•Chinese college students reported extremely high prevalence of psychological distress.•Females reported significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress than did males.•Gender moderated the ...effects of resilience and perceived social support on psychological distress.•Male college students relied on both resilience and perceived social support, especially the former, to fight against psychological distress, and females relied mainly on perceived social support to reduce psychological distress.
This study aimed to examine the gender differences in the prevalence of psychological distress, and in the effects of resilience and perceived social support on psychological distress among Chinese college students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in current study. The psychological distress, resilience, and perceived social support of 1400 university students of China were measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and the 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. Multiple group analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling to examine the moderating role of gender in the effects of resilience and perceived social support on psychological distress. The prevalence of psychological distress was 90.86%. Female college students reported a higher prevalence of psychological distress (94.07%) than males (89.11%). Among male college students, the resilience was more strongly associated with psychological distress than perceived social support (−0.18 vs.−0.16). In contrast, among female college students, resilience was not significantly related, but perceived social support was closely related with psychological distress (0.01 vs. −0.31). In conclusion, Chinese female college students are more vulnerable to psychological distress than males. Gender moderates the relationships among resilience, perceived social support, and psychological distress.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Forest fire is becoming one of the most significant natural disasters at the expense of ecology and economy. In this article, we develop an effective SqueezeNet based asymmetric encoder-decoder ...U-shape architecture, Attention U-Net and SqueezeNet (ATT Squeeze U-Net), mainly functions as an extractor and a discriminator of forest fire. This model takes attention mechanism to highlight useful features and suppress irrelevant contents by embedding Attention Gate (AG) units in the skip connection of U-shape structure. In this way, salient features are emphasized so that the proposed method could be competent at forest fire segmentation tasks with a small number of parameters. Specifically, we first replace classical convolution layer by a depthwise one and engage a Channel Shuffle operation as a feature communicator in the Fire module of classical SqueezeNet. Then, this modified SqueezeNet is employed as a substitution of the encoder of Attention U-Net and a corresponding DeFire module designed is combined into the decoder as well. Finally, to classify true fire, we take use of a fragment of the encoder in ATT Squeeze U-Net. The experimental results of modified SqueezeNet integrated Attention U-Net show that a competitive accuracy at 0.93 and an average prediction time at 0.89 second per image are achieved for reliable real-time forest fire detection.
Personalized prediction of chronic diseases is crucial for reducing the disease burden. However, previous studies on chronic diseases have not adequately considered the relationship between chronic ...diseases. To explore the patient-wise risk of multiple chronic diseases, we developed a multitask learning Cox (MTL-Cox) model for personalized prediction of nine typical chronic diseases on the UK Biobank dataset. MTL-Cox employs a multitask learning framework to train semiparametric multivariable Cox models. To comprehensively estimate the performance of the MTL-Cox model, we measured it via five commonly used survival analysis metrics: concordance index, area under the curve (AUC), specificity, sensitivity, and Youden index. In addition, we verified the validity of the MTL-Cox model framework in the Weihai physical examination dataset, from Shandong province, China. The MTL-Cox model achieved a statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement in results compared with competing methods in the evaluation metrics of the concordance index, AUC, sensitivity, and Youden index using the paired-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In particular, the MTL-Cox model improved prediction accuracy by up to 12% compared to other models. We also applied the MTL-Cox model to rank the absolute risk of nine chronic diseases in patients on the UK Biobank dataset. This was the first known study to use the multitask learning-based Cox model to predict the personalized risk of the nine chronic diseases. The study can contribute to early screening, personalized risk ranking, and diagnosing of chronic diseases.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The efficiency of different first-line treatments, such as first-line surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART), in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is still unclear due to a ...lack of direct comparative trials. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to elucidate and compare the efficacies of first-line treatments in patients with DIE, with an emphasis on fertility outcomes.
An exhaustive search of PubMed Central, SCOPUS, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane trial registry, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases was done to identify studies directly comparing first-line surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART) for DIE, and reporting fertility-related outcomes. Pooled estimates for each of the binary outcomes were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The results were pooled using a random-effects model with the Mantel-Haenszel technique.
