A web-based self-care program to promote healthy lifestyles and control blood pressure in patients with primary hypertension: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which contributes to the worldwide mortality rate. Successful blood pressure control requires adherence to medications and lifestyle modifications. However, motivating patients with primary hypertension to change and sustain behaviors long-term is challenging. A web-based self-care program centered on self-efficacy theory could provide feedback for effective control of blood pressure. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a web-based self-care program for patients with primary hypertension on cardiovascular risk-factors (pulse pressure and lipids), self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors (medication adherence and lifestyle). DESIGN: A two-armed randomized controlled trial with 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 222 patients with primary hypertension were recruited between February 2017 and August 2018 at a cardiology clinic of a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. METHODS: Eligible patients were randomized by permuted block randomization into the intervention group (n = 111) and control group (n = 111). Patients in the intervention group received a 6-month web-based self-care program, based on the theory of self-efficacy, while patients in the control group received usual care. Baseline and outcome measures (3 and 6 months) included self-efficacy, evaluated with the Chinese version of the 6-item Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Diseases (SEMC6), self-care, using subscales of the Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects Scale (H-SCALE) for lifestyle and medication adherence, and blood pressure and serum lipid data, collected through web-based self-reports and chart review. Generalized estimating equations evaluated the effects of the intervention. FINDINGS: At baseline, the control group had higher scores on the SEMC6, and lower cholesterol (HDL) compared with the intervention group (t = -2.70, p < 0.05; and t = 1.76, p < 0.05, respectively). Pulse pressure decreased significantly (ß = -20.30, 95% CI -23.76, -16.83), and serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower compared with controls at 6 months (all p < 0.001). At 6 months, the intervention group had significantly higher mean scores for the SEMC6 compared with the control group (ß = 21.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 19.25, 24.42) and H-SCALE subscale for medication adherence, diet, weight management, and physical activity compared with controls at 6 months (all, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The greatest benefit of this program was allowing participants to immediately consult with the researchers about self-care issues via the website. Lifestyles vary from person to person; therefore, the individuality of each participant was considered when providing feedback. We provided devising interventions for participants that would increase their confidence in self-care for hypertension and ultimately achieve home blood pressure control. We encourage incorporating this program into standard clinical care for patients with hypertension.

Effects of a tripartite intervention on biological stress in preterm infants during heel pricks for newborn screening: A randomized controlled trial.

This prospective randomized trial examined the effects of a tripartite intervention (behavioral state modulation + nonnutritive sucking + tucking) on stress from procedural pain during heel pricks. Blood samples for routine screening were collected by heel pricks 48 h after birth (Stage 1) and at ≥37 weeks' gestation (Stage 2); salivary cortisol levels (SCLs) pre-prick (T0) and 20 min post-prick (T1) assessed stress. Preterm infants (n = 64) sampled by convenience at Level III neonatal care units were randomly assigned to the control condition (usual care) or intervention condition (tripartite intervention). Generalized estimating equations examined differences in salivary cortisol between conditions. After adjusting for effects of gestational age, postmenstrual age, and baseline SCLs, (1) at Stage 1, the change in salivary cortisol from T0 to T1 in preterm infants who received the tripartite intervention was, on average, significantly lower by 0.431 units (log scale) than the change in preterm infants who received the control condition (p < 0.001); (2) in the tripartite intervention condition, the difference between the change in mean SCLs from T0 to T1 at Stages 1 and 2 was significantly lower by 0.287 units (log scale), on average than between the change at Stages 1 and 2 in the control condition (p = 0.026). The provision of a tripartite intervention during heel prick significantly decreased the raise of SCLs compared with infants receiving usual care, suggesting lower stress. Clinicians could easily implement the tripartite intervention for heel-stick support; however, replication is needed before recommending its incorporation into routine heel stick and other stressful procedures.

