bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C-reactive protein provides superior prognostic accuracy than the IMDC risk model in renal cell carcinoma treated with Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab
Authors: Abuhelwa Ahmad Y. , Bellmunt Joaquim , Kichenadasse Ganessan , McKinnon Ross A. , Rowland Andrew , Sorich Michael J. , Hopkins Ashley M.
Published: August 2022

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is the main treatment option for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC); however, significant heterogeneity in response is commonly observed. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with mRCC treated with immunotherapy.

Patients and Methods

Data from patients with mRCC treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in the IMmotion150 and IMmotion151 trials were pooled. Cox proportional regression was used to model prognostic associations. The relative importance of CRP against International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) factors was confirmed using machine learning.

Results

CRPs were available from 527 patients (mean[range] CRP, 6.3[0.21–340]mg/L). Elevated CRP was significantly associated with worse OS (HR[95%CI], 1.71[1.54–1.90], p<0.001) and PFS (1.27[1.18–1.35], p<0.001). CRP was the most prognostic factor for survival within the available clinicopathological data. The prognostic performance of CRP was superior to IMDC model for OS (CRP c=0.76, IMDC c=0.67, p<0.001) and PFS (CRP OS c=0.62, IMDC c=0.59, p=0.03). Predicted 2-year OS probabilities for patients with CRP values of 0.5, 5, 40, and 150 mg/L were 96%, 73%, 42%, and 23%, respectively.

Conclusions

CRP is a powerful prognostic marker for survival, and its prognostic value was superior to the IMDC risk model. This study highlights that CRP could be implemented as stratification factor for mRCC immunotherapy trials and potentially as an easy-to-use prognostic tool in the clinic.
Opportunities and challenges of targeting c-Met in the treatment of digestive tumors
Authors: Zhang Zhengchao , Li Dong , Yun Heng , Tong Jie , Liu Wei , Chai Keqiang , Zeng Tongwei , Gao Zhenghua , Xie Yongqiang
Published: August 2022

At present, a large number of studies have demonstrated that c-Met generally exerts a crucial function of promoting tumor cells proliferation and differentiation in digestive system tumors. c-Met also mediates tumor progression and drug resistance by signaling interactions with other oncogenic molecules and then activating downstream pathways. Therefore, c-Met is a promising target for the treatment of digestive system tumors. Many anti-tumor therapies targeting c-Met (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and adoptive immunotherapy) have been developed in treating digestive system tumors. Some drugs have been successfully applied to clinic, but most of them are defective due to their efficacy and complications. In order to promote the clinical application of targeting c-Met drugs in digestive system tumors, it is necessary to further explore the mechanism of c-Met action in digestive system tumors and optimize the anti-tumor treatment of targeting c-Met drugs. Through reading a large number of literatures, the author systematically reviewed the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of c-Met associated with tumor and summarized the current status of targeting c-Met in the treatment of digestive system tumors so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of digestive system tumors.
FBP1
/miR-24-1/enhancer axis activation blocks renal cell carcinoma progression via Warburg effect
Authors: Ju Dongen , Liang Ying , Hou Guangdong , Zheng Wanxiang , Zhang Geng , Dun Xinlong , Wei Di , Yan Fei , Zhang Lei , Lai Dong , Yuan Jiarui , Zheng Yu , Wang Fuli , Meng Ping , Wang Yong , Yu Wenqiang , Yuan Jianlin
Published: August 2022

Warburg effect is a pivotal hallmark of cancers and appears prevalently in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). FBP1 plays a negative role in Warburg effect as a rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, yet its mechanism in RCC remains to be further characterized. Herein, we revealed that FBP1 was downregulated in RCC tissue samples and was related to the poor survival rate of RCC. Strikingly, miR-24-1 whose DNA locus is overlapped with enhancer region chr9:95084940-95087024 was closely linked with the depletion of FBP1 in RCC. Of note, miRNAs like miR-24-1 whose DNA loci are enriched with H3K27ac and H3K4me1 modifications are belonging to nuclear activating miRNAs (NamiRNAs), which surprisingly upregulate target genes in RCC through enhancer beyond the conventional role of repressing target gene expression. Moreover, miR-24-1 reactivated the expression of FBP1 to suppress Warburg effect in RCC cells, and subsequently inhibited proliferation and metastasis of RCC cells. In mechanism, the activating role of miR-24-1 was dependent on enhancer integrity by dual luciferase reporter assay and CRISPR/Cas9 system. Ultimately, animal assay in vivo validated the suppressive function of FBP1 on 786-O and ACHN cells. Collectively, the current study highlighted that activation of FBP1 by enhancer-overlapped miR-24-1 is capable of contributing to Warburg effect repression through which RCC progression is robustly blocked, providing an alternative mechanism for RCC development and as well implying a potential clue for RCC treatment strategy.
Risk of progression in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis: A retrospective study
Authors: Sun Lu , Jin Xiaoliang , Huang Liang , Zhao Jing , Jin Haifeng , Chen Mingtao , Zhang Chunli , Lu Bin
Published: August 2022

Background

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) can progress to gastric cancer (GC) thus requiring endoscopic surveillance. Here, we analyze various aspects of CAG progression, time, and mucosal background, to guide reasonable surveillance.

