CXCR4-mediated neutrophil dynamics in periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Periodontitis is a common oral disease closely related to immune response and this study is aimed to identify the key immune-related pathogenic genes and analyze the infiltration and function of immune cells in the disease using bioinformatics methods. METHODS: Transcriptome datasets and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets were downloaded from the GEO database. We utilized weighted correlation network analysis and least absolute selection and shrinkage operator, protein-protein interaction network construction to screen out key pathogenic genes as well as conducted the cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts algorithm to analyze and characterize immune cell types in periodontal tissues. In addition to bioinformatics validations, clinical and cell samples were collected and mouse periodontitis models were constructed to validate the important role of key genes in periodontitis. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis pointed out the positive correlation between CXCR4 expression and periodontitis, and revealed the increased infiltration of neutrophils in periodontal inflammatory. Similar results were obtained from clinical samples and animal models. In addition, the clustering and functional enrichment results based on CXCR4 expression levels included activation of immune response and cell migration, implying the possible function of CXCR4 on regulating neutrophil dynamics, which might contribute to periodontitis. Subsequent validation experiments confirmed that the increased expression of CXCR4 in neutrophils under periodontitis, where cell migration-related pathways also were activated. CONCLUSION: CXCR4 could be the key pathogenic gene of periodontitis and CXCR4/CXCL12 signal axial might contribute to the development of periodontitis by mediating neutrophil dynamics, suggesting that CXCR4 could be a potential target to help identify novel strategies for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis.

Validation and structural exploration of the Chinese version of the Body Talk Scale.

The Body Talk Scale (BTS) measures both negative body talk (including fat talk and muscle talk) and positive body talk across genders. In this study, we translated it into Chinese and assessed its structure, reliability and validity among mainland Chinese residents. Item analyses indicated that no item deletion was necessary for this study, and both exploratory factor analysis (n = 1853) and exploratory graph analysis (n = 1583) supported the three-factor structure of the original scale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale had a good model fit with CFI= 0.95, GFI= 0.93, TLI= 0.94, and RMSEA= 0.079(90 %CI [0.075, 0.084]). The results also showed that the Chinese version of the BTS had adequate criterion-related validity，internal consistency and six-week test-retest reliability. Meanwhile, the scale has good measurement invariance with respect to gender and can be tested for gender differences. In conclusion, the BTS showed sufficient psychometric properties in a Chinese sample, making it a valid instrument for studying body talk and health status in Chinese populations.

Can smartphone use affect chronic disease self-management among Chinese middle-aged and older adults? A moderated mediation model.

Introduction: Chronic disease self-management is influenced by many factors. Previous studies have linked patients' media use with chronic disease self-management, but the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are less understood. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the mediating role of family health (FH) between frequency of smartphone use (FOSU) and self-management behaviors among middle-aged and older patients with chronic diseases (SBAMAOPWCD) through a moderated mediation model, and whether this indirect relationship is modified by the solitary status of middle-aged and older Chinese patients with chronic disease. Methods: Surveys were collected from 1,424 (N = 1,424; age > 45) middle-aged and older with one or more chronic conditions in China on self-reports of FOSU, FH and Chronic disease self-management behaviors were used to examine the moderated mediation model. Results: The results showed that the FOSU was significantly and positively associated with SBAMAOPWCD (ß = 0.220, p < 0.001; ß = 0.170, p < 0.001; ß = 0.167, p < 0.001; ß = 0.158, p < 0.001); The Family health resources (FHR) dimension of FH and the Family external social supports (FESS) dimension mediated the relationship between the FOSU and SBAMAOPWCD (ß = -0.0758, CI: -0.1402, -0.0236; ß = 0.0721, CI: 0.0141, 0.1458), Among them, the FHR dimension mediated mainly among FOSU, exercise and cognitive symptom management practices (CSMP; ß = -0.0344, CI: -0.0652, -0.0102; ß = -0.0401, CI: -0.0725, -0.0138), the FESS dimension of the FH mediated the relationship between the FOSU and communication with physicians (CWP; ß = 0.0376, CI: 0.0116, 0.0705); Solitary state played a moderating role in the relationship between FHR dimension and SBAMAOPWCD (live alone ß = -0.2395, CI: -0.4574, -0.0661; not live-alone ß = -0.0599, CI: -0.1164, -0.0172). In addition, solitary state played a moderating role in the relationship among FHR dimension and CSMP for middle-aged and older patients (live alone ß = -0.1095, CI: -0.1961, -0.0378; not live-alone ß = -0.0334, CI: -0.0633, -0.0102). Interestingly, the relationship between FESS dimension and SBAMAOPWCD was moderated only by the non-live alone population (ß = 0.0676, CI: 0.0008, 0.1478), and not by the live-alone population (ß = 0.1026, CI: -0.1061, 0.3278).Unexpectedly, we found that when their FHR were lower, they reported higher levels of chronic disease self-management, middle-aged and older patients with chronic diseases who live alone are more significant in this impact relationship. Conclusions: The study further deepens our understanding of the mechanisms linking frequency of smartphone use with chronic disease self-management behaviors, and it helps to develop interventions to improve chronic disease self-management behaviors in middle-aged and older adults.

Color-tunable emission and energy transfer investigation in Sr3Y(PO4)3:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors for white LEDs.

A novel color-tunable phosphor Sr3Y(PO4)3:Ce3+,Tb3+ was synthesized through solid-state reaction method. Several techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, were used to investigate the obtained phosphors. Results of luminescence spectra and decay time measurements revealed that an efficient energy transfer occurred from Ce3+ to Tb3+ via a dipole-dipole mechanism, where Ce3+ exhibited a strong excitation band in the near-ultraviolet region. CIE chromaticity coordinates were tuned from deep blue (0.162, 0.090) to green (0.230, 0.411) by adjusting the relative concentrations between Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions. Results revealed that the as-synthesized phosphors had color-tunable characteristics and can be used as promising materials in the field of phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes.