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The low electrical conductivity of conductive hydrogels limits their applications as soft conductors in bioelectronics. This low conductivity originates from the high water content of hydrogels, which impedes facile carrier transport between conductive fillers. This study presents a highly conductive and stretchable hydrogel nanocomposite comprising whiskered gold nanosheets. A dry network of whiskered gold nanosheets is fabricated and then incorporated into the wet hydrogel matrices. The whiskered gold nanosheets preserve their tight interconnection in hydrogels despite the high water content, providing a high-quality percolation network even under stretched states. Regardless of the type of hydrogel matrix, the gold-hydrogel nanocomposites exhibit a conductivity of ≈520 S cm-1 and a stretchability of ≈300% without requiring a dehydration process. The conductivity reaches a maximum of ≈3304 S cm-1 when the density of the dry gold network is controlled. A gold-adhesive hydrogel nanocomposite, which can achieve conformal adhesion to moving organ surfaces, is fabricated for bioelectronics demonstrations. The adhesive hydrogel electrode outperforms elastomer-based electrodes in in vivo epicardial electrogram recording, epicardial pacing, and sciatic nerve stimulation.
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Hot flashes (HF) are a common adverse event of prolonged tamoxifen use in women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, impacting psychiatric health and quality of life. While desvenlafaxine does not interact with tamoxifen, its efficacy and safety in breast cancer patients remain unstudied. This phase 3, four-week, multi-center, three-arm, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the efficacy and safety of desvenlafaxine for treating HF in women with breast cancer taking tamoxifen, assessing potential differential effects in patients with psychiatric and inflammatory conditions. Between December 2017 and February 2019, 57 women aged 19 or older, regularly taking tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy, experiencing moderate-to-severe HFs for more than a month, were randomized to receive desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day (D-50), desvenlafaxine 100 mg/day (D-100), or placebo for four weeks. The primary endpoint was the change rate in HF scores over four weeks, with adverse events as a secondary endpoint. Both desvenlafaxine arms demonstrated greater HF score reductions compared to placebo: D-50 (2.20 points/week, 95% CI: 0.71, 3.68) and D-100 (2.34 points/week, 95% CI: 0.92, 3.76). Notably, D-50 arm showed significantly greater efficacy in patients with depression or elevated inflammation. Desvenlafaxine offers an effective and safe treatment regimen for HF in women with breast cancer taking tamoxifen. The presence of depression and inflammation may guide optimal desvenlafaxine dosing. (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02819921).
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Free-living amoebae (FLA) are found in diverse environments, such as soils, rivers, and seas. Hence, they can be used as bioindicators to assess the water quality based solely on their presence. In this study, we determined the presence of FLA in river water by filtering water samples collected from various sites and culturing the resulting filtrates. FLA were detected in all the water samples with varying quality grades (Grades Ι-V). The significant increase in the size of the amoebae population with the deterioration in the water quality. Monoxenic cultures of the amoebae were performed, and genomic DNAs were isolated, among which 18S rDNAs were sequenced to identify the amoeba species. Of the 12 species identified, 10 belonged to the Acanthamoeba genus; of the remaining 2 species, one was identified as Vannella croatica and the other as a species of Vermamoeba. Acanthamoeba was detected in samples with Grades Ι to VI quality, whereas the Vermamoeba species was present only in Grade Ι water. V. croatica was found exclusively in water with Grade ΙΙ quality. Following morphological observations, genomic DNA was sequenced using 16S rDNA to determine whether the species of Acanthamoeba harbored endosymbionts. Most of the isolated Acanthamoeba contained endosymbionts, among which 4 species of endogenous bacteria were identified and examined using transmission electron microscopy. This study provides evidence that the distribution of amoebae other than Acanthamoeba may be associated with water quality. However, further confirmation will be required based on accurate water quality ratings and assessments using a more diverse range of FLA.
