[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012.].

Objective:To explore the value of dual-layer spectral CT virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans with reduced contrast medium volume in pediatric tumor patients.Methods:The study is a self-matched case-control study. From January to October 2024, pediatric patients admitted to Shandong Cancer Hospital with abdominal tumors who underwent low contrast dose spectral CT contrast-enhanced scans during follow-up were prospectively included. A total of 47 patients aged (6.2±2.2) years (4-14 years) were enrolled. Usual contrast dose enhanced CT served as the conventional-dose group, while the follow-up low-dose spectral CT scans employed a protocol with half the contrast agent dose (low-dose group). Images were reconstructed as conventional CT images and VMI at 45, 55, and 65 keV. Using muscle as the reference background, differences in CT values and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the aorta, kidneys, liver, and spleen were compared between the low-dose group and conventional-dose group. Multi-group comparisons were performed using the Friedman test. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons were conducted with Bonferroni correction for P-values. Results:CT values and CNRs for all measured regions progressively increased with decreasing keV levels in spectral CT VMI. Significant overall differences were found in CT values and CNRs for the aorta, kidneys, liver, and spleen among the low-dose group (all VMIs) and the conventional-dose group (all P<0.001). At 65 keV VMI in the low-dose group, both CT values and CNRs (except for the liver CNR) were significantly lower than those in the conventional-dose group (all adjusted P<0.05). At 55 keV VMI in the low-dose group, CT values and CNRs for all regions did not show statistically significant differences compared to the conventional-dose group (all adjusted P>0.05). At 45 keV VMI in the low-dose group, CT values for all structures and CNR for the spleen were significantly higher than those in the conventional-dose group (all adjusted P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found in CNRs for the aorta, kidneys, and liver (adjusted P=1.000, 0.313, and 0.503, respectively). Conclusion:When the contrast dose is halved, spectral CT 45 keV VMI enhances CT attenuation values and CNR in the abdomen of pediatric tumor patients, while 55 keV VMI provides image quality comparable to that of conventional-dose CT.

Informal caregivers play an important role in chronic disease management, and their level of caregiver activation directly affects the quality of care and health outcomes of patients with chronic diseases. This article summarizes the concept, assessment tools, current status, influencing factors, and interventions of caregiver activation among informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases, aiming to provide a reference for research on caregiver activation.

Objective:To explore the value of dual-layer spectral CT virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans with reduced contrast medium volume in pediatric tumor patients.Methods:The study is a self-matched case-control study. From January to October 2024, pediatric patients admitted to Shandong Cancer Hospital with abdominal tumors who underwent low contrast dose spectral CT contrast-enhanced scans during follow-up were prospectively included. A total of 47 patients aged (6.2±2.2) years (4-14 years) were enrolled. Usual contrast dose enhanced CT served as the conventional-dose group, while the follow-up low-dose spectral CT scans employed a protocol with half the contrast agent dose (low-dose group). Images were reconstructed as conventional CT images and VMI at 45, 55, and 65 keV. Using muscle as the reference background, differences in CT values and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the aorta, kidneys, liver, and spleen were compared between the low-dose group and conventional-dose group. Multi-group comparisons were performed using the Friedman test. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons were conducted with Bonferroni correction for P-values. Results:CT values and CNRs for all measured regions progressively increased with decreasing keV levels in spectral CT VMI. Significant overall differences were found in CT values and CNRs for the aorta, kidneys, liver, and spleen among the low-dose group (all VMIs) and the conventional-dose group (all P<0.001). At 65 keV VMI in the low-dose group, both CT values and CNRs (except for the liver CNR) were significantly lower than those in the conventional-dose group (all adjusted P<0.05). At 55 keV VMI in the low-dose group, CT values and CNRs for all regions did not show statistically significant differences compared to the conventional-dose group (all adjusted P>0.05). At 45 keV VMI in the low-dose group, CT values for all structures and CNR for the spleen were significantly higher than those in the conventional-dose group (all adjusted P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found in CNRs for the aorta, kidneys, and liver (adjusted P=1.000, 0.313, and 0.503, respectively). Conclusion:When the contrast dose is halved, spectral CT 45 keV VMI enhances CT attenuation values and CNR in the abdomen of pediatric tumor patients, while 55 keV VMI provides image quality comparable to that of conventional-dose CT.

