Responsive and traceless assembly of iron nanoparticles and 131I labeled radiopharmaceuticals for ferroptosis enhanced radio-immunotherapy.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death with the potential to reverse traditional cancer therapy resistance. The combination of ferroptosis with chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy and X-ray therapy has demonstrated remarkably improved therapeutic efficiency. Radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) is an emerging approach that achieves precise radiation to diseased tissues via radionuclide delivery. However, insufficient accumulation and retention of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals in tumor region as well as cancer radioresistance impact treatment efficacy. Here, a nanoassembly of renal clearable ultrasmall iron nanoparticles (USINPs) and 131I-aPD-L1 is prepared via the affinity of fluorophenylboronic acid modified on the USINPs with 131I-aPD-L1. The 150 nm USINAs(131I-aPD-L1) nanoassembly is stable in blood circulation, effectively targets to the tumor and disassembles in the presence of ATP in the tumor microenvironment. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments prove that USINPs-induced ferroptosis boosted the tumor radiosensitization to 131I while 131I-mediated RPT further enhanced ferroptosis. Meanwhile, the immunogenic cell death caused by RPT and ferroptosis combined with PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy exhibits a strong antitumor immunity. This study provides a novel way to improve the tumor accumulation of ferroptosis inducer and radiopharmaceuticals, insights into the interaction between RPT and ferroptosis and an effective SPECT-guided ferroptosis-enhanced radio-immunotherapy.

Biochemical Characterization of Hyaluronate Lyase CpHly8 from an Intestinal Microorganism Clostridium perfringens G1121.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important component of extracellular matrices (ECM) and a linear polysaccharide involved in various physiological and pathological processes within the biological system. Several pathogens exploit HA degradation within the extracellular matrix to facilitate infection. While many intestinal microorganisms play significant roles in HA utilization in the human body, there remains a scarcity of related studies. This paper addressed this gap by screening intestinal microorganisms capable of degrading HA, resulting in the isolation of Clostridium perfringens G1121, which had been demonstrated the ability to degrade HA. Subsequent genome sequencing and analysis of C. perfringens G1121 revealed its utilization of the polysaccharide utilization loci of HA (PULHA), which was obtained by horizontal gene transfer. The PULHA contains a sequence encoding a hyaluronic acid-specific degradation enzyme designated CpHly8, belonging to polysaccharide lyase family 8. The specific activity of CpHly8 towards HA was 142.98 U/mg, with the optimum reaction temperature and pH observed at 50℃ and 6.0, respectively. The final product of HA degradation by CpHly8 was unsaturated hyaluronic acid disaccharide. Moreover, subcutaneous diffusion experiments with trypan blue in mice revealed that CpHly8 effectively promoted subcutaneous diffusion and sustained its effects long-term, suggesting its potential application as an adjunct in drug delivery. Overall, our study enriches our understanding of intestinal microbial degradation of HA, provides new evidence for horizontal gene transfer among intestinal microorganisms, and confirms that CpHly8 is a promising candidate for intestinal microbial hyaluronidase.

Characterisation of APOBEC3B-Mediated RNA editing in breast cancer cells reveals regulatory roles of NEAT1 and MALAT1 lncRNAs.

RNA editing is a crucial post-transcriptional process that influences gene expression and increases the diversity of the proteome as a result of amino acid substitution. Recently, the APOBEC3 family has emerged as a significant player in this mechanism, with APOBEC3A (A3A) having prominent roles in base editing during immune and stress responses. APOBEC3B (A3B), another family member, has gained attention for its potential role in generating genomic DNA mutations in breast cancer. In this study, we coupled an inducible expression cell model with a novel methodology for identifying differential variants in RNA (DVRs) to map A3B-mediated RNA editing sites in a breast cancer cell model. Our findings indicate that A3B engages in selective RNA editing including targeting NEAT1 and MALAT1 long non-coding RNAs that are often highly expressed in tumour cells. Notably, the binding of these RNAs sequesters A3B and suppresses global A3B activity against RNA and DNA. Release of A3B from NEAT1/MALAT1 resulted in increased A3B activity at the expense of A3A activity suggesting a regulatory feedback loop between the two family members. This research substantially advances our understanding of A3B's role in RNA editing, its mechanistic underpinnings, and its potential relevance in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Pathogenesis of HIV associated nephropathy in children and adolescents: taking a hard look 40 years later in the era of gene-environmental interaction.

