Factors related to self-management behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Wenzhou,China

Objective:To describe the self-management(SM)behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),and it examines the correlation between COPD knowledge,self-efficacy,perceived social support,and SM behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate COPD in Wenzhou,China.Methods:A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 121 persons with mild-to-moderate COPD who visited the respiratory outpatient department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou,China.Research instruments include a demographic data questionnaire,COPD SM scale,COPD knowledge questionnaire,6-item chronic disease self-efficacy scale,and perceived social suppor t scale.Descriptive statistics and Pearson's Correlation were used for data analysis.Results:The findings show that the mean score of COPD SM scale was 2.70(SD=0.45).The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the COPD knowledge(r=0.47,P<0.001),self-efficacy(r=0.28,P=0.001),and perceived social support(r=0.48,P<0.001)were positively correlated to the COPD SM behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate COPD in Wenzhou,China.Conclusions:The findings indicate that disease knowledge,self-efficacy,and perceived social support were related to SM behavior in persons with mild-to-moderate COPD,which provides a theoretical basis for developing SM interventions for persons with mildto-moderate COPD and improving this population's SM behavior.

Positive correlations between the health locus of control and self-management behaviors in hemodialysis patients in Xiamen

Objective:To investigate the association between the health locus of control and selfmanagement behaviors in patients receiving hemodialysis.Methods:Patients receiving hemodialysis in Xiamen,Fujian province,from December 2014 to March 2015 answered the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale and the self-management behavior questionnaire.Results:The participants in this study indicated that they believed others exerted more control over their health than themselves or chance.In addition,the majority of participants had a medium to low level of self-management behaviors.Positive correlations were also observed between a participant's health locus of control and their level of selfmanagement behaviors.Internal health locus of control and external(others)health locus of control were significant predictors of self-management behaviors controlling for the effect of payment method.Conclusion:The results of this study provided evidence that there is a strong relationship between the health locus of control and self-management behaviors in hemodialysis patients.This study provides important information for medical professionals as they design strategies to educate hemodialysis patients on their health locus of control and selfmanagement behaviors.

Effects of the self-management training program on self-management behavior and blood pressure levels among elderly people with hypertension

Objective:To determine the effects of the Self-Management Training Program on self-management behavior and blood pressure(BP)levels among elderly people with hypertension(HT).Methods:This study was based on a quasi-experimental design using sampling groups composed of elderly residents of Pathum Thani Province with HT.Simple random sampling was applied to two sampling groups,an experimental group and a control group.However,the experimental group had been on the Self-Management Training Program based on the Creer concept.The Program’s contents included small-group health-education sessions and the patients’manual,Self-Management Training Skills for Self-Management Behavior.Small group discussions were held for self-reflection,to stimulate follow-up for self-management behavior training during home visits.The Self-Management Training Program was compared with programs involving the more usual care.Data were collected using the Self-Management Behavior for Hypertension Control Questionnaire and BP assessment tests.Data were analyzed using a descriptive statistic,chi-square test,pair t-test,repeated-measures Analysis of Variance(ANOVA),and repeated-measures Analysis Covariance(ANCOVA).Results:It was found that at 13 weeks after entering the program,the experimental group demonstrated a significantly lower systolic and diastolic BP with a baseline statistical significance(P<0.005),and that at the 4th week and the 13th week,there was a decrease in BP in the experimental group.The experimental group also had above-baseline self-management behavior scores that were higher than in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusions:Results from this study show that the Self-Management Program was useful for BP control and promoted sustainable self-management behavior.

