Effects of fear of cancer recurrence on subjective physical and mental health in breast cancer patients: The intermediary role of heart rate variability.

BACKGROUND: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and psychological distress are common psychological problems in breast cancer (BC) patients and ultimately affecting their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Heart rate variability (HRV) can reflect the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. However, the pathways through which HRV influences between FCR and HRQoL are unclear. This study preliminarily explored the intermediary role of HRV in FCR and HRQoL in BC patients. METHODS: A total of 101 BC patients participated in this study. HRV parameters were measured by a 5-min dynamic electrocardiogram. FCR, psychological distress and HRQoL were evaluated by the Fear of disease progression simplified scale (FOP-Q-SF), Distress thermometer and SF-36 concise health survey. The intermediary effect model was established to test the intermediary effect of high frequency-HRV (HF-HRV) on FCR and HRQoL. RESULTS: FCR and psychological distress were negatively correlated with HRV in the time domain, negatively correlated with HF-HRV in the frequency domain, and positively correlated with low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF). HF-HRV had a partial mediating effect on the FCR and physical health and mental health, with effects of 30.23% and 9.53%, respectively. CONCLUSION: FCR and psychological distress are correlated with HRV parameters in the time domain and the frequency domain, and we preliminarily believe that parasympathetic nerves play an important intermediary role between FCR and subjective physical and mental health. This may provide intervention information for improving the HRQoL of BC patients.

Usefulness of Lateral Thoracic Adipofascial Flaps After Breast-conserving Surgery in Small-to Moderate-sized Breasts.

BACKGROUND: Women with small- to moderate-sized breasts present a specific challenge to performing oncoplastic volume-displacement techniques for reconstructing breast defects after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). In such cases, the lateral thoracic wall region serves as a versatile reconstruction donor site. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of employing lateral thoracic adipofascial (LTA) flaps to reconstruct breast defects following BCS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 58 female patients who underwent BCS between February 2016 and April 2017 were analyzed. Of these, 33 patients were reconstructed with LTA flaps, and the other 25 patients received BCS only and were assigned as the control group. All patients were followed up, and we assessed surgery-related complications, breast appearance, and disease recurrence. RESULTS: The mean weight of the resected breast tissue was 65.9 g (range, 35-100 g). The mean volume of LTA flaps was 309.5 cm3 (range, 112.6-588 cm3). This oncoplastic technique was performed with minimal complications in all patients. Two patients exhibited partial adipose liquefaction (6.1%), and 2 patients manifested wound infections. CONCLUSIONS: The LTA flaps were reliable and useful for reconstructing breast defects after BCS when the resected volume was confined to between 50 and 100 g, particularly in patients with small- to moderate-sized breasts. This is optimal for patients with lesions located in the upper-outer quadrant.

CXCR4/RhoA signaling pathway is involved in miR-128-regulated proliferation and apoptosis of human thyroid cancer cells.

microRNA-128 (miR-128), a kind of short, noncoding RNAs, functioned as a tumor marker. However, the underlying function and mechanism of miR-128 in human thyroid cancer were uncertain. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of miR-128 on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human thyroid cancer cells were investigated. After slicing miR-128 in human thyroid cancer cells, the proliferation was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method, the expression of miR-128, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 was determined by RT-PCR, and protein expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) was analyzed by Western blot. It was found that knockdown of miR-128 promoted the optical density (OD) value of cells, enhanced mRNA expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, while inhibited cell apoptotic rate, and Caspase-3, Caspase-9 expression. Furthermore, higher protein expression of CXCR4 and RhoA was found in the absence of miR-128. Notably, miRNA-128 over-expression-inhibited proliferation and induced-apoptosis of human thyroid cancer cells were partially changed following the block of CXCR4/RhoA signaling pathway by the CXCR4 inhibitor (AMD3100). It was indicated that miR-128 down-regulated proliferation while promoted apoptosis of human thyroid cancer cells through suppression of CXCR4/RhoA signaling pathway.