Alpha oscillatory activity is causally linked to working memory retention.

Although previous studies have reported correlations between alpha oscillations and the "retention" subprocess of working memory (WM), causal evidence has been limited in human neuroscience due to the lack of delicate modulation of human brain oscillations. Conventional transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is not suitable for demonstrating the causal evidence for parietal alpha oscillations in WM retention because of its inability to modulate brain oscillations within a short period (i.e., the retention subprocess). Here, we developed an online phase-corrected tACS system capable of precisely correcting for the phase differences between tACS and concurrent endogenous oscillations. This system permits the modulation of brain oscillations at the target stimulation frequency within a short stimulation period and is here applied to empirically demonstrate that parietal alpha oscillations causally relate to WM retention. Our experimental design included both in-phase and anti-phase alpha-tACS applied to participants during the retention subprocess of a modified Sternberg paradigm. Compared to in-phase alpha-tACS, anti-phase alpha-tACS decreased both WM performance and alpha activity. These findings strongly support a causal link between alpha oscillations and WM retention and illustrate the broad application prospects of phase-corrected tACS.

Identifying Reddit Users at a High Risk of Suicide and Their Linguistic Features During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Growth-Based Trajectory Model.

BACKGROUND: Suicide has emerged as a critical public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing measures in place, social media has become a significant platform for individuals expressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, existing studies on suicide using social media data often overlook the diversity among users and the temporal dynamics of suicide risk. OBJECTIVE: By examining the variations in post volume trajectories among users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aims to investigate the heterogeneous patterns of change in suicide risk to help identify social media users at high risk of suicide. We also characterized their linguistic features before and during the pandemic. METHODS: We collected and analyzed post data every 6 months from March 2019 to August 2022 for users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit (N=6163). A growth-based trajectory model was then used to investigate the trajectories of post volume to identify patterns of change in suicide risk during the pandemic. Trends in linguistic features within posts were also charted and compared, and linguistic markers were identified across the trajectory groups using regression analysis. RESULTS: We identified 2 distinct trajectories of post volume among r/SuicideWatch subreddit users. A small proportion of users (744/6163, 12.07%) was labeled as having a high risk of suicide, showing a sharp and lasting increase in post volume during the pandemic. By contrast, most users (5419/6163, 87.93%) were categorized as being at low risk of suicide, with a consistently low and mild increase in post volume during the pandemic. In terms of the frequency of most linguistic features, both groups showed increases at the initial stage of the pandemic. Subsequently, the rising trend continued in the high-risk group before declining, while the low-risk group showed an immediate decrease. One year after the pandemic outbreak, the 2 groups exhibited differences in their use of words related to the categories of personal pronouns; affective, social, cognitive, and biological processes; drives; relativity; time orientations; and personal concerns. In particular, the high-risk group was discriminant in using words related to anger (odds ratio [OR] 3.23, P<.001), sadness (OR 3.23, P<.001), health (OR 2.56, P=.005), achievement (OR 1.67, P=.049), motion (OR 4.17, P<.001), future focus (OR 2.86, P<.001), and death (OR 4.35, P<.001) during this stage. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the 2 identified trajectories of post volume during the pandemic, this study divided users on the r/SuicideWatch subreddit into suicide high- and low-risk groups. Our findings indicated heterogeneous patterns of change in suicide risk in response to the pandemic. The high-risk group also demonstrated distinct linguistic features. We recommend conducting real-time surveillance of suicide risk using social media data during future public health crises to provide timely support to individuals at potentially high risk of suicide.

'Surviving and thriving': intersectional stigma and resilience of dual minority identities among Chinese gay and bisexual men living with HIV.

Intersectionality has facilitated an understanding of the complexities of the adversities and challenges faced by individuals with multiple disadvantaged identities, including gay and bisexual men living with HIV. This study used deficiency- and empowerment-based perspectives together with an intersectionality lens to examine the intersections between sexuality minority and HIV-related stigma and resilience, as well as their compound effects on Chinese gay and bisexual men living with HIV. We conducted in-depth interviews with 21 gay and bisexual men living with HIV in Shenzhen, identifying two overarching themes and six subthemes in the provided accounts via thematic analysis. The theme of 'Interplay between Minority Identities' comprised aggravating effects and alleviating effects at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, community and structural levels. The theme of 'Compound Impact of Intersecting Identities' was contributed to by the subthemes 'the pressure to continue family lineage', 'persistent health concerns', 'financial concerns', and 'heightened psychological distress and resilience'. Integrating deficiency and empowerment perspectives, our findings highlight the importance of addressing intersectional stigma and identifying resilience resources to empower Chinese gay and bisexual men living with HIV to thrive amidst compounded adversities. Findings have implications for future intersectional research and intervention practice, especially in fostering resilience within the context of intersectional stigma.

Preadolescents' executive functions and resilience development: A cascade model of resilience resources and resilient functioning.

INTRODUCTION: Executive functions (EF), encompassing inhibition, updating, and shifting, are widely acknowledged as cognitive factors that promote resilience. However, prior research examining the association between EF and resilience has been hampered by inconsistent conceptualizations of resilience and an overreliance on cross-sectional designs. We embraced a process-oriented conceptualization of resilience and employed a longitudinal approach to investigate how EF components interplay with the dynamic processes of resilience resources and resilient functioning. METHODS: A total of 144 Chinese preadolescents (aged 10-12, 53.5% male) completed computer-based EF assessments at baseline and self-reported their resilience at three intervals during 2019-2020. The resilience evaluations encompassed resilience resources at individual, familial, and social levels, as measured by the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents, and resilient functioning, operationalized as the residuals of socioemotional difficulties after accounting for stressful life events. RESULTS: The findings emphasized the dynamic nature of resilience, unveiling a developmental cascade from resilience resources to resilient functioning and back to resilience resources. Furthermore, distinct effects of EF components on resilience development were found. Specifically, inhibition was associated with both concurrent and long-term resilience resources and functioning, while updating predicted long-term resilience resources, and shifting predicted long-term resilient functioning. CONCLUSION: These results underscored the pivotal role of EF as a cognitive foundation in comprehending the dynamic resilience processes during preadolescence.

Perceived discrimination and psychological distress among Mainland Chinese immigrant women in Hong Kong: The indirect effects of tolerance of uncertainty and common dyadic coping.

OBJECTIVES: By studying Mainland Chinese immigrant women who married Hong Kong men, this study examined the association between their perceived discrimination and psychological distress after the 2019-2020 social movement in Hong Kong. Additionally, this study examined the indirect effects of individual coping strategies (tolerance of uncertainty) and couples' coping strategies (common dyadic coping), guided by the cultural and developmental psychopathology framework. METHOD: Ninety-nine Mainland Chinese immigrant women who married Hong Kong men participated in this cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: We found a positive association between perceived discrimination and psychological distress (r = .50, p < .01). Reduced uncertainty tolerance and low levels of common dyadic coping both showed indirect effects on the discrimination-psychological distress association. Tolerance of uncertainty had a larger indirect effect than common dyadic coping. CONCLUSIONS: Focusing on the psychological adjustment of immigrant women facing discrimination, our findings underscore the importance of preserving individual- and couple-level resources. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The effectiveness of positive psychological interventions for patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of positive psychological interventions on quality of life, positive psychological outcomes and negative psychological outcomes in patients with cancer. BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer often suffer from various psychological problems and have a poor quality of life. Positive psychological interventions have been increasingly applied to patients with cancer, but the results of these studies have not been synthesized. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials according to PRISMA. METHODS: Six English databases and four Chinese databases were searched from the inception to December 2022. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. RevMan was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials examined the effects of positive psychological interventions including meaning therapy, dignity therapy, positive psychotherapy, mindfulness- based intervention, life review, expressive writing intervention, acceptance and commitment psychotherapy, attention and interpretation therapy, compassion training and spiritual therapy on patients with cancer. Positive psychological interventions significantly improved the quality of life, enhanced positive psychological outcomes including well-being, meaning of life, self-esteem, optimism, resilience and self-efficacy and alleviated negative psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety and hopelessness. However, the heterogeneity of some outcomes was rather high, due to the wide diversity of the interventions included. CONCLUSION: Positive psychological interventions have potentially positive effects on improving quality of life, enhancing positive psychological outcomes and alleviating negative psychological outcomes in patients with cancer. However, due to the heterogeneity and the lack of follow-up studies, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm the results of our review and to clarify the long-term effects of positive psychological interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: As feasible psychological interventions, healthcare professionals can consider applying appropriate positive psychological interventions according to the condition of cancer patients. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