The status quo and influence of self-management behaviors in convalescent stroke patients

Objective： The aims of this study were to investigate the status quo of self-management behaviors in stroke patients at the recovery stage and to explore its influencing factors.Methods： A total of 440 hospitalized convalescent stroke patients were recruited and investigated using the Basic Situation Questionnaire, Self-management Behavior Scale of Stroke, Stroke Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire and Social Support Rating Scale.Results： The mean self-management behavior score was （151.95±23.58）, and dimensions in descending order were as follows： dietary management, drug safety management, social function and interpersonal relationships, life management, emotion management, rehabilitation exercise management and disease management. Five regional self-management behavior scores were statistically significant, and the scores from Minnan and Minzhong of the Fujian province, China, were higher than the others. Gender, age, family income and self-management behavior were significantly correlated （P〈0.05）; educational level, stroke knowledge level, social support level and self-management behavior were positively correlated, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.01）. Conclusions： The overall self-management level of convalescent stroke patients should be improved to strengthen health education; focus on the educational level, which is relatively low; strengthen the social support system of patients; stimulate the enthusiasm and initiative of self-management disease patients to promote disease rehabilitation and improve the quality of life.

Development and validation of a self-management behavior questionnaire for Chinese enterostomy patients

Objectives:This study aimed to develop a self-management behavior questionnaire for Chinese enter-ostomy patients and examine its reliability and validity.Methods:Guided by the theory of self-management,an initial questionnaire was generated through literature review,group meetings,and two rounds of an expert consultation.Finally,the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were validated through a questionnaire survey of 200 enterostomy patients were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Medical University from June 2016 to March 2017.Results:The content validity index was 0.80e1.00.The exploratory factor analysis yielded a five-factor(dietary behavior,psychosocial behavior,symptom management behavior,medical compliance behavior,information management behavior),consisting of 40 items.The cumulative variance contri-bution rate was 65.42%.The Cronbach’s a coefficient for the total questionnaire was 0.972,and for the five factors ranged from 0.797 to 0.939,indicating a good internal consistency.The test-retest reliability was 0.867(P<0.01).The self-management behavior questionnaire score was negatively related to the Ostomy Skin Tool score(r=-0.800,P<0.01).Conclusions:The self-management behavior questionnaire developed in this study showed good reli-ability and validity and can be used to assess the self-management behavior of Chinese enterostomy patients.

Awareness, self-management behaviors, health literacy and kidney function relationships in specialty practice

AIM To determine the relationship between chronic kidney disease(CKD) awareness(CKD-A), self-management behaviors(CKD-SMB) knowledge, performance of CKDSMBs, health literacy(HL) and kidney function. METHODS Participants were eligible patients attending an outpatient nephrology clinic. Participants were administered: Newest Vital Sign to measure HL, CKD self-managementknowledge tool(CKD-SMKT) to assess knowledge, past performance of CKD-SMB, CKD-A. Estimated GFR(e GFR) was determined using the MDRD-4 equation. Duration of clinic participation and CKD cause were extracted from medical charts. RESULTS One-hundred-fifty patients participated in the study. e GFRs ranged from 17-152 m L/min per 1.73 m2. Majority(83%) of respondents had stage 3 or 4 CKD, low HL(63%), and were CKD aware(88%). Approximately 40%(10/25) of patients in stages 1 and 2 and 6.4%(8/125) in stages 3 and 4 were unaware of their CKD. CKD-A differed with stage(P < 0.001) but not by HL level, duration of clinic participation, or CKD cause. Majority of respondents(≥ 90%) correctly answered one or more CKD-SMKT items. Knowledge of one behavior, "controlling blood pressure" differed significantly by CKD-A. CKD-A was associated with past performance of two CKD-SMBs, "controlling blood pressure"(P = 0.02), and "keeping healthy body weight"(P = 0.01). Adjusted multivariate analyses between CKD-A and:(1) HL; and(2) CKD-SMB knowledge were nonsignificant. However, there was a significant relationship between CKD-A and kidney function after controlling for demographics, HL, and CKD-SMB(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CKD-A is not associated with HL, or better CKD-SMBs. CKD-A is significantly associated with kidney function and substantially lower e GFR, suggesting the need for focused patient education in CKD stages 1.

