Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of chronic hepatitis C(CHC)patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 3(HCV GT3)infection and the risk factors for disease progression.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among 1 002 CHC patients from 11 clinical centers in Northwest China from December 2017 to November 2023,and according to their genotype,they were divided into GT1,GT2,GT3,and GT6 groups.Clinical features were compared between the patients with different genotypes.The one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the Scheffe test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of data with skewed distribution between groups;the chi-square test or Fisher test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors for the progression of CHC to liver cirrhosis.Results In terms of the genotype,there were 427 patients with GT1 infection,242 with GT2 infection,299 with GT3 infection(210 patients with GT3a infection,87 with GT3b infection,and 2 with unclassified genotype),and 34 with GT6 infection.The patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.2±0.6 years,P<0.05)or GT2 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.7±0.8 years,P<0.05),and for the patients with liver cirrhosis,the patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 59.4±0.9 years,P<0.001)or GT2 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 58.1±1.1 years,P<0.001).Among the patients with GT3 infection,male patients accounted for 77.9%and the patients with liver cirrhosis accounted for 46.2%,which were significantly higher than those among the patients with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection(all P<0.001).At baseline,the patients with GT3 infection had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)than those with GT1 or GT2 infection,significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and fibrosis-4(FIB4)than those with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly lower platelet count(PLT)than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly higher level of alpha-fetoprotein than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,and a significantly lower level of albumin(Alb)than those with GT6 infection(all P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the patients with GT3a infection and those with GT3b infection in age,sex,the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis,comorbidities,HCV RNA quantification,PLT,ALT,AST,alkaline phosphatase,Alb,APRI,and FIB-4(all P>0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLT≤150×109/L(odds ratio[OR]=10.72,95%confidence interval[CI]:5.76-35.86,P<0.001)and Alb≤35 g/L(OR=3.74,95%CI:1.22-11.45,P=0.021)were risk factors for liver cirrhosis.Conclusion Most CHC patients with GT3 infection are male in Northwest China,and compared with the patients with other genotypes,such patients tend to have a younger age of onset and higher degrees of liver inflammation activity and fibrosis.Low PLT and a low level of Alb are risk factors for progression to liver cirrhosis in CHC patients with GT3 infection.

Objective To elucidate the expression characteristics of the NUAK family SNF1-like kinase 2(NUAK2)in ovarian serous carcinoma and determine its regulatory roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis.Methods Fifty-seven patients with ovarian serous car-cinoma(observation group)and 57 patients with ovarian serous cystadenoma(control group)were selected from June 2019 to December 2022.The GEPIA database was used to assess the expression patterns of NUAK2 in ovarian serous carcinoma.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of NUAK2,proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),and B-cell lymphoma-associated X antigen(BAX).Western blotting was performed to evaluate the expression of NUAK2 in the human ovarian serous carcinoma cell lines(SKOV3)and the human ovarian surface epithelial cell lines(HOSEpiC).SKOV3 cells were transfected with the siRNA-NUAK2 plasmid to establish the si-NUAK2 group,or with the empty transfection vector(EV)or a blank solution(NC)to establish control groups.Western blotting was sub-sequently used to detect the expression of NUAK2,PCNA,and BAX.The CCK-8 method was used to assess cell proliferation activity,and flow cytometry was used to quantify apoptosis.Results The GEPIA database analysis showed a significant increasing trend in the expres-sion of NUAK2 in ovarian cancer(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significantly higher NUAK2 positive rate in ovarian serous carcinoma tissue than that in the control group.Moreover,significant differences in the expression of NUAK2 were observed across different lesion grades and maximum tumor diameters(P<0.05).A significant positive correlation was found between NUAK2 and PCNA(P<0.05),whereas a significant negative correlation was observed between NUAK2 and BAX(P<0.05)in ovarian serous carcinoma.In vitro cell culture experiments showed that the expression level of NUAK2 was significantly higher in SKOV3 cells than that in HOSEpiC cells(P<0.05).The si-NUAK2 group exhibited significantly lower cell proliferation activity and PCNA expression and significantly higher apoptosis rate and BAX expression than those in the EV and NC groups(P<0.05).Conclusion NUAK2 is overexpressed in ovarian serous carcinoma and promotes tumor progression by enhancing cell proliferation and suppressing apoptosis.

