Exploring the relationship between adverse working environments and poor psychological states of Chinese workers: A comprehensive study.

BACKGROUND: Employee mental health is linked with job satisfaction and productivity. However, there is a notable lack of empirical evidence regarding the adverse effects of Hazardous Work Environments (HWE) on employee mental health, indicating a significant gap in occupational health research. METHODS: Data from the China Family Panel Studies involving 9972 participants were utilized. Mental health was assessed using the Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale at baseline and the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale at follow-up. Associations between HWE exposure and mental health were explored cross-sectionally at baseline plus mediation analyses for the influence of sleep duration. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the longitudinal implications of HWE exposure. FINDINGS: Participants exposed to HWE showed a higher risk of having serious psychological distress (OR (95%CI): 1.47 (1.29-1.69)) cross-sectionally at baseline, and this risk rose with increased number of HWE elements (1.30 (1.11-1.52) and 2.18 (1.75-2.72) for 1-2 and ≥ 3 elements, respectively). Longitudinally, HWE exposure was associated with an increased risk of depression (HR (95%CI): 1.10 (1.07-1.14)). Similarly, this risk risen with increased number of HWE elements (1.08 (1.06-1.09) and 1.20 (1.05-1.38) for 1-2 and ≥ 3 elements, respectively) and longer duration of exposure (1.01 (1.00-1.01)). Short sleep duration emerged as a significant mediator between HWE exposure and psychological distress. INTERPRETATION: This study illuminates a robust association between HWE exposure and psychological distress, especially under prolonged and multiple exposures. We advocate for rigorous mental health monitoring and interventions for workers in adverse working environments. FUNDING: CSTB2023NSCQ-BHX0042 and cffkyqdj.

Effect of flaxseed supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review, and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Many clinical trials have revealed that flaxseed supplementation might exert a potent antihypertensive influence, but the findings are inconsistent. In this regard, a meta-analysis was carried out to provide a more accurate estimate of the impact of flaxseed supplementation on blood pressure. We searched international databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar till July 2022. A random-effects model was used to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs). Non-linear dose-response analysis and meta-regression were performed. Meta-analysis of 33 trials (comprising 43 treatment arms) with 2427 participants revealed significant reductions in both systolic (WMD: -3.19 mmHg; 95% CI: -4.15 to -2.24, p < 0.001; I2 = 92.5%, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (WMD = -2.61 mmHg; 95% CI: -3.27, -1.94, p < 0.001; I2 = 94.1%, p < 0.001) following flaxseed supplementation. Greater effects on SBP and DBP were found in trials with an intervention duration of >20 weeks, ≥30 g day-1 of flaxseed, subjects with BMI 25-30 kg m-2, and in patients with hypertension. Supplementation with various flaxseed products significantly reduced SBP and DBP levels, confirming the hypothesis that flaxseed could be used as an effective supplement for blood pressure management, alongside routine medications.

Household air pollution and childhood stunting in China: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Exposure to air pollution, especially indoor air pollution, was associated with an increased risk of childhood stunting. However, few longitudinal studies have explored the long-term impacts of indoor air pollution from household solid fuel use on child growth. We aimed to investigate the association between household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use and childhood stunting in Chinese children. Method: The longitudinal data from the Chinese Family Panel Study over 2010-2018 were included in this study with a total of 6,013 children aged 0-15 years enrolled at baseline. Exposure to HAP was measured as solid fuel use for cooking, while solid fuel was defined as coal and firewood/straw according to the questionnaire survey. Stunting was defined as-2SD below the height-for-age z-score (HAZ) of the reference children. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying exposures were employed to estimate the association between childhood stunting and HAP exposure. Results: At baseline, children with exposure to HAP from combusting solid fuels had a relatively higher risk of stunting [OR (95%CI): 1.42 (1.24-1.63)]. Among children without stunning at baseline, those living in households with solid fuel use had a higher stunting risk over an 8-year follow-up [HR (95%CI): 2.05 (1.64-2.57)]. The risk of childhood stunting was increased for those with HAP exposure from firewood/straw combustion or with longer exposure duration [HR (95%CI): 2.21 (1.74-2.79) and 3.01 (2.23-4.08), respectively]. Meanwhile, this risk was significantly decreased among children from households switching from solid fuels to clean fuels [HR (95%CI): 0.53 (0.39-0.70)]. Solid fuel use was suggested to be a mediator of the relationship between poor socioeconomic factors (i.e., household income and parental education level) and childhood stunning, with a mediation effect ranging from 11.25 to 14.26%. Conclusions: HAP exposure from solid fuel use was associated with childhood stunting. Poor parental education and low household income might be socioeconomic factors contributing to solid fuel use. Therefore, household energy policies to facilitate access to clean fuels are urgently needed, especially for low-income and low-educated households.

Screening for a Simple and Effective Indicator of Insulin Resistance in Chinese Reproductive-Aged Women, with the Insulin Clamp Technique as a Reference.

Background: Applying the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp to estimate insulin resistance (IR) is accurate but time-consuming, so identifying a simple and effective index for IR is vitally important. The present study aimed to compare the lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) using the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp as a reference and to screen a simple and effective indicator for IR in Chinese women of childbearing age. Methods: The present study included a cross-sectional study of 537 reproductive-aged women and an interventional study of 90 randomly chosen polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women. Physical, laboratory, and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp were completed, and the BMI, WC, LAP, VAI, CVAI, and HOMA-IR were calculated. A linear correlation and a receiver operating characteristic curve were performed. After intervention with metformin, the effects were estimated in the third month. Results: PCOS women had worse glycometabolism, serum lipid metabolism and IR, and higher prevalence rates of metabolic disorders than those without PCOS. The CVAI was strongly associated with the M value (r = -0.6953, P < 0.0001) and outperformed other parameters with the largest area under the curve (0.903) and Youden index (71.07%) for IR diagnosis in Chinese reproductive-aged women, and the diagnostic point was >28.5. After 3 months of metformin therapy, IR improved with remarkable increases in M value and reductions in the CVAI. Conclusion: The CVAI can be used as an appropriate surrogate indicator for the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp to identify IR in Chinese women of childbearing age. The interventional trial part of this study has been registered as a clinical trial (no. ChiCTR-IIR-16007901).