U-Shaped Association between Serum Chloride Levels and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure in Intensive Care Units.

Serum chloride level has clinical significance in the prognosis of heart failure. Little is known regarding the association between serum chloride levels and in-hospital mortality in patients with heart failure.This retrospective study used clinical data obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Database. The study cohort comprised patients who were categorized on the basis of their serum chloride levels, and the primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. To assess the impact of serum chloride levels at the time of intensive care unit admission on in-hospital mortality, we used various statistical approaches, including multivariable logistic regression models, a generalized additive model, and a two-piecewise linear regression model. In addition, subgroup analysis was conducted to examine the robustness of the main findings.This study comprised 15,983 participants. When compared with the reference group (Q5), the groups with the highest (Q7) and lowest (Q1) blood chloride levels exhibited increased in-hospital mortality, with fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 1.36 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.71] and 1.25 (95% CI: 1-1.56), respectively. A U-shaped relationship was observed between blood chloride levels and in-hospital mortality, with the lowest risk observed at a threshold of 105.017 mmol/L. The effect sizes and corresponding CIs below and above the threshold were 0.969 (95% CI: 0.957-0.982) and 1.039 (95% CI: 1.002-1.076), respectively. Stratified analyses demonstrated the robustness of this correlation.The relationship between serum chloride levels and in-hospital mortality in patients with heart failure was U-shaped, with an inflection point of 105.017 mmol/L.

Regulatory mechanism of Haa1p and Tye7p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae when fermenting mixed glucose and xylose with or without inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Various inhibitors coexist in the hydrolysate derived from lignocellulosic biomass. They inhibit the performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further restrict the development of industrial bioethanol production. Transcription factors are regarded as targets for constructing robust S. cerevisiae by genetic engineering. The tolerance-related transcription factors have been successively reported, while their regulatory mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we revealed the regulation mechanisms of Haa1p and Tye7p that had outstanding contributions to the improvement of the fermentation performance and multiple inhibitor tolerance of S. cerevisiae. RESULTS: Comparative transcriptomic analyses were applied to reveal the regulatory mechanisms of Haa1p and Tye7p under mixed sugar fermentation conditions with mixed inhibitors [acetic acid and furfural (AFur)] or without inhibitor (C) using the original strain s6 (S), the HAA1-overexpressing strain s6H3 (H), and the TYE7-overexpressing strain s6T3 (T). The expression of the pathways related to carbohydrate, amino acid, transcription, translation, cofactors, and vitamins metabolism was enhanced in the strains s6H3 and s6T3. Compared to C_H vs. C_S group, the unique DEGs in AFur_H vs. AFur_S group were further involved in oxidative phosphorylation, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and spliceosome under the regulation of Haa1p. A similar pattern appeared under the regulation of Tye7p, and the unique DEGs in AFur_T vs. AFur_S group were also involved in riboflavin metabolism and spliceosome. The most significant difference between the regulations of Haa1p and Tye7p was the intracellular energy supply. Haa1p preferred to enhance oxidative phosphorylation, while Tye7p tended to upregulate glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Global gene expressions could be rewired with the overexpression of HAA1 or TYE7. The positive perturbations of energy and amino acid metabolism were beneficial to the improvement of the fermentation performance of the strain. Furthermore, strengthening of key cofactor metabolism, and transcriptional and translational regulation were helpful in improving the strain tolerance. This work provides a novel and comprehensive understanding of the regulation mechanisms of Haa1p and Tye7p in S. cerevisiae.

Spiral spectrum of high-order elliptic Gaussian vortex beams in a non-Kolmogorov turbulent atmosphere.

In a free space optical communication system based on vortex beams, the effects of spread and crosstalk caused by atmospheric turbulence should not be ignored. The orbital angular momentum (OAM) spectrum of the signal based on elliptic Gaussian beam (EGB) after propagation through non-Kolmogorov turbulent atmosphere are deduced, and a theoretical model of the spiral spectrum of EGB propagating through turbulent atmosphere is obtained. Numerically calculated OAM modes detection and crosstalk probability under different ellipticity parameters. The results show that the ellipticity parameter has a significant impact on the OAM spectral distribution of EGB and the transmission characteristics after turbulent atmosphere. The selection of appropriate ellipticity parameter can correspondingly reduce the degradation and crosstalk caused by turbulent atmosphere. We also compared a Laguerre-Gaussian beam (LGB) with EGB and pointed out the advantages and limitations of these two kinds of beams. The research results may be useful in the field of short distance optical communication and OAM-based multiplex communication.

