The purpose of this study was : 1) to develop and test a theoretical model examining relationships among social support( and social network size ), illness demands, marital adjustment, family coping, and an outcome measure of family functioning in response to a mother's breast cancer in the early postdiagnostic phase ; 2) to investigate the sources of functional social support : and 3) to assess characteristics of social support networks for Korean families with breast cancer. This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design with a causal modeling methodology to test the specified relationships in the recursive theoretical model. the convenience sample of this study consisted of 82 married Korean couples with recently diagnosed breast cancer in the child-rearing mother. Six standardized questionnaires were used to measure the theoretical concepts : social support (ISSB), social network(ASSIS), illness demands(DOII), marital adjustment(DAS), family coping(F-COPES), and family functioning(FACESII). The theoretical model was tested on the aggregated couples' data( family data ) and on mothers and fathers data. Path analysis results from the mothers and the fathers revealed different patterns. A core set of predictive variables were identified with three data sets showing consistent effects on family functioning level-marital adjustment and family coping, marital adjustment and family functioning, and family coping and family functioning. Namely, the level of family functioning was directly and positively affected by family coping behavior and the level of marital adjustment ; the level of marital adjustment had a direct positive effect on family coping behavior. In two reduced models from couples' and mothers' data, three sets of predicted relationships were supported, social support and marital adjustment, and s and marital adjustment. The level of social support received had a direct positive effect on both the level of marital adjustment and family coping behavior, and the experienced illness demands had a direct negative effect on the level of marital adjustment. Few significant gender differences were found in terms of 1) actual and perceived network sizes, need for support, and satisfaction with the support received for each type of functional social support, 20 total network size encompassing all types of functional social support, as well as, 3) the amount of functional social support received. These findings may prove useful for health care professionals working with Korean families with breast cancer or other chronic illness.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chronic Disease ; Dataset ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Mothers* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; etiology ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; complications ; etiology

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cardiomyopathies ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans

Curcumin is a principal polyphenolic curcuminoid extracted from turmeric rhizome, which has been used for treating inflammation of joints, ulcers, jaundice and other disorders in Asian traditional medicine. In recent years, many studies have indicated that curcumin plays important roles in treatment of liver diseases. Curcumin attenuates liver injury and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by lowering the release of inflammation cytokines, minimizing oxidative stress, enhancing the sensitivity of insulin and altering lipid metabolism. Curcumin shows potent anti-fibrosis activity, contributing to inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells and reduce the deposition of extracellular matrix by its regulation of PPAR-γ, NF-ΚB and TGF-β signaling pathways. Moreover, curcumin exhibits anti-cancer effect by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in several hepatoma cell lines. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin limit its clinical applications. To overcome its limited systemic bioavailability, many new approaches have been explored to deliver curcumin effectively. This article focuses on advances in the effects of curcumin and its derivatives for treatment of liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinoma.

Objective To understand the situation of HIV and HCV infection of heroin dependent patients .Methods HIV and HCV serological detection were proceed among 565 heroin dependent patients ,and the results were compared according to genders and nationalities .Results Among 565 heroin dependent patients ,the infection rates of HIV ,HCV ,and HIV/HCV for males were 14 .57% (72/494) ,59 .72% (295/494) ,and 13 .36% (66/494) respectively ,and those for females were 19 .72% (14/71) ,77 .46%(55/71) and 16 .90% (12/71) respectively .The infection rates for males were significantly lower than females (P<0 .05) .There were significant difference of the infection rates of HIV ,HCV and HIV/HCV between Han patients and Uyghur patients(P<0 .05) .Conclusion The heroin dependent patients are high risk population for HIV and HCV infection .Education and publication of drugs and infectious should be enhanced in order to control the spread of disease and reduce disease incidence .

Asthma ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans

Survivin is closely related to biological behavior of multiple cancers. Significant research progresses have been made in determining Survivin's expression and functional mechanisms in tumor cells. Survivin has been used in identifying tumor markers, predicting prognosis, investigating malignant behaviors and other aspects of cancer research.

Objective To discuss the promoting effect of clinical pathway in the standard and reasonable medication by the application of clinical pathway in the anticoagulation treatment of warfarin and health education for patients with atrial fibrilation.Methods Sixty eight patients with atrial fibrilation and receiving anticoagulation treatment of warfarin were divided randomly into the intervention group(36 cases)and the control group(32 cases).The control group received routine nursing while the intervention group underwent nursing intervention with clinical pathway based upon routine nursing intervention.The time cost to achieve the aims,compliance,incidence rate of complications and satisfaction degree were compared between the two groups.Results All the items in the intervention group were superior to those of the control group except for the items of satisfaction degree and health knowledge score(P<0.05).Conclusion Application of clinical pathway in the anticoagulation treatment of warfarin for patients with atrial fibrilation could ensure standard and reasonable medication in order to decrease medical cost,lower the incidence rate of complications,improve patients compliance and increase nursing quality.