Longitudinal Relations among Self-Compassion, Self-Esteem, and Depressive Symptoms in College Students: Disentangling the Within-Person Process from Stable Between-Person Differences.

Although previous studies have shown that self-compassion is associated with self-esteem and depressive symptoms, little is known about the intra-individual processes and the temporal dynamics of these variables. This study used a longitudinal design to explore the association between self-compassion, self-esteem and depressive symptoms among 5785 college students (aged 17-22 years; Mage = 18.63, SD = 0.88; 48.2% females). The participants were assessed six times in a six-month interval over three years. The random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) were used to disentangle within-person processes from stable between-person differences. Results of RI-CLPMs indicated that at the within-person level, self-compassion can positively predict subsequent self-esteem and negatively predict subsequent depressive symptoms, and vice versa. Self-esteem played a longitudinal mediating role in the prediction from self-compassion to depressive symptoms at the within-person level. These results indicate that cultivating self-compassion in college students is crucial as it can bolster their self-esteem and alleviate depressive symptoms.

Longitudinal associations between social support trajectories and quality of life mediated by depressive symptoms: A 10-year cohort study of Wenchuan earthquake.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies on associations between social support and quality of life (QoL) have usually employed a variable-centered approach, without considering individual variances in time-varying changes in social support. This study explores trajectories of social support and whether depressive symptoms mediate associations between social support trajectories and QoL 10 years after an earthquake. METHODS: Seven hundred and forty-four Chinese adolescents exposed to the Wenchuan earthquake were surveyed on social support at 6-, 18-, and 24-months and depressive symptoms at 30-months postearthquake (T30m ). They provided valid data on QoL after 10 years of the earthquake (T10y ). The latent class growth analysis was used to estimate social support trajectories. Mediation analysis was then conducted to test whether depressive symptoms at T30m mediated associations between social support trajectories and QoL at T10y . RESULTS: Three trajectories of social support were identified: low decreasing (31.6%), moderate decreasing (55.4%), and persistent high (13.0%) groups. Depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of social support trajectories (relative to the low support trajectory) on future QoL (95% CIs: 0.70-1.78 and 1.41-3.37 for moderate decreasing and persistent high groups, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Social support shows individual differences over time. Moderate and high social support trajectories improve 10-year QoL partly by reducing depressive symptoms. Therefore, interventions aimed at enhancing social support and reducing depressive symptoms may be more effective in enhancing QoL in the aftermath of disasters.

Joint developmental trajectories and correlates of internalizing and externalizing problems among Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Internalizing and externalizing problems are the most prevalent health problems among adolescents. However, few studies have examined co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems from a longitudinal perspective. METHODS: A total of 1051 seventh-grade students from two junior high schools were recruited at baseline. Among them, 932 valid participants were reassessed 1 year and 2 years later. Data were analyzed using parallel-process latent class growth analysis and multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS: Four joint trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems were identified. Compared with the low-risk group, adolescents in the moderate and chronic co-occurring group had lower resilience, higher levels of insecure attachment, family conflicts, and academic pressure. Adolescents in the pure internalizing group had higher levels of family conflicts and academic pressure compared with the low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Co-occurrence of symptoms is very high in adolescents. More individualized intervention programs should be provided to these specific groups.

Psychosocial work characteristics and low back pain in daycare (nursery) workers in Japan: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems affecting daycare (nursery) workers. We aimed to identify the psychosocial factors influencing LBP in daycare workers. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study with a one-year observation period. The baseline sample was a convenience sample of 444 daycare workers from 34 daycare facilities in Nagoya, Japan, and its suburbs. All the data were collected through a questionnaire survey. The question "Where are you currently feeling LBP?" was used to determine whether the subjects suffered from LBP. We examined the prospective relationships of the psychosocial work characteristics, i.e., high job strain, low social support, effort-reward imbalance, and overcommitment, at baseline and LBP after one year. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to calculate the odds ratios of psychosocial work characteristics for the persistence and onset of LBP, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, employment status, occupation, and working schedule. RESULTS: At baseline, 270 (60.8%) subjects suffered from LBP. Of 208 who also gave information on LBP one year later, 176 (84.6%) suffered from the persistence of LBP. Low social support at baseline was significantly related to persistent LBP one year later. The incidence of persistent LBP was 89.9% and 80.0% among those with and without low social support at baseline, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of low social support at baseline for the persistence of LBP was 2.43 (1.01-5.87). Of 150 who were without LBP at baseline and provided information on LBP one year later, 45 (30.0%) suffered from the onset of LBP. None of the psychosocial work characteristics showed significant relationships with the onset of LBP one year later. CONCLUSION: Low social support was related to the persistence, but not to the onset of LBP in a prospective cohort analysis among daycare workers in Japan. High job strain, ERI, or overcommitment did not show a significant prospective effect on LBP.