Methods

CAG patients with three or more endoscopies from 2010–2021 were included. All cases were analyzed for rate and time of progression, and cases with operative link on gastritis assessment (OLGA) staging, operative link on gastric intestinal metaplasia assessment (OLGIM) staging, and Kimura-Takemoto classification were further analyzed. Additional investigation of guideline-defined low-risk patients by reviewing endoscopy in the short-term (1–2 years) after baseline identified several patients as high-risk.

Results

Ninety-seven (10.4%) of the 929 CAG patients progressed to low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), or GC, during the observation period of 36–129 months (median 53, IQR=24), including 75 (8.1%) cases of LGIN, eight (0.9%) of HGIN, and 14 (1.5%) of GC. Among 170 patients with OLGA/OLGIM at baseline, two (2/2, 100%) GC cases occurred in patients with OLGA/OLGIM III and IV. Of the 236 patients with Kimura-Takemoto classification at baseline, 5/7 (71.4%) cases of GC occurred in patients with C3–O3. Ten, 11, and 25 patients classified as low-risk on the European, British, and Chinese Guidelines, underwent additional endoscopy within 1–2 years, resulting in three (30.0%), four (36.4%), and eight (32.0%) patients being classified as high-risk on these guidelines, respectively.

Conclusion

A minority of CAG patients can progress to GC. OLGA/OLGIM III and IV staging are closely associated with progression. Disease-associated risk may be underestimated in one-third of patients classified as low-risk by initial endoscopy.
MiR-27a-3p binds to TET1 mediated DNA demethylation of ADCY6 regulates breast cancer progression via epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Wu Hao , Qiu Juanjuan , Wu Zhenru , He Tao , Zhou Chen , Lv Qing
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Adenylyl cyclase isoform 6 (ADCY6) is a member of membrane-bound adenylate cyclase family that converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into cAMP and pyrophosphate. An increasing number of researchers have studied the role of ADCY6 in cancer. However, its specific role in breast cancer remains unknown.

Methods

Bioinformatics and clinical data were used to analyse the expression of ADCY6 in breast cancer. ADCY6 DNA methylation was analysed using DNA methylation-specific PCR and Bisulfite Sanger sequencing. Using lentiviral stable miRNA transfection together with cell biology functional assays and gene expression/target analysis, we investigated the interaction between miR-27a-3p, TET1 and ADCY6 in breast cancer.

Results

We found that ADCY6 is expressed at low levels in breast cancer and leads to increases in the proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. The low expression of ADCY6 is due to the lower demethylation of ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (TET1), and the methylation of ADCY6 can be altered by TET1. More importantly, bioinformatics analysis showed that TET1 is regulated by miR-27a-3p and regulates the methylation of ADCY6 to affect the EMT process of breast cancer cells, thereby affecting the malignant biological behaviour of breast cancer.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that the methylation modification of ADCY6 is regulated by TET1 and leads to ADCY6 activation. miR-27a-3p negatively regulates the expression of TET1 and affects the EMT process of breast cancer through ADCY6, thereby promoting the malignant biological behaviour of breast cancer. Our results may provide new research ideas and directions for DNA methylation and EMT changes in breast cancer.
Emerging role of lncRNAs in drug resistance mechanisms in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Peña-Flores José A. , Bermúdez Mercedes , Ramos-Payán Rosalío , Villegas-Mercado Carlos E. , Soto-Barreras Uriel , Muela-Campos Daniela , Álvarez-Ramírez Alexis , Pérez-Aguirre Brenda , Larrinua-Pacheco Ana D. , López-Camarillo César , López-Gutiérrez Jorge A. , Garnica-Palazuelos Julio , Estrada-Macías Marvin E. , Cota-Quintero Juan L. , Barraza-Gómez Andrés A.
Published: August 2022