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a kidney disease that affects mainly people of African ancestry with a high HIV-1 viral load. New antiretroviral therapies (ART) have been highly efficient preventing and improving the outcome of HIVAN. However, providing chronic ART to children and adolescents living with HIV (CALWH) remains a significant challenge all over the world. More that 2.5 million CALWH, including those living in Sub-Saharan Africa, continue to be at high risk of developing HIVAN. Much of our understanding of the pathogenesis of HIVAN is based on studies conducted in transgenic mice and adults with HIVAN. However, CALWH may experience different health outcomes, risk factors, and susceptibilities to HIVAN in comparison to adults. This article reviews the progress made over the last 40 years in understanding the pathogenesis of HIVAN in CALWH, focusing on how the HIV virus, alongside genetic and environmental factors, contributes to the development of this disease. The landmark discovery that two risks alleles of the Apolipoprotein-1 (APOL1) gene play a critical role in HIVAN has significantly advanced our understanding of the disease's pathogenesis. However, we still need to understand why renal inflammation persists despite ART and determine whether the kidney may harbor HIV reservoirs that need to be eliminated to cure HIV permanently. For these reasons, we emphasize reviewing how HIV-1 infects renal cells, affects their growth and regeneration, and discussing how inflammatory cytokines and APOL1 affect the outcome of childhood HIVAN.

Efficiency evaluation of dual-energy CT to predict the postoperative early recurrence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of quantitative parameters from dual-energy CT (DECT) and basic CT features in predicting the postoperative early recurrence (ER) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: In this study, patients with PDAC who underwent radical resection and DECT from 2018 to 2022 were enrolled and categorised into ER and non-ER groups. The clinical data, basic CT features and DECT parameters of all patients were analyzed. Independent predictors of ER were identified with Logistic regression analyses. Three models (model A: basic CT features; model B: DECT parameters; model C: basic CT features + DECT parameters) were established. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was utilized to evaluate predictive performance. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were enrolled (ER group: n = 63; non-ER group: n = 87). Rim enhancement (odds ratio [OR], 3.32), peripancreatic strands appearance (OR, 2.68), electron density in the pancreatic parenchymal phase (P-Rho; OR, 0.90), arterial enhancement fraction (AEF; OR, 0.05) and pancreatic parenchyma fat fraction in the delayed phase (OR, 1.25) were identified as independent predictors of ER. Model C showed the highest area under the curve of 0.898. In addition, the corresponding ER risk factors were identified separately for resectable and borderline resectable PDAC subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: DECT quantitative parameters allow for the noninvasive prediction of postoperative ER in patients with PDAC, and the combination of DECT parameters and basic CT features shows a high prediction efficiency. Our model can help to identify patients with high-risk factors to guide preoperative decision making.

Fibrillar adhesives with unprecedented adhesion strength, switchability and scalability.

Bio-inspired fibrillar adhesives have received worldwide attention but their potentials have been limited by a trade-off between adhesion strength and adhesion switchability, and a size scale effect that restricts the fibrils to micro/nanoscales. Here, we report a class of adhesive fibrils that achieve unprecedented adhesion strength (∼2 MPa), switchability (∼2000), and scalability (up to millimeter-scale at the single fibril level), by leveraging the rubber-to-glass (R2G) transition in shape memory polymers (SMPs). Moreover, R2G SMP fibrillar adhesive arrays exhibit a switchability of >1000 (with the aid of controlled buckling) and an adhesion efficiency of 57.8%, with apparent contact area scalable to 1000 mm2, outperforming existing fibrillar adhesives. We further demonstrate that the SMP fibrillar adhesives can be used as soft grippers and reusable superglue devices that are capable of holding and releasing heavy objects >2000 times of their own weight. These findings represent significant advances in smart fibrillar adhesives for numerous applications, especially those involving high-payload scenarios.

Changes of polyphenols and their antioxidant activities in non-pigmented, red and black rice during in vitro digestion.