Perceived importance of competencies by nurse managers at all levels: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To explore nurse managers' perceived importance of competencies for their current job at different levels and the associated factors. BACKGROUND: Little work to date has explored the perceived importance of competencies in nursing leadership and management or considered the related factors in the Taiwan healthcare context. METHODS: Data collected from a previous large study comprising a cross-sectional web-based survey were analysed. Kruskal-Wallis test, two-sided Fisher exact test and multiple linear regression models were used for statistics analysis. RESULTS: The mix of three skills in Katz's model indicated that human skills were equally important in all three managerial levels. Of the 23 competencies, effective communication and political astuteness were rated by nurse managers at all levels as the highest-scored (M = 4.88, SD = 0.34) and lowest-scored competency (M = 3.92, SD = 0.78), respectively. Managerial level was a significant predictor of the perceived importance of competency. CONCLUSIONS: Relationship-based competencies were prominent in the perceived importance of competencies among nurse managers at different levels. Managerial hierarchy influences the relative importance of the different managerial competencies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: This study's results provide the talent strategy framework required for improving the competencies of nurse managers at all levels.

Exploring the Effects of Pharmacological, Psychosocial, and Alternative/Complementary Interventions in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Meta-Regression Approach.

BACKGROUND: There have been various therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the previous meta-analysis of ADHD efficacy remains unclear. This study aims to systemically meta-regress the effect sizes (ES) of psychostimulant pharmacotherapy (methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine), non-stimulant pharmacotherapy (atomoxetine and alpha-2 agonists), psychosocial therapy (parental behavioral therapy [PBT]), combination therapy (psychostimulant plus PBT), and alternative/complementary interventions to determine the right treatment for ADHD. METHODS: We searched various ADHD interventions from the MEDLINE and PubMed databases (National Center for Biotechnology Information) between January 1, 1980, and July 30, 2018. Following the meta-analysis of random effects, the meta-regression analyses were used to explore factors potentially influencing treatment efficacy. The confounding variables included type of treatment, type of study, age, type of symptom scale used, and year of publication. RESULTS: A total of 107 trials (n = 9883 participants) were included. After adjustment, compared with the psychostimulant therapy (28 trial, 2134 participants), non-stimulant pharmacotherapy (28 trials, 4991 participants) and alternative/complement intervention (25 trials, 1195 participants) were less effective by the ES of -0.384 (P = .004) and -0.419 (P = .028), respectively. However, compared with psychostimulant, PBT (19 trials, 1122 participants; ES = -0.308, P = .095) and the combination of psychostimulant and PBT (7 trials, 441participants; ES = -0.196, P = .209) did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Psychostimulant therapy surpassed non-stimulant pharmacotherapy and alternative/complement intervention. Psychostimulant therapy, PBT, and the combination of psychostimulant therapy and PBT appear to be similar in efficacy according to this meta-regression.

A Web-Based Integrated Management Program for Improving Medication Adherence and Quality of Life, and Reducing Readmission in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is related to a variety of chronic diseases and life-threatening complications. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be 72 million patients with AF in Asia, of which 2.9 million will have AF-associated stroke. AF has become a major issue for health care systems. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of a web-based integrated management program on improving coping strategies, medication adherence, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with AF, and to detect the effect on decreasing readmission events. METHODS: The parallel-group, single-blind, prospective randomized controlled trial recruited patients with AF from a medical center in northern Taiwan and divided them randomly into intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group received the web-based integrated management program, whereas those in the control group received usual care. The measurement tools included the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale, Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), the three-level version of the EuroQoL five-dimension self-report questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), and readmission events 2 years after initiating the intervention. Data were collected at 4 instances (baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after initiating the intervention), and analyzed with generalized estimating equations (GEEs). RESULTS: A total of 231 patients were recruited and allocated into an intervention (n=115) or control (n=116) group. The mean age of participants was 73.08 (SD 11.71) years. Most participants were diagnosed with paroxysmal AF (171/231, 74%), and the most frequent comorbidity was hypertension (162/231, 70.1%). Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in approach coping strategies, medication adherence, and HRQoL at 1, 3, and 6 months (all P<.05). In addition, the intervention group showed significantly fewer readmission events within 2 years (OR 0.406, P=.03), compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The web-based integrated management program can significantly improve patients' coping strategy and medication adherence. Therefore, it can empower patients to maintain disease stability, which is a major factor in improving their HRQoL and reducing readmission events within 2 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04813094; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04813094.

