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Greenfield K, Schoth DE, Hain R, Bailey S, Mott C, Rajapakse D, Harrop E, Renton K, Anderson AK, Carter B, Johnson M, Liossi C. A rapid systematic review of breakthrough pain definitions and descriptions. Br J Pain 2024; 18:215-226. [PMID: 38751563 PMCID: PMC11092936 DOI: 10.1177/20494637231208093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Breakthrough pain is common in life-limiting conditions and at end-of-life. Despite over 30 years of study, there is little consensus regarding the definition and characteristics of breakthrough pain. Objective This study aims to update and expand a 2010 systematic review by Haugen and colleagues to identify (1) all definitions of breakthrough pain and (2) all descriptions and classifications of breakthrough pain reported by patients, caregivers, clinicians, and experts. Design This rapid systematic review followed the Cochrane Rapid Review Methods Group guidelines. A protocol is published on PROSPERO (CRD42019155583). Data sources CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science were searched for breakthrough pain terms from the inception dates of each database to 26th August 2022. Results We identified 65 studies that included data on breakthrough pain definitions, descriptions, or classifications from patients (n = 30), clinicians (n = 6), and experts (n = 29), but none with data from caregivers. Most experts proposed that breakthrough pain was a sudden, severe, brief pain occurring in patients with adequately controlled mild-moderate background pain. However, definitions varied and there was no consensus. Pain characteristics were broadly similar across studies though temporal factors varied widely. Experts classified breakthrough pain into nociceptive, neuropathic, visceral, somatic, or mixed types. Patients with breakthrough pain commonly experienced depression, anxiety, and interference with daily life. Conclusions Despite ongoing efforts, there is still no consensus on the definition of breakthrough pain. A compromise is needed on breakthrough pain nomenclature to collect reliable incidence and prevalence data and to inform further refinement of the construct.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel E Schoth
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Highfield, UK
| | - Richard Hain
- Paediatric Palliative Medicine, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Simon Bailey
- Sir James Spence Institute,Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne,UK
| | - Christine Mott
- Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham,UK
- Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham,UK
| | - Dilini Rajapakse
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Emily Harrop
- Helen & Douglas House Hospices, Oxford, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust,John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Kate Renton
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
- Naomi House & Jacksplace, Winchester, UK
| | | | - Bernie Carter
- Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine,Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK
| | | | - Christina Liossi
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Highfield, UK
- Psychological Services Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Cuomo A. Fentanyl in cancer pain management: avoiding hasty judgments and discerning its potential benefits. Drugs Context 2023; 12:2023-10-2. [PMID: 38148830 PMCID: PMC10751104 DOI: 10.7573/dic.2023-10-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer pain is an important challenge in treatment and requires a rapid onset of action for its control. In particular, breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) should be adequately controlled with a stable dose of a short-acting oral opioid. Fentanyl is a synthetic, highly selective opioid with many advantageous chemical properties, including high lipophilicity and distinct pharmacokinetic properties. It is recommended for pain management in a variety of settings, including acute pain, chronic pain and BTcP. To date, its variously designed formulations allow non-invasive administration; amongst others, sublingual fentanyl has proven useful in the management of BTcP and in improving the quality of life of patients with cancer. This review provides an update on the management of BTcP with fentanyl, with consideration of safety, as it remains an important tool in the treatment of cancer pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Cuomo
- Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples,
Italy
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3
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Mio Pos A, Wainstein AJA, Aleixo M, Vieira BAS, Drummond-Lage AP. Pain Treatment and Cancer Patients: Are we Heeding Quality of Life? J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2023; 37:63-71. [PMID: 36630265 DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2022.2155755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The use of opioid analgesics remains the primary therapy for pain control in cancer patients. However, ample evidence persists showing that treatment is still inadequate. This cross-sectional study was carried out during one year in a Brazilian Cancer Hospital to evaluate the impact of opioid use on analgesia and patients' quality of life. The Pain Management Index (PMI), EORTC QLQ.C30 (Quality of Life of Cancer Patients), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4), and Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) were used. A hundred patients with advanced solid tumors and using opioids were included, with 82% of them reporting daily pain with 58% having intense pain. Morphine with a mean dose of 49 Morphine Milligram Equivalent were used by 57% of them, and PMI was negative in 34% of the sample. Neuropathic pain was found in 72% of patients. The pain was related to all BPI variables. Despite the substantial negative impact of pain on QOL, no association was found between the clinical factors assessed and QOL itself. This gap can be related to the persistence of high levels of sub-treatment, depression, and neuropathic pain associated with the use of low doses of opiates and adjuvant medications in the sample.