An Internet-Based Developmental Home Care Support Program Improved Maternal Psychological Symptoms and Infant Growth: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of an internet-based Developmental Home Care Support program (DHCSP) to reduce maternal psychological symptoms and improve preterm infants' physical growth outcomes. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The mother-infant dyads (nm = 34, np = 40) were randomly assigned to either the DHCSP intervention group or the control group. Data were collected at discharge (T0), 1-month corrected age (T1), and 2-month follow-up (T2), including mothers' postpartum depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and mother-proxy infants' body length, weight, and head circumference. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics between the 2 groups at T0, except for mothers' age and monthly household income (both P = .01). Mothers in the DHCSP group reported significantly higher decreases in depression symptoms (ß = -2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], -4.31 to -0.16, P = .03), and their preterm infants showed significantly more increases in body length (ß = 2.09; 95% CI, 0.30-3.87, P = .02) than the control participants at T2. The 2 groups did not show significant differences in mothers' PTSD symptoms or infants' body weight and head circumference. CONCLUSION: The internet-based DHCSP intervention was effective in improving mothers' depressive symptoms and infants' body length.

Common Dyadic Coping Mediates the Associations Between We-Disease Appraisal and Relationship Satisfaction and Quality of Life in HIV Serodiscordant Couples: The Common Fate Mediation Model.

BACKGROUND: Since HIV has evolved into a lifelong but manageable condition, improving the quality of life (QoL) of persons living with HIV (PLWHs) has become increasingly important. Living with HIV is life-altering and poses substantial challenges for both PLWHs and their partners, so identifying how HIV serodiscordant couples cope with HIV together is crucial. Here, Bodenmann's Systemic Transaction Model highlights common dyadic coping (CDC), which refers to both partners working together to alleviate the negative effects of stress. PURPOSE: We examined the mediating role of CDC in linking we-disease appraisal with relationship satisfaction and QoL. METHODS: We recruited a convenience sample of 231 HIV serodiscordant couples via local grassroots organizations between June and October 2022. Participants completed measures of we-disease appraisal, CDC, relationship satisfaction, and QoL. We examined the mediation effect of CDC on the association between we-disease appraisal and outcomes using the common fate mediation model. RESULTS: The mean age of PLWHs was 32.18 years (standard deviation = 8.61 years), and that of their partners was 32.55 years (standard deviation = 9.24 years). The average time since HIV diagnosis was 4.18 years. Most couples were same-sex male couples. We found that CDC mediated the effect of we-disease appraisal on relationship satisfaction. Moreover, CDC significantly mediated the effect of we-disease appraisal on the QoL of PLWHs and their partners. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of CDC in dyadic illness management among Chinese HIV serodiscordant couples.

Numerous studies have shown that HIV serodiscordant couples may face HIV-related stress as a unit. Yet, it is not clear how the appraisal of HIV as a shared illness (i.e., we-disease appraisal) may influence relationship satisfaction and both partners' quality of life (QoL) via common dyadic coping (CDC) behaviors (e.g., collaboration). In this study, we collected data from 231 HIV serodiscordant couples. Participants completed reports of how they appraise HIV as a we-disease, their CDC behaviors, and their relationship satisfaction and QoL. We found that we-disease appraisal was positively associated with CDC, which in turn was positively associated with relationship satisfaction and both partners' QoL. Future couple-based interventions should incorporate psycho-educational components to raise awareness about we-disease appraisal, as well as skill-building components to encourage the use of CDC in clinical settings.

