Different imaging techniques' diagnostic efficacy for Crohn's disease activity and external validation and comparison of MDCTAs, SES-CD and IBUSSAS.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract with unknown etiology. It follows a relapse-remission pattern, making disease activity assessment crucial for treatment. Our study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various imaging modalities and to validate and compare the International Bowel Ultrasound Segmental Activity Score (IBUS-SAS), the multidetector computed tomography enterography score (MDCTEs), and the simplified endoscopic activity score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD). METHODS: We assessed diagnostic performance using the CD Activity Index (CDAI). We first categorized patients into remission and active groups. For those in the active stage, we further categorized them into mild/moderate and severe activity groups. We used Spearman rank correlation to evaluate the relationships among IBUS-SAS, bowel wall thickness (BWT), Color Doppler imaging signal (CDS), inflammatory fat (i-fat), bowel wall stratification (BWS), and clinical inflammatory indicators. RESULTS: A total of 103 CD patients were evaluated. The IBUS-SAS cut-off for remission and activity was 23.8, with an AUC of 0.923, sensitivity of 91.4%, and specificity of 84.8%. The SES-CD had an AUC of 0.801, sensitivity of 62.9%, and specificity of 84.4% at a cut-off of 4.5. The MDCTEs showed an AUC of 0.855, sensitivity of 77.1%, and specificity of 75.8% for a cut-off of 6.5. The Delong test revealed significant differences in diagnostic efficacy when comparing IBUS-SAS to SES-CD and IBUS-SAS to MDCTEs. In the group of mild or moderate-to-severe active, the IBUS-SAS had an AUC of 0.925, sensitivity of 83.7%, and specificity of 88.9% at a cut-off of 40. The SES-CD exhibited an AUC of 0.850, sensitivity of 90.7%, and specificity of 70.4% at a cut-off of 8.5. MDCTEs showed an AUC of 0.909, sensitivity of 83.7%, and specificity of 85.2% at a cut-off of 8.5. During Delong test, the IBUS-SAS, MDCTEs, and SES-CD showed no significant differences in assessing moderate-to-severe activity. Both IBUS-SAS and ultrasound parameters correlated with certain serum indicators (p < 0.05), although only weakly to moderately (all r < 0.5). CONCLUSION: The IBUS-SAS, MDCTEs and SES-CD can evaluate disease remission/active and mild/moderate-to-severe active in CD, and IBUS-SAS offers the potential to precisely define CD activity.

Genome editing toward biofortified soybean with minimal trade-off between low phytic acid and yield.

Phytic acid (PA) in grain seeds reduces the bioavailability of nutrient elements in monogastric animals, and an important objective for crop seed biofortification is to decrease the seed PA content. Here, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 to generate a PA mutant population targeting PA biosynthesis and transport genes, including two multi-drug-resistant protein 5 (MRP5) and three inositol pentose-phosphate kinases (IPK1). We characterized a variety of lines containing mutations on multiple IPK and MRP5 genes. The seed PA was more significantly decreased in higher-order mutant lines with multiplex mutations. However, such mutants also exhibited poor agronomic performance. In the population, we identified  two lines carrying single mutations in ipk1b and ipk1c, respectively. These mutants exhibited moderately reduced PA content, and regular agronomic performance compared to the wild type. Our study indicates that moderately decreasing PA by targeting single GmIPK1 genes, rather than multiplex mutagenesis toward ultra-low PA, is an optimal strategy for low-PA soybean with a minimal trade-off in yield performance. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-024-00158-4.

Synthesis and Biological Activities of Scleropentaside D.

We report the first total synthesis of scleropentaside D, a unique C-glycosidic ellagitannin, from the ketal derivative of scleropentaside A employing site-selective O4-protection of C-acyl glycoside and copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of galloyl groups as the key steps. Our study confirms the proposed structure of this natural product, scleropentaside D, and demonstrates its effectiveness as an inhibitor of α-glycosidase.

