The mediating roles of depressive symptoms and social participation in the relationship between the effects of pain and cognitive function among Chinese older adults: A longitudinal study.

Decline in cognitive function poses a substantial burden on individuals, families, and society. However, the longitudinal potential mechanism underlying the link of pain and cognitive function remains unclear. Using data of 4247 participants aged 60 years and over from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2020, we discussed the longitudinal predictive effect of pain on cognitive function and the mediating effects of depressive symptoms and social participation. The longitudinal mediation model analysis revealed that pain could not directly influence cognitive function, but it could indirectly predict cognitive function through the independent mediation effects of depressive symptoms and social participation. Moreover, the association between pain and cognitive function was serially mediated by depressive symptoms and social participation. Diversified interventions aimed at relieving pain and depressive symptoms, and increasing social participation in older adults would be beneficial for their cognitive function.

The association between dual sensory loss and healthcare expenditure: Mediating effect of depression.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested the dual sensory loss (DSL) is linked to depression, and that they are associated with higher healthcare expenditures, respectively. However, the association between DSL, depression and healthcare expenditures remains ambiguous. OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to examine the association between DSL, depression and healthcare expenditures as well as catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) among Chinese people aged 45 and above. METHODS: We first utilized the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) 2018 to obtain data from a total of 13,412 Chinese individuals aged 45 and above to conduct a cross-sectional study. DSL was defined as a combined variable of self-reported vision loss and hearing loss. Depression was measured using The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). The healthcare expenditures, including outpatient out-of-pocket cost and inpatient out-of-pocket cost, were obtained from the Harmonized CHARLS section. CHE were defined as out-of-pocket (OOP) health spending equal to or higher than 40 % of a household's capacity to pay. A Tobit linear regression with three models and a path analysis were conducted to estimate the association between DSL, depression and healthcare expenditures and CHE. Then we utilized 2011CHARLS and 2018CHARLS to present a longitudinal analysis. A path analysis was conducted to estimate the association between 2011DSL, 2018depression and 2018healthcare expenditures and CHE. RESULTS: Depression has a significant mediating effect between DSL and healthcare expenditures. (For outpatient OOP cost: a = 0.453, b = 23.559, c = 25.257, the proportion of mediating effect in total effect = 29.71 %; for inpatient OOP cost: a = 0.453, b = 13.606, c = 15.463, the proportion of mediating effect in total effect = 28.50 %; all P < 0.05). The mediating effect of depression also exists in the association between DSL and CHE (a = 0.453, b = 0.018, c = 0.043, the proportion of mediating effect in total effect = 15.90 %; P < 0.05). The mediation effect of depression on healthcare expenditures and CHE also exists in the longitudinal analysis using CHARLS 2011 and CHARLS 2018 (all P < 0.05). LIMITATIONS: The DSL status were based on self-report and we used 2018CHARLS to conduct the study, which may cause some bias. CONCLUSION: Significant mediating effect of depression exists between DSL and higher healthcare expenditures and CHE. The mental health of elder people with DSL should be focused on, and we should have an overall viewpoint on the topic of healthcare expenditures and CHE.

Self-floating photocatalytic hydrogel for efficient removal of Microcystis aeruginosa and degradation of microcystins-LR.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) and the release of cyanotoxins have posed adverse impacts to aquatic system and human health. In this study, a novel self-floating Ag/AgCl@LaFeO3 (ALFO) photocatalytic hydrogel was prepared via freeze-thaw method for removal of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa). The ALFO hydrogel performed an excellent photocatalytic activity with a 99.4% removal efficiency of chlorophyll a within 4 h. It can still remove above 95% chlorophyll a after six consecutive recycles. Besides it has also shown excellent mechanical strength and elasticity, which can ensure its use in practical applications. The mechanisms of M. aeruginosa inactivation are attributed to •O2- and •OH generated by the ALFO hydrogel under visible light radiation. In addition, •O2- and •OH can further oxidative degrade and even mineralize the leaked algae organic matter, avoiding the recurrence of CyanoHABs. What's more, the ALFO hydrogel owns good photocatalytic degradation performance for microcystins-LR (MC-LR) with a 97% removal efficiency within 90 min. A possible photocatalytic degradation pathway of MC-LR was proposed through the identification of the intermediate products during the photocatalytic reaction, which confirmed the reduction of MC-LR toxicity. This work develops recyclable a self-floating ALFO hydrogel to simultaneously inactivate M. aeruginosa and degrade MC-LR, providing a prospective method for governing and controlling CyanoHABs in practical application.

