformed R1 (2-hydroxyphenyl) and R3 (4-hydroxyphenyl). The SA-detection limit of R2 is 0.9 µM with an ultra-fast response time (<60 s). In addition, their plant imaging indicated that designed sensor R2 is useful for the further study of SA biology and the discovery and development of new inducers of plant immunity.

Dynamic Metastable Characteristics of Carbon Cages Embedded with Er2C2.

Novel endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs), namely, Er2C2@C2v(5)-C80, Er2C2@Cs(6)-C82, Er2C2@Cs(15)-C84, Er2C2@C2v(9)-C86, Er2C2@Cs(15)-C86, and Er2C2@Cs(32)-C88, had been experimentally synthesized, and the unique structures and many fascinating properties had also been widely explored. Nevertheless, the position of the Er atoms inside the cage shows a severe disorder within the stable EMF monomer, which is difficult to understand and explain from the experimental point of view. In this work, based on the density functional theoretical calculations, the Er2C2@Cs(6)-C82 has 73 directional isomers and 2 Er atoms that are far beyond from Er-Er single bonding and tend to be close to the cage side (marked as "shell"), and the core (Er2C2 units) takes on a butterfly shape as generally revealed. The energy difference between any two of the isomers is in the range of 0.05 to 25.6 kcal/mol, indicating a relatively easy thermodynamic transition between the isomers. The other five Er carbide cluster EMFs (Er2C2@C2v(5)-C80, Er2C2@Cs(15)-C84, Er2C2@C2v(9)-C86, Er2C2@Cs(15)-C86, and Er2C2@Cs(32)-C88) are also studied in the same way, and 30, 37, 39, and 43 most stable Er-oriented sites inside the cage, respectively, are obtained. In addition, the shape of the Er2C2 gradually changed from butterfly to linear. Moreover, the electronic structure and molecular orbital analyses show that it is easy for Er2C2@C80-88 to form a charge transfer state of [Er2C2]4+@[C80-88]4- via the dynamic core-shell coordination equilibrium. Er2C2 with a steep drop in chemical stability is restricted to forming varying degrees of metastable states in the shell, determined by the shell size, to ensure the overall stability. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level of these EMFs is increased by 0.5-1.1 eV compared with fullerenes C80-88, potentially providing favorable conditions for suitable energy level matching with EMF as an electron acceptor used in organic solar cell devices.

Traumatic dislocation of the iris into the vitreous cavity with intact lens: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic aniridia occurs when the iris is extruded from the eye and is often accompanied by lens injuries. However, traumatic aniridia due to dislocation of the iris into the vitreous cavity without lens damage has never been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old man presented with visual loss and pain for 6 h after a thin wire injured his right eyeball. Ophthalmologic examinations manifested a 2 mm full-thickness corneal laceration and total hyphema. An intact clear lens, healthy attached retina, and almost complete iris tissue in the vitreous cavity were found after resolution of hyphema the next day. Further examination revealed that the defect in the zonule below the corneal wound was the path for the iris to enter the vitreous cavity. The patient opted for nonsurgical treatment until pigment granules and opacity were observed in the vitreous cavity after 50 days. Vitrectomy was performed to remove the dislocated iris. CONCLUSIONS: The presentation of this unique case indicates that the torn iris was displaced to the vitreous cavity with an intact lens and missing local zonula instead of out the corneal laceration after a penetrating injury. The type of injury, mechanism, and force on the spot may contribute to the occurrence of this rare condition. Instead of artificial irises, tinted glasses were more appropriate treatment option for this patient. Peripheral retinal examination was essential in the management of this case. In such cases, the iris in the vitreous cavity should be resected to prevent complications.

Quality of life patient/cancer survivor version in Chinese cancer survivors: A validation study.

