Pandemics have become more frequent and more complex during the twenty-first century. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following pandemics is a significant public health concern. We sought to ...provide a reliable estimate of the worldwide prevalence of PTSD after large-scale pandemics as well as associated risk factors, by a systematic review and meta-analysis. We systematically searched the MedLine, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, medRxiv, and bioRxiv databases to identify studies that were published from the inception up to August 23, 2020, and reported the prevalence of PTSD after pandemics including sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H1N1, Poliomyelitis, Ebola, Zika, Nipah, Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), H5N1, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 88 studies were included in the analysis, with 77 having prevalence information and 70 having risk factors information. The overall pooled prevalence of post-pandemic PTSD across all populations was 22.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 19.9-25.4%, I
: 99.7%). Healthcare workers had the highest prevalence of PTSD (26.9%; 95% CI: 20.3-33.6%), followed by infected cases (23.8%: 16.6-31.0%), and the general public (19.3%: 15.3-23.2%). However, the heterogeneity of study findings indicates that results should be interpreted cautiously. Risk factors including individual, family, and societal factors, pandemic-related factors, and specific factors in healthcare workers and patients for post-pandemic PTSD were summarized and discussed in this systematic review. Long-term monitoring and early interventions should be implemented to improve post-pandemic mental health and long-term recovery.
The Toll-like receptor (TLR) family acts as a bridge connecting innate and acquired immunity. TLR10 remains one of the least understood members of this family. Some studies have examined TLR10 ...ligands, dimerization of TLR10 with other TLRs, and downstream signalling pathways and functions, but they have often arrived at conflicting conclusions. TLR10 can induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines by forming homodimers with itself or heterodimers with TLR1 or other TLRs, but it can also inhibit proinflammatory responses when co-expressed with TLR2 or potentially other TLRs. Mutations in the Toll/Interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain of TLR10 alter its signalling activity. Polymorphisms in the TLR10 gene can change the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses and hence modulate the susceptibility to infection and autoimmune diseases. Understanding the full range of TLR10 ligands and functions may allow the receptor to be exploited as a therapeutic target in inflammation- or immune-related diseases. Here, we summarize recent findings on the pro- and anti-inflammatory roles of TLR10 and the molecular pathways in which it is implicated. Our goal is to pave the way for future studies of the only orphan TLR thought to have strong potential as a target in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.
Infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are crucial public health issues and may lead to considerable fear among the general public and stigmatization of, and discrimination against, specific ...populations. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of stigma in infectious disease epidemics. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases since inception to June 08, 2021, and reported the prevalence of stigma towards people with infectious diseases including SARS, H1N1, MERS, Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19. A total of 50 eligible articles were included that contributed 51 estimates of prevalence in 92722 participants. The overall pooled prevalence of stigma across all populations was 34% 95% CI: 28-40%, including enacted stigma (36% 95% CI: 28-44%) and perceived stigma (31% 95% CI: 22-40%). The prevalence of stigma in patients, community population, and health care workers, was 38% 95% CI: 12- 65%, 36% 95% CI: 28-45%, and 30% 95% CI: 20-40%, respectively. The prevalence of stigma in participants from low- and middle-income countries was 37% 95% CI: 29-45%, which is higher than that from high-income countries (27% 95% CI: 18-36%) though this difference was not statistically significant. A similar trend of prevalence of stigma was also observed in individuals with lower education (47% 95% CI: 23-71%) compared to higher education level (33% 95% CI: 23-4%). These findings indicate that stigma is a significant public health concern, and effective and comprehensive interventions are needed to counteract the damaging effects of the infodemics during infectious disease epidemics, including COVID-19, and reduce infectious disease-related stigma.
The upsurge in the number of people affected by the COVID-19 is likely to lead to increased rates of emotional trauma and mental illnesses. This article systematically reviewed the available data on ...the benefits of interventions to reduce adverse mental health sequelae of infectious disease outbreaks, and to offer guidance for mental health service responses to infectious disease pandemic. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, WHO Global Research Database on infectious disease, and the preprint server medRxiv were searched. Of 4278 reports identified, 32 were included in this review. Most articles of psychological interventions were implemented to address the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, followed by Ebola, SARS, and MERS for multiple vulnerable populations. Increasing mental health literacy of the public is vital to prevent the mental health crisis under the COVID-19 pandemic. Group-based cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological first aid, community-based psychosocial arts program, and other culturally adapted interventions were reported as being effective against the mental health impacts of COVID-19, Ebola, and SARS. Culturally-adapted, cost-effective, and accessible strategies integrated into the public health emergency response and established medical systems at the local and national levels are likely to be an effective option to enhance mental health response capacity for the current and for future infectious disease outbreaks. Tele-mental healthcare services were key central components of stepped care for both infectious disease outbreak management and routine support; however, the usefulness and limitations of remote health delivery should also be recognized.