Polyphenols, a major bioactive constituent in rice grain, require processing and digestion before being absorbed by human body. Free and bound phenolics, flavonoids and their antioxidant activities in non-pigmented, red and black rice after cooking and INFOGEST digestions of oral, gastric and intestinal phases were investigated. It showed that cooking caused great losses of polyphenols and antioxidant activity. Free ferulic, isoferulic and p-coumaric acid in most rice were highest at intestinal phase (p < 0.05). Bound ferulic acid in three colored rice, bound p-coumaric acid in black rice and catechin in red rice were higher at oral and/or gastric phase. After cooking, total flavonoids of non-pigmented and pigmented rice were highest at intestinal and gastric phase, respectively. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin peaked at intestinal phase in black rice. It suggested that black rice has a greater potential to be used in meal balance and functional product development.

Higher Platelet Count Mostly in Normal Range is Associated with First Episode of Peritonitis Risk in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Platelets play parts in infection and immune processes. However, the association between platelet count and the risk of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis is unclear. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, single-center cohort study. A Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent association of platelet count with the occurrence of first PD-associated peritonitis. Models were adjusted for gender, age, BMI, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, white blood cell count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, hemoglobin level, albumin level, potassium level, and anti-platelet medication usage. RESULTS: A total of 2374 patients were enrolled in this study (59% men; mean age 47.40 ± 12.12). The average platelet count was 229.30±82.12 x 109/L. 467 (20%) patients suffered from PD-associated peritonitis at least once. In the multivariable model, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for quartiles 2, 3 and 4 versus quartile 1 were 1.428 (95% CI 1.060-1.924, P=0.019), 1.663 (95% CI 1.240-2.229, P<0.001) and 1.843 (95% CI 1.363-2.492, P<0.001) with baseline data. A nonlinear relationship between platelet count and first PD-associated peritonitis was observed. Further, the association between platelet and first PD-associated peritonitis was significant in the patients with hypokalemia (P for interaction=0.040). CONCLUSION: In PD patients, elevated platelet counts were significantly associated with an increased risk of the first onset of PD-associated peritonitis.

Association between fibrosis-4 index and cognitive impairment in elderly patients with hypertension: A cross-sectional study.

The fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) is a noninvasive fibrosis test that is recommended for patients who are at risk of developing hepatic fibrosis. The aim of the study was to explore the correlation between FIB-4 index and the decline of cognitive function among older patients with hypertension. The study used a cross-sectional design to analyze data obtained from the NHANES 2011-2014. The significance of the FIB-4 index correlation with cognitive function in individuals over the age of 60 was evaluated via multivariate regression models. The nonlinear link was described and fitted smoothed curves. There were a total of 2039 participants in the study, and those with a higher FIB-4 index were more susceptible to developing cognitive decline. In the completely adjusted model, the association remained statistically significant between the FIB-4 index and poor cognitive function as measured by CERAD: Total Score (OR = 0.72, 0.57-0.91), Animal Fluency Score (OR = 0.66, 0.48-0.91), and Digit Symbol Score (OR = 0.36, 0.17-0.77). A nonlinear association was found between the FIB-4 and poor cognitive ability: Total Score, CERAD: Score Delayed Recall, Digit Symbol Score, and Animal Fluency Score. In elderly patients with hypertension, a high FIB-4 index is correlated with an increased prevalence of cognitive decline. Hence, the FIB-4 index could potentially serve as a valuable tool for determining individuals with hypertension who are susceptible to both liver-related complications and cognitive impairment.

Breast cancer colonization by Malassezia globosa accelerates tumor growth.

Malassezia globosa is a lipophilic basidiomycetous yeast that occurs abundantly in breast tumors and that may contribute to a shortened overall survival of breast cancer (BRAC) patients, suggesting that the yeast may participate in the carcinogenesis of BRAC. However, the mechanisms involved in the M. globosa-based acceleration of BRAC are unknown. Here, we show that M. globosa can colonize mammary tissue in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene-induced mice. The abundance of M. globosa shortened the overall survival and increased the tumor incidence. Transcriptome data illustrated that IL-17A plays a key role in tumor growth due to M. globosa colonization, and tumor-associated macrophage infiltration was elevated during M. globosa colonization which triggers M2 polarization of macrophages via toll-like receptors 4/nuclear factor kappa-B (Nf-κB) signaling. Our results show that the expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1) is increased in breast tumors after inoculation with M. globosa. Moreover, we discovered that Sphk1-specific small interfering RNA blocked the formation of lipid droplets, which can effectively alleviate the expression of the signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT3)/Nf-κB pathway. Taken together, our results demonstrate that M. globosa could be a possible factor for the progression of BRAC. The mechanisms by which M. globosa promotes BRAC development involve the IL-17A/macrophage axis. Meanwhile, Sphk1 overexpression was induced by M. globosa infection, which also promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells.IMPORTANCELiterature has suggested that Malassezia globosa is associated with breast tumors; however, this association has not been confirmed. Here, we found that M. globosa colonizes in breast fat pads leading to tumor growth. As a lipophilic yeast, the expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1) was upregulated to promote tumor growth after M. globosa colonization. Moreover, the IL-17A/macrophages axis plays a key role in mechanisms involved in the M. globosa-induced breast cancer acceleration from the tumor immune microenvironment perspective.

