Correlation between the level of microRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and symptomatology in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

This study investigated the correlation between the level of microRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and symptomatology in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). MicroRNA array was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from GAD patients with gender, age, ethnicity-matched healthy controls. Then real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the top 7 miRNAs with the highest fold-change values in 76 GAD patients and 39 healthy controls. It demonstrated that 5 miRNAs showed significantly differences in expression levels (P<0.01). These 5 GAD-associated miRNAs were finally selected into our study to analyze the association between the plasma level of miRNAs expression and symptomatology scores in Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Results showed that the level of miR-4505 and miR-663 was negatively correlated with the total HAMA scores in GAD patients (r=0.2228, r=0.264 P<0.05). MiR-663 was selected into the regression equation of HAMA total scores and psychic anxiety symptomatology scores, and it could explain 5.3% of the HAMA total scores and 15.3% of the anxiety symptomatology scores. This study analyzed preliminarily possible circulating miRNAs expression changes in GAD patients, and the expression level of miR-663 highly correlated with psychic anxiety symptoms, further molecular mechanism of which needs to be explored.

Psychological maladjustment of Asian and African peacekeepers in Liberia and its related factors.

This study aimed to investigate the maladjustment of Asian (Bangladeshi, Pakistani) and African (Nigerian, Namibian, Ghanaian) peacekeepers and its major influence factors. By random cluster sampling, 300 Asian peacekeepers and 271 African peacekeepers were administered the military psychological maladjustment scale (MPMS) and risk factors questionnaire. Investigation at Day 7 and Day 120 into the peacekeeping deployment period indicated that MPMS total score and factor scores of the Asian peacekeepers were significantly lower than those of the African peacekeepers (p < .01). The total score and each factor score of MPMS of the Asian peacekeepers significantly decreased (p < .01); for the African peacekeepers, only the factor score of emotional disorder of MPMS significantly decreased (p < .05). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the education duration was the influence factor for the emotional disorder factor score in the Asian peacekeepers, and the two factors were positively correlated. Age, military service duration, education duration and marital status were the major influence factors for the MPMS factors of the African peacekeepers, among which age was negatively correlated with the total score and each factor score, and military service duration, education duration and marital status were positively related. We conclude that the Asian peacekeepers are more adaptable and resilient than the African peacekeepers. Education duration was the major influence factor for Emotional Disorder in the Asian peacekeepers. The major influence factors for maladjustment in the African peacekeepers were age, military service duration, education duration and marital status.

Micro(nano)plastics in marine medaka: Entry pathways and cardiotoxicity with triphenyltin.

The simultaneous presence of micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and pollutants represents a prevalent environmental challenge that necessitates understanding their combined impact on toxicity. This study examined the distribution of 5 µm (PS-MP5) and 50 nm (PS-NP50) polystyrene plastic particles during the early developmental stages of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) and assessed their combined toxicity with triphenyltin (TPT). Results showed that 2 mg/L PS-MP5 and PS-NP50 could adhere to the embryo surface. PS-NP50 can passively enter the larvae and accumulate predominantly in the intestine and head, while PS-MP5 cannot. Nonetheless, both types can be actively ingested by the larvae and distributed in the intestine. 2 mg/L PS-MNPs enhance the acute toxicity of TPT. Interestingly, high concentrations of PS-NP50 (20 mg/L) diminish the acute toxicity of TPT due to their sedimentation properties and interactions with TPT. 200 µg/L PS-MNPs and 200 ng/L TPT affect complement and coagulation cascade pathways and cardiac development of medaka larvae. PS-MNPs exacerbate TPT-induced cardiotoxicity, with PS-NP50 exhibiting stronger effects than PS-MP5, which may be related to the higher adsorption capacity of NPs to TPT and their ability to enter the embryos before hatching. This study elucidates the distribution of MNPs during the early developmental stages of marine medaka and their effects on TPT toxicity, offering a theoretical foundation for the ecological risk assessment of MNPs.