The resilience scale: factorial structure, reliability, validity, and parenting-related factors among disaster-exposed adolescents.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we examined psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Resilience Scale (RS) and parenting-related factors associated with resilience among disaster-exposed adolescents. METHODS: Eighteen months after the earthquake, a total of 1266 adolescents (43.4% male, mean age = 15.98; SD = 1.28) were assessed using the RS, the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale, the Depression Self-rating Scale for Children, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, and Parental Bonding Instrument. RESULTS: Through exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and parallel analysis, responses were characterized into a 3-factor structure: personal competence, meaningfulness, and acceptance of self and life. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the RS was 0.89 and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.72. In terms of predictive validity, resilience was found to be a significant predictor for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Multiple regression analysis showed that maternal parenting styles were significant predictors of resilience after adjusting for gender, age, sibling number, and earthquake experiences. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of RS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing resilience among adolescent survivors after disasters. The implications for research and resilience-oriented interventions were also discussed.

Chronotype and depressive symptoms: A moderated mediation model of sleep quality and resilience in the 1st-year college students.

OBJECTIVE: Depression is highly prevalent among 1st-year college students, and evening chronotype is an important risk factor associated with depression. This study investigates the mediating role of sleep quality and the moderating role of resilience between chronotype and depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 4531 students were included in this cross-sectional study. Mediation and moderated mediation models were applied. RESULTS: The association between chronotype and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by sleep quality, and the direct and indirect effects were moderated by resilience. The negative correlation between chronotype and depressive symptoms was significant in students with low levels of resilience compared with moderate/high levels. The positive correlation between sleep quality and depressive symptoms was strongest in low-level resilience students. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that greater eveningness is associated with poorer sleep quality among 1st-year college students, which may lead to severer depression, and highlights the importance of resilience training in reducing depressive symptoms.

A Prospective Study of Psychiatric Symptoms Among Adolescents After the Wenchuan Earthquake.

Natural disaster exposure is associated with increased risk of mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, course, and risk factors of probable psychiatric disorders among 1,573 adolescents following the May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social phobia (SP), conduct disorder (CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were assessed at 6 and 18 months postearthquake using a battery of standardized measures. Approximately 62.9% and 56.1% of the sample, respectively, had at least one probable psychiatric disorder at 6 and 18 months postearthquake. The most common disorders were PTSD, depression, PD, GAD, and ADHD. With regard to the course of disorders, PTSD, GAD, PD, SAD. and ADHD decreased; SP and CD remained stable; and depression increased. Generalized estimating equations models showed that female sex, older age, having experienced the death or injury of family members, being a direct witness of tragic scenes, low social support, and a high level of negative life events were risk factors for most disorders, odds ratios (ORs) = 1.3-20.8. However, logistic regressions indicated that earthquake exposure variables were specifically related to persistent PTSD, ORs = 2.0-2.5, and negative life events were associated with persistent depression, ORs = 2.4-5.3. Various psychiatric symptoms are pervasive, intense, and persistent among adolescent survivors. Systematic and periodic screening are needed to closely monitor the onset, course, and risk factors of mental health problems after disasters.

[Effect of Acupoint Application Therapy of Summer Treatment for Winter Diseases on Nerve-Endocrine-Immune Network System in Patient with Non-Acute Attack Asthma].

Objective To observe the effect of acupoint application therapy in summer to treat winter diseases (abbreviated as AATSTWD) on nerve-endocrine-immune network system in patients with non-acute attack asthma, and to study possible mechanisms. Methods Fifty healthy volunteers were re- cruited as the normal control group and 50 patients with non-acute attack asthma were recruited as the asthma group. Patients in the normal control group received no intervention. Those in the control group were treated with acupoint application therapy on hot days (applied on the first day of three dog days, 3 times in total). Blood samples were tested before treatment and after 3 times of application. The contents of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) , interleukin-4 (IL-4) , plasma substance P (SP) , and vasoactive intes- tinal peptide (VIP) were detected using radioimmunoassay. Contents of immunoglobulin A and G (IgA, IgG) were tested by immunoturbidimetry. Content of interferon-y (INF-y) were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with the normal control group, serum contents of IgA, igG, IFN-y, and plasma VIP decreased, contents of IgE, IL-4, and SP significantly increased in the asthma group before treatment (P <0. 05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, serum contents of IgA, IgG, VIP, and IFN-y increased, and contents of IgE, IL-4, and SP decreased in the asthma group after treatment (P <0. 05). Conclusion Acupoint application therapy in summer to treat winter diseases method could prevent and treat bronchial asthma possibly through improving immune function, control- ling the release of cytokines , and regulating neurotransmitters.

