BACKGROUND: While emotional distress, encompassing anxiety and depression, has been associated with negative clinical outcomes, its impact across various clinical departments and general hospitals has been less explored. Previous studies with limited sample sizes have examined the effectiveness of specific treatments (e.g., antidepressants) rather than a systemic management strategy for outcome improvement in non-psychiatric inpatients. To enhance the understanding of the importance of addressing mental health care needs among non-psychiatric patients in general hospitals, this study retrospectively investigated the impacts of emotional distress and the effects of early detection and management of depression and anxiety on hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of long LOS (LLOS, i.e., LOS >30 days) in a large sample of non-psychiatric inpatients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 487,871 inpatients from 20 non-psychiatric departments of a general hospital. They were divided, according to whether they underwent a novel strategy to manage emotional distress which deployed the Huaxi Emotional Distress Index (HEI) for brief screening with grading psychological services (BS-GPS), into BS-GPS ( n = 178,883) and non-BS-GPS ( n = 308,988) cohorts. The LOS and rate of LLOS between the BS-GPS and non-BS-GPS cohorts and between subcohorts with and without clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (CSAD, i.e., HEI score ≥11 on admission to the hospital) in the BS-GPS cohort were compared using univariable analyses, multilevel analyses, and/or propensity score-matched analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The detection rate of CSAD in the BS-GPS cohort varied from 2.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49%-2.81%) to 20.50% (95% CI: 19.43%-21.62%) across the 20 departments, with a average rate of 5.36%. Significant differences were observed in both the LOS and LLOS rates between the subcohorts with CSAD (12.7 days, 535/9590) and without CSAD (9.5 days, 3800/169,293) and between the BS-GPS (9.6 days, 4335/178,883) and non-BS-GPS (10.8 days, 11,483/308,988) cohorts. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounders using propensity score-matched comparisons. A multilevel analysis indicated that BS-GPS was negatively associated with both LOS and LLOS after controlling for sociodemographics and the departments of patient discharge and remained negatively associated with LLOS after controlling additionally for the year of patient discharge. CONCLUSION Emotional distress significantly prolonged the LOS and increased the LLOS of non-psychiatric inpatients across most departments and general hospitals. These impacts were moderated by the implementation of BS-GPS. Thus, BS-GPS has the potential as an effective, resource-saving strategy for enhancing mental health care and optimizing medical resources in general hospitals.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Psychological Distress ; Inpatients/psychology* ; Aged ; Anxiety/diagnosis* ; Depression/diagnosis*

Loss of protein homeostasis is a hallmark of cellular senescence, and ribosome pausing plays a crucial role in the collapse of proteostasis. However, our understanding of ribosome pausing in senescent cells remains limited. In this study, we utilized ribosome profiling and G-quadruplex RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing techniques to explore the impact of RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) on the translation efficiency in senescent cells. Our results revealed a reduction in the translation efficiency of rG4-rich genes in senescent cells and demonstrated that rG4 structures within coding sequence can impede translation both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in the abundance of rG4 structures in senescent cells, and the stabilization of the rG4 structures further exacerbated cellular senescence. Mechanistically, the RNA helicase DHX9 functions as a key regulator of rG4 abundance, and its reduced expression in senescent cells contributing to increased ribosome pausing. Additionally, we also observed an increased abundance of rG4, an imbalance in protein homeostasis, and reduced DHX9 expression in aged mice. In summary, our findings reveal a novel biological role for rG4 and DHX9 in the regulation of translation and proteostasis, which may have implications for delaying cellular senescence and the aging process.