Self-Management Behaviors of Patients with Hypertension in Daily Life

Background: In a rapidly aging Japanese society, the number of patients with hypertension has seen a steady increase. The basic treatments for hypertension are maintaining blood pressure through medication and preventing complications. It is important for patients with hypertension to perform self-management. This improves their lifestyle while controlling their blood pressure to prevent complications and maintain good health. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the actual self-management behavior ability of patients with hypertension and to clarify the factors involved in their self-management behavior. Methods: A total of 150 patients with hypertension were included in this study. The following data were obtained from the patients as background information: sex, age, years with disease, whether they are receiving antihypertensive agents, type of antihypertensive agent, blood test data, heart thoracic ratio, left ventricular ejection fraction, pulse wave, pulse wave velocity, and height. The levels of self-management skills of the patients were also assessed using the “Instrument to Measure the Self-care of patients with Hypertension” developed by Tsuboi et al. Results: The associations among self-management behaviors in daily life, such as diet, exercise, stress, medication, alcohol intake, and smoking, were analyzed in patients with hypertension. The subjects were classified into the following three groups: aged 65 years or below (Group A), early stage elderly individuals (Group B), and late-stage elderly individuals aged 75 years or over (Group C). The results showed that the subjects in Group C had higher self-management scores for diet, exercise, stress, medication, and drinking than the subjects in the other two groups. The scores of smoking and self-management of the subjects in Group A were high but their other self-management scores were low. All the subjects were taking between 1 to 3 types of oral antihypertensive drugs. The rate of achievement of the target blood pressure was 50% or more in all the three groups. However, the pulse wave velocity was high in all the three groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that the risk of developing disorders of the brain and cardiovascular system is high in all the three groups, owing to the high degree of arteriosclerosis. Therefore, increasing the number of nursing interventions is expected to reduce blood pressure, maintain and promote self-management behavior in daily life, and prevent the onset of complications. The results suggest that nursing interventions involving lifestyle guidance for improving the self-management skills of patients are urgently needed by patients under 65 years of age.

Status of Understanding of the Disease and Self-Management Behavior among Patients with Hypertension

Background: Hypertension is a lifestyle-related disease that has no subjective symptoms but could lead to severe complications. The goals of treatment for hypertension are to maintain blood pressure with medications and prevent complications. Measuring blood pressure at home regularly is critical for patients with hypertension. Purpose: This study aimed to 1) clarify the status of patients’ understanding of hypertension and self-management, 2) identify nursing practices that could support patients with hypertension in making them aware of the need for understanding hypertension, monitoring blood pressure at home, and engaging in self-management. Method: A questionnaire survey on understanding of the disease and self-management behavior was conducted among patients with hypertension who regularly visited outpatient clinics. As for data analysis, descriptive statistics were computed for patients’ attributes, clinical findings, understanding of the disease, and self-management behavior. Cross-tabulation and the chi-square test were used for each item on understanding of the disease and self-management behaviors. Results: Data were obtained from 150 participants (93 males and 57 females) with a mean age of 70 years. Patients with a higher understanding of the disease and those who were aware of the target blood pressure were more likely to engage in self-management behavior, including monitoring blood pressure at home, ensuring regular outpatient visits, and consulting with nurses or physicians. In addition, the percentage of patients who recognized the need to achieve their target blood pressure was higher among those who had a spouse and lived with their family. Discussion: Regular monitoring and recording of blood pressure at home are the most important self-management behaviors. Understanding of the disease and self-management behavior and support from the family are critical for maintaining appropriate self-management. Therefore, in cooperation with physicians, nurses should provide health education to patients and their families to enable them to perform appropriate self-management. Health expenditures increase with age, especially in those aged 65 years and over. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age;patients aged 65 years and over need to engage in self-management to maintain their target blood pressure. Nurses should provide patients with hypertension aged 65 years and over with appropriate nursing care to enable them to measure and record their blood pressure at home appropriately and regularly. Appropriate nursing care may help reduce the health expenditure. This may help reduce the health expenditure.

Factors That Promote Autonomous and Controlled Motivation in Self-management Behavior of Hemodialysis Patients

This study examined the differences and primary factors from the impact of autonomous motivation and controlled motivation on the self-management behavior of hemodialysis patients.Anonymous,self-describing questionnaires were used for research on nine different dialysis facilities of 413 people who regularly visit.From using the primary factor results of multiple regression analysis,that took autonomous motivation and controlled motivation as the dependent variable,a path diagram was created that led to each motivation.The acknowledgement of autonomy support facilitated whether it was autonomous motivation or controlled motivation(The standardized coefficient was 0.385,0.346,p<0.0001).Positive evaluation coping skills were a primary factor that promoted autonomous motivation,while trait anxiety,disorders of social activities,and lack of motivation were primary factors that promoted controlled motivation.In order to raise the autonomous motivation to promote self-management behavior in patients with hemodialysis treatment,situations that easily cause amotivation and anxiety,as well as tendencies for depression should be assessed.Also the encouragement to attain positive evaluation coping skills to support patient autonomy appears to be effective.

