5300-Year-old soil carbon is less primed than young soil organic matter.

Soils harbor more than three times as much carbon (C) as the atmosphere, a large fraction of which (stable organic matter) serves as the most important global C reservoir due to its long residence time. Litter and root inputs bring fresh organic matter (FOM) into the soil and accelerate the turnover of stable C pools, and this phenomenon is termed the "priming effect" (PE). Compared with knowledge about labile soil C pools, very little is known about the vulnerability of stable C to priming. Using two soils that substantially differed in age (500 and 5300 years before present) and in the degree of chemical recalcitrance and physical protection of soil organic matter (SOM), we showed that leaf litter amendment primed 264% more organic C from the young SOM than from the old soil with very stable C. Hierarchical partitioning analysis confirmed that SOM stability, reflected mainly by available C and aggregate protection of SOM, is the most important predictor of leaf litter-induced PE. The addition of complex FOM (i.e., leaf litter) caused a higher bacterial oligotroph/copiotroph (K-/r-strategists) ratio, leading to a PE that was 583% and 126% greater than when simple FOM (i.e., glucose) was added to the young and old soils, respectively. This implies that the PE intensity depends on the chemical similarity between the primer (here FOM) and SOM. Nitrogen (N) mining existed when N and simple FOM were added (i.e., Glucose+N), and N addition raised the leaf litter-induced PE in the old soil that had low N availability, which was well explained by the microbial stoichiometry. In conclusion, the PE induced by FOM inputs strongly decreases with increasing SOM stability. However, the contribution of stable SOM to CO2 efflux cannot be disregarded due to its huge pool size.

Impact of the COVID-19 and psychological risk factors on non-suicidal self-injury behavior among high school students: a one-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is a severe public health issue in adolescents. This study investigated the possible impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and analyzed psychological risk factors on adolescent NSSI. METHODS: A one-year follow-up study was conducted in September 2019 (Time 1) and September 2020 (Time 2) among 3588 high school students. The completed follow-up participants (N = 2527) were classified into no NSSI (negative at both time points), emerging NSSI (negative at Time 1 but positive at Time 2), and sustained NSSI (positive at both time points) subgroups according to their NSSI behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived family functioning, perceived school climate, negative life events, personality traits (neuroticism, impulsivity, and self-control) were assessed using self-report scales. RESULTS: The data indicated an increase (10.3%) in the incidence of NSSI. Compared to no NSSI subjects, the emerging NSSI and sustained NSSI subgroups had lower perceived family functioning, higher neuroticism, higher impulse-system but lower self-control scores, and more negative life events. Logistic regressions revealed that after controlling for demographics, neuroticism and impulse-system levels at Time 1 positively predicted emerging NSSI behavior, and similarly, higher neuroticism and impulsivity and lower self-control at Time 1 predicted sustained NSSI behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlighted the aggravated impact of the COVID-19 on NSSI, and suggested that individual neuroticism, impulsivity, and self-control traits might be crucial for the development of NSSI behavior among adolescent students.

Association between nontraditional lipid profiles and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the significant role of dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are very common in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Nontraditional lipid indices are considered to be a better predictive index for cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, the association between nontraditional lipid profiles and the severity of OSA is not clear. METHODS: A retrospective study was proceeded on 635 patients. Subjects were diagnosed with OSA through polysomnography (PSG). The association between severe OSA and nontraditional lipid profiles [triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C ratio, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), atherogenic index (AI), and lipoprotein combine index (LCI)] was examined by utilizing the restricted cubic spline and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: All nontraditional lipid indices had positive relationships with the severity of OSA. By multivariable adjustment, the per SD increment of the TG/HDL-C, TC/ HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, AI, and LCI were significantly associated with 88%, 50%, 42%, 40%, 50%, and 125% higher risk for severe OSA respectively. Compared with the lowest tertiles, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 2.42 (1.57-3.75), 2.39 (1.53-3.73), 2.35 (1.52-3.64), 1.86 (1.21-2.86), 2.39 (1.53-3.73), and 2.23 (1.43-3.48) for the top tertiles of TG/HDL-C, TC/ HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, AI, and LCI respectively. CONCLUSION: All nontraditional lipid indices had positive relationship with the severity of OSA. In addition, TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and AI had better performance than the other nontraditional lipid indices for predicting severe OSA. These findings could help to determine the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve the dyslipidemia management of OSA patients.

