A longitudinal study of symptom cluster latent profiles in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify distinct patterns within the symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance among ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, to determine the factors predicting these patterns and their impact on quality of life. METHODS: The longitudinal study collected data from 151 ovarian cancer patients at three time points: before chemotherapy (T0), after the first chemotherapy cycle (T1), and following the completion of four cycles of chemotherapy (T2). Latent profile analysis and latent transition analysis were used to identify symptom patterns and evaluate changes in symptom patterns. A bias-adjusted three-step approach was utilized to examine predictor variables and distal outcomes associated with latent class membership. RESULTS: Three symptom patterns emerged: "All Low," "Moderate" (T0)/"Low pain and high sleep disturbance" (T1 and T2), and "All High." Patients with lower educational attainment and higher levels of anxiety and depression were found to be at an elevated risk of belonging to the "All High" class. All quality-of-life domains showed significant differences among the three subgroups, following an "All Low" > "All High" pattern (p < 0.05). Membership in three classes remained relatively stable over time, with probabilities of 0.749 staying within their groups from T0 to T2. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the existence of a diverse and heterogeneous experience within the symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance among ovarian cancer patients. Importantly, these patterns were stable throughout chemotherapy. Recognizing and understanding these patterns can inform the development of targeted interventions to alleviate the burden of symptom clusters in this population.

Relationship among post-traumatic growth, spiritual well-being, and perceived social support in Chinese women with gynecological cancer.

This study aimed to examine the correlation between post-traumatic growth (PTG), spiritual well-being (SWB), perceived social support (PSS), and demographic and clinical factors in Chinese gynecological cancer patients. Through convenience sampling, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 771 adult patients with gynecological cancer. The European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Spiritual Well-being 32 (EORTC QLQ-SWB32), Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to measure SWB, PTG, and PSS. A Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to determine the possible factors contributing to PTG. The subscale with the highest centesimal score in the PTGI was the Appreciation of Life Scale, and the lowest was New Possibility. Gynecologic cancer patients with younger ages (B = - 0.313, P = 0.002), perceived more family support (B = 1.289, P < 0.001), had more existential (B = 0.865, P = 0.010), and had religious belief (B = 5.760, P = 0.034) may have more PTG. Spiritual well-being, perceived social support, younger age, and religious beliefs are associated with post-traumatic growth in gynecological cancer patients. Healthcare staff could provide more professional support to younger patients with religious beliefs. Promoting social support and spiritual well-being could potentially serve as effective interventions for boosting PTG among gynecological cancer.

Enhancedd-wave pairing in the two-dimensional Hubbard model with periodically modulated hopping amplitudes.

Utilizing determinant quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, the evolution of thed-wave pairing in the Hubbard model on the square lattice tuned by the periodically modulated hopping amplitudes is studied. The hopping amplitudes are homogeneous in thexˆ-direction, while in theyˆ-direction the hopping amplitudes are modulated with periodP, wherety=t+dt,ty'=t-(P-1)dt, and the modulation periodPequals 2, 3 and 4 lattice spacings. The latter two modulation periods are motivated by the observation of period-3 and period-4 stripe order in cuprate superconductors. For all the periodsP, we find that the modulated hopping inhomogeneity enhances thed-wave pairing and an optimal inhomogeneity exists.

Exploring the relationship between spiritual well-being and death anxiety in patients with gynecological cancer: a cross-section study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, spiritual well-being has gradually gained the attention of health care providers in China, especially those in oncology departments, who have recognized the importance of improving spiritual well-being in cancer patients. Since most of the current research on spiritual well-being has been carried out in areas with religious beliefs, this study was conducted in the context of no development of formal religion. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between death anxiety and spiritual well-being and the related factors of spiritual well-being among gynecological cancer patients. METHODS: This cross-section study was conducted among 586 gynecological cancer patients. The European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-spiritual well-being32 (EORTC QLQ-SWB32) and Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (T-DAS) were used to measure spiritual well-being and death anxiety. The Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being and death anxiety. RESULTS: For all participants, the highest QLQ-SWB32 centesimal score was 75.13 on the Relationship with Other scale, and the lowest was 60.33 on the Relationship with Someone or Something Greater Scale. The mean Death Anxiety score was 5.31 (SD 3.18). We found that Relationship with Someone or Something Greater was the only scale not associated with death anxiety. Overall, patients with lower death anxiety have a higher level of spiritual well-being. Besides, a high Relationship with Other score was associated with living with a partner (B = 2.471, P < 0.001) and married (B = -6.475, P = 0.001). Patients with higher Global-SWB were retired (B = 0.387, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that the spiritual well-being of patients with gynecological cancer in China was no worse than in other countries with religious beliefs and patients with lower death anxiety have a higher level of spiritual well-being. Clinical staff should pay attention to the spiritual health of cancer patients, and spiritual care should be regarded as an essential element in cancer care.

[Effect of air pollution on respiratory health in school-aged children in the main urban area of Chongqing, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of air pollution on respiratory health in school-aged children in the main urban area of Chongqing, China. METHODS: The main urban area of Chongqing was divided into polluted area and clean area according to the air pollution data shown on the Environmental Protection Agency Website of Chongqing between 2010 and 2015. A cluster sampling method was used to select 695 third- or fourth-grade children from 2 primary schools in the clean or polluted area as study subjects, with 313 children from the clean area and 382 children from the polluted area. Pulmonary function was examined for all children and a standard American epidemiological questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78-C) was used to investigate the prevalence of respiratory diseases and symptoms. RESULTS: Compared with the clean area, the polluted area had significantly higher concentrations of inhalable particles (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and nitric oxide (NOX) (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed after adjustment for confounding factors, and the results showed that compared with those in the clean area, the children in the polluted area had significantly higher risks of cough (OR=1.644), cough during cold (OR=1.596), expectoration during cold (OR=2.196), persistent expectoration (OR=1.802), and wheezing (OR=2.415). The boys and girls in the clean area had significantly higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second than those in the polluted area (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Air pollution in the main urban area of Chongqing is associated with the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in school-aged children and has certain effect on children's pulmonary function.

[Effects of maternal exposure to vehicle exhaust on the reproductive system and DNA methylation in male offspring mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of exposure to vehicle exhaust in pregnant mice on the reproductive function and DNA methylation in male offspring mice. METHODS: Twenty pregnant mice were randomized into control group and vehicle exhaust exposure group (n=10) and exposed to routine laboratory condition and to vehicle exhaust for 10 consecutive days (8 h per day) in a tunnel with a heavy traffic, where the concentrations of TSP, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOX and the decibel of noise were measured. The offspring mice were raised till reaching maturity, and the epididymides of the male mice were collected to test the weight coefficients, DNA methylation level, and mRNA levels of Aldh7a1 and Rpe. RESULTS: The body weight and the weight coefficients of the epididymides and testes differed significantly between the exposure group and the control group (P>0.05). The concentrations of TSP, PM2.5, PM10 and NOx and the decibel of noise were significantly higher in the traffic environment and the control environment (P<0.05). Reduced representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS) and Gene ontology (GO) showed that 58 genes had significantly different methylation levels between the two groups, mostly relating to the process of spermatogenesis (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, Aldh7a1 and Rpe mRNA expressions in the testes were down-regulated significantly in the exposure group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure of pregnant mice to vehicle exhaust causes damages of the reproductive function in the male offspring mice.