Limited knowledge and distrust are important social factors of out-patient' s 'inappropriate diagnosed seeking behaviour': a qualitative research in Shanghai.

AIMS: This study is designed to present out-patient's 'inappropriate diagnosed seeking behaviour' in tertiary hospitals and interpret its association with some potential social factors. METHODS: A qualitative study based on grounded theory was designed in this paper. The participates were recruited by a two-stage process. The field observation and in-depth interview were adopted for data collection. Multi-round (five rounds) sampling and continuing data analysis were adopted as well. RESULTS: Totally 26 out-patients from three tertiary hospitals in Shanghai were involved. Four focused codes, including 'limited policy-related knowledge', 'limited health-related knowledge', 'distrust on related policy' and 'distrust on medical networks', were identified. Then, a theoretical model about the association of out-patient's 'limited knowledge' with 'distrust' and its relationship with 'inappropriate first-diagnosed seeking behaviour' in tertiary hospitals was developed. CONCLUSION: 'Inappropriate first-diagnosed seeking behaviour' of the out-patients in tertiary hospitals is closely associated with their limited knowledge and related distrust. Great effort on improving publics' knowledge and rebuilding a benign trust relationship with out-patients and the medical networks is found to be essential for guiding publics' appropriate first-diagnosed health behaviour in various levels of medical institutions.

A Data-Driven Personalized Model of Glucose Dynamics Taking Account of the Effects of Physical Activity for Type 1 Diabetes: An In Silico Study.

This paper aims to develop a data-driven model for glucose dynamics taking into account the effects of physical activity (PA) through a numerical study. It intends to investigate PA's immediate effect on insulin-independent glucose variation and PA's prolonged effect on insulin sensitivity. We proposed a nonlinear model with PA (NLPA), consisting of a linear regression of PA and a bilinear regression of insulin and PA. The model was identified and evaluated using data generated from a physiological PA-glucose model by Dalla Man et al. integrated with the uva/padova Simulator. Three metrics were computed to compare blood glucose (BG) predictions by NLPA, a linear model with PA (LPA), and a linear model with no PA (LOPA). For PA's immediate effect on glucose, NLPA and LPA showed 45-160% higher mean goodness of fit (FIT) than LOPA under 30 min-ahead glucose prediction (P < 0.05). For the prolonged PA effect on glucose, NLPA showed 87% higher FIT than LPA (P < 0.05) for simulations using no previous measurements. NLPA had 25-37% and 31-54% higher sensitivity in predicting postexercise hypoglycemia than LPA and LOPA, respectively. This study demonstrated the following qualitative trends: (1) for moderate-intensity exercise, accuracy of BG prediction was improved by explicitly accounting for PA's effect; and (2) accounting for PA's prolonged effect on insulin sensitivity can increase the chance of early prediction of postexercise hypoglycemia. Such observations will need to be further evaluated through human subjects in the future.

[Diagnostic value of different detection methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from pulmonary tuberculosis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of different detection methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
 Methods: BALF from100 patients in Changsha Central Hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 was collected. Among 100 patients, 65 cases were clinically diagnosed as tuberculosis, and 35 cases served as control. BALF smear method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and membrane reverse dot blot (RDB) were used for synchronous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
 Results: The positive rates by BALF smear method, PCR and RDB were 43.08%, 73.84% and 92.31%, respectively (P<0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and negative predictive value for BALF smear were 43.08%, 88.57%, 59.00%, and 45.59%, respectively; for PCR were 73.85%, 100%, 83.00%, and 67.31%, respectively; for RDB were 92.31%, 100.00%, 95.00%, and 87.50%, respectively.
 Conclusion: The technique of membrane RDB can not only accurately diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but also can rapidly and easily identify the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to streptomycin (SM), rifampicin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH) genotypes. It possesses high clinical value.

Stimulation of Tetrabromobisphenol A Binding to Soil Humic Substances by Birnessite and the Chemical Structure of the Bound Residues.

