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【Objective】 To revise the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) Scale for Chinese Adolescents and investigate the role of adolescents’ sensitivity to environmental influences. 【Methods】 The HSC Scale was translated into Chinese. A total of 2166 adolescents in Xi’an were selected for exploratory factor, confirmatory factor analyses and reliability analysis. The participants were 609 healthy adolescents and 105 depressive adolescents aged 14-17 years, who were evaluated with the HSC scale and PHQ-9 scale as well as sleep duration and academic achievement questions. 【Results】 First, the factor structure (CFI=0.989, GFI=0.977, AGFI=0.958, TLI=0.983, RMSEA=0.042, RMR=0.050) indicated that HSC scale was a reliable measure of environmental sensitivity. The results supported a bifactor model with a general sensitivity factor and three group factors. Second, the Cronbach α was 0.892, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.743. Third, depressive adolescents had a significantly higher HSC score, compared with the healthy ones (F=15.1, P<0.01). Fourth, the relationship between BMI and adolescent adjustment was moderated by environmental sensitivity. Simple slope analysis showed that when the level of environmental sensitivity was higher, weight gain could predict adolescents’ emotional, sleep and academic problems. 【Conclusion】 The Chinese version of HSC has good psychometric characteristics and may be applied in Chinese adolescents. Environmental sensitivity may be a personality factor that influences depressive symptoms in adolescents.
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【Objective】 To investigate the association of depressive symptoms with the predicted risk of coronary heart disease in middle-aged and elderly Chinese based on a large community study. 【Methods】 A total of 2532 cases in the group without depression and 2758 cases in the group with depression were included. We compared the two groups in general demographics, information related to coronary heart disease risk, and physical function and ability to perform daily living. We also analyzed the factors associated with coronary heart disease risk by linear regression. 【Results】 ① Demographic information: The group with depression had a higher mean age, a higher proportion of women, more people with poor marital status, and a higher number of comorbid chronic diseases compared with the group without depression (all P<0.05). ② Risk indicators related to coronary heart disease: The group with depression had more people with diabetes and a significantly higher systolic blood pressure compared with the group without depression (P<0.05). The two groups did not significantly differ in the proportion of smokers, diastolic blood pressure, LDL-C, or HDL-C (all P>0.05). The risk of coronary heart disease was significantly higher in the group with depression than in the group without depression (P<0.05). ③ Physical function and ability of daily living: The physical function score, physical self-care score, and instrumental daily living ability were significantly higher in the group with depression than in the group without depression (all P<0.001). ④ Linear regression showed that except for gender, age, marital status, comorbid diabetes, smoking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL-C and LDL-C were associated with risk of coronary heart disease (P<0.05); CESD was the only factor associated with the risk of coronary heart disease [B=0.019, 95% CI: (0.015, 0.032), P=0.032]. 【Conclusion】 The risk of coronary heart disease is higher in middle-aged and elderly people with depressive symptoms than in those without depressive symptoms. Having depressive symptoms is one of the risk factors for coronary heart disease in middle-aged and elderly people.
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【Objective】 To explore the effect of childhood maltreatment on clinical symptoms and early efficacy of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. 【Methods】 Totally 73 schizophrenic patients were divided into mild maltreatment group(n=42) and severe maltreatment group(n=31) according to the Child Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ). The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression(CGI) were measured and compared between the two groups at baseline and 3 weeks after antipsychotic treatment to analyze the correlation between child maltreatment experience and mental symptoms and the response to early treatment of antipsychotics. 【Results】 PANSS positive factor score(P=0.026) and cognitive deficit factor score (P=0.042) were significantly higher in severe abuse group than in mild abuse group. The positive factor was significantly positively correlated with emotional abuse factor in CTQ score(r=0.257, P=0.028), and the cognitive deficit factor was significantly positively correlated with emotional neglect factor(r=0.283, P=0.015). After antipsychotic treatment, the reduction rate of PANSS negative factor in severe abuse group was significantly lower than that in mild abuse group(P=0.035), and had the highest correlation with CTQ physical abuse factor(r=-0.302, P=0.011). 【Conclusion】 The severity of childhood maltreatment experienced by schizophrenic patients is more related to positive symptoms and cognitive deficits, and more childhood maltreatment experience will affect the improvement of negative symptoms by antipsychotics, suggesting a poor prognosis.