Loss of OsMATE6 Function Enhances Drought Resistance Without Yield Penalty by Regulating Stomatal Closure in Rice.

Drought is one of the most severe environmental factors limiting plant growth and crop yield, necessitating the identification of genes that enhance drought resistance for crop improvement. Through screening an ethyl methyl sulfonate-mutagenized rice mutant library, we isolated the PEG tolerance mutant 97-1 (ptm97-1), which displays enhanced resistance to osmotic and drought stress, and increased yield under drought conditions. A point mutation in OsMATE6 was identified as being associated with the drought-resistant phenotype of ptm97-1. The role of OsMATE6 in conferring drought resistance was confirmed by additional OsMATE6 knockout mutants. OsMATE6 is expressed in guard cells, shoots and roots and the OsMATE6-GFP fusion protein predominantly localizes to the plasma membrane. Our ABA efflux assays suggest that OsMATE6 functions as an ABA efflux transporter; mutant protoplasts exhibited a slower ABA release rate compared to the wild type. We hypothesize that OsMATE6 regulates ABA levels in guard cells, influencing stomatal closure and enhancing drought resistance. Notably, OsMATE6 knockout mutants demonstrated greater yields under field drought conditions compared to wild-type plants, highlighting OsMATE6 as a promising candidate for improving crop drought resistance.

A Multi-Machine Learning Consensus Model Based on Clinical Features Reveals That Interleukin-10 Derived from Monocytes Leads to a Poor Prognosis in Patients with Coronavirus Disease-2019.

Background: Despite ongoing interventions, SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause significant global morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for effective clinical management. However, prognostic features based on transcriptional data have shown limited effectiveness, highlighting the need for more precise biomarkers to improve COVID-19 treatment outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 149 clinical features from 189 COVID-19 patients, identifying prognostic features via univariate Cox regression. The cohort was split into training and validation sets, and 77 prognostic models were developed using seven machine learning algorithms. Among these, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) method was employed to refine the selection of prognostic variables by ten-fold cross-validation strategy, which were then integrated with random survival forests (RSF) to build a robust COVID-19-related prognostic model (CRM). Model accuracy was evaluated across training, validation, and entire cohorts. The diagnostic relevance of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was confirmed in bulk transcriptional data and validated at the single-cell level, where we also examined changes in cellular communication between mononuclear cells with differing IL-10 expression and other immune cells. Results: Univariate Cox regression identified 43 prognostic features. Among the 77 machine learning models, the combination of Lasso and RSF produced the most robust CRM. This model consistently performed well across training, validation, and entire cohorts. IL-10 emerged as a key prognostic feature within the CRM, validated by single-cell transcriptional data. Transcriptome analysis confirmed the stable diagnostic value of IL-10, with mononuclear cells identified as the primary IL-10 source. Moreover, differential IL-10 expression in these cells was linked to altered cellular communication in the COVID-19 immune microenvironment. Conclusion: The CRM provides accurate prognostic predictions for COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of early IL-10 level testing upon hospital admission, which could inform therapeutic strategies.

Oreonectes yuedongensis (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae), a new freshwater fish species from the Lianhua Mountains in eastern Guangdong, China.

