Theory of mind deficits in patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression

AIM:To characterize the two components of theory of mind(ToM) in patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression.METHODS:Sixty-five patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression(depressed group) and 62 normal controls(control group) were assessed using reading the mind in the eyes test,faux pas task,verbal fluency test,digit span test and WAIS IQ test.The depressed group was divided into two subgroups including psychotic depressed(PD) group(32 cases) and nonpsychotic depressed(NPD) group(33 cases).The clinical symptoms of patients were assessed using Beck depression inventory version Ⅱ and brief psychiatric reacting scale(BPRS).RESULTS:There was a significant difference between the depressed group and the control group on tasks involving ToM social perceptual components(mind reading:t = 7.39,P < 0.01) and tests involving ToM social cognitive components(faux pas questions:t = 13.75,P < 0.01),respectively.A significant difference was also found among the PD group,the NPD group and the control group on mind reading(F = 32.98,P < 0.01) and faux pas questions(χ 2 = 78.15,P < 0.01),respectively.The PD group and NPD group performed worse than normal group controls both on mind reading and faux pas questions(P < 0.05).The PD group performed significantly worse than the NPD group on tasks involving ToM(mind reading:F = 18.99,P < 0.01;faux pas questions:F = 36.01,P < 0.01).In the depressed group,there was a negative correlation between ToM performances and BPRS total score(mind reading:r =-0.35,P < 0.01;faux pas questions:r =-0.51,P < 0.01),and between ToM performances and hostile suspiciousness factor score(mind reading:r =-0.75,P < 0.01;faux pas questions:r =-0.73,P < 0.01),respectively.CONCLUSION:The two components of ToM are both impaired in patients with esophageal cancer combined with depression.This indicates that there may be an association between ToM deficits and psychotic symptoms in clinical depression.

Psychosocial adaptation and influencing factors among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN)is a severe and longlasting side effect caused by various anticancer agents that damage sensory,motor and autonomic nerves.It can cause maladaptive behaviors,including disease severity,anxiety,depression,sleep disorders,falls,and social impairment.These disorders have physical,psychological and social effects on patients and can seriously influence their quality of life.AIM To investigate the current situation of psychosocial adaptation to the disease and its influencing factor in patients with CIPN.METHODS A convenience sampling method was used to select 233 patients with CIPN in our hospital from February to August 2021.In addition,a cross-sectional survey was conducted using a sociodemographic questionnaire,the Self-Report Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale,and the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life CIPN20(QLQ-CIPN20).Factors influencing psychosocial adaptation in patients with CIPN were analyzed by t-test or one-way analysis of variance,correlation analysis,multiple stepwise regression analysis,and structural equation models.RESULTS The psychosocial adaptation score of patients with CIPN was 52.51±13.18.Multivariate analysis showed that autonomic nerves,tumor stage,motor nerves,education level,availability of caregivers,semi-retirement status,CIPN grade were independent risk factors for patients with CIPN(P<0.05).Structural equation models showed that QLQ-CIPN20 mediated the relationship between CIPN grade,tumor stage,and psychosocial adaptation.CONCLUSION Patients with CIPN have poor psychosocial adaptation and are affected by a variety of physiological,psychological,and social factors.Patients’adaptive responses should be assessed,and targeted interventions implemented.

Highly efficient regioselective ring openings of N-tosylaziridines to haloamines using ferric(Ⅲ) halides

FeX3（X = Cl, Br） were found to be very effective reagents and powerful catalysts for regioselective ring openings of a variety of N-tosylaziridines with them to afford the corresponding b-haloamines in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity under mild conditions. At the same time, 13 new compounds were obtained firstly. Moreover, the b-bromoamine prepared could be transferred into b-nitroamine with NaNO2 in moderate yield.