Factors associated with professional identity among ICU nurses during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To determine the associated factors of professional identity among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Design: Multicentre cross-sectional study.

Methods: This study invited 348 ICU nurses in five hospitals in China from May to July 2020.

Association Between Visceral Fat, Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Patients with HFpEF: A Mediation Analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the association of visceral fat with arterial stiffness of heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and to evaluate the extent to which this association is mediated by blood pressure (BP).

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04535726) recruited 94 patients with HFpEF totally from October to December 2020.

Succinate level is increased and succinate dehydrogenase exerts forward and reverse catalytic activities in lipopolysaccharides-stimulated cardiac tissue: The protective role of dimethyl malonate.

This study aimed to investigate the alterations of myocardial succinate and fumarate levels with or without succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitor dimethyl malonate during 24 h of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) challenge, as well as the effects of dimethyl malonate on the impaired cardiac tissue. Myocardial succinate and fumarate levels were increased in the initial 9 h of LPS challenge. During this time, dimethyl malonate increased the succinate level, decreased the fumarate level, aggravated the cardiac dysfunction, reduced the oxidative stress, had little effect on interleukin-1β production, promoted interleukin-10 production and bothered the ATP production.

Non-invasive global myocardial work index as a new surrogate of ventricular-arterial coupling in hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Objective: As a new method of left ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC), the non-invasive myocardial work index (MWI) may provide more useful information than the classical methods of arterial elastance/left ventricular (LV) elastance index (the ratio of effective arterial elastance (Ea) over end-systolic elastance [Ea/Ees]). This research aims to investigate if MWI might be better associated with hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and diastolic dysfunction than Ea/Ees in hypertension.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 104 hypertensives and 69 normotensives.

Death anxiety and its relationship with family function and meaning in life in patients with advanced cancer-A cross-sectional survey in China.

Objective: This study explores the factors influencing death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer, and to investigate the role of family function on death anxiety, and the correlation between meaning in life and death anxiety.

Methods: Patients with advanced cancer who were hospitalized in three institutions from November 2020 to May 2021 were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Chinese version of the Death and Dying Distress Scale, Meaning in Life Scale For Advanced Cancer Patients and Family APGAR Index were used to assess death anxiety, meaning in life and family function.

Neutrophils to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a new prognostic marker in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective study.

Background: Neutrophils and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) play critical roles in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate the value of neutrophils count to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) in predicting occurrence of in-hospital adverse events in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 532 patients who had been diagnosed with acute STEMI and treated with PPCI.

Association between familism and mental health in dementia caregivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dementia caregivers suffer from mental health problems while caring for dementia patients. As a core value, familism has been linked to the mental health of dementia caregivers. This study aims to systematically review the familism of dementia caregivers and to examine the association between familism and mental health of anxiety, depression, and burden in empirical research studies.

EAT Thickness as a Predominant Feature for Evaluating Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Objective: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an intricacy heterogeneous syndrome. However, the association between EAT and arterial stiffness in HFpEF patients remains unknown.

Methods: A total of 102 patients were enrolled into the study, and brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and body composition were assessed.

Correlation research between fear of disease progression and quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Lung cancer has the highest incidence rate and mortality rate of all malignancies. In recent years, the therapeutic effect of lung cancer has been greatly improved, but the fear of disease progression still directly affects the quality of life (QOL) of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting the progression of fear of disease and its impact on the quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

Correlation between nurses' attitudes towards death and their subjective well-being.

Background: With China's ageing society, the number of deaths increased gradually. Clinical nursing staff are among the first to come into contact with dying patients and scientific attitudes towards death will affect not only the quality of hospice care but also the physical and mental health of the nursing staff. Subjective well-being (SWB) mainly points to the overall emotional and cognitive evaluation of life quality.

Efficacy of family rehabilitation treatment performed by parents under the guidance of professionals in children with autism spectrum disorder: a prospective study.

Objectives: To study the efficacy of family rehabilitation treatment performed by parents under the guidance of professionals in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: In the prospective study, 60 children with ASD, aged 24-60 months, were randomly divided into an observation group and a conventional group. The parents of the children in the conventional group received an online training on basic knowledge and rehabilitation training of ASD alone, and those in the observation group received the online training and performed family rehabilitation treatment under the guidance of a professional team.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Care Evaluation Scale for measuring the quality of structure and process of end-of-life care from the perspective of bereaved family.