Low carbon availability in paleosols nonlinearly attenuates temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition.

Temperature sensitivity (Q10 ) of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition is an important parameter in models of the global carbon (C) cycle. Previous studies have suggested that substrate quality controls the intrinsic Q10 , whereas environmental factors can impose large constraints. For example, physical protection of SOM and its association with minerals attenuate the apparent Q10 through reducing substrate availability and accessibility ([S]). The magnitude of this dampening effect, however, has never been quantified. We simulated theoretical Q10 changes across a wide range of [S] and found that the relationship between Q10 and the log10 -transformed [S] followed a logistic rather than a linear function. Based on the unique Holocene paleosol chronosequence (7 soils from ca. 500 to 6900 years old), we demonstrated that the Q10 decreased nonlinearly with soil age up to 1150 years, beyond which Q10 remained stable. Hierarchical partitioning analysis indicated that an integrated C availability index, derived from principal component analysis of DOC content and parameters reflecting physical protection and mineral association, was the main explanatory variable for the nonlinear decrease of Q10 with soil age. Microbial inoculation and 13 C-labelled glucose addition showed that low C availability induced by physical protection and minerals association attenuated Q10 along the chronosequence. A separate soil incubation experiment indicated that Q10 increased exponentially with activation energy (Ea ) in the modern soil, suggesting that SOM chemical complexity regulates Q10 only when C availability is high. In conclusion, organic matter availability strongly decreased with soil age, whereas Michelis-Menten kinetics defines the Q10 response depending on C availability, but Arrhenius equation describes the effects of increasing substrate complexity.

Role of raphe magnus 5-HT1A receptor in increased ventilatory responses induced by intermittent hypoxia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent hypoxia induces increased ventilatory responses in a 5-HT-dependent manner. This study aimed to explore that effect of raphe magnus serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1A) receptor on the increased ventilatory responses induced by intermittent hypoxia. METHODS: Stereotaxic surgery was performed in adult male rats, and acute and chronic intermittent hypoxia models were established after recovery from surgery. The experimental group received microinjections of 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) into the raphe magnus nucleus (RMg). Meanwhile, the control group received microinjections of artificial cerebrospinal fluid instead of 8-OH-DPAT. Ventilatory responses were compared among the different groups of oxygen status. 5-HT expressions in the RMg region were assessed by immunohistochemistry after chronic intermittent hypoxia. RESULTS: Compared with the normoxia group, the acute intermittent hypoxia group exhibited higher ventilatory responses (e.g., shorter inspiratory time and higher tidal volume, frequency of breathing, minute ventilation, and mean inspiratory flow) (P < 0.05). 8-OH-DPAT microinjection partly weakened these changes in the acute intermittent hypoxia group. Further, compared with the acute intermittent hypoxia group, rats in chronic intermittent hypoxia group exhibited higher measures of ventilatory responses after 1 day of intermittent hypoxia (P < 0.05). These effects peaked after 3 days of intermittent hypoxia treatment and then decreased gradually. Moreover, these changes were diminished in the experimental group. 5-HT expression in the RMg region increased after chronic intermittent hypoxia, which was consistent with the changing trend of ventilatory responses. While activation of the 5-HT1A receptor in the RMg region alleviated this phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that RMg 5-HT1A receptor, via changing the expression level of 5-HT in the RMg region, is involved in the modulation of the increased ventilatory responses induced by intermittent hypoxia.

Impact of Biochar on Soil Properties, Pore Water Properties, and Available Cadmium.