Subject(s)
Amoeba , Water Quality , Amoeba/genetics , Amoeba/isolation & purification , Amoeba/classification , Phylogeny , Rivers/parasitology , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Acanthamoeba/genetics , Acanthamoeba/isolation & purification , Acanthamoeba/classification , RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Biodiversity , Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The evaluation of gait function and severity classification of stroke patients are important to determine the rehabilitation goal and the level of exercise. Physicians often qualitatively evaluate patients' walking ability through visual gait analysis using naked eye, video images, or standardized assessment tools. Gait evaluation through observation relies on the doctor's empirical judgment, potentially introducing subjective opinions. Therefore, conducting research to establish a basis for more objective judgment is crucial. OBJECTIVE: To verify a deep learning model that classifies gait image data of stroke patients according to Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) scale. METHODS: Gait vision data from 203 stroke patients and 182 healthy individuals recruited from six medical institutions were collected to train a deep learning model for classifying gait severity in stroke patients. The recorded videos were processed using OpenPose. The dataset was randomly split into 80% for training and 20% for testing. RESULTS: The deep learning model attained a training accuracy of 0.981 and test accuracy of 0.903. Area Under the Curve(AUC) values of 0.93, 0.95, and 0.96 for discriminating among the mild, moderate, and severe stroke groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: This confirms the potential of utilizing human posture estimation based on vision data not only to develop gait parameter models but also to develop models to classify severity according to the FAC criteria used by physicians. To develop an AI-based severity classification model, a large amount and variety of data is necessary and data collected in non-standardized real environments, not in laboratories, can also be used meaningfully.
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BACKGROUND: Firefighters are an at-risk population for multiple psychiatric conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and insomnia. These disorders are likely to co-occur; however, patterns of comorbidity have scarcely been investigated in firefighters. We aimed to identify subgroups of comorbidity of PTSD, depression, AUDs, and insomnia in a nationwide population of firefighters in South Korea. METHODS: A total of 54,054 firefighters responded to an online survey. Latent classes of comorbidity were categorized using latent profile analysis (LPA) based on the symptom scores of PTSD, depression, AUDs, and insomnia. Analysis of variance was performed to compare the characteristics of the identified classes, and multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine whether anger reactions, resilience, and number of traumatic events predicted class membership. RESULTS: The LPA identified four subgroups: minimal symptoms (n = 42,948, 79.5 %), predominant PTSD (n = 2858, 5.3 %), subthreshold symptoms and comorbidity (n = 7003, 13.0 %), and high symptoms and comorbidity (n = 1245, 2.3 %). Three comorbidity classes were defined based on severity and one class showed predominant PTSD symptoms. Number of traumatic exposures predicted predominant PTSD, while resilience and anger reactions predicted severity of comorbidities. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design and usage of self-reported questionnaires are limitations of this study. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of PTSD, depression, AUDs and insomnia tend to correlate and co-occur in firefighters. Our findings highlight the need to assess comorbid symptoms in firefighters and need to reduce anger reactions and enhance resilience in those with multiple comorbidities.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism , Comorbidity , Depression , Firefighters , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Humans , Firefighters/psychology , Firefighters/statistics & numerical data , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , Male , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Adult , Female , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Alcoholism/epidemiology , Alcoholism/psychology , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Anger , Latent Class Analysis , Resilience, Psychological , Young Adult , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence is being used for rehabilitation, including monitoring exercise compliance through sensor technology. AI classification of shoulder exercise wearing an IMU sensor has only been reported in normal (i.e. painless) subjects. To prove the feasibility of monitoring exercise compliance, we aimed to classify 11 types of shoulder rehabilitation exercises using an AI (artificial intelligence) algorithm in patients with shoulder pain. We had the patients wear an IMU-based sensor, collected data during exercise, and determined the accuracy of exercise classification. METHODS: Data were collected from 58 patients (27 males, 31 females, age range 37-82 years) diagnosed with shoulder diseases such as adhesive capsulitis and rotator cuff disease. 11 types of shoulder pain rehabilitation exercise programs were developed and repeated each exercise ten times per session while wearing an IMU sensor. The study applied the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) and the SoftMax as the activation function for hidden layers, the output layer. RESULTS: The acquired data was used to train a DNN model using the multilayer perceptron algorithm. The trained model was used to classify 11 types of shoulder pain rehabilitation exercises. The training accuracy was 0.975 and the test accuracy was 0.925. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that IMU sensor data can effectively classify shoulder pain rehabilitation exercises, providing more appropriate feedback for patients. The model can be utilized to establish a system for remotely monitoring patients' exercise performance. The use of deep learning in patient monitoring and rehabilitation has significant potential to bring innovative changes to healthcare service delivery.