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Bernardes SF, Matos M, Mourão S, Vauclair CM. Cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Portuguese breakthrough pain assessment tool with cancer patients. Scand J Pain 2021; 21:688-695. [PMID: 33930265 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2021-0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs over persistent, stable, and adequately controlled cancer background pain. It is prevalent and bears severe consequences to patients' quality-of-life. The effective management of BTcP depends on fast and reliable (re)assessment. The Breakthrough pain Assessment Tool (BAT) is one of the most concise and reliable self-report instruments adapted to clinical contexts so far, showing good psychometric qualities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and South Korea. As to promote the effective management of BTcP in Portuguese-speaking communities this study, first aimed to culturally adapt and validate the Portuguese version of the BAT (BAT-Pt). Second, and most importantly, it sought to provide novel evidence on its criterion validity by investigating its association with measures of psychological distress, which has not been yet investigated. METHODS The BAT was translated into European Portuguese, using the back-translation method, and culturally adapted. Its psychometric properties (factor structure, internal consistency, construct and criterion validity) were analyzed in a cross-sectional multicenter study, with a sample of 65 cancer patients (49.2% women) recruited from eight hospitals in mainland Portugal (a priori power analysis determined a minimum sample of 50). Health professionals collected patients' clinical information, assessed their functional disability (ECOG Performance Status) and the adequacy of pain control. In addition to the Portuguese version of the BAT (BAT_Pt), patients completed the Portuguese versions of the Brief Pain Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a Distress Thermometer and answered questions about the adequacy of pain control. RESULTS The BAT-Pt was very well accepted by experts and patients. As hypothesized, a Principal Axis Factor Analysis revealed two underlying factors accounting for 55.2% of the variance: (1) Pain Severity and Impact of BTcP and (2) Duration of BTcP and Medication Inefficacy. Two items (on episode frequency and medication efficacy) were analyzed separately given their lower/cross loadings. The BAT-Pt showed good internal consistency overall (α=0.79) and for each sub-scale, namely, Pain Severity and Impact of BTcP (n=5 items; α=0.86) and Duration of BTcP and Medication Inefficacy (n=2 items; rsb=0.62). The BAT-Pt showed good convergent validity, being moderately to strongly associated with overall pain severity and interference (0.46<r<0.77, p<0.001). It also showed good concurrent validity by being associated not only with physical outcomes - such as functional disability (r=0.40, p<0.001) and patient- and physician-determined adequacy of BTcP control (|0.25<rpb<0.63|, p s <0.05) - but also, with distress (0.33<r<0.46, p s <0.001), anxiety (0.28<r<0.44, p s <0.05) and depression (r=0.47, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The BAT-Pt is a reliable and valid measure of breakthrough pain in Portuguese cancer patients and it is strongly associated to physical and psychological outcomes. This study confirms and extends the psychometric validation of the BAT to a new cultural context, promoting its diffusion and use by researchers and clinicians in Portuguese-speaking communities. The BAT-Pt may be an invaluable tool for daily clinical practice by tapping multiple aspects of BTcP experiences that are associated to patients' physical and psychological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia F Bernardes
- Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-Iscte), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Matos
- Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-Iscte), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Mourão
- Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-Iscte), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Christin-Melanie Vauclair
- Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-Iscte), Lisbon, Portugal
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Impact of individualized management of breakthrough cancer pain on quality of life in advanced cancer patients: CAVIDIOPAL study. Support Care Cancer 2021; 29:4799-4807. [PMID: 33533986 PMCID: PMC8236456 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06006-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The main aim of the study was to assess the impact of individualized management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) on quality of life (QoL) of patients with advanced cancer in clinical practice. METHODS A prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted in patients with advanced cancer that were assisted by palliative care units. QoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at baseline (V0) and after 28 days (V28) of individualized BTcP therapy. Data on background pain, BTcP, comorbidities, and frailty were also recorded. RESULTS Ninety-three patients completed the study. Intensity, duration, and number of BTcP episodes were reduced (p < 0.001) at V28 with