Content Validity of a Self-Management Behavior Assessment Tool for Adult Post-Renal Transplant Recipients Using a Modified Delphi Method

Background: Self-management is important for post-renal transplant recipients to resolve renal dysfunction, heart failure, and post-transplant psychosocial issues, and to maintain transplant kidney function, etc. However, because recipients may be unable to adequately self-manage, healthcare providers need to provide self-management support for recipients to improve their skills and confidence in managing their disease. However, it is difficult to comprehensively assess the self-management behaviors in a busy outpatient support setting. Furthermore, since there are no uniform standards for assessment, it is based on the experience and abilities of medical personnel. Therefore, self-management behavior of post-renal transplant recipients is not sufficiently evaluated. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate content validity of a tool that can assess self-management behaviors of adult post-renal transplant recipients, consisting of consensus components from experts familiar with the follow-up of adult post-renal transplant recipients. Methods: A three-round modified Delphi method was used to assess the self-management behaviors of adult post-renal transplant recipients by a panel of experts consisting of certified transplant recipient coordinators, physicians, outpatient nurses, and researchers familiar with the follow-up of post-renal transplant recipients. Regarding management behaviors of adult post-renal transplant recipients, the experts rated the appropriateness and validity of each item using a Likert scale. Consensus ratings from the experts were made by calculating the median, interquartile range, and interquartile range percentage. In the third round, an item-level content validity index was calculated to assess content validity. Conclusions: The 41-item self-management behavior scale for kidney transplant recipients assessed self-management behaviors in five domains: medication, exercise, fluids and diet, disease and symptom prevention and management, and psychosocial adjustment. The content validity of this tool was confirmed, and it can be used to more easily assess the recipients’ self-management behaviors in the post-renal transplant follow-up. This tool can potentially contribute to the maintenance of transplant kidney function and high QOL in recipients.

Quantitative assessment of self-management in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An unmet clinical need

In this editorial we comment on the article titled“Establishment and validation of an adherence prediction system for lifestyle interventions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”by Zeng et al published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)represents one of the current challenges in hepatology and public health,due to its continuous growing prevalence and the rising incidence of NAFLD-related fibrosis,non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis.The only effective therapeutic strategy for this dis-ease is represented by encouraging patients to improve their lifestyle through the modification of dietary intake and increased physical exercise,but the effective application of such modifications is often limited by various factors such as lack of information,psychological barriers or poor social support.While poor adherence to a healthy lifestyle can be decisive in determining the clinical outcome,in daily practice there is a lack of quantitative instruments aimed at identifying patients with the lowest adherence to lifestyle changes and higher risk of disease progre-ssion in the course of follow-up.In this article,Zeng et al propose a quantitative scale to assess the grade of adherence of patients with NAFLD to hea-lthy lifestyle intervention,called the Exercise and Diet Adherence Scale(EDAS).This scale,consisting of 33 items divided into 6 dimensions which relates to six subjective aspects in the self-management of NAFLD,has shown a good correlation with the identification of the sub-cohort of patients with the highest reduction in caloric intake,increase in physical exercise,probability of a reduction in liver stiffness measurement and alanine aminotransferase levels.The cor-relation among clinical outcomes and specific dimensions of this scale also highlights the pivotal role of a good and confidential doctor-patient relationship and of an effective communication.There is an urgent need for practical and effective instruments to assess the grade of self-management of NAFLD patients,together with the development of multidisciplinary teams with the aim of applying structured behavioral interventions.