Objective:To analyze the carriage status, subtype distribution and flanking gene sequence characteristics of oxacillinases (OXA enzyme) in 241 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and assess their roles in the drug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and ability to horizontally transfer across species. Methods:Clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from four hospitals in Sanya, Tangshan, Zhangjiakou, and Beijing. The prevalence of oxacillinases and their flanking gene sequences was analyzed by whole-genome sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatic approaches. Results:A total of 241 isolates of P. aeruginosa were gathered, and 35 blaOXA subtypes were identified through screening of 252 blaOXA genes. These genes were classified into three subfamilies: blaOXA-50-like (241, 95.6%), blaOXA-1-like (9, 3.6%) and blaOXA-10-like (2, 0.8%). Among these, 11 subtypes (11, 31.4%) were novel blaOXA subtypes. Nine of these belonged to the blaOXA-50-like subfamily and were designated as blaOXA-1244, blaOXA-1245, blaOXA-1246, blaOXA-1250, blaOXA-1252, blaOXA-1253, blaOXA-1254, blaOXA-1255, and blaOXA-1256. The remaining two belonged to the blaOXA-10-like subfamily and were named blaOXA-1247 and blaOXA-1248. Compared to the amino acid sequence of OXA-10, the newly identified subtype OXA-1247 exhibited a mutation at position 117, where a valine was replaced by a leucine. This change was thought to improve the enzyme′s ability to hydrolyze carbapenems. In the analysis of the flanking sequences of the blaOXA genes, Class I integrons were identified in four bacterial strains. The variable regions of these integrons carried three distinct patterns of resistance gene cassettes: aac( 6′) -Ib-blaOXA-1247-ant( 3′′) -Ia, aac( 6′) -Ib-blaOXA-1248 and aac( 6′) -Ib- blaIMP-45-blaOXA-1-catB3. Among these, the strain BJ2326 carried a class I integron that was connected to the downstream IS CR1 element to form a composite class I integron structure, additionally carrying the resistance gene blaPER-1. Out of the 223 non-wild-type P. aeruginosa strains, 127 strains exhibited non-wild-type profiles to the four beta-lactam antibiotics MEM, CAZ, FEP, and TZP, with the combination of MEM+CAZ+FEP being the most prevalent, representing 57.0% of the total. Conclusions:The blaOXA genes in 241 clinical P. aeruginosa strains showed diversity. Some blaOXA genes had a co-transfer risk with the metallo-β-lactamase resistance gene blaIMP-45. Among the 11 newly discovered blaOXA subtypes, the new subtype OXA-1247 may have carbapenemase activity and potential for horizontal transfer.

Objective:To study the characteristics of soil microbial composition in sheep sheds in agricultural and pastoral areas, and explore potential zoonotic pathogen species.Methods:Using cross-sectional survey method, soil samples from sheep sheds in the agricultural and pastoral areas of Darhan-Muminggan Joint County, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were collected from August to October 2023. Genomic DNA was extracted, and metagenomic second-generation sequencing was conducted. Microbial species annotation was carried out by Kaiju method, and the soil microbial composition and zoonotic pathogen species of sheep sheds in agricultural and pastoral areas were analyzed.Results:A total of 10 and 5 soil samples were collected from sheep sheds in agricultural and pastoral areas, respectively. The results of β diversity analysis showed that there was a significant separation trend in soil samples from sheep sheds in agricultural and pastoral areas, and the interpretation of principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) 1 and PCoA2 were 27.8% and 17.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the microbial composition of soil samples from sheep sheds in agricultural and pastoral areas ( R = 0.09, P = 0.242). At the phylum level, the dominant bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, the dominant bacterial genera were Corynebacterium, Luteimonas, Atopostipes, and Salinicoccus. A variety of zoonotic pathogens were detected, including Brucella melitensis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Clostridium tetani in 15 soil samples. Conclusion:The soil microorganisms in sheep sheds in agricultural and pastoral areas are diverse, and zoonotic pathogens such as Brucella melitensis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Clostridium tetani are detected.

