Objective:To integrate the symptom management experiences of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), so as to provide a basis for developing symptom management measures.Methods:Qualitative or mixed studies on the symptom management experience of ADHF patients included from establishment of the database to September 2024, were electronically retrieved in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, China Biomedical Database and other Chinese and English databases and gray literature databases. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme developed by the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford. The results were synthesized through the aggregative integration method.Results:A total of 14 papers were included. Thirty-four findings were distilled into eight categories and three integrative findings, namely, the multiple challenges posed by symptoms (complex and multiple symptomatic somatic experiences, symptom-induced mood changes, and reduced family and social engagement), the unmet needs of patients (insufficient healthcare resources, insufficient supply of discharge services provided by healthcare organizations, and lack of knowledge), and the co-existence of positive and negative coping styles (negative coping styles in symptomatic distress, positive debugging and diversified coping in symptomatic distress) .Conclusions:ADHF symptoms severely affect patients' physical, psychological, and social function. Healthcare professionals should focus on the unmet needs of patients with ADHF and explore patient-engaged models of active symptom management.

BACKGROUND: Delayed platelet engraftment is a common complication after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), and there is no standard therapy. Avatrombopag (AVA) is a second-generation thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown efficacy in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few reports have focused on its efficacy in patients diagnosed with thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China to evaluate the efficacy of AVA as a first-line TPO-RA in 65 patients after UCBT; these patients were compared with 118 historical controls. Response rates, platelet counts, megakaryocyte counts in bone marrow, bleeding events, adverse events and survival rates were evaluated in this study. Platelet reconstitution differences were compared between different medication groups. Multivariable analysis was used to explore the independent beneficial factors for platelet implantation. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were given AVA within 30 days post-UCBT, and the treatment was continued for more than 7 days to promote platelet engraftment (AVA group); the other 13 patients were given AVA for secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR group). The median time to platelet engraftment was shorter in the AVA group than in the historical control group (32.5 days vs . 38.0 days, Z  = 2.095, P  = 0.036). Among the 52 patients in the AVA group, 46 achieved an overall response (OR) (88.5%), and the cumulative incidence of OR was 91.9%. Patients treated with AVA only had a greater 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than patients treated with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) only or rhTPO combined with AVA (95.2% vs . 84.5% vs . 80.6%, P  <0.001). Patients suffering from SFPR had a slightly better cumulative incidence of OR (100%, P  = 0.104). Patients who initiated AVA treatment within 14 days post-UCBT had a better 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than did those who received AVA after 14 days post-UCBT (96.6% vs . 73.9%, P  = 0.003). CONCLUSION Compared with those in the historical control group, our results indicate that AVA could effectively promote platelet engraftment and recovery after UCBT, especially when used in the early period (≤14 days post-UCBT).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology* ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Thiazoles/adverse effects* ; Platelet Count ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists* ; Child ; Thiophenes

Objective:To integrate the symptom management experiences of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), so as to provide a basis for developing symptom management measures.Methods:Qualitative or mixed studies on the symptom management experience of ADHF patients included from establishment of the database to September 2024, were electronically retrieved in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, China Biomedical Database and other Chinese and English databases and gray literature databases. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme developed by the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford. The results were synthesized through the aggregative integration method.Results:A total of 14 papers were included. Thirty-four findings were distilled into eight categories and three integrative findings, namely, the multiple challenges posed by symptoms (complex and multiple symptomatic somatic experiences, symptom-induced mood changes, and reduced family and social engagement), the unmet needs of patients (insufficient healthcare resources, insufficient supply of discharge services provided by healthcare organizations, and lack of knowledge), and the co-existence of positive and negative coping styles (negative coping styles in symptomatic distress, positive debugging and diversified coping in symptomatic distress) .Conclusions:ADHF symptoms severely affect patients' physical, psychological, and social function. Healthcare professionals should focus on the unmet needs of patients with ADHF and explore patient-engaged models of active symptom management.

Objective: To analyze the relationship of school natural environment perception, exercise identification and exercise behavior, so as to provide references for promoting and improving exercise behavior among junior high school student. Methods: A total of 607 junior high school students were selected from Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jilin and Henan provinces by adopting a combination of convenience sampling and stratified cluster random sampling methods, and a longitudinal tracking survey was conducted over a threemonth period in two stages (T1: March 2023, T2: June 2023), from March to June 2023. Assessment was carried out by using School Natural Environment Perception Scale, Physical Exercise identification Scale and Physical Activity Rating Scale. The associations of school natural environment perception, exercise identification and exercise behavior were explored using correlation analysis and the crosslagged model. Results: For the junior high school students during T1 and T2 periods, there were positive correlations between the two of school natural environment perception, exercise identification and exercise behavior (r=0.04-0.61, P<0.01). The crosslagged analysis revealed that school natural environment perception in T1 period significantly predicted exercise identification (β=0.22, P<0.01) and exercise behavior (β=0.18, P<0.01) in T2 period. Moreover, the exercise identification in T1 period significantly predicted school natural environment perception (β=0.18，P<0.01) and exercise behavior in T2 period (β=0.19, P<0.01). However, the effects of exercise behavior on the school natural environment perception (β=0.03) and exercise identification (β=0.03) were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions For the junior high school students, school natural environment perception and exercise identification are the cause variables of the exercise behavior. Moreover, school natural environment perception and exercise identification have an interactive effect.

