Stress events and stress symptoms in Chinese secondary school students: gender and academic year characteristics of the relationship.

Objective: To explore the relationship between stress events and stress symptoms and their gender and academic year characteristics in Chinese secondary school students. Methods: 4,995 secondary school students were investigated by the Adolescent Self-rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) and the Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory (C-SOSI). Results: First, there were significant differences in all dimensions and total scores of stress events and stress symptoms between boys and girls in secondary school and between junior high school students and senior high school students. Second, the dimensions and total scores of stress events in secondary school students are positively correlated with the dimensions and total scores of stress symptoms. Third, the influence of punishment on the stress symptoms of secondary school boys is the most obvious, and the influence of punishment, adaption, relationship stress, and learning stress on the stress symptoms of secondary school girls is the most obvious. The influence of punishment on the stress symptoms of junior high school students is the most obvious, and the influence of punishment and relationship on the stress symptoms of senior high school students is the most obvious. Conclusion: Stress events and stress symptoms of Chinese secondary school students have significant differences in gender and academic year. The same stress event has different influence mechanisms on the stress symptoms of Chinese secondary school students of different genders and different academic years.

Could parental awareness of DBR influence youth off-campus sports? Test of a conditional process model.

BACKGROUND: The "Double Reduction" policy published in China provides a new opportunity to increase youth sports. Based on the perspective of parents' influence on their children, this study aimed to explore the impact of parental awareness of the "Double Reduction" policy on youth off-campus sports. METHODS: This study was conducted empirically through a nationwide sample survey to analyze the relationship between parental awareness of the "Double Reduction" policy, parental education anxiety, and parental attitudes toward children's participation in sports and youth off-campus sports to construct and verify a conditional process model. RESULTS: Parental awareness of the "Double Reduction" policy had a significant positive impact on their children's off-campus sports (ß = 0.103, SE = 0.018, P < 0.01), but had a significant negative impact on parental education anxiety (ß = -0.305, SE = 0.032, P < 0.01) which showed a significant negative effect on their children's off-campus sports (ß = -0.114, SE = 0.011, P < 0.01) and played a significant intermediary role between parental awareness of the "Double Reduction" policy and children's off-campus sports (ß = 0.031, 95%CI: 0.020 ~ 0.044). All dimensions of parental education anxiety showed different characteristics with only academic achievement anxiety (ß = 0.034, 95%CI: 0.021 ~ 0.047), parent-child interaction anxiety (ß = 0.027, 95%CI: 0.014 ~ 0.038), and learning attitude anxiety (ß = 0.024, 95%CI: 0.015 ~ 0.033) presenting significant mediating effects. The interaction between parental education anxiety and parental attitudes toward children's sports significantly positively impacted youth off-campus sports (ß = 0.008, SE = 0.001, P < 0.01). The moderating role of parental attitudes toward their children's participation in off-campus sports, indicating it was significant (95%CI: 0.005 ~ 0.011) along the pathway of parental awareness of the "Double Reduction" policy to parental education anxiety to youth off-campus sports. CONCLUSIONS: Parental awareness of the "Double Reduction" policy has a positive impact on youth off-campus sports. Parents' anxiety about their children's academic achievement, parent-child interaction anxiety, and learning attitude anxiety mediate in the process model. Parental attitudes toward sports can magnify the relationship between their education anxiety and youth off-campus sports.

Successful percutaneous cannulation of foramen ovale obstructed by completely ossified pterygoalar ligament using the Hartel approach: Two case reports.

RATIONALE: Ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, which lies inferolateral to the exocranial opening of the foramen ovale, is traditionally considered to be a bony bar that could obstruct percutaneous needle access to the foramen ovale using the Hartel approach. We herein present two case reports of successfully penetrating the foramen ovale by a needle across the pterygoalar bar. Lack of knowledge of this type of presentation might lead to a change in the surgical approach. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 27-year-old woman had an 11-year history of facial pain because of a space-occupying lesion in the left cerebellopontine angle. Neither open surgery nor drug therapy resolved her facial pain. Another 67-year-old woman developed episodic facial pain because of herpes zoster infection 20 days earlier, and she could not achieve pain relief from drug therapy. DIAGNOSES: Both patients were diagnosed with secondary trigeminal neuralgia. INTERVENTIONS: The patients underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the semilunar ganglion via the foramen ovale. OUTCOMES: The three-dimensional computed tomography scan showed that the ipsilateral foramen ovale was obstructed by the pterygoalar bar. However, percutaneous needle cannulation of the foramen ovale was successful using the anterior approach. The facial pain was immediately and completely resolved without complications except for facial numbness. LESSONS: During percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, the Hartel approach can still be used when the foramen ovale is blocked by a pterygoalar bar. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a treatment. Moreover, we herein provide specific technical recommendations to assist surgeons who may encounter such cases in the future.