Longitudinal trajectories and predictors of anxiety symptoms among adolescent survivors exposed to Wenchuan earthquake.

This study aimed to investigate the developmental trajectories and associated predictors of anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents exposed to Wenchuan earthquake. 1573 adolescent survivors were followed up at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-earthquake. Self-report measures were used to evaluate earthquake exposure, anxiety symptoms, negative life events, social support, and trait resilience. Growth mixture modeling (GMM) and multi-nominal logistic regression were used to analyze data. The results showed that 45.6%, 50.9%, 39.2%, and 39.9% of participants showed clinical levels of anxiety symptoms at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-earthquake, respectively. Four developmental trajectories were identified: resistance, recovery, delayed-onset anxiety, and chronic anxiety. Gender, injury of family members, negative life events, social support, and trait resilience were significant predictors for distinct anxiety trajectories. Individualized and appropriate psychosocial interventions should be provided for adolescents affected by natural disasters, especially those at higher risk for chronic or delayed mental problem symptoms.

Studies on metabolism of total glucosides of paeony from Paeoniae Radix Alba in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

Total glucosides of paeony are the active constituents of Paeoniae Radix Alba. In this study, a novel strategy was proposed to find more metabolites and the differences between paeoniflorin, albiflorin and total glucosides of paeony (TGP). This strategy was characterized as follows: firstly, the animals were divided into three groups (paeoniflorin, albiflorin and TGP) to identify the source of TGP metabolites from paeoniflorin or albiflorin; secondly, a generic information-dependent acquisition scan for the low-level metabolites was triggered by the multiple mass defect filter and dynamic background subtraction; thirdly, the metabolites were identified with a combination of data-processing methods including mass defect filtering, neutral loss filtering and product ion filtering; finally, a comparative study was used in the metabolism of paeoniflorin, albiflorin and TGP. Based on the strategy, 18 metabolites of TGP, 10 metabolites of paeoniflorin and 13 metabolites of albiflorin were identified respectively. The results indicated that the hydrolysis, conjugation reaction and oxidization were the major metabolic pathways, and the metabolic sites were the glycosidic linkage, the ester bond and the benzene ring. This study is first to explore the metabolism of TGP, and these findings enhance our understanding of the metabolism and the interactions of paeoniflrin and albiflorin in TGP.

Interpersonal sensitivity as a mediator linking interpersonal stressors and social anxiety: Longitudinal mediation analysis using parallel process latent growth curve modeling.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the mechanism between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety in college students. This study was to investigate the mediating effect of interpersonal sensitivity between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety. METHODS: The data was taken from a large-scale health-related cohort among Chinese college students. This study used data from the first four waves, including 4191 participants. The latent growth curve mediation model was used to examine the potential mediating role of interpersonal sensitivity in the relationship between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety over time. RESULTS: Both levels and changes in interpersonal stressors were positively associated with subsequent levels and changes in social anxiety. Mediation analysis showed that interpersonal sensitivity mediated the relationship between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety. LIMITATION: All variables were collected based on self-report. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal stressor is a significant risk factor for social anxiety, and this association appears to be mediated by interpersonal sensitivity. It is necessary to evaluate and intervene against interpersonal sensitivity related to interpersonal stressors for the prevention of social anxiety.

Self-Compassion as a Mediator Linking Sleep Disturbances with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Four-Wave, Cross-Lagged Study.

Objective: This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal relationship between sleep disturbances with non-suicidal self-injury and whether self-compassion mediates these associations. Methods: A total of 5785 freshmen were sampled from a large-scale health-related cohort among Chinese college students at the baseline. This study spanned six waves with a six-month interval between each wave. Data from the last four waves were used because self-compassion or non-suicidal self-injury was not measured in the first two waves. The cross-lagged panel models were used to examine the longitudinal dynamic relationships between sleep disturbances, self-compassion, and non-suicidal self-injury. Results: The results showed that all the auto-regressive paths were significant. For the cross-lagged paths, there was a reciprocal relation between sleep disturbances and self-compassion. Importantly, self-compassion played a longitudinal mediating role in the prediction from sleep disturbances to non-suicidal self-injury (indirect effect = 0.007 to 0.009, all p values < 0.001). Conclusion: Psychological interventions targeting improved sleep quality and self-compassion may hold great promise for reducing the incidence of non-suicidal self-injury.

