Induction chemotherapy followed by transoral laser microsurgery with or without adjuvant therapy for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer patients: A preliminary result.

BACKGROUND: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) has the poorest prognosis among head and neck cancers. Its treatment may significantly affect breathing, speaking, and swallowing. Induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) could reduce these adverse effects and achieve good outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 11 patients with advanced HPSCC. All patients underwent ICT and TLM alongside tailor-made adjuvant therapy based on the pathological features. RESULTS: Adjuvant therapy was done in 7 out of 11 patients (64%). The 3-year disease-free survival and laryngeal preservation rates were 78% and 91%, respectively. At the last follow-up, 10 out of 11 patients (91%) had no tracheostomy or feeding tube. CONCLUSION: ICT followed by TLM is an appropriate treatment for good tumor control in select patients with advanced HPSCC while preserving laryngeal function.

The impact of ZTE-based MR attenuation correction compared to CT-AC in 18F-FBPA PET before boron neutron capture therapy.

Tumor-to-normal ratio (T/N) measurement of 18F-FBPA is crucial for patient eligibility to receive boron neutron capture therapy. This study aims to compare the difference in standard uptake value ratios on brain tumors and normal brains using PET/MR ZTE and atlas-based attenuation correction with the current standard PET/CT attenuation correction. Regarding the normal brain uptake, the difference was not significant between PET/CT and PET/MR attenuation correction methods. The T/N ratio of PET/CT-AC, PET/MR ZTE-AC and PET/MR AB-AC were 2.34 ± 0.95, 2.29 ± 0.88, and 2.19 ± 0.80, respectively. The T/N ratio comparison showed no significance using PET/CT-AC and PET/MR ZTE-AC. As for the PET/MRI AB-AC, significantly lower T/N ratio was observed (- 5.18 ± 9.52%; p < 0.05). The T/N difference between ZTE-AC and AB-AC was also significant (4.71 ± 5.80%; p < 0.01). Our findings suggested PET/MRI imaging using ZTE-AC provided superior quantification on 18F-FBPA-PET compared to atlas-based AC. Using ZTE-AC on 18F-FBPA-PET /MRI might be crucial for BNCT pre-treatment planning.

Prognostic assessment of 18F-boronophenylalanine positron emission tomography (BPA-PET) in salvage boron neutron capture therapy for malignant brain tumors.

Background: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) stands out as a propitious anti-cancer modality. 18F-boronophenylalanine positron emission tomography (BPA-PET) holds the potential to ascertain the concentration of BPA within the tumor, enabling meticulous treatment planning and outcome evaluation. However, no studies have been conducted on comparing the outcomes of those treated with BNCT to those who did not undergo this therapy. This study endeavors to analyze the correlation between BPA-PET and BNCT in the context of malignant brain tumors, and assess the survival outcomes following BNCT. Methods: A cohort study was performed on patients who underwent BPA-PET between February 2017 and April 2022 in our hospital. Patients were stratified into two groups: those subjected to BNCT (Group 1) and those not (Group 2). The tumor to normal tissue (T/N) ratio derived from BPA-PET was set at 2.5. The findings were scrutinized based on clinical follow-up. Student's t-test and Chi-squared test were employed to discern differences between the groups. A cumulative survival curve was constructed employing the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences were considered statistically significant at P<0.05. Results: In total, 116 patients with T/N ratios obtained from BPA-PET were enrolled. BNCT was administered to 58 patients, while mortality was observed in 100 patients. The median overall survival (OS) for the two groups was 8.5 and 6.0 months, respectively. The cumulative OS exhibited no significant discrepancy between the two groups, nor in their T/N ratios. Within Group 1, 44 out of 58 (75.9%) patients exhibited T/N ratios exceeding 2.5. Excluding 3 patients who expired within 3 months, 55 out of 58 patients were evaluated for response after BNCT. The objective response rate (ORR) was 30.9%. Patients achieving ORR displayed substantially higher survival rates compared to those without (median OS 13.5 vs. 8.3 months, P=0.0021), particularly when T/N ratio exceeded 2.5 (median OS 14.8 vs. 9.0 months, P=0.0199). Conclusions: BNCT does not appear indispensable for prolonging the survival of patients afflicted with malignant brain tumors. Nevertheless, it proves advantageous when ORR is attained, a condition closely linked to the values of T/N ratio derived from BPA-PET.