Objective: To validate the Chinese version of the Quality of Life (QoL) Patient/Cancer Survivor Version (QOLCSV-C) for measuring QoL in Chinese cancer survivors. Methods: The study followed a seven-step research practice guideline for cross-cultural research instrument validation study including translation, adaptation, and psychometric assessment. A forward- and backward-translation procedure was approached, followed by cultural adaptation and acceptability assessment. For its psychometric properties, its concurrent validity with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) was examined with correlation analysis. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and item-total and item-subtotal correlations of the QOLCSV-C were obtained. Factor analyses were conducted. Floor and ceiling effects and the discriminant performance of the selected variables on QOLCSV-C score were also examined. Results: The QOLCSV-C was translated from the 41-item QOLCSV with four domains: psychological, physical, spiritual and social well-being. The content validity was excellent (CVI â€‹= â€‹1.00). Time spent to complete the QOLCSV-C was about 10 â€‹min. The QOLCSV-C was found easy to use, appropriate in length, and reflective of their QoL. The strong correlation between QOLCSV-C and FACT-G indicates a satisfactory concurrent validity (Spearman's rho â€‹= â€‹0.765, P â€‹< â€‹0.001, n â€‹= â€‹205). The overall internal consistency of the QOLCSV-C (Cronbach's alpha â€‹= â€‹0.888) and the split-half reliability (Spearman-Brown r â€‹= â€‹0.918) were excellent. Most of the items show moderate to strong item-total correlation. The exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor solution, and confirmatory factor analysis has a satisfactory model fit with indicative items. None of the total scores of QOLCSV-C reveal the floor or ceiling effect. For discriminant performance, variables demonstrating significant between-group differences include sleep quality, pain, fatigue, nausea, physical health, and financial burden. Conclusions: The QOLCSV-C is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the QoL in Chinese cancer survivors. Future studies can explore the factor structure, gender universal or specific items, and significant predictors of QoL of cancer survivors in different cultures.

Extensive and Differential Deterioration of Hip Muscles May Preexist in Older Adults with Hip Fractures: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Hip muscles play an increasingly important role in lower limb function with aging. Investigating the deterioration of hip muscles and its relationship with hip fracture (HF) may help identify older adults prone to fall. In this study, patients with fall-related HF within 48 h and non-fracture controls aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled. The cross-sectional area (size) and attenuation (density) of the hip flexors, extensors, adductors, and abductors were calculated after segmentation on computed tomography images. The correlation of muscle parameters with HF and age were evaluated using logistic and multiple regression, respectively. Discrimination of HF was analyzed by receiver-operating characteristic analyses. A total of 220 patients and 91 controls were included. The size of the flexors, extensors, and abductors, and the density of the flexors, adductors, and abductors were lower in patients with HF after adjustment for sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). However, decreased muscle size was only observed in hip extensors in patients aged 60-74 years. Decreased muscle size was associated with HF independent of sex, age, BMI, and hip trabecular bone mineral density. Abductor size exhibited a significantly larger negative correlation with age in patients compared to controls. Including abductor size or all muscle size was effective for discrimination of HF in patients aged ≥ 75 years. In conclusion, older adults with HF may have sustained extensive and differential hip muscle deterioration before the injury; extensor atrophy in younger-old age and consideration of a closer relationship between abductor size and age deserve attention.

Development and Validation of an Evidence-Based Breathing Exercise Intervention Protocol for Chronic Pain Management in Breast Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Breathing exercise has been utilized as a promising approach to pain management in cancer survivors. However, the development process of the breathing exercise intervention protocol was rarely reported. AIM: To develop an evidence-based breathing exercise intervention protocol for chronic pain management in breast cancer survivors and to provide a detailed account of the intervention development process. METHODS: The study design was guided by the Medical Research Council Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Intervention. The breathing exercise intervention development process adopted phase one of the Medical Research Council Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Intervention framework. The content validity index was applied to determine the consensus of the appropriateness of the breathing exercise intervention protocol among the panel experts. RESULTS: The preliminary breathing exercise intervention protocol was developed based on fight-or-flight theory and vagus nerve theory, and the best available research evidence identified from seven systematic reviews, three clinical trials, and four practice recommendations. The breathing exercise intervention was designed as slow deep pursed-lip breathing with a time ratio of inspiration to expiration 1:2-3. The intensity of the breathing exercise was determined as 3 to 5 sessions a day, 5 minutes per session, for 4 weeks. The content validity of the breathing exercise intervention protocol was excellent as consensus was achieved among all panel experts with both the item-level and scale-level CVIs reaching 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed an evidence-based breathing exercise intervention protocol for chronic pain management in breast cancer survivors. The protocol is well-supported by the relevant theories, research evidence, practice recommendations, and experts' consensus.