Developmental pathways from insomnia to suicidality: A resilience perspective.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia has been identified as a potential risk factor for suicidality. However, to date, few studies using the longitudinal-design have examined the underlying mechanism of this relationship. Based on a resilience perspective, this study aimed to investigate the dynamic longitudinal relationships between insomnia, resilience, and suicidality. METHODS: A total of 5785 freshmen were sampled from a large-scale health-related cohort among Chinese college students. This study spanned six waves, covering the period from 2020 to 2022. Data from T1 to T4 were used because resilience was not measured at baseline (T0) and T5. The cross-lagged panel models and the latent growth curve mediation model were used to examine the longitudinal dynamic relationships between insomnia, resilience, and suicidality. RESULTS: The results showed that insomnia symptoms and suicidality mutually predicted each other, and resilience played a longitudinal mediating role in linking insomnia symptoms and suicidality. CONCLUSIONS: Given that resilience served as a mediator in the relation between insomnia symptoms and suicidality, some resilience-oriented prevention and intervention programs will be helpful in reducing the risk of suicide among university students.

Developmental trajectories and predictors of Internet gaming disorder across the university years: A person-centered five-wave cohort study.

With a rapid rise in internet gaming, internet gaming disorder (IGD) has become a contemporary concern. However, little is known about the long-term dynamic changes in IGD over time. Using a person-centered five-wave longitudinal design, the current study explored the heterogeneous trajectories of IGD among 5787 students during their university years, and examined the role of protective and risk factors in differentiating distinct patterns of IGD. The growth mixture modeling revealed three distinct trajectories of IGD: stable-low pattern (n = 4575, 87.42 %), increasing pattern (n = 357, 6.80 %), and decreasing pattern (n = 302, 5.78 %). Additionally, the students with high self-control and self-compassion were more likely to be in the stable-low group instead of the other risk groups. Depressive symptoms and peer conflicts, as two time-varying variables, were significant risk predictors for IGD. These findings highlight the importance of identifying high-risk groups for IGD and providing them with personalized and effective mental health services to reduce their risk of developing IGD in the future.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and explore the mechanism of EA in improving POI. METHODS: Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (n=8) and a model making group (n=24). The rats in the model making group were injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide for 15 days to establish the POI model (the dosage on the 1st day was 50 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg from the 2nd day to 15th day). The successfully modeled rats were then randomly divided into a model group, an EA group, and an estradiol (E2) group, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the EA group received EA at bilateral "Gongsun" (SP 4) with continuous wave, frequency of 2 Hz, and current intensity of 0.1 to 1 mA, 20 min per treatment, once daily for 14 days. Rats in the E2 group were administered with E2 (0.01 mg/mL) by gavage (10 mL/kg), once daily for 14 days. The changes in estrous cycle were observed by rapid Giemsa staining before and after modeling. After intervention, ovarian tissue morphology was observed by HE staining; serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), E2, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and inhibin B (INHB) were detected by ELISA; immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression of p62 in ovarian granulosa cells; the ultrastructure of ovarian granulosa cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes was compared; Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of p62, Beclin-1, and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) in ovarian tissue. RESULTS: The results of vaginal smears in the blank group showed regular cyclical changes; the rats in the model group showed prolonged estrous cycle or cycle arrest, mostly in proestrus or metestrus, with overall ovarian atrophy, disordered structure, and decreased granulosa cells. Compared with the blank group, rats in the model group showed increased serum FSH level (P<0.01), decreased serum levels of E2, AMH, and INHB (P<0.01), decreased positive expression of p62 in ovarian granulosa cells (P<0.01), with obvious swelling of ovarian granulosa cells, mild to moderate swelling of mitochondria, slight expansion of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and hypertrophy of Golgi apparatus; the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in the ovaries was increased (P<0.01), the expression of p62 protein and mRNA was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 protein and mRNA in ovarian tissue was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in the EA group and the E2 group showed decreased serum FSH levels (P<0.01), increased levels of E2, AMH, and INHB (P<0.01), increased positive expression of p62 in ovarian granulosa cells (P<0.01), alleviated degree of ovarian granulosa cell damage, with relatively intact organelle morphology, and decreased number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in the ovaries (P<0.01); the rats also showed increased expression of p62 protein and mRNA (P<0.01), and decreased expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 protein and mRNA (P<0.01) in ovarian tissue. CONCLUSION: EA at "Gongsun" (SP 4) could improve ovarian reserve function in POI rats by reducing the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes, up-regulating p62 expression, and down-regulating Beclin-1 and LC3 expression, thus inhibiting autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells, and regulating the serum levels of FSH, E2, AMH, and INHB.