Subject(s)
Deep Learning , Shoulder Pain , Male , Female , Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Shoulder Pain/diagnosis , Artificial Intelligence , Exercise Therapy , ShoulderABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) phenotypes in childhood are unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine AR phenotypes and investigate their natural course and clinical and transcriptomic characteristics. METHODS: Latent class trajectory analysis was used for phenotyping AR in 1050 children from birth through 12 years using a birth cohort study. Blood transcriptome analyses were performed to define the underlying mechanisms of each phenotype. RESULTS: Five AR phenotypes were identified: early onset (n = 88, 8.4%), intermediate transient (n = 110, 10.5%), late onset (n = 209, 19.9%), very late onset (n=187, 17.8%), and never/infrequent (n = 456, 43.4%). Children with early-onset AR were associated with higher AR severity and sensitizations to foods at age 1 year and inhalants at age 3 years and asthma symptoms, but not with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Children with late-onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to various foods at age 1 year but not from age 3 years, and to inhalants from age 7 years and with asthma with BHR. Children with very late-onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to foods throughout preschool age and to inhalants at ages 7 and 9 years and with asthma with BHR. Transcriptome analysis showed that early-onset AR was associated with viral/bacterial infection-related defense response, whereas late-onset AR was associated with T cell-related immune response. CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset AR phenotype was associated with sensitization to foods and inhalants at an early age and asthma symptoms, but not with BHR, whereas very late- and late-onset AR phenotypes were positively associated with sensitization to inhalants and asthma with BHR. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that early- and late-onset AR phenotypes had distinct underlying mechanisms related to AR as well.
Subject(s)
Phenotype , Rhinitis, Allergic , Transcriptome , Humans , Child, Preschool , Female , Male , Child , Rhinitis, Allergic/genetics , Rhinitis, Allergic/immunology , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Birth Cohort , Age of Onset , Gene Expression Profiling , Cohort Studies , Asthma/genetics , Asthma/immunologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To create a nomogram that can predict the probability of prostate cancer using prostate health index (PHI) and clinical parameters of patients. And the optimal cut-off value of PHI for prostate cancer was also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, multi-center study was conducted. PHI was evaluated prior to biopsy in patients requiring prostate biopsy due to high prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Among screened 1,010 patients, 626 patients with clinically suspected prostate cancer with aged 40 to 85 years, and with PSA levels ranging from 2.5 to 10 ng/mL were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 626 patients, 38.82% (243/626) and 22.52% (141/626) were diagnosed with prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer, respectively. In the PSA 2.5 to 4 ng/mL group, the areas under the curve (AUCs) of the nomograms for overall prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer were 0.796 (0.727-0.866; p<0.001), and 0.697 (0.598-0.795; p=0.001), respectively. In the PSA 4 to 10 ng/mL group, the AUCs of nomograms for overall prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer were 0.812 (0.783-0.842; p<0.001), and 0.839 (0.810-0.869; p<0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Even though external validations are necessary, a nomogram using PHI might improve the prediction of prostate cancer, reducing the need for prostate biopsies.
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BACKGROUND: Gait assessment has been used in a wide range of clinical applications, and gait velocity is also a leading predictor of disease and physical functional aspects in older adults. RESEARCH QUESTION: The study aim to examine the changes in IMU-based gait parameters according to age in healthy adults aged 50 and older, to analyze differences between aging patients. METHODS: A total of 296 healthy adults (65.32 ± 6.74 yrs; 83.10 % female) were recruited. Gait assessment was performed using an IMU sensor-based gait analysis system, and 3D motion information of hip and knee joints was obtained using magnetic sensors. The basic characteristics of the study sample were stratified by age category, and the baseline characteristics between the groups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pearson's correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between age as the dependent variable and several measures of gait parameters and joint angles as independent variables. RESULTS: The results of this study found that there were significant differences in gait velocity and both terminal double support in the three groups according to age, and statistically significant differences in the three groups in hip joint angle and knee joints angle. In addition, it was found that the gait velocity and knee/hip joint angle changed with age, and the gait velocity and knee/hip joint angle were also different in the elderly and adult groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found changes in gait parameters and joint angles according to age in healthy adults and older adults and confirmed the difference in gait velocity and joint angles between adults and older adults.