In recent decades, respiratory infections, including SARS, HINI and the currently spreading COVID-19, caused by various viruses such as influenza and coronavirus have seriously threatened human ...health. It has generated inconsistent recommendations on the mandatory use of facemasks across countries on a population level due to insufficient evidence on the efficacy of facemask use among the general population. This meta-analysis aimed to explore (1) the efficacy of facemask use on preventing respiratory infections, and (2) the perceptions, intentions, and practice about facemask use among the general population worldwide. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, bioRxiv, and medRxiv databases since inception to August 17, 2020. From 21,341 records identified, eight RCTs on facemask in preventing infections and 78 studies on perception, intention, and practice of facemask use among the general population were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis of RCTs found a significant protective effect of facemask intervention (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.71-0.99; I
= 0%). This protective effect was even more pronounced when the intervention duration was more than two weeks (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.66-0.88; I
= 0%). The meta-analysis of observational studies on perception, intention, and practice on facemask use showed that 71% of respondents perceived facemasks to be effective for infection prevention, 68% of respondents would wear facemasks, and 54% of respondents wore facemasks for preventing respiratory infections. Differences in perception, intention, and practice behavior of facemask use in different regions may be related to the impact of respiratory infections, regional culture, and policies. The governments and relevant organizations should make effort to reduce the barriers in the use of facemasks.
Liver fibrosis is a common disease that can lead to hepatic failure.
Our aims were to reveal the role of GAS5 in the regulation of liver fibrosis.
LX-2 human hepatic satellite cells (HSCs) were ...cultured and activated using TGF-β1 treatment. A CCK-8 assay was performed to assess cell viability. A luciferase assay was employed to monitor the interactions between miR-433-3p and GAS5 or toll-like receptor 10 (TLR10). Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were applied to detect the expression levels of α-SMA, Col. I, PCNA-, MMP2-, MMP9-, TLR10-, and NF-κB-related molecules at the protein and RNA levels.
GAS5 and TLR10 were decreased while miR-433-3p was upregulated in TGF-β1-activated LX-2 cells. Upregulation of GAS5 or downregulation of miR-433-3p suppressed HSC activation, and luciferase assays indicated that miR-433-3p binds with GAS5 and the 3'-UTR of TLR10. MiR-433-3p upregulation and TLR10 downregulation rescued the impacts of GAS5 overexpression or miR-433-3p knockdown on LX-2 cells. Upregulation of GAS5 also suppressed the phosphorylation of NF-κB through the miR-433-3p/TLR10 axis.
LncRNA GAS5 exerts an inhibitory effect on HSC activation by suppressing NF-κB signalling through regulation of the miR-433-3p/TLR10 axis.
Infectious disease epidemics have become more frequent and more complex during the 21
century, posing a health threat to the general public and leading to psychological symptoms. The current study ...was designed to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms during epidemic outbreaks, including COVID-19. We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, Medline, Cochrane databases, bioRxiv and medRxiv to identify studies that reported the prevalence of depression, anxiety or insomnia during infectious disease epidemics, up to August 14
, 2020. Prevalence of mental symptoms among different populations including the general public, health workers, university students, older adults, infected patients, survivors of infection, and pregnant women across all types of epidemics was pooled. In addition, prevalence of mental symptoms during COVID-19 was estimated by time using meta-regression analysis. A total of 17,506 papers were initially retrieved, and a final of 283 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing a total of 948,882 individuals. The pooled prevalence of depression ranged from 23.1%, 95% confidential intervals (95% CI: 13.9-32.2) in survivors to 43.3% (95% CI: 27.1-59.6) in university students, the pooled prevalence of anxiety ranged from 25.0% (95% CI: 12.0-38.0) in older adults to 43.3% (95% CI: 23.3-63.3) in pregnant women, and insomnia symptoms ranged from 29.7% (95% CI: 24.4-34.9) in the general public to 58.4% (95% CI: 28.1-88.6) in university students. Prevalence of moderate-to-severe mental symptoms was lower but had substantial variation across different populations. The prevalence of mental problems increased over time during the COVID-19 pandemic among the general public, health workers and university students, and decreased among infected patients. Factors associated with increased prevalence for all three mental health symptoms included female sex, and having physical disorders, psychiatric disorders, COVID infection, colleagues or family members infected, experience of frontline work, close contact with infected patients, high exposure risk, quarantine experience and high concern about epidemics. Frequent exercise and good social support were associated with lower risk for these three mental symptoms. In conclusion, mental symptoms are common during epidemics with substantial variation across populations. The population-specific psychological crisis management are needed to decrease the burden of psychological problem and improve the mental wellbeing during epidemic.