Studies have shown the main fate of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in soils is the formation of bound residues, and mechanisms on it are less-understood. This study investigated the effect of birnessite (δ-MnO2), a naturally occurring oxidant in soils, on the formation of bound residues. (14)C-labeled TBBPA was used to investigate the pH dependency of TBBPA bound-residue formation to two soil humic acids (HAs), Elliott soil HA and Steinkreuz soil HA, in the presence of δ-MnO2. The binding of TBBPA and its transformation products to both HAs was markedly increased (3- to 17-fold) at all pH values in the presence of δ-MnO2. More bound residues were formed with the more aromatic Elliott soil HA than with Steinkreuz soil HA. Gel-permeation chromatography revealed a uniform distribution of the bound residues within Steinkreuz soil HA and a nonuniform distribution within Elliott soil HA. (13)C NMR spectroscopy of (13)C-TBBPA residues bound to (13)C-depleted HA suggested that in the presence of δ-MnO2, binding occurred via ester and ether and other types of covalent bonds besides HA sequestration. The insights gained in this study contribute to an understanding of the formation of TBBPA bound residues facilitated by δ-MnO2.

Association Between Child Maltreatment and Aggression in Chinese Early Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Irritability.

Child maltreatment (CM) is a major global public health issue, and a strong association exists between CM and aggression. However, the underlying mechanism of this association has not been understood to date. The objective of this study was to explore the mediating role of irritability in the association between CM and aggression in Chinese early adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-report questionnaire to evaluate the levels of CM, aggression, and irritability in 5,724 middle school students from the Anhui Province, China. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis of the mediating effect of irritability on the relationship between CM and aggression. We further investigated gender differences in this association using multiple group analyses. CM was positively related to both irritability and aggression, and irritability was positively associated with aggression (p < .01). The mediating effects of irritability between CM and aggression were significant (ß = .107, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.077-0.133, p < .05). Males had a higher indirect effect size of the pathway from CM to aggression via irritability compared with females. Overall, irritability was a crucial mediator in the relationship between CM and aggression in Chinese adolescents, and males were more prone to engage in aggression compared with females through the pathway of irritability. Therefore, early irritability characteristics should be carefully monitored in adolescents, and they should be provided adequate support to acquire critical emotion regulation skills.

Multi-platform analysis revealed the substance basis and mechanism of Wei-Tong-Xin in ameliorating ENS dysfunction for dyspepsia treatment.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Duodenal motility disorder is a contributing factor to dyspepsia. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Wei-Tong-Xin (WTX), originated from the famous ancient Chinese formula "Wan Ying Yuan", has been demonstrated efficacy in alleviating dyspepsia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The current study aims to elucidate the chemical composition of WTX to establish the pharmacodynamic material basis. On the basis of component, in depth to illuminate the mechanism by which WTX treats dyspepsia via constructing the comprehensive analysis of multi-platform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical constituents of WTX were systematically analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS data processing methods. Based on this, network pharmacology was employed to predict the mechanism by which WTX improved dyspepsia. The dyspepsia mouse model was constructed, and histopathology as well as intestinal permeability were assessed using H&E staining, PAS staining and FITC-dextran assay. Protein expression was detected using Western blot, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and ELISA kits. RESULTS: A total of 100 chemical components of WTX were preliminarily identified. Network pharmacological analysis indicated that the therapeutic mechanism of WTX in treating dyspepsia may be related to the regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress-related signaling pathways. In vivo studies showed that WTX mitigated duodenal inflammation and oxidative stress responses, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier damaged by cisplatin (CIS). Additionally, WTX restored the number of glial cells diminished by inflammatory damage, and ameliorated the serotoninergic neuronal dysfunction caused by insufficient secretion of glia-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and enhanced intestinal transit. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a total of 100 components of the WTX extract were identified through literature review and mass spectrometry database search. Utilizing computer technology, in conjunction with pharmacodynamic and mechanistic studies, WTX has been found to restore serotoninergic neuronal function by reducing intestinal mucosal inflammatory and oxidative damage, ultimately promoting intestinal transport and treating dyspepsia.

