Prevalence and correlates of poor sleep quality among college students: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems are widespread among college students around the globe, especially in China. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and identify associated factors among college students in Jilin Province, China. METHODS: A total of 6284 participants were completely collected by stratified cluster sampling in 2016. Information on basic demographics, lifestyles, social and family support, and subjective sleep quality was collected by questionnaire. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-administered questionnaire used to assess sleep for one month. RESULTS: 1951 (31.0%) participants were classified into poor sleep quality group, as defined by a PSQI score > 5. Males scored significantly higher than females on sleep duration and use of sleep medication, while females scored significantly higher than males on PSQI total and sleep disturbances. The results of the multivariate logistic regression show the following factors to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality: freshman (OR = 1.523, 95% CI: 1.168-1.987), alcohol use (OR = 1.634, 1.425-1.874), gambling behaviors (OR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.005-1.356), exercised for more than 30 min a week on less than one day (OR = 1.234, 95% CI: 1.016-1.498), the feelings of satisfied with parental love (OR = 1.849, 95% CI: 1.244-2.749), and harmonious/neutral relationship with classmates (OR = 2.206, 95% CI: 1.312-3.708; OR = 1.700, 95% CI: 1.414-2.045),. No study pressure of this academic year (OR = 0.210, 95% CI: 0.159-0.276), no truancy in the past month (OR = 0.510, 95% CI: 0.354-0.735), never had self-injurious behaviors (OR = 0.413, 95% CI: 0.245-0.698), very harmonious family relationship (OR = 0.377, 95% CI: 0.219-0.650), frequent communication with parents (OR = 0.524, 95% CI: 0.312-0.880), the feelings of satisfied with maternal love (OR = 0.432, 95% CI: 0.257-0.725), and frequent excursions to gymnasium (OR = 0.770, 95% CI: 0.659-0.899) were the protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: The implication of the present study may be that college students must be made aware of the consequences of inadequate sleep quality and risk factors could be improved if students tried to change their behavior and subjective consciousness.

Association Between Schizophrenia and DNA Demethylase Activity in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

BACKGROUND: DNA demethylase is a crucial enzyme in the epigenetic modification and regulation mechanisms of gene transcription. Based on previous assertions that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is associated with epigenetics, we aimed to explore whether DNA demethylase activity might be related to schizophrenia in northeast China. METHODS: We recruited 25 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 29 normal controls from a northeast Chinese Han population. The diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia were determined according to diseases and related health problems, the tenth revision (ICD-10), and criteria of mental disorders, the third revised edition (CCMD3). DNA demethylase activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured using a DNA demethylase activity colorimetric assay ultra kit. RESULTS: Using Student's t-test, activation of DNA demethylase and its activity were higher in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the level of DNA demethylase activity in male and female subjects with schizophrenia significantly increased (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that DNA demethylase might play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and individuals with higher DNA demethylase activity were susceptible to schizophrenia in a northeast Chinese Han population. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time directly measured human blood samples to examine the association between first-episode schizophrenia patients and DNA demethylase activity, which will provide new insight to explore the effect on the mechanism of schizophrenia.

Comparison of Wide Margin and Inadequate Margin for Recurrence in Sacral Chordoma: A Meta-Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: .: A meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE: .: The goal of this study was to accurately evaluate the risk ratio (RR) of recurrence in chordoma patients with wide margin after removing the tumors using surgery, compared with inadequate margin (intralesional or marginal). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: .: As a rare malignant bone cancer, the more effective treatment for sacral chordoma is still surgical resection. However, there is no convincing evidence and risk ratio about sacral chordoma patients would be benefit from which kind of surgical margin. METHODS: .: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE from inception to December 2018. The heterogeneity analysis and calculation of the pooled risk ratio were performed using RevMan 5.3 software. The assessment of publication bias and sensitivity analysis was conducted using StataSE 15.1 software. The protocol for this meta-analysis was registered on International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42019127441). RESULTS: .: Twelve studies with a total of 436 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included. The pooled results indicated that patients in the wide group had lower recurrence rate than those in the inadequate group (RR = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.57; P < 0.001). And patients in the wide group had lower mortality rate than those in the inadequate group (RR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.91; P = 0.02). No significant differences in the risk of mortality were found between relapsed patients in the two groups (RR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.35-1.15; P = 0.13). CONCLUSION: .: In sacral chordoma patients, wide margin is associated with low recurrence risk, when it is feasible, a wide excision should be considered appropriate for sacrum chordoma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