Effectiveness of Theory-Based Health Information Technology Interventions on Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Behavior: A Clinical Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, self-management behavior, and blood pressure control are important to cardiovascular event prevention and promotion of quality of life (QOL), but they are underutilized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-efficacy theory-based health information technology intervention implemented through blood control and patient self-management. DESIGN: A clinical randomized waitlist-controlled trial. METHODS: The study was conducted at a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 60 subjects were randomly assigned to either the immediate intervention (experimental) group or the waitlist control group. The primary endpoint was systolic blood pressure at 3 months; secondary end points included self-management behavior and QOL. Treatment for the immediate intervention group lasted 3 months, while the waitlist control group received routine care for the first 3 months, at which point they crossed over to the intervention arm and received the same intervention as the experimental group for another 3 months. Both groups were evaluated by questionnaires and physiological measurements at both 3 and 6 months postadmission. The results were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure significantly improved for the intervention group participants at 3 months, when there was also significant improvement in self-management behavior and QOL. There was no significant or appreciable effect of time spent in the waitlist condition, with treatments in the two conditions being similarly effective. CONCLUSION: The use of a theory-based health information technology treatment compared with usual care resulted in a significant improvement in systolic blood pressure, self-management behavior, and QOL in patients with coronary artery disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This treatment would be a useful strategy for clinical care of cardiovascular disease patients, improving their disease self-management. It also may help guide further digital health care strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quality of life in patients with comorbid serious mental illness and chronic diseases: A structural equation model.

AIMS: To investigate the factors affecting the quality of life among adults with comorbid serious mental illness and chronic diseases. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study design. METHODS: In total, 204 patients with serious mental illness were recruited from two hospitals. Self-reported data were collected using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness, Patient Activation Measure and brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument. Data were collected between July 2018 - January 2019. The structural equation model was applied to examine the associations among the study variables. RESULTS: Internalized stigma (ß = -0.479, p = .002) had the greatest direct effect on quality of life, followed by patient activation (ß = 0.238, p = .002), severity of comorbidities (ß = -0.207, p = .002) and psychiatric symptoms (ß = -0.186, p = .006). In addition, psychiatric symptoms directly influenced the severity of comorbidities, which in turn directly influenced internalized stigma and then in turn directly influenced patient activation and ultimately influenced quality of life. CONCLUSION: The relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life is significantly mediated by patient activation. This finding provides a theoretical basis for developing patient activation interventions for patients with comorbid mental and chronic diseases, which potentially improve the quality of life of this population. IMPACT: Multiple comorbidities cause impaired quality of life in patients with serious mental illnesses. We found that patient activation plays an important role in the management of chronic diseases for achieving more favourable quality of life, but this is negatively affected by internalized stigma. These findings can help mental health professionals develop tailored intervention strategies to enhance quality of life by promoting patient activation and reducing internalized stigma, psychiatric symptoms, and comorbidity severity in patients with comorbid serious mental illnesses and chronic diseases.

Psychometric properties and development of the competency inventory for Taiwanese nurse managers across all levels.

AIMS: To describe the development and psychometric testing of the competency inventory for nurse managers across all levels in Taiwan. BACKGROUND: The competency-based approach to develop nursing leadership and management competencies for the health care context is still insufficiently explored in terms of professional development in nursing administration. METHODS: This study used mixed methods, including qualitative study for generating the preliminary inventory and a cross-sectional survey of 573 nurse managers for psychometric properties of the inventory. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed four domains with 23 items that explained 58.21% of the overall variance. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a well-fitting goodness-of-fit statistics. The construct validity was adequate, with an average variance extracted of 0.68 and composite reliability of 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: Across different levels, nurse managers have 23 essential competencies. The competency inventory demonstrates adequate psychometric properties with good construct validity and internal consistency, thereby reliable and valid for guiding the competency development of nurse managers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The essential competencies of the inventory serve as a criterion-referenced measurement for competence proficiency in professional development of nursing administration and contribute to performance improvement of nurse managers in practice.

Treatment Efficacy of Internet Gaming Disorder With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Emotional Dysregulaton.