Do Couple-Based Interventions Show Larger Effects in Promoting HIV Preventive Behaviors than Individualized Interventions in Couples? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 11 Randomized Controlled Trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the effects of couple-based prevention interventions against individual-level interventions on HIV prevention in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), identify potential moderators, and assess study quality. Eleven RCTs were included, comprising 3933 couples in the intervention group and 7125 individuals in the individual control group, predominantly in heterosexual couples from the USA and Africa. Couple-based interventions had a more significant effect in promoting condom use and HIV testing. Education levels of high school or above, residence in low- and middle-income countries, and intervention design incorporating HIV counseling and testing were associated with higher odds of condom use. The quality assessment analysis identified methodological and theoretical heterogeneity factors. Evidence of couple-based HIV prevention RCTs among men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, sex workers, and transgender women warrant further investigation. Recommendations are made to improve the quality and replicability of future intervention studies.

RESUMEN: Esta revista sistemática y metanálisis tiene por objeto comparar los efectos de las intervenciones de prevención basadas en pareja con las a nivel individual en la prevención del VIH en ensayos controlados aleatorios (ECA), identificar posibles moderadores y evaluar la calidad de los estudios. Se incluyeron once ECA, que comprendían 3.933 parejas en el grupo de intervención y 7.125 personas en el grupo de control individual, la mayoría de las cuales eran heterosexuales de EE.UU. y de África. Las intervenciones basadas en pareja son más eficaces para promover el uso de preservativos y pruebas del VIH. Los niveles de educación secundaria o superior, los países de ingresos bajos y medianos, y los diseños de intervención que incluyen pruebas y asesoramiento sobre el VIH se relacionan con más uso de preservativos. El análisis de evaluación de la calidad ha identificado factores de heterogeneidad metodológica y teórica. Las pruebas de ECA basadas en pareja para la prevención del VIH en hombres que tienen sexo con hombres, consumidores de drogas inyectables, trabajadoras sexuales y mujeres transgénero necesitan más investigación. Se hacen recomendaciones para mejorar la calidad y replicabilidad de futuros estudios de intervención.

Communal or Autonomous? Coping Experiences of Chinese Serodiscordant Male Couples to HIV Care: A Dyadic Qualitative Analysis.

Limited empirical evidence exists on the interpersonal challenges faced by Chinese serodiscordant male couples in HIV care. This study aimed to explore their coping experiences in HIV care by applying the communal coping process theoretical framework. A dyadic qualitative study using face-to-face interviews with 20 serodiscordant male couples (n = 40) was conducted between July and September 2021 in two Chinese metropolitan areas through purposive sampling. Eligibility included one partner living with HIV and the other being HIV-negative, both aged 18 or older, born male, gay or bisexual, and in a relationship together for at least 3 months. A hybrid deductive-inductive approach integrated with dyadic interview analysis and framework method was used for data analysis. We identified three themes in the coping process in HIV care: (1) coping as an autonomous process, (2) coping as a dissonant process, and (3) coping as a contextualized communal process. Concerning autonomous coping, most couples adopted either disengaged avoidance or mutual noninvolvement as negative coping strategies. We also identified potential risk factors for dissonant coping, which are a partner living with internalized HIV stigma and the couple's asymmetric relationship goals. Our results indicate the communal coping process of HIV care is contextual, and our expansion of the communal coping theory sheds light on how serodiscordant male couples cope with stressors connected to HIV care. Our findings provide theoretical insights for the development of dyadic interventions based on health psychology for Chinese serodiscordant male couples to engage in HIV care.

