Biological research for nursing最新文献

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with pain and reduced functional performance, increasing fall risk in older adults. While conventional physiotherapy is widely used, limited evidence exists regarding the added value of exercise programs on proprioception and balance outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a structured four-week exercise program, in combination with conventional physiotherapy, on function, pain, proprioception, and balance in adults with knee OA. Thirty participants (aged 50-65 years) with clinically diagnosed knee OA were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15), which received conventional physiotherapy (including electrotherapy, manual therapy, and therapeutic modalities) combined with structured exercise, or a control group (n = 15), which received conventional physiotherapy alone. Outcome measures included knee function, pain, proprioception, and static balance. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Both groups showed significant pre-to post-test improvements across all outcomes (p < .05). However, the experimental group achieved markedly greater gains in proprioception (-33.85% and -36.04% at 30° and 60°, respectively), static balance (+25.13% eyes-open, +42.25% eyes-closed), and functional reach (+10.87%) compared with the control group. Pain reduction was also greater in the experimental group (-28.02% vs. -19.37%). Improvements in knee function were observed in both groups, with no significant group-by-time interaction. Integrating a targeted exercise program with physiotherapy leads to superior improvements in sensorimotor and functional outcomes in individuals with knee OA. These findings support non-pharmacological strategies to enhance mobility and reduce fall risk in this population.

Maternal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use is common during pregnancy and lactation. Changes in serotonin signaling may affect diversity and composition of microbes in the gut. Although research suggests SSRI drives microbial change, the extent to which the infant gut microbiome is affected is unknown. The infant gut microbiome is critical in early life for support of developmental health including early training of the immune system and metabolic programming. A total of N = 20 (10 SSRI, 10 control) maternal/infant dyads were enrolled in a pilot study. Thirty-six infant stool samples were collected at 1-2 and 4-6 weeks of life and sequenced using 16S rRNA sequencing. Investigative models included SSRI exposure as the primary variable of interest with infant feeding pattern and mode of delivery included as covariates. Maternal antidepressant use was not associated with infant alpha (within-sample) diversity. The SSRI use may shape beta (between-sample) diversity, particularly at weeks 4-6 of life (p = .072). Increases in the genera Gemella, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium were observed with SSRI exposure. Additionally, results reveal a SSRI-associated decrease in Lactobacillus. While this pilot study is not intended to provide conclusive evidence, it is an important step in informing future research directions. Results suggest a modest influence of maternal SSRI exposure on the infant gut microbiome. Future studies should seek to use techniques like metagenomics, providing functional information to assess for local or systemic health impact and ultimately, clinical relevance.

Objective: This study examined sex differences in pain intensity and unpleasantness among cognitively healthy older adults. While females generally exhibit heightened pain sensitivity, research on sex differences in older adults remains limited. We aimed to determine whether these differences persist in aging populations without cognitive impairment. Methods: A sample of 58 community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years, 34 females, 24 males) were included in this pain psychophysics study to assess differences by sex. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) or Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS). Depression, anxiety, and baseline pain were also assessed. Evoked heat pain stimuli at fixed temperatures (34°C, 39°C, 44°C) were delivered via the Medoc Q-Sense system with pain intensity and unpleasantness rated immediately after each stimulus. Results: Females reported significantly higher pain intensity than males (p = .02; female mean = 4.6 [95% CI: 3.9, 5.3], male mean = 3.5 [95% CI: 2.9, 4.2]). Sex differences in reported pain intensity were consistent across the three stimulus intensity levels (sex by temperature interaction p = .35). Pain unpleasantness did not differ significantly between sexes (p = .14) nor was the sex by temperature interaction significant (p = .35). Conclusion: Findings confirm sex differences in perceived pain intensity among cognitively healthy older adults, with females reporting higher pain levels. In contrast, no significant sex differences were observed in the affective component of pain. These results underscore the importance of incorporating sex-specific considerations in the assessment and management of pain intensity in older adults.