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Gait Analysis , Gait , Aged , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Biomechanical Phenomena , Knee JointABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Conventional consent practices face ethical challenges in continuously evolving digital health environments due to their static, one-time nature. Dynamic consent offers a promising solution, providing adaptability and flexibility to address these ethical concerns. However, due to the immaturity of the concept and accompanying technology, dynamic consent has not yet been widely used in practice. This study aims to identify the facilitators of and barriers to adopting dynamic consent in real-world scenarios. METHODS: This scoping review, conducted in December 2022, adhered to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, focusing on dynamic consent within the health domain. A comprehensive search across Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus yielded 22 selected articles based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: The facilitators for the adoption of dynamic consent in digital health ecosystems were the provision of multiple consent modalities, personalized alternatives, continuous communication, and the dissemination of up-to-date information. Nevertheless, several barriers, such as consent fatigue, the digital divide, complexities in system implementation, and privacy and security concerns, needed to be addressed. This study also investigated current technological advancements and suggested considerations for further research aimed at resolving the remaining challenges surrounding dynamic consent. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic consent emerges as an ethically advantageous method for digital health ecosystems, driven by its adaptability and support for continuous, two-way communication between data subjects and consumers. Ethical implementation in real-world settings requires the development of a robust technical framework capable of accommodating the diverse needs of stakeholders, thereby ensuring ethical integrity and data privacy in the evolving digital health landscape.
Subject(s)
Communication , Ecosystem , Humans , Privacy , Technology , Informed ConsentABSTRACT
Although ionizing radiation (IR) is widely used for therapeutic and research purposes, studies on low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) are limited compared with those on other IR approaches, such as high-dose gamma irradiation and ultraviolet irradiation. High-dose IR affects DNA damage response and nucleotide-protein crosslinking, among other processes; however, the molecular consequences of LDIR have been poorly investigated. Here, we developed a method to profile RNA species crosslinked to an RNA-binding protein, namely, human antigen R (HuR), using LDIR and high-throughput RNA sequencing. The RNA fragments isolated via LDIR-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation sequencing were crosslinked to HuR and protected from RNase-mediated digestion. Upon crosslinking HuR to target mRNAs such as PAX6, ZFP91, NR2F6, and CAND2, the transcripts degraded rapidly in human cell lines. Additionally, PAX6 and NR2F6 downregulation mediated the beneficial effects of LDIR on cell viability. Thus, our approach provides a method for investigating post-transcriptional gene regulation using LDIR.
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OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the reliability and validity of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 items (SAVE-9) and Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6) scales for measuring viral anxiety among firefighters during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among 304 firefighters assigned in Gyeonggi-do. The SAVE-9 scale, initially developed for healthcare workers, was adapted for firefighters. We compared it with the SAVE-6 scale designed for the general population among the firefighters sample. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to explore the factor structure of both scales. Internal consistency reliability was checked using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Convergent validity was assessed in accordance with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scales. RESULTS: The SAVE-9 scale demonstrated a Cronbach alpha of 0.880, while the SAVE-6 scale yielded an alpha of 0.874. CFA indicated good model fits for both SAVE-9 and SAVE-6 scales among firefighters sample. The SAVE-9 and SAVE-6 comparably measures viral anxiety of firefighters. CONCLUSION: Both of the SAVE-9 and SAVE-6 scales are reliable and valid instruments for assessing viral anxiety among firefighters during the pandemic.