Objective To explore the relationship between blood pressure at baseline and significant decline in cognitive function after 4 years in middle-aged and elderly people in rural Xi'an,and the potential effect of age on the relationship.Methods Data were collected from a cohort of middle-aged and elderly people with cognitive impairment in rural Xi'an,Shaanxi Province.The cohort consisted of people aged≥40 years from a village in Huyi District,Xi'an.The baseline survey was completed between October 2014 and March 2015,and two follow-up visits were conducted in 2016 and 2018.Blood pressure parameters studied included hypertension and high systolic blood pressure(≥140 mmHg vs.＜140 mmHg),and high diastolic blood pressure(≥90 mmHg vs.＜90 mmHg).The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was used to assess the whole cognitive function,and the decline of MMSE score ≥4 points in 4 years was defined as significant decline of cognitive function.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function at baseline.Subgroup analysis was used to study the effect of age(＜65 vs.≥65 years)on the relationship.Results We recruited a total of 1 350 subjects in the analysis,including 235 subjects(17.4％)with baseline age ≥65 years and 533 male subjects(39.5％);671 subjects(49.7％)had hypertension,with systolic blood pressure of(131.71±17.79)mmHg;840 subjects(62.2％)had high systolic blood pressure,with diastolic blood pressure of(82.18±10.56)mmHg;395(29.3％)had high diastolic blood pressure.During the 4-year follow-up,56 cases(4.2％)met the criteria for significant decline of cognitive function.We did not find significant association of hypertension and high systolic blood pressure with cognitive decline in the general population,＜65-year-old subgroup,or ≥ 65-year-old subgroup.The incidence of significant cognitive decline was not statistically significant in the total population(3.6％vs.5.6％,P=0.092),the ≥65-year-old subgroup(7.5％vs.8.2％,P=0.855),the normal diastolic blood pressure group,or the high diastolic blood pressure group.However,in the subgroup＜65 years,the incidence of cognitive decline was higher in the high diastolic blood pressure group than in the normal diastolic blood pressure group(2.7％vs.5.1％,P=0.043).Multivariate analysis showed that high diastolic blood pressure was not found to be associated with significant cognitive decline in the total population(OR=1.744,95％CI:0.953-3.192,P=0.071),the subgroup of ≥65 years old(OR=0.858,95％CI:0.221-3.338,P=0.825),or the subgroup of ≥65 years old.In the＜65 age group,high diastolic blood pressure was significantly associated with cognitive decline(OR=2.051,95％CI:1.005-4.186,P=0.048).Conclusion High diastolic blood pressure is associated with 4-year cognitive decline in people aged 40-65 years,but not in those aged ≥65.No association is found between hypertension or high systolic blood pressure and significant cognitive decline.

Objective To explore the relationship between plasma amyloid-β(Aβ)and cognitive impairment.Methods A total of all villagers(aged 40 years and above)from two villages of Xi'an,China,were enrolled.A validated Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination and neuropsychological battery were used to assess cognition.Levels of fasting plasma Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 were tested using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Relationship between plasma Aβ and cognitive impairment was analyzed using Logistic regression analysis.Results Of the 1 314 enrolled subjects,1 180(89.80％)had normal cognition,85(6.47％)had suspected cognitive impairment,and 49(3.73％)had probable cognitive impairment.Univariate analysis showed that plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio was higher in the suspected cognitive impairment group than in the probable cognitive impairment group(P＜0.05)and normal cognitive group(P＜0.05);plasma Aβ1-42 level in the suspected cognitive impairment group was higher than that in normal cognitive group(P＜0.05).The level of Aβ1-40 did not differ between the three groups.After correcting for confounding factors(including age,gender,degree of education,cognitive impairment risk factors,habits of living)in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis,the results were consistent with those in the univariate analysis.Conclusion Levels of plasma Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio were elevated in patients with suspected cognitive impairment,indicating that elevated plasma Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio may be more pronounced in early stage of cognitive impairment.They may be early biomarkers for cognitive impairment,which can help identify and intervene the disease earlier.

