Objective:To investigate association between loneliness and depressive episode among rural older people.Methods:A total of 839 rural adults (aged over 60 years) from Liuyang in Hunan were enrolled by using multi-stage cluster sampling method.The Short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale,the Social Support Rating Scale,the Life Events Scale for the Elderly,Quality of Life Scale,and the Activity of Daily Living Scale were used to assess loneliness,the social support condition,the stimulating quantity of negative life events,the quality of life,and the abilities of daily life activities,respectively.The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-Ⅳ-TR Axis I Disorders questionnaire survey was performed by a face-to-face interview.Results:The prevalence rate of depressive episode among the rural older people was 6.8％.Multivariable analysis showed that the elderly who were with stronger loneliness were the risk factor of depression (OR=1.126,95％CI 1.038 to 1.221).Conclusion:Loneliness is positively associated with an increased risk of depressive episode.

Background Traction of epiretinal membrane results in macular morphologic change and visual functional impairment in eye with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IERM),therefore figuring out their relationship is helpful for evaluation of disease prognosis.Objective This study was to observe the morphological change of macula and microstructure,and analyze the relationship between retina thickness,integrity of cone outer segment tips (COST) line in fovea and visual acuity.Methods This was a retrospective case-observational study.Fifty-six consecutive cases diagnosed as IERM in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from March 2011 to December 2011 were enrolled in this study,and all the patients showed unilateral IERM with the normal fellow eyes.Sixteen patients were males and 40 were females,with a mean age of (61.05 ± 6.58) years old.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examination was performed on the eyes,and Macular Cube (512×128) and HD 5 Line program were selected.Mean retinal thickness of central area (＜1 mm diameter),inner ring area (1-3 mm diameter) and outer ring area (＞3-6 mm diameter) of macula and the status of COST line (intact or fractured) was recorded.Mean thickness of whole macular areas and the difference of foveal microstructure were compared,and the correlation between retinal thickness and visual acuity was analyzed using Pearson linear correlation analysis.Related parameters including age,visual acuity,retinal thickness were also compared between the continuous COST lines group and the fractured COST lines group by independent sample t test.Results The flatted or disappeared fovea was seen in IERM eyes on the SD-OCT image.Retinal thicknesses were (446±89)μm,(418±64)μm and (328±34)ttm in the central area,inner ring area and outer ring area of macula in the IERM eyes,exhibiting significant increasing in comparison with (250±22) μm,(319±17) μm and (279±17) μm in the normal fellow eyes (t=13.370,9.523,7.769,all P =0.000).Significantly negative correlations were found between the visual acuity and the central macular thickness,inner ring thickness or outer ring thickness (r=-0.686,-0.653,-0.417,P＜0.05).In the IERM eyes,COST band was intact in 20 eyes and lack in 36 eyes.Compared with COST band intact group,aging,worse vision and increased retinal thickness were seen in the COST band absent group (t =2.109,P =0.039 ; t =-4.093,P =0.000 ; t =6.669,P=0.000;t=5.376,P=0.000;t=4.247,P=0.000).COST band was clear in all the normal fellow eyes on the SD-OCT image.Conclusions Increase of macular thickness and disruption of COST band reflect the visual function damage in IERM eye.Deficiency of COST band on OCT image seems to be an early indication of photoreceptor damage.Incomplete fovea COST band is often seen in older patients.

OBJECTIVETo assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on dementia.

METHODSThe literatures of acupuncture for treatment of dementia are comprehensively searched in according with the demands of the evidence-based medicine (EBM), which are collected from relevant domestic medical literature databases in the last ten years. Meta-analysis is conducted on the literatures enrolled.

RESULTSTwenty-two randomized controlled trials are included, among them, 19 trials are carried out by Meta-analysis. The total OR is 3.72 [2.73, 5.07], and the funnel plot is approximately symmetry. It is indicated that the curative effect of acupuncture groups is better than the control groups (Z = 8.32, P < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture therapy is effective on dementia according to the domestic clinical literatures. However, the quality of the studies needs further improving and increasing.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Dementia ; therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mutation ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; genetics

Autophagy is a self-protecting cell catabolic pathway. That macrophages involved in lipid metabolism dis-orders are the basis of atherosclerotic lesions. Autophagy plays an important role in the inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis and the promotion of cholesterol efflux. The macrophage autophagy can promote lipid metabolism, re-duce the formation of foam cells and inflammation signal, thereby inhibit atherosclerosis. Induction of macrophage autophagy may have potential significance in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intranasal midazolam and intramuscular phenobarbital sodium for their sedative effect in neonates undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: A total of 70 neonates who underwent cranial MRI from September 2017 to March 2019 were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 35 cases in each group. The observation group received intranasal drops of midazolam (0.3 mg/kg), and the control group received intramuscular injection of phenobarbital sodium (10 mg/kg). The sedation status of the neonates was evaluated using the Ramsay Sedation Scale. Meanwhile, the two groups were compared for the success rate of MRI procedure and incidence of adverse reactions. RESULTS: In the observation group, the sedation score was the highest at 20 minutes post administration, then was gradually decreasing, and decreased to the lowest level at 70 minutes post administration. In the control group, the sedation score was the lowest at 10 minutes post administration, then was gradually increasing, and increased to the highest level at 40 minutes and 50 minutes post administration, followed by a gradual decrease. Comparison of the sedation score at each time period suggested that the sedation score was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group within 40 minutes post administration (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences between the two groups in the sedation score after 40 minutes post administration (P>0.05). The success rate of MRI procedure was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (89% vs 69%, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of adverse reactions (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Intranasal midazolam is superior to intramuscular phenobarbital sodium in the sedative effect in neonates undergoing MRI, with the benefits of being fast, convenient, safe, and effective.
Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Midazolam ; Prospective Studies ; Single-Blind Method