Our results show that pregnancy rate per patient (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.59 to 3.63), pregnancy rate per cycle (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.45 to 2.99), and live births per patient (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 0.56 to 4.91) were comparable in DIE patients, treated with surgery or ART as a first line of treatment. When both complete and incomplete surgical DIE excision procedures were taken into account, surgery was associated with a significant enhancement in the pregnancy rate per patient (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.40).
The available evidence suggests that both first-line surgery and ART can be effective DIE treatments with similar fertility outcomes. However, further analysis reveals that excluding studies involving endometriomas significantly alters the understanding of treatment efficacy between surgery and ART for DIE-associated infertility.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=426061, identifier CRD42023426061.
We reported a novel strategy for rapidly and accurately screening biomarkers based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) metabolomics data. First, the preliminary ...variables were obtained by screening the original variables using method validation. Second, the variables were selected from the preliminary variables and formed the variable sets by testing different thresholds of single factor (variable importance in projection (VIP), fold change (FC), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and –ln(p-value)). Then the partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were performed. The best threshold of each factor, and the corresponding variable set were found by comparing the models' R2X, R2Y, and Q2. Third, the second-step-obtained variable sets were further screened by multi-factors. The best combination of the multi-factors, and the corresponding variable set were found by comparing R2X, R2Y, and Q2. The expected biomarkers were thus obtained. The proposed strategy was successfully applied to screen biomarkers in urine, plasma, hippocampus, and cortex samples of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model, and significantly decreased the time of screening and identifying biomarkers, improved the R2X, R2Y, and Q2, therefore enhanced the interpreting, grouping, and predicting abilities of the PLS-DA model compared with generally-applied procedure. This work can provide a valuable clue to scientists who search for potential biomarkers. It is expected that the developed strategy can be written as a program and applied to screen biomarkers rapidly, efficiently and accurately.
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•A strategy for rapidly and accurately screening biomarkers based on metabolomics is proposed.•The best thresholds, combination of factors and biomarkers are scientifically selected.•The novel strategy reduces biomarkers' number and improve R2X, R2Y and Q2 of the PLS-DA model.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Previously, we reported that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analog liraglutide could inhibit fat de novo synthesis in the liver and reduce abdominal fat accumulation in broiler chickens. ...Nevertheless, the impact of GLP-1 on adipocyte fat deposition remains enigmatic. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GLP-1, via its analog liraglutide, on chicken chicken adipocytes in vitro. Chemical assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blot were employed to assess the proliferation, differentiation, and fat deposition of chicken adipocytes. Our findings indicated that liraglutide significantly suppressed cell proliferation and promoted preadipocyte differentiation in comparison to the control group. This was evidenced by elevated triglyceride (TG) content and upregulated mRNA expression of lipogenesis-related enzymes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), as well as regulators including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (CEBPα). In mature adipocytes, liraglutide attenuated fat deposition by inhibiting fat de novo synthesis, evidenced by decreased mRNA expression of ACC, FAS, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1, and concurrent upregulation of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and phosphorylated ACC (p-ACC). This resulted in reduced accumulation of lipid droplets and TG content in mature adipocytes. Collectively, our findings indicate that liraglutide suppresses the proliferation of preadipocytes, enhances their differentiation, and concurrently inhibits de novo lipogenesis in mature adipocytes. This observation offers profound insights into the mechanisms that underlie liraglutide's anti-adipogenic effects, which could have significant implications for the treatment of obesity in broiler chickens.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill (Saururaceae), also known as Asian lizard's tail, is a plant commonly found in East Asia. Its leaves have been used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases ...such as edema, pneumonia, hypertension, leproma, jaundice, gonorrhea, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Based on the efficacies of S. chinensis, the anti-inflammatory effects of this plant and the molecular mechanism were evaluated using the ethanol extract of S. chinensis leaves (Sc-EE).
The production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in response to Sc-EE was evaluated using Griess and semi-quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reactions. Furthermore, relevant proteins including c-Jun, c-Fos, p38, JNK, ERK, MEK1/2, MKK3/6, MKK4/7, and TAK1 were detected through immunoblotting.