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) originates in the squamous cell lining the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck region, including the oral cavity, nasopharynx, tonsils, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx. The heterogeneity, anatomical, and functional characteristics of the patient make the HNSCC a complex and difficult-to-treat disease, leading to a poor survival rate and a decreased quality of life due to the loss of important physiologic functions and aggressive surgical injury. Alteration of driver-oncogenic and tumor-suppressing lncRNAs has recently been recently in HNSCC to obtain possible biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches. This review provides current knowledge about the implication of lncRNAs in drug resistance mechanisms in HNSCC. Chemotherapy resistance is a major therapeutic challenge in HNSCC in which lncRNAs are implicated. Lately, it has been shown that lncRNAs involved in autophagy induced by chemotherapy and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) can act as mechanisms of resistance to anticancer drugs. Conversely, lncRNAs involved in mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) are related to chemosensitivity and inhibition of invasiveness of drug-resistant cells. In this regard, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in both processes and are important for cancer detection, progression, diagnosis, therapy response, and prognostic values. As the involvement of more lncRNAs is elucidated in chemoresistance mechanisms, an improvement in diagnostic and prognostic tools could promote an advance in targeted and specific therapies in precision oncology.
Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils from six lamiaceae folk medicinal plants
Authors: Sun Jiahui , Sun Peipei , Kang Chuanzhi , Zhang Lanyue , Guo Lanping , Kou Yaping
Published: August 2022

Essential oils have attracted wide attention in recent years due to their extensive applications in natural functional ingredients, pharmaceutical preparations, biomedical products, and the cosmetics industry. In this study, the chemical compositions and biological activities of essential oils extracted from six Lamiaceae herbs, including Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (PCEO), Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton (PFEO), Salvia japonica Thunb. (SJEO), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (ROEO), Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (LAEO), and Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Kuntze (AREO), were determined and analyzed. A total of 167 components were identified from the six essential oils by GC-MS analysis, with 35, 24, 47, 46, 54, and 37 components in PCEO, PFEO, SJEO, ROEO, LAEO, and AREO, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis of chemical compositions showed that the composition of the six essential oils was significantly different in content, and they were clearly divided into six classes. However, all of these six essential oils exhibited promising anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the expression of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cyclooxygenase-2 in rats with adjuvant arthritis, among which PFEO had the best performance. In addition, the six essential oils displayed significant cytotoxicity on B16 (IC50 = 86.91–228.91 μg/mL) and LNCaP cell lines (IC50 = 116.4–189.63 μg/mL). Meanwhile, all of them presented satisfactory antioxidant activity (IC50 = 4.88–13.89 μg/mL) compared with Trolox C (IC50 = 13.83 μg/mL), and SJEO (IC50 = 7.93 μg/mL) served as an optimal candidate natural antioxidant by DPPH assay. Taken together, these results indicate that the six Lamiaceae essential oils manifest excellent and diverse biological activities, enabling them to be used as perfect natural functional ingredients in antioxidant, antitumor, or anti-arthritic drugs. This study provides more references for pharmaphylogeny research and drug discovery from folk medicinal plants.
Identification of genetic loci conferring seed coat color based on a high-density map in soybean
Authors: Yuan Baoqi , Yuan Cuiping , Wang Yumin , Liu Xiaodong , Qi Guangxun , Wang Yingnan , Dong Lingchao , Zhao Hongkun , Li Yuqiu , Dong Yingshan
Published: August 2022

Seed coat color is a typical evolutionary trait. Identification of the genetic loci that control seed coat color during the domestication of wild soybean could clarify the genetic variations between cultivated and wild soybean. We used 276 F10 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross between a cultivated soybean (JY47) and a wild soybean (ZYD00321) as the materials to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for seed coat color. We constructed a high-density genetic map using re-sequencing technology. The average distance between adjacent markers was 0.31 cM on this map, comprising 9,083 bin markers. We identified two stable QTLs (qSC08 and qSC11) for seed coat color using this map, which, respectively, explained 21.933 and 26.934% of the phenotypic variation. Two candidate genes (CHS3C and CHS4A) in qSC08 were identified according to the parental re-sequencing data and gene function annotations. Five genes (LOC100786658, LOC100801691, LOC100806824, LOC100795475, and LOC100787559) were predicted in the novel QTL qSC11, which, according to gene function annotations, might control seed coat color. This result could facilitate the identification of beneficial genes from wild soybean and provide useful information to clarify the genetic variations for seed coat color in cultivated and wild soybean.
Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of cupin_1 domain-containing members involved in the responses to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and abiotic stress in Brassica napus
Authors: He Yizhou , Li Yan , Bai Zetao , Xie Meili , Zuo Rong , Liu Jie , Xia Jing , Cheng Xiaohui , Liu Yueying , Tong Chaobo , Zhang Yuanyuan , Liu Shengyi
Published: August 2022