A preliminary analysis of microRNA-21 expression alteration after antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe and debilitating psychiatric disorder of unknown etiology, and its diagnosis is essentially based on clinical symptoms. Despite growing evidence on the relation of altered expression of miRNAs and schizophrenia, most patients with schizophrenia usually had an extensive antipsychotic treatment history before miRNA expression profile analysis, and the pharmacological effects on miRNA expression are largely unknown. To overcome these impediments, miRNA microarray analysis was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from patients with schizophrenia who were not on antipsychotic medication and healthy controls. Then, using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we verified the top 10 miRNAs with the highest fold-change values from microarray analysis in 82 patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy controls, and nine miRNAs demonstrated significant differences in expression levels. Finally, we compared these nine miRNA profiles before and after antipsychotic treatment. Our results revealed that serum miR-21 expression decreased strikingly in patients after antipsychotic treatment. The change of miR-21 expression was negatively correlated with improvement of positive, general psychopathology, and aggressiveness symptoms. This study preliminarily analyzed the possible changes in circulating miRNAs expression in response to antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia, and the molecular mechanisms of this needs to be further explored.

The Chinese Mental Resilience Scale and its psychometric properties.

This study aimed to develop a Chinese Mental Resilience Scale. A total of 2500 healthy participants, in two representative samples of the Chinese population, were administered the scale. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlation analysis were used to obtain the relevant coefficients and verify the reliability and validity of the scale. Five factors were extracted: willpower, family support, optimism and self-confidence, problem solving, and interpersonal interaction, plus a lying subscale, which together accounted for 54 percent of the total variance. The Chinese Mental Resilience Scale demonstrated good psychometric properties. It can be used to evaluate the mental resilience level of general Chinese population.

Relationship between acute stress and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel: mediating effect of social support.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorder induced by acute stress has always been an important topic for study among the general population. However, the mediating effect of social support between acute stress and sleep disorder has rarely been reported before. METHODS: A total of 2,411 grass-root military personnel were randomly selected by cluster sampling, and administered the Chinese Military Personnel Sleep Disorder Scale, Military Acute Stress Scale and Social Support Rating Scale. RESULTS: The total score of acute stress scale was positively correlated with the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale (r = 0.209 ~ 0.465, P < 0.01); The total score of social support scale was positively correlated with the total score of acute stress scale and the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale (r = 0.356 ~ 0.537, P < 0.01). The analysis of mediating effects showed that lack of social support partially mediated between acute stress and the factors of sleep disorder. The analysis of structural equation model showed that acute stress not only had a direct effect on sleep disorder (the path coefficient was 0.29, P = 0.000), but also on lack of social support (the path coefficient was 0.39, P = 0.000); lack of social support had a direct effect on sleep disorder (the path coefficient was 0.48, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Acute stress and lack of social support are two significant factors of sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel. Well-established social support could alleviate sleep disorder induced by acute stress. Lack of social support was a partial mediator between acute stress and sleep disorder.

Scene-trait coping style of military rescuers in Wenchuan earthquake.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the scene-trait coping style of military rescuers in Wenchuan earthquake in an effort to provide scientific evidences for mental intervention program for Chinese military personnel. METHODS: By cluster sampling, a total of 151 military rescuers and 331 control servicemen were administered the military personnel scene-trait coping style scale (MPSTCSS). RESULTS: All active coping factor scores, and passive coping factor scores of affection, health and economy in the rescuer group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The 21-above age subgroup, the 3-year plus service subgroup, and the officer subgroup had significantly higher active coping factor scores on military tasks, military experience and personal development than those of the 21-below age subgroup, 3-year minus service subgroup and the soldier subgroup, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The earthquake relief servicemen can cope with stressful situations better than control group by taking active coping style. The officers, servicemen older than 21 years, and servicemen with more service duration than 3 years could usually take active coping style.