Effects of cognitive behavior therapy combined with Baduanjin in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common concomitant symptom in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Such patients often present with subjective fatigue state accompanied by cognitive dysfunction, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. AIM: To explore the effects of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) combined with Baduanjin exercise on CRF, cognitive impairment, and quality of life in patients with CRC after chemotherapy, and to provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for rehabilitation of CRC after chemotherapy. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with CRC after radical resection and chemotherapy were randomly divided into either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group received the intervention of CBT combined with exercise intervention for 6 mo, and indicators were observed and measured at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo to evaluate the intervention effect. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline values, in the experimental group 3 mo after intervention, cognitive function, quality of life score, and P300 amplitude and latency changes were significantly better (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, at 3 mo, the experimental group had significant differences in CRF, P300 amplitude, and quality of life score (P < 0.05), as well as significant differences in P300 latency and cognitive function (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, at 6 mo, CRF, P300 amplitude, P300 latency, cognitive function and quality of life score were further improved in the experimental group, with significant differences (P < 0.01). The total score of CRF and the scores of each dimension were negatively correlated with quality of life (P < 0.05), while the total score of cognitive impairment and the scores of each dimension were positively correlated with quality of life (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CBT combined with body-building Baduanjin exercise can improve CRF and cognitive impairment in CRC patients after chemotherapy, and improve their quality of life.

[Spatiotemporal pattern of Oncomelania snails at village level in Hubei Province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the spatiotemporal distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in different areal-types at a village level in Hubei Province, so as to provide the basis for formulating the strategies and measures of snail control. METHODS: The snail data of 30 schistosomiasis epidemic counties at a village scale in Hubei Province from 2007 to 2012 were collected and combined with the geographic information of each village to construct the spatial database of snails. The snail area and its change trend of different areal-types were illustrated; the multilevel model of snail distribution was established. RESULTS: The snail area of each village from 2007 to 2012 was correlated (Intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC = 95.7%). Both the baseline and the rate of change of snail area were significantly different (σ(2)(u0) = 4,766.53, σ(2)(u1)= 20.96, both P < 0.01). The rate of change of snail area was higher if the baseline of snail area was higher (σ(2)(u01) =126.78, P < 0.01). The snail areas of villages were increased slowly by year (year = 0.64,P < 0.01). The average snail areas and growth of snail areas of villages in the marshland and lake region were largest (type= -29.84, P < 0.01; year*type = -0.52, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The snail area is significantly different among both villages and areal-types. This study spatially visualizes the snail data of 30 schistosomiasis epidemic counties in Hubei Province and establishes the multilevel model, providing the basis of snail control in different areal-types.

A Bayesian approach to estimate the prevalence of Schistosomiasis japonica infection in the Hubei Province Lake Regions, China.

A Bayesian inference model was introduced to estimate community prevalence of Schistosomiasis japonica infection based on the data of a large-scale survey of Schistosomiasis japonica in the lake region in Hubei Province. A multistage cluster random sampling approach was applied to the endemic villages in the lake regions of Hubei Province in 2011. IHA test and Kato-Katz test were applied for the detection of the S. japonica infection in the sampled population. Expert knowledge on sensitivities and specificities of IHA test and Kato-Katz test were collected based on a two-round interview. Prevalence of S. japonica infection was estimated by a Bayesian hierarchical model in two different situations. In Situation 1, Bayesian estimation used both IHA test data and Kato-Katz test data to estimate the prevalence of S. japonica. In Situation 2, only IHA test data was used for Bayesian estimation. Finally 14 cities and 46 villages from the lake regions of Hubei Province including 50,980 residents were sampled. Sensitivity and specificity for IHA test ranged from 80% to 90% and 70% to 80%, respectively. For the Kato-Katz test, sensitivity and specificity were from 20% to 70% and 90% to 100%, respectively. Similar estimated prevalence was obtained in the two situations. Estimated prevalence among sampled villages was almost below 13% in both situations and varied from 0.95% to 12.26% when only using data from the IHA test. The study indicated that it is feasible to apply IHA test only combining with Bayesian method to estimate the prevalence of S. japonica infection in large-scale surveys.

Assessing the effect of an integrated control strategy for schistosomiasis japonica emphasizing bovines in a marshland area of Hubei Province, China: a cluster randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION: More than 80% of schistosomiasis patients in China live in the lake and marshland regions. The purpose of our study is to assess the effect of a comprehensive strategy to control transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in marshland regions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In a cluster randomized controlled trial, we implemented an integrated control strategy in twelve villages from 2009 through 2011 in Gong'an County, Hubei Province. The routine interventions included praziquantel chemotherapy and controlling snails, and were implemented in all villages. New interventions, mainly consisting of building fences to limit the grazing area for bovines, building safe pastures for grazing, improving the residents' health conditions and facilities, were only implemented in six intervention villages. Results showed that the rate of S. japonicum infection in humans, bovines, snails, cow dung and mice in the intervention group decreased from 3.41% in 2008 to 0.81% in 2011, 3.3% to none, 11 of 6,219 to none, 3.9% to none and 31.7% to 1.7%, respectively (P<0.001 for all comparisons). In contrast, there were no statistically significant reductions of S. japonicum infection in humans, bovines and snails from 2008 to 2011 in the control group (P>0.05 for all comparisons). Moreover, a generalized linear model showed that there was a higher infection risk in humans in the control group than in the intervention group (OR = 1.250, P = 0.001) and an overall significant downward trend in infection risk during the study period. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The integrated control strategy, designed to reduce the role of bovines and humans as sources of S. japonicum infection, was highly effective in controlling the transmission of S. japonicum in marshland regions in China. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-PRC-12002405.