Influencing factors of self-management ability among dry eye patients in west China

AIM:To investigate the current situation and influencing factors of self-management ability in dry eye patients in west China.METHODS:A total of 265 patients clinically diagnosed with dry eye received a convenience survey questionnaire at West China Hospital of Sichuan University.All participants completed the rating scale of health self-management skill for adults(AHSMSRS),Huaxi Emotional-Distress Index(HEI),e-health literacy scale(e-HEALS)and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire(Brief-IPQ).A generalized linear model was employed to establish a multivariate linear model with demographic data,psychological state,e-HEALS,and illness perception as independent variables and health selfmanagement skill score as the dependent variable.RESULTS:The mean score for health self-management skill was 165.58±15.79.Multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age,better illness perception and improved psychological state were associated with better health selfmanagement ability among dry eye patients.Furthermore,the health self-management ability of patients with a disease duration less than 1y was found to be higher compared to those with a disease duration exceeding 1y.CONCLUSION:The health self-management ability of dry eye patients in west China is relatively high.Age,duration of disease,illness perception and psychological state are the influencing factors on the health selfmanagement ability of dry eye patients.

Effect of Diabetes Self-Management Education on Glycaemic Control in Sudanese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Research Background: The high prevalence of diabetes in Sudan, estimated at 16%, highlights the importance of effective health education in diabetes management. Diabetes self-management education has been identified as a crucial tool in enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities necessary for self-management among individuals with diabetes. Aim: To assess the impact of diabetes self-management education on medication adherence and glycemic control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes before and 3 months after the DSME intervention. Method: The study was conducted in Sudan between September 2022 and March 2023, it was an interventional, one-group, pre- and post-test study that aimed to assess the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) on medication adherence and diabetes control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes. The research was conducted in primary health care centers in six cities in Sudan and involved 244 participants. The data entry and statistical analysis were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0. A paired t test was used for analysis. Results: The study included 244 participants, 67% of whom were males. The age mean ± SD was 48.6 ± 9.3 years, and 85.3% of participants were married. Age at onset of diabetes mean ± SD was 40.60 ± 7.81 years;44.6% had diabetes for less than 5 years;and 84.1% had a positive family history of diabetes mellitus. The levels of poor, low, and partial adherence to medication decreased by 8.2%, 4%, and 20.6%, respectively, after the intervention. The levels of good and high medication regime adherence increased by 13% and 19.8%, respectively;BMI decreased by 1.1 ± 0.73 kg/m2 (p = 0.005). The fasting blood sugar decreased by 69 ± 32.9 mg/dl (p = 0.049), and the glycated hemoglobin decreased by 1.21 ± 0.28% (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study reinforce the importance of patient education in improving glycemic control and enhancing self-management behaviors. Patient education plays a critical role in enhancing glycemic control and self-management behaviors. It is essential for healthcare providers to adopt a patient-centered approach, taking into account the individual's beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge about their illness and treatment. Overcoming these challenges necessitates a comprehensive approach, including enhancing healthcare professionals’ knowledge and communication skills, offering accessible and culturally sensitive diabetes education programs, and addressing barriers to resources and support for self-management.

Assessing the relationship between health literacy intervention and hypertension self-management:A 7-year systematic review from January 2016 to December 2022

Hypertension(HTN)is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting over 30%of the adult population globally,with a growing incidence rate.This review assesses the relationship between health literacy(HL)intervention and hypertension(HTN)self-management among people with HTN.The study design was a systematic review of empirical research articles using a well-defined strategy.Online journals were accessed through databases such as PubMed,CINAHL,Google Scholar,ProQuest,Global Health,WHOLIS,Embase,and EbscoHost,spanning from January 2016 to December 2022 as the scope of the study.Articles selected for inclusion were those published in English during the specified time frame and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sample,Phenomenon of Interest,Design,Evaluation,Research Type framework for systematic review,focusing on criteria related to the sample,the phenomenon of interest,study design,evaluation,and research type.Out of 180 studies initially identified in the database search,20 studies were ultimately included in the review.The findings were reported based on these five emerging themes:Relationship between HL and HTN self-management;Effect of HL intervention on HTN self-management;Factors predicting self-care behaviors among HTN patients with low HL;Effect of HL and self-management efficacy on health-related quality of life(HRQoL);and level of self-care practices.This review highlights a relationship between HL,self-efficacy,self-care,and HRQoL,underscoring the necessity for further well-designed intervention studies focused on enhancing HL in individuals with HTN in Nigeria to enhance their quality of life.