Enhancing regional control in p16-negative oropharyngeal cancer: A propensity score-matched analysis of upfront neck dissection and definitive chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The presence of p16 and neck disease is important predictors of prognosis for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Patients who are p16-negative and have clinically node-positive (cN+) disease generally have worse oncologic outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether upfront neck dissection (UFND) could provide potential benefits for patients with cN+ p16-negative OPSCC. METHODS: Through this retrospective study, 76 patients with cN+ p16-negative OPSCC were analyzed, those who received either definite concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT group) or UFND followed by chemoradiotherapy (UFND group). The primary endpoints were regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). Factors associated with survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Survival between the two groups was compared by propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: Matched 23 patients in each group through propensity analysis, the UFND group showed a significantly better 5-year RRFS (94.1% vs 61.0%, p = 0.011) compared to the CCRT group. Univariate analysis revealed that UFND was the sole factor associated with regional control (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.110; 95% CI, 0.014-0.879; p = 0.037). Furthermore, the study found that the CCRT group was associated with a higher dose of radiotherapy and exhibited a significantly higher risk of mortality due to pneumonia. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that UFND followed by CCRT may be a potential treatment option for patients with cN+ p16-negative OPSCC, as it can reduce the risk of regional recurrence. Additionally, the study highlights that definite CCRT is connected to a larger dose of radiotherapy and a higher risk of fatal pneumonia. These findings could be beneficial in informing clinical decision-making and improving treatment outcomes for patients with OPSCC.

A phase 4 multicentre, 2×2 factorial randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of tobramycin inhalation solution for Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication in bronchiectasis: ERASE.

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in bronchiectasis patients. Initiating antibiotics early may lead to the eradication of PA. Here we outline the design of a trial (ERASE; NCT06093191) assessing the efficacy and safety of inhaled tobramycin, alone or with oral ciprofloxacin, in bronchiectasis patients with a new isolation of PA. This multicentre, 2×2 factorial randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial includes a 2-week screening period, a 12-week treatment phase (with a combination of ciprofloxacin or a placebo at initial 2 weeks) and a 24-week follow-up. 364 adults with bronchiectasis and a new PA isolation will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo (inhaled saline and ciprofloxacin placebo twice daily), ciprofloxacin alone (750 mg ciprofloxacin and inhaled saline twice daily), inhaled tobramycin alone (inhaled 300 mg tobramycin and ciprofloxacin placebo twice daily) or a combination of both drugs (inhaled 300 mg tobramycin and 750 mg ciprofloxacin twice daily). The primary objective of this study is to assess the proportion of patients successfully eradicating PA in each group by the end of the study. Efficacy will be evaluated based on the eradication rate of PA at other time points (12, 24 and 36 weeks), the occurrence of exacerbations and hospitalisations, time to first pulmonary exacerbations, patient-reported outcomes, symptom measures, pulmonary function tests and the cost of hospitalisations. To date no randomised trial has evaluated the benefit of different PA eradication strategies in bronchiectasis patients. The ERASE trial will therefore generate crucial data to inform future clinical guidelines.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Followed by Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Phase I/II Trial.

BACKGROUND: This trial investigated the efficacy and safety of salvage boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) combined with image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) for recurrent head and neck cancer after prior radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: BNCT was administered using an intravenous boronophenylalanine-fructose complex (500 mg/kg) in a single fraction; multifractionated IG-IMRT was administered 28 days after BNCT. For BNCT, the mucosa served as the dose-limiting organ. For IG-IMRT, the clinical target volume (CTV) and the planning target volume (PTV) were generated according to the post-BNCT gross tumor volume (GTV) with chosen margins. RESULTS: This trial enrolled 14 patients, and 12 patients received combined treatment. The median BNCT average dose for the GTV was 21.6 Gy-Eq, and the median IG-IMRT dose for the PTV was 46.8 Gy/26 fractions. After a median (range) follow-up period of 11.8 (3.6 to 53.2) months, five patients had a complete response and four had a partial response. One patient had grade 4 laryngeal edema; another patient had a grade 4 hemorrhage. Most tumor progression occurred within or adjacent to the CTV. The 1-year overall survival and local progression-free survival rates were 56% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the high response rate (64%) of this trial, there was a high incidence of in-field and marginal failure with this approach. Future studies combining BNCT with modalities other than radiation may be tried.

