ncPlantDB: a plant ncRNA database with potential ncPEP information and cell type-specific interaction.

The field of plant non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has seen significant advancements in recent years, with many ncRNAs recognized as important regulators of gene expression during plant development and stress responses. Moreover, the coding potential of these ncRNAs, giving rise to ncRNA-encoded peptides (ncPEPs), has emerged as an essential area of study. However, existing plant ncRNA databases lack comprehensive information on ncRNA-encoded peptides (ncPEPs) and cell type-specific interactions. To address this gap, we present ncPlantDB (https://bis.zju.edu.cn/ncPlantDB), a comprehensive database integrating ncRNA and ncPEP data across 43 plant species. ncPlantDB encompasses 353 140 ncRNAs, 3799 ncPEPs and 4 647 071 interactions, sourced from established databases and literature mining. The database offers unique features including translational potential data, cell-specific interaction networks derived from single-cell RNA sequencing and Ribo-seq analyses, and interactive visualization tools. ncPlantDB provides a user-friendly interface for exploring ncRNA expression patterns at the single-cell level, facilitating the discovery of tissue-specific ncRNAs and potential ncPEPs. By integrating diverse data types and offering advanced analytical tools, ncPlantDB serves as a valuable resource for researchers investigating plant ncRNA functions, interactions, and their potential coding capacity. This database significantly enhances our understanding of plant ncRNA biology and opens new avenues for exploring the complex regulatory networks in plant genomics.

Decaffeinated green tea polyphenols supplementation had no adverse health effects in girls with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While the health promoting effects of green tea polyphenols have been identi-fied among adult, research on children is scarce probably due to safety concerns about caffeine. This study aims to evaluate the safety of decaffeinated green tea polyphenols (DGTP) supplementation in girls with obesity and lay the foundation for its application in children population. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This 12-week randomized, double-blinded, parallel-controlled trial was performed among 62 girls with obesity aged 6 to 10 years old. Participants were allocated to take 400 mg/d DGTP (DGTP group, n = 31) or isodose placebo (Control group, n = 31) at random. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters including hepatic and renal function indicators, serum minerals concentrations, and routine blood parameters, were measured at baseline and the end of this trial. DGTP intake diary was required for each participant to record any abnormal reactions. RESULTS: After the 12-week supplementation, compared to Control group, the uric acid concentration in DGTP group showed a significant decrease (-48.0 ± 83.2 vs -0.01 ± 69.1, µmol/L), within the normal range. Regarding other biochemical indicators, there were no significant differences in changed values between the two groups. Throughout the trial, no adverse effects were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the supplementation of 400 mg/d DGTP for 12 weeks had no adverse health effects in girls with obesity, providing evidence for the DGTP adoption in children research.

An integrated approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to study the key effective compounds and mechanism of action of Platycodi Radix in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Platycodi Radix (PR) is a valuable herb that is widely used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in clinics. However, the mechanism of action for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains unclear due to the lack of in vivo studies. Our study established a novel integrated strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to systematically analyze the tissue distribution and active compounds of PR in vivo and the therapeutic mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. First, tissue distribution studies have shown that the lung is the organ with the highest distribution of PR compounds. Subsequently, network pharmacology results showed that the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, interleukin-17 signaling pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway were the critical mechanisms of PR against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ultimately, molecular docking results showed that the key targets were stably bound to the corresponding active compounds of PR. Our study is of great significance for the screening of the key effective compounds and the study of the mechanism of action in traditional Chinese medicine and provides data to support the further development and utilization of PR.

Is inadequate health literacy associated with worse health outcomes among Chinese individuals with depression?

Inadequate health literacy is a risk factor for poorer outcomes across various conditions. The present study examined the level of health literacy, as measured by the Single Item Literacy Screener (SILS), and its association with a range of physical and mental outcomes [e.g. health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, well-being, body mass index (BMI)] among individuals with depression in Hong Kong. A total of 112 individuals with depression were recruited from the community and invited to complete a survey. Among the participants, 42.9% of them were classified as having inadequate health literacy as screened by the SILS. After adjusting for significant sociodemographic and background variables, participants with inadequate health literacy had significantly poorer health-related quality of life and well-being, and had higher scores in depression, anxiety and BMI compared with those with adequate health literacy. Inadequate health literacy was associated with a range of negative physical and mental outcomes among individuals with depression. Interventions promoting the health literacy level of individuals with depression are highly warranted.