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BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based training programs have consistently shown efficacy in stress reduction. However, questions regarding the optimal duration and most effective delivery methods remain. OBJECTIVE: This research explores a 4-week neurofeedback-assisted mindfulness training for employees via a mobile app. The study's core query is whether incorporating neurofeedback can amplify the benefits on stress reduction and related metrics compared with conventional mindfulness training. METHODS: A total of 92 full-time employees were randomized into 3 groups: group 1 received mobile mindfulness training with neurofeedback assistance (n=29, mean age 39.72 years); group 2 received mobile mindfulness training without neurofeedback (n=32, mean age 37.66 years); and group 3 were given self-learning paper materials on stress management during their first visit (n=31, mean age 38.65 years). The primary outcomes were perceived stress and resilience scales. The secondary outcomes were mindfulness awareness, emotional labor, occupational stress, insomnia, and depression. Heart rate variability and electroencephalography were measured for physiological outcomes. These measurements were collected at 3 different times, namely, at baseline, immediately after training, and at a 4-week follow-up. The generalized estimating equation model was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The 4-week program showed significant stress reduction (Wald χ22=107.167, P<.001) and improvements in psychological indices including resilience, emotional labor, insomnia, and depression. A significant interaction was observed in resilience (time × group, Wald χ42=10.846, P=.02). The post hoc analysis showed a statistically significant difference between groups 1 (least squares mean [LSM] 21.62, SE 0.55) and 3 (LSM 19.90, SE 0.61) at the posttraining assessment (P=.008). Group 1 showed a significant improvement (P<.001) at the posttraining assessment, with continued improvements through the 1-month follow-up assessment period (LSM 21.55, SE 0.61). Physiological indices were analyzed only for data of 67 participants (22 in group 1, 22 in group 2, and 23 in group 3) due to the data quality. The relaxation index (ratio of alpha to high beta power) from the right electroencephalography channel showed a significant interaction (time × group, Wald χ22=6.947, P=.03), with group 1 revealing the highest improvement (LSM 0.43, SE 0.15) compared with groups 2 (LSM -0.11, SE 0.10) and 3 (LSM 0.12, SE 0.10) at the 1-month follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that the neurofeedback-assisted group achieved superior outcomes in resilience and relaxation during the 4-week mobile mindfulness program. Further research with larger samples and long-term follow-up is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03787407; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03787407.
Subject(s)
Mindfulness , Mobile Applications , Neurofeedback , Occupational Stress , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Humans , Adult , Mindfulness/methods , Occupational Stress/therapy , Occupational Stress/psychologyABSTRACT
Chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1)âa G protein-coupled receptorâhas functional roles in the immune system and related diseases, including psoriasis and metabolic diseases. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by skin redness, scaliness, and itching. In this study, we sought to develop novel CMKLR1 antagonists by screening our in-house GPCR-targeting compound library. Moreover, we optimized a phenylindazole-based hit compound with antagonistic activities and evaluated its oral pharmacokinetic properties in a murine model. A structure-based design on the human CMKLR1 homology model identified S-26d as an optimized compound that serves as a potent and orally available antagonist with a pIC50 value of 7.44 in hCMKLR1-transfected CHO cells. Furthermore, in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model, oral administration of S-26d for 1 week significantly alleviated modified psoriasis area and severity index scores (severity of erythema, scaliness, skin thickness) compared with the control group.
Subject(s)
Psoriasis , Humans , Animals , Mice , Cricetinae , Cricetulus , Psoriasis/chemically induced , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Skin/metabolism , Imiquimod/adverse effects , Imiquimod/metabolism , Chemokines/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) can convert active oxygen to oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, and recent research has suggested that it can protect against lung damage and fibrosis. Clinical applications based on SOD remain limited however due to costs and low stability. We here investigated a potential new therapeutic delivery system for this enzyme in the form of SOD-overexpressing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spores which we introduced into a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model. This treatment significantly alleviated the disease, as quantified using a hydroxyproline assay, at 107 colony forming unit (CFU) of Bacillus spores per day. Exposure of the mice to the spores was further found to decrease the lung mRNA levels of CTGF, Col1a1, α-SMA, TGF-ß, TNF-α, and IL-6, and the protein levels of TGF-ß, Smad2/3, αSMA and Col1a1, all major indicators of pulmonary fibrosis. Survival benefits, and reduced byproducts of lipid peroxidase such as malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynen, were also noted in the treated animals. The beneficial effects of these Bacillus spores on pulmonary fibrosis were further found to be greater than the equivalent free SOD concentration. Immunofluorescence staining of primary pulmonary fibroblasts extracted from the bleomycin-induced model showed decreased αSMA expression following the in vivo treatment with SOD-overexpressing Bacillus. Our treatment approach SOD through Bacillus spores shows beneficial effects against pulmonary fibrosis, combined with the suppression of the SMAD/TGF-ß pathway, suggesting that it is an effective novel delivery route for antioxidants.