individualized therapy. Transmucosal fentanyl was used in 93.8% of patients, mainly by sublingual route. Fentanyl titration was initiated at low doses (78.3% of patients received doses of 67 μg, 100 μg, or 133 μg) according to physician evaluation. At V28, mean perception of global health status had increased from 31.1 to 53.1 (p < 0.001). All scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 significantly improved (p < 0.001) except physical functioning, diarrhea, and financial difficulties. Pain scale improved from 73.6 ± 22.6 to 35.7 ± 22.3 (p < 0.001). Moreover, 85.9% of patients reported pain improvement. Probability of no ≥ 25% improvement in QoL was significantly higher in patients ≥ 65 years old (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.001-1.079) and patients hospitalized at baseline (OR 4.126; 95% CI 1.227-13.873). CONCLUSION Individualized BTcP therapy improved QoL of patients with advanced cancer. Transmucosal fentanyl at low doses was the most used drug. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT02840500) on July 19, 2016.
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Expósito-Vizcaíno S, Sánchez-Rodríguez E, Miró J. The role of physical, cognitive and social factors in pain interference with activities of daily living among individuals with chronic cancer pain. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2019; 29:e13203. [PMID: 31825154 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to better understand the role that physical, cognitive and social factors play in pain interference with activities of daily living among individuals with cancer and chronic pain. METHOD In this cross-sectional study, interviews with 156 patients with chronic cancer pain were conducted across five tertiary level hospitals in the province of Tarragona (Spain). Participants were interviewed individually and provided information about the presence and characteristics of pain, fatigue, catastrophic thinking, social support and the impact of pain on their daily activities. RESULTS Pain intensity (β = 0.23, p = .003), fatigue (β = 0.26, p < .001) and pain catastrophising (β = 0.39, p < .001) were significantly and positively associated with pain interference in daily activities. Pain interference scores were not explained by social support (β = 0.12 p = .090) or socio-demographic factors (R2 = .005; p = .94). CONCLUSION This study provides important new findings regarding the association between physical, cognitive and social factors and function of individuals with cancer and chronic pain, thus supporting a biopsychosocial approach to the management of chronic pain in individuals with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Expósito-Vizcaíno
- Haematology Service, Joan XXIII University Hospital of Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.,Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain - ALGOS, Research Centre for Behaviour Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez
- Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain - ALGOS, Research Centre for Behaviour Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordi Miró
- Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain - ALGOS, Research Centre for Behaviour Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Catalonia, Spain
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Gonella S, Sperlinga R, Sciannameo V, Dimonte V, Campagna S. Characteristics of Breakthrough Pain and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients. Integr Cancer Ther 2019; 18:1534735419859095. [PMID: 31220961 PMCID: PMC6589949 DOI: 10.1177/1534735419859095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose. This study aimed to characterize breakthrough pain (BTP) and investigate its impact on quality-of-life (QoL) in terminally-ill cancer patients. Similarities and differences between high and low predictable BTP were also tested. Methods. Secondary analysis of a multicenter longitudinal observational study included 92 patients at their end-of-life. BTP was assessed with a short form of the Italian version of the Alberta Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool. QoL was assessed with the Palliative Outcome Scale (0-40). Patients were stratified by self-reported BTP predictability into unpredictable BTP (never or rarely able to predict BTP) and predictable BTP (sometimes to always able to predict BTP). Results. In all, 665 BTP episodes were recorded (median 0.86 episodes/day). A median duration of 30 minutes and a median peak intensity score of 7 out of 10 were reported. Time to peak was <10 minutes, 10 to 30 minutes, and ≥30 minutes in 267 (41.1%), 259 (39.9%), and 30 (4.6%) of the episodes, respectively. Onset of relief occurred after a median of 30 minutes. Time to peak (P < .001) and duration (P = .046) of BTP was shorter in patients with predictable pain (n = 31), who usually were younger than those with unpredictable pain (P = .03). The mean (SD) QoL score was 14.6 (4.6). No difference in QoL between patients with predictable and unpredictable BTP was found (P = .49). Conclusions. In terminally-ill cancer patients, BTP is a severe problem with a negative impact on QoL and has different characteristics according to its predictability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gonella
- 1 Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza of Torino, Torino, Italy
