Prevalence of depression, anxiety in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Mental health risks associated with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic are often overlooked by the public. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression and anxiety disorders in China. Methods: Studies were analyzed and extracted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 flowchart. The studies were screened and extracted using electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov according to the predefined eligibility criteria. The Cochrane Review Manager software 5.3.1 was used for data analysis and the risk of bias assessment. Results: As of 2023, a total of 9,212,751 Chinese have been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. A total of 913,036 participants in 44 studies were selected following the eligibility criteria, the statistical information of which was collected for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety were 0.31 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.35; I2 = 100.0%, p < 0.001) and 0.29 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.36; I2 = 100.0%, p < 0.001), respectively. After performing a subgroup analysis, the prevalence of depression among women, healthcare workers, students, and adolescents was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.22, 0.41), 0.33 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.44), 0.32 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.39), and 0.37 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.44), respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among the Chinese was overall high. Monitoring and surveillance of the mental health status of the population during crises such as sudden global pandemics are imperative. Systematic review registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier [CRD42023402190].

Vascular Smooth Muscle FTO Promotes Aortic Dissecting Aneurysms via m6A Modification of Klf5.

Background: Aortic dissecting aneurysm (ADA) represents an aortic remodeling disease with a high mortality rate. Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) exerts RNA demethylation function to regulate gene expression related to stem cell differentiation, DNA damage repair, and tumorigenesis, but the role of FTO in ADA is still unclear. Methods: The expression and location of FTO in 43 ADA tissues and 11 normal tissues were determined by RT-qPCR, WB, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. Detecting proliferation and migration of VSMCs. M6A methylated RNA immuno-precipitation qRT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter assay were performed for determining m6A level and interaction between m6A modulation and Klf5 mRNA, respectively. Results: FTO are highly expressed in VSMCs. FTO was positively correlated with BMI, triglyceride, and D-dimer (all P < 0.05). Functionally, both AngII-induced FTO expression and over expression of FTO promote cell proliferation and migration, whereas knockdown of FTO inhibits these functions. Mechanically, we identified Krüppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) as a target of FTO mediating m6A modification. Overexpression of FTO reduced m6A modification on Klf5 mRNA and promoted Klf5 mRNA expression. Furthermore, the p-GSK3ß and Klf5 levels increased after FTO overexpression. Finally, knockdown of FTO suppresses the p-GSK3ß levels and Klf5 expression regardless of AngII treatment. Conclusions: Our study revealed that FTO expression significantly contributes to the phenotype conversion of VSMCs and the ADA by the demethylation function (m6A), thereby providing a novel therapeutic target.

[Modeling of Abdominal Wall-Cecum Injury Adhesion and the Anti-adhesion Mechanism of mXG].

OBJECTIVE: To construct the adhesion model of abdominal wall-cecum injury and explore the prevention and treatment effect of modified xyloglucan (mXG) thermosensitive hydrogel on abdominal wall-cecal injury adhesion. METHODS: SD rats were used to construct the abdominal wall-cecal injury adhesion model. Model mice were randomly divided into blank control group (Control), commercial chitosan membrane Control group (Film) and mXG thermosensitive hydrogel group (Hydrogel), each group contained 16 rats.In the Hydrogel group, 1 mL 4% (m/V) mXG solution was smeared on the wound surface of abdominal wall and the cecum, then closed the abdomen after gel was formed (3 min).In the Film group, 2 cm×3 cm chitosan anti-adhesion Film was applied onto the wound surface of the abdominal wall before abdominal closure.In the Control group, 1 mL normal saline was applied onto the wound surface of abdominal wall and the cecum before abdominal closure.On 7 and 14 d after the operation, rats'abdominal cavity was opened by surgery to examine and score the adhesion grade between the abdominal wall and the cecum, with double-blind design.Meanwhile, the adhesion tissue or wound tissue was taken and stained by HE, Masson and Van Gieson to histological evaluate the anti-adhesion effect.The expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was determined by immunohistochemical staining as well. Another group of 12 SD rat models were subjected to mXG thermosensitive hydrogel intervention.At the 1 and 6 weeks postoperation, rats main organs such as heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney were taken for histological examination with HE staining for the purpose of evaluation the toxicity of mXG in vivo. RESULTS: Adhesion grade evaluation results showed that Film group rats occurred mild adhesion, Control group rats occurred severe adhesion, while in Hydrogel group hardly rats occured adhesion, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). Histological results showed that the Hydrogel group rats recovered well at 7 d after surgery.In healing wound tissue, no mutated tissue was observed, but a certain degree of inflammatory cell infiltration was still existed. At 14 d after surgery, the inflammation cells in the wound were significantly reduced, and the healing tissue containing only a small amount of collagen fibers under the neonatal mesothelial layer.But the other two groups showed different degrees of adhesion at the 7 and 14 d post surgery.Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of TGF-ß1 and CTGF in the Hydrogel group were both weaker than those in the other groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In vivo toxicity tests did not show significant changes in the structure of the organs of mXG gel intervention rats at different time points. CONCLUSION: mXG thermosensitive hydrogel plays a good role in physical isolation during the key period of adhesion formation and effectively prevent the occurrence of cecum-abdominal adhesion.