The diagnostic performance of PET/CT scans for the detection of para-aortic metastatic lymph nodes in patients with cervical cancer: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the detection of para-aortic lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang and VIP databases in all languages from their inception to September 2018. Stat15.0 software was used to obtain pooled estimates of sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) as well as a summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves. Deek's funnel plot was used to assess publication bias. QUADAS-2 was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. The protocol for this meta-analysis is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019115330). RESULTS: We obtained 14 studies, and the pooled estimates for sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT were 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.54-0.83) and 0.97 (95% CI = 0.93-0.98), respectively. Pooled PLR and NLR were 21.53 and 0.30, respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was70.59, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.95. CONCLUSION: PET/CT is an effective and important imaging method for the diagnosis of para-aortic lymph node metastasis in early cervical cancer.

Trends in Diabetes Mortality by Gender in Urban and Rural Areas in China From 2003 to 2012: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.

We aimed to provide updated estimates for the trends and the effects attributable to age, period, and cohort by gender in urban and rural areas in China. The data were based on the vital registration system in China from 2003 to 2012. The annual percentage change used Joinpoint Regression Analysis. Spline functions were fitted to the age-period-cohort analysis. The average age-adjusted diabetes mortality rate was higher in women than in men, and it was higher in urban than in rural residents among both genders. The trend analysis of diabetes showed a favorable pattern among urban residents in both genders. Mortality increased with age, and compared with period and cohort effects, age effects were the most important risk factor in diabetes mortality. Although the overall trends in diabetes mortality decelerated, aging and rural-urban differences could still be driving the epidemic underlining a continued need for the priorities for health care programs to focus on predictors in diabetes mortality.

Functional polymorphisms of the APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster are associated with dyslipidemia in a sex-specific pattern.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia contributes to the risk of many diseases, including stroke, cardiovascular disease and metabolic-related diseases. Previous studies have indicated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with different levels of serum lipid. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between the APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster gene polymorphisms and dyslipidemia in the total sample population and stratified by genders in a northeast Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 3,850 participants from Jilin Province, China, were enrolled in our study, and their serum lipid levels were measured. Six functional SNPs (APOA1 rs5072, APOC3 rs5128, APOA4 rs5104, APOA5 rs651821, ZPR1 rs2075294 and BUD13 rs10488698) were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction and MALDI-TOF-MS. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship of APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster gene polymorphisms with dyslipidemia. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analyses were performed with the SNPStats program and Haploview software. RESULTS: All SNPs conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Logistic regression analysis revealed that rs5072, rs5128 and rs651821 were associated with hypertriglyceridemia, rs5104 and rs651821 were associated with low-HDL cholesterolemia in overall group. rs651821 was associated with hypertriglyceridemia and low-HDL cholesterolemia in both the male and female group. However, among females, rs5072 was observed to be associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Haplotype analysis showed that haplotypes TGCCGC and CAGCGC were associated with dyslipidemia in the overall, male and female groups. CONCLUSION: SNPs in the APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster were associated with dyslipidemia. Furthermore, the association of APOA1 rs5072 in this gene cluster with dyslipidemia differed between genders; thus, additional studies are needed to confirm this conclusion, and the mechanisms underlying these results warrant further exploration.

Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among college students: A mental health survey in Jilin Province, China.

