The effect of health literacy on health status among residents in Qingdao, China: a path analysis

BACKGROUND@#Health literacy is a public health goal which can be used as an independent factor of health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the association between health literacy and health status, as well as the two mediating factors of behavior and self-efficacy among residents aged 15-69 years in Qingdao.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional survey was implemented among residents aged 15-69 years (N = 3793) in Qingdao, China. A combination of stratified cluster random and proportional probability sampling methods was used to select subjects for this study. Data were collected using "The Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire (2019)". We proposed a hypothetical model for the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, self-efficacy, health behavior, and health status, and used path analysis to validate the hypothesis.@*RESULTS@#The path analysis showed that higher education (β = 0.293) and income (β = 0.135) are positively and directly associated with greater health literacy, which was positively associated with health status (β = 0.057). Health literacy is a direct influencing factor of health behavior (β = 0.070) and self-efficacy (β = 0.099). Health behavior (β = 0.041) and self-efficacy (β = 0.173) exerted a positive direct effect on health status. The model explained 14.1% of variance for health literacy, 3.8% for self-efficacy, 5.7% for health behavior, and 15.0% for health status.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Health literacy was identified to be a critical factor in health status. The results emphasized that the dissemination of health knowledge, development of healthy behavior, and cultivation of self-efficacy should be jointly promoted to reinforce the level of health status among residents in future work.

Role of span length in the adaptation of implant-supported cobalt chromium frameworks fabricated by three techniques

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effect of span length on the adaptation of implant-supported cobalt chromium frameworks fabricated by three techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Models with two solid abutment analogs at different inter-abutment distances were digitized using a laboratory scanner. Frameworks of two-, three-, and four-unit fixed prostheses were designed by a computer. Six dots with a diameter of 0.2 mm were preset on the surface of each framework. A total of 54 implant-supported cobalt chromium frameworks were fabricated by milling, selective laser melting (SLM), and cast techniques. The frameworks were scanned and exported as Stereolithography files. Distances between two dots in X, Y, and Z coordinates were measured in both the designed and fabricated frameworks. Marginal gaps between the framework and the abutments were also evaluated by impression replica method. RESULTS: In terms of distance measurement, significant differences were found between three- and four-unit frameworks, as well as between two- and four-unit frameworks prepared by milling technique (P<.05). Significant differences were also noted between two- and three-unit frameworks, as well as between two- and four-unit frameworks prepared by cast technique (P<.05). The milling technique presented smaller differences than the SLM technique, and the SLM technique showed smaller differences than the cast technique at any unit prostheses (P<.05). Evaluation with the impression replica method indicated significant differences among the span lengths for any fabrication method (P<.05), as well as among the fabrication methods at any unit prostheses (P<.05). CONCLUSION: The adaptation of implant-supported cobalt chromium frameworks was affected by the span length and fabrication method.

The effects of let-7c-1 on the learning and memory of epileptic rats induced by PTZ / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To explore the effect of let-7c-1 on the learning and memory of PTZ-induced epileptic rats and its relevant mechanism.Methods A model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was induced via PTZ kindling in SD male rats.The epileptic rats were divided into epilepsy group,agomir-control group,let-7c-1 agomir group (12 rats for each).Twelve rats were served as a negative control group.The behavior and the expression levesl of let-7c-1,Bcl-2 protein and Caspase3 were evaluated at 28 days following PTZ.Results Compared to the negative group,the escape latency of epilepsy group was prolonged and the crossing times as well as the quadrant total distance in the target were reduced (P＜0.05).However,those parameters were not significantly different between the epilepsy group and the agmoir-control group (P＞0.05).Compared to the agmoir-control group,the escape latency of let-7c-1 agomir group was prolonged and the crossing times as well as the quadrant total distance in the target were reduced (P＜ 0.05).The expression levels of let-7c-1 and let-7c-1 were 1.35±0.32 in agmoir-control group and 62.53±21.01 in agomir group (F=50.97,P＜0.05).The expression levels of let-7c-1 were higher in let-7c-1 agomir group than in other groups (P＜0.05).Compared to the negative group,the expressions of Bcl-2 protein in other groups were decreased (P＜0.05) and the Caspase3 protein were increased (P＜0.05).Compared to the agomir-control group,the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased and the expression of Caspase3 protein was significantly increased in let-7c-1 agomir group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The present study shows that let-7c-1 may impair the learning and memory of PTZ-induced epileptic rats through decreasing the Bcl-2 protein and increasing Caspase3 protein in the hippocampus.