Family resilience of patients requiring long-term care: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

BACKGROUND: Long-term care of patients with chronic illnesses is an important global public health issue, compromising the well-being of family members and the family functioning. Previous studies have examined the interactive experiences and processes of various systems in the families coping with long-term care stress; however, these studies have not been systematically reviewed and integrated. AIMS: This review aimed to synthesise the existing qualitative evidence on the experiences and processes of family resilience operate in families providing long-term care for patients with chronic illnesses and to provide suggestions for the development of interventions in future studies. MATERIALS & METHODS: We searched databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, ProQuest and CNKI from their inception to March 2022. We used the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for qualitative studies to evaluate the quality of the included studies was evaluated according to. We followed The Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) statement. The results were integrated using the thematic and content analysis method. RESULTS: Fourteen studies from eight countries covering 11 diseases reported on the experiences and coping processes of long-term care families. Based on McCubbin's Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (FAAR), five analytical themes were synthesised: stressors (risk factors), family belief system, internal family coping strategies, external support and resilient adaptation indicators; the relationships between themes and subthemes were illustrated. DISCUSSION: This review synthesized qualitative evidence on the experiences and processes of family resilience operate in families providing long-term care. The results of this study found that the cognition and belief of family members regarding dilemmas have a two-way effect and act on the adaptation process of family members. In family adaptation, spirituality, hope, internal and external support are extremely important. In 14 studies, caregivers were from different countries with intercultural differences, but due to less reports on this content, it is difficult to compare the differences or impact that culture or ethnicity may have. CONCLUSIONS: Family resilience plays an important role in coping with stressors associated with the long-term care of a loved one through family belief systems, internal support systems and external support systems. The development of family resilience-based interventions for long-term care families should consider the family as a whole and further construct a multidisciplinary, multilevel and multi-type social support network to enhance family resilience.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of estrogen receptor-positive ultralow risk breast cancer tumors identified by the 70-gene signature.

The metastatic potential of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers is heterogeneous and distant recurrences occur months to decades after primary diagnosis. We have previously shown that patients with tumors classified as ultralow risk by the 70-gene signature have a minimal long-term risk of fatal breast cancer. Here, we evaluate the previously unexplored underlying clinical and molecular characteristics of ultralow risk tumors in 538 ER-positive patients from the Stockholm tamoxifen randomized trial (STO-3). Out of the 98 ultralow risk tumors, 89% were luminal A molecular subtype, whereas 26% of luminal A tumors were of ultralow risk. Compared to other ER-positive tumors, ultralow risk tumors were significantly (Fisher's test, P < .05) more likely to be of smaller tumor size, lower grade, progesterone receptor (PR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-negative and have low Ki-67 levels (proliferation-marker). Moreover, ultralow risk tumors showed significantly lower expression scores of multi-gene modules associated with the AKT/mTOR-pathway, proliferation (AURKA), HER2/ERBB2-signaling, IGF1-pathway, PTEN-loss and immune response (IMMUNE1 and IMMUNE2) and higher expression scores of the PIK3CA-mutation-associated module. Furthermore, 706 genes were significantly (FDR < 0.001) differentially expressed in ultralow risk tumors, including lower expression of genes involved in immune response, PI3K/Akt/mTOR-pathway, histones, cell cycle, DNA repair, apoptosis and higher expression of genes coding for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and homeobox proteins, among others. In conclusion, ultralow risk tumors, associated with minimal long-term risk of fatal disease, differ from other ER-positive tumors, including luminal A molecular subtype tumors. Identification of these characteristics is important to improve our prediction of nonfatal vs fatal breast cancer.

