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The weight of the breasts affects women's center of gravity; thus, the loss of a unilateral breast directly causes a change in body posture when a patient undergoes unilateral modified radical mastectomy. This study examined the effects of an external prosthesis (EP), immediate breast reconstruction (IBR), and body shape training (BST) on body posture, body image, and quality of life in patients with breast cancer with unilateral mastectomy through an 18-month follow-up. Of 810 individuals screened for eligibility, 722 were enrolled and randomly assigned into three comparison groups (EP [n = 157] vs. IBR [n = 157]; EP [n = 143] vs. BST [n = 143]; IBR [n = 61] vs. BST [n = 61]). IBR was superior to EP and BST, with the smallest trend of changes in body posture, the least body image distress, and a higher quality of life. EP was superior to BST, with the smallest trend of changes in body posture, the least body image distress, and a higher quality of life. IBR can effectively maintain body posture and improve body image, thereby reducing body image distress and improving quality of life. It is the best choice for breast cancer patients with unilateral mastectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal anxiety questionnaires such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety are widely used to measure preoperative anxiety. There is currently major interest in developing a surgery-specific preoperative anxiety assessment tool. This study aimed to develop and validate a preoperative anxiety scale for breast cancer patients. Based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews, a draft assessment scale was constructed. The scale was revised after two rounds of Delphi consultations, and a pilot test was performed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale. The final scale consisted of 33 items and a global rating score with an item-level content validity of 0.765–0.941. The scale-level content validity was 0.964. Exploratory factor analysis identified four principal factors, and the cumulative contribution of variance was 62.49%. The load value of the common factors of each item was > 0.5. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a chi-square test of the goodness of fit (휒2/df) = 1.617. The root mean square error of approximation was 0.042, the goodness of fit index was 0.886, the comparative fit index was 0.956, and the normal fit index was 0.894. The total and dimension scores were positively correlated (r = 0.513–0.767, p < 0.001) with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety scores. The scale developed in this study has good reliability and validity and can be easily used to objectively assess preoperative anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: This study examines the effects of family beliefs and family strength on individual resilience and quality of life among young breast cancer survivors and determines whether family strength mediates the effect of family beliefs on individual resilience and quality of life. Background: Family beliefs and family strength are meaningful protective factors that help individuals maintain physical and mental health. However, few studies have explored their impact on individual resilience and quality of life. Design: This study was conducted using a cross‐sectional survey with a three‐stage, stratified, convenience sampling approach following the STROBE guideline. Methods: From August 2020 to May 2021, participants completed the shortened Chinese version of the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, the Chinese version of the Family Beliefs Scale, the Family Strength Scale and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Breast scale. Structural equation modelling and multiple mediation effects test were used to explore the relationships among family beliefs, family strength, individual resilience and quality of life. Results: The final model accounted for 44.5% and 78.1% of the total variance of individual resilience and quality of life, respectively. Family beliefs had an indirect effect on both individual resilience and quality of life through family strength. Family strength had a direct effect on individual resilience and had both a direct and an indirect effect on quality of life. Family strength mediated the correlations of family beliefs with individual resilience and quality of life. Conclusion: Mobilising family resources to establish healthy family beliefs and exert positive family strength will help increase young breast cancer survivors' individual resilience and improve quality of life. Relevance to clinical practice: This study confirms the importance for clinical nursing practice to mobilise family resources and develop interventions centred on family beliefs and family strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Cervical osseous foraminal stenosis (COFS) results from the uncinate process and facet hyperostosis. Currently, the optimal surgical technique for the treatment of COFS remains controversial. Materials and Methods. Patients with COFS presenting radiculopathy underwent posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy by the circumferential decompression technique. The neck disability index (NDI), the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the outcomes. In addition, the range of motion (ROM) and the slippage distance between the operated vertebrae in flexion-extension position were measured to evaluate the stability of the cervical spine. Results. There were 24 consecutive patients in the study. The mean follow-up period was 16.2 months (range: 12-26 months). The NDI and VAS scores for arm/neck pain improved significantly from preoperatively to the last follow-up. The satisfaction rate by modified MacNab criteria was 91.7% on the third postoperative day and 100% on the day of final follow-up. There were no significant differences in intervertebral ROM or slippage distance between the last follow-up and preoperatively (P = 0.968 , P = 0.394). Arm pain occurred in one patient, and sustained fingers numbness in two patients, but these symptoms resolved at the last follow-up. Conclusions. Posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy by the circumferential decompression technique is a safe and effective treatment for COFS. Moreover, it preserves the stability and physiological mobility of the cervical spine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. With the COVID-19 epidemic breakout in China, up to 25% of diagnosed cases are considered to be severe. To effectively predict the progression of COVID-19 via patients' clinical features at an early stage, the prevalence of these clinical factors and their relationships with severe illness were assessed. Methods. In this study, electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Chinese database) were searched to obtain relevant studies, including information on severe patients. Publication bias analysis, sensitivity analysis, prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, diagnosis odds ratio calculation, and visualization graphics were achieved through software Review Manager 5.3, Stata 15, Meta-DiSc 1.4, and R. Results. Data of 3.547 patients from 24 studies were included in this study. The results revealed that patients with chronic respiratory system diseases (pooled positive likelihood 6.07, 95% CI: 3.12-11.82), chronic renal disease (4.79, 2.04-11.25), cardiovascular disease (3.45, 2.19-5.44), and symptoms of the onset of chest tightness (3.8, 1.44-10.05), shortness of breath (3.18, 2.24-4.51), and diarrhea (2.04, 1.38-3.04) exhibited increased probability of progressing to severe illness. C-reactive protein, ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased a lot in severe patients compared to nonsevere. Yet, it was found that clinical features including fever, cough, and headache, as well as some comorbidities, have little warning value. Conclusions. The clinical features and laboratory examination could be used to estimate the process of infection in COVID-19 patients. The findings contribute to the more efficient prediction of serious illness for patients with COVID-19 to reduce mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative synergistic effect of cancer and a peripherally inserted central catheter could significantly increase the incidence of thrombosis. Rather than identifying risk factors for peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis, exploring the effect of these risk factors might be a promising method to improve the outcomes of thrombosis. To analyze the effect of systemic and local risk factors on triggering peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis in the first two weeks post–insertion in cancer patients. A prospective cohort study. The study was conducted at a 4500-bed university-affiliated medical center in China. One hundred seventy-three cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters were included. Peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis was assessed using ultrasound at a series of timepoints, once every two days post–insertion. Data on age, body mass index, blood hypercoagulation, insertion attempts, catheter-to-vein ratio, and blood flow velocity were collected as risk factors. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling were used to describe the study samples and analyze the effects of systemic and local risk factors. Among the 173 cancer patients included, 126 (72.8%) patients were diagnosed with peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis. Most thromboses (n = 118, 93.7%) were detected within five days, and 100% were detected within nine days post–insertion. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that local risk factors [catheter-to-vein ratio (standardized path coefficient = 0.32, p < 0.05) and blood flow velocity (standardized path coefficient = −0.35, p < 0.05)] had a greater effect than systemic factors [age (standardized path coefficient = 0.13, p < 0.05) and blood hypercoagulation (standardized path coefficient = 0.17, p < 0.05)] on triggering peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis. Peripherally inserted central catheter–related thrombosis is quite common and can occur very early post–insertion in cancer patients. Among the common risk factors, local risk factors reflecting peripherally inserted central catheter technology itself had a greater effect than systemic risk factors reflecting predisposition to thrombosis. Clinical Registration: Clinical Trials ChiCTR1900024890. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]