Depression and its relationship with quality of life in frontline psychiatric clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a national survey.

This was a national survey that determined the prevalence of depressive symptoms (depression thereafter) and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in frontline clinicians working in psychiatric hospitals in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression and QOL were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire nine items (PHQ-9) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-brief version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses and analysis of covariance were used. A total of 10,516 frontline clinicians participated in this study, of which, 28.52% (n=2,999) met screening criteria for depression. Compared to those without depression, clinicians with depression had a lower quality of life (F(1, 10515) =2874.66, P<0.001). Higher educational level (OR=1.225, P=0.014), if the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital catchment area surpassed 500 (OR=1.146, P=0.032), having family/friends/colleagues who were infected (OR=1.695, P<0.001), being a current smoker (OR=1.533, P<0.001), and longer working hours (OR=1.020, P=0.022) were independently associated with higher risk of depression. Living with family members (OR=0.786, P<0.001), and being junior clinicians (OR=0.851, P=0.011) were independently associated with lower odds of depression. The results showed that depression was common in frontline psychiatric clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Timely assessment and effective interventions of depression for frontline clinicians in psychiatric hospitals were warranted.

Prevalence of Depression Among Empty-Nest Elderly in China: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are common in empty-nest elderly in China, but the reported prevalence rates across studies are mixed. This is a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms (depression hereafter) in empty-nest elderly in China. METHODS: Two investigators independently conducted a systematic literature search in both English (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) and Chinese (CNKI and Wan Fang) databases. Data were analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis program. RESULTS: A total of 46 studies with 36,791 subjects were included. The pooled prevalence of depression was 38.6% (95%CI: 31.5-46.3%). Compared with non-empty-nest elderly, empty-nest elderly were more likely to suffer from depression (OR=2.0, 95%CI: 1.4 to 2.8, P<0.001). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses revealed that mild depression were more common in empty-nest elderly than moderate or severe depression (P<0.001). In addition, living alone (P=0.002), higher male proportion (ß=0.04, P<0.001), later year of publication (ß=0.09, P<0.001) and higher study quality score (ß=0.62, P<0.001) were significantly associated with higher prevalence of depression. CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis, the prevalence of depression in empty-nest elderly was high in China. Considering the negative impact of depression on health outcomes and well-being, regular screening and appropriate interventions need to be delivered for this vulnerable segment of the population.

Poor Insight in Schizophrenia Patients in China: a Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Poor insight exists in all phases of schizophrenia and is associated with poor clinical prognosis and adverse psychosocial functioning. This is a meta-analysis examining the prevalence of poor insight and its correlates in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Both major international (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and Chinese (WANFANG and CNKI) databases were systematically searched. The pooled prevalence of poor insight was calculated using the random-effects model. A total of 19 studies with 3112 schizophrenia patients were included. The prevalence of poor insight was 43.4% (95%CI: 36.0%-51.2%). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses revealed that the higher prevalence of poor insight was significantly associated with single-site design, smaller sample size, inpatient status, acute illness phase, higher male proportion, younger age, shorter duration of illness, lower study quality, and earlier publication year. Poor insight is common in Chinese schizophrenia patients. Considering the negative outcomes of poor insight, regular screening and effective psychosocial interventions should be delivered for this vulnerable population.

Evaluation of a community-based integrated heroin addiction treatment model in Chinese patients.

In this study, we analyzed the efficacy and feasibility of a community-based integrated heroin addiction treatment model in Chinese patients. The 210 heroin addicts belonging to six Chinese communities received an integrated biopsychosocial intervention that included pharmacological treatment, counseling and social assistance. High proportions of study participants were retained at the 12-month (91.9%; 193/210) and 24-month (88.1%; 185/210) follow-up visits. The number of morphine-positive subjects declined from 61.4% at baseline to 36.2% and 30.5% (Q=52.01; P<0.001) after 12 and 24 months, respectively. The crime rate decreased from 32.4% at baseline to 2.2% and 1.6% (Q=7.84; P<0.001) after 12 and 24 months, respectively. The number of patients that were employed increased from 24.3% at baseline to 37.8% and 50.8% after 12 and 24 months, respectively (Q=41.68; P<0.001). Addiction-related issues and mental health status improved according to Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). We therefore conclude that this community-based, integrated heroin addiction treatment model is highly feasible with high treatment retention, reduced drug use, a lower crime rate, improved health and increased employment.

Effects of a cyclooxygenase-1-selective inhibitor in a mouse model of ovarian cancer, administered alone or in combination with ibuprofen, a nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to be potent inhibitors of the cyclooxygenases. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of a cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 inhibitor, SC-560, administered alone or in combination with ibuprofen on the growth inhibition of s.c. human ovarian SKOV-3 carcinoma and on angiogenesis. The effects of SC-560 and ibuprofen on tumor growth inhibition have been examined in mouse ovarian cancer models. Angiogenesis of both COX inhibitors was measured by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels in tumor tissues of mice were also determined by ELISA. The inhibitory rates in SC-560 group alone and in combination with ibuprofen group were 21.21% and 41.55%, respectively. In combination therapy with SC-560 and ibuprofen, tumor volumes were significantly reduced compared with that of control group (P < 0.05). In treatment groups, both COX inhibitors significantly reduced intratumor PGE(2) levels (all P < 0.01). Microvessel density (MVD) in tumor tissues were significantly decreased from 80.90 +/- 5.14 in vehicle-treated to 40.70 +/- 10.45 and 38.90 +/- 8.41 in SC-560 group alone and combination ibuprofen therapy (all P < 0.01). Ibuprofen was similar to the cyclooxygenase-1-selective inhibitor SC-560 in its ability to suppress the values of MVD of tumor tissues. SC-560 administered alone or in combination with ibuprofen inhibited the COX-associated up-regulation of VEGF. These studies demonstrate synergism between two COX inhibitors and that antiangiogenic therapy can be used to inhibit ovarian cancer growth.