Adversity coping capability and its associations with mental health and family wellbeing amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Adversity coping capability (ACC) is important amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the associations of ACC as measured by our one-item ACC scale (ACC-1) with mental health, family well-being and validity of ACC-1 in Hong Kong. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on Hong Kong Chinese adults aged ≥ 18 years by landline, mobile phone, and online survey from February to March 2021, when the fourth wave of COVID-19 was under control. ACC-1 consisted of the question: "How do you rate your capability to cope with adversities?" with higher scores (0-10) indicating stronger ACC. The associations of ACC with socioeconomic characteristics, resilience, mental health, and family wellbeing were examined by linear regression coefficients (ßs). Data were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population. RESULTS: Of 7441 respondents, after weighing, 52.2% were female and 79.1% were aged 18 to 64 years. ACC-1 showed good construct validity, with higher ACC being associated with higher levels of resilience (adjusted ß = 0.29), personal happiness (0.55), family happiness (0.42), family wellbeing (0.41), and family communication quality (0.41), and lower levels of depressive symptoms (-0.30), anxiety (-0.30), loneliness (-0.15); incremental validity with additional contributions of ACC to mental health and family wellbeing; and known-group validity with older age and favorable socioeconomic characteristics showing higher ACC (all P < 0.02). Females (mean ± standard deviation: 6.04 ± 1.82 vs 6.15 ± 1.96 [male]) and unemployed respondents (5.30 ± 1.99 vs 6.11 ± 2.03 [in paid employment]) had lower ACC (all P ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We have first shown that stronger ACC was associated with better mental health and family wellbeing, and the results support ACC-1 as a simple and valid measure of ACC.

Stressful life events and children's socioemotional difficulties: Conditional indirect effects of resilience and executive function.

Although the association between life stress and children's socioemotional difficulties has been widely documented, few studies have adopted a cognitive-based resilience framework studying preadolescent psychosocial adjustment. This study examined whether the stress-difficulties associations are mediated by resilience and moderated by executive function (EF). A sample of 144 typically developing Chinese children (aged 10-12 years) completed measures assessing stressful life events, socioemotional difficulties, resilience, and computer-based EF (including working memory [WM] capacity and WM updating, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility). The results showed that stressful life events were positively associated with socioemotional difficulties through the mediating effect of diminished resilience. The direct and indirect effects of stressful life events on socioemotional difficulties varied across individual differences in EF. Specifically, compared with low to medium levels, high-level WM capacity and WM updating moderated the association between stressful life events and socioemotional difficulties. Cognitive flexibility moderated both direct and indirect effects, showing that for children with low to medium levels of cognitive flexibility, life stress was positively associated with socioemotional difficulties via the role of lower resilience; however, for those with high levels of cognitive flexibility, the direct and indirect effects were not significant. Inhibitory control showed significant direct associations with resilience and socioemotional difficulties but failed to be a moderator. The characteristics of the low-stress sample might limit the generalizability of this study. Nevertheless, our findings provide a rationale for integrating a cognitive-based resilience process and the multifaceted structure of EF to understand and promote preadolescents' positive adaptation.

Motor Function Deficits in the Estrogen Receptor Beta Knockout Mouse: Role on Excitatory Neurotransmission and Myelination in the Motor Cortex.

BACKGROUND: Male estrogen receptor beta (ERß) knockout (BERKO) mice display anxiety and aggression linked to, among others, altered serotonergic signaling in the basolateral amygdala and dorsal raphe, impaired cortical radial glia migration, and reduced GABAergic signaling. The effects on primary motor cortex (M1 cortex) and locomotor activity as a consequence of ERß loss have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether locomotor activity is altered as a consequence of the changes in the M1 cortex. METHODS: The locomotor activity of male wild-type (WT) and BERKO mice was evaluated using the open-field and rotarod tests. Molecular changes in the M1 cortex were analyzed by RNA sequencing, electron microscopy, electrophysiology, and immunohistological techniques. In addition, we established oligodendrocyte (OL) cultures from WT and BERKO mouse embryonic stem cells to evaluate OL function. RESULTS: Locomotor profiling revealed that BERKO mice were more active than WT mice but had impaired motor coordination. Analysis of the M1 cortex pointed out differences in synapse function and myelination. There was a reduction in GABAergic signaling resulting in imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission as well as a defective OL differentiation accompanied by myelin defects. The effects of ERß loss on OL differentiation were confirmed in vitro. CONCLUSION: ERß is an important regulator of GABAergic interneurons and OL differentiation, which impacts on adult M1 cortex function and may be linked to increased locomotor activity and decreased motor coordination in BERKO mice.

