FBI-1 mRNA in normal mucosa is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients.

Although several studies provide evidence that FBI-1 is an important gene regulator in colorectal cancer (CRC), it is noteworthy that, to our knowledge, no analysis of the correlation between FBI-1 expression and prognosis in CRC has been reported. Using real-time RT-PCR, we detected FBI-1 mRNA in 161 CRC patients (primary tumor, along with the corresponding normal mucosa), 36 liver metastases, and analyzed the relationship of its expression with clinicopathological features. Colon cancer cell lines were used to study FBI-1 function. Our study found that FBI-1 was significant up-regulated in tumor tissue (2.621 ± 0.157) compared with the corresponding normal mucosa (1.620 ± 0.165, P < 0.0001). FBI-1 in normal mucosa was a prognostic factor (P = 0.039, RR 0.431, 95% CI 0.194-0.958), independent of gender, age, stage, and differentiation. High levels of FBI-1 mRNA were related with good survival. Patients with complications had a higher primary tumor FBI-1 expression than those without complications (3.400 ± 0.332 vs. 2.516 ± 0.241, P = 0.032). Suppression of FBI-1 in colon cancer cell lines could repress proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, FBI-1 mRNA is overexpressed in CRC, and takes part in the development of CRC. FBI-1 mRNA in normal mucosa is an independent prognostic factor. Our findings give further support to the concept of "field cancerization", and hint that when we study a biomarker, we should not only focus on the tumor tissue but also the corresponding normal mucosa.

The resilience status of empty-nest elderly in a community: A latent class analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the status and characteristics of resilience among empty-nest elderly in a community in China using exploratory latent class analysis (LCA). METHODS: This study enrolled 250 empty-nest elderly as the study respondents. General information regarding the resilience of empty-nest elderly was investigated using the General Information Questionnaire and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Chinese version, and we then used LCA and multivariate logistic regression to discuss the characteristics of resilience among empty-nest elderly individuals. RESULTS: Through the analysis, we found that the resilience of empty-nest elderly had obvious group characteristics and that statistical indicators can support the three categories of potential model. On the basis of the conditional probability on the various items of the questionnaire in each category, they were named "high resilience group," "low pressure resilience group," and "low resilience group," and the proportion was 26.6%, 40.4%, and 32.9%, respectively. Further study showed that age, marital status, education level, relationship with children, and physical exercise had a significant effect on the high resilience group compared to the low resilience group. Gender, education level, relationship with children, and physical exercise had a significant effect on the low pressure resilience group compared to the low resilience group. CONCLUSIONS: The resilience status of empty-nest elderly in communities can be divided into three categories. Each category had different characteristics of demographic information.

Effects of psychological nursing intervention on personality characteristics and quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of a psychological nursing intervention on personality characteristics and quality of life of esophageal cancer patients. METHODOLOGY: Esophageal cancer patients (n=86) were randomized into either an intervention group (n=45) or a control group (n=41). Patients in the control group were given routine nursing care, and those in the intervention group were provided with psychological nursing interventions in addition to routine nursing care. Personality characteristics, assessed through Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and quality of life, assessed through EORTC QLQ-C30, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The results showed that personality characteristics were closely related to quality of life. After the psychological nursing intervention, the main factors were neurosis, psychosis or mood instability, and personality stability. However, introverted and extroverted personality characteristics were not associated with quality of life. The psychological nursing intervention was associated with decreased P-scale and E-scale scores of personality characteristics and improved quality of life in each dimension scored. CONCLUSIONS: A psychological nursing intervention can affect the personality characteristics of esophageal cancer patients and improve their quality of life; this approach is worthy of further study and clinical application.