Electronic health literacy and health-related outcomes among older adults: A systematic review.

This review aims to identify, appraise, and synthesize research evidence of the association between electronic health (eHealth) literacy and health outcomes in older adults. English-written articles that presented the relationships between eHealth literacy and health-related outcomes in older adults were identified by searching five scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo, and EMBASE) hand-searching reference lists. Searches yielded 2993 studies after duplicates were removed, of which 24 publications were included in the final review. eHealth literacy was relatively low in older adults, and the eHealth Literacy Scale, developed by Norman and Skinner in 2006, was the most frequently used instrument in the included studies (21/24, 87.5%). The health-related outcomes associated with eHealth literacy were grouped into four categories: physical, behavioral, psychosocial, and cognitive. For behavioral (e.g., health-promoting behaviors, self-care, and medication adherence) and cognitive (e.g., health knowledge and health decision making) outcomes, the evidence was mostly consistent that eHealth literacy was positively associated with better outcomes. For physical (e.g., health-related quality of life) and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., anxiety and self-efficacy), the associations were less consistent, with some studies showing significant associations while others showed no associations. Most included studies were assessed as moderate quality. Overall, higher eHealth literacy is associated with more positive health behaviors and better health knowledge and attitude in older adults, however, the associations with some physical and psychosocial outcomes are less consistent. Clarifying the pathways of the relationships between eHealth literacy and some health-related outcomes is needed for further exploring their underlying mechanisms.

Resilience and intention of healthcare workers in China to receive a COVID-19 vaccination: The mediating role of life satisfaction and stigma.

AIMS: The present study investigated the association between resilience, stigma, life satisfaction and the intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccination among Chinese HCWs. It also explored the mediating role of stigma and life satisfaction on the association between resilience and intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. DESIGN: An anonymous cross-sectional survey. METHODS: 1733 HCWs from five hospitals in four provinces of mainland China completed a cross-sectional online survey in October and November 2020. RESULTS: Among the HCWs, the rate of intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccination was 73.1%. Results from structural equation modelling showed that resilience was associated both directly, and indirectly with greater intent to receive a COVID-19 vaccination through two pathways: first by increasing life satisfaction, and second by reducing stigma and increasing life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Promoting the resilience of HCWs has the potential to increase the COVID-19 vaccination uptake rate among HCWs in China. IMPACT: This study tested the relationship between several psychological factors and the COVID-19 vaccination intention of HCWs in China, finding that resilience played a significant role in improving COVID-19 vaccination intention rates by reducing stigma and increasing life satisfaction.

Adherence to healthy dietary patterns and outcomes of assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between adherence to a healthy dietary pattern and outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies through December 2019 according to the population, intervention, comparison, outcome and study design (PICOS) criteria. Eight prospective cohort studies (S) reporting pregnancy outcomes (O) of higher vs lower adherence to a healthy dietary pattern (I/C) in women undergoing ART treatment (P) were included, involving a total of 2229 women with 2067 embryo transfer cycles. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for positive pregnancy test, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy/live birth was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-1.03), 0.99 (95% CI 0.68-1.44) and 1.30 (95% CI 0.81-2.09), respectively. In conclusion, greater adherence to a healthy dietary pattern rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and fish, may not be significantly related to ART success.

Chiral Mesoporous Silica Materials: A Review on Synthetic Strategies and Applications.

Because of its tunable textural properties and chirality feature, chiral mesoporous silica (CMS) gained significant consideration in many fields and has been developed rapidly in recent years. In this review, we provide an overview of synthesis strategies for fabricating CMS together with its main applications. The properties of CMS, including morphology and mesostructures and enantiomer excess (ee), can be altered according to the synthetic conditions during the synthesis process. Despite its primary stage, CMS has attracted extensive attention in many fields. In particular, CMS nanoparticles are widely used for enantioselective resolution and adsorption of chiral compounds with desirable separation capability. Also, CMS acts as a promising candidate for the effective delivery of chiral or achiral drugs to produce a chiral-responsive manner. Moreover, CMS also plays an important role in chromatographic separations and asymmetric catalysis. There has been an in-depth review of the synthetic methods and mechanisms of CMS. And this review aims to give a deep insight into the synthesis and application of CMS, especially in recent years, and highlights the significance that it may have in the future.

