Association between TNF-α G-308A (rs1800629) polymorphism and susceptibility to chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although the association between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) G-308A (rs1800629) polymorphism and chronic periodontitis (CP), chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DP) is assumed, results of this association have been contradictory. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between rs1800629 polymorphism and CP/DP susceptibility. METHODS: We searched for studies on PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Chinese National Infrastructure, and WanFang databases. Study selection was performed using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and fulfilled the PECO (participant, exposure, comparison, and outcome) format. The relationship between rs1800629 polymorphism and CP/DP susceptibility was evaluated by the effect summary odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Allele, dominant, and recessive genetic models were computed to assess the strength of the association. RESULTS: A total of 25 case-control studies were included in the analysis. In the Asian population, TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism was found to be significantly associated with CP in the overall analyses and for all genetic contrasts, while no significant risks were found among Caucasian populations for all genetic contrasts. The TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism was also associated with increased DP risk in Asians under the fixed-effects model, but not in the recessive comparison. CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis suggested that TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism might affect the risk of CP and DP, particularly in individuals of Asian descent.

Analysis of factors influencing the network teaching effect of college students in a medical school during the COVID-19 epidemic.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to understand the influencing factors of Chinese college students' satisfaction with online teaching and psychological pressure on learning during the novel coronavirus epidemic. METHODS: We assessed the effect of online teaching of 7084 medical students from wannan medical college in March 5 to April 2, 2020 using cluster sampling. The respondents were asked to complete a 7-item self-compiled online teaching satisfaction questionnaire. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis are used. RESULTS: Sex is female (OR = 1.257, 95%CI: 1.132 ~ 1.396), grades are second and third grades (second grades: OR = 1.228, 95%CI: 1.080 ~ 1.397; third grades: OR = 1.197, 95%CI: 1.048 ~ 1.367), normal/unfamiliar learning platform operation (OR = 3.692, 95%CI: 3.321 ~ 4.103) were risk factors for satisfactory teaching effect. In addition, students whose school year system is four-year (OR = 0.870, 95%CI: 0.781 ~ 0.969) and grade 4 and above (OR = 0.594, 95%CI: 0.485 ~ 0.727) were more satisfied with the teaching effect of teachers. And, during the period of the COVID-19 epidemic, the risk factors for college students to have psychological stress were: female (OR = 1.258, 95%CI: 1.096 ~ 1.442), from rural areas (OR = 1.511, 95%CI: 1.312 ~ 1.740), and the academic year system is four-year system (OR = 1.191, 95%CI: 1.028 ~ 1.380), using mobile phones and other learning tools (OR = 1.388, 95%CI: 1.205 ~ 1.600), general/unfamiliar with learning platform operations (OR = 2.273), 95%CI: 1.888 ~ 2.735). While the protective factors for college students' psychological stress included: grade three and four and above (OR = 0.463, 95%CI: 0.387 ~ 0.554; OR = 0.232, 95%CI: 0.187 ~ 0.286), and they think that the teaching effect is satisfactory (OR = 0.314, 95%CI: 0.261 ~ 0.379). CONCLUSION: This survey shows that compared with male college students, female college students were more dissatisfied with the teaching effect of teachers and havd greater psychological pressure on learning. Psychological counseling should be strengthened for students in rural areas and those who were not familiar with the operating platform to relieve their psychological pressure on learning.

Associations between Chinese college students' anxiety and depression: A chain mediation analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety and depression are great public health concerns among college students. The purpose of this study was to explore whether sleep quality and quality of life (QoL) play mediating roles in anxiety and depression among Chinese college students. METHOD: A total of 2757 college students (mean age = 19.07; SD = 1.14) completed the questionnaires, including a brief demographic survey. The 2-item General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) and the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) were used to assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. And the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate college students' sleep quality and QoL, respectively. Mediation analyses were conducted by using PROCESS macro in the SPSS software. RESULT: Anxiety had both direct and indirect effects on depression. Sleep quality and QoL were not only independent mediators in the relationship between anxiety and depression but also chain mediators. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study highlight the crucial role of early intervention for depression with a focus on college students with anxiety, more especially, on those with poorer sleep quality and lower QoL.

The Mental Health Status and Associated Factors Among Medical Students Engaged in Online Learning at Home During the Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study From China.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the mental health status of medical students engaged in online learning at home during the pandemic, and explore the potential risk factors of mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey among 5,100 medical students from Wannan Medical College in China. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS-21) was used to measure self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among medical students during online learning in the pandemic. Results: In total, 4,115 participants were included in the study. The prevalence symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were 31.9, 32.9, and 14.6%, respectively. Depression was associated with gender, grade, length of schooling, relationship with father, students' daily online learning time, and students' satisfaction with online learning effects. Anxiety was associated with gender, length of schooling, relationship with father, relationship between parents, students' daily online learning time, and students' satisfaction with online learning effects. Stress was associated with grade, relationship with father, relationship between parents, students' daily online learning time, and students' satisfaction with online learning effects. Conclusions: Nearly one-third of medical students survived with varying degrees of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms during online learning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender, grade, length of schooling, family environment, and online learning environment play vital roles in medical students' mental health. Families and schools should provide targeted psychological counseling to high-risk students (male, second-year and third-year, four-year program). The findings of this study can provide reference for educators to cope with the psychological problems and formulate the mental health curriculum construction among medical students during online learning.

Zinc dependent endopeptidases of matrix metalloproteinases-9 expressions is associated with tumor metastases of oral squamous cell carcinoma in Chinese population: a meta-analysis.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an important member of zinc dependent endopeptidases family and is considered to be involved in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Many studies were published to assess the prognostic role of MMP-9 expression in patients with oral squamous cell Carcinoma, but the findings from those studies were inconsistent in Chinese population. We searched eligible studies in Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Six studies with a total of 556 patients were finally included into the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratios (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CIs) for positive rate of MMP-9 were calculated by using meta-analysis. Overall, MMP-9 positive expression was associated with tumor metastases in patients with oral squamous cell Carcinoma (fixed-effects OR 4.24, 95% CI 2.25-7.99, P < 0.001; random-effects OR 4.35, 95% CI 2.31-8.21, P < 0.001). Our results indicated that MMP-9 expression is associated with tumor metastases in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, and patients with higher MMP-9 expression have less tumor metastases.