Self-management in patients with diabetic foot ulcer:a concept analysis

Objective:This paper presents an analysis of the concept of patient outcomes.Methods:The present study conducted searches on various databases,including Wanfang,Sinomed,CNKI,Pub Med,Cochrane Library,Embase,Web of Science,and Ovid.The paper followed the Walker and Avant concept-analysis approach.Results:Initially,899 pieces of literature were identified through the search process,and after screening,41 of them were ultimately included in the analysis.The identified attributes of the concept included(1)capability,(2)decision making,and(3)action.These antecedents were shaped by factors such as illness perception,self-efficacy,and family and social.The consequences included(1)physiological effects,(2)psychological effects,and(3)social influence.Conclusions:The concept analysis of self-management in patients with diabetic foot ulcers(DFUs)not only aids in clinical practice and suppor ts interventions,but also contributes to the development of self-management theory.The common goal of clinical medical staff is to assist DFU patients in improving cognitive ability,making correct self-management decisions,and enhancing self-management behavior.

Application Effect of WeChat Platform Continuity of Care Model Based on KAP Theory on Self-Management of Stroke Patients with Hypertension

Objective: To explore the impact of the WeChat platform continuity of care model based on the KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) theory on the self-management of stroke patients with hypertension after discharge from the hospital. Methods: 62 stroke patients with hypertension discharged from the rehabilitation department of a tertiary A hospital in Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from October 2022 to April 2023 were sampled by convenience sampling method. Patients discharged from Rehabilitation I were included in the control group, and conventional nursing care was used;while patients discharged from Rehabilitation II were included in the observation group, and WeChat platform continuity of nursing care model based on the KAP theory was implemented. The intervention effect of the two groups was compared. Results: After 4 and 12 weeks of intervention, the diastolic and systolic blood pressure of the patients in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05);after 12 weeks of intervention, the rate of medication adherence and the score of adherence to hypertension treatment in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The application of the WeChat platform continuity of care model based on KAP theory to stroke patients with hypertension can improve blood pressure, medication adherence rate, hypertension treatment adherence, and overall enhance the self-management level of these patients.

Conceptual Analysis of Self-Management in Patients with Hypertension

Objective:To clarify the concept of self-management in hypertensive patients by analyzing the definition,attributes,and measurement tools through a literature review.Methods:An Internet-based search of the databases was conducted using Academic Search Complete,Medical Line,CINAHL,Health Source:Nursing/Scholarly Edition,and Google Scholar.In the search process,keywords or free text were combined by using Boolean operators,with the search terms“self of management”or“self-management,”“concept*analysis”or“concept*definition,”and Walker and Avant’s concept analysis method was used.Results:Analysis of relevant literature summarized the conceptual attributes of self-management in hypertensive patients as the active participation of patients in the treatment process;the presence of interaction provided by patients and health care providers;the use of certain health management tools;and the aim of maintaining and improving the health status and living capacity of hypertensive patients.Conclusion:The concept of self-management for hypertensive patients was clarified,which helps to promote the application of hypertensive self-management in clinical work and improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with hypertension.

Influence of heat treatment on microstructure,mechanical and corrosion behavior of WE43 alloy fabricated by laser-beam powder bed fusion

Magnesium(Mg)alloys are considered to be a new generation of revolutionary medical metals.Laser-beam powder bed fusion(PBF-LB)is suitable for fabricating metal implants withpersonalized and complicated structures.However,the as-built part usually exhibits undesirable microstructure and unsatisfactory performance.In this work,WE43 parts were firstly fabricated by PBF-LB and then subjected to heat treatment.Although a high densification rate of 99.91%was achieved using suitable processes,the as-built parts exhibited anisotropic and layeredmicrostructure with heterogeneously precipitated Nd-rich intermetallic.After heat treatment,fine and nano-scaled Mg24Y5particles were precipitated.Meanwhile,theα-Mg grainsunderwent recrystallization and turned coarsened slightly,which effectively weakened thetexture intensity and reduced the anisotropy.As a consequence,the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were significantly improved to(250.2±3.5)MPa and(312±3.7)MPa,respectively,while the elongation was still maintained at a high level of 15.2%.Furthermore,the homogenized microstructure reduced the tendency of localized corrosion and favoredthe development of uniform passivation film.Thus,the degradation rate of WE43 parts was decreased by an order of magnitude.Besides,in-vitro cell experiments proved their favorable biocompatibility.