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【Objective】 To analyze the changes of gut microbes in patients with postpartum depression so as to explore the relationship between postpartum depression and gut microbes. 【Methods】 A total of 60 postpartum subjects were recruited to participate in this study. The depression status of the participants was scored using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Those with a score ≥13 were included in the postpartum depression group (PPD group), while those with a score less than 13 were included in the postpartum healthy control group (PPHC group). The feces of these 60 subjects were collected, and the fecal whole genome DNA was extracted for 16S rDNA sequencing. The data of changes in the bacterial diversity between the groups were obtained, and the possible correlation between the changes of intestinal microbes and postpartum depression was analyzed. 【Results】 The number of microorganisms in PPD patients was significantly reduced (P<0.001); the Chao1 index (P<0.001) and ACE index (P<0.001) of α diversity decreased significantly. There were also significant differences in β diversity between the two groups. Analysis of the bacteria in the groups showed that Acetanaerobacterium, Adlercreutzia, Allobaculum, Alloprevotella, Bifidobacterium, Christensenella, Escherichia, Eubacterium, Faecalicatena, Fusobacterium, Haemophilus, Intestinimonas, Lactobacillus, Megamonas, Monoglobumus, Muribaculum, Oscillospira, Paraprevotella, Streptococcus, Raoultibacter, Ruminococcus and Stomatobaculum were significantly enriched in PPHC group. In contrast, Kineothrix, Lachnoclostridium, Acinetobacter, Aquisphaera, Enterococcus, and Mucispirillum were enriched in PPD group. RDA/CCA analysis showed that EPDS was positively correlated with Prevotella, Kineothrix, and Alistipes, but negatively correlated with Lachnospira. 【Conclusion】 This study found that the intestinal flora of patients with postpartum depression was significantly disrupted, and there was a correlation between the intestinal flora and postpartum depression symptom score. Therefore, intestinal microbial markers may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with postpartum depression.
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【Objective】 To study the correlation of clinical symptoms and cognitive functions with serum inflammatory factors in schizophrenia. 【Methods】 A total of 42 SCz patients (case group) and 47 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled in this study. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELSA) to determine six inflammatory factors in serum. PANSS was used to assess clinical symptoms and MCCB was used to assess the patients’ cognitive functions. 【Results】 ① Inflammatory factors: The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in case group than in control group (P<0.01). ② Cognitive functions: The scores of Trail Making Test, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Symbol Coding, Spatial Span, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, Assessment Battery-Mazes, Category Fluency and Test-Managing Emotions of case group were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.05). ③ Correlation between serum inflammatory factors and clinical symptoms: There was no correlation between serum inflammatory factors and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia. ④ Correlation between serum inflammatory factors and cognitive functions: The levels of IL-6 (rs=-0.33, P<0.05) and IL-8 (rs=-0.50, P<0.01) in case group were significantly negatively correlated with the scores of Space Scan test. 【Conclusion】 Patients with schizophrenia are presented with immune dysfunction, and the latter is correlated with cognitive impairments.
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【Objective】 To investigate the relationship between rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and the incidence of angina pectoris (AP) in different genders. 【Methods】 We recruited 2710 participants from the Sleep Heart Health Study with an average age of (61.7±10.9)y, of whom 1 103 (40.7%) were male and 1 607(59.3%) were female. The participants were divided into grade 1 (25%) according to the percentage of REM sleep time (REM%). Complete polysomnography data and medical records were collected for all the participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to characterize the independent association between REM% and the occurrence of AP. 【Results】 REM% in the three groups varied significantly in age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, AHI, diabetes, and hypertension (P25% in women was closely related to AP (OR=1.523; 95% CI:1.132-2.051, P=0.006). 【Conclusion】 Participants with REM sleep time >25% have a significantly increased prevalence of AP in women, but not in men.
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Objective To investigate the change of plasma ghrelin level and explore the related factors of ghrelin alteration in elderly hypertensive patients with psychological distress. Methods A total of 300 elders, who were screened with Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) for psychological stress and somato-psychological manifestations respectively, were divided into hypertension group (n=148) and non-hypertension group (n=152). Their blood samples were collected to measure the plasma level of ghrelin and total cortisol on the same day. Results The incidences of anxiety and depression were 27.7% and 11.7%, respectively, in all the enrolled elders. However, the rates of psychological distress, particularly anxiety, were significantly higher in the hypertensive elders than in the non-hypertensive ones (43.2% vs. 12.5%). Anxiety was positively related to the cortisol level but negatively related to the plasma ghrelin level, and the latter two were negatively correlated with each other. Conclusion Chronic increase of plasma cortisol induced by long-term anxiety can lead to the reduction of ghrelin level, which then adversely affects blood pressure in elders with psychological distress. Therefore, ghrelin might be a selective antihypertensive medicine for hypertensive elders with anxiety.