Chronic pain affects approximately one-third of active-duty service members (ADSMs), yet effective treatment remains challenging. Salivary cortisol and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) are established non-invasive biomarkers of stress and oxidative DNA damage and may provide reliable unbiased indicators of treatment efficacy in chronic pain. However, their associations with pain outcomes and potential sex differences remain unclear. It was hypothesized that interdisciplinary pain treatment would result in decreased levels of stress and oxidative DNA damage biomarkers, as well as decreased pain intensity, and that the magnitude of challenge might vary by sex. Our objective was to compare longitudinal changes in salivary cortisol and urinary 8-OHdG in relation to pain outcomes and sex. A total of 190 ADSMs who referred for chronic pain treatment completed data collection on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures and urine and saliva samples at baseline and post-treatment. Multivariable regression models were used to predict changes in PROMIS scores relative to changes in cortisol and 8-OHdG, while adjusting for baseline levels. Interaction terms between participants' sex and changes in biomarkers were added to each model. Given the study's exploratory nature, a significance threshold of p < .10 was used for all analyses. Five statistically significant sex-by-cortisol interactions were identified for pain measures (pain impact, pain interference, physical functioning, sleep impairment, and social functioning), but none for 8-OHdG. Future work is needed to replicate these findings in larger samples. The research protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03297905; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03297905).

Background: Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently coexists with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many cases remain undiagnosed, particularly among overweight or obese individuals. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with OSA among overweight or obesity T2DM. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted from September 2023 to April 2024. A total of 422 T2DM participants were recruited from four Diabetes Shared Care Network clinics in Taiwan. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleep Scale, and a portable sleep monitoring device were used for data collection. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors affecting T2DM patients with OSA, and a multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the major influence factors for each OSA severity level. Results: 80.3% of the T2DM participants were found to have OSA; 51.8% had moderate to severe OSA. After controlling the confounding variables, age, number of comorbidities, BMI, neck circumference, snoring times, and pulse rate were significant predictors of Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Furthermore, severe OSA was significantly related to age, BMI, gender, pulse rate, and snoring times. Conclusions: Up to 80.3% of participants with T2DM were found to have OSA. Higher BMI, neck circumference, number of comorbidities, age, pulse rate, and snoring frequency were significantly associated with OSA. Notably, BMI and age were the most significant predictors across mild, moderate, and severe OSA. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that patients with overweight or obese T2DM undergo routine OSA screening to ensure timely diagnosis and optimize management.

Background. Early life stress results in disrupted stress regulation, and less optimal neurodevelopment and oral feeding skills in very preterm infants. Despite these associations, there are few evidence-based interventions to help these fragile infants during critical stages of development. Purpose. This article describes an ongoing research protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the multisensory early oral administration of human milk (M-MILK) as an early NICU intervention to improve stress regulation, support optimal neurodevelopment, and promote competent oral feeding skills in very preterm infants. Method. M-MILK is an infant-led early NICU intervention beginning on day 3 of life to provide very preterm infants with small droplets of milk orally while engaging their innate senses. Infants (N = 124) born <32 weeks gestational age are randomized to either the M-MILK or control group (standard of care). M-MILK begins on day 3 of life. We assess stress regulation, neurodevelopment, and oral feeding skills over time via salivary cortisol, buccal cell DNA methylation, NeoNatal Neurobehavioral Scale, Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Early Feeding Skills Assessment, and Neonatal Feeding Assessment Tool. Endpoints will be compared by treatment arm using linear regression and mixed-effects models for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, respectively. Discussion. Findings from this study will advance knowledge as to the efficacy of M-MILK as an epigenetically-informed intervention to enhance stress regulation, neurodevelopment, and oral feeding skills in very preterm infants during critical periods of neuroplasticity. The study has been registered at https://ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07216664).

Background and AimKinesiotape is commonly used as a complementary therapy, but its results can vary substantially. This study aims to evaluate the effects of I-shaped kinesiotaping on patients' pain levels, functionality, and wound healing after lumbar disc surgery.DesignPlacebo-randomized controlled trial.SettingsA public hospital.ParticipantsEighty patients undergoing lumbar discectomy, with a mean age of 49.9 ± 13.1 years, were randomized to either the kinesiotaping (kinesio) or placebo group.InterventionThe kinesio group had I-shaped kinesiotape applied 24 hours after surgery and on postoperative days 5, 10, 15, and 20, while the placebo group received placebo taping.Main MeasuresA visual analog scale for pain, analgesic medication use, the Oswestry Disability Index, the Functional Low Back Pain Scale, and wound healing were assessed on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 30th days post-surgery.ResultsSignificant time effects were observed for both groups, with the kinesio group showing reductions in pain, analgesic medication use, and disability, along with improvements in functionality (effect size ƞ² = 0.435-0.713, p < 0.001). The placebo group showed similar changes (effect size ƞ² = 0.567-0.714, p < 0.001). No significant group or interaction effects were found.ConclusionsPost-lumbar disc surgery, kinesiotaping did not show significant advantages in pain control, analgesic use reduction, disability improvement, or wound healing. The trial protocol is available on https://ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05476718) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05476718).