Risk factors associated with indoor transmission during home quarantine of COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: The study aimed to identify potential risk factors for family transmission and to provide precautionary guidelines for the general public during novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) waves. Methods: A retrospective cohort study with numerous COVID-19 patients recruited was conducted in Shanghai. Epidemiological data including transmission details, demographics, vaccination status, symptoms, comorbidities, antigen test, living environment, residential ventilation, disinfection and medical treatment of each participant were collected and risk factors for family transmission were determined. Results: A total of 2,334 COVID-19 patients participated. Compared with non-cohabitation infected patients, cohabitated ones were younger (p = 0.019), more commonly unvaccinated (p = 0.048) or exposed to infections (p < 0.001), and had higher rates of symptoms (p = 0.003) or shared living room (p < 0.001). Risk factors analysis showed that the 2019-nCov antigen positive (OR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.40-2.48, p < 0.001), symptoms development (OR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.34-2.58, p < 0.001), direct contact exposure (OR = 1.47, 95%CI 1.09-1.96, p = 0.010) were independent risk factors for the cohabitant transmission of COVID-19, and a separate room with a separate toilet could reduce the risk of family transmission (OR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.41-0.92, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Patients showing negative 2019-nCov antigen tests, being asymptomatic, living in a separate room with a separate toilet, or actively avoiding direct contact with cohabitants were at low risk of family transmission, and the study recommended that avoiding direct contact and residential disinfection could reduce the risk of all cohabitants within the same house being infected with COVID-19.

Anti-VEGF Therapy Possibly Extends Survival in Patients With Colorectal Brain Metastasis by Protecting Patients From Neurologic Disability.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal brain metastases (CBMs) are rare with poor prognosis. There is still no standard systemic treatment for multiple or unresectable CBM. our study aimed to explore the impact of anti-VEGF therapy on overall survival, brain-specific disease control, and neurologic symptom burden in patients with CBM. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with CBM under treatment were retrospectively enrolled and divided into anti-VEGF based systemic therapy or non-anti-VEGF based therapy. A total of 25 patients who received at least 3 cycles of anti-VEGF agent and 40 patients without anti-VEGF therapy were analyzed by endpoints of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), intracranial PFS (iPFS) and neurogenic event-free survival (nEFS). Gene expression in paired primary metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), liver, lung and brain metastasis from NCBI data was analyzed using top Gene Ontology (GO) and cBioPortal. RESULTS: Patients who treated with anti-VEGF therapy had significantly longer OS (19.5 vs. 5.5 months, P = .009), iPFS (14.6 vs. 4.1 months, P < .001) and nEFS (17.6 vs. 4.4 months, P < .001). Patients who received anti-VEGF therapy beyond any disease progression presented with superior OS (19.7 vs. 9.4 months, P = .039). Top GO and cBioPortal analysis revealed a stronger molecular function of angiogenesis in intracranial metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-VEGF based systemic therapy showed favorable efficacy that was reflected in longer overall survival, iPFS and NEFS in patients with CBM.

Survival analyses of different treatment modalities and clinical stage for hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: We investigated the effects of different treatment modalities and clinical stage for hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) patients. Methods: Between February 2004 and December 2012, 167 HPC patients were reviewed. We calculated overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local failure-free survival (LFFS), regional failure-free survival (RFFS), and distant metastasis failure-free survival (DMFFS) using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared various survival outcomes between definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery-based therapy (SBT). Results: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between SBT (n = 102) and definitive CRT (n = 65) groups. The 5-year rates of OS (59.7% vs. 24.0%, p < 0.0001) and PFS (49.9% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.0002) were significantly better in patients who received SBT than in those who received definitive CRT. The SBT group also obtained better LFFS (p < 0.0001), RFFS (p = 0.0479), and DMFFS (p = 0.0110). We did similar analyses by different T-classification (T1-2, T3, and T4) and found that SBT had better OS (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0020), PFS (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0513), LFFS (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0075), RFFS (p = 0.1949 and p = 0.0826), and DMFFS (p = 0.0248 and p = 0.0436) in the T4 and T1-2 subgroups but similar OS (p = 0.9598), PFS (p = 0.5052), RFFS (p = 0.9648), and DMFFS (p = 0.8239) in T3 patients. Analyses by different overall stages revealed no differences between definitive CRT and SBT for stage III patients but significantly better results for stage IV patients who received SBT. Conclusions: SBT can obtain significant survival benefits when compared with definitive CRT for the whole cohort of patients. Definitive CRT has similar survival outcomes compared with SBT only for T3 tumors or overall stage III disease.

