Cross-Sectional Study of the Effects of Job Burnout on Immune Function in 105 Female Oncology Nurses at a Tertiary Oncology Hospital.

BACKGROUND Nurses who work in hospitals experience a high level of burnout and the relationship between immune variables and burnout syndrome has yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of job burnout on immune function in female oncology nurses in a tertiary oncology hospital in Guangxi, China. The aspects of the human immune system evaluated were humoral and cellular immunity and complement components 3 (C3) and 4 (C4). MATERIAL AND METHODS We administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), which includes scales for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA), to measure variables related to immune function in 105 female nurses in a tertiary oncology hospital in Guangxi, China. Levels of humoral immunity and C3 and C4 were detected with immune turbidimetry. Cellular immunity was assessed with indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS A Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that levels of C3, C4, and CD4- and CD8-positive T cells were significantly associated with burnout symptoms (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, there was a correlation between demographic data and humoral and cellular immunity (both P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that C4 levels were closely related to DP (P<0.05) and that CD4 and CD8 levels were closely related to PA (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that DP and PA have an impact on immune function, and that timely psychological and behavioral interventions can be used to reduce the degree of job burnout among nurses and regulate their immunity, thus enabling them to better serve patients.

Factors associated with resilience among non-local medical workers sent to Wuhan, China during the COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the resilience of non-local medical workers sent to support local medical workers in treating the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: In February 2020, non-local medical workers who had been sent to Wuhan as support staff to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak were asked to complete an online survey composed of the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). RESULTS: Survey responses from 114 non-local medical workers were analyzed. CD-RISC scores were high (67.03 ± 13.22). The resilience level was highest for physicians (73.48 ± 11.49), followed by support staff, including health care assistants, technicians (67.78 ± 12.43) and nurses (64.86 ± 13.46). Respondents differed significantly in the levels of education, training/support provided by the respondent's permanent hospital (where he or she normally works), and in their feelings of being adequately prepared and confident to complete tasks (P < 0.05). Resilience correlated negatively with anxiety (r = -.498, P < 0.01) and depression (r = -.471, P < 0.01) but positively with active coping styles (r = .733, P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that active coping (ß = 1.314, p < 0.05), depression (ß = -.806, p < 0.05), anxiety (ß = - 1.091, p < 0.05), and training/support provided by the respondent's permanent hospital (ß = 3.510, p < 0.05) were significant associated with resilience. CONCLUSION: Our data show that active coping, depression, anxiety, and training/support provided by the respondent's permanent hospital are associated with resilience. Managers of medical staff should use these data to develop psychosocial interventions aimed at reinforcing the resilience of medical workers during highly stressful and prolonged medical emergencies, as seen during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Meta-analysis of XRCC1 polymorphism and risk of female reproductive system cancer.

Numerous epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between polymorphism in the gene encoding x-ray repair cross complementing 1 (XRCC1) protein and the risk of female reproductive system cancer, but results are inconclusive. To gain a comprehensive picture of available evidence, we searched for relevant studies in the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases up to December 17, 2016. A total of 26 case-control studies were picked out. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to estimate the association. Based on data of all study participants, we did not find a positive association of rs25487 or rs1799782 polymorphism with risk of female reproductive cancer risk. Subgroup analysis, however, identified two alleles as being associated with an increased risk of female reproductive system cancer in Asians: the A allele of rs25487 (heterozygous genetic model, OR 1.16, 95%CI 1.00-1.36), and the T allele of rs1799782 (homozygous model, OR 2.30, 95%CI 1.39-3.82; dominant model, OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.10-1.50; recessive model, OR 2.11, 95%CI 1.33-3.34). Moreover, the AA genotype at rs25489 was determined to be a risk factor for cervical cancer etiology (homozygous model, OR 2.91, 95%CI, 1.17-7.26; recessive model, OR 3.16, 95%CI 1.91-5.24). This meta-analysis suggests that no association between rs25487 or rs1799782 gene polymorphism and risk of female reproductive cancer risk was found. These results should be validated in larger studies.