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reliability and validity of the short-form of the UCLA loneliness scale (ULS-8) among Chinese rural community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: ULS-8 was used for 839 Chinese rural community-dwelling elderly during face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: After deleting item-3 (I am an outgoing person) and item-6 (I can find companionship when I want it), the exploratory factor analysis showed that the construction of the new scale (ULS-6) fit the original construction of ULS-8, a single-factor resolution. Cronbach's α coefficient of ULS-6 was 0.831. Test-retest reliability was 0.715. All item-total correlations reached statistical significance. The total score of ULS-6 was correlated to quality of life, social support, suicidal ideation, and current major depression episode. CONCLUSION ULS-6 shows satisfactory reliability and validity and meets the needs of psychometric properties, and can be used for the evaluation of loneliness among Chinese rural elderly.
Aged ; China ; Community Health Services ; Female ; Humans ; Loneliness ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the function of the SP3111 protein in fertilization and early embryo development through in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments following anti-SP111 antibody (Ab2438) blocking.

METHODSSperm samples collected from male mice were divided into an experimental, a blank control and a negative control group before IVF. The sperm of the experimental group was incubated with Ab2438 for 1 h followed by IVF and observed for the rates of fertilization and embryo fragmentation at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 22 h. Then the fertilized eggs were incubated with Ab2438, and the rates of fertilization embryo fragmentation were observed at 22 h.

RESULTSAfter the sperm was incubated with Ab2438, the incidences of embryo fragmentation were 5.26, 8.77, 23.25, 43.42 and 59.21% at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 22 h, respectively, with significant differences from the control groups (P < 0.01). After 22 h Ab2438 incubation of the fertilized eggs, the rates of normal and fragmented embryos of the experimental group were 23.64 and 63.64%, respectively, significantly different from those of the control groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAnti-SP3111 antibodies remarkably affected fertilization and early embryo development in mice. The SP3111 protein may be a signal molecule and plays a role in fertilization and early embryo development together with other proteins. Further studies on the function of the SP3111 protein in reproduction may offer a new insight into the molecular mechanism of infertility.

Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Spermatozoa ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the significance of gastric acid reflux in children with reflux esophagitis (RE).

METHODSTwenty-four-hour esophageal pH monitoring and gastroscopy were performed in 180 children suffered from vomiting. The relationship between RE, non-esophagitis (NE), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was analyzed.

RESULTSSixty-five of the 180 patients were confirmed as having RE by endoscopy. Among them, the number of cases with grades I, II and III RE according to the diagnostic criteria by endoscopy was 37, 19 and 9 cases, respectively, while the other 115 cases were diagnosed as NE. The positive rate of acid reflux in RE group was 58.5% (38/65), while it was 42.6% (49/115) in NE group (chi(2) = 4.179, P < 0.05). All parameters of acid reflux in RE group except for the episode of reflux and the number of reflux longer than 5 min were significantly higher than those in NE group. None of the parameters of acid reflux except for Boix-Ochoa score in grade III RE patients was significantly higher than that in both grade II and grade I RE cases. However, the difference in acid reflux parameter between grade I and grade II RE patients had not reached statistical significance. The results also showed that the positive rate of pathological acid reflux was 48.3% (87/180). Among them, 38 cases were RE, while other 49 cases were NERD. The difference in acid reflux between these two groups was not significant.

CONCLUSIONSGastric acid reflux may play a major role in the development of RE in children, but may not be a sole pathogenic factor. The degree of acid reflux is not closely correspondent to the severity of RE. Acid reflux may not completely contribute to RE. Gastroscopy is very important for patients with reflux symptom.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Esophagoscopy ; Female ; Gastric Acid ; secretion ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) on pregnancy outcomes and neonates.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for 33 APIP patients and 31 neonates born alive.

RESULTSOf the 33 APIP patients, 26 (79%) developed APIP in the late pregnancy. Fourteen (45%) patients had hyperlipidemic APIP, 13 (42%) had biliary APIP, and 4 (13%) had other types of APIP. According to the severity, 22 (67%) were mild APIP, 5 (15%) were moderate APIP, and 6 were severe APIP. None of the 33 APIP patients died. Among the 20 patients with term delivery, 11 underwent termination of pregnancy; among the 10 patients with preterm delivery, 9 underwent termination of pregnancy; two patients experienced intrauterine fetal death, and one experienced abortion during the second trimester. Among the 31 neonates born alive (two of them were twins), 1 (3%) died, 12 (39%) experienced neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, 8 (26%) had neonatal hypoglycemia, 6 (19%) had neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, 5 (16%) experienced infectious diseases, and 2 (6%) experienced intracranial hemorrhage. The hyperlipidemic APIP group had a higher percentage of patients undergoing termination of pregnancy than the biliary APIP and other types of APIP groups (P<0.05). The incidence rate of preterm infants in the moderate APIP was higher than in the mild and severe APIP groups (P<0.05). The mean birth weights of neonates were the lowest in the moderate APIP group. The incidence rates of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, and infectious disease were the lowest in the mild APIP group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAPIP can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes and neonatal diseases, which are associated with the severity of pancreatitis.

Acute Disease ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Retrospective Studies