Cupin_1 domain-containing proteins (CDPs) are ubiquitously present in higher plants, which are known to play essential roles in various biological processes. In this study, we carried out genome-wide characterization and systematic investigation of the CDP genes in Brassica napus. A total of 96 BnCDPs, including 71 germin-like proteins (GLPs; proteins with a single cupin_1 domain) and 25 CDP bicupins (proteins with two cupin_1 domains), were identified and clustered into six distinct subfamilies (I–VI) based on the phylogenic analysis, gene structure and motif distribution. Further analysis indicated that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication are main contributors to the species-specific expansion of the BnCDP gene family, and all the duplicated genes subsequently underwent strong purification selection. The promoter region of BnCDPs showed enrichment of cis-regulatory elements associated with development, hormone and stress, as well as transcription factor binding sites, which validates the prediction that BnCDPs are widely involved in plant growth and biotic and abiotic stress responses. The BnCDPs in different subfamilies exhibited obvious differences in expression among 30 developmental tissues/stages of B. napus, implying that BnCDPs may be involved in tissue- and stage-specific developmental processes. Similar trends in expression of most BnCDPs were observed under Sclerotinia sclerotiorum inoculation and four abiotic stresses (dehydration, cold, ABA and salinity), particularly the BnGLPs in subfamily I and III with single cupin_1 domain, revealing that BnCDPs are of great importance in the environmental adaption of B. napus. We then performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 274 B. napus core germplasms on S. sclerotiorum resistance and identified four significantly associated loci harboring five BnGLPs. The expression levels of two candidate genes, BnGLP1.A08 and BnGLP1.C08, were significantly correlated with S. sclerotiorum resistance. Their functional responses to multiple stages of S. sclerotiorum inoculation and four abiotic stresses were further examined through qPCR. Overall, this study provides rich resources for research on the function and evolutionary playground of CDP genes.
Why Are General Moral Values Poor Predictors of Concrete Moral Behavior in Everyday Life? A Conceptual Analysis and Empirical Study
Authors: van den Berg Tom Gerardus Constantijn , Kroesen Maarten , Chorus Caspar Gerard
Published: August 2022

Within moral psychology, theories focusing on the conceptualization and empirical measurement of people’s morality in terms of general moral values –such as Moral Foundation Theory- (implicitly) assume general moral values to be relevant concepts for the explanation and prediction of behavior in everyday life. However, a solid theoretical and empirical foundation for this idea remains work in progress. In this study we explore this relationship between general moral values and daily life behavior through a conceptual analysis and an empirical study. Our conceptual analysis of the moral value-moral behavior relationship suggests that the effect of a generally endorsed moral value on moral behavior is highly context dependent. It requires the manifestation of several phases of moral decision-making, each influenced by many contextual factors. We expect that this renders the empirical relationship between generic moral values and people’s concrete moral behavior indeterminate. Subsequently, we empirically investigate this relationship in three different studies. We relate two different measures of general moral values -the Moral Foundation Questionnaire and the Morality As Cooperation Questionnaire- to a broad set of self-reported morally relevant daily life behaviors (including adherence to COVID-19 measures and participation in voluntary work). Our empirical results are in line with the expectations derived from our conceptual analysis: the considered general moral values are poor predictors of the selected daily life behaviors. Furthermore, moral values that were tailored to the specific context of the behavior showed to be somewhat stronger predictors. Together with the insights derived from our conceptual analysis, this indicates the relevance of the contextual nature of moral decision-making as a possible explanation for the poor predictive value of general moral values. Our findings suggest that the investigation of morality’s influence on behavior by expressing and measuring it in terms of general moral values may need revision.
Humor at work that works: A multi-level examination of when and why leader humor promotes employee creativity
Authors: Zhang Yajun , Yin Changqin , Akhtar Muhammad Naseer , Wang Yongqi
Published: August 2022

Although the role of leadership in fostering employee creativity has been extensively studied, it is still unclear whether and how leader humor affects employee creativity. Drawing upon cultural representation theory (CRT), we examined creative self-efficacy as a mediator and traditionality as a situational factor in the relationship between leader humor and employee creativity by analyzing a sample of 306 employees and 88 leaders (paired data) collected through survey questionnaire from firms based in Hubei Province, China, covering the industries of automobile, IT, and medicine. Following the multi-level examination, leader humor was positively related to employee creativity, and creative self-efficacy was found to mediate the impact of leader humor on employee creativity. Furthermore, traditionality moderated the effect of leader humor on creative self-efficacy, as well as the indirect effect of leader humor on employee creativity through creative self-efficacy. This study provides a social psychological explanation for the association between humor and employee creativity, deepens the current understanding of the influence process of leader humor. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed at the end alongside limitations and recommendations for future research.
Influence of college education on happiness: A quasi-experimental study based on higher education expansion in China
Authors: Jiang Junfeng
Published: August 2022