Buddhist culture as a safeguard for the subjective happiness of Chinese residents: mitigating anxiety regarding housing prices, unemployment, and inequality.

Introduction: This study examines whether Buddhist culture in China can safeguard the subjective happiness of residents by mitigating the detrimental impact of adversity. Considering Chinese traditional culture and referencing Baidu Search Index data, we focus on three sources of anxiety that are currently troubling Chinese residents: housing prices, unemployment, and inequality. Methods: We conduct logit regressiontoinvestigate the mitigating impact of Buddhist culture on anxiety. The frequency of droughts and floods that occurred during the Ming and Qing dynasties are employed as instrumental variables for the local density of Buddhist culture to avoid endogeneity problems. Results: Empirical analysis based on microdata shows that Chinese Buddhist culture demonstrates the ability to alleviate the negative effects of housing price pressures, unemployment anxiety, and perceived inequality on subjective well-being. Mechanism analyses reveal that Chinese Buddhist culture plays a role in ameliorating the adverse impacts of housing and unemployment pressures on factors such as job satisfaction, physical health status, social trust, and expectations of future social standing. Moreover, it works to reduce inclinations toward social comparisons, thereby acting as a safeguard for happiness. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this insurance effect is more pronounced among vulnerable groups, including those in rural areas, middle-aged and elderly demographics, individuals with fewer social connections, lower social security coverage, and suboptimal health conditions. Discussion: This study expands the landscape of happiness economics research and provides novel evidence about the correlation between religion and happiness. Psychotherapists may draw on certain aspects of religious philosophy in addressing mental disorders. From a governmental perspective, there is potential to effectively steer religious culture towards fostering social harmony and promoting economic development.

Effects of continuous use of metformin on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes after acute myocardial infarction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, no meta-analyses or reviews have investigated the efficacy and safety of metformin on cardiovascular outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We thus conduct a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of metformin on cardiovascular outcomes after AMI in patients with T2DM. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we will search PUBMED, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases through April, 2021. The study is structured to adhere to PRISMA guidelines (i.e., Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses). The literature search, data extraction, and quality assessments are conducted independently by 2 authors. Outcome measures include all-cause mortality; complications such as acute kidney injury, lactic acidosis, hospitalization for AMI or stroke, or death. Where disagreement in the collection of data occurs, this is resolved through discussion. Review Manager Software (v 5.3; Cochrane Collaboration) is used for the meta-analysis. Two independent reviewers will assess the risk of bias of the included studies at study level. RESULTS: It is hypothesized that metformin use at the post-AMI is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and death in patients with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: This study expects to provide credible and scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of metformin on cardiovascular outcomes after AMI in patients with T2DM. REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/S3MBP.

The antineoplastic drug metformin downregulates YAP by interfering with IRF-1 binding to the YAP promoter in NSCLC.