Young adult vegetarians in Shanghai have comparable bone health to omnivores despite lower serum 25(OH) vitamin D in vegans: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The association between a vegetarian diet and bone mineral density (BMD) remains unclear, particularly in young adults. This study was designed to compare the bone health status of young vegetarians and omnivores in Shanghai, China. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A total of 246 vegetarians (following a vegan or lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet for at least 1 year) and 246 age- and sex-matched omnivores were recruited among young adult residents of Shanghai, China. The ultrasound bone mineral density analyser CM-200 was employed to measure calcaneus mineral densities, and blood samples were collected to determine serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D status. Intakes of protein, calcium and vitamin D were assessed by the 24-hour dietary recall method. RESULTS: The average age of the vegetarians was 32.7±6.5 years, 83.3% of whom were female; 71.3% of the participants had been vegetarians for no more than 5 years. After adjusting for some potential cofounding factors, the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of vegans (15.0±13.4 µg/L) was significantly lower than that of omnivores (17.6±8.8 µg/L, p<0.05). The protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes of vegetarians were all lower than those of omnivores (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in calcaneus mineral density between vegetarians and omnivores or between vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians. CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in vegans, but not in lacto-ovo vegetarians, were slightly lower than those in omnivores. However, short-term vegetarian diets did not result in adverse effects on bone mineral density in young Chinese adults.

A 3-Wave Longitudinal Study of eHealth Literacy and Older People's Health-Related Quality of Life in China: The Mediating Role of General Self-Efficacy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important indicator to reflect the independence and well-being of older adults in their later life. Improving the HRQoL of older adults is of great importance for achieving healthy aging. The internet provides extensive health information and being able to effectively use the electronic health (eHealth) resources (reflected as "eHealth literacy") potentially empowers older adults to manage health and improve HRQoL. However, there is limited evidence about the relationship between eHealth literacy and HRQoL in this population. This study aims to examine the longitudinal association and temporal relationship between eHealth literacy and HRQoL among older adults, and to explore potential underlying mechanisms. DESIGN: A 3-wave longitudinal study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Chinese older adults aged 55 or older in Jiangxi Province, China. METHODS: Data were collected at baseline (T1) and 3-month (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow-ups during February to December 2022, using online self-reported questionnaires. eHealth literacy, HRQoL, and general self-efficacy were measured using validated tools. Statistical analyses, including longitudinal Tobit regression, cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), and longitudinal mediation analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 611 participants were included at T1, and 464 (75.9%) completed both 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Longitudinal Tobit regression suggested that older individuals with higher eHealth literacy showed better HRQoL over time (adjusted ß, 0.023; 95% CI, 0.011-0.035; P < .001), after accounting for covariates. The CLPM supported that higher eHealth literacy significantly predicts improved HRQoL over time (standardized ß, 0.09, P = .008), but not the reverse. In addition, general self-efficacy at T2 fully mediated the relationship from eHealth literacy at T1 and HRQoL at T3, with mediated proportion of 28.3%. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study highlighted the importance of eHealth literacy and self-efficacy in improving HRQoL among older adults, supporting the development of tailored interventions to promote their HRQoL.

Psychometric validation of the Chinese digital health literacy instrument among Chinese older adults who have internet use experience.