G-Quadruplexes ; Cellular Senescence ; Ribosomes/genetics* ; Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics* ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA/chemistry* ; Neoplasm Proteins

Objective: To investigate the effects of “Three Methods and Three Acupoints” (TMTP) Tuina therapy on spinal microcirculation in sciatic nerve injury (SNI). Methods: Thirty-six Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: normal, sham operation, model, and TMTP Tuina. Successful model induction was confirmed by observable hind limb lameness. After 20 sessions, hind limb grip strength and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were measured at baseline and following the 10th and 20th intervention. CD31 and α-SMA in the ventral horn of SNI model rats were detected using immunofluorescence. Motor neurons in the ventral horn were detected by Nissl staining. PTEN levels in the ventral horn were measured by ELISA, and PI3K, Akt, BDNF, VEGF, and HIF-1α expression was determined by RT-PCR. Spinal cord microcirculation was evaluated by western blotting analysis of the levels of Akt, p-Akt, BDNF, and VEGF. Results: Hind limb grip strength and MNCV significantly improved in the TMTP Tuina group compared to the model group (both P < .001). Morphology of ventral horn motor neurons in the TMTP Tuina group improved compared to the model group, with increased expressions of α-SMA (P = .002) and CD31 (P = .006). Western blot analysis indicated increased expression of VEGF (P = .005), p-Akt (P < .001), and BDNF (P = .008) in the ventral horn following Tuina treatment. RT-PCR analysis revealed increased expression of PI3K, Akt, BDNF, VEGF and HIF-1α (all P < .05). In contrast, expression of PTEN decreased compared to the model group (P < .001). Conclusion TMTP Tuina therapy may restore motor function in rats, enhance ventral horn motor neuron morphology, and promote angiogenesis and vascular smooth muscle proliferation. The mechanism may involve the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of HIV-1 pretreatment drug resistance(PDR)and molecular transmission networks in Yubei District,Chongqing,providing evidence for targeted interventions.Methods Using a cross-sectional design,plasma samples were collected from HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy(ART)in Yubei District from January 2022 to December 2023.Pol gene fragments were extracted and amplified for HIV-1 genotyping and drug resistance analysis.Molecular transmission networks were constructed based on genetic distance calculations.Results Among 478 HIV-1 pol sequences,eight geno-types were identified:with CRF07_BC(60.4%,289/478),CRF08_BC(15.5%,74/478),CRF01_AE(11.7%,56/478),and CRF85_BC(5.9%,28/478).The overall PDR rate was 6.3%(30/478),with resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NRTIs)and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NNRTIs)at 1.7%(8/478)and 5.2%(25/478),respectively.No protease inhibitor(PI)resistance was de-tected.The molecular network included 177 cases(37.0%network entry rate),forming 53 clusters with 198 connections.Cluster sizes ranged from 2 to 17 nodes,and 75.3%(149/198)of connections were associated with five subdistricts/towns:Shuanglonghu Street,Huixing Street,Luoqi Town,Gulu Town,and Baoshenghu Street.Conclusion HIV-1 genotypes in Yubei District exhibit diversity and complexity,with moderate PDR prevalence.Regional clustering of transmission networks suggests the need for enhanced molecular surveil-lance and targeted interventions based on analytical findings.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of the medicated stick massage at meridian knot points in treating Qi stagnation and blood stasis type lumbar disc herniation(LDH)based on the meridian theory.Methods The patients with LDH in the ward 5 of orthopedics department in this hospital from Sep-tember 2024 to April 2025 were selected as the research subjects.On the basis of routine treatment and care,the control group adopted the medicated stick massage at points,while the experimental group adopted the medicated stick massage at meridian knots.The visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Japanese Orthopaedic So-ciety(JOA)score,TCM syndrome scores and TCM syndrome therapeutic effects before intervention and in two weeks after intervention were compared between the two groups.Results The VAS scores,each item score and total score of JOA,TCM syndrome scores and TCM therapeutic effects after 2-week intervention in the experimental group all were superior to those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Selecting the medicated stick massage at the meridian knots under the guidance of meridian theory could significantly improve the pain symptoms,lumbar function,TCM syndrome scores,the therapeutic effects are definite,and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To analyze the electroencephalogram features of visual working memory in the delay stage based on microstate analysis.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, ten healthy male subjects aged 19-29 years old from Tianjin Medical University were selected from January to July 2015. The 32-channel electroencephalogram experimental data were recorded from these subjects during the visual working memory eye-open state for 10 min (resting-state) and the delayed matching-to-sample (DMS) task (task-state) conditions, respectively. After data pre-processing, a short-time Fourier transform was applied for time-frequency analysis to extract the characteristic time periods and frequency bands, and electroencephalogram microstates of the resting and task states of visual working memory were computed separately, using an improved k-means clustering algorithm. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the statistical differences between resting-state and task-state microstate parameters, including global field power (GFP), global explained variance (GEV), time proportion, mean spatial correlation, frequency of occurrence and duration. Results:The time-frequency distribution of the Fz channel in the responsible brain region in DMS task visual working memory showed that the energy was mainly concentrated in the theta band (4-8 Hz) during the delay stage (4.039-7.039 s). The bipolar locations of microstates A, B, C, and D were prefrontal and occipital, central frontal and occipital, right occipital and left frontal, and left occipital and right frontal, respectively. In microstates A and C, the mean spatial correlation of the task-state was both higher than that of the resting state. The comparison results for microstate A were (0.632 5±0.105 8 vs 0.624 5±0.461 4, P<0.05), and the results for microstate C were (0.589 4±0.233 4 vs 0.561 3±0.066 8, P<0.01). The parameters of the task-state microstate D were lower than those of the resting-state, including GFP (1.125±0.061 vs 1.277±0.741, P<0.05), GEV (0.077±0.061 vs 0.101±0.057, P<0.05), and time proportion (0.191±0.165 vs 0.224±0.094, P<0.05) and mean spatial correlation (0.561 2±0.211 6 vs 0.612 1±0.315 2, P<0.01). Conclusions:The critical period of visual working memory is the delay stage and the critical frequency band is the theta band. Microstate D is the characteristic feature of visual working memory in the delay stage of the theta band, and microstates A and C can also serve as its potential features.