Radiomic features derived from pretherapeutic MRI predict chemoradiation response in locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgical excision. Current evidence suggests a favorable prognosis for those with pathological complete response (pCR), and surgery may be spared for them. We trained and validated regression models for CRT response prediction with selected radiomic features extracted from pretreatment magnetic resonance (MR) images to recruit potential candidates for this watch-and-wait strategy. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients with LARC who underwent pre-CRT MR imaging between 2010 and 2019. Pathological complete response in surgical specimens after CRT was defined as the ground truth. Quantitative features derived from both unfiltered and filtered images were extracted from manually segmented region of interests on T2-weighted images and selected using variance threshold, univariate statistical tests, and cross-validation least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression. Finally, a regression model using selected features with high coefficients was optimized and evaluated. Model performance was measured by classification accuracies and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC). RESULTS: We extracted 1223 radiomic features from each MRI study of 133 enrolled patients. After tumor excision, 34 (26 %) of 133 patients had pCR in resected specimens. When 25 image-derived features were selected from univariate analysis, classification AUROC was 0.86 and 0.79 with the addition of six clinical features on the hold-out internal validation dataset. When 11 image-derived features were used, the optimized linear regression model had an AUROC value of 0.79 and 0.65 with the addition of six clinical features on the hold-out dataset. Among the radiomic features, texture features including gray level variance, strength, and cluster prominence had the highest coefficient by Lasso regression. CONCLUSION: Radiomic features derived from pretreatment MR images demonstrated promising efficacy in predicting pCR after CRT. However, radiomic features combined with clinical features did not result in remarkable improvement in model performance.

Development of a tumor control probability model for boron neutron capture therapy of head and neck cancer.

The tumor control probability (TCP) model has been used for estimating the response of the radiation (photon) therapy for a given treatment dose (distribution). In Taiwan, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is still at the stage of the clinical trials without standard dose prescription. In this study, universal survival curve (USC) model was selected as the TCP model for BNCT. The tumor response and dose distribution from protocol I of the clinical trial of the recurrent head and neck (H&N) cancer conducted by Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Tsing Hua University were used to verify the TCP model established in this study. The results showed that, using the USC model as a biological model of dose conversion, the TCP calculated by the generalized Equivalent Uniform Dose (gEUD)-based TCP model can be used to well correlate the relationship between the tumor response and dose distribution of the patients of recurrent H&N cancer. The result shows that 25% and 60% of TCP correspond to partial response and complete response of H&N cancer, respectively. This study also indicated that, when BNCT was used to treat recurrent H&N cancer, the minimum dose was an important factor on the efficacy of the treatment. Minimum dose of 18 Gy-w corresponds to at least 60% of TCP.

Treatment outcomes of cetuximab-containing regimen in locoregional recurrent and distant metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent/ metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (R/M SCCNH) is still a difficult-to-treat disease with poor clinical outcomes and limited treatment choices. In view of locoregional recurrent versus distant metastatic SCCHN, the therapeutic efficacy of cetuximab-containing regimen and relevant prognostic factors for these two groups may be different. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the treatment outcomes of cetuximab-containing regimen in locoregional recurrent and distant metastatic SCCHN groups, and to identify clinical factors correlated with better survival outcomes. METHODS: From 2016 to 2020, patients with R/M SCCHN who received cetuximab-containing regimen in our institute were enrolled in this study. Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were evaluated in both locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis groups. Exploratory analysis were conducted to investigate major clinical features associated with better outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients with locoregional recurrent SCCHN (N = 66) and distant metastatic SCCNH (N = 41) who received cetuximab-containing regimen were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients with oral cavity cancer and patients with disease recurrence within 6 months after radiation therapy were significantly increased in locoregional recurrence group. The median OS (15.6 vs. 9.7 months, P = 0.004) and PFS (5.8 months vs. 4.2 months, P = 0.008) were longer in locoregional recurrence group than in distant metastasis group. In multivariate analysis of clinical features, locoregional recurrence was still an important risk factor associated with better OS (Hazzard ratio (HR) 0.64, p = 0.06) and PFS (HR 0.67, p = 0.075). In addition, a trend of favorable disease control rate (DCR; 62.5% vs. 45.0%, p = 0.056) was noted in locoregional recurrence group. In locoregional recurrence group, prior salvage surgery was associated with longer OS (HR = 0.24, P = 0.008) and PFS (HR = 0.30, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: SCCHN with locoregional recurrence is associated with better disease control and survival outcomes comparing to distant metastatic SCCHN when treated with cetuximab-containing regimen. Salvage surgery for locoregional recurrence may further improves clinical outcome.