INTRODUCTION: In this digital age, the Internet has become a major source of health information, and electronic health (eHealth) literacy becomes increasingly important for older individuals to properly use the extensive eHealth resources for self-care. A valid and reliable tool for assessing older people's eHealth literacy would help healthcare workers identify those disadvantaged groups in digital health and provide relevant health education. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of DHLI in assessing eHealth literacy among older adults in China. METHODS: A web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 277 Chinese older adults from September to November 2021. Two weeks after the first completion, 62 of them answered the C-DHLI again. The reliability (e.g. internal consistency and test-retest reliability), factorial structure and validity (i.e. content validity and convergent validity) of the C-DHLI were evaluated based on the survey data. RESULTS: The results demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.94) and test-retest reliability (total intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.94) of the C-DHLI. Principal component analysis revealed that the 18 items of C-DHLI loaded on three factors, accounting for 74.69% of the total variance; CFA supported its three-factor structure with good model fits. Convergent validity was examined by the significant associations between C-DHLI and C-eHEALS (r = 0.61), health literacy (r = 0.56), and whether having used the Internet for health information (ρ = 0.43) (ps <.001). A cut-off score of 45 was recommended for determining higher and lower literacy using the C-DHLI, with the area under curve of 0.82 (95% CI = 0.77-0.88). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The C-DHLI showed good psychometric performance in assessing eHealth literacy among Chinese older adults. The findings can support healthcare professionals to effectively measure eHealth literacy among older adults and conduct tailored eHealth interventions or training.

Men who have sex with men were more depressed than their counterparts because of lower social support and higher loneliness: A comparative survey among Chinese university students.

BACKGROUND: Poor mental health is prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM), including MSM university students (MSMUS), causing a significant burden on their health and society. The study aimed to compare the difference in levels of depressive symptoms between Chinese MSMUS and non-MSMUS and test the mediating roles of social support and loneliness in the relationship between MSM status and depressive symptoms among male university students. METHODS: From June to October 2018, a total of 305 MSMUS and 2447 non-MSMUS from two cities in Sichuan province (China) were investigated using questionnaires. RESULTS: The proportion of depression in the MSMUS and non-MSMUS groups was 54.1 % and 36.4 %, respectively. MSM status, social support, and loneliness were all significantly associated with depressive symptoms among Chinese university students. Structural equation modelling showed that the association between MSM status and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by three indirect paths, including 1) via social support (mediated proportion = 19.4 %), 2) via loneliness (mediated proportion = 19.3 %), and 3) via social support and then loneliness (mediated proportion = 16.1 %). CONCLUSIONS: Depression was prevalent among university students in China, especially MSMUS. The findings increased our understanding of the mediating roles of social support and loneliness in the link between MSM status and depressive symptoms among Chinese male university students, which have great implications for designing interventions to improve their mental health. LIMITATION: The cross-sectional study design limited causal inferences.

Social support and medication adherence among adult myasthenia gravis patients in China: the mediating role of mental health and self-efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG), a rare chronic neuromuscular disorder, is characterized by progressive physical decline and requires long-term pharmacological treatment. Due to the decline of physical and social abilities, MG patients are in great need of social support, including tangible and emotional support. This study aims to examine the association between social support and medication adherence and the possible mediating effects of mental health and self-efficacy among MG patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of a nationwide MG registry was conducted on 865 patients under oral medication treatment in China between June and July 2022. Validated scales were used to measure the respondent's mental distress (Four-item Patient Health Questionnaire), social support (Modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale), self-efficacy for medication use (Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale), and medication adherence (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, MMAS). RESULTS: The association between social support and medication adherence and possible mediating effects of mental distress and self-efficacy were tested by structural equation model, with significant demographic and disease-related factors adjusted. The respondents showed a very low level of medication adherence (71.2% poor adherence; 1.4% high adherence; mean MMAS = 4.65). The level of social support was positively associated with medication adherence, and such association was fully mediated by two indirect pathways: through self-efficacy (ß = 0.07, proportion mediated = 63.8%); and through mental distress and then self-efficacy (ß = 0.01, proportion mediated = 6.7%). CONCLUSION: Provision of social support and interventions on mental health with emphasis on improving self-efficacy for medication use may effectively improve medication adherence among MG patients.

Communication in Social Networking Sites on Offline and Online Social Support and Life Satisfaction Among University Students: Tie Strength Matters.