Objective To explore the analgesic initiation mechanism of"three-manipulations and three-acupoints"of tuina on minor chronic constriction injury(minor CCI)model rats.Methods According to the random number table method,35 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal group,sham group,model group,tuina group,and tuina+MK-801 group.The model group,tuina group,and tuina+MK-801 group were subjected to ligation of the right sciatic nerve trunk to establish a minor CCI rat model.The sham group was only exposed to the right sciatic nerve without ligation,and the normal group was not subjected to any operation.The normal group was not subjected to any intervention measures.On the seventh day after modeling,the model group and the sham group underwent 9 minutes of grasping restraint,while the tuina group underwent one intervention of three-manipulations(point method,dialing method,and kneading method)and three-acupoints(right"Yinmen"(BL37),"Chengshan"(BL57),and"Yanglingquan"(GB34)acupoints)with each manipulation and acupoint intervention for 1 minute for a total of 9 minutes.The tuina+MK-801 group received intrathecal injection of MK-801 from the fifth to seventh days after modeling,with a dose of 6 μg(10 μL)per day,tuina intervention was performed 30 minutes after the last intrathecal injection,and the specific operation of tuina was the same as that of the tuina group.Before modeling,after modeling,and after intervention,each group of rats was subjected to cold sensitivity threshold(CST)and mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)testing.After intervention,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP)in the spinal dorsal horn(SDH)at L4-6 segments;protein expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1(NMDAR1),neurogenic nitric oxide synthase(nNOS),soluble guanylyl cyclase β(sGCβ),and protein kinase G1(PKG1)in SDH at L4-6 segments were detected by Western blotting;mRNA expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,cGMP,and PKG1 in SDH at L4-6 segments were detected by real-time PCR.Results Compared with the normal and sham groups,after modeling,CST increased and MWT decreased in the model group,tuina group and tuina+MK-801 group(P＜0.05);after intervention,the positive protein expression of cGMP was increased,the protein expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,and PKG1 were increased,and mRNA expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,cGMP,and PKG1 were increased in SDH at L4-6 segments in the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,after intervention,CST decreased and MWT increased in the tuina group and tuina+MK-801 group(P＜0.05);the positive protein expression of cGMP was decreased,the protein expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,and PKG1 were decreased,and mRNA expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,cGMP,and PKG1 were decreased in SDH at L4-6 segments in the tuina group and tuina+MK-801 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion One-time tuina intervention can effectively improve the symptoms of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by peripheral nerve injury,which may initiate analgesia through the NMDAR1/cGMP/protein kinase G signaling pathway,thereby exerting immediate analgesic effect.

Objective We aimed to observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Compound Congrong Yizhi Capsule in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods A total of 65 subjects with mild to moderate AD who visited the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from February 2023 to February 2024 were selected and divided into the Compound Congrong Yizhi Capsule group (40 cases) and the Donepezil Hydrochloride group (25 cases) for a 6-month treatment. The primary outcome measures included the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) score and Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) score. Secondary outcome measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE),Activities of Daily Living (ADL),Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT),Trail Making Test (TMT),Verbal Fluency Test (VFT),Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT),Digital Span Test (DST),Clock Drawing Test (CDT),and Boston Naming Test (BNT) scores,as well as clinical biochemical indicators including blood lipids,blood glucose,liver and kidney function. Results Compared with the Donepezil Hydrochloride group after treatment,subjects in the Compound Congrong Yizhi Capsule group showed an increase in ADAS-Cog and AVLT-total scores,and a decrease in MMSE,Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Copy Test,and CDT scores (P<0.05). Additionally,there was an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and total bilirubin (TBIL) levels,and a decrease in indirect bilirubin (IBIL) levels (P<0.05).Conclusion Compound Congrong Yizhi Capsule exerts a regulatory effect on cognitive function in subjects with AD,especially in the cognitive domains of episodic memory and visual-spatial processing ability. It also improves certain clinical indicators such as ALT,BUN,TBIL,and IBIL. This suggests that the early intervention with Compound Congrong Yizhi Capsule in AD can effectively improve symptoms,delay disease progression,and fully embody the concept of traditional Chinese medicine's preventive approach to illness.