Previous studies have documented a positive association between college education and happiness. However, the endogeneity of college education attainment is rarely examined, and a more robust link between college education and happiness needs to be built. Based on the Chinese General Social Survey data of 2017, the present study used the quasi-experiment of China’s higher education expansion started in 1999 to construct a fuzzy regression discontinuity design to examine the causal association between college education and happiness. It is observed that college education indeed improved Chinese happiness, but this positive association was stronger in males than in females. Further, college education was observed to improve happiness by improving individual political status, perceived personal status, health and family social status, but not by increasing personal income. Accordingly, the government should continue to promote the development of higher education, and the fairness of higher education development deserves more attention to reduce population disparities in happiness.
Associations between kindergarten climate and retention intention of kindergarten teachers: The chain mediating roles of perceived organizational support and psychological empowerment
Authors: Shi Dasheng , Zhang Mengmeng , Wang Yan , Xu Yongqi , Yang Xiantong
Published: August 2022

Kindergarten climate has been reported to be closely associated with teachers' retention intention, yet the underlying mechanism of this association remains unclear in some ethnic minority areas in China. Based on the Personal-Environment Fit Theory and Organizational Support Theory, the research aims to examine the correlation between kindergarten climate and retention intention of Chinese kindergarten teachers in ethnic minority areas and the chain mediating role of perceived organizational support, as well as the psychological empowerment. In total, 1,199 Chinese kindergarten teachers were recruited from ethnic minority areas to complete the questionnaires. Based on their responses, the main findings of the study were listed as follows: (1) A supportive kindergarten climate has a positive correlation with perceived organizational support, psychological empowerment, and retention intention. (2) A positive kindergarten climate would increase the retention intention only through the indirect path of perceived organizational support, psychological empowerment, as well as the chain mediating path between these two variables. Taken together, these results further explained the interplay between kindergarten climate and teachers' retention intention. Implications for research on retention intention were discussed. Theoretically, it enriches the theoretical basis related to the external environmental resources and individual cognition. Practically, it means that educational policymakers will need to issue new guidelines to ensure that more kindergarten teachers are retained in China's ethnic minority areas.
Negative perfectionism and sleep quality in Chinese international students under COVID-19 epidemic: A moderated mediation
Authors: Zhaoyang Huang , Feng Chen , Mei Fan , Jingjing Lin , Jiyang Pan
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study used a moderated mediation model to test the mediating effect of anxiety on the relationship between negative perfectionism and sleep quality and the moderating effect of COVID-19 epidemic risk perception during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chinese international students.

Materials and methods

A sample of 239 Chinese international students from the south of China, was surveyed with the Negative and Positive Perfectionism Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the General Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the COVID-19 Epidemic Risk Perception Inventory. Version 23.0 of SPSS and version 3.4 of PROCESS were used to perform the correlation analyses, mediation analysis, and moderated mediation analysis.

Results

(1) Negative perfectionism was significantly correlated with anxiety (r = 0.371, p < 0.01) and poor sleep quality (r = 0.291, p < 0.01). Anxiety was significantly correlated with poor sleep quality (r = 0.594, p < 0.01). (2) The mediating effect test showed that anxiety had a mediating effect between negative perfectionism and poor sleep quality (β = 0.157, p < 0.01). (3) Epidemic risk perception moderated the mediating effect of anxiety between negative perfectionism and poor sleep quality (β = 0.070, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Negative perfectionism affected sleep quality indirectly through anxiety. In particular, COVID-19 epidemic risk perception moderated the relationship between anxiety and sleep quality, such that the association was stronger when the COVID-19 epidemic risk perception was high. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of the negative link between negative perfectionism and poor sleep quality.
An empirical analysis of sport for mental health from the perspective of a factor analysis approach
Authors: Zhou Lan , Lee Sang-Ho , Cao Youshen
Published: August 2022

Mental health is a kind of emotional state, a good psychological state can have a positive impact on a person, physical exercise can have a positive impact on the psychological state of college students, prevent the generation of negative emotions, improve the bad emotional state, and then promote the mental health of college students. Health is an inevitable requirement to promote the all-round development of people and a basic condition for economic and social development. Health education should be incorporated into the national education system to promote the national health of the people through sports. Young people are the main force and backbone of national and social development. In order to realize the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation, we must attach importance to the development of young people and the physical and mental health of young people. In the process of compulsory education, middle school and high school period is a key stage in the gradual formation and development of students' psychology and body, but due to the large audience of China's education, the competition is more intense, which inevitably causes a lot of students to focus on exam-oriented education and neglect physical health, especially in recent years, the mental health issues of increasing concern. Through the research situation of mental health in China and the concept of mental health quality, this paper analyzes the problems of sports and mental health, and puts forward some corresponding suggestions for the problems, which has reference significance for promoting students' mental health.
Neurobiological correlates of the social and emotional impact of peer victimization: A review
Authors: Cubillo Ana
Published: August 2022