Some effects of biochar on soil properties (such as pore water DOC) are not very clear. The changes of soil properties [cation exchange capacity (CEC)], pore water properties [pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and Cd concentration (CPW-Cd)], Cd concentration measured by diffusive gradients in thin films (CDGT-Cd), and available Cd content (Cd in weak acid extractable state and reducible state, CBCR-Cd) determined by the BCR sequential extraction procedure over time after biochar addition were studied by soil incubation and potted corn experiments with five soils from a mining area. The results showed increases of 20.3%-64.6% in CEC and 0.34-1.02 in pH (both p < 0.05) in the soil incubation after adding biochar. The DOC concentration was reduced by 8.2%-33.2% (p < 0.05). CPW-Cd, CDGT-Cd, and CBCR-Cd decreased by 14.2%-47.2%, 15.3%-47.9%, and 22.3%-61.4%, respectively. During the corn cultivation phase, CEC increased by 5.1%-29.0%, and DOC concentration decreased by 10.4%-41.3% (p < 0.05). CPW-Cd, CDGT-Cd, and CBCR-Cd decreased by 5.9%-22.4%, 7.2%-25.1%, and 10.5%-64.8%, respectively. Biochar effectively increased the biomass of corn roots and reduced the concentration of Cd in the roots. Biochar altered the properties of soil and pore water, reduced the bioavailability of Cd in soil, and mitigated the harm to corn caused by Cd.

[Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of ESKAPE Pathogens Bloodstream Infection in Cancer Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors of ESKAPE pathogens infection and related death in cancer patients, and to supply evidence for clinical precaution and diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective study of clinical and experimental data of cancer patients with bloodstream infection were carried out in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from 2013 to 2018. The clinical feature, predisposing factors and risk factors of death in ESKAPE group and non-ESKAPE group were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 753 patients were enrolled in the study. Totally 795 pathogenic bacteria strains were isolated from blood culture and there were 278 ESKAPE strains, which took up 34.97% of isolated strains. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender of male, multiple pathogens, history of exposure to enzyme inhibitors and agranulocytosis were independent risk factors of ESKAPE pathogens bloodstream infection. Peritoneal infection and combined fungal infection were independent risk factors of ESKAPE bloodstream infection related death. CONCLUSION: The bloodstream infection of ESKAPE pathogens is a problem worthy of clinical attention for cancer patients with neutrophil deficiency, previous antibiotic exposure, and fungal infection and peritoneal infection.

A 4-gene panel predicting the survival of patients with glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: To identify independently prognostic gene panel in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-GBM was used as a training set and a test set. GSE13041 was used as a validation set. Survival associated differentially expression genes (DEGs), derived between GBM and normal brain tissue, was obtained using univariate Cox proportional hazards regression model and then was included in a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalized Cox proportional hazards regression model. Thus, a 4-gene prognostic panel was developed based on the risk score for each patient in that model. The prognostic role of the 4-gene panel was validated using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: A total of 686 patients with GBM were included in our study; 724 DEGs was identified, 133 of which was significantly correlated with the overall survival (OS) of patients with GBM. A 4-gene panel including NMB, RTN1, GPC5, and epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3) was developed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that patients in the 4-gene panel low risk group had significantly better OS than those in the 4-gene panel high risk group in the training set (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.3826; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2751-0.532; P < 0.0001), test set (HR = 0.718; 95% CI: 0.5282-0.9759; P = 0.033) and the independent validation set (HR = 0.6898; 95% CI: 0.4872-0.9766; P = 0.035). Both univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis suggested that the 4-gene panel was independent prognostic factor for GBM in the training set. CONCLUSION: We developed and validated 4-gene panel that was independently correlated with the survival of patients with GBM.

A method of velocity estimation using composite hyperbolic frequency-modulated signals in active sonar.

This paper proposes a method to estimate the target velocity using a combination of two hyperbolic frequency-modulated (HFM) signals. The Doppler-shifted time-delay between the two signals compared with the original time-delay is used to estimate the target velocity. One finds that a HFM with an increasing frequency sweep (positive HFM) and one with a decreasing frequency sweep (negative HFM) yield a different time. And a better Doppler estimation can be obtained by using a negative HFM signal followed by a positive HFM signal than the other way around. The method is applied to real data and performance is demonstrated via simulated data.

Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking Analysis, and Carbonic Anhydrase IX Inhibitory Evaluations of Novel N-Substituted-ß-d-Glucosamine Derivatives that Incorporate Benzenesulfonamides.

