Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Breast Cancer Patients Toward Lymphedema Complications: Cross-Sectional Study.

Breast cancer is commonly treated through surgical resection, but a common complication of the procedure is lymphedema of the upper limbs, which can significantly impact patients' daily life. This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of breast cancer patients with regard to lymphedema complications. This cross-sectional study was conducted by a self-administered questionnaire between August and October 2022 toward breast cancer patients in our Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A total of 529 breast cancer patients were enrolled, including 186 (35.16%) aged < 50 years old. Participants had moderate knowledge, attitudes, and practices with scores of 18.24 ± 3.145 (possible range: 0-30), 62.24 ± 10.260 (possible range: 17-85), and 63.27 ± 20.967 (possible range: 21-105), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that high school/technical secondary school (OR = 1.880, 95% CI = 1.107-3.194, P = 0.019) and being retired (OR = 0.482, 95% CI = 0.245-0.947, P = 0.034) were independently associated with good knowledge. Knowledge (OR = 1.321, 95% CI = 1.222-1.428, P < 0.001) was independently associated with a good attitude. Furthermore, knowledge (OR = 1.262, 95% CI = 1.151-1.384, P < 0.001) and attitude (OR = 1.122, 95% CI = 1.085-1.160, P < 0.001) were independently associated with good practice. Breast cancer patients have moderate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding lymphedema complications. Effective education and self-management programs are needed to improve patients' KAP toward lymphedema.

Shear bond strengths between alumina-toughened zirconia cores and veneering ceramics and their susceptibility to aging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) between alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) cores and veneering ceramics, investigate the effect of aging in artificial saliva on SBS and compare it with that of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals(Y-TZP). METHODS: Bars of ATZ and Y-TZP were layered with veneering ceramics in accordance to the recommendation of the manufacturer. Half of each group (n = 10) was aged at 134 °C (under 2 bar pressure) in an autoclave for 48 h. Subsequently, all specimens were subjected to shear force in a universal testing machine. The interface and fractured surface of the specimens were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. RESULTS: The initial mean SBS values in MPa±SD were 28.9±8.0 for ATZ and 26.2±7.6 for Y-TZP. After aging, the mean SBS values for ATZ and Y-TZP were 22.9±4.9 MPa and 22.8±6.9 MPa, respectively. Neither the differences between the SBS values of the ATZ and Y-TZP groups nor the influence of aging on all groups were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The SBS between the ATZ core and the veneering ceramics was not affected by aging. The SBS of ATZ to veneering ceramics was not significantly different compared with that of Y-TZP.

Effect of toothpaste containing d-limonene on natural extrinsic smoking stain: a 4-week clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether natural smoking stain could be removed/inhibited effectively by a toothpaste containing 5% d-limonene. For comparison and contrast, the effects of d-limonene on tea stain were also assessed. METHODS: The design was a randomized controlled double-blind trial with parallel groups. Toothpastes were: A: positive control with perlite whitening formulation; B: A+5% d-limonene; C: D + 5% d-limonene; D: negative control. The extrinsic stains were measured using Lobene Stain Index. Following baseline examination, all subjects were randomly assigned to one of the four toothpaste groups and instructed to brush with the assigned products twice daily. Subjects returned to the clinic after 4-week brushing for stain removal assessment, then all extrinsic stains, plaque and supragingival calculus were removed and use of assigned products was continued for another 4 weeks, and the stain scores were repeated for inhibition assessment. RESULTS: A total of 408 subjects, 201 with smoking stains and 207 with tea stains, participated in the trial. 5% d-limonene combined with Perlite whitening formulation significantly reduced stain scores both for smoking stain removal and inhibition (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 5% d-limonene alone (in negative formulation) exhibited an additional advantage for smoking stain inhibition (P < 0.05), but the advantage was not found for long-standing smoking stain removal (P > 0.05). The additional advantage of 5% d-limonene was shown neither for removal nor for inhibition in the tea stain study (P > 0.05). All test products were well tolerated over the study period.

[The effect of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers on the solubility and pharmacokinetics of breviscapine].

To study the solubilization of breviscapine with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers and probe the solubilizing mechanism and investigate the influence of PAMAM dendrimers on the pharmacokinetics of breviscapine, the solubilization of breviscapine by PAMAM dendrimers of generations G1, G1.5, G2 and G2.5 with different concentrations were determined and compared in different pH conditions. Twelve rats randomized into 2 groups were separately orally administered breviscapine and breviscapine combining with PAMAM. Drug in plasma was extracted and determined with HPLC. In pH condition lower than 7.0, the solubilization of breviscapine by PAMAM dendrimers enhanced as the generation and concentration of PAMAM dendrimers as well as the pH increased. Its solubilizing mechanism involves an electrostatic interaction between the carboxyl group of breviscapine and the primary amines and tertiary amines of PAMAM dendrimers. The pharmacokinetics parameters Cmax and AUC0-8 h of breviscapine were (119.65 +/- 9.36) ng x mL(-1) and (370.09 +/- 63.08) ng x h x mL(-1). For breviscapine combined with PAMAM dendrimers, the Cmax and AUC0-8 h were (518.17 +/- 17.07) ng x mL(-1) and (1,219.47 +/- 201.87) ng x h x mL(-1), respectively. There were significant differences of AUC0-8 h between breviscapine and breviscapine combined with PAMAM dendrimers (P < 0.01). PAMAM dendrimers can greatly increase the solubility of breviscapine in water and can improve the oral bioavailability of breviscapine significantly.