Objective: Problematic use of social media (PUSM) may affect sleep quality and self-stigma in people with schizophrenia and consequently reduce their quality of life (QoL). This longitudinal study investigated if sleep quality and self-stigma mediated relationships between PUSM and QoL. Methods: One-hundred-and-ninety-three outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited from a psychiatric center in Taiwan from April 2019 to August 2021 and participated in a longitudinal study at intervals of three months between measurements. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire Brief Version; sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; self-stigma using the Self-Stigma Scale-Short; and PUSM using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Via SPSS 20.0, general estimating equation models assessed temporal associations between variables. Via R software, mediating effects of self-stigma and sleep quality were examined through Monte Carlo simulations with 20,000 repetitions. Results: Mean scores of physical, psychological, social and environmental QoL ranged from 11.86 to 13.02. Mean scores of sleep quality and self-stigma were 9.1±4.5 and 2.2±0.8, respectively. Sleep quality and self-stigma were directly related to QoL (p<0.001) and mediated indirect relationships between PUSM and all components of QoL with a range of 95% confidence intervals spanning from -0.0591 to -0.0107 for physical QoL; -0.0564 to -0.0095 for psychological QoL; -0.0292 to -0.0035 for social QoL; and -0.0357 to -0.0052 for environmental QoL. Conclusion Sleep quality and self-stigma mediated relationships between PUSM and QoL in people with schizophrenia. Developing interventions targeting PUSM, sleep, and self-stigma may help improve QoL in people with schizophrenia.

Purpose: Patients with cancer are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease (COVID). Transportation barriers made travel to obtain medical care more difficult during the pandemic. Whether these factors led to changes in the distance traveled for radiotherapy and the coordinated location of radiation treatment is unknown. Materials and Methods: We analyzed patients across 60 cancer sites in the National Cancer Database from 2018 to 2020. Demographic and clinical variables were analyzed for changes in distance traveled for radiotherapy. We designated the facilities in the 99th percentile or above in terms of the proportion of patients who traveled more than 200 miles as “destination facilities.” We defined “coordinated care” as undergoing radiotherapy at the same facility where the cancer was diagnosed. Results: We evaluated 1,151,954 patients. There was a greater than 1% decrease in the proportion of patients treated in the Mid-Atlantic States. Mean distance traveled from place of residence to radiation treatment decreased from 28.6 to 25.9 miles, and the proportion traveling greater than 50 miles decreased from 7.7% to 7.1%. At “destination facilities,” the proportion traveling more than 200 miles decreased from 29.3% in 2018 to 24% in 2020. In comparison, at the other hospitals, the proportion traveling more than 200 miles decreased from 1.07% to 0.97%. In 2020, residing in a rural area resulted in a lower odds of having coordinated care (multivariable odds ratio = 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.95). Conclusion The first year of the COVID pandemic measurably impacted the location of U.S. radiation therapy treatment.

Humans ; Castleman Disease/surgery* ; Liver

OBJECTIVE To compare t he diff erences of the fingerprint and in vitro antioxidant activity between decoction pieces of Polygonum cuspidatum by integrated technology of habitat processing and processing （short for IPDP ）and traditional processing decoction pieces （short for TPDP ）. METHODS Ten batches of IPDP and ten batches of TPDP were prepared by integrated technology and traditional technology ，respectively. HPLC method was used to establish and compare the fingerprints of IPDP and TPDP. The scavenging rates of DPPH free radical ，ABTS free radical ，superoxide free radical and hydroxyl free radical and reducing activity of Fe 3+ were detected for IPDP and TPDP. In vitro antioxidant activities were compared between IPDP and TPDP. RESULTS There were 11 common peaks in the fingerprints of IPDP and TPDP ，among which 17 came from IPDP and 13 came from TPDP. The peak heights of peak 6（polydatin）and peak 15（emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside）in IPDP were significantly higher than those in the TPDP ，and the peak heights of peak 13（resveratrol），peak 17（emodin）and peak 19（physcion）in the TPDP were significantly higher than those in the IPDP. The results of in vitro antioxidant test showed that IPDP and TPDP had a certain scavenging capacity on DPPH free radical ，ABTS free radical ，superoxide free radical and hydroxyl free radicals ，and also had a certain reducing capacity on Fe 3+. CONCLUSIONS The integrated processing technology of P. cuspidatum has a good retention effect on the glycosides in P. cuspidatum ，and the in vitro antioxidant activity of IPDP is stronger than that of TPDP.

Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Adult ; Cities ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Silicosis

Aim To investigate the curative effects of resveratrol on OVA induced allergic rhinitis in mice and the underlying immune mechanisms. Methods Balb/c mice (female, 6 weeks) were divided randomly into normal control ( NC) group, allergic rhinitis (AR) group, high dose resveratrol treatment group (RH), low dose resveratrol treatment group (RL), and dexamethasone treatment group ( Dex). RL, RH and Dex group were oral administered with resveratrol 30 mg • kg"1, resveratrol 100 mg • kg"1 and dexamethasone 10 mg • kg"1, respectively. After the treat-ment , the sneezing and nasal rubbing behaviors of mice in all the group were recorded and HE was performed to assess the inflammatory cell infiltration in nasal tissues. The sera levels of allergic cytokines were determined with ELISA assay. The percentage of CD4+ GA- TA3 + T cells in spleen of each group was further recorded by flow cytometry. Results Compared with AR group, treatment with resveratrol (100 mg - kg"1) reduced the sneezing and nasal rubbing behaviors signifi-cantly and improved inflammatory cell infiltration in nasal tissues. The up-regulated sera levels of IL-4, IL- 13 and OVA-sIgE in AR group were reversed by RH, and ratios CD4+ GATA3 + Th2 cells in spleen of RH were also down-regulated parallelly. Conclusions RH treatment could improve the allergic related symptoms of OVA-induced allergic rhinitis, which is associated with down-regulated sera levels of IL-4, IL-13 and OVA-sIgE and ratios of CD4+ GATA3 + Th2 cells in spleen of mouse model.

Bronchogenic cyst occurring in the diaphragm is rare and thoracoscopic cyst resection is mainly effective treatment. The coronary artery bleeding after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has never been described; here we report a case of left coronary artery injury after thoracoscopic itradiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst resection, which may be caused by metallic troca or chest tube.
Bronchogenic Cyst ; surgery ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Diaphragm ; Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Many of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the Philippines are controllable with nature-based products, either as agents of intervention, or prevention, as nutritional supplements or for the control of side-effects of medications. The different R&D programs on nature-based products in the Philippines are usually conducted in isolation, or through silos. These often lead to products that are shortsighted, duplicate products, or products with minimal innovation, not readily applicable to population and environmental sustainability.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to draft an internationally benchmarked and integrated blueprint for a population health and environmental health-led nature-based product development and conservation for the Philippines.

METHODS: The methodology consisted of a review of literature; regional educational visits; and a series of consultative meetings with stakeholders.

RESULTS: The study resulted in a stakeholder-validated blueprint that assigns the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to lead the way for Filipinos to produce more nature-based products that are of international quality and attuned with local health needs. The blueprint has identified "9 Optimizations" in the realization of this aspiration, including an expanded role for PITAHC, a national database, an ethical researchers list, and to produce at least five commercial products and 20 intellectual property rights within 5 years with an estimated total investment of approximately PhP 816 M.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of arginine in the rates of sputum conversion in patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODS: Studies from PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane were reviewed and appropriate studies were included. Randomized controlled trials comparing arginine with placebo in adult patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. A meta-analysis of the rate of sputum conversion at 8 weeks, was conducted. Post hoc analyses of sputum conversion at 4 weeks and cough reduction at 4 and 8 weeks were done.

RESULTS: Three articles included in this study had a pooled population of 452 participants. This meta-analysis showed no significant difference in the sputum conversion at 4 and 8 weeks, with a relative risk of 0.96 (95% CI 0.77-1.20) and 1.07 (95% CI 0.96-1.19), respectively. However, the cough was significantly reduced at 4 and 8 weeks, with subtotal relative risks of 0.91 (95% CI 0.82-1.00) and 0.43 (95% CI 0.22-0.81), and total relative risk for cough reduction of 0.83 (95% CI 0.73-0.93).

CONCLUSION: While arginine may not significantly reduce sputum conversion rates, it may be used as an adjunct to decrease cough in patients with tuberculosis.