BACKGROUND: Recent youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) noticed emotional dysregulation if they had Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). This study aims to understand the treatment efficacy of IGD with ADHD and emotional dysregulaton. METHOD: A total of 101 ADHD youths were recruited. We used the Chen Internet Addiction Scale and IGD criteria of the diagnotsic statistical manual (DSM)-5 to confirm IGD. The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham questionnaire Version IV was used for symptoms of ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder was assessed by psychiatrist. RESULTS: There is a new phenomenon that emotional dysregulation has been frequently noticed in severely gaming-addicted ADHD youth. Treatment efficacy of IGD is good when the underlying symptom of ADHD is controlled. Symptom scores of disruptive mood dysregulation (DMDD) were significantly reduced by 71.9%, 74.8%, and 84.4% at week 2, 3, and 4, respectively (P ≤ .001) after adjusting baseline symptom severity. CONCLUSION: IGD may strongly arouse emotional dysregulation. Future DSM criteria could consider these gaming-addicted youth as a specific subclass of ADHD.

Effects of a smartphone-based videoconferencing program for older nursing home residents on depression, loneliness, and quality of life: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Smartphones can optimize the opportunities for interactions between nursing home residents and their families. However, the effectiveness of smartphone-based videoconferencing programs in enhancing emotional status and quality of life has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate of the effect of a smartphone-based videoconferencing program on nursing home residents' feelings of loneliness, depressive symptoms and quality of life. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental research design. Older residents from seven nursing homes in Taiwan participated in this study. Nursing homes (NH) were randomly selected as sites for either the intervention group (5 NH) or the control group (2 NH); NH residents who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate. The intervention group was comprised of 32 participants; the control group was comprised of 30 participants. The intervention group interacted with their family members once a week for 6 months using a smartphone and a "LINE" application (app). Data were collected with self-report instruments: subjective feelings of loneliness, using the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale; depressive symptoms, using the Geriatric Depression Scale; and quality of life using the SF-36. Data were collected at four time points (baseline, and at 1-month, 3-months and 6-months from baseline). Data were analysed using the generalized estimating equation approach. RESULTS: After the intervention, as compared to those in the control group, participants in interventional group had significant decreases in baseline loneliness scores at 1 months (ß = - 3.41, p < 0.001), 3 months (ß = - 5.96, p < 0.001), and 6 months (ß = - 7.50, p < 0.001), and improvements in physical role (ß = 36.49, p = 0.01), vitality (ß = 13.11, p < 0.001) and pain scores (ß = 16.71, p = 0.01) at 6 months. However, changes in mean depression scores did not significantly differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone-based videoconferencing effectively improved residents' feelings of loneliness, and physiological health, vitality and pain, but not depressive symptoms. Future investigations might evaluate the effectiveness of other media-based technologies in nursing homes as well as their effectiveness within and between different age cohorts.

Integration of Different Sensory Interventions From Mother's Breast Milk for Preterm Infant Pain During Peripheral Venipuncture Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of integrating mother's breast milk (BM) with three different combinations of sensory stimuli on preterm infant pain during peripheral venipuncture procedures. DESIGN: A prospective, repeated-measures randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Preterm infants (gestational age between 28 and 37 weeks, and in stable condition) needing venipuncture were recruited by convenience sampling (N = 140) and randomly assigned to four treatment conditions: (a) routine care (condition 1); (b) BM odor or taste (condition 2); (c) BM odor or taste + heartbeat sounds (HBs; condition 3), and (d) BM odor or taste + HBs + non-nutritive sucking (NNS; condition 4). Pain scores were assessed based on the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) over nine phases: baseline (phase 0, 5 min without stimuli before venipuncture), disinfecting (phase 1), during venipuncture (phase 2), and a 10-min recovery (phases 3-8). FINDINGS: Infants who received BM odor or taste + HBs + NNS had significantly lower increases in pain scores from baseline compared with controls across phases 1 through 8. Infants treated with either condition 2 or 3 demonstrated significant reductions in mild pain during disinfecting and recovery phases, as compared with the controls. When condition 2 was used as the reference, there were no significant differences in pain scores between the infants receiving condition 3 across the nine phases, suggesting mothers' HBs have only mild analgesic effects on venipuncture pain. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of mother's BM odor or taste, HBs, and tactile NNS should be considered as an intervention for alleviation of procedural pain for preterm infants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should incorporate the integrated sensory intervention into caregiving support for preterm infants undergoing short painful procedures.

