Self-esteem and family functioning mediates the association of symptom severity and parental affiliate stigma among families with children with ASD.

PURPOSE: To investigate the level of affiliate stigma among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and to explore the mediating role of self-esteem and family functioning. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a large regional hospital and two childhood rehabilitation centers in Guangdong, China. Data related to demographics, parental self-esteem, family functioning, and affiliate stigma were collected from 180 parents of children diagnosed with ASD. We used t-tests, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis to explore the related factors of parental affiliate stigma. Path analysis was used to determine the mediating roles of self-esteem and family functioning in the relationship between symptom severity and affiliate stigma. RESULTS: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in China experienced low self-esteem, family functioning, and high affiliate stigma. Symptom severity was negatively correlated with self-esteem and family functioning. Self-esteem and family functioning were significantly negatively correlated with affiliate stigma. Symptom severity was positively correlated with affiliate stigma. Self-esteem and family functioning mediated the relationship between symptom severity and affiliate stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Symptom severity affects parental affiliate stigma among families with children with ASD. Self-esteem and family functioning are the two mediators in the relationship. We should take steps to improve self-esteem and family functioning in order to alleviate parental affiliate stigma. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study emphasizes the importance of the influence of ASD severity and family functioning on affiliate stigma. In clinical practice, psychological support should be provided for parents of children with ASD to improve their mental health.

Cytotoxic Flavonoids from the Leaves and Twigs of Murraya Tetramera.

Cytotoxic flavonoids of Murraya tetramera were investigated in this study. A novel flavonoid and twelve known flavonoids, including seven flavones (1-7), three flavanones (8-10), and three chalcones (11-13) were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Murraya tetramera. Chemical structures were elucidated by NMR combined with MS spectral analysis, and the new compound (6) was confirmed as 3',5'-dihydroxy-5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone. Furthermore, all the isolated flavonoids were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against murine melanoma cells (B16), and human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) by CCK-8 assay. Among them, compounds 7, 13, and 5 exhibited potent cytotoxic activities against B16 cell lines (IC50 = 3.87, 7.00 and 8.66 µg/mL, respectively). Compounds 5, 13, and 12 displayed potent cytotoxicities against MDA-MB-231 cell lines (IC50 = 3.80, 5.95 and 7.89 µg/mL, respectively). According to the correlation of the structure and activity analysis, 5-hydroxyl and 8-methoxyl substituents of the flavone, 8-methoxyl substituent of the flavanone, and 3',5'-methoxyl substituents of the chalcone could be critical factors of the high cytotoxicity. The results indicated that the active flavonoids have potential to be developed as leading compounds for treating cancers.

Study on neutron energy spectrum unfolding algorithm with EJ309 liquid scintillation detector.

Proton recoil method can be used to experimentally measure fast neutron energy spectrum of non-pulsed neutron sources. The neutron energy spectrum unfolding algorithms based on the MLEM method, the GOLD deconvolution method, the Direct-D method, have been developed by using the EJ309 liquid scintillation detector. The degree of iteration by the mean square error (MSE) is proposed as a judgment criterion by according to the iterative accuracy, convergence speed and iteration efficiency. The developed neutron energy spectrum unfolding algorithms can unfolding the standard simulated mono-energetic neutron spectrum (2.5 MeV), 252Cf neutron spectrum, Am-Be neutron spectrum and the experimentally measured D-D neutron spectrum with higher precision as well as fewer iterations. The unfolded neutron spectra are in good agreement with the standard simulated neutron spectra and evaluated D-D neutron spectrum, which is revealed that the developed unfolding algorithms can unfolding neutron energy spectrum with reasonable accuracy.

Recombination between NADC34-like and QYYZ-like strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus with high pathogenicity for piglets in China.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an important pathogen that causes huge economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Here, a novel variant of PRRSV strain named TJnh2021 was isolated from nursery piglets with morbidity rate (75%) and mortality rate (40%) in Tianjin Province of China in 2021. Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses revealed that TJnh2021 was highly similar to NADC34-like (lineage 1.5, isolated in North America in 2014) in the ORF1ab-ORF2 and ORF6-ORF7 coding regions, as well as to QYYZ-like (lineage 3, isolated in China in 2010) in the ORF3-ORF5, suggestive of a natural recombination event. Recombination analyses revealed that recombination events occurred in two interlineage recombination events between lineages 1.5 and 3, and two breakpoints in ORF2 (nt12196) and ORF5 (nt13628) (with reference to the VR-2332 strain). Animal experiments demonstrated that TJnh2021 caused mortality rates of 40% and exhibited higher pathogenicity in piglets compared to other lineage 1.5 strains reported in China. Taken altogether, NADC34-like PRRSV has undergone genetic exchange with Chinese local PRRSV strains and recombination might be responsible for the variations in pathogenicity and highlight the importance of surveillance of this lineage in China.

