Exploring the experiences of peer support participation for HIV peer volunteers: A meta-synthesis of qualitative research.

BACKGROUND: Gaining insights and feedback from HIV peer volunteers about their peer support practice is crucial for optimizing and enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of peer support for people with HIV. There is a dearth of systematic reviews that explore the experiences of HIV peer volunteers about their peer support experience. This study aims to consolidate qualitative research on the experiences of peer support participation for HIV peer volunteers, to provide inspiration and reference for HIV peer support practice. METHODS: A meta-aggregation approach was employed to synthesize qualitative studies. Electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed and gray literature published in English and Chinese between 1996 and September 2022. Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality and extracted data from the included studies. The meta-aggregation approach developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was utilized to synthesize the findings. RESULTS: A total of 2610 studies were initially identified through the database search, and twenty-two eligible studies were included in the meta-synthesis. Among the included studies, five presented synthesized findings on the following topics: firstly, taking people with HIV as HIV peer volunteers shows specific motivations and advantages when engaging in peer support practice. Secondly, HIV peer volunteers reinforce the connections between people with HIV and medical institutions, ensuring continuity of care and compensating for the limited availability of medical resources. Thirdly, HIV peer volunteers are capable of providing people with HIV with a higher level of support. Additionally, participating in peer support practice can also yield personal benefits for HIV peer volunteers. Finally, HIV peer support programs face both opportunities and challenges. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to take more flexible and effective approaches to address resource allocation and social support for people with HIV. Peer support presents a mutually beneficial option that holds significant implications for public health systems, clinical healthcare providers, people with HIV, and HIV peer volunteers. It is imperative to develop effective models for HIV peer support practice. Collaborative efforts between relevant departments and personnel, alongside HIV peer volunteers, should be undertaken to formulate support strategies. Additionally, efforts should be made to identify and guide people with HIV into the healthcare system, facilitating comprehensive treatment and care continuity. These measures aim to further reduce HIV transmission, improve the quality of life for people with HIV, and advance the "normalization" of HIV.

Pretreatment Depressive Status Associated with Poor Nutrition and Prognosis in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

The prevalence of pretreatment depression in breast cancer patients and its impact on nutrition and prognosis during neoadjuvant chemotherapy remain unknown. One hundred twenty-one patients with previously untreated breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were enrolled. Patients completed the Self-rating Depressive symptoms Scale (SDS) before treatment and were divided into two groups (non-depressive group and depressive group). The nutrition risk screening-2002 (NRS-2002), and nutritional and prognostic indicators, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were collected at baseline (pretreatment) and post-treatment. One- and two-year progression-free survival (PFS) in both groups were also calculated. We found that 38.84% patients experienced pretreatment depressive symptoms. Patients in the depressive group had higher nutritional risk and lower body mass index, potassium, sodium, total cholesterol, total protein, and fasting blood glucose levels than those in pretreatment non-depressive group after NAC (all p < 0.05). And higher NLR (p = 0.039) and lower PNI level (p = 0.0021) after NAC were found in patients with pretreatment depressive status. Multivariable Cox analysis showed pretreatment depressive status (HR: 1.893; 95% CI: 1.047-3.426; p = 0.034) were a significant predictor of PFS. This study provides evidence for early identification of pretreatment depression in patients receiving NAC, which would certainly favor nutrition and survival outcome.

Validation of the Mandarin Chinese Version of the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), a self-reported scale, has been used to assess the pain sensitivity level in a Caucasian population. However, a validated Mandarin Chinese version of the PSQ is not available. This study was aimed to translate the PSQ into Mandarin Chinese (PSQ-C) and validate it to measure pain sensitivity among Chinese people. METHODS: The English version of the PSQ has been translated into Mandarin Chinese (PSQ-C), according to the standard steps of cross-cultural adaptation of self-reported scales. Three of the 17 items were revised owing to cultural adaptation. The final version was validated on a population of 182 Chinese people in Changsha City, China, during October to December 2015. The participants underwent electrical experimental pain testing. The psychometric properties of the PSQ-C and its subscales were examined. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the PSQ-C-total, PSQ-C-moderate, and PSQ-C-minor were 0.90, 0.86, and 0.81, respectively. Acceptable test-retest reliability, content validity, and construct validity were demonstrated. Concurrent validity was shown via significant positive correlations between PSQ-C scores and perceived pain intensity at pain threshold and during pain stimulation with a fixed intensity. Convergent validity was shown via significant positive correlations between Pain Catastrophizing Scale scores and PSQ-C scores. Known group validity was demonstrated via higher PSQ-C-total and PSQ-C-moderate scores among those with high neuroticism scores. These results indicate that the PSQ-C has reasonably good psychometric properties, similar to the original English and German versions. CONCLUSION: The PSQ-C is a reliable and useful tool to assess pain sensitivity levels in a Chinese population.

[On recognizing the ECG P-wave based on approximating functions in the optimum region].

Aiming at the problem that it is difficult to accurately recognize the position and the figure of P wave in the ECGs easily influenced by the diversified interference,a P wave detection algorithm based on approximating functions in the optimum region is proposed in this paper. In the algorithm we use a conic to approach the P wave by means of the least square method in every region, which is shifted in local range. Then we find the optimum approach region of P wave by comparing the approximating error. Finally, we attain the characteristic points of P wave by using the approximating functions to approach P wave in the optimum region. The performance of the algorithm tested using the records of the MIT-BIH database is effective and accurate.

[Gastric epithelial cell proliferation, apoptosis and P53 protein expression in children with Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori infection has any effects on the epithelial cell proliferation, apoptosis and P53 gene expression as well as its role in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis. METHODS: Sixty children with chronic gastritis were studied. All the children underwent upper digestive tract endoscopy and biopsy specimens were taken. Helicobacter pylori infection was determined with microscopic examination after Gimsa staining and the rapid urease test and 30 of the children were Helicobacter pylori positive and the other 30 were negative. The relation between the findings and cell proliferation was studied by immunostaining; the status of gastric apoptosis was tested by DNA fragmentation in situ using TdT-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of P53 protein; CagA antibody was tested by Western blotting. RESULTS: (1) The proliferative index and apoptosis index in children with Helicobacter pylori infection with CagA positive gastritis were much higher than those of Helicobacter pylori negative gastritis patients [(11.56 +/- 4.21)% vs. (5.85 +/- 2.21)%, (10.58 +/- 5.31)% vs. (2.86 +/- 0.64)%, P < 0.01]. (2) The proliferative index and apoptosis index in 30 cases with Helicobacter pylori infection with CagA positive gastribis were much higher than 21 cases who were cured by effective drugs [(11.50 +/- 4.11)% vs. (3.74 +/- 2.30)%; (10.58 +/- 4.02)% vs. (3.74 +/- 2.30)%, P < 0.01]. (3) The expression of P53 protein in Helicobacter pylori with CagA positive gastritis children was much higher than that of Helicobacter pylori negative cases [(63% vs 16%), P < 0.1]. CONCLUSION: CagA positive Helicobacter pylori infection with gastritis improved gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis. The abnormal expression of P53 protein in gastric epithelium may play an important role in regulation of the processes.