Persistence of Low Back Pain and Predictive Ability of Pain Intensity and Disability in Daily Life among Nursery School Workers in Japan: A Five-Year Panel Study.

Nursery school workers are known for having a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP). The natural history of LBP and the determinants of persistent LBP remain unclear. We examined the prevalence of persistent LBP and whether pain intensity and disability in daily life due to LBP affected the persistence of LBP among these workers. A five-year panel study was conducted for 446 nursery school workers in Japan. LBP, pain intensity, and disability in daily life due to LBP were assessed with a self-administered questionnaire survey. Pain intensity was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS). The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) was used to assess disability in daily life due to LBP. At baseline, 270 nursery school workers (60.5%) suffered from LBP. The estimated prevalence of persistent LBP was 84.6% (80.3-88.9%), 82.2% (77.7-86.8%), and 82.0% (77.4-86.5%) at 1, 3, and 5 years after the initial study, respectively. NRS scores of 5 or greater predicted the persistence of LBP at 1 and 3 years after the initial survey (adjusted odds ratios: 4.01 (1.27-12.6) and 8.51 (1.87-38.7), respectively), while RDQ scores did not. In conclusion, LBP highly persisted for a long time and pain intensity predicted persistent LBP among nursery school workers in Japan.

Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of cancer-related fatigue among working cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and risk factors of cancer-related fatigue among currently working cancer survivors. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and ICHUSHI databases. The risk of bias was evaluated independently using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS). A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence, severity, and related factors associated with cancer-related fatigue among currently working cancer survivors. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis included 18 studies and revealed that 42.2% of currently working cancer survivors experience cancer-related fatigue. The fatigue severity in this group was significantly higher than that in workers without cancer (absolute standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.67), but lower than that in cancer survivors who had previously worked and were not currently working (absolute SMD = 0.72). Distress was identified as a potential risk factor for cancer-related fatigue in working cancer survivors (partial correlation coefficient = 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of cancer-related fatigue among employed cancer survivors underscores the need for targeted workplace interventions and fatigue management strategies. While the severity of fatigue is less than that seen in non-working survivors, the comparison with the general working population highlights a significant health disparity. The association between distress and fatigue suggests the necessity for a holistic approach to fatigue management that considers both physical and mental factors in working cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Our findings highlight the critical need for healthcare professionals and employers to monitor fatigue levels among working cancer survivors and offer appropriate support.