A series of novel N-substituted-ß-d-glucosamine derivatives that incorporate benzenesulfonamides were designed using a fragment-based drug design strategy. Each derivative was synthesized and evaluated in vitro for its inhibitory activity against human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) IX; several derivatives displayed desirable potency profiles against this enzyme. The molecular docking studies provided the design rationale and predicted potential binding modes for carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX and three target compounds, including the most potent inhibitor, compound 7f (IC50 = 10.01 nM). Moreover, the calculated Log P (cLog P) values showed that all the compounds tended to be hydrophilic. In addition, topological polar surface area (TPSA) value-based predictions highlighted the selectivity of these carbohydrate-based inhibitors for membrane-associated CA IX.

Gender, nocturnal hypoxia, and arousal influence brainstem auditory evoked potentials in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients are inconsistent in some studies because the affecting factors are not well controlled. This study aimed to evaluate BAEP of male and female patients with moderate and severe OSAS and further assess the possible factors influencing BAEP abnormalities. METHODS: Polysomnography were applied to 118 subjects, composed of 84 OSAS patients and 34 control subjects (22 male, 12 female), during the night. OSAS groups included 40 moderate (32 male, 8 female) and 44 sever (36 male, 8 female) OSAS patients. Binaural BAEPs were performed for every subject before polysomnography. The comparison of BAEP among control, moderate, and severe OSAS groups was performed according to different gender. Independent sample t test was used to examine the difference between male and female groups. Pearson's correlation was applied between BAEP parameters and age, body mass index, and sleep-related data in OSAS group. RESULTS: Prolonged latencies of waves I, III, and V were observed in OSAS patients. They were significantly correlated with apnea hypopnea index, arousal index, and hypoxia-related parameters. Compared to female patients, male patients had longer latencies of waves III and V. For severe male OSAS patients, BAEP of right ear showed additional prolongations of IPLs of I-III and I-V than that of left ear, and the IPL of I-III was correlated with the severity of hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate and severe OSAS patients showed abnormal BAEP which could be influenced by gender, nocturnal hypoxia, and arousal.

Distribution, source, and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from the Hun River, northeast China.

In this study, the occurrence and distribution of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), listed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), were investigated in surface sediment samples from the Hun River, northeast China. The data was then used to assess the potential ecological risk. The results indicated 15 PAHs were detected in these sediments, and the total concentrations of the 15 PAHs (not including naphthalene) ranged from 82.96 to 39,292.95 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw), with an average value of 3705.54 ng g(-1) dw, and 4-ring PAHs were the dominant compounds at most sites. The diagnostic parameters such as anthracene/(anthracene + phenanthrene), fluoranthene/(fluoranthene + pyrene), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene/(indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene + benzo[g,h,i]perylene) showed that they had been emitted from a number of different sources, especially the pyrolytic emissions. The results of the ecological risk assessment, which compared the PAH concentrations with the effect range low (ERL) and the effect range median (ERM) values, indicated that several individual PAH concentrations at four sites in the downstream section of the Hun River were higher than the ERM, suggesting that there was a potential ecological risk in these areas.

Raphe serotonergic neurons modulate genioglossus corticomotor activity in intermittent hypoxic rats.

BACKGROUND: Genioglossus activity is greater during wakefulness but decreases to a weaker state during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients, compared to healthy subjects. Previous studies suggested that the corticomotor control of the genioglossus was modified in OSAS patients. Intermittent hypoxia (IH), the typical pathophysiological change in OSAS, can induce genioglossus facilitation. The serotonergic neurons of the raphe dorsal (DRN) and magnus nuclei (RMg) are responsive to hypoxia and play important roles in the control of the genioglossus. However, it remains unknown whether DRN and RMg serotonergic neurons are responsible for the facilitated corticomotor activity of the genioglossus during IH. This study explored the influence of IH on the corticomotor activity of the genioglossus by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and the role of DRN and RMg serotonergic neurons in this effect. METHODS: Rats were exposed to IH and divided into two groups. In one group, anti-SERT-SAP was microinjected into the DRN and RMg respectively to kill serotonergic neurons. In the other group, artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) was injected. Comparisons were conducted between the two groups during four weeks of IH and four weeks after IH. RESULTS: Compared to the corresponding ACSF-injected group, the DRN lesion group and RMg lesion group showed longer TMS latencies and lower amplitudes during IH from the 1st to the 28th day. After 28 days of IH, longer latencies and lower amplitudes were seen only in the DRN lesion group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DRN and RMg serotonergic neurons play different roles in the facilitation of genioglossus corticomotor activity induced by IH.

Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 interacts with fragile X-related protein 1.

The absence of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) causes fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is the leading cause of hereditary mental retardation. Fragile X-related protein 1 (FXR1P), which plays an important role in normal muscle development, is one of the two autosomal paralogs of FMRP. To understand the functions of FXR1P, we screened FXR1P-interacting proteins by using a yeast two-hybrid system. The fragile X-related gene 1 (FXR1) was fused to pGBKT7 and then used as the bait to screen the human fetal brain cDNA library. The screening results revealed 10 FXR1P-interacting proteins including Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 (BTF). The interaction between FXR1P and BTF was confirmed by using both ß-galactosidase assay and growth test in selective media. Co-immunoprecipitation assay in mammalian cells was also carried out to confirm the FXR1P/BTF interaction. Moreover, we confirmed that BTF co-localized with FXR1P in the cytoplasm around the nucleus in rat vascular smooth muscle cells by using confocal fluorescence microscopy. These results provide clues to elucidate the relationship between FXR1P and FXS.

The global burden and trends analysis of early-onset colorectal cancer attributable to dietary risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a secondary analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019.

Background: Rising trends in early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) burden have been observed, but the distribution and temporal patterns of early-onset CRC attributable to dietary risks remain unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the burden of early-onset CRC attributable to dietary risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2019. Methods: The absolute number and age-specific rates (ASR) of diet-related early-onset CRC burden, as well as summary exposure value (SEV) of attributable dietary risk factors, were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. The temporal changes in the burden between 1990 and 2019 were analyzed by calculating the percentage change in the absolute number of burden and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in ASR of burden. The annualized rates of change (ARC) were calculated to evaluate the variation trend of SEV. Results: In 2019, diet-related early-onset CRC caused 30,096 (95% UI: 23,148 to 36,091) death cases and 1,465,755 (95% UI: 1,126,489 to 1,761,661) DALYs worldwide, accounting for 34.8% deaths and 34.4% DALYs of overall early-onset CRC, respectively. Moreover, a diet low in milk (responsible for 16.5% [95% UI: 11.1 to 21.9%] of DALYs in 2019), low in whole grains (15.2% [95% UI: 5.9 to 19.9%]), low in calcium (14.3% [95% UI: 10.7 to 18.9%]), high in red meat (5.3% [95% UI: 1.7 to 9.5%]), high in processed meat (2.5% [95% UI: 0.9 to 4.0%]), and low in fiber (2.3% [95% UI: 0.9 to 4.2%]) were early-onset CRC attributable dietary risk factors. The age-specific DALYs rate of early-onset CRC attributable to each dietary risk factor generally showed an increasing trend globally between 1990 and 2019, except for low intake of fiber (EAPC = -0.57, 95% CI: -0.76 to -0.38). In addition, from 1990 to 2019, males have a higher burden than females and this gap may continue to widen due to the increasing difference between the sexes in most dietary risk factors. Furthermore, dietary risks-attributable early-onset CRC burden has shifted from regions with high socio-demographic index (SDI) to high-middle and middle SDI quintiles with uncontrolled dietary risks. Conclusion: Early-onset CRC remains a concerning issue globally, and effective prevention and modification of dietary risk factors holds great promise to reduce early-onset CRC-related burden. Prioritizing diet improvement for males is critical and urgent for CRC control efforts, particularly for those living in developing countries with ongoing dietary pattern transition.