KLF5 promotes cervical cancer proliferation, migration and invasion in a manner partly dependent on TNFRSF11a expression.

Although the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) plays important roles in both inflammation and cancer, the mechanism by which this factor promotes cervical carcinogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated a potential role for tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11a (TNFRSF11a), the corresponding gene of which is a direct binding target of KLF5, in tumour cell proliferation and invasiveness. Coexpression of KLF5 and TNFRSF11a correlated significantly with tumorigenesis in cervical tissues (P < 0.05) and manipulation of KLF5 expression positively affected TNFRSF11a mRNA and protein expression. Functionally, KLF5 promoted cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness in a manner dependent partly on TNFRSF11a expression. Moreover, in vivo functional TNFRSF11a-knockdown mouse studies revealed suppression of tumorigenicity and liver metastatic potential. Notably, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced KLF5 expression by activating the p38 signalling pathway and high KLF5 and TNFRSF11a expression increased the risk of death in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Our results demonstrate that KLF5 and TNFRSF11a promote cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness.

DDQ-Mediated Three-Component Dioxygenation of Alkenes.

A new DDQ-mediated three-component dioxygenation of alkenes has been established, providing a direct and metal-free access toward densely functionalized 4,5-dichloro-3-hydroxyphthalonitrile derivatives with generally good to excellent yields under mild conditions. During this process, DDQ plays dual roles as both a dehydrogenation reagent and a coupling partner, enabling oxidative coupling to form two C-O functionalities in a highly atom-economy fashion.

[Expression of peroxiredoxin I in the rats exposed to silica].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in protein expression of peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) during pulmonary fibrosis among rats exposed to silica dust and to investigate the role of Prx I in pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 60) and experimental group (n = 30). The control group received intratracheal perfusion of saline (1 ml), while the experimental group received intratracheal perfusion of suspension of silica dust (50 mg/ml) to establish a rat model of silicosis. At 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 weeks after treatment, 10 rats in control group and 5 rats in experimental group were sacrificed. The lung tissues were collected for conventional pathological observation. The protein expression of Prx I at each time point was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Among the rats exposed to silica dust, Prx I was seen in the form of brown particles that were mainly distributed in the alveolar septa and the cytoplasm of alveolar epithelial cells, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells around the blood vessels and tracheae. The control group showed weak protein expression of Prx I, and the experimental group had significantly higher protein expression of Prx I than the control group at all time points (P < 0.05). In the experimental group, the protein expression of Prx I was upregulated significantly at 1 and 2 weeks and decreased at 3∼8 weeks. CONCLUSION: The change in protein expression of Prx I may be one of the important causes of the onset and development of pulmonary fibrosis in rats exposed to free silica.

[Facial Demodex infection among college students in Tangshan].

A survey indicated that the prevalence of Demodex infection among 512 college students in Tangshan was 36.3% (186/512), that of males and females was 39.3% (81/206) and 34.3% (105/306) respectively (P>0.05). The infection of Demodex folliculorum accounted for 82.3% (153/186), followed by D. brevis (7.5%, 14/186) and mixed infection (10.2%, 19/186). The prevalence was 47.0% (93/198) in subjects with oily skin, 26.6% (37/139) in those with dry skin, and 33.9% (56/165) in mixed-type skin (P<0.05). Subjects with facial diseases (62.0%, 75/121), such as rosacea and acne, were more likely to be infected with Demodex than those with healthy skin (27.6%, 80/290) (P<0.05). Prevalence in those lived in humid environment (67.9%, 95/140) was higher than those lived in the desiccating environment (24.5%, 91/372) (P<0.05).