Background: Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for lung cancer, but postoperative pulmonary dysfunction, reduced exercise tolerance, and impaired quality of life are common challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intelligent breathing training in improving postoperative outcomes for lung cancer patients. Methods: A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted among eligible lung cancer patients who underwent partial lung resection (July 2024-July 2025). Patients were randomized 1:1 to the intervention group (intelligent breathing training plus routine care) or the control group (routine care). A total of 138 patients were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 68) or the control group (n = 70). Outcomes were assessed at preoperation (T0), discharge (T1), 1 month (T2), and 3 months (T3) postoperatively. Results: At T1, T2, and T3 postoperatively, the intervention group demonstrated significantly superior pulmonary function compared to the control group (all p < 0.05), including higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Additionally, the intervention group achieved significantly longer 6-min walk distances, higher physical domain scores on the World Health Organization Quality of Life-100 (WHOQOL-100) scale, and lower scores on the Psycho-Social Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) at all postoperative time points (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Intelligent breathing training effectively improves postoperative pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in lung cancer patients. It provides a feasible and superior alternative to traditional rehabilitation, supporting the integration of intelligent devices into clinical nursing practice.

The global increase in older adults places greater demands on understanding how body tissues change structurally and physiologically with age. Given this demographic trend and Biological Research for Nursing's focus on biological or biobehavioral outcomes, we analyzed the scientific production and impact, including citation count, of 87 relevant research papers published in this journal between 2002 and 2024. Using the OpenAlex database and VOSviewer, we found that the five papers published in 2018 accrued the highest citation count of 227. Among 81 articles, 12 research fronts were identified, with physical activity, frailty, sleep, and/or cognition included in several of them. A co-occurrence network of 102 authors' terms/keywords generated five clusters, where the three terms with the largest nodes were medicine, internal medicine, and physical therapy. Terms associated with more current research papers included inflammation, quality of life, economics, and grip strength. Regarding location, the United States dominated the country network but showed strong collaborative links with European and Asian nations. The author network consisted of 398 authors; however, less than 10% demonstrated strong collaborations. Therefore, Biological Research for Nursing, with its focus on nursing perspectives regarding aging-related biological and behavioral dimensions of health, serves as a key platform for evidence-based, holistic gerontological health care.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) are at risk of developing HIV-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), which appears independent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Angiopoietin (ANG) has been associated with vascular augmentation (i.e., arterial stiffness) in response to both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and alcohol use, but their combined health effects are not well understood. Methods: This study assessed data from the WiseApp study, examining ANG-1/ANG-2 blood serum levels and alcohol consumption in 109 adults with HIV at baseline. Alcohol consumption was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Concise (AUDIT-C) measure, and ANG-1 and ANG-2 levels were measured using high sensitivity Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) kits. Generalized linear mixed model analysis was used to explore the effect of alcohol consumption on angiopoietin levels in PWH, adjusting for demographic variables. Results: Alcohol consumption was not significantly associated with either ANG-1 or ANG-2 serum levels in our sample. However, CD4 serum levels were significantly correlated with both ANG-1 and 2, with a positive association for ANG-1 and negative associations for ANG-2. Additionally, demographic factors, including gender identity, sexual identity, and race, were significantly associated with ANG-2 levels but not ANG-1 levels. Conclusion: These findings underscore the complex interplay between immune function, vascular regulation, and demographic characteristics in persons with HIV. Future research should explore these relationships in larger and more diverse cohorts, incorporating longitudinal analyses to better understand the temporal dynamics of alcohol use, immune status, and endothelial function.