Sequential mediation model of social support, care burden, and internalized stigma among family function and depression in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia: evidence from a cross-sectional study in southwest China.

PURPOSE: There is a lack of comprehensive measurements and systematic evaluations of the depression in caregivers of patients with psychiatric disorders and the factors influencing them in China. This study aims to explore the relationship between family function and depression in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia at the individual, family, and social levels according to the ecological system theory and attachment theory. METHODS: In this study, multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling was adopted to sample caregivers of patients with schizophrenia as subjects from one to three counties of four counties in Yunnan, from September 2022 to March 2023. Collecting the current caregiver's demographic data, family functions, social support, care burden, depression and internalized stigma. RESULTS: The results of single-factor analysis show that age, education level, relationship with patients, and the degree of self-care of patients are the influencing factors of depression of people living with schizophrenia (p < 0.05). The scores of self-rating depression scale are higher for caregivers who have not received formal education, caregivers who cannot take care of themselves and the parents, spouses and children of patients. The results of Pearson correlation analysis show that depression is positively associated with internalized stigma and care burden, and negatively associated with social support and family function (p < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression show that after controlling age, education level, the patient's self-care capacity, and relationship with patient, the internalized stigma (ß = 0.184, p = 0.01) is positively correlated with depression. The mediation effect route of family function → social support → care burden → internalized stigma → depression was significant with 95% confidence interval [-0.150, -0.01], and the chained mediation effect was 5.904%. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the depression level in family caregivers of schizophrenia, apart from taking measures to improve the caregiver's family function, enhancing social support, decreasing care burden, and reducing internalized stigma are suggested.

Using molecular network analysis to explore the characteristics of HIV-1 transmission in a China-Myanmar border area.

BACKGROUND: The China-Myanmar border area is considered a hot spot of active HIV-1 recombination in Southeast Asia. To better understand the characteristics of HIV-1 transmission in this area, a cross-sectional HIV-1 molecular epidemiological survey was conducted in Baoshan Prefecture of Yunnan Province. METHODS: In total, 708 newly reported HIV-1 cases in Baoshan Prefecture from 2019 to 2020 were included in this study. HIV-1 gag, pol and env genes were sequenced, and the spatial and demographic distributions of HIV-1 genotypes were analyzed. The characteristics of HIV-1 transmission were investigated using the HIV-1 molecular network method. RESULTS: In the 497 samples with genotyping results, 19 HIV-1 genotypes were found, with URFs being the predominant strains (30.2%, 150/497). The main circulating HIV-1 strains were mostly distributed in the northern area of Baoshan. URFs were more likely identified in Burmese individuals, intravenous drug users and those younger than 50 years old. CRF08_BC was more likely detected in farmers and those of Han ethnicity, CRF01_AE in the young and those of Han ethnicity, and CRF07_BC in the subpopulation with junior middle school education and higher. Moreover, CRF118_BC and CRF64_BC were more likely found in the subpopulation aged ≥40 years and ≥50 years, respectively. Among 480 individuals with pol sequence detection, 179 (37.3%) were grouped into 78 clusters, with Baoshan natives being more likely to be in the network. The proportion of the linked individuals showed significant differences when stratified by the regional origin, marital status, age and county of case reporting. In the molecular network, recent infections were more likely to occur among nonfarmers and individuals aged below 30 years. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 genetics has become complex in Baoshan. HIV-1 molecular network analysis provided transmission characteristics in the local area, and these findings provided information to prioritize transmission-reduction interventions.

Genetic Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form Originating from CRF86_BC and a Unique Recombinant Form in Yunnan, China.

Yunnan is the first place where human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) became prevalent in China, and it is also the place with the most complicated HIV-1 genetic diversity in China. On October 23, 2019, a patient newly diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from a hospital in Baoshan, Yunnan, was recruited for genetic analysis. Near full-length genome of HIV-1 was amplified from the plasma sample. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this sequence (BS6F24) has a close relationship with CRF86_BC and a unique recombinant form (URF) (KY406739), which was formed by recombination of subtypes B and C. Bootscan analysis confirmed that the first part (HXB2:1022-5832) and last part (HXB2:5833-9120) genomes of BS6F24 had the same recombinant structures as KY406739 and CRF86_BC, respectively. A second-generation recombinant form that originated from CRF86_BC and a URF were reported for the first time. This indicates the need for continuous monitoring of the genetic diversity of HIV-1 in Yunnan, China.

Cassava genome from a wild ancestor to cultivated varieties.

Cassava is a major tropical food crop in the Euphorbiaceae family that has high carbohydrate production potential and adaptability to diverse environments. Here we present the draft genome sequences of a wild ancestor and a domesticated variety of cassava and comparative analyses with a partial inbred line. We identify 1,584 and 1,678 gene models specific to the wild and domesticated varieties, respectively, and discover high heterozygosity and millions of single-nucleotide variations. Our analyses reveal that genes involved in photosynthesis, starch accumulation and abiotic stresses have been positively selected, whereas those involved in cell wall biosynthesis and secondary metabolism, including cyanogenic glucoside formation, have been negatively selected in the cultivated varieties, reflecting the result of natural selection and domestication. Differences in microRNA genes and retrotransposon regulation could partly explain an increased carbon flux towards starch accumulation and reduced cyanogenic glucoside accumulation in domesticated cassava. These results may contribute to genetic improvement of cassava through better understanding of its biology.