Association between dietary total choline and abdominal aorta calcification among older US adults: A cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies indicate a potential bidirectional association between dietary choline intake and its derivative, betaine, and subclinical atherosclerosis. However, little research has been conducted on the relationship between dietary choline and severe abdominal aortic calcification (SAAC). METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed population-based data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2014). Choline intake and food sources were measured using two 24-h dietary-recall interviews. The abdominal aortic calcification score was measured using a dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry scan. To assess the relationship between choline intake and SAAC, the study utilized restricted cubic spline and a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Among the 2640 individuals included in the study, 10.9% had SAAC. After adjusting for all selected covariates, compared with the lowest quartile of dietary choline, the odds ratios of SAAC for the second-quartile, third-quartile, and fourth-quartile dietary choline intake were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.93), 0.63 (95% CI, 0.42-0.94), and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.5-1.16), respectively. The study found an L-shaped relationship between dietary choline and SAAC in the dose-response analysis. Subgroup analyses did not demonstrate any statistically significant interaction effects for any subgroup. CONCLUSION: The study found that a higher intake of dietary choline is associated with a lower prevalence of SAAC. The dose-response analysis revealed an L-shaped relationship between dietary choline and SAAC. However, further studies are warranted to investigate the direct role of choline in the development of SAAC.

Association between dietary folate intake and severe abdominal aorta calcification in adults: A cross-sectional analysis of the national health and nutrition examination survey.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have established a connection between folate intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has been introduced as a good predictor of CVD events, but no previous study has investigated the relationship between dietary folate intake and severe AAC. Therefore, the study aims to explore the association between dietary folate intake and severe AAC in the United States (US) middle-aged and elderly population. METHODS: This study employed cross-sectional data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the relationship between dietary folate intake and severe AAC. Two 24-h dietary recall interviews were conducted to assess dietary folate intake and its sources, while a DXA scan was used to determine the AAC score. To analyze the association between dietary folate intake and severe AAC, a multivariable logistic regression model was applied, and a subgroup analysis was performed. RESULTS: Our analysis utilized data from 2640 participants aged 40 years and above, including 288 individuals diagnosed with severe AAC. After adjusting for confounding factors, we observed an inverted L-shaped association between folate intake and severe AAC. Upon further adjustment for specific confounding factors and covariates, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles of folate intake, using the first quartile as the reference, were as follows: 1.24 (0.86-1.79), 0.86 (0.58-1.27), and 0.63 (0.41-0.97), respectively. Subgroup analysis results were consistent with the logistic regression models, indicating concordant findings. Moreover, no significant interaction was observed in the subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest an inverted L-shaped association between dietary folate intake and severe AAC. However, additional prospective investigations are necessary to explore the impact of dietary folate intake on severe AAC in patients.

U-shaped association between serum calcium and in-hospital mortality in patients with congestive heart failure.

AIMS: Serum calcium level is widely used for evaluating disease severity, but its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in CHF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing clinical data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database, encompassing a cohort of 15 983 CHF patients. This cohort was stratified based on their serum calcium levels, with the primary objective being the determination of in-hospital mortality. To assess the impact of admission serum calcium levels on in-hospital mortality, we employed various statistical methodologies, including multivariable logistic regression models, a generalized additive model, a two-piecewise linear regression model, and subgroup analysis. Comparative analysis of the reference group (Q3) revealed increased in-hospital mortality in the first quintile (Q1, the group with the lowest blood calcium level) and the fifth quintile (Q5, the group with the highest blood calcium level), with fully adjusted odds ratios of 1.38 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.68, P = 0.002] and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01-1.5, P = 0.038), respectively. A U-shaped relationship was observed between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality, with the lowest risk occurring at a threshold of 8.35 mg/dL. The effect sizes and corresponding CIs below and above this threshold were 0.782 (95% CI: 0.667-0.915, P = 0.0023) and 1.147 (95% CI: 1.034-1.273, P = 0.0094), respectively. Stratified analyses confirmed the robustness of this correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies a U-shaped association between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in CHF patients, with a notable inflection point at 8.35 mg/dL. Further investigation through prospective, randomized, and controlled studies is warranted to validate the findings presented in this study.

Association between serum chloride and in-hospital mortality in congestive heart failure with diabetes: Data from the MIMIC-IV database.

Background: Congestive heart failure (CHF) demonstrates a heightened prevalence in individuals with diabetes mellitus within Intensive Care Units. The occurrence of abnormal chloride levels is frequently observed in critically ill patients, yet its clinical significance remains subject to debate. This study endeavors to explore the relationship between serum chloride levels and in-hospital mortality among patients affected by both congestive heart failure and diabetes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, utilizing data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database, focusing on adult patients in the United States. The impact of serum chloride levels upon ICU admission on in-hospital mortality was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models, generalized additive models and subgroup analysis. Results: The study encompassed 7,063 patients with coexisting diabetes and congestive heart failure. The fully adjusted model revealed an inverse association between serum chloride levels and in-hospital mortality. As a tertile variable (Q3 vs Q1), the odds ratio (OR) was 0.73 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.54-0.98 (p = 0.039). As a continuous variable, per 1 mmol/L increment, the OR (95% CI) was 0.97 (0.96-0.99, p = 0.01). The relationship between serum chloride and in-hospital mortality demonstrated linearity (non-linear p = 0.958). Stratified analyses further validated the robustness of this correlation. Conclusions: Serum chloride levels exhibited a negative association with in-hospital mortality in patients with both congestive heart failure and diabetes. Nevertheless, prospective, randomized, controlled studies are warranted to corroborate and validate the findings presented in this investigation.