Determinants of self-management behaviors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a path analysis

Background Tuberculosis(TB)is one of the top 10 causes of death in the world.Since Directly Observed Therapy(DOT)as a core strategy for the global TB control are not applicable to all types of TB patients,and self-management of TB patients(SMTP)as a patient-centered supervision type is a supplement to DOT and can improve TB case management.However,the factors related to SMTP are complex and need more study.This study aimed at identifying the determinants of SMTP and examining the direct/indirect effects of these determinants.Methods The purposive sampling technique was used to select study sites and participants were recruited from the study sites by the consecutive sampling method.The PRECEDE model was used as the framework to analyze the determinants of SMTP.The responses of TB patients were acquired via a questionnaire survey for data collection.A Pearson correlation analysis was used to define the relationship between the predisposing,enabling,reinforcing factors with SMTP behaviors.A regression-based path analysis was used to determine the action paths of the predisposing,enabling,and reinforcing factors on SMTP behaviors.Results The predisposing(TB knowledge),enabling[health education and healthcare workers(HCWs)support],reinforcing factors(family support)had significant positive correlations with SMTP behaviors(P<0.05).The predisposing,enabling,reinforcing factors were positively correlated with each other(r=0.123‒0.918,P<0.05),except for family support and HCWs support.The predisposing factors(TB knowledge,β=0.330)and the enabling factors(HCWs support,β=0.437)had direct effects on SMTP behaviors.The enabling factors(health education and HCWs support)and the reinforcing factors(family support)had indirect effects on SMTP behaviors.Conclusions This study revealed the effects and action path of TB knowledge,health education,HCWs support,and family support on SMTP behaviors via a path analysis.Assessing patient’s needs for SMTP along with promoting effective TB health education and providing firm support from HCWs and family members are potential strategies to promote SMTP behaviors.

Integrated ribosome and proteome analyses reveal insights into sevoflurane-induced long-term social behavior and cognitive dysfunctions through ADNP inhibition in neonatal mice

A growing number of studies have demonstrated that repeated exposure to sevoflurane during development results in persistent social abnormalities and cognitive impairment.Davunetide,an active fragment of the activity-dependent neuroprotective protein(ADNP),has been implicated in social and cognitive protection.However,the potential of davunetide to attenuate social deficits following sevoflurane exposure and the underlying developmental mechanisms remain poorly understood.In this study,ribosome and proteome profiles were analyzed to investigate the molecular basis of sevoflurane-induced social deficits in neonatal mice.The neuropathological basis was also explored using Golgi staining,morphological analysis,western blotting,electrophysiological analysis,and behavioral analysis.Results indicated that ADNP was significantly down-regulated following developmental exposure to sevoflurane.In adulthood,anterior cingulate cortex(ACC)neurons exposed to sevoflurane exhibited a decrease in dendrite number,total dendrite length,and spine density.Furthermore,the expression levels of Homer,PSD95,synaptophysin,and vglut2 were significantly reduced in the sevoflurane group.Patch-clamp recordings indicated reductions in both the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents(mEPSCs).Notably,davunetide significantly ameliorated the synaptic defects,social behavior deficits,and cognitive impairments induced by sevoflurane.Mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of ADNP led to dysregulation of Ca^(2+)activity via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling,resulting in decreased expression of synaptic proteins.Suppression of Wnt signaling was restored in the davunetide-treated group.Thus,ADNP was identified as a promising therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by general anesthetics.This study provides important insights into the mechanisms underlying social and cognitive disturbances caused by sevoflurane exposure in neonatal mice and elucidates the regulatory pathways involved.