Effects of a nurse led web-based transitional care program on the glycemic control and quality of life post hospital discharge in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with type 2 diabetes have a heightened risk of developing serious complications post hospital discharge. Web-based transitional care is a promising intervention to improve the glycemic control and quality of life of this patient group; however, whether web-based transitional care can improve the glycemic control and quality of life of this group remains unknown. Further, the mechanisms underlying the relationships between the intervention and both glycemic control and quality of life have not been fully explored. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to develop a web-based transitional care program and evaluate its effects on the glycemic control and quality of life of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and to explore the mediating roles of self-efficacy and treatment adherence. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: This study was conducted in a large regional hospital in Guangzhou City, China. Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were included. METHODS: A total of 116 eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either the 3-month web-based transitional care program or usual care. Assessments of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), self-efficacy, treatment adherence, and quality of life were conducted at baseline and at 3 months. Analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle. A generalized estimating equation was used to determine intervention effects on HbA1c and quality of life. Path analysis was used to assess the mediation of these effects by changes in self-efficacy and treatment adherence during the intervention. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group had significantly greater improvements in HbA1c (ß = 2.87; p < 0.01) and quality of life (ß = 7.69; p < 0.01) compared with the control group. The relationships between the intervention and both glycemic control and quality of life were significantly mediated by improved self-efficacy (indirect effect: ß = 0.18, p < 0.05) and improved treatment adherence (indirect effect: ß = 0.17, p < 0.05); overall, the model explained 52.5% of the variance in HbA1c and 34.2% of the variance in quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified beneficial effects of a web-based transitional care program on glycemic control and quality of life post hospital discharge in people with type 2 diabetes, and the underlying mediating mechanisms. The effectiveness and feasibility of this web-based intervention program suggests that its application should be promoted in community settings to reduce poor outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes. Tweetable abstract: The web-based transitional care program can improve patients' glycemic control and quality of life. Registration number: ChiCTR2000035603.

Novel ORF5 deletion of NADC30-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses circulating in northern China from 2016 to 2018.

North American porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (NA-PRRSV), especially NADC30-like PRRSV, has evolved and is prevalent in China. We collected 503 samples from pig breeding farms across 4 provinces in northern China from 2016 to 2018. The samples were screened by PCR testing with specific primers that could differentiate groups of NA-PRRSV; phylogenetic trees were constructed and analyzed. Overall, 175 of 503 (34.8%) samples were positive for NA-PRRSV. Dual (NADC30-like and highly pathogenic [HP]-PRRSV; NADC30-like and typical PRRSV; HP and typical PRRSV) and triple (NADC30-like, HP, and typical PRRSV) infections (92 of 175, 52.6%) were common in coinfections by NADC30-like and HP-PRRSV. Notably, 18 of 125 (14.4%) semen samples were positive for PRRSV, and 17 of the 18 positive semen samples contained NADC30-like PRRSV. Phylogenetic analysis based on GP5 amino acids revealed that the novel NADC30-like PRRSV with a unique single amino acid deletion at position 34 has become widespread and has evolved into a new subgroup.

Early infection of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 increases the virulence of highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome MLV-like virus in pigs.

Modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines derived from highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) were wildly used in China, which resulted in the emergence of MLV-like strains in pigs. Previous studies demonstrated that secondary bacterial infection could enhance HP-PRRSV infection-mediated inflammatory responses, but it is unknown whether early bacterial infection could enhance the HP-PRRSV MLV-like infection-mediated pathological reaction. In this paper, to gain the evidence for infection of pigs with MLV-like strains in China, we firstly analyzed the genetic characterization of the HP-PRRSV MLV-like isolate (TJxq1701) and further evaluated whether the early Streptococcus suis infection synergizes HP-PRRSV MLV-like infection-mediated pathological reaction. Our results showed that the whole genome of TJxq1701 shared the highest homology with JXA1-P80 and a total of 16 amino acids residues unique to JXA1-P80 in ORF1a, ORF1b, GP2, GP3, GP4, and GP5 were found in the corresponding locations. The results of infection experiments in pigs revealed that TJxq1701 caused transitional fever, moderate respiratory clinical sign and microscopic lung lesions in piglets, but early infection with low virulence Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) exhibited seriously clinical signs, including high fever, anorexia, and respiratory distress, leading to 60% mortality within four weeks in comparison with alone infected group. Taken together, our findings reveal that early bacterial infection could enhance the HP-PRRSV MLV-like infection-mediated pathological reaction, which provide an important clue for understanding that streptococcus infection increases the pathogenicity of MLV-like virus and a new thought for prevention and control of PRRSV.

Isolation and purification of orientin and vitexin from Trollius chinensis Bunge by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

Orientin and vitexin are the two main bioactive compounds in Trollius chinensis Bunge. In this study, a rapid method was established for the isolation and purification of orientin and vitexin from T. chinensis Bunge using high-speed counter-current chromatography in one step, with a solvent system of ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (4:1:5, v/v/v). A total of 9.8 mg orientin and 2.1 mg vitexin were obtained from 100 mg of the ethyl acetate extract, with purities of 99.2% and 96.0%, respectively. Their structures were identified by UV, MS and NMR. The method was efficient and convenient, which could be used for the preparative separation of orientin and vitexin from T. chinensis Bunge.

Preparative separation and purification of deoxyschizandrin from Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

A high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was successfully developed for the preparative separation and purification of deoxyschizandrin from Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus in one step. The purity of deoxyschizandrin was 98.5%, and the structure was identified by MS, UV and NMR. This method was simple, fast, convenient and appropriate to prepare pure compound as reference substances for related research on Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus.

Preparative isolation of Heteroclitin D from Kadsurae Caulis using normal-phase flash chromatography.

Heteroclitin D (H.D) was successfully isolated from Kadsurae Caulis by using flash chromatography and recrystallized by methanol, 10.2 mg of H.D was obtained from 4.86 g of crude extract, and the purity determined by HPLC was 99.4%. The structure was identified by UV, IR, MS, and NMR analysis. The fast, simple and efficient method can be applied to the preparation of reference substance of H. D.