The Establishment of China Bronchiectasis Registry and Research Collaboration (BE-China): Protocol of a prospective multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is a highly heterogeneous chronic airway disease with marked geographic and ethnic variations. Most influential cohort studies to date have been performed in Europe and USA, which serve as the examples for developing a cohort study in China where there is a high burden of bronchiectasis. The Establishment of China Bronchiectasis Registry and Research Collaboration (BE-China) is designed to: (1) describe the clinical characteristics and natural history of bronchiectasis in China and identify the differences of bronchiectasis between the western countries and China; (2) identify the risk factors associated with disease progression in Chinese population; (3) elucidate the phenotype and endotype of bronchiectasis by integrating the genome, microbiome, proteome, and transcriptome with detailed clinical data; (4) facilitate large randomized controlled trials in China. METHODS: The BE-China is an ongoing prospective, longitudinal, multi-center, observational cohort study aiming to recruit a minimum of 10,000 patients, which was initiated in January 2020 in China. Comprehensive data, including medical history, aetiological testing, lung function, microbiological profiles, radiological scores, comorbidities, mental status, and quality of life (QoL), will be collected at baseline. Patients will be followed up annually for up to 10 years to record longitudinal data on outcomes, treatment patterns and QoL. Biospecimens, if possible, will be collected and stored at - 80 °C for further research. Up to October 2021, the BE-China has enrolled 3758 patients, and collected 666 blood samples and 196 sputum samples from 91 medical centers. The study protocol has been approved by the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital ethics committee, and all collaborating centers have received approvals from their local ethics committee. All patients will be required to provide written informed consent to their participation. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the BE-China will be crucial to reveal the clinical characteristics and natural history of bronchiectasis and facilitate evidence-based clinical practice in China. Trial registration Registration Number in ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03643653.

The effect of Mitomycin-C in neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (nCCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision has become the standard of care for advanced rectal cancer, but the most effective regimen of chemotherapeutic agents has not yet been determined. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Mitomycin-C (MMC) in nCCRT for rectal cancer. METHODS: From 2000 to 2017, patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who received nCCRT followed by radical surgery were enrolled in our study. The patients were retrospectively separated into two groups according to nCCRT regimens (with or without MMC). Other factors related to cancer down-staging after nCCRT, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-five patients received radiotherapy (RT) + MMC + oral tegafur-uracil (UFUR), and 191 patients received RT + UFUR without MMC as neoadjuvant CCRT. Adding MMC might increase the down-staging rate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.520, p = 0.058), and down-staging had significant effect to improve OS (OR = 1.726, p = 0.002) and DFS (OR = 2.185, p < 0.001). The OS and DFS were improved in patients who received MMC, although this result did not reach a statistically significant difference. There was a higher incidence of low-grade toxicities in the MMC group, especially neutropenia, genitourinary side effects, and dermatological side effects ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Adding MMC to the regimen of nCCRT for rectal adenocarcinoma is shown to increase tumor down-staging rate and improve disease-free and OS, although these benefits come at the cost of increased low-grade toxicities. Prospective randomized studies are needed to explore the role of MMC in nCCRT for rectal cancer.

Airway acidification impaired host defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection by promoting type 1 interferon ß response.