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Objective To explore the effects of psychosocial f actors including life events and coping style on the onset of upper digestive tr act cancer. Methods A total of 98 patients with upper diges tive tract cancer were chosen as experiment group, while 98 healthy persons were chosen as control group, who matched with experiment group in habits, age, sex and education background. Both the two groups were studied by Life Event Scale a nd Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. The difference between the contributio n of psychosocial factors in the two groups was analyzed. Results The stimulating amount and frequency of negative life events in experimen t group were much higher than those in control group, while those of its positiv e life events were much lower. The total score of passive coping style in experi ment group was higher than that in control group, while the total score of posit ive coping style was lower. Conclusion Stress may be one of the etiological factors in causing upper digestive tract cancer, and passive co ping style may also be a risk factor for the etiology of upper digestive tract c ancer.
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Objective To explore the contribution of psychoso cial factors including personality and social support to the onset of upper dige stive tract cancer. Methods Ninety-eight patients with up per digestive tract cancer were chosen as disease group, with 98 healthy persons as control group, who matched with disease group in habitation, age, sex and ed ucation level. Both the two groups were studied by Eysenck Personality Questionn aire (EPQ) and social support scale. The differences between the two groups were analyzed. Results The E score of EPQ in disease group was lower than that in control group, but its P and L scores were higher, and the su pport utilization degree in disease group was much lower than that in control gr oup. Positive correlation was found between the E score of EPQ and social suppor t utilization degree in disease group. Conclusion The onset of upper digestive tract cancer is correlated with personality and social suppo rt.
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Objective To measure N-acetylaspartate(NAA),choline(CHO) and creatine(Cr) in prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging(H'MRSI).Methods H'MRSI was performed on the right and left prefrontal cortex in 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 normals.The ratio of NAA/Cr to Cho/Cr was determined.Results The NAA/Cr ratio in patients was significant lower than that in normal controls.The CHO/Cr ratio had no significant difference between both groups.Conclusion The neuron function in prefrontal cortex might decrease in first fit schizophrenia.
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Objective To explore the personality characters of patients with mental disorders and to determine the differences of dimension,trait level and model of personality between patients and normal subjects.Methods The patients with mental disorders(n=376) and normal subjects(n=368) were assessed with revised NEO personality inventory(NEO-PI-R).Results The mean scores of extroversion(E) and conscientiousness(C) of five-factor personality model of NEO-PI-R in patients were significant lower than those in normal group((P
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Objective To measure metabolism in brain of first episode major depression patients with 1H-MRS.Methods Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic(1H-MRS) examination of bilateralis frontal lobe and hippocampus was conducted in 23 patients with first episode major depression and 23 age-,sex-and education-matched healthy controls.We examined the metabolism such as NAA,Cho,Cr,Glx and mI in bilaterlis frontal lobe and hippocampus of patients.Results Bilateralis frontal lobe NAA/Cr,right frontal lobe Glx/Cr and left hippocampus NAA/Cr and Glx/Cr were significantly lower in MD patients versus controls,but right frontal lobe and right hippocampus mI/Cr significantly higher than in controls.Conclusion Nerve cell activity disorder,abnormal second messenger and glutamicacid and glutamine may be involved in the pathogenesis of major depression.
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Objective To explore the relationship between parental rearing behavior and the depressive disorders in adolescents,and to provide objective basis for the prevention and treatment of the depressive disorders.Methods A total of 73 depressed patients were chosen as the disease group,with a control group of 81 healthy persons of similar age,sex,education level and civil status.The depressed patient must meet depressive episode unipolar criteria and HAMD scores were more than 18.Results In males,the scores of father penalty and rejection factors and mother emotional warmth,and over-protection and over-involvement factors were significantly different from those in the control normal group.In females,the scores of father emotional warmth and penalty and rejection factors and mother emotional warmth and rejection factors were significantly different from those in the control normal group.Conclusion Parental rearing behavior plays an important role in the etiology of depression in adolescents.