BACKGROUND: Activation of the oncogene YAP has been shown to be related to lung cancer progression and associates with poor prognosis and metastasis. Metformin is a drug commonly used in the treatment of diabetes and with anticancer activity. However, the mechanism through which metformin inhibits tumorigenesis via YAP is poorly understood. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot. The cellular proliferation was detected by CCK8 and MTT. The cell migration and invasion growth were analyzed by wound healing assay and transwell assay. The activities of promoter were analyzed by luciferase reporter assay. Chromatin immunoprecipitation detected the combining ability of IRF-1 and 5'UTR-YAP. FINDINGS: Our immunohistochemistry staining and RT-PCR assays showed that the expression of YAP was higher in lung carcinoma samples. Interestingly, metformin was able to downregulate YAP mRNA and protein expression in lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, we found that metformin depressed YAP promoter by competing with the binding of the transcription factor IRF-1 in lung cancer cells. Moreover, combination of metformin and verteporfin synergistically inhibits cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis and suppresses cell migration/invasion by downregulating YAP, therefore reduces the side effects caused by their single use and improve the quality of life for patients with lung cancer. INTERPRETATION: we concluded that metformin depresses YAP promoter by interfering with the binding of the transcription factor IRF-1. Importantly, verteporfin sensitizes metformin-induced the depression of YAP and inhibition of cell growth and invasion in lung cancer cells. FUND: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31801085), the Science and Technology Development Foundation of Yantai (2015ZH082), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2018QH004, ZR2016HB55, ZR2017PH067 and ZR2017MH125), and Research Foundation of Binzhou Medical University (BY2015KYQD29 and BY2015KJ14).

DNMT3a methylation in neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUND: Mu opioid receptor (MOR) plays a crucial role in mediating analgesic effects of opioids and is closely associated with the pathologies of neuropathic pain. Previous studies have reported that peripheral nerve injury downregulates MOR expression, but the epigenetic mechanisms remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, we investigated DNA methyltransferase3a (DNMT3a) expression or methylation changes within MOR promoter in the spinal cord in a neuropathic pain induced by a chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model and further determined whether these injury-associated changes are reversible by pharmacological interventions. METHODS: A CCI mouse model was established and tissue specimens of lumbar spinal cords were collected. The nociception threshold was evaluated by a Model Heated 400 Base. DNMT3a and MOR mRNA and protein level were detected by real-time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Methylation of DNMT3a gene was measured by methylation-specific PCR. RESULTS: Our data showed that chronic nerve injury led to a significant upregulation of DNMT3a expression that was associated with increased methylation of MOR gene promoter and decreased MOR protein expression in the spinal cord. Inhibition of DNMT3a catalytic activity with DNMT inhibitor RG108 significantly blocked the increase in methylation of the MOR promoter, and then upregulated MOR expression and attenuated thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain mice. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that an increase of DNMT3a expression and MOR methylation epigenetically play an important role in neuropathic pain. Targeting DNMT3a to the promoter of MOR gene by DNMT inhibitor may be a promising approach to the development of new neuropathic pain therapy.

Sulfate reducing bacterial community and in situ activity in mature fine tailings analyzed by real time qPCR and microsensor.

Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) play significant roles in anaerobic environments in oil sands mature fine tailings (MFTs). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is produced during the biological sulfate reduction process. The production of toxic H2S is one of the concerns because it may hinder the landscape remediation efficiency of oil sands tailing ponds. In present study, the in situ activity and the community structure of SRB in MFT and gypsum amended MFT in two settling columns were investigated. Combined techniques of H2S microsensor and dissimilatory sulfite reductase ß-subunit (dsrB) genes-based real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were applied to detect the in situ H2S and the abundance of SRB. A higher diversity of SRB and more H2S were observed in gypsum amended MFT than that in MFT, indicating a higher sulfate reduction activity in gypsum amended MFT; in addition, the activity of SRB varied as depth in both MFT and gypsum amended MFT: the deeper the more H2S produced. Long-term plans for tailings management can be assessed more wisely with the information provided in this study.

Impact of oxygen on the coexistence of nitrification, denitrification, and sulfate reduction in oxygen-based membrane aerated biofilm.

Membrane aerated biofilms (MABs) are subject to "counter diffusion" of oxygen and substrates. In a membrane aerated biofilm reactor, gases (e.g., oxygen) diffuse through the membrane into the MAB, and liquid substrates pass from the bulk liquid into the MAB. This behavior can result in a unique biofilm structure in terms of microbial composition, distribution, and community activity in the MAB. Previous studies have shown simultaneous aerobic oxidation, nitrification, and denitrification within a single MAB. Using molecular techniques, we investigated the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the oxygen-based MAB attached to a flat sheet membrane. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments and functional gene fragments specific for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (amoA), denitrifying bacteria (nirK), and SRB (dsrB) demonstrated the coexistence of nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and SRB communities within a single MAB. The functional diversities of SRB and denitrifiers decreased with an increase in the oxygen concentration in the bulk water of the reactor.