Objective To explore the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)and cognitive impairment in the stroke high-risk population aged 40 years and above in the rural area of Xi'an City and determine whether CAS is a risk factor for cognitive impairment.Methods In this study,stroke high-risk population found in the Community and Rural Population Stroke High-risk Group Screening and Intervention Project carried out in Huyi District,Xi'an City,from October 2014 to March 2015 were selected as the research subjects.Color Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate CAS,and CAS was defined as:carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)≥1.0 mm,or carotid arteries(including common carotid artery,carotid sinus,internal carotid artery,and external carotid artery)have atherosclerotic plaques,or carotid stenosis.Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was used to assess cognitive function.The MMSE score lower than the cut-off value(illiteracy ≤17,primary school ≤ 20 points,and junior high school and above education level ≤24 points)is defined as cognitive impairment.The study population was grouped according to the presence of CAS or cognitive impairment;univariate difference test and bivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between CAS and cognitive impairment.Results A total of 451 subjects were included in the analysis.The average age of the subjects was(58.7±9.83)years old,and 44.3％were female.Among them,329 cases(72.9％)had CAS and 57 cases(12.6％)met the diagnostic criteria for cognitive impairment.The prevalence of cognitive impairment in CAS group was significantly higher than that in non-CAS group(14.6％vs.7.4％,P=0.041).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cognitive impairment was significantly correlated with age(OR=1.121,95％CI:1.056-1.189,P＜0.001),but not with CAS(OR=1.008,95％CI:0.202-5.170,P=0.992).Conclusion No significant association between CAS and cognitive impairment was found in high stroke risk group aged 40 and above in rural areas of Xi'an.

Objective To analyze the relationship between apolipoprotein E(APOE)genotype and cognitive impairment among individuals aged 40 and above in rural Xi'an and to explore the potential influence of education on this relationship.Methods All permanent residents aged 40 and above from two villages in Huyi District,Xi'an City,were selected as research subjects,employing a cross-sectional survey approach.The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was utilized to assess overall cognitive function,with MMSE scores below the threshold values(illiterate ≤17,primary school ≤20,junior high and above ≤24)considered as cognitive impairment.Fasting elbow venous blood was drawn in the morning,and the APOE genotype was determined.The population was divided into low-education(LE,≤9 years)and high-education(HE,＞9 years)groups based on educational level.Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to explore the association between APOE genotype and cognitive impairment,as well as MMSE scores in both the total and stratified populations.Results Out of the 1 692 participants,there were 263 APOE ε4 allele carriers(E2/4,E3/4,E4/4)(15.3％),and 205 individuals met the criteria for cognitive impairment(12.1％).Multivariate Logistic regression and linear regression analyses revealed that in both the total population and the LE population,compared to APOE ε4 allele non-carriers(E2/2,E2/3,E3/3),APOE ε4 allele carriers exhibited a higher risk of cognitive impairments(total population:OR=1.509,95％CI:1.030-2.211,P=0.035;LE:OR=1.604,95％CI:1.080-2.381,P=0.019),and their MMSE scores were lower(total population:β=-0.053,95％CI:-0.983--0.162,P=0.006;LE:β=-0.052,95％CI:-1.052--0.124,P=0.013).However,in the HE population,there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of cognitive impairment(OR=1.883,95％CI:0.254-13.980,P=0.536)and MMSE scores(β=0.001,95％CI:-0.635-0.642,P=0.992)between APOE ε4 allele carriers and non-carriers.Conclusion The APOE ε4 allele was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in individuals aged 40 and above in rural areas of Xi'an,while HE attainment may offer protective effects against cognitive impairment in APOE ε4 allele carriers.