Association between dietary calcium intake and severe abdominal aorta calcification among American adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the relationship between dietary calcium intake and severe abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between dietary calcium intake and severe AAC in American adults based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS: The present cross-sectional study utilized data from the NHANES 2013-2014, a population-based dataset. Dietary calcium intake was assessed using two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Quantification of the AAC scores was accomplished utilizing the Kauppila score system, whereby severe AAC was defined as having an AAC score greater than 6. We used multivariable logistic regression models, a restricted cubic spline analysis, and a two-piecewise linear regression model to show the effect of calcium intake on severe AAC. RESULTS: Out of the 2640 individuals examined, 10.9% had severe AAC. Following the adjustment for confounding variables, an independent association was discovered between an augmented intake of dietary calcium and the incidence of severe AAC. When comparing individuals in the second quartile (Q2) of dietary calcium intake with those in the lowest quartile (Q1), a decrease in the occurrence of severe AAC was observed (odds ratio: 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.44-0.99). Furthermore, the relationship between dietary calcium intake and severe AAC demonstrated an L-shaped pattern, with an inflection point observed at 907.259 mg/day. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interaction effects. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the relationship between dietary calcium intake and severe AAC in American adults is L-shaped, with an inflection point of 907.259 mg/day. Further research is required to confirm this association.

Optimal design and quantum benchmarks for coherent state amplifiers.

We establish the ultimate quantum limits to the amplification of an unknown coherent state, both in the deterministic and probabilistic case, investigating the realistic scenario where the expected photon number is finite. In addition, we provide the benchmark that experimental realizations have to surpass in order to beat all classical amplification strategies and to demonstrate genuine quantum amplification. Our result guarantees that a successful demonstration is in principle possible for every finite value of the expected photon number.

From Citizenship Pressure to Pro-Group Unethical Behavior: The Dual-Stage Moderating Role of Self-Serving Political Will.

Drawing upon social cognitive theory, our study proposes a dual-stage moderated mediation model that utilizes moral disengagement as the mediator and self-serving political will as the moderator to investigate whether, how, and when team-oriented citizenship pressure leads to pro-group unethical behavior. Data were collected through questionnaires from 527 Chinese employees in various industries. Amos and Process macro were used to test the model's fit and hypotheses, respectively. The results showed that citizenship pressure has a positive effect on pro-group unethical behavior through moral disengagement. Moreover, self-serving political will is a positive moderator in both the first and second stages, as well as in the mediation effect. This study extends the related research field by linking citizenship pressure and political will with moral disengagement and pro-social unethical behavior, responding to some academic calls. When faced with team-oriented citizenship pressure, team members with high self-serving political will may become a sharp edge that stabs at other competing teams. Managers at the team and organizational levels can intervene in different ways depending on their constructive or destructive management goals.

Involvement in bullying and sleep disorders in Chinese early adolescents.

Background: School bullying may cause sleep disorders in early adolescents. Here, we determined the relationship between school bullying (considering all the features of bullying involvement) and sleep disorders, which are the common problems in Chinese early adolescents. Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among 5,724 middle school students from Xuancheng, Hefei, and Huaibei cities in Anhui province, China. The self-report questionnaires included the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We used latent class analysis to identify the potential subgroups of bullying behavior. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between school bullying and sleep disorders. Results: Active participants in bullying interactions, including the bullies and victims, reported higher levels of sleep disorders compared with the non-active participants [Bully: physical (aOR = 2.62), verbal (aOR = 1.73), relational (aOR = 1.80), and cyber (aOR = 2.08); Victim: physical (aOR = 2.42), verbal (aOR = 2.59), relational (aOR = 2.61), and cyber (aOR = 2.81)]. A dose-response relationship was observed between the number of school bullying types and sleep disorders. In the context of bullying roles, bully-victims had the highest risk of reporting sleep disorders (aOR = 3.07, 95% CI: 2.55-3.69). We identified four potential categories of school bullying behaviors: low involvement in bullying, verbal and relational victims, medium bully-victims, and high bully-victims, and the highest frequency of sleep disorders was observed in the high bully-victims group (aOR = 4.12, 95% CI: 2.94-5.76). Conclusion: Our findings indicate a positive correlation between bullying roles and sleep disorders in early adolescents. Therefore, targeted intervention for sleep disorders should include an evaluation of bullying experiences.