Quantifying the "Assistant Effect" in Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP): Measures of Technical Performance.

PURPOSE: Surgeons are reliant on the bedside assistant during robotic surgeries. Using a modified global rating scale (GRS), we aim to assess the association between an assistant's technical skill on surgeon performance in Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: Prospective, intraoperative video from RARP cases at three centers were collected. Baseline demographic and RARP-experience data were collected from participating surgeons and trainees. The dissection of the prostatic pedicle and neurovascular bundle step (NVB) was analyzed. Expert analysts scored the console surgeon performance using the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS), and the bedside assistant performance using a modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (aOSATS). The primary outcome is the association between console surgeon performance, as measured by GEARS, and assistant skill, as measured by aOSATS. Spearman's rho correlations were used to test the relationship between assistant and surgeon technical performance, and a multivariable linear regression model was created to test this association while controlling for patient factors. RESULTS: 92 RARP cases were available for the analysis, comprising 14 console surgeons and 22 different bedside assistants. In only 5 (5.4%) cases, the neurovascular bundle step was completed by a trainee, and in 13 (14.1%) of cases, a staff-level surgeon acted as the bedside assistant. aOSATS score was significantly associated with robotic console experience (P = 0.011), and prior laparoscopic experience (P < 0.001). Assistant aOSATS score showed a weak but significant correlation with surgeon GEARS score during the neurovascular bundle step (spearman's rho = 0.248, P = 0.028). On linear regression, aOSATS remained a significant predictor of console surgeon performance (P = 0.016), after controlling for patient age and BMI, prostate volume, tumor stage, and presence of nerve-sparing. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to assess the association between assistant technical skill and surgeon performance in RARP. Additionally, we have provided validity evidence for a modified OSATS global rating scale for training and assessing bedside assistant performance.

Dyadic Effects of Fluid Mindset on Psychological Growth in Immigrant Mothers and Their Children: Indirect Effect of Resilience.

Immigration research has recently investigated positive adaptation outcomes such as psychological growth. This study tested actor and partner effects between fluid mindset and psychological growth, mediated by resilience, in 200 migrant mother-child dyads from Mainland China to Hong Kong. Mothers' fluid mindset had significant actor and partner effects on their own and their children's psychological growth, whereas children's fluid mindset showed an actor effect. For mothers and children, fluid mindset had significant actor indirect effects on psychological growth via resilience. Mothers' fluid mindset had a significant partner indirect effect on children's psychological growth via children's resilience. The findings have implications for enhancing immigrants' psychological growth by strengthening fluid mindset and considering mothers and children as the intervention unit in resilience programs.

En las investigaciones sobre la inmigración se han analizado recientemente los resultados de la adaptación positiva, como el crecimiento psicológico. En este estudio se evaluaron los efectos del actor y la pareja entre la mentalidad flexible y el crecimiento psicológico, mediados por la resiliencia, en 200 díadas madre e hijo de emigrantes de China continental a Hong Kong. La mentalidad flexible de las madres tuvo efectos significativos del actor y la pareja en su propio crecimiento psicológico y el de sus hijos, mientras que la mentalidad flexible de los hijos demostró un efecto del actor. Para las madres y los hijos, la mentalidad flexible tuvo efectos indirectos significativos del actor en el crecimiento psicológico mediante la resiliencia. La mentalidad flexible de las madres tuvo un efecto indirecto de la pareja en el crecimiento psicológico de los hijos mediante la resiliencia de los hijos. Los resultados tienen consecuencias para mejorar el crecimiento psicológico de los inmigrantes mediante el fortalecimiento de la mentalidad flexible y la consideración de las madres y los hijos como unidad de intervención en los programas de resiliencia.

