Using medical university websites for health education about COVID-19; an effective solution for public education during a pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Medical universities use their websites to teach, research, and promote a culture of health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of medical universities in terms of health information and education regarding COVID-19 by surveying the website of Iranian medical universities. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in June to August 2020 on the websites of medical universities in three categories of universities (type 1, type 2 and type 3). The information of this study was collected from medical universities located in the east, west, north, south and center of Iran. Data were collected according to a checklist. The checklist contained 3 sections; the first part with 8 components regarding general information of the university websites, the second part with 11 components regarding the information and news related to the coronavirus and the third part with 12 components regarding the content of personal health education and environmental health for the prevention of coronavirus. To determine the status of each website in the two areas of health information and education, websites were divided into three categories based on scores (poor, average and good). Data were analyzed by chi-square. RESULTS: In this study, 1118 web pages related to 48 Iranian universities of medical sciences were reviewed, where 19 were type 1 universities, 21 type 2 universities, and 8 type 3 universities. The mean scores of the websites regarding the information and news related to the coronavirus (8.54 ± 1.750) and the mean scores of the websites regarding the personal and environmental health education related to coronavirus (10.96 ± 1.148) were in a favorable and positive condition. The ranking of medical universities by type showed that the scores in the two areas of health information and education about the coronavirus were in good condition and none of the universities were in bad condition. Chi-square showed that the information status and news related to the coronavirus had a significantly positive relationship with the type of medical universities (χ2 = 10.343, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that type1 and type 2 and 62.5% of type 3 medical universities were in good condition in terms of total scores in the two areas of health information and education about coronavirus and none of the universities were in a bad situation. It is suggested that the website of medical universities can serve as a reliable and appropriate source of information not only for academics and students but also for the general public.

Yap signalling regulates ductular reactions in mice with CRISPR/Cas9-induced glycogen storage disease type Ia.

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) is caused by a deficiency in the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase, G6pc) enzyme, which catalyses the final step of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Accumulation of G6pc can lead to an increase in glycogen and development of fatty liver. Ductular reactions refer to the proliferation of cholangiocytes and hepatic progenitors, which worsen fatty liver progress. To date, however, ductular reactions in GSD-Ia remain poorly understood. Here, we studied the development and potential underlying mechanism of ductular reactions in GSD-Ia in mice. We first generated GSD-Ia mice using CRISPR/Cas9 to target the exon 3 region of the G6pc gene. The typical GSD-Ia phenotype in G6pc -/- mice was then analysed using biochemical and histological assays. Ductular reactions in G6pc -/- mice were tested based on the expression of cholangiocytic markers cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Yes-associated protein 1 (Yap) signalling activity was measured using western blot (WB) analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Verteporfin was administered to the G6pc -/- mice to inhibit Yap signalling. The CRISPR/Cas9 system efficiently generated G6pc -/- mice, which exhibited typical GSD-Ia characteristics, including retarded growth, hypoglycaemia, and fatty liver disease. In addition, CK19- and EpCAM-positive cells as well as Yap signalling activity were increased in the livers of G6pc -/- mice. However, verteporfin treatment ameliorated ductular reactions and decreased Yap signalling activity. This study not only improves our understanding of GSD-Ia pathophysiology, but also highlights the potential of novel therapeutic approaches for GSD-Ia such as drug targeting of ductular reactions.

Teacher-Student Interaction and Chinese Students' Mathematics Learning Outcomes: The Mediation of Mathematics Achievement Emotions.

This study aimed to investigate secondary students' mathematics achievement emotions and their mediating effects on the relationships between classroom environmental characteristics, namely, teacher-student interactional styles (i.e., teacher leadership and student freedom styles), and students' mathematics learning outcomes in mainland China. A sample of 1423 Grade 7 to 9 junior secondary students responded to a questionnaire that comprised three sets of scales for assessing students' perceived teacher-student interactional styles, mathematics achievement emotions, and cognitive and affective learning outcomes. The results indicated that students' mathematics learning outcomes were positively associated with both teacher leadership and student freedom styles. Moreover, students' mathematics achievement emotions mediated the relationships between these two interactional styles and their mathematics learning outcomes. These results highlight the importance of mathematics achievement emotions in student learning, and provide implications for the improvement of mathematics classroom environments.