In this work, we describe a new species of the genus Oreonectes, Oreonectes yuedongensis sp. nov., collected from the Lianhua Mountains in eastern Guangdong, China. Phylogenetic trees constructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene showed that this new species represents an independent evolutionary lineage, with uncorrected genetic distances (Kimura 2-parameter model) from congeners ranging from 5.1% to 8.3%. In addition, nuclear DNA analysis indicated O. yuedongensis as an independent lineage separate from its closely related species. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from other six species in the genus Oreonectes by a combination of serial characters. The description of this new species suggests that it is necessary to reassess the biodiversity of Oreonectes platycephalus as a complex, especially in the middle reaches of the Pearl River near the border between Guangdong and Guangxi. Morphological and genetic evidence supports O. yenlingi as a synonym of O. platycephalus.

Extracellular vesicles for the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are being considered as a potential therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis (UC), and numerous preclinical studies have been conducted on the use of EVs for UC. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to compare the therapeutic effects of mammalian EVs and placebo on UC in animal models, along with a meta-analysis comparing naïve (unmodified) EVs and placebo. The search was performed in four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE) up to September 13th, 2023. The primary outcomes included disease activity index (DAI), colonic mucosal damage index (CMDI), and adverse effects (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023458039). Results: A total of 69 studies were included based on pre-determined criteria, involving 1271 animals. Of these studies, 51 measured DAI scores, with 98 % reporting that EVs could reduce DAI scores. Additionally, 5 studies reported CMDI and all showed that EVs could significantly reduce CMDI. However, only 3 studies assessed adverse effects and none reported any significant adverse effects. The meta-analysis of these studies (40 studies involving 1065 animals) revealed that naïve EVs could significantly decrease the DAI score (SMD = -3.00; 95 % CI: -3.52 to -2.48) and CMDI (SMD = -2.10; 95 % CI: -2.85 to -1.35). Conclusion: The results indicate that mammalian EVs have demonstrated therapeutic benefits in animal models of UC; however, the safety profile of EVs remains inadequate which highlights the need for further research on safety outcomes.

Self-Healing Photothermal Nanotherapeutics for Enhanced Tumor Therapy through Triple Ferroptosis Amplification and Cascade Inflammation Inhibition.

The therapeutic effectiveness of photothermal therapy (PTT) is limited by heat tolerance and PTT-induced inflammation, which increases the risk of tumor metastasis and recurrence. Ferroptosis combined with PTT can achieve significant therapeutic effects. In this work, we designed self-healing photothermal nanotherapeutics to achieve effective PTT with triple-amplified ferroptosis and cascade inflammation inhibition after photothermal treatment. After the ferroptosis-inducing ability of mangiferin (MF) was first elucidated, the nanocomplex PFeM, coordinated by Fe3+ and MF with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) modification, was prepared by a one-pot self-assembly method. PFeM with laser irradiation could induce intensified ferroptosis by integrating the functions of MF to deactivate glutathione peroxidase 4, Fe3+/Fe2+ to generate lethal reactive oxygen species via the Fenton reaction, and the photothermal effect to amplify ferroptosis. More importantly, the released MF could achieve cascade inflammation inhibition, thereby reversing the proinflammatory microenvironment caused by PTT. The in vivo antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects of PFeM were further confirmed in a 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model. This study expounding the ferroptosis-inducing effects of MF and utilizing the strategy of chelating MF with iron ions can provide a new idea for developing photothermal nanoagents with clinically convertible safety ingredients and a green preparation process that improve efficacy and reduce adverse reactions during PTT.

Risk prediction of postoperative permanent stroke in acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis using brain CT perfusion.

Rationale and objectives: To explore the feasibility and predictive utility for neurological outcomes of brain computed tomography perfusion (CTP) for surgically treated acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis. Materials and methods: Consecutive acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis undergoing preoperative brain computed tomography perfusion and surgery at our center were examined in retrospect. Brain perfusion was assessed using parameters including cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transmit time, time to maximum, penumbra volume and infarct core volume. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify clinical and imaging predictors associated with postoperative permanent stroke. Results: Out of 44 patients included, 19 patients (43.2 %) presented with postoperative permanent stroke. Univariable analysis revealed that internal carotid artery dissection, cerebral blood flow of the affected side, cerebral blood volume of the affected side, and penumbra volume were implicated in postoperative permanent stroke. Multivariable analysis further showed that cerebral blood flow of the affected side was an independent indicator of a permanent stroke following surgery (odds ratio: 0.820, 95 % confidence interval: 0.684-0.982; p = 0.012). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.867 (95 % confidence interval: 0.764-0.970), and the optimal cut-off value was 45.6mL/100 mL/min. Conclusion: Cerebral blood flow of the affected side was an independent indicator of permanent stroke following surgery in acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis. Brain CTP could be a helpful modality for quantitative evaluation of cerebral malperfusion and neurological prognostication.