Willingness to accept metaverse safety training for construction workers based on extended UTAUT.

Safety training (ST) is essential in avoiding unsafe behavior of construction workers. With the rise of metaverse technology, metaverse safety training (MST) has gradually become a new model to guide construction workers in safety production. An in-depth study of construction workers' willingness to accept the metaverse safety training (WAMST) helps improve its effectiveness, but studies need to pay more attention to it. This study constructs a conceptual model of WAMST for construction workers, and the influencing factors of WAMST are explained based on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). It established a Structural equation modeling to verify the relationship between influencing factors. An example verifies the feasibility of the model. The results show that the framework significantly contributes to the willingness of construction workers to participate and improves safety awareness. Specifically, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and convenient conditions significantly affect the construction workers' willingness to accept. Convenient conditions have a direct effect on actual behavior. Willingness to accept plays a mediating role between performance expectancy and actual behavior. Perceived trust moderates the effect between willingness to accept and actual behavior, and the force of positive interpretation increases proportionally. It confirms how to improve the safety capacity of construction workers and provides references for governments, enterprises, and projects to formulate ST strategies.

Relationship between maternal adverse childhood experiences and preschool children s emotional and behavioral problems / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship and gender difference between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) in preschool children, and to provide a reference to promote emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children.@*Methods@#Using the method of stratified cluster sampling, 9 647 children from kindergartens in three cities of Anhui Province were selected in June 2021. Maternal adverse childhood experiences were investigated with the WHO Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire(ACEs-IQ), preschool children s emotional and behavioral problems were investigated with Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.@*Results@#The detection rate of abnormal emotional behavior was 17.4%, emotional symptoms 16.3%, conduct problems 18.3%, hyperactivity 22.7%, peer problems 34.2%, prosocial behaviors 18.5%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that maternal adverse childhood experiences were positively associated with the risk of emotional and behavioral problems ( OR =1.51-2.97, P <0.01). Maternal cumulative adverse childhood experiences were also positively associated with the risk of emotional and behavioral problems( OR =3.13-9.61, P <0.01). The association of maternal emotional abuse, physical abuse and community violence with peer problems were stronger in boys than that of girls ( ROR =1.25, 1.26, 1.41, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The findings suggest maternal adverse childhood experiences were associated with emotional behavior problems among preschool children. Focusing on the maternal adverse childhood experiences is crucial for the prevention and control of childhood emotional and behavioral problems.

Association of maternal adverse childhood experiences and parenting styles with emotional behavior problems in preschool children / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the role of parenting style in the association of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and emotional behavior problems (EBPs) in preschool children, so as to provide a reference for the prevention and control of EBPs in children.@*Methods@#A total of 6 111 children aged 3-6 years old from 36 kindergartens in 3 areas of Anhui Province in June 2021, follow up data were collected in December 2021. Maternal ACEs, mother child relationship and children EBPs were respectively assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire(ACEs-IQ), Parental Rearing Style Scale and the difficulty score factor in the Chinese Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire(SDQ). The Bootstrap was used to examine the mediation effect of maternal parenting styles.@*Results@#Maternal ACEs were positively associated with child SDQ difficulty scores( r = 0.28, P <0.01). Negative parenting (indulgent, permissive, authoritarian and inconsistent) were positively correlated with maternal ACEs scores( r =0.28, 0.30, 0.21, 0.31) and child SDQ difficulty scores( r =0.25, 0.20, 0.20, 0.28)( P <0.01). Positive parenting (democracy) was negatively correlated with maternal ACEs and SDQ difficulty scores( r =-0.09, -0.29, P <0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of the mediation effect test of Bootstraping procedure showed that maternal parenting styles (indulgent, democracy, permissive, authoritarian and inconsistent) played a mediation role in maternal ACEs and EBPs of preschool children, and the mediation effects were respectively 19.13%, 7.34%, 24.88%, 12.05% and 26.83%.@*Conclusion@#Parenting styles play a mediating role in the association of maternal ACEs and EBPs in preschool children, and improving mothers negative parenting styles is of great significance to reduce EBPs in the offspring of maternal ACEs.