Peer victimization is very common during late childhood and adolescence. Despite the relatively reduced number of studies, the neurobiological underpinnings of the negative impact of peer victimization experiences have received increasing attention in recent years. The present selective review summarizes the most recent available evidence and provides a general overview of the impact of peer victimization experiences on social processing and decision-making at the neurobiological level, highlighting the most pressing areas requiring further research. Three key cognitive areas show a clear negative impact of peer victimization and bullying experiences: social valuation processing, reward and reinforcement learning and self-regulation processes. Victims show enhanced activation in key regions of the limbic system including the amygdala, rostral and dorsal anterior cingulate cortices, suggestive of enhanced sensitivity to social stimuli. They also show enhanced recruitment of lateral prefrontal regions crucially involved in cognitive and emotional regulation processes, and abnormal reward-related striatal function. The presence of psychopathology is a complex factor, increased as a consequence of peer victimization, but that also constitutes vulnerability to such experiences.
In- and Out-Group Effects on Social Perception and Empathy in Cocaine Use Disorder
Authors: Aue Tatjana , Kexel Ann-Kathrin , Kluwe-Schiavon Bruno , Bührer Stephanie , Baumgartner Markus R. , Soravia Leila M. , Quednow Boris B.
Published: August 2022

Earlier research revealed that cocaine users display impairments in emotional but not necessarily in cognitive empathy. However, no study to date has tested whether empathy is generally altered or whether impairments are restricted to specific social targets. The current investigation addresses this open question. In addition, we examined whether attributions of warmth and competence as well as personal future expectancies differed between cocaine users and substance-naïve controls. Twenty-two chronic cocaine users and 40 stimulant-naïve controls specified their perceived warmth and competence for four social targets [in-group member, opposite consumption out-group member (cocaine user for controls and non-user for cocaine user), opposite consumption out-group member of opposite gender, and elderly person]. They also specified their cognitive and emotional empathy for these four targets facing eight desirable and eight undesirable events. Finally, they rated the likelihood of these scenarios happening to themselves. Both cocaine users and controls attributed lower warmth to cocaine-using than non-using targets. Comparably, no in-group preference was observed in cocaine user’s emotional empathy ratings, and greater denigration of the in-group was associated with higher frequency and doses of cocaine consumption. In addition, cocaine users rated both desirable and undesirable events as more likely to happen to themselves than did controls. Results show that substance-naïve individuals stigmatize cocaine users. They further point to compromised self-esteem in cocaine users resulting from such stigmatization. Interventions should address stigmatization processes to break the vicious circle of mutual social distancing and stronger dedication to the drug.
‘In an otherwise limitless world, I was sure of my limit.’† Experiencing Anorexia Nervosa: A phenomenological metasynthesis
Authors: Bryant Emma , Aouad Phillip , Hambleton Ashlea , Touyz Stephen , Maguire Sarah
Published: August 2022

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate of the mental disorders, with still less than 50% of affected individuals achieving recovery. Recent calls to bring innovative, empirical research strategies to the understanding of illness and its core psychopathological features highlight the need to address significant paucity of efficacious treatment. The current study brings a phenomenological approach to this challenge, synthesizing lived experience phenomena as described by qualitative literature. Fifty-three studies published between the years 1998 and 2021 comprising a total of 1557 participants aged 12–66 suffering from AN or sub-threshold AN are included. Reciprocal and refutational analysis generated six key third-order constructs: “emotion experienced as overwhelming,” “identity,” “AN as a tool,” “internal conflict relating to Anorexia,” “interpersonal communication difficulties” and “corporeality.” Twenty-six sub-themes were identified, the most common being fear, avoidance, AN as guardian/protector, and AN as intertwined with identity. Some themes associated with current treatment models such as low self-esteem, need for social approval and feelings of fatness were less common. We highlight the significant role of intense and confusing emotion in AN, which is both rooted in and engenders amplified fear and anxiety. Restrictive eating functions to numb these feelings and withdraw an individual from a chaotic and threatening world whilst providing a sense of self around which to build an illness identity. Results have implications for therapeutic practice and overly protective weight and shape focused medical treatment models, which may serve to reinforce the disease.
Improving the adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures in the community: Evidence brief for policy
Authors: Fulone Izabela , Barreto Jorge Otavio Maia , Barberato-Filho Silvio , Bergamaschi Cristiane de Cássia , Lopes Luciane Cruz
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To identify evidence-based strategies to improve adherence to the preventive measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the community level.

Method

This is an evidence brief for policy, combining research evidence specific to contextual knowledge from stakeholders. A systematic search was performed in 18 electronic databases, gray literature, and a handle search, including only secondary and tertiary studies that focused on the adherence of the general population to COVID-19 preventive measures in the community. Two reviewers, independently, performed the study selection, data extraction, and assessment of the quality of the studies. Relevant evidence has been synthesized to draft evidence-based strategies to improve adherence. These strategies were circulated for external endorsement by stakeholders and final refinement. Endorsement rates >80%, 60–80% and <60% were considered high, moderate, and low respectively.