[Detection and identification of seven clinical common pathogenic bacteria by oligonucleotide microarray].

OBJECTIVE: Using 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA genes as the target sequences to develop a system based on oligonucleotide microarray and to detect the seven clinical pathogenic bacteria, commonly seen. METHODS: Double polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to amplify the segments of 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA genes of the target bacteria. An oligonucleotide microarray was constructed to simultaneously detect EHEC O157:H7, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella sp., Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni and Shigella sp. Specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the microarray during detection were checked. And then microarray was used to detect the microbes in stool specimens of 81 patients with diarrhea and vomiting. RESULTS: The double PCR method could simultaneously amplify the target sequences of 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA genes of the seven pathogens. The sensitivity of the developed oligonucleotide microarray could reach 10(3) cfu/ml but no positive results were presented for non-targeted bacteria. The coefficients of differentiation in one lot or among different lots of the microarray slices were 3.89% - 5.81%. The positive detection rate of the stool specimens by oligonucleotide microarray was 39.5% (32/81), with a coincidence of 96.3% (78/81) for the patients and another coincidence of 96.8% (31/32) for bacterial genus or species identification, when comparing to the results by routine bacteriological examinations. CONCLUSION: The established assay in this study based on oligonucleotide microarray to detect the seven pathogenic bacteria has many advantages such as convenient, rapid, accurate, stable and high flux, which is suitable for clinical specimen examination and epidemiological field investigation.

Effects of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, on the growth of ovarian carcinoma in vivo.

New therapies against cancer are based on targeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Whether COX-2 inhibitor therapy would be beneficial in the prevention and/or treatment of ovarian cancer still remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate whether nimesulide, a COX-2 selective inhibitor, could suppress tumor growth in implanted ovarian carcinoma mice and to explore the molecular mechanisms. Human ovarian SKOV-3 carcinoma cells xenograft-bearing mice were treated with nimesulide 62.5 mg/kg or 250 mg/kg alone i.g., daily for 21 days. Microvessel density (MVD) of ovarian carcinoma was determined with anti-CD(34) as the label. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were also determined by ELISA. In addition, the expression of COX-2 and COX-1 at protein and mRNA levels in the control groups was also detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Nimesulide treatment showed a dose-dependent growth-inhibitory effect of human ovarian SKOV-3 tumors. The inhibitory rates in nimesulide 62.5 mg/kg group and 250 mg/kg group were 20.40% and 50.55% respectively, however, which is not significant statistically compared with that of control group (P > 0.05). In treatment groups, nimesulide significantly reduced intratumor PGE2 levels (all, P < 0.01). Microvessel densities in treatment groups were 61.20 +/- 1.67 (62.5 mg/kg) and 66.27 +/- 1.20 (250 mg/kg), which are significant statistically compared with that of control group (79.97 +/- 1.07) (all, P < 0.01). However, COX-1, not COX-2, mRNA, and protein levels are elevated in tumor tissues. Nimesulide decreased microvessel density is associated with the reduction of PGE2 levels but without affecting growth inhibition and the expression of COX-2. Importantly, tumor growth implanted in SKOV-3 mice was not significantly attenuated suggesting that COX-1 in ovarian carcinoma tissue also has an important role in tumor growth. These findings may implicate COX-1 as a suitable target for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Detection of let-7a microRNA by real-time PCR in gastric carcinoma.

AIM: To establish an accurate and rapid stem-loop reverse transcriptional real-time PCR (RT-PCR) method to quantify human let-7a miRNA in gastric cancer. METHODS: According to the sequence of let-7a miRNA, the stem-loop reverse transcriptional primer, the primers and quantitative MGB probes of real-time PCR were designed and synthesized. The dynamic range and the sensitivity of quantitative reverse transcriptional real-time PCR were determined. The levels of let-7a miRNA were examined in 32 gastric carcinoma samples by stem-loop RT-PCR method. RESULTS: The dynamic range and sensitivity of the let-7a miRNA quantification scheme were evaluated, the result showed the assay could precisely detect 10 copies of mature let-7a miRNA in as few as 0.05 ng of total RNA of gastric mucosa. The results of specificity analysis showed no fluorescence signal occurred even though 50 ng of human genomic DNA was added to the reverse transcription (RT) reaction. The expression level of let-7a miRNA in gastric tumor tissues was significantly lower compared to normal tissues in 14 samples from 32 patients. CONCLUSION: The stem-loop RT-PCR is a reliable method to detect let-7a miRNA which may play an important role in the development of gastric carcinoma.