Association between loneliness and mental health among nurses: a cross-sectional research in China.

This study explored the association between loneliness and mental health among nurses in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2022. We enrolled 2,811 nurses from a tertiary hospital in China. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, work-related factors, and psychological characteristics were collected from participants via a self-reported questionnaire. Loneliness was measured with the three-item short form of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale were used to measure mental health. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined using binary logistic regression. Among participants in this study, 12.0% (337) experienced loneliness, and 7.8% (219) and 6.7% (189) reported depression and anxiety, respectively. The loneliness scores were categorized into three levels (3, 4-6, and 7-9). For depression, compared with the lowest reference, the ORs and 95% CI across the tertile were 1.31 (0.69-1.84) and 2.53 (1.11-5.76) after adjustment, respectively, and the P-value for trend was 0.045. For anxiety, compared with the lowest reference, the ORs and 95%CI across the tertile were 1.84 (1.28-2.63) and 2.52 (1.57-4.10) after adjustment, respectively; the P-value for trend was 0.004. This study showed that loneliness was significantly associated with poor mental health among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggested that medical establishments should offer interventions for nurses to prevent mental health problems by targeting this modifiable risk factor.

Association between loneliness and mental health among nurses: a cross-sectional research in China

This study explored the association between loneliness and mental health among nurses in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2022. We enrolled 2,811 nurses from a tertiary hospital in China. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, work-related factors, and psychological characteristics were collected from participants via a self-reported questionnaire. Loneliness was measured with the three-item short form of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale were used to measure mental health. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined using binary logistic regression. Among participants in this study, 12.0% (337) experienced loneliness, and 7.8% (219) and 6.7% (189) reported depression and anxiety, respectively. The loneliness scores were categorized into three levels (3, 4-6, and 7-9). For depression, compared with the lowest reference, the ORs and 95% CI across the tertile were 1.31 (0.69-1.84) and 2.53 (1.11-5.76) after adjustment, respectively, and the P-value for trend was 0.045. For anxiety, compared with the lowest reference, the ORs and 95%CI across the tertile were 1.84 (1.28-2.63) and 2.52 (1.57-4.10) after adjustment, respectively; the P-value for trend was 0.004. This study showed that loneliness was significantly associated with poor mental health among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggested that medical establishments should offer interventions for nurses to prevent mental health problems by targeting this modifiable risk factor.

Effect of Mexican tea herb and pilular adina herb on concrescence of gastric mucosa in experimental gastric ulcer rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of mexican tea herb and pilular adina herb (abbreviated to MP) on concrescence of gastric mucosa in experimental gastric ulcer rats by observing the changes of epidermal growth factor (EGF), nitrogen monoxidum (NO) and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). METHODS: The rat ulcer model was established by 100% glacial acetic injection into the subserosa. The ulcer index (UI) was measured by sliding caliper. The levels of NO and EGF in tissue and serum were measured by the nitrate reductase method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The expression of EGFR in the mucosa around the ulcer was detected by the immunohistochemical assay and microimage analysis system. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the model group, UI of MP groups (10, 15 and 20 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and ranitidine group was lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the levels of NO and EGF in the tissue and serum were higher (P<0.05), the thickness of regenerated mucous membrane increased, and the width loss of lamina muscularis mucosa decreased (all P<0.05). (2) The expression of EGFR is weakly positive in gastric mucosa cells in the normal group, mainly in the cytoplasm and cytomembrane. In the model group, the expression of EGFR was mainly in epithelial cells in cervical part and basilar part of gastric gland around the ulcer margin, and the number of cells with EGFR weakly positive expression was more than that in the normal group. Compared with that in the normal and model groups, the number of cells with EGFR positive in MP groups and ranitidine group increased (all P<0.05), with weakly positive expression. CONCLUSION: MP can protect gastric mucosa, cure gastric ulcer, restrain the secretion of gastric acid, and boost multiplication, differentiation, migration and repair of the endothelial cell by promoting the secretion of NO and EGF, and increasing the expression of EGFR of gastric mucosa epithelial cells.