SAG, a sonic hedgehog signaling agonist, alleviates anxiety behavior in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Anxiety is a prevalent and disabling psychiatric disorder. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to the high-fat diet (HFD) was regarded as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of anxiety. The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway was known to improve mitochondrial dysfunction through antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects on some neurological diseases. Nonetheless, its effect on anxiety has not been well studied. In this study, we aimed to explore whether SHH signaling pathway plays a protective role in anxiety by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. SAG, a typical SHH signaling agonist, was administered intraperitoneally in HFD-fed mice. HFD-induced anxiety-like behavior in mice was confirmed using the open field and elevated plus maze tests. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting assays showed that the SHH signaling was downregulated in the prefrontal cortex neurons from HFD-fed mice. Electron microscopy results showed the mitochondria in the prefrontal cortex of HFD-fed mice were fragmented, which appeared small and spherical, and the area, perimeter and circularity of mitochondria were decreased. Mitofusin2 (Mfn2) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) were the key proteins involved in mitochondrial division and fusion. SAG treatment could rectify the imbalanced expression of Mfn2 and Drp1 in the prefrontal cortex of the HFD-fed mice, and alleviate the mitochondrial fragmentation. Furthermore, SAG decreased anxiety-like behavior in the HFD-fed mice. These findings suggested that SHH signal was neuroprotective in obesity and SAG relieved anxiety-like behavior through reducing mitochondrial fragmentation.

Association between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori infection is a well-established etiological factor for gastric inflammation and a significant risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. However, the precise relationship between dietary zinc intake and seropositivity for Helicobacter pylori remains uncertain. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study utilized data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1999 and 2000. The study cohort comprised 2,884 adults aged 20 years or older who provided comprehensive 24-h dietary recall data. The presence of Helicobacter pylori infection was confirmed using serum analysis and lgG protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariable logistic regression models and generalized additive model (GAM) were employed to explore the potential association between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity. Results: Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the primary findings. Of the 1,281 participants, 47.8% were male and the average age was 49.5 years. In the fully adjusted model, a statistically significant inverse association between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was observed [quartile variable, Q4 vs. Q1, odds ratio (OR): 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57-0.91, p = 0.007]. Furthermore, the relationship between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity exhibited an L-shaped pattern, indicating a saturation effect. The results of sensitivity analysis remained consistent and reliable. Conclusion: Therefore, this study suggests that higher dietary zinc intake may be associated with a lower prevalence of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity. Notably, this association follows an L-shaped pattern, with a threshold point estimated at 24.925 mg/day.

Association between dietary vitamin E intake and cognitive decline among old American: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PURPOSE: Numerous studies have reported that vitamin E plays a key role in nervous system development and neurotransmitter production. This study aimed to investigate changes in vitamin E intake in older adults with low cognitive performance using NHANES. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we examined a sample of 2255 American adults aged 60 and over between 2011 and 2014. We collected dietary data by averaging two recalls for dietary use to determine vitamin E intake. We assessed cognitive function using five tests and analyzed the association between these variables using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 2255 participants aged ≥ 60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the 2011-2014 cycle were included in the analysis. Vitamin E intake was negatively associated with cognitive function. In the Z test, with each 1 mg/day increase in dietary intake of vitamin E, there was a 6% decrease in the correlation with cognitive impairment (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.97) in the fully fitted model (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.97). These findings remained consistent when analyzing the exposure as a categorical variable. In comparison to Q1, Q4 showed a 53% reduction in the incidence of cognitive impairment in the Z test (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.33-0.67).No significant statistical interaction between the variables was found. CONCLUSION: An increased dietary intake of vitamin E has been associated with decreased cognitive impairment in individuals over 60 years old. The dose-response curve showed an L-shaped association between dietary vitamin E intake and cognitive decline in US adults, with an inflection point of approximately 9.296 mg/day.