Informal caregivers play an important role in chronic disease management, and their level of caregiver activation directly affects the quality of care and health outcomes of patients with chronic diseases. This article summarizes the concept, assessment tools, current status, influencing factors, and interventions of caregiver activation among informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases, aiming to provide a reference for research on caregiver activation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of continuous veno-venous hemodia-filtration (CVVHDF) combined with hemoperfusion (HP) HA380 in the treatment of heat stroke patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).Methods:A retrospective and observational study was conducted. A total of 15 patients with heat stroke combined with MODS who were admitted to the department of intensive care unit (ICU)of Suizhou Central Hospital/Hubei University of Medicine from July to September 2022 were selected as the study objects. All 15 patients were treated with CVVHDF combined with HA380 based on the comprehensive management strategy for severe illness. Organ function indicators [including total bilirubin (TBil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine (Cr), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), myoglobin (Myo), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)] and inflammatory indicators [including white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] were collected. The improvements of the above indexes at admission, after the first HP, after the second HP, after the third HP, and on the 5th day of treatment were compared. Combined with the clinical outcome of patients, the comprehensive efficacy of CVVHDF combined with HA380 in the treatment of severe heat radiation disease was evaluated.Results:There were 10 males and 5 females among the 15 patients. The average age was (64.5±11.5) years old. There were 6 cases of classical heat stroke and 9 cases of exertional heat stroke. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 3-8 at admission; SOFA score was 9-17 within 12 hours after admission; acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) was 25-45 within 24 hours after admission. After treatment, the IL-6 level and SOFA score gradually decreased, and there were significant differences in the decrease after the second HP compared to admission [IL-6 (ng/L): 48.37 (15.36, 113.03) vs. 221.90 (85.87, 425.90), SOFA: 8.3±3.3 vs. 11.1±2.4, both P < 0.05]. The PCT level reached its peak after the first HP [12.51 (6.07, 41.65) μg/L], and then gradually decreased, and the difference was statistically significant after the third HP [1.26 (0.82, 5.40) μg/L, P < 0.05]. Compared those at admission, Cr level significantly improved after the first HP (μmol/L: 66.94±25.57 vs. 110.80±31.13, P < 0.01), Myo significantly decreased after the second HP [μg/L: 490.90 (164.98, 768.05) vs. 3?000.00 (293.00, 3?000.00), P < 0.05], After the third HP, the CK level also showed significant improvement [U/L: 476.0 (413.0, 922.0) vs. 2?107.0 (729.0, 2?449.0), P < 0.05]. After CVVHDF combined with 3 times HP treatment, the patient's inflammatory response was gradually controlled and organ function gradually recovered. On the 5th day of the disease course, WBC, PCT and IL-6 levels were significantly improved compared to admission, and AST, CK, LDH, Cr, Myo, CK-MB, and SOFA score were significantly corrected compared with those on admission. The 24-hour survival rate of 15 patients was 86.67%, and the 24-hour, 7-day and 28-day survival rates were both as high as 73.33%. The average mechanical ventilation time of 11 surviving patients was (101.8±22.0) hours, the average continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) time was (58.8±11.0) hours, the average length of ICU stay was (6.3±1.0) days, and the average total hospitalization was (14.6±5.2) days. Conclusion:CVVHDF combined with HP HA380 in the treatment of heat stroke patients with MODS can effectively improve organ function and alleviate the inflammatory storm, which is an effective means to improve the rescue rate and reduce the mortality of severe heat stroke patients.

With the increasing number of cancer patients, the aging population, the shortage of medical resources and other problems in China, the demand for palliative care is gradually increasing. However, nursing staff are the main implementors of palliative care, and their cognitive level of palliative care is closely related to the quality of palliative care service and the outcome of patients. By summarizing assessment tools of palliative care knowledge, attitudes and skills, this review aims to provide a reference for developing appropriate palliative care assessment tools for nursing staff in China.

Objective:To investigate the psychological feelings of parents of children with fracture of ulna and radius during radiological examination, and to provide the basis for taking scientific and effective intervention program.Methods:Using the purposive sampling methods, a total of 30 parents of children who were treated in the pediatric orthopedics department of the emergency department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the research objects. A descriptive research method was adopted to conduct semi-structured interviews with parents of children, and Colaizzi′s phenomenological analysis was applied to analyze, refine, and summarize the interview information.Results:Four themes were summarized: negative emotions, information needs, seeking multi-party support and post-traumatic growth.Conclusions:The medical staff should pay close attention to the psychological status of the parents, meet their needs for information during the radiological examination, and provide targeted support measures to promote the prognosis of the children, improve the psychological adjustment and quality of life of the children and their parents.

Objective:To explore the application effect of new whole-course closed sputum specimen collection technology in intensive care unit patients.Methods:From April 2020 to January 2022, the convenient sampling was used to select 442 ICU mechanical ventilation patients admitted to 6 hospitals in Jiaxing City as the research objects. According to the order of admission time, the patients were divided into the control group ( n=221) and the experimental group ( n=221) . The control group adopted the traditional open sputum specimen collection technology, while the experimental group adopted the new whole-course closed sputum specimen collection technology. The heart rate, the incidence of hypooxygen saturation and the incidence of sputum spatter were compared between the two groups after sputum sample sampling. Results:The incidences of hypooxygen saturation and sputum spatter in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:The new whole-course closed sputum specimen collection technology can effectively stabilize the oxygen saturation of ICU patients in the process of sputum specimen collection, reduce the incidence of sputum spatter and promote the safety of both patients and medical staff, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To understand the work experiences of vaccination nurses in western China under the background of free vaccination with COVID-19 vaccine of the entire population, and provide references for these nurses to better their performance in large-scale COVID-19 vaccination.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted on working experience of COVID-19 vaccination with 11 community outpatient nurses who participated in the " Second Western Immunization Planning and Health Summit Forum" held in Chongqing on April 16 to 18, 2021. The sample size was set as information saturation, and the 7-step Colaizzi analytical methods was used in data clarification and analysis.Results:Such interviews extracted three themes: difficulties and challenges, psychological experience, organization and coordination. Difficulties and challenges included shortage of nursing human resources, shortage of resources for routine vaccination, imperfect online appointments, and epidemic prevention and control risks brought by mass vaccination; psychological experience included strong sense of responsibility, accumulation of anxiety, and lack of social identity; organizational coordination included organizational and the overall integration of vaccination resources.Conclusions:Community vaccination nurses have demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and mission in the work of the COVID-19 vaccination. Software and hardware facilities should be enhanced for higher efficiency; vaccination nurses deserve more psychological assistance to help ease their tension; the localities are recommended to organize their vaccination work to fit local conditions.