PURPOSE: Use of social networking sites (SNS) is highly prevalent among college and university students. Conflicting findings were found on the effects of SNS use on well-being, and very few studies examined the effects of social interaction with strong ties and weak ties on SNS on online and offline social support. The present study examined the association between social interaction with weak ties and strong ties on SNS and life satisfaction among Chinese college and university students. The mediating role of online social support and offline social support was also examined. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 26,547 students from 30 colleges/universities in Shanxi province, China. RESULTS: Social interaction with strong ties on SNS was associated with increased offline social support but had no significant association with online support. Social interaction with weak ties on SNS was associated with higher level of online support, but lower level of offline social support. Both offline and online social support were associated with life satisfaction. The direct effects of social interaction with strong ties and weak ties on life satisfaction were not significant. Mediation analyses supported the full mediating effect of offline social support in the relationship between social interaction with strong ties and life satisfaction, while online and offline support mediated the relationship between social interaction with weak ties and life satisfaction. DISCUSSION: Social interaction with strong ties and weak ties on the SNS was associated with life satisfaction through different pathways. Interventions to maximize the benefits of SNS use are warranted.

Efficacy of a theory-based and setting-based intervention in promoting strength training among older adults in Hong Kong: A clustered randomized controlled trial.

The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of an intervention, based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and social support, in promoting strength training (ST) among older adults. A two-arm clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted among 235 older adults from eight elderly centers in Hong Kong. The intervention group engaged in a 6-month intervention comprising ST sessions, exercise consultations, social gatherings, and a buddy program, while the control group participated in social gatherings. Assessments were conducted at baseline (Month 0), post-intervention (Month 6), and 3-month follow-up (Month 9), with primary outcome being the prevalence of meeting the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations of ST. Results showed that the intervention group reported significantly higher prevalence of meeting ACSM recommendations for ST at both post-intervention and follow-up. Linear mixed models showed significant interaction effect between condition and time on perceived susceptibility of sarcopenia and muscle strength and significant condition effect on self-efficacy for ST, perceived severity of sarcopenia, perceived barriers of ST, and intention to perform ST. Findings suggest that the intervention, guided by HBM and social support, improves older adults' ST participation, muscle strength, perceptions on sarcopenia, and self-efficacy for ST, which offers great potential for broader application in other settings.

Comparison of eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) in Assessing Electronic Health Literacy in Chinese Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

This study compared the reliability, construct validity, and respondents' preference of the Chinese version of 8-item eHEALS (C-eHEALS) and 21-item DHLI (C-DHLI) in assessing older adults' electronic health (eHealth) literacy using a mixed-methods approach. A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 277 Chinese older adults from September to October 2021, and 15 respondents were subsequently interviewed to understand their preference of scale to use in practice. Results showed that the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of both scales were satisfactory. For the construct validity, the C-DHLI score showed stronger positive correlations with having Internet use for health information and higher educational attainments, occupational skill levels, self-rated Internet skills, and health literacy than the C-eHEALS score. In addition, younger age, higher household income, urban residence, and longer Internet use history were only positively correlated with C-DHLI score. Qualitative data suggested that most interviewees perceived the C-DHLI as more readable than C-eHEALS for its clear structure, specific description, short sentence length, and less semantic complexity. Findings revealed that both scales are reliable tools to measure eHealth literacy among Chinese older adults, and the C-DHLI seemed to be a more valid and favored instrument for the general Chinese older population based on the quantitative and qualitative results.

Green tea catechin EGCG could prevent obesity-related precocious puberty through NKB/NK3R signaling pathway.

This study aimed to explore the potential regulatory pathways of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in preventing obesity-related precocious puberty. A retrospective analysis on the impact of EGCG on puberty onset in obese girls was conducted on plasma samples collected from a human randomized controlled trial. In the trial, participants consumed EGCG capsules for 12 weeks. In the animal experiment, rats were divided into four groups: normal diet control (NC) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, NC+EGCG group, and HFD+EGCG group. Blood samples were collected on postnatal days 27, 33, and 36 to detect sexual development indicators. The hypothalamic expressions of kisspeptin/Kiss1R and neurokinin B (NKB)/NK3R signaling were measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot assay. The ovary NKB protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemical assays. Serum NKB level in the EGCG group was lower than the placebo group by 0.599 ng/mL [ß=-0.599, 95% CI: (-1.005, -0.193)], at the end of intervention and after adjusting for confounders (clinical study). In the animal experiment, EGCG intervention could significantly delay the vaginal opening (VO) time of rats fed with HFD. On day 33, EGCG intervention could significantly reduce serum NKB, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, ovarian NKB protein expression, and endometrial thickness of HFD-fed rats, while EGCG intervention could remarkably increase mRNA and protein expression of NKB/NK3R. EGCG could prevent obesity-related precocious puberty through NKB/NK3R signaling pathway, which may provide a novel insight into the role of EGCG in preventing precocious puberty in obese girls.