Feasibility and potential effects of breathing exercise for chronic pain management in breast cancer survivors: study protocol of a phase II randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pain is a common symptom significantly affecting the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Despite the achievement of pharmacological interventions, the barriers associated with this approach such as inaccessibility, misuse and side effects drive research into effective non-pharmacological interventions to improve chronic pain management, quality of life, anxiety and depression. Breathing exercise (BE) can be a promising option, but research evidence is sparse. This pilot study aims to examine the feasibility and preliminary effect of using an evidence-based BE intervention for chronic pain management in breast cancer survivors. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: This study will be a two-parallel-arm, open-labelled, phase II randomised controlled trial with 1:1 allocation. Seventy-two participants will be recruited from a tertiary hospital in China and randomly allocated to either a BE intervention group (n=36) or a control group (n=36). The participants in the intervention group will receive the usual care, a pain information booklet and a 4-week self-administered BE intervention; the participants in the control group will receive the usual care and the pain information booklet only. The assessment will be conducted at three time points: baseline (week 0), immediately after the intervention completion (week 5) and 4 weeks after the intervention completion (week 9). The primary outcomes will be the acceptability and feasibility assessment of the study protocol and methodological procedures. The secondary outcomes will be the effects of BE on pain, quality of life, anxiety and depression in breast cancer survivors. Descriptive statistics will be applied to present the primary outcomes and the Generalised Estimating Equation Model will be utilised to analyse the clinical outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received ethical approvals from the Human Research Ethics Committee at Charles Darwin University (H21089) and the Clinical Trial Ethics Committee at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University (KY2022107). Findings from this study will be presented at academic conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05257876.

Various phenotypes of autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy with cone-rod homeobox mutation in two Chinese families.

AIM: To present the clinical manifestations of 5 autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy (adCORD) patients from two Chinese families with cone-rod homeobox (CRX) mutation (p.R41W), and to explore the clinical heterogeneity of adCORD with CRX mutation (p.R41W). METHODS: Interrogation and ophthalmological examinations were undertaken in all patients and unaffected members. Analysis of clinical features was performed by visual acuity, slit lamp examination, visual field examination, fundoscopy, autofluorescence and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Targeted next-generation sequencing was applied as a useful tool to identify the causative mutation of CORD genes. RESULTS: A CRX missense mutation c.121C>T was identified in all patients, resulting in an amino acid change from arginine acid to tryptophan (p.R41W). The patients presented with early onset, progressive and different severities with CORD. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the clinical phenotype of CRX mutation (p.R41W) in Chinese families, and the mutation can lead to a wide range of various retinal phenotypes.

The effect of an evidence-based Tai chi intervention on the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster in breast cancer patients: A preliminary randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To explore the potential effects of Tai chi on the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster (FSDSC) among breast cancer (BC) patients. METHODS: This study was conducted as a preliminary randomized controlled trial among 72 BC patients (36 Tai chi and 36 control participants). All the participants were provided with routine care, while participants in the Tai chi group received an additional 8-week Tai chi intervention. Participants' fatigue, sleep disturbance and depression were assessed by the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression. Participants' quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. Both covariates-unadjusted and adjusted GEE models were run to assess the effects of Tai chi intervention on the FSDSC and QoL and the relevant impacts of the covariates. RESULTS: Sixty-nine participants completed this study. In the unadjusted GEE model, compared with the control group and baseline, participants in the Tai chi group showed significant reductions in fatigue (p < 0.001), sleep disturbance (p < 0.001) and depression (p = 0.006), as well as a significant improvement in QoL (p = 0.032) at immediately post-intervention and four-week follow-up. The positive regression coefficients of the adjusted GEE model showed fatigue, sleep disturbance and depression can have impacts on each other (all at p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tai chi as an adjuvant intervention to routine care could relieve the symptom cluster of fatigue, sleep disturbance and depression and improve QoL among BC patients.

Prevalence and correlates of joint pain among Chinese breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitor treatment.