Bacterial community structure and activity of sulfate reducing bacteria in a membrane aerated biofilm analyzed by microsensor and molecular techniques.

The activities and vertical spatial distribution of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in an oxygen (O2 )-based membrane aerated biofilm (MAB) were investigated using microsensor (O2 and H2 S) measurements and molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [PCR-DGGE] and fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH]). The O2 concentration profile revealed that O2 penetrated from the bottom (substratum) of the gas permeable membrane, and was gradually consumed within the biofilm until it was completely depleted near the biofilm/bulk liquid interface, indicating oxic and anoxic zone in the MAB. The H2 S concentration profile showed that H2 S production was found in the upper 285 µm of the biofilm, indicating a high activity of SRB in this region. The results from DGGE of the PCR-amplified dissimilatory sulfite reductase subunit B (dsrB) gene and FISH showed an uneven spatial distribution of SRB. The maximum SRB biomass was located in the upper biofilm. The information from the molecular analysis can be supplemented with that from microsensor measurements to better understand the microbial community and activity of SRB in the MAB.

Microsensor determination of multiple microbial processes in an oxygen-based membrane aerated biofilm.

Microsensor techniques were used to investigate in situ the simultaneous occurrence of sulfate reduction and nitrogen removal in a membrane aerated biofilm reactor. H2S, O2, pH, ORP, NH4(+) and NO3(-) microsensors were fabricated and used to measure the profiles inside the membrane aerated biofilm. Production and consumption rates of H2S, O2, NH4(+) and NO3(-) were estimated using corresponding concentration profiles. The results showed that in anoxic zone, located from the interface between biofilm and bulk liquid to about 550 µm below the interface, both sulfate reduction and denitrification occurred. Highest H2S production rates (around 0.27 mg L(-1)s(-1)) were found about 400 to 450 µm below the interface. Below the anoxic zone, an aerobic zone was present. High H2S oxidation activity occurred at around 550-700 µm below the interface. High oxygen consumption rates (0.34 mg L(-1)s(-1)) occurred at around 750-900 µm below the interface. Nitrification activity occurred at about 500-650 µm below the interface. Along the entire biofilm depth, pH changed slightly (within 0.2 unit). Near the interface of the aerobic and anoxic zone, there was a drastic redox potential change. These results demonstrated simultaneous sulfate reduction and nitrogen removal in a piece of membrane aerated biofilm.

Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activities of boron- and cerium-codoped TiO2.

Boron- and cerium-codoped TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized using modified sol-gel reaction process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), particle size distribution (PSD), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by monitoring the degradation of dye Acid Red B (ARB). The results showed that the prepared photocatalysts were mixed oxides mainly consisting of titania, ceria, and boron oxide. The structure of TiO2 could be transformed from amorphous to anatase and then to rutile by increasing calcination temperature; the transformation being accompanied by the growth of particle size without any obvious change in phase structure of CeO2. The XPS of B(1.6)Ce(1.0)-TiO2 prepared at 500 degrees C showed that a few boron atoms were incorporated into titania and ceria lattice, whereas others existed as B2O3. Cerium ions existed in two states, Ce3+ and Ce4+, and the atomic ratio of Ce3+/Ce4+ was 1.86. When boron and cerium were doped, the UV-Vis adsorption band wavelength showed an obvious shift toward the visible range (< or =526 nm). As the atomic ratio of Ce/Ti increased to 1.0, the absorbance edge wavelength increased to 481 nm. The absorbance edge wavelength decreased for higher cerium doping levels (Ce/Ti = 2.0). The particles size ranged from 122 to 255 nm with a domain at 168 nm (39.4%). The degradation of ARB dye indicated that the photocatalytic activities of boron- and cerium-codoped TiO2 were much higher than those of P25 (a standard TiO2 powder). The activities increased as the boron doping increased, whereas decreased when the Ce/Ti atomic ratio was greater than 0.5. The optimum atomic ratio of B/Ti and Ce/Ti was 1.6 and 0.5, respectively.