BACKGROUND: The prevention of suicidal ideation plays a key role in reducing suicide rates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation among college students in Jilin Province, China, and to analyse the risk factors associated with suicidal ideation. METHODS: A total of 6284 valid data collection sheets were collected using the stratified cluster sampling method. The data collected were divided into four sections, namely, socio-demographic information, family and social interactions, daily habits, and mental health self-rating scales. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was 9.2%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being a senior (OR = 1.769, 95%CI:1.225-2.555), general family relationships (OR = 1.641, 95%CI:1.172-2.298), frequent parental quarrels (OR = 1.398, 95%CI:1.027-1.902)/parental separation (OR = 2.497, 95%CI:1.414-4.408), the level of satisfaction with motherly love (OR = 2.261, 95%CI:1.454-3.515), having only one or two friend(s) (OR = 1.530, 95%CI:1.038-2.254), frequent excursions to bars/ karaoke halls/ song and dance halls (OR = 1.673, 95%CI:1.257-2.229) or billiard halls with friends (OR = 1.865, 95%CI:1.270-2.740), smoking (OR = 2.175, 95%CI:1.603-2.951), moderate sleep quality (OR = 1.636, 95%CI:1.115-2.402), and depressive symptoms (OR = 2.078, 95%CI: 1.710-2.525) were risk factors for suicidal ideation. Family factors had the most influence on suicidal ideation, whereas depression symptoms were identified to be a mediating factor between family, social interactions, or daily habits and suicidal ideation, and it only exerted direct effects. LIMITATIONS: This cross-sectional study cannot provide causal interpretations. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the prevalence of suicidal ideation among college students in Jilin province. Among all the risk factors associated with suicidal ideation, family factors should be the main concern in the prevention of suicidal ideation, and interventions that target depression symptoms are key to reducing suicidal ideation.

The association between psychological strain and suicidal behaviors among college students: A mental health survey in Jilin Province, Northeast China.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a major global mental health problem among college students. The aim of the current study was to explore the association between the psychological strains of the strain theory of suicide and suicidal behaviors among college students. METHODS: Participants comprised 1912 college students (16-28 years old, 47.2% female) from three universities in Jilin Province, China, who completed the self-report assessments of psychological strains (40 items Psychological Strains Scale) and suicidal behaviors (Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised). The demographic characteristics included four variables: health status, psychological status, academic status and economic status. RESULTS: Approximately 15.0% (286/1912) of participants were classified as having suicide risk, based on the cut-off scores of the SBQ-R. The prevalence of suicidal behaviors among males and females was 11.9% (120/1009) and 18.4% (166/903), respectively. Value strain (OR = 1.075, 95%CI: 1.057-1.094), aspiration strain (OR = 1.082, 95%CI: 1.064-1.101), deprivation strain (OR = 1.073, 95%CI: 1.052-1.093), and coping strain (OR = 1.095, 95%CI: 1.075-1.116) were risk factors for suicidality in college students. Coping strain (OR = 1.050, 95%CI: 1.023-1.077) was still positively associated with suicide risk in multivariate logistic regression. Logistic regression analysis indicated that coping strain had the highest correlation with suicidal behaviors. LIMITATIONS: The directionality of the relationships cannot be deduced because this study is cross-sectional. CONCLUSION: This study confirms a strong association between psychological strains and suicidal behaviors in college students. Some measures can be taken to reduce psychological strains to mitigate suicide risk among college students. More studies investigating coping strain among college students are warranted.

Dosimetric comparison of volumetric-modulated arc therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy in patients with cervical cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are two of the main treatment techniques for cervical cancer. Whether either technique significantly reduces irradiated volumes of organs at risk (OARs) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to explore which of these treatment paradigms is the superior technique in cervical treatment, taking clinical outcomes and treatment efficiency from published findings into consideration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were utilized. The average percent irradiated volumes of OAR were extracted from all included studies. Dual arc results were extracted due to their superiority to single arc methods in terms of plan quality. Standard mean deviations and 95% CIs were calculated for delivery time, monitor units, and average percent irradiated volumes of OAR. Assessment of publication bias and sensitivity analyses were performed. All statistical analyses were conducted using R 3.5.0 software. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. For irradiated volumes of OARs, irradiated volume of rectum receiving 40 Gy (rectum V40) was significantly decreased in VMAT compared with IMRT. However, no significant differences were observed between IMRT and VMAT plans in bladder V40 or small bowel V40/V30. In addition, delivery times and monitor units were significantly lower in the VMAT plan than in the IMRT plan. CONCLUSION: Compared with IMRT, VMAT is significantly more protective for the rectum, suggesting that it may be an optional therapy technique for patients with cervical cancer.