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic condition with painful bladder. At present, the pathogenesis of IC/BPS is still unknown. Quercetin (QCT) is a kind of natural ...flavonoid with wide sources and multiple biological activities. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of QCT on mRNA expression and related regulatory signal pathways in IC model rats.
LL-37 was used to induce the IC/BPS model rats. 20 mg/kg QCT was injected intraperitoneally into IC/BPS rats. ELISA, HE, Masson and TB staining were used to evaluate the level of inflammation and pathology. The concentration of QCT in rats was detected by HPLC. The mRNA sequencing was used to detect the differentially expressed (DE) mRNA in each group. The over-expression experiment of Lpl was carried out in IC/BPS model rats.
QCT treatment significantly decreased the level of MPO, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α induced by LL-37 in rats, and alleviated bladder injury and mast cell degranulation. There were significant differences in mRNA sequencing data between groups, and the hub gene Lpl were screened by Cytohubba. The expression of Lpl was downregulated in IC/BPS rats. QCT intervention promoted Lpl expression. Overexpression of Lpl reduced the bladder injury induced by LL-37, increased GAG level and decreased the expression of MPO, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α.
In this study, we provided the DE mRNA in IC/BPS rats treated with QCT, the signaling pathways for DE enrichment, screened out the hub genes, and revealed that Lpl overexpression alleviated IC/BPS model rats.
Liver fibrosis is the common pathological basis of all chronic liver diseases, and is the necessary stage for the progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis. As one of pathogenic factors, ...inflammation plays a predominant role in liver fibrosis
communication and interaction between inflammatory cells, cytokines, and the related signaling pathways. Damaged hepatocytes induce an increase in pro-inflammatory factors, thereby inducing the development of inflammation. In addition, it has been reported that inflammatory response related signaling pathway is the main signal transduction pathway for the development of liver fibrosis. The crosstalk regulatory network leads to hepatic stellate cell activation and proinflammatory cytokine production, which in turn initiate the fibrotic response. Compared with the past, the research on the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis has been greatly developed. However, the liver fibrosis mechanism is complex and many pathways involved need to be further studied. This review mainly focuses on the crosstalk regulatory network among inflammatory cells, cytokines, and the related signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory liver diseases. Moreover, we also summarize the recent studies on the mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis and clinical efforts on the targeted therapies against the fibrotic response.
Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common malignant tumor in urinary system all over the world. However, due to its high recurrence rate and complex causes, clinicians often have limited options for surgical ...and drug treatments. Recent researchs on the molecular mechanism of BLCA have reveals its biological progress and potential for early diagnosis. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1/2 (SHMT1/2) is a crucial enzyme in the one-carbon metabolism of tumor cells, and the expression levels of these isozymes have been found to be associated with the biological progression of various malignant tumors. However, the impact of SHMT1/2 on the biological progression of bladder cancer and its molecular regulation mechanism remain unclear. In this research utilizes BLCA clinical sample data, the TCGA database, and in vitro cell experiments to predict the expression levels of SHMT1/2 in BLCA. The findings indicate that SHMT1 remained unchanged, while SHMT2 expression is increased in BLCA, which was related to poor prognosis. Additionally, SHMT2 affects the growth, migration, and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells in vitro. It also influences the expression levels of E-cadherin and N-cadherin, ultimately impacting the malignant biological progression of bladder tumors. These results establish a correlation between SHMT2 and the malignant biological progression of BLCA, providing a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer.
PDF