Background::With an increasing number of patients with hematological malignancies being treated with umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), the correlation between immune reconstitution (IR) after UCBT and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been reported successively, but reports on double-negative T (DNT) cell reconstitution and its association with acute GVHD (aGVHD) after UCBT are lacking.Methods::A population-based observational study was conducted among 131 patients with hematological malignancies who underwent single-unit UCBT as their first transplant at the Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, between August 2018 and June 2021. IR differences were compared between the patients with and without aGVHD.Results::The absolute number of DNT cells in the healthy Chinese population was 109 (70-157)/μL, accounting for 5.82 (3.98-8.19)% of lymphocytes. DNT cells showed delayed recovery and could not reach their normal levels even one year after transplantation. Importantly, the absolute number and percentage of DNT cells were significantly higher in UCBT patients without aGVHD than in those with aGVHD within one year ( F = 4.684, P = 0.039 and F = 5.583, P = 0.026, respectively). In addition, the number of DNT cells in the first month after transplantation decreased significantly with the degree of aGVHD increased, and faster DNT cell reconstitution in the first month after UCBT was an independent protective factor for aGVHD (HR = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.93; P = 0.031). Conclusions::Compared to the number of DNT cells in Chinese healthy people, the reconstitution of DNT cells in adults with hematological malignancies after UCBT was slow. In addition, the faster reconstitution of DNT cells in the early stage after transplantation was associated with a lower incidence of aGVHD.

Objective:To evaluated the clinical efficacy of a reduced-intensity preconditioning regimen for single non-blood-related umbilical cord blood transplantation (sUCBT) in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) .Methods:The clinical data of 63 patients with SAA who underwent sUCBT from January 2021 to July 2023 at the Department of Hematology of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-two patients received total body irradiation/total bone marrow irradiation (TMI) combined with fludarabine or a cyclophosphamide- conditioning regimen (non-rATG group) , while 11 patients received rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin (rATG) combined with TMI, fludarabine, or the cyclophosphamide-conditioning regimen (rATG group) . All patients received cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Complications post-transplantation and long-term survival were compared between the two groups.Results:The baseline parameters were balanced between the two groups ( P>0.05) . In the rATG group, all patients achieved stem cell engraftment, and in the non-rATG group, five patients had primary graft failure. There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment at 42 days after transplantation or platelet engraftment at 60 days between the two groups. The incidence of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD in the rATG group was significantly lower than in the non-rATG group (10.0% vs. 46.2% , P=0.032) , and the differences in the cumulative incidences of grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ acute GVHD and 1-year chronic GVHD were not statistically significant ( P=0.367 and P=0.053, respectively) . There were no significant differences in the incidences of pre-engraftment syndrome, bacterial bloodstream infections, cytomegalovirus viremia, or hemorrhagic cystitis between the two groups ( P>0.05 for all) . The median follow-up time for surviving patients was 536 (61-993) days, and the 1-year transplantation related mortality (TRM) of all patients after transplantation was 13.0% (95% CI 6.7% -24.3% ) . Among the patients in the non-rATG and rATG groups, 15.5% (95% CI 8.1% -28.6% ) and 0% ( P=0.189) , respectively, had mutations. The 1-year overall survival (OS) rate of all patients after transplantation was 87.0% (95% CI 75.7% -93.3% ) . The 1-year OS rates in the rATG group and non-rATG group after transplantation were 100% and 84.5% , respectively (95% CI 71.4% -91.9% ) ( P=0.198) . Conclusion:The preliminary results of sUCBT with a low-dose irradiation-based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen with fludarabine/cyclophosphamide for the treatment of patients with SAA showed good efficacy. Early application of low-dose rATG can reduce the incidence of acute GVHD after transplantation without increasing the risk of implantation failure or infection.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and efficacy of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).Methods:From May 2014 to December 2019, clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 7 PNH patients undergoing UCBT. The grades were severe ( n=6) and extremely severe ( n=1). The causes were primary PNH ( n=4) and PNH-aplastic anemia (AA) syndrome ( n=3). There were 5 males and 2 females with a median age of 29 (20-47) years, a median weight of 60(50-71) kg and a median time from diagnosis to transplantation of 62.5(7.7-171) months. All of them were accompanied by transfusion dependence. Myeloablative ( n=6) and reduced-intensity ( n=1) pretreatment was offered. The regimen of preventing GVHD was cyclosporine A plus short-term mycophenolate mofetil without ATG. The median number of input nucleated cells was 2.4(1.71-4.28)×10 7/kg and the median number of CD34+ cells 1.58(0.88-3.02)×10 5/kg. Results:Neutrophil and erythroid engraftment was obtained with a median neutrophil engraftment time of 17(15-21) days and a median erythroid engraftment time of 27. Engraftment time of 37(25-101) days for platelets >20×10 9/L and 62(27-157) days for platelets >50×10 9/L. The incidence of 100-day acute GVHD was 28.6%(95%CI 0-55.3%). The severity of GVHD was grade Ⅱ° acute ( n=2) and mild ( n=1). The median follow-up period was 13.5(3-71.4) months. Six patients survived while another with PNH-AA syndrome with iron overload died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The 2-year overall survival rate was 83.3%(95%CI 27.3-97.5%). Conclusions:With excellent engraftment and survival in the treatment of PNH, UCBT is indicated for patients without HLA full-match donor. PNH-AA syndrome with iron overload may be one of the important prognostic factors.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma of the extra-upper aerodigestive tract (extra-UADT NKTCL).Methods:The clinical data of 159 patients with extra-UADT NKTCL from the China Lymphoma Collaborative Group (CLCG) database between November 2001 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test were used to evaluate the prognosis. The Cox regression model is used for multi-factor analysis.Results:Extra-UADT NKTCL commonly occurs in skin and soft tissues (106/159, 66.7%) and gastrointestinal tract (31/159, 19.5%). The incidences of elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Ann Arbor Ⅲ~Ⅳ stage were 47.8% (76/159) and 64.2% (102/159), respectively. The 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 43.6% and 27.9%, respectively. The corresponding OS rates of primary skin/soft tissue site and gastrointestinal tract site were 41.0% and 59.4% ( P=0.281), while the PFS rates were 24.8% and 48.3%, respectively ( P=0.109). Combined modality treatment improved the 3-year OS of all the patients (58.4% vs 33.9%, P=0.001) and 3-year PFS (40.7% vs 20.7%, P=0.008) when compared with chemotherapy alone. LDH elevation, Ann Arbor synthesising and ≥2 junction external bits were intrusive as independent risk factors for total survival ( P<0.05), LDH elevation and ≥2 junction outer bits were intrusive as independent risk factors for progressionless survival( P<0.05). The distant extranodal dissemination was the primary failure patterns. Conclusions:Extra-UADT NKTCL appears to have distinct clinical characteristics and poor outcome. Compared with chemotherapy alone, combined modality treatment may improve the prognosis of patients with extra-UADT NKTCL.