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture relieves uterine smooth muscle spasm in dysmenorrhea rats based on Rho/ROCK signaling pathway. / 基于Rho/ROCKä¿¡å·é€šè·¯æŽ¢è®¨ç”µé’ˆä»»è„‰ã€ç£è„‰ç»ç©´ç¼“è§£ç±»ç—›ç»æ¨¡åž‹å¤§é¼ å­å®«å¹³æ»‘è‚Œç—‰æŒ›çš„æœºåˆ¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming kinases (ROCK) signaling pathway of uterus tissue in rats with dysmenorrhea, so as to explore the underlying mechanism of EA treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and uterine smooth muscle spasm, and to observe whether there is a difference in the effect of meridian acupoints in Conception Vessel (CV) and Governer Vessel (GV). METHODS: Sixty female SD rats were randomly divided into saline, model, CV, GV, and non-acupoint groups, with 12 rats in each group. The dysmenorrhea model was established by subcutaneous injection of estradiol diphenhydrate combined with intraperitoneal injection of oxytocin (OT). EA (2 Hz) was applied to "Qihai" (CV6) and "Zhongji" (CV3) for CV group, "Mingmen" (GV4) and "Yaoshu" (GV2) for GV group, "non-acupoint 1" and "non-acupoint 3" on the left side for non-acupoint group, and manual acupuncture was applied to "Guanyuan" (CV4) for CV group, "Yaoyangguan" (GV3) for GV group, "non-acupoint 2" on the left side for non-acupoint group. The treatment was conducted for 20 min each time, once daily for 10 days. The writhing score was evaluated. The smooth myoelectric signals of rats' uterus in vivo were recorded by multi-channel physiological recorder. The uterine histopathological changes were observed by HE staining. The contents of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), OT and calcium ion (Ca2+) in uterine tissue of rats were detected by ELISA. The protein and mRNA expression levels of smooth muscle 22-α (SM22-α), RhoA and ROCKⅡ in uterine tissue were detected by Western blot and fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the saline group, the writhing score of rats in the model group was increased (P<0.01), the amplitude voltage of uterine smooth muscle in vivo was elevated (P<0.01), the contents of PGF2α, OT and Ca2+, the protein and mRNA expression of SM22-α, RhoA and ROCK Ⅱ in uterine tissue were all increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model and the non-acupoint groups, the writhing scores of the CV and the GV groups were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the amplitude voltage of uterine smooth muscle was decreased (P<0.01), the contents of PGF2α, OT and Ca2+ in uterine tissue were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the protein expression and mRNA expression of SM22-α, RhoA and ROCKⅡ in uterine tissue were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). HE staining showed extensive exfoliation of uterine intima with severe edema and increased glandular secretion in the model group, which was alleviated in the CV and GV groups. CONCLUSIONS: EA at acupoints of CV and GV can significantly reduce the writhing score, uterine smooth muscle amplitude voltage, pathological injury degree of uterus, and relieve spasm of uterine smooth muscle in dysmenorrhea rats, which may be related to its effect in regulating PGF2α and OT contents, inhibiting the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway, and reducing the SM22-α, RhoA, ROCKⅡ protein and mRNA expression, and Ca2+ content in uterine tissue.

Interpersonal self-support and attentional bias on negative and positive interpersonal information.

Interpersonal self-support is an indigenous Chinese personality concept. It represents the idealized notion of the kind of personality traits that help individuals deal with interpersonal problems and develop and maintain the harmonic and appropriate social relationships required in China's collectivistic and interdependent culture. It also was assumed to be a protective personality factor with regard to mental health and was found to be negatively related to psychosomatic symptoms. In the current study, cognitive processing of interpersonal information is assumed to be an underlying mechanism that connects interpersonal self-support with interpersonal relationships and mental health. To test this hypothesis, we conducted two experiments to investigate whether attentional bias on positive and negative interpersonal information was related to high and low interpersonal self-support. A spatial cueing task and the emotional Stroop task were administered to two samples of high and low interpersonal self-support Chinese undergraduate students to measure attentional bias. The results from both experiments suggested that high interpersonal self-support students had an attentional bias toward positive interpersonal information, while low interpersonal self-support students preferentially attended to negative interpersonal information. Study 1 indicated that attentional bias toward positive interpersonal information was easily engaged in the high interpersonal self-support group, while attentional bias toward negative interpersonal information was both easy to engage and difficult to disengage in the low interpersonal self-support students. These results support our hypotheses that high interpersonal self-support people engage in positive processing of interpersonal information, whereas low interpersonal self-support people engage in negative processing of interpersonal information. The differential balance between positive and negative processing on interpersonal information may explain why interpersonal self-support predicts both mental health and interpersonal relationships. In addition, the relational schema may explain why interpersonal self-support is associated with an attentional bias toward interpersonal information.

Longitudinal associations among smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depressive symptoms in college students: Disentangling between- And within-person associations.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone addiction and depressive symptoms are two prevalent and highly correlated problems among college students worldwide. However, the causal relationships and potential mechanisms (e.g., loneliness) between them remain controversial. Thus, the present study investigated the dynamic longitudinal relations between smartphone addiction and depressive symptoms including loneliness as a possible mediator in Chinese college students. METHODS: A total of 3,827 college students (52.8% males, 47.2% females; Mage = 18.87 years, SD = 1.48) participated in a four-wave longitudinal study across two years, and the interval between waves was 6 months except for the second and the third wave (12 months). Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale-8 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were used to assess participants' smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depressive symptoms, respectively. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) were utilized to separate between- and within-person effects. RESULTS: The results of RI-CLPM demonstrated a bidirectional association between smartphone addiction and depressive symptoms (from T3 to T4), and loneliness (T3) mediated the association between smartphone addiction (T2) and depressive symptoms (T4) at the within-person level (indirect effect = 0.008, 95%CI = 0.002-0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Given that loneliness served as a mediator in the relation between smartphone addiction and depressive symptoms, enhancing offline interpersonal communication may hold great promise for alleviating negative emotions and reducing the dependence on online communication.