INTRODUCTION: Impostor phenomenon (IP) is a set of feelings encountered by individuals of being incompetent, despite experiencing successes. IP affects not only individuals on a personal level, but also organisations where the leadership diversity decreases due to employees' self-doubt. We aim to investigate the prevalence of IP and burnout among employees in the National University Health System (NUHS). METHODS: All permanently employed full-time NUHS employees aged 21 years and above were invited to participate in this self-administered cross-sectional study between April 2021 and August 2021. Mass emails with the embedded study link were sent every 2-3 weeks to the employees' corporate email accounts. RESULTS: In our study, 61% of our study respondents reported having IP experiences and 97% reported having burnout. The associations of IP with ethnicity and age group were significant. Post hoc tests, however, showed that the association was statistically significant only in the 21-29 years age group. CONCLUSION We found that there was no statistical significance between gender and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) profile types. However, we found that IP was significantly associated with individuals in the 21-29 years age group. This could be because younger individuals who just entered workforce may feel uncomfortable with their newfound independence and responsibility. Workplace support, such as workshops, and emotional support were found to be useful in helping individuals cope with IP. Future studies could be done post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among healthcare workers to have a larger sample size to determine true IP and burnout prevalence.
Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Burnout, Professional/psychology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Workplace/psychology*

Eight compounds were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate part of 70% acetone extract of Rehmannia glutinosa by various chromatographic techniques such as silica gel, MCI gel CHP-20, ODS, Toyopearl HW-40C, combined with TLC and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by modern spectroscopy techniques (NMR, MS, UV, IR), and identified as neomartynoside A (1), osmanthuside B₆ (2), martynoside (3), isomartynoside (4), (E)-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (5), caffeic acid (6), ferulic acid (7), and methyl caffeate (8). Compound 1 is a new phenylethanol glycoside, which was identified as neomartynoside A. Compound 2 was isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa for the first time. In addition, compounds 2, 6 and 7 significantly increased relative glucose consumption, showing potential hypoglycemic activity.

To evaluate the clinical application value of magnetic bead sorting technology (MBS) using the T-cell select kit combined with an automatic cell sorter for isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to realize automated specimen pre-processing and process optimization in T-SPOT.TB assay. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 300 patients recruited from the first affiliated hospital of Air Force Medical University from March 2023 to July 2024. Among them, there were 167 males and 133 females. The age range of the patients was 18 to 65 years, with a median age of 49.0 (33.3, 59.0) years and a mean age of (46.4±13.9) years. 4 ml of anticoagulated whole blood samples in duplicate were collected from each patient. One fresh sample (0-4 h) was processed immediately using density gradient centrifugation (DGC) for PBMC isolation, while the other was processed using MBS method at either 0-4 h or 34-54 h post-collection. The cycles for cell enrichment step of the automatic cell sorter were adjusted from the conventional 4 cycles to 2 cycles. Statistical analysis was performed using Cohen′s Kappa test to evaluate the concordance of T-SPOT.TB results across all processing groups. The results showed that for fresh samples (0-4 h), the T-SPOT.TB results for samples processed with 4-cycle and 2-cycle MBS enrichment steps demonstrated positive concordance rates of 91.7% and 93.1%, negative concordance rates of 100% for both, overall concordance rates of 98.0% and 97.9%, and Kappa values of 0.94 and 0.95, respectively, compared with the reference results for paired samples processed using DGC. Correspondingly, the results for samples processed with the 4-cycle and 2-cycle MBS methods at 34-54 h post-collection yielded positive concordance rates of 90.0% and 81.3%, negative concordance rates of 95.1% and 100%, overall concordance rates of 93.0% and 82.9%, and Kappa values of 0.86 and 0.43, respectively, compared with the reference results for fresh samples processed using DGC. In conclusion,for 0-4 h samples, the T-SPOT.TB results from both 4-cycle and 2-cycle MBS enrichment protocols were highly consistent with the reference results from conventional DGC methods. However, for 34-54 h stored samples, results from the 4-cycle MBS method rather than the 2-cycle protocol exhibited significantly superior concordance with the reference results. The MBS method using T-Cell Select kit achieves automated sample pre-processing for T-SPOT.TB assay, reduces hands-on time, and provides a viable alternative with reliable results for long-stored specimens.

