Activity

Therefore, the adsorption of albumin under pH 4.2 is charge-induced affinity adsorption, not simple ion exchange. The so-called dual-mode adsorption depends not only on the chromatographic medium but also on the separated object and environment. HPSEC showed that the purity of recovered HSA was greater than 98%. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra were consistent with that of the commercial product. Furthermore, the measurement by isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the separated HSA still maintained the binding activities with the ligands of warfarin and naproxen. It is therefore possible to directly recover high-purity and high-quality human serum albumin from the effluent of plasma fractionation industry by one-step chromatography.

The point of view of symptom clusters (SCs) may develop an efficient symptom management strategy to enhance health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in head and neck (HNC) patients with endotracheal tube (ETT). The study aims to investigate the possible SCs in HNC patients with ETT and determine whether there was an independent relationship between one or more SCs and HRQoL.

A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and 203 HNC patients with ETT were recruited. They took measurements of General Information Questionnaire, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head & Neck, and Twelve-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Spearman correlations, partial correlations, and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed to determine latent number of SCs, and covariance analyses were used to determine independent associations between SCs and SF-12. This study followed STROBE Statement.

Pain SCs (pain, distressed, short of breath, and sadness), fatigue SCs (fatigue/weakness, restless, and sleepy), digestive SCs (appetite loss, constipation, and nausea), HNC-specific SCs (dry mouth and mucus), and tracheostomy-related SCs (difficulty swallowing and difficulty with voice and speech) were found. After adjusting covariant variables, this study found independent relationships of pain SCs and fatigue SCs with physical component summary of SF-12, and between fatigue SCs and mental component summary of SF-12.

Multiple SCs were found in those HNC patients. Pain SCs and fatigue SCs were independently associated with HRQoL. In process of caring HNC patients with ETT, it is vital to focus on SCs, especially on pain SCs and fatigue SCs, which might effectively improve patients’ HRQoL.

Multiple SCs were found in those HNC patients. Pain SCs and fatigue SCs were independently associated with HRQoL. In process of caring HNC patients with ETT, it is vital to focus on SCs, especially on pain SCs and fatigue SCs, which might effectively improve patients’ HRQoL.

To validate the Chinese version of the Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS) among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiotherapy (RT).

Patients with HNC undergoing RT were enrolled from a cancer hospital. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. MitoPQ Mitochondrial Metabolism chemical Patients’ subjective taste alterations (TAs) were assessed by the CiTAS. The content validity was evaluated by five experts. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess construct validity. Convergent validity was assessed by the correlation between the CiTAS score and the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) score. A single-item subjective intensity taste alteration question and quartiles of RT duration were used to assess the discriminant validity. The reliability was assessed by the Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability.

253 patients participated this investigation and 25 patients completed twice. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the original CiTAS structure with four dimensions was not applicable to patients with HNC undergoing RT. The Chinese version of modified-CiTAS (m-CiTAS) retained 17 items (the item “bothered by the smell of food” was deleted) loading onto three factors decline in taste, discomfort, and phantogeusia and parageusia. The m-CiTAS showed acceptable correlations with the QLQ-C30. It could effectively discriminate the intensity of subjective TAs according to the single-item question and quartiles of RT duration. The m-CiTAS showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.573-0.958) and test-retest reliability (r=0.726-0.831, P<0.05).

The Chinese version of m-CiTAS is an acceptable and applicable instrument to evaluate TAs among patients with HNC undergoing RT.

The Chinese version of m-CiTAS is an acceptable and applicable instrument to evaluate TAs among patients with HNC undergoing RT.

1) To examine the differences in physical symptoms, psychological distress and unmet needs between short-term (2-5 years) and long-term (>5 years) breast cancer survivors (BCSs). 2) To explore how physical symptoms and psychological distress impact unmet needs among women in different survival stages.

Three hundred forty-nine people with breast cancer completed questionnaires. Short-term (2-5 years) and long-term (>5 years) survival stages were examined. Physical symptoms (number of physical symptoms); psychological distress, including fear of recurrence (FOR) (FOR visual analogue scale (VAS)) and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale); and unmet needs (Chinese Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs scale) were measured. Structural equation modelling with multi-group analysis was used to assess differences between short- and long-term survivors in the magnitude of paths.

In total, 157 women who had survived <5 years and 192 women who had survived >5 years were recruited. The path coefficients from physical and depressive symptoms to unmet needs were similar between short-term BCSs and long-term BCSs (p>.05). However, the path coefficient from FOR to unmet needs among women who had survived for >5 years was significantly greater than that among those who had survived <5 years (p<.001).

Based on these results, health care professionals should be aware of the FOR that women experience even 5 years after their initial diagnosis. Providing survivorship care plans with comprehensive side effect-related information soon after treatment is recommended.

Based on these results, health care professionals should be aware of the FOR that women experience even 5 years after their initial diagnosis. Providing survivorship care plans with comprehensive side effect-related information soon after treatment is recommended.