Channa argus BMH from Baima Hu Lake: sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome.

Northern snakehead, Channa argus, is a commercially important food fish species in China. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of C.argus from the Baima Hu Lake was characterized. It is 16,558 bp in length, consist of 22 tRNA genes, 13 PCD genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 D-loop region. The overall base composition of the C. argus mitogenome is 27.26% A, 24.21% T, 31.58% C and 16.95% G, exhibits a similar AT bias (51.47%) feature to other vertebrate mitogenomes. The phylogenetic analysis showed that C. argus clustered in genus Channa. The present resultes provide useful information to population genetics and conservation biology studies of Channa fishes.

Hedgehog signaling pathway regulates hexavalent chromium-induced liver fibrosis by activation of hepatic stellate cells.

With the spread of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] contamination, risk of exposure in non-occupational populations is increasing. The liver is the main target organ for Cr(VI) accumulation; however, the effect of long-term Cr(VI) exposure on liver toxicity is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic Cr(VI) exposure on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Mice were injected with Cr(VI) for two months, and our results showed Cr(VI) treatment caused liver toxicity characterized by liver structure disorganization, liver dysfunction, and antioxidant enzyme system inhibition. The development of liver fibrosis was also found via the emergence of collagen fibril deposition, increased expression of extracellular matrix-related genes, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and increase the expression levels of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway-related molecules. To demonstrate the role of Hh signaling in the regulation of Cr(VI)-induced liver fibrosis, genetically modified mice with heterozygous deficiency of Shh (Shh+/-) were used. In the Shh+/- mice, Hh signaling, HSCs activation and liver fibrosis development were all ameliorated. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Cr(VI)-induced liver fibrosis development resulted from Hh pathway-mediated HSCs activation. Our findings strongly suggest that inhibition of Hh pathway may help in the development of new strategies for Cr(VI)-associated liver fibrosis.

Do Chinese Teachers Perform Emotional Labor Equally? Multi-Group Comparisons Across Genders, Grade Levels and Regions.

The emotional aspects of teaching are important and teachers' emotional labor, or, how teachers manage emotions at school, has been attracting more and more attention recently. Using multi-group structural equation modeling, this study investigated the measurement invariance of, and the relationships between, teachers' emotional labor strategies and teaching satisfaction. Participants included teachers from primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong and mainland China. Three sets of group comparisons have been made between female and male teachers, between primary and secondary school teachers, and between teachers in Hong Kong and mainland China. The multi-group invariance tests showed no significant subgroup differences in the measurement and structural models. Thus, there was no difference of 'kind.' However, some differences of 'degree' were observed across genders, grade levels and regions. These differences in the relationship between surface/deep acting and teaching satisfaction can be attributed to the possible influence of some cognitive factors and socio-cultural contexts. With due methodological rigor, the results of this study provide deeper understanding of teachers' emotional labor and its relationship with teaching satisfaction.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudobagrus ondon Shaw.

In this study, the total mitochondrial genome sequence of Pseudobagrus ondon Shaw was firstly sequenced and determined. The total genome is 16,543 bp in length. It consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and 2 non-coding regions. These results provide useful data to the natural resources conservation and systematics analysis of P. ondon Shaw.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Sarcocheilichthys sinensis sinensis (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae).

In this study, the total mitochondrial genome of Sarcocheilichthys sinensis sinensis (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) was firstly determined. The genome is 16,683 bases in length. It consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and 2 non-coding regions. The overall nucleotide composition of the H-strand of S. sinensis sinensis mitochondrial genome is A: 30.48%, G: 16.65%, T: 26.30% and C: 26.58%, respectively, with an A + T rich feature (56.78%). These results provide useful data to further study of the molecular systematics, species identification and conservation genetics.