Higher serum chromium level may be associated with the presentation of depression in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: evidence from NHANES survey.

Background: Depressive symptoms are frequently observed in patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), a prevalent metabolic disorder that affects many individuals. It is not yet clear whether there is an association between serum chromium levels and depression. Objective: The purpose of this research was to explore the association between serum chromium level and the manifestation of depression among patients with MAFLD. Methods: The selection of 1837 patients diagnosed with MAFLD was based on data obtained from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database in this research. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was employed to evaluate the severity of depression. The researchers utilized logistic regression models that were weighted for multiple variables to investigate the association between depression and serum chromium levels. Results: In our study, we found that 8.98% of US adults with MAFLD were suffering from depression at the time of evaluation. In the logistic regression model, serum chromium levels showed an inverse association with depression (OR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.69-0.96; p=0.016), this relationship remained after adjusting for fully confounding factors (OR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.71-0.97; p=0.021), subgroup analyses showed that the association between serum chromium levels and depression existed in relatively high-prevalence of depression groups. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with MAFLD have a greater likelihood of experiencing depression, whereas individuals with higher levels of serum chromium are less likely to suffer from depression, and this association persists even after adjusting for other factors. These findings indicate supplementing chromium may be a viable treatment for their depressive symptoms.

A Review on Development of Industrial Solid Waste in Tunnel Grouting Materials: Feasibility, Performance, and Prospects.

With rapid infrastructure development worldwide, the generation of industrial solid waste (ISW) has substantially increased, causing resource wastage and environmental pollution. Meanwhile, tunnel engineering requires large quantities of grouting material for ground treatment and consolidation. Using ISW as a component in tunnel grouts provides a sustainable solution to both issues. This paper presented a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in tunnel grouting materials using ISW, focusing on their feasibility, mechanical characteristics, and future development directions. Initially, the concept and classification of ISW were introduced, examining its feasibility and advantages as grouting materials in tunnels. Subsequently, various performances of ISW in tunnel grouting materials were summarized to explore the factors influencing mechanical strength, fluidity, durability, and microstructure characteristics. Simultaneously, this review analyzed current research trends and outlines future development directions. Major challenges, including quality assurance, environmental risks, and lack of standardized specifications, are discussed. Future research directions, including multifunctional grouts, integrated waste utilization, and advanced characterization techniques, are suggested to further advance this field. These findings provided useful insights for the continued development of high-performance and environmentally friendly ISW-based grouting materials.