Objective:To explore the effects and mechanisms of Shen-su-yin (SSY) on acute lung injury (ALI) in rats based on untargeted Metabolomics, network pharmacology, and experimental verification.Methods:Untargeted Metabolomics was performed to detect the ingredients of SSY by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q-exactive orbitrap mass spectrum, and the active ingredients were screened from the detected ingredients. Common targets of the active ingredient targets and ALI targets were utilized to screen hub targets to perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Then, key hub targets were selected from the hub targets, and the active ingredients-hub targets network was built to screen core ingredients. Subsequently, molecular docking was performed between the key hub targets and the core ingredients. 48 rats were randomly and equally divided into 4 groups by using a random number table: normal control group, lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI group, ALI+SSY group, and ALI+dexamethasone group. 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide induction, the levels of respiratory rate, blood lactate, lung wet/dry weight ratio, ALI score, inflammatory factors of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and oxidative stress mediators of lung tissue in each group were evaluated, and the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway was also detected by using Western blot. Finally, one-way analysis of variance, Welch test, or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare data differences among groups. Results:A total of 415 ingredients were detected from the SSY. 66 of the detected ingredients were identified as active ingredients, and 10 of them were selected as core ingredients. The number of common targets, hub targets, and key hub targets was 337, 50, and 10, respectively. Total of 285 biological processes, 32 cellular components, and 51 molecular functions were enriched though GO analysis, and 148 cell signaling pathways such as pathways in cancer and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were enriched though KEGG analysis. Molecular docking studies revealed that all binding energies between the 10 key hub targets and the 10 core ingredients were less than -5 kcal/mol. Compared with the ALI group, the levels of the respiratory rate, blood lactate, and lung wet/dry weight ratio in ALI+SSY group were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), and the level of ALI score showed a downward trend, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). In addition, the levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in lung tissue of rats in ALI+SSY group were significantly decreased in comparison with those in ALI group (all P<0.01). Moreover, compared with the ALI group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K p85α, AKT1, and GSK3β and the expression level of Nrf2 in lung tissue of ALI+SSY group were significantly up-regulated (PI3K p85α phosphorylation and AKT1 phosphorylation, P<0.01; GSK3β phosphorylation and Nrf2, P<0.05), while the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 was significantly down-regulated ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Active ingredients detected from SSY via untargeted Metabolomics can inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation in ALI rats by regulating the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β-Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby alleviating lung lesions.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of achyranthes bidentata(AB)on sperm quality in mice with sper-matogenic disorder through the glycolytic metabolic pathway and its action mechanism.Methods:We equally randomized 40 Kun-ming mice into a normal control,a model control,a low-dose AB(3.5 g/kg)and a high-dose AB group(7.0 g/kg),and established the model of spermatogenic disorder in the latter three groups of mice by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin(30 mg/kg).Two days after modeling,we collected the testis and kidney tissues and blood samples from the mice for observation of the pathological changes in the testis tissue by HE staining,detection of perm motility with the sperm quality analyzer,examination of the apoptosis of testis cells by flow cytometry,measurement of the levels of testosterone(T),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and cata-lase(CAT)in the serum and testis tissue by ELISA,and determination of expressions of the key enzymes of glycolysis hexokinase Ⅱ(HK2),pyruvate kinase M2(PKM2),platelet phosphofructokinase(PFKP),lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA)and the meiosis pro-teins REC8 and SCP3 by Western blot,and the mRNA expressions of glycolytic phosphofructokinase 1(PFK1),phosphoglycerate ki-nase 1(PGK1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1 β(IL-1β)by fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR).Results:Compared with the model controls,the mice in the AB groups showed significant increases in the testis coefficient,kidney in-dex,sperm concentration,sperm motility,spermatogonia,primary spermatocytes,spermatids,sperm count and the serum T level(P＜0.05 orP＜0.01),but dramatic decreases in the apoptosis of testis cells and percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm(P＜0.01).Achyranthes bidentata also significantly elevated the levels of SOD and CAT,and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of MDA,TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and up-regulated the protein expressions of HK2,PKM2,PFKP,LDHA,REC8 and SCP3,and expressions of the glycolysis key genes Pfk1 and Pgk1(P＜0.05 orP＜0.01).Conclusion:Achyranthes bidentata ameliorates doxorubicin-induced spermatogenic disorder in mice by regulating the glycolytic pathway and reducing oxidative stress and the expressions of inflammatory factors.