Results

Eleven studies, with varying methodological qualities were included: high (n = 3), moderate (n = 3), low (n = 1), and critically low (n = 4). Three evidence based strategies were identified: i. Risk communication; ii. Health education to the general public, and iii. Financial support and access to essential supplies and services. The rates of endorsement were: 83% for risk communication, 83% for health education, and 92% for financial support and access to essential supplies and services. The evidence showed that an increase in knowledge, transparent communication, and public awareness about the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of adopting preventive measures results in changes in people's attitudes and behavior, which can increase adherence. In addition, the guarantee of support and assistance provides conditions for people to adopt and sustain such measures.

Conclusions

These strategies can guide future actions and the formulation of public policies to improve adherence to preventive measures in the community during the current COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence and prognosis of depression: An updated meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xie Fei , Huang Tongmin , Lou Dandi , Fu Rongrong , Ni Chaoxiong , Hong Jiaze , Ruan Lingyan
Published: August 2022

Background

There have been several controversies about the correlation between vitamin D and depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and the incidence and prognosis of depression and to analyze the latent effects of subgroups including population and supplement strategy.

Methods

A systematic search for articles before July 2021 in databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence and prognosis of depression.

Results

This meta-analysis included 29 studies with 4,504 participants, indicating that the use of vitamin D was beneficial to a decline in the incidence of depression (SMD: −0.23) and improvement of depression treatment (SMD: −0.92). Subgroup analysis revealed that people with low vitamin D levels (<50 nmol/L) and females could notably benefit from vitamin D in both prevention and treatment of depression. The effects of vitamin D with a daily supplementary dose of >2,800 IU and intervention duration of ≥8 weeks were considered significant in both prevention and treatment analyses. Intervention duration ≤8 weeks was recognized as effective in the treatment group.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that vitamin D has a beneficial impact on both the incidence and the prognosis of depression. Whether suffering from depression or not, individuals with low vitamin D levels, dose >2,800 IU, intervention duration ≥8 weeks, and all females are most likely to benefit from vitamin D supplementation.
The acceptance to heterologous booster vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine among HCWs and targeted population: A cross-sectional study in central China
Authors: Qin Wei , Zhang Xiaqing , Wang Yao , Pan Fan , Cheng Kai , Huang Fangfang , Song Jian , Su Hong
Published: August 2022

Background

There are few studies reported on the acceptance of heterologous booster vaccination for the COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers (HCWs) and the general population. We aimed to address that gap and explore determinant factors of acceptance of the heterologous booster vaccination.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the prevalence and determinant factors of the acceptance of heterologous booster vaccination for the COVID-19 vaccine among HCWs and the targeted population.

Results

A total of 364 HCWs and 1,898 targeted populations were investigated in our study. 76.4% HCWs would recommend heterologous booster vaccination to their patients and 59.8% targeted population endorsed a clear willingness to receive this strategy. Compared with the adenoviral vector vaccine (AD5-nCOV), recombinant protein vaccine (ZF2001) was more preferred by HCWs (79.1%) and the targeted population (72.0%) as a heterologous booster vaccine. HCWs who did not work in the vaccination clinics were more likely to recommend heterologous booster vaccination (OR = 3.3, CI: 1.5–7.3). The targeted population aged 18–59 years (OR = 1.5, 95% CI:1.1–2.3), had a positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.7–8.6), had confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 6.6, 95% CI: 4.2–10.2), followed the recommendation of HCWs (OR = 33.6, 95% CI: 22.0–51.2), took initiative in collecting booster shots information (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.5–3.0), and were familiar with the heterologous strategy (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1) were more likely to choose heterologous booster vaccination. The history of side effects of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine was a negative factor in choosing heterologous booster vaccination (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.4–1.0).

Conclusions

The heterologous booster vaccination strategy on the COVID-19 vaccine could be widely accepted among HCWs, whereas its acceptance among targeted population was only moderate. Public authorities should make efforts to communicate the public about the effectiveness and safety of the heterologous booster vaccination which could help increase their willingness to get vaccinated.
Enhancing touch sensibility by sensory retraining in a sensory discrimination task via haptic rendering
Authors: Villar Ortega Eduardo , Aksöz Efe Anil , Buetler Karin A. , Marchal-Crespo Laura
Published: August 2022

