Long-lasting housing environment manipulation and acute loss of environmental enrichment impact BALB/c mice behaviour in multiple functional domains.

Understanding environmental influences on individuals' behaviour is challenging. Here we have investigated the housing impact of 9 weeks of enriched environment (EE) and social isolation (SI) and the impact of abrupt deprivation of EE (enrichment removal: ER) on BALB/c mice. Compared with the widely used C57BL/6 strain in research, BALB/c synthesises serotonin less efficiently due to a genetic variation and thus may potentially represent human populations at higher risk of stress-related disorders. We assessed the effects of EE and SI by conducting a behavioural test battery and the effects of acute ER by monitoring homecage activities and social behaviour. We found that EE and SI impact BALB/c's physiological states and behavioural performances from lower to higher cognitive processes: increased body weight, increased rectal temperature, altered performance in motor and sensory tasks, the activity level in a novel environment and altered performance in tests of anxiety-like behaviour, stress-coping strategies and learning and memory. Furthermore, acute ER triggered stress/frustration-like behaviour in BALB/c, with increased aggression, increased social distancing and disrupted daily/nightly activities. Our results demonstrate that long-lasting housing manipulation such as EE and SI, impact behaviour via multilayered processes over a wide range of functional domains, and unforeseen change to a negative environment, ER, is a major stressor that causes behavioural and psychological consequences through environment-gene interactions, a model of direct relevance to human health.

Medical professionals' knowledge of the use of external breast prostheses among breast cancer patients in China-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Breast loss has a negative effect on women physically, psychologically and socially. External breast prostheses can improve patients' figure physically, increase their self-confidence, and thus improve quality of life. Little is known about the knowledge of medical professionals on the use of external breast prostheses in mainland China. This study sought to examine medical professionals' knowledge of the use of external breast prostheses among breast cancer patients in China. METHODS: Self-designed questionnaires were administered to 635 medical professionals specializing in breast cancer in China to examine their knowledge. RESULTS: Medical professionals who were older in age, those who had higher levels of education and those who had senior professional titles had a broader professional knowledge of external breast prostheses. Medical professionals who were younger in age and those who had junior professional titles thought that the patients were willing to choose direct-adhesive breast prostheses. Medical professionals who were older in age, those who had higher levels of education, those who had senior professional titles and those who had been working for many (but less than 30) years were more likely to think that patients could wear external breast prostheses shortly after surgery, and at all times except when sleeping. More highly educated doctors, head nurses and medical staffs from the East were more likely to think that patients would accept the use of high-priced external breast prostheses. CONCLUSIONS: Medical professionals' knowledge about the wearing of external breast prostheses is lacking. A number of factors, including age, education level, professional title, number of years working years and geographical region have different effects on medical professionals' knowledge. Medical professionals with a good knowledge of external breast prostheses, especially specialist breast nurses, can provide patients with comprehensive information about breast prostheses, assist patients in selecting the appropriate prostheses, understand patients' wearing experiences, and help to reduce patients' physical and mental distress.

Physical and psychological effects of different temperature-controlled breast prostheses on patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation: a randomized controlled study (CONSORT).

BACKGROUND: Breast loss causes negative influence on women physically, psychologically, and socially. Breast prosthesis can improve patient's figure externally, increase self-confidence, thus improving quality of life (QOL). Prospective study of different breast prostheses has not yet been performed in China. Our objective was to evaluate the QOL of patients wearing different types of breast prostheses and to compare the physical and psychological effects of different temperature-controlled breast prostheses on patients. METHODS: Thirty patients with breast cancer were recruited through the Yankang E-follow-up Platform at the Department of Breast Surgery of Fudan University, Shanghai Cancer Center and were randomized into either intervention or control group. Random number tables were used in this study for randomization. In the first 6 weeks of the study, self-adhesive breast prostheses and conventional breast prostheses had been used in the intervention and control group, respectively. In the later 6 weeks, the breast prostheses used were switched into another kind. Several dimensional parameters including skin conditions, breast prosthesis knowledge, breast prosthesis knowledge, QOL, and body image were examined by different questionnaires in the end of both 6th and 12th week. RESULTS: There were no significant difference in QOL and body image between the 2 groups during 6th and 12th week. At the 6th week of the study, patients of the intervention group preferred to the self-adhesive breast prosthesis, indicating that the self-adhesive breast prosthesis seemed more likely to feel like part of their body, while prosthesis cleaning remaining their biggest concern. At the end of 12th week, in comparison with the number at 6th week, more patients in both groups were willing to choose self-adhesive breast prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that women are satisfied with the temperature-controlled breast prosthesis and are more willing to choose self-adhesive breast prostheses although cleaning remains a problem. In China, patients still lack information about breast prostheses. Therefore, specialist breast nurses should provide comprehensive information about breast prostheses, assist patients in selecting suitable breast prostheses, collect feedback about the prostheses, and reduce each patient's physical and mental discomfort.