Background: Assessing the quality of structure and process of end-of-life care can help improve outcomes. There was currently no valid tool for this purpose in Mainland China. The aim of this study is to validate the Chinese version of the Care Evaluation Scale (CES).

The effects of dyadic coping and marital satisfaction on posttraumatic growth among breast cancer couples.

Objectives: To examine the dyadic relationships of dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, and posttraumatic growth and to confirm the mediating effect of marital satisfaction between dyadic coping and posttraumatic growth among breast cancer patients and their spouses.

Methods: A total of 206 pairs of female breast cancer patients and their spouses from one tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China, from August 2018 to July 2019 were invited to complete the demographics and disease-related information questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Marital Adjustment Scale, and the Dyadic Coping Inventory.

Results: Patients' and spouses' positive/negative dyadic coping exerted actor effects and partner effects on marital satisfaction, while their marital satisfaction and positive dyadic coping only exerted actor effects on posttraumatic growth.

Factors for peripherally inserted central catheters care delay in cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly evolved into a global pandemic. The public health systems have consequently been placed under tremendous pressure. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are widely used in patients with cancers.

TRPC6 participates in the development of blood pressure variability increase in sino-aortic denervated rats.

Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) has been proved to be associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is of great significance to elucidate the mechanism of BPV increase. The cation channel transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) is involved in a series of cardiovascular disease.

TNAP inhibition attenuates cardiac fibrosis induced by myocardial infarction through deactivating TGF-β1/Smads and activating P53 signaling pathways.

Tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is expressed widely in different tissues, modulating functions of metabolism and inflammation. However, the effect of TNAP on cardiac fibrosis remains controversial and needs to be further studied. The present study aims to investigate the role of TNAP on myocardial infarction (MI)-induced fibrosis and its mechanism.

Validation of the Chinese Version of the Good Death Inventory for Evaluating End-of-Life Care From the Perspective of the Bereaved Family.

Context: It is essential to evaluate good death of patients with cancer. However, currently, there is no validated measurement tool available in Mainland China.

Objectives: To validate the Chinese version of the Good Death Inventory (GDI).

DNA hydroxymethylation combined with carotid plaques as a novel biomarker for coronary atherosclerosis.

Little is known about the diagnostic value of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation for coronary atherosclerosis. Carotid plaque is a common marker for coronary atherosclerosis. Our aim is to determine whether DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation combined with carotid plaques can be useful to the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis.

DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation are associated with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis in elderly patients with coronary heart disease.

Aims: DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation are significantly related to the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease (CHD) and atherosclerosis (AS). 5-Methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) are used to assess DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation levels, respectively. However, 5-mC and 5-hmC levels associated with CHD remain controversial.

Factors that contribute to poor adherence to statin therapy in coronary heart disease patients from Chongqing and measures to improve their therapeutic outcomes.

To assess the efficacy and short-term outcomes of adherence to statin therapy among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients following their hospital discharge, we enrolled 615 CHD patients who were prescribed statins from The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China between February 1st and October 31st of 2013. Statin adherence was evaluated by identifying the proportion of patients who remained adherent or became non-adherent to statin therapy over 4-8 months post-discharge from the hospital. The composite outcomes included all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization with cardiovascular disease.

Comparison of prognostic value of red cell distribution width and NT-proBNP for short-term clinical outcomes in acute heart failure patients.

Comparison of the prognostic value of red cell distribution width (RDW) and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for short-term clinical outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF) patients has not been fully investigated.A total of 128 patients with AHF were enrolled and followed for 3 months. Primary endpoints were cardiovascular (CV) events, defined as cardiac death and/or readmission for HF.

[Expression and clinical significance of epidermal growth factor receptor and protein kinase B in gastric carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the association between survival and expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) and protein kinase B(AKT) in gastric carcinoma specimens.

Methods: EGFR and AKT were detected by immunohistochemistry in 84 patients with gastric cancer and 15 controls. Association between their expressions and clinical characteristics as well as prognosis were analyzed.