Subject(s)
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , Pulmonary Fibrosis , Mice , Animals , Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism , Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/metabolism , Spores, Bacterial/metabolism , Lung , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , Bleomycin/pharmacology , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the feasibility of cognitive-behavioral model hypochondriasis regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) among firefighters. In addition, we examined the possible role of their grief reaction and intolerance of uncertainty in the model of COVID-related hypochondriasis. METHODS: An anonymous online survey was done on October 27-28, 2022, among firefighters who witnessed people's death. Demographic characteristics were collected, and their psychological states were assessed using rating scales such as the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (CRBS), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Pandemic Grief Scale (PGS), and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12). RESULTS: Their OCS score was expected by the CRBS (ß=0.30, p<0.001), FCV-19S (ß=0.10, p<0.001), PGS (ß=0.29, p<0.001), and IUS12 (ß=0.04, p=0.024) (F=134.5, p<0.001). The COVID-related cognitive-behavioral model of hypochondriasis was feasible among firefighters who witnessed people's death. Their pandemic grief reaction and intolerance of uncertainty directly influenced their preoccupation with coronavirus, and viral anxiety and coronavirus reassurance-seeking behavior mediated the relationship. CONCLUSION: Firefighters' viral anxiety and coronavirus reassurance-seeking behavior mediated the influence of pandemic grief reaction or intolerance of uncertainty on the preoccupation with coronavirus.
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This corrects the article on p. 140 in vol. 64, PMID: 36882172.
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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and the correlates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in firefighters. We also investigated the mediating role of NSSI frequency in the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicidal behavior. METHODS: A total of 51,505 Korean firefighters completed a web-based self-reported survey, including demographic and occupational characteristics, NSSI, PTSD, depression, and suicidal behavior. Multivariable logistic regression analyses and serial mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS: The 1-year prevalence of NSSI was 4.67% in Korean firefighters. Female gender, the presence of recent traumatic experience, and PTSD and depression symptoms were correlated with NSSI. Serial mediation analyses revealed that NSSI frequency mediated the association between PTSD, depression, and suicidal behavior; it indicates more severe PTSD was sequentially associated with more severe depression symptoms and more frequent NSSI, leading to higher risk of suicidal behavior. CONCLUSION: NSSI is prevalent and may play a significant mediating role when PTSD is associated with suicidal behavior in firefighters. Our results imply the need for screening and early intervention of NSSI in firefighters.
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Reducible oxide-supported noble metal nanoparticles exhibit high activity in catalyzing many important oxidation reactions. However, atom migration under harsh reaction conditions leads to deactivation of the catalyst. Meanwhile, single-atom catalysts demonstrate enhanced stability, but often suffer from poor catalytic activity owing to the ionized surface states. In this work, we simultaneously address the poor activity and stability issues by synthesizing highly active and durable rhodium (Rh) single-atom catalysts through a "wrap-bake-peel" process. The pre-coated SiO2 layer during synthesis of catalyst plays a crucial role in not only protecting CeO2 support against sintering, but also donating electron to weaken the Ce-O bond, producing highly loaded Rh single atoms on the CeO2 support exposed with high-index {210} facets. Benefiting from the unique electronic structure of CeO2 {210} facets, more oxygen vacancies are generated along with the deposition of more electropositive Rh single atoms, leading to remarkably improved catalytic performance in CO oxidation.