Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39820759›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Exploring early postoperative core symptoms in Chinese patients with primary liver cancer: a cross-sectional and longitudinal network analysis.

Haoran Zhang, Shaoxue Li, Mengmeng Yuan, Jingya Liu, Hua Fan, Shuwen Li

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Reconsidering the interpretation of network analysis in symptom research.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  4. Dynamic Network Analysis of Symptom Profiles and Their Expected Impact on Patients with Colorectal Cancer Receiving Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Haoran ZhangSchool of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 15 Feicui Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
Shaoxue LiSchool of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 15 Feicui Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
Mengmeng YuanSchool of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 15 Feicui Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
Jingya LiuSchool of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 15 Feicui Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
Hua FanDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Shuwen LiSchool of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, No. 15 Feicui Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China. lishuwen@ahmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with primary liver cancer (PLC) experience a range of symptoms in the early postoperative period. Symptoms include cancer-related symptoms and adverse effects of treatment. Exploring the core symptoms and their dynamics in the early post-hepatectomy patients may help provide better symptom management programs.

objectiveThe purpose of this study was to identify the core symptoms in early post-hepatectomy patients and to explore the trajectory of their dynamics.

methodsDuring the period from March 2021 to September 2022, a total of 281 patients diagnosed with PLC and undergoing radical curative surgery were recruited from the hepatobiliary surgery departments of two hospitals in Eastern China, among whom 249 individuals (88.6%) agreed to participate in the study. A comprehensive symptom assessment was administered to the patients 1-2 days after surgery (T1) and 1-2 days before discharge (T2). Network analysis was used to identify core symptoms in early post-hepatectomy patients based on symptom severity.

resultsThe network analysis identified the core symptoms of dry mouth, pain, abdominal distension, the lack of appetite, and nausea at T1. In contrast, at T2, the lack of appetite, pain, shortness of breath, and disturbed sleep were revealed. At the two early time points, while the results of the network structure test showed no statistically significant difference in the overall symptom network structure, there was a significant difference in the results for the core symptoms.

conclusionOur study demonstrates the need to identify core symptoms in the early post-hepatectomy to improve symptom management in PLC patients. It is crucial to apply network analysis as an essential component of cancer care.

Indexed as

HepatectomyLiver NeoplasmsPostoperative ComplicationsAdultAgedChinaCross-Sectional StudiesEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative PeriodCancerHepatectomyLongitudinalNetwork analysisSymptom

Identifiers

PMID39820759

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.