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Background: Most Chinese patients chose to die at home, therefore there is a reliance on the family caregivers to be involved in their palliative care. The needs and coping strategies of family caregivers in home-based palliative care are rooted in culture. Little is known about the needs and coping strategies of family caregivers taking care of dying patients at home. Methods: A field study using semi-structured interview, participant observation, documents and records collection was employed. The study was conducted in two palliative care outpatient departments in tertiary hospitals and four communities in Beijing, China from March 2021 to July 2022. Using purposive sampling, twenty-five family caregivers were recruited. All collected data were analyzed using content analysis approach. Results: Five themes emerged, including three care needs and two coping strategies. Family caregivers need to learn care skills and acquire care resources, including (i) decision-making about home-based palliative care, (ii) improving patient's quality of life, and (iii) signs of final hours and funeral procedures. In facing the care burden, family caregivers coped by (iv) balancing the roles of caregivers and individuals: giving priority to patient care while maintaining their own normal life. In facing the death of a loved one, family caregivers responded by (v) making room for coming death by facing death indirectly and "rescuing" patients for consolation while preparing for the coming death. Conclusion: Family caregivers strive to balance the roles of being caregivers and being themselves. As caregivers, they actively prepare patients for good death with no regrets. As individuals, they preserve themselves from being hurt to maintain normal life. The needs of family caregivers focus on caregiver role and are manifested in care skills and resources. Trial registration: Not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past decades, China's rapid economic growth has been accompanied by rapid changes in lifestyle and an increasing prevalence of mental disorders. This study explored the changes and factors associated with depression among the elderly population of China from 2011 to 2018.Method: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The total sample size consists of 21,484 individuals aged ≥60 years, and the sample sizes in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018 were 5081, 4853, 5207, 6343, respectively. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item Short-Form developed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression.Result: We found that the tendency in depression rate of the Chinese elderly from 2011 (36.8%) to 2018 (44.5%). The results showed poor health (OR = 3.553), ADL damage (OR = 2.010), multiple chronic diseases (OR = 1.287), and western (OR = 1.777) are risk factors for depression.Conclusion: The rate of depression of the elderly people in China has risen dramatically. Therefore, additional steps to prevent, treat and care for the affected population are needed, Mental health prevention and treatment strategies should be incorporated into China's public health policies in a timely manner to mitigate the serious economic burden caused by the increase of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 insertion (EGFRex20ins) mutations represent approximately 4-12% of EGFR mutations and are generally refractory to the 1st and 2nd generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Development of effective therapies for patients with EGFRex20ins mutant non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represents a great unmet need. Preclinical models have shown that osimertinib is active in NSCLC harboring EGFRex20ins, while the antitumor activity of osimertinib remains to be evaluated in patients with EGFRex20ins mutations., Methods: Tumor genotyping was performed in 2316 Chinese NSCLC cases with targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) covering the whole exons of EGFR gene. The frequency and genetic characteristics of EGFRexon20ins mutations were analyzed. Furthermore, six patients with specific EGFRexon20ins mutations and receiving osimertinib 80 mg once daily were retrospectively included to assess the antitumor activity and safety of monotherapy osimertinib., Results: EGFRex20ins mutations were identified in 4.8% (53/1095) of EGFR mutant NSCLC and 2.3% (53/2316) of all NSCLC cases. The most frequently identified EGFRexon20ins is A767_V769dup (17/53,32.1%). We found that the genetic characteristics of EGFRex20ins mutations in Chinese patients with NSCLC were comparable to those reported in Caucasian patients. Four patients with osimertinib therapy achieved partial response and the rest stable disease. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 6.2 months (95% confidence interval 5.0-12.9 months; range 4.9-14.6 months). The most common adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (2/6), pruritis (2/6), stomatitis (1/6) and nausea (1/6). No grade 3 or more AEs were documented., Conclusions: This study revealed that the genetic characteristics of EGFRex20ins mutations in Chinese patients with NSCLC were comparable to those reported in Caucasian patients. Furthermore, our study firstly demonstrated promising antitumor activity of osimertinib in certain EGFRex20ins mutant advanced NSCLC patients, indicating that osimertinib treatment for EGFRex20ins positive patients deserves further study.