Frequency of Depression-Related Symptoms in Caregivers of Patients with Silicosis.

Background: Few studies have evaluated depression in female caregivers of patients with silicosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression in such caregivers and to clarify the factors associated with symptoms of depression. Methods: Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: A total of 561 participants met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The mean CES-D score was 16.68, with a standard deviation (SD) of 8.57; the sex-classified analysis indicated that the mean CES-D score of female caregivers was 17.79 (SD: 10.17), while the mean score of male caregivers was 14.98 (SD: 8.36) (p < 0.05). 68.6% caregivers who were beyond the cutoff score (16) with the following factors were more likely to report depression-related symptoms: unemployed status (OR = 1.752, 95% CI: 1.35-2.01, p=0.032) and caregiver for more than 48 months (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.61-2.43, p=0.027). Conclusions: Collectively, there is statistical difference between female caregivers of patients with silicosis and male ones. More effort is needed to meet the psychosocial needs of these caregivers.

Prevalence and characteristics of COPD among pneumoconiosis patients at an occupational disease prevention institute: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis may play an important role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the complication of COPD may impose a heavy burden of illness. METHODS: The study was conducted in Hunan Province in China from December 1, 2015, to December 1, 2016. Consecutive underground male pneumoconiosis patients employed for at least 1 year were recruited from the Hunan Occupational Disease Prevention Institute. Patient information, respiratory symptoms and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The diagnosis of COPD were assessed using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the clinical and demographic risk factors of COPD among pneumoconiosis patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of COPD in our sample of pneumoconiosis patients was 18.65% (119/638). In pneumoconiosis patients with and without smoking history, the prevalence of COPD was 19.32 and 16.77%. Compared with non-COPD patients, those with COPD are older in age, have longer exposure time, have lower body mass index (BMI), have a higher smoking index and have worse pulmonary function (all p < 0.05). For the five respiratory symptoms (cough, sputum, wheeze, dyspnea, and chest tightness), only the presence of wheeze and the severity scores for wheeze or dyspnea showed significant differences between the COPD and non-COPD groups (p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced pneumoconiosis category, older age and the presence of wheeze symptoms were significant risk factors for the development of COPD among pneumoconiosis patients. CONCLUSION: Pneumoconiosis patients are at a high risk of COPD, and pneumoconiosis patients with COPD may suffer more severe respiratory symptoms, such as wheeze and dyspnea, than patients without COPD. Advanced pneumoconiosis category, older age and the presence of wheeze symptoms are associated with an increased risk of COPD in pneumoconiosis. We proposed that a routine assessment of lung function is necessary for timely and adequate clinical management.

Overexpression of HMGA1 correlates with the malignant status and prognosis of breast cancer.

High mobility group A1 (HMGA1), as a major member of HMGA family, plays an important part in promotion of cell proliferation and motility, induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and maintenance of stemness, but little is known about the pathological role of HMGA1 in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to identify the pathological roles of HMGA1 in breast cancer. In our results, we found that mRNA and protein expression levels of HMGA1 were markedly higher in breast cancer tissues than in normal breast tissues. Using immunohistochemistry, high levels of HMGA1 protein were positively correlated with the status of histological grade (I-II vs. III-IV; P = 0.023), clinical stage (I-II vs. III-IV; P = 0.008), tumor size (T1-T2 vs. T3-T4; P = 0.015), lymph node metastasis (N0-N1 vs. N2-N3; P = 0.002), distant metastasis (M0 vs. M1; P < 0.001), and triple-negative breast cancer (No vs. Yes; P = 0.014) of breast cancer patients. Patients with higher HMGA1 expression had a significantly shorter overall survival time than did patients with low HMGA1 expression. Multivariate analysis indicated that the level of HMGA1 expression was an independent prognostic indicator (P < 0.001) for the survival of patients with breast cancer. In conclusion, HMGA1 plays an important role on breast cancer aggressiveness and prognosis and may act as a promising target for prognostic prediction.

[Establishment of transbronchoscope whole lung lavage and its comparison with bronchoalveolar lavage and whole lung lavage].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the technical specifications of transbronchoscope whole lung lavage (TBWLL) and to compare the clinical efficacy between TBWLL and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or whole lung lavage (WLL). METHODS: A total of 133 patients with pneumoconiosis admitted to Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases from 2009 to 2014 were divided into TBWLL group (n=43), BAL group (n=45), and WLL group (n=45). Patients in the TBWLL group received conventional BAL of both lungs under a fiber bronchoscope, as well as sedation and anesthesia; lavage was performed twice in each course. TBWLL was compared with the BAL and WLL in terms of lavage volume. The clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, and blood gas before and after treatment and the safety were evaluated. RESULTS: The TBWLL group had significantly relieved cough and limitation of activity after lavage (P<0.05). Compared with the BAL group, the TBWLL group had significantly increased single lavage volumes and total lavage volume and a significantly shortened length of hospital stay (P<0.05). The three groups showed no significant short-term changes in clinical symptoms and pulmonary function after lavage. The TBWLL and WLL groups had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications than the BAL group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TBWLL has good clinical efficacy, with the advantages of BAL and WLL, and is highly feasible, safe, and effective.

[Study on modified anesthesia in the bronchoalveolar lavage of pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the anesthetic effect of modified anesthesia in the bronchoalveolar lavage. METHOD: 118 cases randomly fell in two groups: traditional group: intramuscular injection of 10 mg diazepam prior to routine anesthesia; modified group: preoperative intramuscular injection of 50 mg dolantin,and venous injection of 2 ml physiological saline, 10 mg dexamethasone, 5 mg ephedrine; observe the anesthetic effect, satisfaction and lavage quantity in patients. RESULTS: The excellence rate and satisfaction of anesthetic effect are both 100% in modified group while 82.76% and 76.2% in the tradition group. The result indicates the excellence rate and satisfaction of anesthetic effect in modified group are better than the traditional group with a significant difference (P<0.05); the lavage quantity in the modified group is significantly higher than that in the traditional group with a significant difference (P<0.01 ). CONCLUSION: Dolantin, dexamethasone and ephedrine preoperatively used with a good anesthetic effect can improve the cooperation of patients in bronchoalveolar lavage with less pain and increased lavage quantity, thereby worthy of clinical application.