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Background Approximately 54.8% of patients with breast abscesses discontinue breastfeeding due to the lack of adequate breastfeeding support. Research aims We aimed to (1) examine the difference in milk volume produced by healthy breasts and breasts with abscesses; and (2) to explore the changes in milk volume before and after comprehensive management. Method A prospective, consecutive series study was designed. Lactating patients ( N = 50) with breast abscesses were selected from March 2017 to November 2018. The volume and frequency of milk expression of the affected and the unaffected breast were recorded every 24 hr before and after comprehensive management. The difference in the milk volume produced by healthy breasts (control) and breasts with abscesses, as well as the milk volume produced by each breast before and after comprehensive management, was determined. Results There was a significant difference in the milk volume produced by healthy breasts and breasts with abscess before ( t = 3.016; p = .004) and after ( t = 4.336; p < .001) comprehensive management. The frequency of milk expression was significantly higher after comprehensive management than before it ( z = −6.145; p < .001); the milk volume produced by each side significantly increased after comprehensive management (healthy breasts: t = −4.789; p < .001; breasts with abscess: t = 2.555; p = .014). Conclusion The total milk volume produced by breasts with abscesses can be less than that produced by healthy breasts. The management of abscesses by increasing the frequency of milk expression and degree of emptying can help mothers increase their milk volume.

Drought, a natural hydrometeorological phenomenon, has been more frequent and more widespread due to climate change. Water availability strongly regulates the coupling (or trade-off) between carbon uptake via photosynthesis and water loss through transpiration, known as water-use efficiency (WUE). Understanding the effects of drought on WUE across different vegetation types and along the wet to dry gradient is paramount to achieving better understanding of ecosystem functioning in response to climate change. We explored the physiological and environmental control on ecosystem WUE in response to drought using observations for 44 eddy covariance flux sites in the Northern Hemisphere. We quantified the response of WUE to drought and the relative contributions of gross primary production (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) to the variations of WUE. We also examined the control of physiological and environmental factors on monthly WUE under different moisture conditions. Cropland had a peak WUE value under moderate drought conditions, while grassland, deciduous broadleaf forest (DBF), evergreen broadleaf forest (EBF), and evergreen needleleaf forest (ENF) had peak WUE under slight drought conditions. WUE was mainly driven by GPP for cropland, grassland, DBF, and ENF but was mainly driven by ET for EBF. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and canopy conductance (Gc) were the most important factors regulating WUE. Moreover, WUE had negative responses to air temperature, precipitation, and VPD but had a positive response to Gc and ecosystem respiration. Our findings highlight the different effects of biotic and abiotic factors on WUE among different vegetation types and the important roles of VPD and Gc in controlling ecosystem WUE in response to drought.