Sc-EE diminished production of nitric oxide (NO); decreased expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, interleukin (IL)-6, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells; and attenuated activator protein 1 (AP-1)-mediated luciferase activities. The extract markedly downregulated the phosphorylation of TAK1, upregulated thermal stability of TAK1, and reduced TAK1/AP-1-mediated luciferase activity in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells and TAK1-overexpressing HEK293T cells.
These results demonstrated that Sc-EE suppresses pro-inflammatory gene expression through blockade of the TAK1/AP-1 pathway in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophages, implying that inhibition of TAK1/AP-1 signaling by S. chinensis is a key event in its anti-inflammatory activity.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia, but precise diagnosis and treatment are not sufficient so far. The purpose of this study is to develop biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ...diagnosis and better understanding of AD. As a result, lysophosphatidylcholine and intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism including sphinganine-1-phosphate, sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphingomyelin, and sphingosine in plasma were annotated as potential biomarkers by using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS. Besides, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) including GstA3, Gstm1, Gstm5, Gstm3, Gstk1 and Gstp1 were significantly enhanced in AD hippocampus by using label free nano-LC-MS/MS. Thus, pathogenesis of AD was involved with increasing of choline, decreasing of ACh, enhancement of GSTs and increasing of glutamate which led to oxidative stress and excitotoxity. Effects of donepezil and a natural medicine were evaluated through metabolomics and proteomics. In summary, proteomic and metabolomic analysis on constructed AD rat model were performed through rapid, sensitive and high resolution LC-MS methods to reveal candidate biomarkers. The data suggested that GSTs have great value as therapeutic targets. This study provided valuable information for the diagnosis mechanism and drug discovery of AD.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Epidemiological surveys show that the incidence of age-related dementia and cognitive impairment is increasing and it has been a heavy burden for society, families, and healthcare systems, making the ...preservation of cognitive function in an increasingly aging population a major challenge. Exercise is beneficial for brain health, and FDNC5/irisin, a new exercise-induced myokine, is thought to be a beneficial mediator to cognitive function and plays an important role in the crosstalk between skeletal muscle and brain. This review provides a critical assessment of the recent progress in both fundamental and clinical research of FDNC5/irisin in dementia and cognitive impairment-related disorders. Furthermore, we present a novel perspective on the therapeutic effectiveness of FDNC5/irisin in alleviating these conditions.Epidemiological surveys show that the incidence of age-related dementia and cognitive impairment is increasing and it has been a heavy burden for society, families, and healthcare systems, making the preservation of cognitive function in an increasingly aging population a major challenge. Exercise is beneficial for brain health, and FDNC5/irisin, a new exercise-induced myokine, is thought to be a beneficial mediator to cognitive function and plays an important role in the crosstalk between skeletal muscle and brain. This review provides a critical assessment of the recent progress in both fundamental and clinical research of FDNC5/irisin in dementia and cognitive impairment-related disorders. Furthermore, we present a novel perspective on the therapeutic effectiveness of FDNC5/irisin in alleviating these conditions.
A. Chev. ex Guillaumin, also known as
(Blume) T.G. Hartley, is a herbal medicinal plant native to Vietnam. Although
is used as a traditional medicine to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, the ...pharmacological mechanisms related to this plant are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of a methanol extract of
leaves (Ep-ME) on the production of inflammatory mediators, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes, and inflammatory signaling activities in macrophage cell lines. The results showed that Ep-ME strongly suppressed the release of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 cells induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), pam3CysSerLys4 (Pam3CSK), and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) without cytotoxicity. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction further confirmed that Ep-ME suppressed the expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) at the transcriptional level and reduced the luciferase activities of activator protein 1 (AP-1) reporter promoters. In addition, immunoblotting analyses of the whole lysate and nuclear fraction, as well as overexpression assays demonstrated that Ep-ME decreased the translocation of c-Jun and suppressed the activation of transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in the AP-1 signaling pathways. These results imply that Ep-ME could be developed as an anti-inflammatory agent that targets TAK1 in the AP-1 signaling pathway.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
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