Stroke survivors are commonly affected by somatosensory impairment, hampering their ability to interpret somatosensory information. Somatosensory information has been shown to critically support movement execution in healthy individuals and stroke survivors. Despite the detrimental effect of somatosensory impairments on performing activities of daily living, somatosensory training—in stark contrast to motor training—does not represent standard care in neurorehabilitation. Reasons for the neglected somatosensory treatment are the lack of high-quality research demonstrating the benefits of somatosensory interventions on stroke recovery, the unavailability of reliable quantitative assessments of sensorimotor deficits, and the labor-intensive nature of somatosensory training that relies on therapists guiding the hands of patients with motor impairments. To address this clinical need, we developed a virtual reality-based robotic texture discrimination task to assess and train touch sensibility. Our system incorporates the possibility to robotically guide the participants' hands during texture exploration (i.e., passive touch) and no-guided free texture exploration (i.e., active touch). We ran a 3-day experiment with thirty-six healthy participants who were asked to discriminate the odd texture among three visually identical textures –haptically rendered with the robotic device– following the method of constant stimuli. All participants trained with the passive and active conditions in randomized order on different days. We investigated the reliability of our system using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). We also evaluated the enhancement of participants' touch sensibilityviasomatosensory retraining and compared whether this enhancement differed between training with active vs. passive conditions. Our results showed that participants significantly improved their task performance after training. Moreover, we found that training effects were not significantly different between active and passive conditions, yet, passive exploration seemed to increase participants' perceived competence. The reliability of our system ranged from poor (in active condition) to moderate and good (in passive condition), probably due to the dependence of the ICC on the between-subject variability, which in a healthy population is usually small. Together, our virtual reality-based robotic haptic system may be a key asset for evaluating and retraining sensory loss with minimal supervision, especially for brain-injured patients who require guidance to move their hands.
Recruiting, paying, and evaluating the experiences of civic scientists studying urban park usage during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Alizadehtazi Bita , Woerdeman Sloane , Tangtrakul Korin , Gussenhoven Anna , Mostafavi Nariman , Montalto Franco A.
Published: August 2022

This paper describes an attempt to utilize paid citizen science in a research project that documented urban park usage during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in two U.S. cities. Strategies used by the research team to recruit, pay, and evaluate the experiences of the 43 citizen scientists are discussed alongside key challenges in contemporary citizen science. A literature review suggests that successful citizen science projects foster diverse and inclusive participation; develop appropriate ways to compensate citizen scientists for their work; maximize opportunities for participant learning; and ensure high standards for data quality. In this case study, the selection process proved successful in employing economically vulnerable individuals, though the citizen scientist participants were disproportionately female, young, White, non-Hispanic, single, and college educated relative to the communities studied. The participants reported that the financial compensation provided by the study, similar in amount to the economic stimulus checks distributed simultaneously by the Federal government, were reasonable given the workload, and many used it to cover basic household needs. Though the study took place in a period of high economic risk, and more than 80% of the participants had never participated in a scientific study, the experience was rated overwhelmingly positive. Participants reported that the work provided stress relief, indicated they would consider participating in similar research in the future. Despite the vast majority never having engaged in most park stewardship activities, they expressed interest in learning more about park usage, mask usage in public spaces, and socio-economic trends in relation to COVID-19. Though there were some minor challenges in data collection, data quality was sufficient to publish the topical results in a peer-reviewed companion paper. Key insights on the logistical constraints faced by the research team are highlighted throughout the paper to advance the case for paid citizen science.
Nutritional Challenges and Dietary Practices of Ethnic Minority (Indigenous) Groups in China: A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Wang Zeyuan , Mashford-Pringle Angela
Published: August 2022

Indigenous food systems can affect multiple aspects of Indigenous people's health. In China, the government declared that there are no Indigenous people in China and used the term “ethnic minority groups” instead. However, to date, no attempt has been made to investigate the nutrition status and dietary practices of all 55 ethnic minority groups. To understand this pertinent issue, a systematic review is required. The main selection criteria were publications should be about nutrition status or dietary practices among ethnic minority groups in China, specify the name of the ethnic minority group, and be published within the past 10 years. For this literature review, 111 publications were selected through Wanfang Med Online for Chinese publications and Google Scholar for English publications. Linear regressions were applied to explore what factors can affect the total number of publications for an ethnic minority group. The main findings include that only 15 ethnic minority groups have dietary intake data representing the general people of the ethnic group; only seven ethnic minority groups have data for both nutrition status (anthropometric and nutrients intake/deficiency) and dietary practices (dietary intake and dietary habits); there are still 10 ethnic minority groups with a total number of population 845,420 that lack studies on both nutrition status and dietary practices; ethnic minority groups are suffering from double-burden malnutrition and consuming unbalanced diets; primary and middle school students are the most prevalent study population than any other age group due to easy access; and an ethnic minority group is likely to have more publications about nutrition status and dietary practices if they have a larger population or are unique to a region. The results indicate that more national-level programs and timely nutrition and dietary reports should be implemented to address double-burden malnutrition and unbalanced diets among ethnic minority groups in China. More studies involving maternal nutrition, targeting underrepresented ethnic minority groups and age groups, and exploring traditional food systems in China are also essential to better understand and address this issue.