Objective:To evaluate the prognosis and determine the failure patterns after radiotherapy for low-risk early-stage patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type (ENKTCL).Methods:A total of 557 patients from 2000—2015 with low-risk early-stage ENKTCL who received radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy (CT) from China Lymphoma Collaborative Group were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 427 patients received combined modality therapy, whereas 130 patients received RT alone. Survivals were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with Log-rank test. Overall survival (OS) was compared with age and sex-matched general Chinese population using expected survival and standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Cox stepwise regression model was used for multivariate analysis.Results:The 5-year OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were 87.2% and 77.2%. The SMR was 3.59 ( P<0.001) at 1 year after treatment, whereas it was 1.50 at 4 years after treatment, without significant difference between ENKTCL group and country-matched general population ( P=0.146). Compared with RT alone, CMT did not result in significantly superior 5-year OS (87.0% vs 87.4%, P=0.961) or PFS (76.1% vs 80.7%, P=0.129). Local failure (11.5%, 64/557) and distant failure (10.8%, 60/557) were the main failure modes, while regional failure was rare (2.9%, 16/557). The 5-year locoregional control rate (LRC) was 87.2% for the whole group, with 89.5% for ≥50 Gy versus 73.7% for <50 Gy ( P<0.001). Radiotherapy dose was an independent factor affecting LRC( P<0.05). Conclusions:Radiotherapy achieves a favorable prognosis in patients with low-risk early-stage ENKTCL. The incidence of either locoregional or distant failure is low. Radiation dose still is an important prognostic factor for LRC.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of the clinical implementation of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans with 6MV photon on two Elekta Linacs (Versa HD and Synergy) after beam matching.Methods:The images of 12 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, central lung cancer and prostate cancer were randomly selected, and the IMRT and VMAT plans were designed. Two different dose tools of ionization chamber and three-dimensional detector ArcCheck were used to verify the individualized radiation treatment of 6MV photon beams on two Linacs and compare the differences.Results:The deviations between the doses of two Linacs (Versa HD and Synergy) measured by the ion chamber and treatment planning system were (0.32±1.32)% and (0.54±1.29)%. The differences of all plans were within the range of ±3%, and the deviations of the point dose between two Linacs were within the range of ±2% with no statistical significance (both P>0.05). The γ analysis of verification using ArcCheck showed that the passing rates of all plans under the 2mm/3% and 3mm/3% with 10% threshold conditions were over 95%, respectively. The average differences between two Linacs were 0.19%(2mm/3%) and 0.09%(3mm/3%). Conclusions:The results of performing IMRT/VMAT plans on two Linacs meet the clinical requirements and the differences between two Linacs are small. Hence, the same plans can be implemented interchangeably on different Linacs.