Global, regional, and national burden and trends analysis of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer from 1990 to 2019 and predictions to 2030: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Objectives: Our aim was to explore the disease burden caused by gallbladder and biliary tract cancer globally, regionally, and nationally, by age and sex. Methods: The absolute number of cases and age-standardized rates (ASR) of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to gallbladder and biliary tract cancer were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. We estimated the trends in disease burden by calculating the percentage change in the absolute number of cases and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in ASR, by social development index (SDI), region, nation, sex, and age. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the number of incident cases, prevalent cases, deaths, and DALYs worldwide significantly increased by 1.85-fold, 1.92-fold, 1.82-fold, and 1.68-fold, respectively. However, the age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs tend to decrease globally over time. Nevertheless, heterogeneous disease burden patterns exist between geographic regions due to different geographical risk factors, distinct epidemiologically predominant gallbladder and biliary tract cancer subtypes, and potential genetic predispositions or ethnicity. Additionally, socioeconomic status mediates the regional variation in disease burden, with increasing SDI or HDI scores associated with downward trends in the age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs. Older individuals and females are at higher risk of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, but the increasing burden of early-onset gallbladder and biliary tract cancer is a cause for concern, especially for those living in lower SDI areas and males. High BMI is the primary risk factors underlying gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, accounted for 15.2% of deaths and 15.7% DALYs globally in 2019. Conclusion: Our study comprehensively elucidated the distribution and dynamic trends of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer burden over the past three decades, from multiple dimensions. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle as a population-level cancer prevention strategy and tailoring cancer control actions based on localized risk factors and the epidemic profiles of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer by anatomical subtype.

Compulsivity and Inhibitory Control Deficits in Abstinent Individuals With Heroin Addiction and Their Biological Siblings Compared With Unrelated Healthy Control Participants.

BACKGROUND: Compulsivity represents the performance of persistent and repetitive acts despite negative consequences and is considered one of the critical mechanisms for drug addiction. Although compulsivity-related neurocognitive impairments have been linked to addiction, it remains unclear whether these deficits might have predated drug abuse as potential familial susceptibilities. METHODS: A large sample of 213 adult participants were recruited, including 70 abstinent individuals addicted to heroin (HAs), 69 unaffected biological siblings of the HAs (siblings), and 74 unrelated healthy control participants. Compulsivity-related neurocognitive functions were evaluated using the intradimensional/extradimensional set-shift task and a probabilistic reversal learning task. Compulsive traits were measured by the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. Inhibitory control was assessed using the stop signal task and Stroop Color and Word Test. Network models for group recognition were conducted using multilayer perceptron neural networks. RESULTS: Data indicated that both HAs and siblings performed worse than healthy control participants on compulsivity-related aspects (i.e., shifting and reversal learning functions) and inhibitory control and had higher levels of self-reported compulsive traits. Furthermore, neural models revealed that a possible 3-facet clustering of neurocognitive deficits was linked to both HAs and siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that deficits in shift reversal and inhibitory control aspects and elevated compulsive traits, shared by HAs and their unaffected siblings, may putatively represent conceivable markers associated with familial vulnerabilities implicated in the development of heroin dependence.

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Binge Eating Scale in Young Adults.

Background: Although structured clinical interviews are considered the gold standard for assessing binge eating disorder (BED), the self-administered Binge Eating Scale (BES) has been widely used as a screening tool for BED in clinical research. However, the psychometric properties of the BES among Chinese young adults remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the validity of a Chinese version of the BES with a large sample. Methods: A total of 2182 young adult college students were tested using the Simplified Chinese version of BES (SCBES), the 7-Item Binge-Eating Disorder Screener (BEDS-7), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Dual-Modes of Self-Control Scale (DMSC). The frequency of objective binge-eating episodes was used as a measure of severity. Validity and reliability of the SCBES were assessed through multiple analyses, along with the item analysis. Results: The data revealed that the SCBES demonstrated reasonable reliability and validity. The Cronbach's α value was 0.813, with a one-month test-retest reliability of 0.835. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted three first-order factors, which explained a total of 53.82% of the variance. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the three-factor model (ie, Binge-eating behaviors, Lack of control, Negative affects related to overeating), with a good model fit. The SCBES also demonstrated excellent concurrent and criterion validity, significantly correlating with the BEDS-7 and frequency of objective binge-eating episodes (r=0.760-0.782, p<0.001). Gender, body mass index, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and self-control were significantly associated with the total score of SCBES. Conclusion: The SCBES demonstrated sound psychometric properties and exhibited good cross-cultural adaptability in Chinese young adults, with a novel three-factor model fitting the data best. This scale could serve as a useful screening tool for identifying the severity of binge eating behaviors among Chinese youths.

