Exploration of the mechanism of Qi-Xian decoction in asthmatic mice using metabolomics combined with network pharmacology.

Introduction: Qi-Xian Decoction (QXD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula consisting of eight herbs, has been clinically used to treat asthma. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to combine metabolomics and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of action of QXD in asthma treatment. Methods: An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model was constructed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of QXD. Serum metabolomics and network pharmacology were combined to study the mechanism of anti-asthma action as well as the potential target, and related biological functions were validated. Results: The QXD treatment has demonstrated significant protective effects in OVA-induced asthmatic mice, as evidenced by its ability to inhibit inflammation, IgE, mucus overproduction, and airway hyperreactivity (AHR). Metabolomic analysis has revealed a total of 140 differential metabolites associated with QXD treatment. In addition, network pharmacology has identified 126 genes that are linked to the effects of QXD, including TNF, IL-6, IL1ß, STAT3, MMP9, EGFR, JUN, CCL2, TLR4, MAPK3 and MAPK8. Through comprehensive gene-metabolite interaction network analysis, seven key metabolites have been identified and associated with the potential anti-asthmatic effect of QXD, with palmitic acid (PA) being the most notable among them. In vitro validation studies have confirmed the gene-metabolite interaction involving PA, IL-6, and MAPK8. Furthermore, our research has demonstrated that QXD treatment can effectively inhibit PA-promoted IL-6 expression in MH-S cells and reduce PA concentration in OVA-induced asthmatic mice. Conclusion: The regulation of metabolic pathways by QXD was found to be associated with its anti-asthmatic action, which provides insight into the mechanism of QXD in treating asthma.

[Human Health Rights: Discussing Health Inequality for Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples and the Appropriateness of Current Epidemic Policies].

Many studies from around the world demonstrate that COVID-19 has had significantly higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and mortality among indigenous and other vulnerable groups than among mainstream population groups. This situation has exposed and reinforced pre-existing health inequalities. This article investigates the rates of infection and mortality among different cultural groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then deconstructs the key elements related to systemic or structural racism. The impacts on the human rights and health of indigenous peoples and issues of policy formulation and resource equity during the epidemic are also mentioned. Based on the identified root causes of health inequality, suggestions for reducing health inequality for Taiwanese indigenous peoples are proposed. Further, during epidemics, policymakers must design and implement culturally appropriate epidemic prevention policies, systems, and strategies for indigenous and other disadvantaged populations.

[Exploration of the Care Needs of Post-Chemotherapy Lung Cancer Patients and Related Factors].

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy (CT) is the first priority treatment for advanced stage lung cancer. However, symptom distress, impaired ability to conduct daily activities, and post-CT care needs are potential side effects of CT. PURPOSE: To explore the factors related to the care needs of post-chemotherapy lung cancer patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used. One hundred and twenty-one adult patients who had been diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer and who had undergone CT using the Platinum and Docetaxel doublet regimen were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. The instruments used included a nursing care needs survey, symptoms distress scale, daily activity interference scale, and patient characteristics datasheet. RESULTS: Participants self-prioritized their emergency management, health consultation, and emotional support activities based on their perceived care needs. The top three post-CT symptoms in terms of severity were: fatigue, appetite change, and sleep disorder. Primary disruptions in daily activities during the post-CT period related to: holding social activities, work, and stair climbing. Significant and positive correlations were found among daily activity interference (r = .30, p < .01), symptoms distress (r = .23, p < .01), and care needs. The regression model indicated daily activity interference as a predictor of care needs, accounting for 10.7% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These results highlight the relationships among care needs, symptom distress, and daily activity interference in post-chemotherapy lung-cancer patients. The present study provides a reference for nursing care to reduce the symptom distress, to enhance the performance of daily activities, and to meet the care needs of lung-cancer patients.

Psychometric analysis of the Short-Form Chinese Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Indicator Tool among nurses in Taiwan.

The purpose of the study was to develop a Short-Form Chinese version of the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Indicator Tool that can be used to measure work-related stress among nurses in Taiwan. Three subscales (supportive climate, role perception, and workload) were developed from an exploratory factor analysis. The three-factor confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model fit the data well. The evidence based on convergent validity was supported by a significant correlation between the Short-Form Chinese version of the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Indicator Tool and the job satisfaction subscale of the Chinese Patient Safety Attitude Questionnaire. Cronbach's α values demonstrated internal item consistency for the Short-Form Chinese version of the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Indicator Tool.

A Chinese version of the revised Nurses Professional Values Scale: reliability and validity assessment.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the revised nurses professional values scale (NPVS-R). The convenient sampling method, including senior undergraduate nursing students (n=110) and clinical nurses (n=223), was applied to recruit appropriate samples from southern Taiwan. The revised nurses professional values scale (NPVS-R) was used in this study. Content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and reliability were assessed. The final sample consisted of 286 subjects. FINDINGS: three factors were detected in the results, accounting for 60.12% of the explained variance. The first factor was titled professionalism, and included 13 items. The second factor was named caring, and consisted of seven items. Activism was the third factor, which included six items. Overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90, taken from values for each of the three factors of 0.88, 0.90, and 0.81, respectively. The Chinese version of the NPVS-R can be considered a reliable and valid scale for assigning values that can mark professionalism in Taiwanese nurses.

Willingness of nurses to report medication administration errors in southern Taiwan: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Underreporting of medication administering errors (MAEs) is a threat to the quality of nursing care. The reasons for MAEs are complex and vary by health professional and institution. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of MAEs and the willingness of nurses to report them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving a survey of 14 medical surgical hospitals in southern Taiwan. Nurses voluntarily participated in this study. A structured questionnaire was completed by 605 participants. Data were collected from February 1, 2005 to March 15, 2005 using the following instruments: MAEs Unwillingness to Report Scale, Medication Errors Etiology Questionnaire, and Personal Features Questionnaire. One additional question was used to identify the willingness of nurses to report medication errors: "When medication errors occur, should they be reported to the department?" This question helped to identify the willingness or lack thereof, to report incident errors. RESULTS: The results indicated that 66.9% of the nurses reported experiencing MAEs and 87.7% of the nurses had a willingness to report the MAEs if there were no consequences for reporting. The nurses' willingness to report MAEs differed by job position, nursing grade, type of hospital, and hospital funding. The final logistic regression model demonstrated hospital funding to be the only statistically significant factor. The odds of a willingness to report MAEs increased 2.66-fold in private hospitals (p = 0.032, CI = 1.09 to 6.49), and 3.28 in nonprofit hospitals (p = 0.00, CI = 1.73 to 6.21) when compared to public hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that reporting of MAEs should be anonymous and without negative consequences in order to monitor and guide improvements in hospital medication systems.