Airway microenvironment played an important role in the progression of chronic respiratory disease. Here we showed that standardized pondus hydrogenii (pH) of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of bronchiectasis patients was significantly lower than that of controls and was significantly correlated with bronchiectasis severity index (BSI) scores and disease prognosis. EBC pH was lower in severe patients than that in mild and moderate patients. Besides, acidic microenvironment deteriorated Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) pulmonary infection in mice models. Mechanistically, acidic microenvironment increased P. aeruginosa outer membrane vesicles (PA_OMVs) released and boosted it induced the activation of interferon regulatory factor3 (IRF3)-interferonß (IFN-ß) signalling pathway, ultimately compromised the anti-bacteria immunity. Targeted knockout of IRF3 or type 1 interferon receptor (IFNAR1) alleviated lung damage and lethality of mice after P. aeruginosa infection that aggravated by acidic microenvironment. Together, these findings identified airway acidification impaired host resistance to P. aeruginosa infection by enhancing it induced the activation of IRF3-IFN-ß signalling pathway. Standardized EBC pH may be a useful biomarker of disease severity and a potential therapeutic target for the refractory P. aeruginosa infection. The study also provided one more reference parameter for drug selection and new drug discovery for bronchiectasis.

Relationship between prescribed opioids, pain management satisfaction, and pain intensity in oncology outpatients.

BACKGROUND: Pain is the most severe and commonest symptom for patients with cancer. Patients' pain management satisfaction is an essential indicator of quality care and further affects their willingness to seek care. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the correlations between patients' prescribed opioids, pain management satisfaction, and pain intensity. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional correlation design, recruited a total of 123 patients with cancer pain through convenience sampling, and used two research scales, namely the Chinese version of the Pain Treatment Satisfaction Scale and the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form. RESULTS: The findings indicated that the correlations of prescribed opioid dosage with pain management satisfaction (r = - .10, p > .05) and pain intensity (worst pain, least pain, average pain, and pain right now; r = - .05 to .01, p > .05) were nonsignificant. The correlations of pain management satisfaction with pain intensity (r = .24 to .32, p < .01), pain interference (r = .32, p < .01), and pain relief (r = - .25, p < .01) were all significant, but that with the worst pain (r = .06, p > .05) was nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Medical professionals providing cancer pain management should focus on medicines strategies and individuals' pain relief requirements. In particular, patients with the worst pain require extra investigations into their needs, and their satisfaction with their level of pain should be further evaluated.

The influence of opioid-taking self-efficacy and social support on pain management satisfaction in outpatients with cancer pain.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the correlations between patients' opioid-taking self-efficacy, social support, and their pain management satisfaction, and to evaluate the effect of social support and opioid-taking self-efficacy in explaining the variance in pain management satisfaction. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional and correlational research design and recruited 123 cancer patients via convenience sampling. We used the following instruments: the Opioid-Taking Self-Efficacy Scale, the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behavior, and the Chinese version of the Pain Treatment Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: There were significant and negative correlations between opioid-taking self-efficacy and pain management satisfaction (r = - .43, p < .001) and between social support and pain management satisfaction (r = - .47, p < .001). Using a hierarchical regression analysis, social support and opioid-taking self-efficacy explained 17.20% and 5.20%, respectively, of the variance in pain management satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the importance of social support and opioid-taking self-efficacy in influencing pain management satisfaction. We recommend that professional care providers develop relevant intervention aimed at improving patients' pain management satisfaction.

Control of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in urban populations: findings from a cross-sectional prevalence survey in Shenzhen, China.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among urban populations is generally lower than rural residents, but the disease burden is still high. We conducted a cross-sectional prevalence survey of COPD among residents aged ≥40 years in an emerging city Shenzhen, China from September 2018 to June 2019. Through multi-stage stratified random sampling, a total of 4157 eligible participants were invited to complete a questionnaire and to take the spirometry test; 3591 with available data were enrolled in the final analysis. Individuals were diagnosed with COPD if the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio was less than 0.7. The estimated standardized prevalence of COPD among residents over 40 years old in Shenzhen was 5.92% (95% confidential intervals [CI] 4.05-8.34). Risk factors for COPD included elder age (adjusted odds ratio 1.206, 95% CI 1.120-1.299 per 10-year increase), smoking over 20 pack-years (1.968, 1.367-2.832), history of chronic bronchitis (1.733, 1.036-2.900) or asthma (4.920, 2.425-9.982), and exposure to higher annual minimum concentrations of ambient SO2 (1.156, 1.053-1.270 per 1-µg/m3 increase). Among 280 spirometry-diagnosed patients, most (221, 78.93%) patients were classified as mild COPD (GOLD stage I). This survey found that the prevalence of COPD in Shenzhen is low and most patients had mild symptoms, thus recommended screening using spirometry in primary health care to detect early-stage COPD. Increased risk from the exposure to air pollutants also indicated the urgent need for environmental improvement in city settings.