Cross-lagged analysis of rumination and social anxiety among Chinese college students.

BACKGROUND: Social anxiety, which is widely prevalent among Chinese college students, poses a significant barrier to their holistic psychological and physiological development. Although numerous cross-sectional studies have examined the relationship between rumination and social anxiety, there is still a gap in understanding their interplay over time. This longitudinal study aimed to explore and analyze the intricate interrelations between these two factors, with the ultimate goal of informing the development of effective mental health education interventions for university students. METHODS: Using the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) and the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS), a two-stage longitudinal follow-up study of 392 college students from three universities in Henan Province was conducted over a six-month period (October 2022 to March 2023) using a cross-lagged model to explore the correlation between rumination and social anxiety. The results of the correlation analysis showed that rumination was positively associated with social anxiety at both time points (r = 0.18,0.12, p < 0.01). RESULTS: Cross-lagged regression analyses revealed that the predictive effect of the first measure (T1) rumination on the second measure (T2) rumination was statistically significant (ß = 0.32, p < 0.001). The predictive effect of T1 social anxiety on T2 social anxiety was statistically significant (ß = 0.65, p < 0.001), the predictive effect of T1 rumination on T2 social anxiety was statistically significant (ß = 0.33, p < 0.001), and the prediction of T1 social anxiety on T2 rumination was statistically significant (ß = 0.28, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: College students' rumination and social anxiety are mutually predictive of each other, and interventions by educators in either of these areas have the potential to interrupt the vicious cycle between ruminant thinking and social anxiety.

Relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: In order to examine the relationship between 25-hydroxyl vitamin D and knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) publications was hereby performed. Methods: For the purpose of finding pertinent research, the databases of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched. Factors including tibial cartilage volume, joint space width (JSW), synovial fluid volume, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were correspondingly evaluated, and the results were expressed using SMD and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The present meta-analysis evaluated the effects of vitamin D supplementation in patients with knee osteoarthritis, with 3,077 patients included. The results showed that vitamin D administration had a statistically significant impact on the amount of synovial fluid, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and tibial cartilage. The pain and function scales of the WOMAC scale presented a statistically significant difference, and there was no discernible difference between the vitamin D and placebo groups in the stiffness scale. Additionally, bone marrow lesions and alterations in the diameter of the joint space were not influenced by the administration of vitamin D, and according to a subgroup study, a daily vitamin D supplement containing more than 2,000 IU significantly slowed the development of synovial tissue. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation did benefit those suffering from knee discomfort and knee dysfunction. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022332033, identifier: CRD42022332033.

A parallel-group study of near-infrared spectroscopy-neurofeedback in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) real-time neurofeedback (NF) vs. atomoxetine (AT) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A parallel-group study was conducted to enroll children with ADHD between 8 and 12 years of age. Participants were assigned into the NIRS group and AT group as their wish. Subjects in the NIRS group received 12 sessions of NF training within 6 weeks, and subjects in the AT group were given oral medication. Changes in Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-V rating scales (SNAP-IV), and performance of Go/No-Go and N-back working memory tasks at week 3, 6 and 8 were evaluated. Forty-nine patients completed the study, including 18 ADHD in the NIRS group and 31 in the AT group. Total scores of SNAP-IV significantly decreased from baseline to week 3, week 6, and week 8 in both groups. Patients in the NIRS group showed significant lower scores on the inattention subscale of SNAP-IV at week 3 and week 6, compared to the AT group. NIRS group had a shorter reaction time during the Go/No-Go task at week 6 and fewer errors during 2-back than the AT group at week 3. The findings revealed that NIRS real-time NF is more efficacious relative to AT in improving behavioral performance, highlighting its potential role and advantages in treating patients with ADHD.

Discovery of oxyepiberberine as a novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor and an anti-colon cancer agent against LS-1034 cells.

Coptis chinensis Franch. has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical structure of oxyepiberberine, as an alkaloid isolated from Coptis chinensis Franch., has been previously studied. However, anti-cancer effects and underlying mechanisms of oxyepiberberine need to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects and underlying mechanisms of oxyepiberberine on LS-1034 human colon cancer cells. The anti-proliferative effects of six derivatives of oxyepiberberine on colon cancer cells were assessed. Among six derivatives, oxyepiberberine showed the greatest anti-proliferative effect on LS-1034 cells with an IC50 value of 1.36 µM. Oxyepiberberine also induced apoptosis and inhibited migration of LS-1034 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Importantly, oxyepiberberine was identified as a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor. The tubulin polymerization inhibitory effects of oxyepiberberine in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 1.26 µM were observed. A xenograft mouse model of colon cancer showed that oxyepiberberine could suppress tumor growth without an obvious toxicity. Conclusion Oxyepiberberine was found as a novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor, and it could be a promising agent to treat colon cancer.

Two pairs of diastereoisomeric isoflavone glucosides from the roots of Pueraria lobata.

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Pueraria lobata led to the isolation of two pairs of new isoflavone glucosides, 3'-hydroxyneopuerarin A/B (1-2) and 3'-methoxyneopuerarin A/B (3-4). A pair of known compounds (5-6), which possess a very similar structure, were obtained together. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. Compounds 3-6 dose-dependently blocked the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, which indicated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of these compounds.

Smartphone use disorder and future time perspective of college students: the mediating role of depression and moderating role of mindfulness.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone use disorder (SUD) of college students has drawn increasing attention. Although future time perspective (FTP) may be an important protective factor for individual SUD, the moderating and mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unknown. We tested the individual roles of depression and mindfulness as moderators of this relationship. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two colleges in Shandong and Chongqing in China using a sample of 1304 college students recruited by stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected through a validated self-report instrument. A moderation-mediation model was constructed, and an SPSS PROCESS macro was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The correlation analyses showed that FTP was negatively associated with SUD of college students. The mediation model revealed that depression partially mediated the link between FTP and SUD of college students. The moderation-mediation model suggested that mindfulness moderates two direct paths: FTP to depression and depression to SUD. In the first path (FTP to depression), a high level of mindfulness among college students had weakened the relationship between FTP and depression. Here, the relationship is strengthened by a low level of mindfulness. In the second path (depression to SUD), low levels of mindfulness strengthen the link between depression and FTP. In contrast, significant association was not found with high levels of mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that interventions, such as improving the individual level of FTP and mindfulness, should be conducted. These interventions, in turn, help control the level of depression in college students and ultimately decrease their level of SUD.