Zinc Intakes and Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review

It is widely accepted that the zinc element is crucial in human beings. Zinc has gained more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its utilization for the treatment and prevention of respiratory tract infections. However, some studies also pointed out that zinc intake might cause unwanted side effects and even be dangerous when overdosed. To reveal the relationship between zinc intake and health outcomes, we performed an umbrella review from human studies. In total, the umbrella review included 43 articles and identified 11 outcomes for dietary zinc intake and 86 outcomes for supplementary zinc intake. Dietary zinc intake in the highest dose would decrease the risk of overall and specific digestive tract cancers, depression, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adults. Supplementary zinc consumption in adults was linked to an improvement of depression, antioxidant capacity and sperm quality, higher serum zinc concentration, and lower concentration of inflammatory markers. Zinc supplementation in children would reduce the incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia, improve zinc deficiency and boost growth. However, zinc might not decrease all-cause mortality in adults or the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19. And better maternal and neonatal outcomes may not derive from pregnant women who consumed higher or lower doses of zinc supplementation (>20 mg/day and <20 mg/day, respectively). Dose-response analyses revealed that a daily 5 mg increment of zinc would lower the risk of colorectal and esophageal cancer, whereas a large dose of zinc supplementation (daily 100 mg) showed no benefit in reducing prostate cancer risk.

Expressions and significances of CTSL, the target of COVID-19 on GBM.

INTRODUCTION: Cathepsin L (CTSL) is a kind of the SARS-entry-associated CoV-2's proteases, which plays a key role in the virus's entry into the cell and subsequent infection. We investigated the association between the expression level of CTSL and overall survival in Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients, to better understand the possible route and risks of new coronavirus infection for patients with GBM. METHODS: The expression level of CTSL in GBM was analyzed using TCGA and CGGA databases. The relationship between CTSL and immune infiltration levels was analyzed by means of the TIMER database. The impact of CTSL inhibitors on GBM biological activity was tested. RESULTS: The findings revealed that GBM tissues had higher CTSL expression levels than that of normal brain tissues, which was associated with a significantly lower survival rate in GBM patients. Meanwhile, the expression level of CTSL negatively correlated with purity, B cell and CD8+ T cell in GBM. CTSL inhibitor significantly reduced growth and induced mitochondrial apoptosis. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, CTSL acts as an independent prognostic factor and can be considered as promising therapeutic target for GBM.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mindfulness in Chinese College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mindfulness has been found to have many positive effects on life outcomes, including mental health and educational achievement. However, less is known about the antecedents of mindfulness, particularly in Chinese college students. This study examines the effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mindfulness among Chinese college students in September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that ACEs negatively affected students' mindfulness. The data were collected from 1,871 college students from 12 colleges across China. The results aligned with our hypothesis that ACEs was negatively associated with mindfulness. In particular, emotional abuse and neglect in childhood appear to have the most negative effects on mindfulness compared to other dimensions of ACEs such as physical abuse and household challenges.

In the Shadow of the Government: The Chinese Nonprofit Sector in the COVID-19 Crisis

Nonprofit organizations often work on the front lines of disaster assistance and emergency relief. In this sweeping coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the nonprofit sector in many countries is playing an active role in the national fight against the coronavirus. However, the Chinese nonprofit sector only plays a marginal role in the battle. This article, from a government?nonprofit relationship perspective, delves into the underlying factors shaping the Chinese nonprofit sector?s limited involvement in this pandemic crisis and the impacts of the crisis on the Chinese nonprofit sector. In particular, we argue that a strong and centralized political regime leaves little room for nonprofits? involvement in emergency relief, resulting in a nonprofit sector that is vulnerable and marginalized. Nonprofits have to be smarter in coping with the government in the COVID-19 downturn.