Comparison of lidocaine bicarbonate with fentanyl and chloroprocaine for epidural anesthesia during cesarean section: a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

Chloroprocaine and lidocaine bicarbonate are commonly used for epidural anesthesia because of their rapid onset, particularly in the case of conversion from epidural labor analgesia to emergency cesarean section. However, it is unclear whether lidocaine bicarbonate combined with fentanyl has an advantage over chloroprocaine alone in emergency cesarean section. In this study, 102 women who underwent elective cesarean section received 15 mL 3% chloroprocaine and 1 mL saline (CP group) or 15 mL 1.73% lidocaine bicarbonate and 1 mL fentanyl 50 µg (LF group) for epidural anesthesia. Nociceptive block level was assessed by pinprick and recorded every minute. The primary outcome was the onset time to T6 block. The median onset time to T6 analgesia was 10 [10, 10] min in the CP group and 10 [7, 10] min in the LF group (COX model for CP versus LF, HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95, p = 0.035). The median onset time to T8 analgesia was 7 [5, 9] min in CP group and 5 [4, 7] min in LF group (COX model for CP versus LF, HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.95, p = 0.027). The proportion of hypotension episodes occurring before delivery in LF group was lower than that in CP group (p = 0.011). The incidence of block level ≥ T4 after supplemental dosing in the LF group was lower than that in the CP group (p = 0.031). Compared with 3% chloroprocaine, 1.73% lidocaine bicarbonate combined with fentanyl 50 µg has a slightly faster onset time and less hypotension in epidural anesthesia for cesarean section. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html, identifier ChiCTR2200056180.

The chain mediating effects of resilience and perceived social support in the relationship between perceived stress and depression in patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Perceived stress and depression were indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in square-cabin hospitals. It was paramount to understand their mediating effects, which might detonate factors that led to mental illness. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate perceived stress and depressive symptoms among patients with COVID-19 in Shanghai square-cabin hospitals from April 18 to May 19, 2022. The questionnaire included the Perceived Stress Scale 10, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10. Results: This study investigated the chain-mediating roles of perceived social support and resilience in the relationship between perceived stress and depression. Perceived stress positively predicted depression (r = 0.613, p < 0.01), negatively correlated with perceived social support (r = -0.318, p < 0.01) and resilience (r = -0.398, p < 0.01). In the chain mediating model, perceived stress had significant direct predictive effects on depression, and significant indirect predictive effects on depression through perceived social support and/or resilience. Conclusion: It showed that higher perceived social support and resilience were associated with lower perceived stress among COVID-19 patients, which might lead to symptoms of mild depression, and highlights the importance of resilience and perceived social support in reducing depressive symptoms.

Improving Memory through Better Sleep in Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Tai Chi Intervention Study.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between sleep and memory has been well documented. However, it remains unclear whether a mind-body exercise, i.e., Tai Chi exercise, can improve memory performance in older adults by improving their subjective and objective sleep. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with participants (M = 67.36, 56-79 years) randomly assigned to Tai Chi and control groups. The primary outcomes were sleep, both subjectively reported and objectively assessed by actigraphy, and memory performance, as well as the mediating role of sleep in memory improvement with Tai Chi practice. RESULTS: Tai Chi exercise led to improvements in subjective sleep, as indicated by ISI (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.62) and daytime dysfunction of the PSQI (p = 0.02, Cohen's d = 0.80), and in actigraphy-assessed sleep onset latency (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.61), as well as improved memory performance on digit span forward (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.20) and visual spatial memory tasks (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.83) compared to the control group. Importantly, Tai Chi practice improved digit span forward memory performance through parallel mediation of both subjective sleep (i.e., daytime dysfunction of the PSQI) and objective sleep (i.e., sleep onset latency; b = 0.29, p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: Our findings uncovered the potential benefits of Tai Chi exercise in relation to both subjective and objective sleep in older adults, in turn, how sleep changes played a role in the link between Tai Chi exercise and memory changes in older adults.