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Puntillo K, Naidu RK. Measurement of Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Evaluation in Community-Based Persons with Serious Illnesses. J Palliat Med 2018; 21:S43-S51. [PMID: 29091525 PMCID: PMC5756460 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain associated with serious illnesses is having a major impact on population health in the United States. Accountability for high quality care for community-dwelling patients with serious illnesses requires selection of metrics that capture the burden of chronic pain whose treatment may be enhanced or complicated by opioid use. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to evaluate options for assessing pain in seriously ill community dwelling adults, to discuss the use/abuse of opioids in individuals with chronic pain, and to suggest pain and opioid use metrics that can be considered for screening and evaluation of patient responses and quality care. DESIGN Structured literature review. MEASUREMENTS Evaluation of pain and opioid use assessment metrics and measures for their potential usefulness in the community. RESULTS Several pain and opioid assessment instruments are available for consideration. Yet, no one pain instrument has been identified as "the best" to assess pain in seriously ill community-dwelling patients. Screening tools exist that are specific to the assessment of risk in opioid management. Opioid screening can assess risk based on substance use history, general risk taking, and reward-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS Accountability for high quality care for community-dwelling patients requires selection of metrics that will capture the burden of chronic pain and beneficial use or misuse of opioids. Future research is warranted to identify, modify, or develop instruments that contain important metrics, demonstrate a balance between sensitivity and specificity, and address patient preferences and quality outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Puntillo
- Department of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Ramana K. Naidu
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Liu Q, Gao LL, Dai YL, Li YX, Wang Y, Bai CF, Mu GX, Chai XM, Han WJ, Zhou LJ, Zhang YJ, Tang L, Liu J, Yu JQ. Nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture for analgesia in adult cancer patients with breakthrough pain: A randomized, double-blind controlled trial. Eur J Pain 2017; 22:492-500. [PMID: 29226545 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a fixed nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture for the management of breakthrough cancer pain. METHODS/DESIGN A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was undertaken in the Medical ward of Tumor Hospital of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. 240 cancer patients with breakthrough pain were recruited and randomly received a standard pain treatment (morphine sulphate immediate release) plus a pre-prepared nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture, or the standard pain treatment plus oxygen. The primary endpoint measure was the numerical rating scale (NRS) score measured at baseline, 5 and 15 min after the beginning of treatment, and at 5 min post treatment. RESULT In all, analysis of pain score (NRS) at 5 min after the beginning of treatment shown a significant decrease in nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture treated patients with 2.8 ± 1.3 versus 5.5 ± 1.2 in controls (p < 0.01). At 15 min during the intervention, the mean pain score for nitrous oxide/oxygen was 2.0 ± 1.1 compared with 5.6 ± 1.3 for oxygen (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION This study shows that self-administered nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture was effective in reducing moderate to severe breakthrough pain among patients with cancer. SIGNIFICANCE The management of breakthrough cancer pain is always a challenge due to its temporal characteristics of rapid onset, moderate to severe in intensity, short duration (median 30-60 min). Our study find that self-administered nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture was effective in reducing moderate to severe breakthrough cancer pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Liu
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - L-L Gao
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Y-L Dai
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Y-X Li
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Y Wang
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - C-F Bai
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - G-X Mu
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - X-M Chai
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - W-J Han
- Department of Nursing, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - L-J Zhou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Y-J Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - L Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, China
| | - J Liu
- School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - J-Q Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Institute of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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