Symptom clusters and quality of life in ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate symptom clusters and associated clinical factors in ambulatory multiple myeloma patients undergoing medication therapy. We also aimed to determine the correlations between symptom clusters and patient quality of life. METHODS: A total of 174 multiple myeloma patients hospitalized in the haematology day unit were included in this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine symptoms and quality of life. Symptoms were assessed by the Chinese version of the Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Quality of life was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General. Principal component analysis was used to identify symptom clusters. Independent-samples t tests and chi-square tests were used for comparisons between groups. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to identify correlations. RESULTS: We identified three symptom clusters in multiple myeloma patients: psychological; pain, dry mouth, and difficulty sleeping; and fatigue symptom cluster. For each symptom cluster, the patients could be categorized into a severe-symptom group or a mild-symptom group based on the distress of symptoms. The patients in each group exhibited differential demographic and clinical features. Symptom cluster distress was adversely correlated with patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory multiple myeloma patients undergoing anticancer medication therapy experience multiple symptoms, which can be categorized into three symptom clusters. For each symptom cluster, level of distress was associated with patients' demographic and clinical characteristics. The presence and level of distress of these symptom clusters have adverse impacts on patients' quality of life.

Effect of vibration on the interface properties of welded steel joints and filled concrete in steel pipes.

Concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) have been increasingly utilized in engineering due to their excellent mechanical properties. Ensuring a solid bond between a steel tube and concrete is essential for optimizing their synergistic effect. This study introduces an internally welded steel bar structure within the inner wall of a steel tube to enhance the bond properties at the connection interface. The influence of various configurations of steel bars welded to the inner surface of the tube on the bond strength is investigated considering the impact of vibration on the load-bearing capacity of the component. This study comprises two groups of specimens, one with vibration and one without vibration, for a total of ten specimens. Each group included CFST members with five distinct internal welded steel bar structures. The experimental results, including load-displacement curves and strain data of the steel tube, were used to assess the impact of the internal welded steel bar configurations on the steel-concrete interface. The sliding process is described by correlating test data with curves and observed phenomena. To comprehensively compare the effects of structural dimensions on the bonding and slipping properties of the welded bars, finite element simulations replicating the experimental conditions were carried out using ABAQUS software, and the simulation results agreed with the experimental observations. The study demonstrated that incorporating internal welded steel bars substantially enhances the bond strength of steel pipe-concrete interfaces. While vibration weakens the bond strength in CFST members, internal welded steel bars mitigate this effect. These findings improve the structural performance of CFST structures and their resilience to external vibrations.