Effects of Combined Use of Mother's Breast Milk, Heartbeat Sounds, and Non-Nutritive Sucking on Preterm Infants' Behavioral Stress During Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Even routine procedures can cause pain and stress, and can be harmful to the fast-growing brain of preterm infants. Mitigating pain and stress with sucrose and analgesics has side effects; thus, an alternate choice is the use of natural breast milk and infants' sensory capabilities. Therefore, this study examined the effects of different integrations of sensory experiences-mother's breast milk odor and taste (BM-OT), heartbeat sounds (HBs), and non-nutritive sucking (NNS)-on preterm infant's behavioral stress during venipuncture. DESIGN: This study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Infants born preterm (<37 weeks' gestational age) were enrolled in the study through convenience sampling, and randomly assigned to the following conditions: (condition 1) routine care (n = 36); (condition 2) BM-OT (n = 33); (condition 3) BM-OT + HBs (n = 33); or (condition 4) BM-OT + HBs + NNS (n = 36). Crying duration from puncture to recovery period was recorded using a voice recorder. Facial actions and body movements were measured using an infant behavioral coding scheme and transformed into frequencies during seven stages: baseline (stage 0), disinfecting (stage 1), venipuncture (stage 2), and the recovery period for 10 minutes (stages 3-6). FINDINGS: Data were analyzed for 138 preterm infants. The corresponding median times to stop crying for conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 137, 79, 81, and 39 s, respectively; the instantaneous occurrence rates of stopping crying for conditions 2, 3, and 4 were 1.469, 1.574, and 2.996 times greater than for condition 1, respectively. Infants receiving conditions 3 and 4 had significantly fewer occurrences of facial actions (stage 6 and stages 4-6, respectively) and body movements (stages 3-6 for both); however, there were no significant reductions in stress behaviors for condition 2 (BM-OT). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of BM-OT, HBs, and NNS could be provided to preterm infants as interventions to prevent and reduce behavioral stress, and facilitate pain recovery during venipuncture procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should be educated about how to recognize preterm infants' behavioral stress, and to incorporate different sensory combinations of respective mothers' BM, HBs, and NNS into painful procedures to help preterm infants recover from distress.

Rethinking potentially inappropriate medication use in nursing homes within the Chinese population.

This study aimed to understand the prevalence of Chinese medicine and other potentially inappropriate medications and to examine if there are relationships with emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and falls in a Chinese nursing home population. This cross-sectional descriptive study was a secondary analysis of data from 531 nursing home residents in Taiwan. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used in the analysis. Use of Chinese medicine in combination with Western medicine was observed in approximately 1% of residents. For every additional Chinese medicine used, the hazard ratio was 3.09 (p=.26) for emergency room visits and 3.22 (p=.21) for hospital admissions. For every additional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent used, the hazard ratio for falls was 5.42 (p=.006). Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to understand the appropriate time intervals required between administration of Chinese and Western medicine as well as to understand the drug-drug interactions.

Effect of Home Medication Titration on Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Medication titration has been used in home blood pressure (BP) control, with the expectation of enabling patients with hypertension to better manage their BP. OBJECTIVE: The study goal was to estimate the effects of medication titration intervention in lowering the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of patients with hypertension. METHODS: The meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials on adults diagnosed with hypertension and BP≧130/80 mm Hg, having a medication-titration intervention, and using a home BP measurement. We systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid-Medline, and the Cochrane Library, for studies published from 1997 to 2017. The quality of the studies was evaluated by the Modified Jadad scale. Statistical heterogeneity among the trials was evaluated using Q statistics and I. Publication bias was assessed with the funnel plot and Rosenthal's fail-safe N. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 4 studies randomizing 1335 participants. Medication-titration intervention significantly assisted hypertensive patients to improve BP control; systolic blood pressure was reduced by 6.86 mm Hg [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.80-8.93, P<0.0001] and diastolic blood pressure by 3.03 mm Hg (95% CI, 2.07-3.99, P<0.0001), did not significantly affect EQ-5D scores (mean difference, 0.02; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.04, P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest home medication titration of antihypertensive medication for hypertensive patients significantly improved home BP control. However, the strategy did not enhance quality of life in patients with hypertension.