Association of maternal adverse childhood experiences and parent child relationship in preschool children / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship of maternal adverse childhood experiences(ACEs) with mother child relationship, so as to provide reference for parent child relationship and child health promotion.@*Methods@#In June 2021, children aged 3-6 years old of 36 kindergartens in three areas in Anhui Province were selected by stratified cluster sampling method, follow up data were collected in December 2021, and a total of 6 111 children were included in the study. Maternal ACEs and mother child relationship were respectively assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire(ACEs-IQ)and the Child Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS). A multiple linear regression model was established to analyze the association of maternal ACEs and mother child relationship in preschool children.@*Results@#History of maternal childhood sexual abuse, physical neglect and peer bullying were negatively associated with mother child intimacy ( r =-0.03, -0.03, -0.03, P <0.05). Maternal emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, peer bullying, community violence, and total family dysfunction were positively associated with mother child dependence and mother child conflict ( r =0.09, 0.08, 0.05, 0.14, 0.06, 0.11, 0.08, 0.04; 0.18, 0.17, 0.07, 0.20, 0.11, 0.16, 0.12, 0.10, P <0.01). There was no statistically significant between all types of maternal ACEs and mother child intimacy in boys( P >0.05). Mothers with a history of physical abuse, sexual abuse and peer bullying had a statistically significant relationship between mother child intimacy in girls( β =-0.17, -0.62, -0.19, P <0.05). All types of maternal ACEs were positive predictors of mother child conflict between boys and girls( β =0.37-1.96, P <0.05). There was statistical significance between maternal childhood sexual abuse and mother child dependence of boys( β =0.53, P <0.05), but no statistical significance between maternal childhood sexual abuse and mother child dependence of girls( P >0.05). All other types of maternal ACEs were positive predictors of mother child dependence( β =0.09-0.41, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#Maternal ACEs are associated with poor mother child relationship among preschool children, and maternal ACEs should be actively followed, which is of great significance for improving the parent child relationship and promoting child healthy development.

Relationship between family rearing style and 3-6 year old children s emotional and behavioral problems / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship and gender difference between family rearing styles with emotional and behavior problems in preschool children aged 3-6 years, so as to provide reference for early prevention and intervention of children s emotional and behavior problems.@*Methods@#Using the method of stratified cluster sampling, 9 647 children aged 3-6 years old from 36 kindergartens in Wuhu, Lu an and Fuyang of Anhui Province were selected in June 2021. Primary caregivers were investigated with self designed questionnaire, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parents version) and Parental Rearing Style Scale.@*Results@#The detection rate of elevated SDQ total difficulty score was 6.5%, with boys (7.1%) higher than that of girls (5.8%). The detection rate of abnormal emotional behavior were significantly higher in children with high scores on doting, laissez faire, autocracy and inconsistency of family rearing style, compared with those in the low score group ( χ 2=210.32, 203.87, 102.70, 212.69, P <0.01 ), and the detection rate increased with the increase of score. However, the detection rate of abnormal emotional behavior in the high score group of democracy was significantly lower than that in the low score group ( χ 2=156.24, P <0.01), and the detection rate decreased with the increase of score. Logistic regression analysis showed that high level doting ( OR =4.31), laissez faire ( OR = 4.16), autocracy ( OR =3.36) and inconsistency ( OR =4.76) of family rearing style were associated with high risk of children s emotional behavior problems, while high level of democracy ( OR =0.34) in family rearing style was associated with low risk of emotional behavior problems. The comparison between boys and girls showed that the risk of emotional and behavioral problems in the indulgent rearing style of boys was significantly higher than that of girls ( OR =1.90, 2.13) ( P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#Family rearing styles are associated with emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children. Boys are sensitive to the negative impact of doting rearing style. Good rearing styles is beneficial to the prevention and control of children s emotional and behavioral problems.