To evaluate the clinical application value of magnetic bead sorting technology (MBS) using the T-cell select kit combined with an automatic cell sorter for isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to realize automated specimen pre-processing and process optimization in T-SPOT.TB assay. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 300 patients recruited from the first affiliated hospital of Air Force Medical University from March 2023 to July 2024. Among them, there were 167 males and 133 females. The age range of the patients was 18 to 65 years, with a median age of 49.0 (33.3, 59.0) years and a mean age of (46.4±13.9) years. 4 ml of anticoagulated whole blood samples in duplicate were collected from each patient. One fresh sample (0-4 h) was processed immediately using density gradient centrifugation (DGC) for PBMC isolation, while the other was processed using MBS method at either 0-4 h or 34-54 h post-collection. The cycles for cell enrichment step of the automatic cell sorter were adjusted from the conventional 4 cycles to 2 cycles. Statistical analysis was performed using Cohen′s Kappa test to evaluate the concordance of T-SPOT.TB results across all processing groups. The results showed that for fresh samples (0-4 h), the T-SPOT.TB results for samples processed with 4-cycle and 2-cycle MBS enrichment steps demonstrated positive concordance rates of 91.7% and 93.1%, negative concordance rates of 100% for both, overall concordance rates of 98.0% and 97.9%, and Kappa values of 0.94 and 0.95, respectively, compared with the reference results for paired samples processed using DGC. Correspondingly, the results for samples processed with the 4-cycle and 2-cycle MBS methods at 34-54 h post-collection yielded positive concordance rates of 90.0% and 81.3%, negative concordance rates of 95.1% and 100%, overall concordance rates of 93.0% and 82.9%, and Kappa values of 0.86 and 0.43, respectively, compared with the reference results for fresh samples processed using DGC. In conclusion,for 0-4 h samples, the T-SPOT.TB results from both 4-cycle and 2-cycle MBS enrichment protocols were highly consistent with the reference results from conventional DGC methods. However, for 34-54 h stored samples, results from the 4-cycle MBS method rather than the 2-cycle protocol exhibited significantly superior concordance with the reference results. The MBS method using T-Cell Select kit achieves automated sample pre-processing for T-SPOT.TB assay, reduces hands-on time, and provides a viable alternative with reliable results for long-stored specimens.

Objective To investigate the toxicokinetic differences of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine(MDMA)and its metabolite 4,5-methylene dioxy amphetamine(MDA)in rats af-ter single and continuous administration of MDMA,providing reference data for the forensic identifica-tion of MDMA.Methods A total of 24 rats in the single administration group were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg experimental groups and the control group,with 6 rats in each group.The ex-perimental group was given intraperitoneal injection of MDMA,and the control group was given intraperi-toneal injection of the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.The amount of 0.5 mL blood was collected from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.In the continuous administration group,24 rats were randomly divided into the experi-mental group(18 rats)and the control group(6 rats).The experimental group was given MDMA 7 d by continuous intraperitoneal injection in increments of 5,7,9,11,13,15,17 mg/kg per day,respectively,while the control group was given the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group by in-traperitoneal injection.On the eighth day,the experimental rats were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg dose groups,with 6 rats in each group.MDMA was injected intraperitoneally,and the con-trol group was injected intraperitoneally with the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.On the eighth day,0.5 mL of blood was taken from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.Liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect MDMA and MDA levels,and statistical software was employed for data analysis.Results In the single-administration group,peak concentrations of MDMA and MDA were reached at 5 min and 1 h after administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 12 h.In the continuous administration group,peak concentrations were reached at 30 min and 1.5 h af-ter administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 10 h.Nonlinear fitting equations for the concentration ratio of MDMA and MDA in plasma and administration time in the single-administration group and continuous administration group were as follows:T=10.362C-1.183,R2=0.974 6;T=7.397 3C-0.694,R2=0.961 5(T:injection time;C:concentration ratio of MDMA to MDA in plasma).Conclusions The toxicokinetic data of MDMA and its metabolite MDA in rats,obtained through single and continuous administration,including peak concentration,peak time,detection time limit,and the relationship between concentration ratio and administration time,provide a theoretical and data foundation for relevant forensic identification.

Macroporous adsorption resin, MCI, Toyopearl HW-40C and silica gel column chromatography combined with the semi-preparative HPLC were used to isolate and purify the water extract of Cornus officinalis. And the structures of compounds were identified by HRESIMS, NMR, IR, UV and ECD. A total of twelve compounds were isolated from the fruits of Cornus officinalis. They were identified as neolignan B (1), 2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-2-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-3a-O-β-D-xylopyranosyloxymethyl-5-benzofuranpropanol (2), cornucadinoside A (3), 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (4), n-butyl gallate (5), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (6), n-butyl quininate (7), 5-hydroxymaltol (8), 2-furolic acid (9), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (10), 5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolidone (11), and dimethyl malate (12). Compound 1 is a new biphenyl lignan, named as neolignan B. Compounds 2, 4, 5, 7-9 and 11 were isolated from Cornus officinalis for the first time.

Eleven compounds were isolated from Eucommia ulmoides by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, HW-40C column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by modern spectroscopic methods as neoeucommiate A (1), (7S,8R)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (2), urolignoside (3), ficusal (4), tiruneesiin (5), glochidioboside (6), forsythialansides B (7), ecdysanol B (8), (+)-syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), (+)-pinoresinol 4-O-[6ʹʹ-O-vanilloyl]-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), samsesquinoside (11). Compound 1 is a new compound, compounds 3-7, 10 and 11 were isolated from Eucommia ulmoides for the first time.