Gamma knife radiosurgery for the treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas: post-treatment long-term clinical outcomes, complications, and volume changes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of cavernous sinus (CS) meningiomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological outcomes of 95 patients with CS meningiomas at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 1993 and 2011. The study cohort comprised 27 men and 68 women with a median age of 50 years (range 29-79 years). The median pre-GKRS tumor volume was 6.6 ml (range 0.9-35.7 ml). The median margin dose was 12 Gy (range 11-21 Gy). The clinical factors related to favorable outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 59 (range 12-209) months. At the final follow-up, the tumor volume regressed in 70 patients (74%) and progressed in eight (8%). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the progression-free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 92.7% and 81.2%, respectively. Three patients (3.2%) experienced exacerbated cranial nerve dysfunction following radiosurgery. Confined tumors were found to be an independent prognostic factor for tumor control and shorter times to regression in the multivariable analyses. No risk factor for tumor progression was identified in either the univariate or multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: GKRS provides good long-term tumor control and is associated with low cranial nerve-related morbidity development rates in patients with small- to medium-sized CS meningiomas. Confined tumor could be an independent prognostic factor for tumor control and shorter times to regression in multivariate analysis. Life-long follow-up is mandatory in such settings, even for outpatients with shrunken or stabilized tumors.

Risk factors and prediction model for persistent breast-cancer-related lymphedema: a 5-year cohort study.

PURPOSE: Breast-cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) can be a transient or persistent condition. The aims of this study were to (1) identify and weigh the risk factors for persistent lymphedema (PLE) among all patients with BCRL and (2) establish a prediction model for the occurrence of PLE. METHODS: A cohort of 342 patients with BCRL with a median follow-up of 5 years after the onset of swelling was analyzed. PLE was defined as a hardening of the subcutaneous tissue, the persistence of the circumferential difference (CD) between arms, or a flare-up of swelling during follow-up. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for PLE, including tumors, treatments, and patient-related factors. The prediction accuracy of the model was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: Of the 342 patients with BCRL, 229 (67%) had PLE. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of lymph node metastases (p = 0.012), the maximal CD between arms at the first occurrence of swelling (p < 0.001), and the largest difference during follow-up (p < 0.001) were significant predictors for PLE. The corresponding AUC was 0.908. Although inclusion of body weight gains (p = 0.008) and maximal CD at the latest follow-up (p = 0.002) increased the analytical accuracy (AUC = 0.920), the resulting AUC values (p = 0.113) were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: BCRL is persistent in two thirds of patients. Patients with more lymph node metastases, weight gain, and larger CD since the onset of swelling and during follow-up have an increased likelihood of developing PLE.

A Web-Based Self-Titration Program to Control Blood Pressure in Patients With Primary Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major cause of mortality in cardiac, vascular, and renal disease. Effective control of elevated blood pressure has been shown to reduce target organ damage. A Web-based self-titration program may empower patients to control their own disease, share decisions about antihypertensive dose titration, and improve self-management, ultimately improving health-related quality of life. OBJECTIVE: Our primary aim was to evaluate the effects of a Web-based self-titration program for improving blood pressure control in patients with primary hypertension. Our secondary aim was to evaluate the effects of that program on improving health-related quality of life. METHODS: This was a parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. We included patients with primary hypertension (blood pressure>130/80 mm Hg) from a cardiology outpatient department in northern Taiwan and divided them randomly into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received the Web-based self-titration program, while the control group received usual care. The random allocation was concealed from participants and outcome evaluators. Health-related quality of life was measured by the EuroQol five-dimension self-report questionnaire. We used generalized estimating equations to evaluate the effects of the intervention. RESULTS: We included 222 patients and divided them equally into intervention (n=111) and control (n=111) groups. Patients receiving the Web-based self-titration program showed significantly greater improvement in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure control than those who did not receive this program, at 3 months (-21.4 mm Hg and -5.4 mm Hg, respectively; P<.001) and 6 months (-27.8 mm Hg and -9.7 mm Hg, respectively; P<.001). Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in the overall defined daily dose at both 3 (-0.202, P=.003) and 6 (-0.236, P=.001) months. Finally, health-related quality of life improved significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group at both 3 and 6 months (both, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: A Web-based self-titration program can provide immediate feedback to patients about how to control their blood pressure and manage their disease at home. This program not only decreases mean blood pressure but also increases health-related quality of life in patients with primary hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03470974; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03470974.

Increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) receiving sensory integration therapy: a population-based cohort study.

Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been found to prefer sensory integration (SI) training rather than guideline-recommended ADHD treatment. This study investigated whether SI intervention for children with ADHD was associated with a reduced risk of subsequent mental disorders. From children < 8-years-old newly diagnosed with ADHD in a nationwide population-based dataset, we established a SI cohort and a non-SI cohort (N =  1945) matched by propensity score. Incidence and hazard ratios of subsequent psychiatric disorders were compared after a maximum follow-up of 9 years. The incidence of psychiatric disorders was 1.4-fold greater in the SI cohort, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.20-1.67), comparing to the non-SI cohort. Risks were elevated for emotional disturbances, conduct disorders, and adjustment disorders independent of age, gender, or comorbidity. Among children with only psychosocial intervention, the incidence of psychiatric disorders was 3.5-fold greater in the SI cohort than in the non-SI cohort. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders for children with ADHD who received SI compared to those who did not. Potential adverse effects of SI for ADHD children should be carefully examined and discussed before practice.

Factors Affecting Self-care Maintenance and Management in Patients With Heart Failure: Testing a Path Model.

BACKGROUND: Self-care is indispensable for health maintenance and well-being. This naturalistic decision-making process involves behavioral choices to maintain physiological stability (self-care maintenance) and response to occurring symptoms (self-care management). However, several factors affect self-care, but some have contradictory results. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine how depressive symptoms, social support, eHealth literacy, and heart failure (HF) knowledge directly and indirectly affect self-care maintenance and management and to identify the mediating role of self-care confidence in self-care maintenance and management. METHODS: The study included a total of 141 patients with HF (average age, 65.2 years; male, 55.3%). We analyzed their data, including demographic and clinical characteristics, obtained from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, eHealth Literacy Scale, Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale, and Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. Furthermore, path analysis was conducted to examine the effects of the study variables on self-care maintenance and management. RESULTS: Self-care confidence significantly and directly affected self-care maintenance and management and mediated the relationships between factor variables (depressive symptoms, social support, and HF knowledge) and outcome variables (self-care maintenance and management). Specifically, depressive symptoms had a negative and direct effect on self-care maintenance, whereas eHealth literacy had significant and direct effects on self-care management and HF knowledge. CONCLUSION: Self-care confidence decreases the negative effects of depressive symptoms on self-care. This study underscores the need for interventions targeting patients' self-care confidence to maximize self-care among patients with HF.

Pharmacologically upregulated carcinoembryonic antigen-expression enhances the cytolytic activity of genetically-modified chimeric antigen receptor NK-92MI against colorectal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The natural killer cell line, NK-92MI, is cytotoxic against various types of cancer. The aim of this study was to develop chimeric antigen receptor-modified (CAR) NK-92MI cells targeting carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing (CEA) tumours and increase killing efficacy by pharmacologically modifying CEA-expression. RESULT: We generated anti-CEA-CAR NK-92MI cells by retroviral vector transduction. This genetically-modified cell line recognised and lysed high CEA-expressing tumour cell lines (LS174T) at 47.54 ± 12.60% and moderate CEA-expressing tumour cell lines (WiDr) at 31.14 ± 16.92% at a 5:1 effector: target (E/T) ratio. The cell line did not lyse low CEA-expressing tumour cells (HCT116) as they did their parental cells (NK-92MI cells). The histone deacetylase-inhibitor (HDAC) sodium butyrate (NaB) and the methylation-inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-AZA), as epigenetic modifiers, induced CEA-expression in HCT116 and WiDr cells. Although the IC50 of 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) increased, both cell lines showed collateral sensitivity to anti-CEA-CAR NK-92MI cells. The cytolytic function of anti-CEA-CAR NK-92MI cells was increased from 22.99 ± 2.04% of lysis background to 69.20 ± 11.92% after NaB treatment, and 69.70 ± 9.93% after 5-AZA treatment, at a 10:1 E/T ratio in HCT116 cells. The WiDr cells showed similar trend, from 22.99 ± 4.01% of lysis background to 70.69 ± 10.19% after NaB treatment, and 59.44 ± 10.92% after 5-AZA treatment, at a 10:1 E/T ratio. CONCLUSIONS: This data indicates that the effector-ability of anti-CEA-CAR NK-92MI increased in a CEA-dependent manner. The combination of epigenetic-modifiers like HDAC-inhibitors, methylation-inhibitors, and adoptive-transfer of ex vivo-expanded allogeneic-NK cells may be clinically applicable to patients with in 5-FU resistant condition.