Effects of Social Media Use for Health Information on COVID-19-Related Risk Perceptions and Mental Health During Pregnancy: Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Social media has become an important source of health information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Very little is known about the potential mental impact of social media use on pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the association between using social media for health information and risk perception for COVID-19, worry due to COVID-19, and depression among pregnant women in China. METHODS: A total of 4580 pregnant women were recruited from various provinces of China. The participants completed a cross-sectional, web-based survey in March 2020. RESULTS: More than one-third (1794/4580, 39.2%) of the participants reported always using social media for obtaining health information. Results of structural equation modeling showed that the frequency of social media use for health information was positively associated with perceived susceptibility (ß=.05; P<.001) and perceived severity (ß=.12; P<.001) of COVID-19, which, in turn, were positively associated with worry due to COVID-19 (ß=.19 and ß=.72, respectively; P<.001). Perceived susceptibility (ß=.09; P<.001), perceived severity (ß=.08; P<.001), and worry due to COVID-19 (ß=.15; P<.001) all had a positive association with depression. Bootstrapping analysis showed that the indirect effects of frequency of social media use for health information on both worry due to COVID-19 (ß=.09, 95% CI 0.07-0.12) and depression (ß=.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.07) were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides empirical evidence on how social media use for health information might have a negative impact on the mental health of pregnant women. Interventions are needed to equip this population with the skills to use social media properly and with caution.

Construction of calcium carbonate-liposome dual-film coated mesoporous silica as a delayed drug release system for antitumor therapy.

As is well known to all, delivering drug precisely to the tumor site is beneficial to improve antitumor effect. In this study, we reported mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) coated with dual-film of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and lipid bilayer (denoted as MSNs@CaCO3@liposomes) innovatively which achieve sustained drug release anchored at tumor microenvironment and enhanced biocompatibility. The pH-sensitive CaCO3 film acted as a guide to cap the pore channels of MSNs allowed pH-triggered drug release when transporting into cancer cells. Furthermore, MSNs@CaCO3 was capsuled by lipid bilayer to improve cellular uptake efficiency and biocompatibility in blood circulation. Morphology of nanoparticles was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to confirm that double films were coated successfully. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was efficaciously loaded into mesoporous pores as a model drug with a high drug loading content of 28%, forming DOX-loaded MSNs@CaCO3@liposomes (DOX/MSNs@CaCO3@liposomes). Non-specific protein adsorption and hemolysis test revealed enhanced biocompatibility. Drug release study in vitro showed DOX/MSNs@CaCO3@liposomes could delay to release DOX at pH 5.0 and avoid releasing at pH 7.4. In vitro and in vivo antitumor efficiency evaluation showed that DOX/MSNs@CaCO3@liposomes have a desirable inhibitory activity on tumor growth. Therefore, dual-film coated MSNs could be a good candidate for an antitumor drug delivery system.

Perceived Information Distortion about COVID-19 Vaccination and Addictive Social Media Use among Social Media Users in Hong Kong: The Moderating Roles of Functional Literacy and Critical Literacy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, distorted information about the COVID-19 vaccination is widely disseminated through social media. The present study examined the association between perceived information distortion about COVID-19 vaccination on social media, individuals' functional and critical literacy, and addictive social media use (SMU), as well as the moderating roles of functional and critical literacy in the association between perceived information distortion and addictive SMU among social media users in Hong Kong. A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 411 Chinese citizens from June to August 2021. Findings showed that after adjusting for significant background variables, including age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, and income, functional literacy was negatively associated with addictive SMU. In addition, significant moderation effects of functional literacy and critical literacy were also observed, such that a positive association between perceived information distortion on social media and addictive SMU was significant among participants with lower functional literacy or higher critical literacy. Findings highlight the importance of improving functional literacy in addictive SMU prevention for social media users. Special attention should also be paid to the potential influence of critical literacy on addictive SMUs.