Activation of ER stress signalling increases mortality after a major trauma.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) adapts to stress by activating a signalling cascade known as the ER stress response. While ER stress signalling is a central component of the cellular defence against environmental insult, persistent activation is thought to contribute to the progression of various metabolic complications via loss of protein function and cell death. Despite its importance however, whether and how ER stress impacts morbidity and mortality in conditions of hypermetabolism remain unclear. In this study, we discovered that chronic ER stress response plays a role in mediating adverse outcomes that occur after major trauma. Using a murine model of thermal injury, we show that induction of ER stress with Tunicamycin not only increased mortality but also resulted in hepatic damage and hepatic steatosis. Importantly, post-burn treatment with chaperone ER stress inhibitors attenuated hepatic ER stress and improved organ function following injury. Our study identifies ER stress as a potential hub of the signalling network affecting multiple aspects of metabolism after major trauma and as a novel potential molecular target to improve the clinical outcomes of severely burned patients.

Estrogen receptor ß, a regulator of androgen receptor signaling in the mouse ventral prostate.

As estrogen receptor ß-/- (ERß-/-) mice age, the ventral prostate (VP) develops increased numbers of hyperplastic, fibroplastic lesions and inflammatory cells. To identify genes involved in these changes, we used RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry to compare gene expression profiles in the VP of young (2-mo-old) and aging (18-mo-old) ERß-/- mice and their WT littermates. We also treated young and old WT mice with an ERß-selective agonist and evaluated protein expression. The most significant findings were that ERß down-regulates androgen receptor (AR) signaling and up-regulates the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). ERß agonist increased expression of the AR corepressor dachshund family (DACH1/2), T-cadherin, stromal caveolin-1, and nuclear PTEN and decreased expression of RAR-related orphan receptor c, Bcl2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and IL-6. In the ERß-/- mouse VP, RNA sequencing revealed that the following genes were up-regulated more than fivefold: Bcl2, clusterin, the cytokines CXCL16 and -17, and a marker of basal/intermediate cells (prostate stem cell antigen) and cytokeratins 4, 5, and 17. The most down-regulated genes were the following: the antioxidant gene glutathione peroxidase 3; protease inhibitors WAP four-disulfide core domain 3 (WFDC3); the tumor-suppressive genes T-cadherin and caveolin-1; the regulator of transforming growth factor ß signaling SMAD7; and the PTEN ubiquitin ligase NEDD4. The role of ERß in opposing AR signaling, proliferation, and inflammation suggests that ERß-selective agonists may be used to prevent progression of prostate cancer, prevent fibrosis and development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and treat prostatitis.

Mediation Effect of Suicide-Related Social Media Use Behaviors on the Association Between Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies have examined the differences in suicide-related social media use behaviors between suicide ideators and suicide attempters or have sought to elucidate how these social media usage behaviors contributed to the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt. OBJECTIVE: Suicide attempts can be acquired through suicide-related social media use behaviors. This study aimed to propose 3 suicide-related social media use behaviors (ie, attending to suicide information, commenting on or reposting suicide information, or talking about suicide) based on social cognitive theory, which proposes that successive processes governing behavior transition include attentional, retention, production, and motivational processes. METHODS: We aimed to examine the mediating role of suicide-related social media use behaviors in Chinese social media users with suicidal risks. A sample of 569 Chinese social media users with suicidal ideation completed measures on suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide-related social media use behaviors. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that suicide attempters showed a significantly higher level of suicidal ideation (t563.64=5.04; P<.001; two-tailed) and more suicide-related social media use behaviors, which included attending to suicide information (t567=1.94; P=.05; two-tailed), commenting on or reposting suicide information (t567=2.12; P=.03; two-tailed), or talking about suicide (t542.22=5.12; P<.001; two-tailed). Suicidal ideation also affected suicide attempts through the mediational chains. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings thus support the social cognitive theory, and there are implications for population-based suicide prevention that can be achieved by identifying behavioral signals.