BACKGROUND: Aromatase inhibitor (AI)-induced joint pain is a common toxicity of AI treatment. Although many studies have been conducted to examine the occurrence and severity of AI-induced joint pain in breast cancer survivors, none of the studies focused on the Chinese population with breast cancer. Given that the differences in cultural background and the genetic structure between Asians and Caucasians may contribute to different phenotypes of joint pain, this cross-sectional study was therefore conducted to examine the prevalence of AI-induced joint pain among Chinese breast cancer survivors receiving AI treatment and the correlates of pain. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in China. Breast cancer survivors undergoing AI treatment were recruited to complete the following questionnaires: a self-designed baseline data form, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). Based on the assessment results of NMQ (if the participant indicated pain in specific body parts), participants were then invited to complete other questionnaires to specifically assess the joint symptoms, including the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), and the Manchester Foot Pain Disability Questionnaire (MFPDQ). Descriptive analysis was used to analyse participants' baseline data and the prevalence of pain. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the correlates of pain. RESULTS: Four hundred and ten participants were analysed. According to the NMQ, 71.7% of the participants experienced joint symptoms in at least one joint, and the most frequently mentioned joint was knee (39.0%). The diagram in BPI indicated that 28.0% of the participants had the worst pain around knees. In patients with knee pain, the mean OKS score was 40.46 ± 6.19. The sub-scores of BPI for pain intensity and pain interference were 1.30 ± 1.63 and 1.24 ± 1.79, respectively. Patients' poorer physical well-being/functioning, previous use of AI treatment, presence of osteoarthritis, and receiving of physiotherapy were identified as four common correlates of greater severity of pain and pain interference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chinese breast cancer survivors can experience joint pain at various locations, particularly knees. In addition to increasing the use of interventions for pain alleviation, a comprehensive assessment of survivors' conditions such as physical functioning, history of AI treatment, and presence of osteoarthritis should be emphasized to identify survivors who need more attention and tailored interventions.

[Annual dynamic variation of seven active components of Lonicera japonica in leaf growth and pruning periods].

Pruning branches and leaves is the measure to stimulate the growth of Lonicera japonica flower buds, and consequently, the resources of pruned leaves are inevitably and seriously wasted in production. High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was applied for content determination of seven active ingredients(chlorogenic acid, galuteolin, isochlorogenic acids A, B, and C, secologanic acid, and secoxyloganin) in L. japonica leaves from March to November. The results showed that the tillering removed from the trunk of L. japonica in March, the leaves pruned from May to July, and the leaves after the first frost date in November were rich in active ingredients, which deserved further exploitation and utilization. The total content(TC) of active ingredients in pruned L. japonica leaves in early March was the highest. The content of active ingredients in L. japonica leaves increased significantly after the first frost date, which was close to that in the bud tillers pruned in early and middle March. After the first frost date, L. japonica leaves are incapable of photosynthesis, and the harvesting of L. japonica leaves does not affect the physiological activities of the tree. In addition to huge resources, the content of active ingredients is high during this period, which is the best harvesting period of L. japonica leaves.

Psychometric assessment of the Chinese version of the Oxford Knee Score in breast cancer survivors experiencing hormone treatment-related knee dysfunction.

Objective: To test the validity, reliability, and acceptability of the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) Mandarin Chinese version for measuring knee pain and function among Chinese breast cancer survivors. Methods: This validation study was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey that was conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan, China. Recruited from a larger arthralgia-related survey cohort, those who experienced knee arthralgia and completed the OKS Chinese version were selected for the current analysis. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated to identify the internal consistency reliability of the OKS. Spearman's correlations were adopted to identify the concurrent validity of the OKS. The discriminate performance of the OKS via subgroup analysis of breast cancer survivors with or without arthritis, as well as different exercise levels, cancer stages, chemotherapy protocols, and occupations, was also conducted. Results: One hundred and fifty-nine breast cancer survivors were included. There were significant correlations between the OKS and the FACT-B, the SF-36, and the BPI in measuring knee pain symptoms and their impact on daily living activities. The Cronbach's alpha for the OKS total scores was 0.90. The participants with arthritis reported significantly lower OKS scores than those without arthritis (P â€‹= â€‹0.040). The difference in OKS total scores between the participants with different exercise levels (P â€‹< â€‹0.001) and the participants with different occupations (P â€‹= â€‹0.006) was statistically significant. Considerable ceiling effects (>15%) of the OKS Chinese version were found in 11 of 12 items. Conclusions: The OKS Mandarin Chinese version is a short, valid, reliable, and sensitive tool for knee pain and function assessment among breast cancer survivors.