The effectiveness of booster vaccination of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines against susceptibility, infectiousness, and transmission of omicron BA.2 variant: a retrospective cohort study in Shenzhen, China.

Little studies evaluated the effectiveness of booster vaccination of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines against being infected (susceptibility), infecting others (infectiousness), and spreading the disease from one to another (transmission). Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of booster vaccination of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines against susceptibility, infectiousness, and transmission in Shenzhen during an Omicron BA.2 outbreak period from 1 February to 21 April 2022. The eligible individuals were classified as four sub-cohorts according to the inactivated COVID-19 vaccination status of both the close contacts and their index cases: group 2-2, fully vaccinated close contacts seeded by fully vaccinated index cases (reference group); group 2-3, booster-vaccinated close contacts seeded by fully vaccinated index cases; group 3-2, fully vaccinated close contacts seeded by booster-vaccinated index cases; and group 3-3, booster-vaccinated close contacts seeded by booster-vaccinated index cases. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate the effectiveness of booster vaccination. The sample sizes of groups 2-2, 2-3, 3-2, and 3-3 were 846, 1,115, 1,210, and 2,417, respectively. We found that booster vaccination had an effectiveness against infectiousness of 44.9% (95% CI: 19.7%, 62.2%) for the adults ≥ 18 years, 62.2% (95% CI: 32.0%, 78.9%) for the female close contacts, and 60.8% (95% CI: 38.5%, 75.1%) for the non-household close contacts. Moreover, booster vaccination had an effectiveness against transmission of 29.0% (95% CI: 3.2%, 47.9%) for the adults ≥ 18 years, 38.9% (95% CI: 3.3%, 61.3%) for the female close contacts, and 45.8% (95% CI: 22.1%, 62.3%) for the non-household close contacts. However, booster vaccination against susceptibility did not provide any protective effect. In summary, this study confirm that booster vaccination of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccines provides low level of protection and moderate level of protection against Omicron BA.2 transmission and infectiousness, respectively. However, booster vaccination does not provide any protection against Omicron BA.2 susceptibility.

Formulation and application of the "hospital-to-home + online-to-offline" treatment scheme in caring for and supporting vulnerable patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the terminal stage of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the "hospital-to-home + online-to-offline" (H2H + O2O) care scheme was implemented for patients with CHF during vulnerable periods, and its effect was evaluated. METHODS: Patients with CHF in the cardiovascular department of a Class III/Grade A hospital in Jiangxi Province from January to December 2020 were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly divided into a control and intervention group (n= 100 each). The patients in the control group received routine in-hospital treatment and out-of-hospital follow-up, while in the intervention group, a multi-disciplinary cooperation team with CHF specialist nurses evaluated and stratified the patients before discharge and formulated individualized prescriptions and care plans. Based on the "Health & Happiness" chronic disease follow-up application designed for this study, the specialist nurses provided patients with one-to-one guidance. After three months, the cardiac function, heart failure knowledge, self-care behavior, and re-hospitalization rate of the patients were compared between the two groups. Cardiac function was evaluated by the serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and a six-minute walking test (6MWT). Heart failure knowledge and self-care behavior was assessed using specific questionaries. RESULTS: The level of cardiac function in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.001). The mastery of heart failure knowledge and self-care behavior in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P< 0.05). The re-hospitalization rate due to CHF in the intervention group was 21.0%, which was lower than that in the control group (35.0%), and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The H2H + O2O care scheme can be used for the transition of vulnerable patients with CHF from the hospital to family care to improve the patients' level of cardiac function, elevate their knowledge level and self-care abilities, and improve their overall health outcomes.