[Epidemiological investigation on an outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in northwest Zhejiang province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the source, transmission route and risk factors of an outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). METHODS: Case definition was made and suspected cases were searched. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic features (age, gender, occupation, residential address), history of exposure, clinical signs and symptoms etc. Blood samples were collected from 12 suspected cases while index patient's blood samples were collected from walls of the residence. All samples were detected for SFTS virus using RT-PCR. Sero-prevalence rates of SFTS virus IgG were also conducted among healthy people, host and vectors. RESULTS: A total of 13 cases including 6 male and 7 female were identified during this outbreak in May 2014. Index patient developed illness onset on April 23 and died on May 1. Secondary patients would include 8 family members, 3 neighborhoods, 1 individual who lived in the same village, developing illness onset between May 10 and 16, with a peak on May 13. The incubation period was 9-15 days. Clinical signs and symptoms appeared as fever (100%), chill (92%), anergy (92%), body aches (92%), anorexia (92%), headache (77%), nausea (69%) etc. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia also appeared. History of the index patient showed that she collected tea leaves in her hometown 1 month before the illness onset. After index patient died on May 1, 9 secondary patients had directly contacted the blood of the deceased. Data from the retrospective cohort study showed that 'direct contact with blood' was an important risk factor (RR = 43.36, 95% CI: 13.66-137.63, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Majority of the secondary patients of these clusters contracted the SFTS virus infection through exposure to the blood of the index patient. However, aerosol transmission could not be ruled out, suggesting that precaution should be taken for doctors, nurses and family members when looking after the patients with SFTS virus infection.

Detection of spotted fever group Rickettsiae in ticks from Zhejiang Province, China.

Tick species distribution and prevalence of spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) in ticks were investigated in Zhejiang Province, China in 2010 and 2011. PCR was used to detect SFGR and positive amplicons were sequenced, compared to published sequences and phylogenic analysis was performed using MEGA 4.0. A total of 292 adult ticks of ten species were captured and 7.5 % (22/292) of the ticks were PCR-positive for SFG Rickettsia. The PCR-positive rates were 5.5 % (6/110) for Haemaphysalis longicornis, 3.6 % (1/28) for Amblyomma testudinarium and 16 % (15/94) for Ixodes sinensis, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of gltA genes detected in ticks indicated that there are two dominating groups of SFGR. Sequences of group one were closely related to Rickettsia monacensis, whereas sequences of group two were closest related to Rickettsia heilongjiangensis and Rickettsia japonica, which are human pathogens. Our findings underline the importance of these ticks in public health surveillance in Zhejiang Province, China.

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks from eastern China.

To explore the tick distribution and prevalence of Borrelia in Zhejiang Province, we performed a survey in nine sites. A total of 447 adult ticks of 11 species were captured and the dominant tick species were Haemaphysalis longicornis and Ixodes sinensis and the abundance of tick species in different areas varied significantly. Overall, 4.70% of the ticks were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for Borrelia. The average PCR positive rates were 5.19% for H. longicornis, 3.45% for Amblyomma testudinarium, 1.06% for I. sinensis, 5.00% for Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, and 19.44% for Ixodes granulatus, respectively. No Borrelia DNA was detected in Rhiphicephalus haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis yeni, Dermacentor taiwanensis, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Hyalomna asiaticum, and Ixodes ovatus. The prevalence of Borrelia was significantly different among tick species and the prevalence in I. granulatus was significantly higher than that in other tick species. Of note, experimentally confirmed vectors for B. burgdorferi s.l. including I. sinensis and I. granulatus were found in Zhejiang Province. Two species of B. burgdorferi s.l. exist in Zhejiang Province of which 12 sequences were most similar to the sequence of Borrelia garinii and nine sequences were most similar to the sequence of Borrelia valaisiana or Borrelia yangtze sp. nov.

[Study on the chemical constituents of the PTP 1B inhibitory effective parts of Paeoniae Rubra Radix].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the PTP 1B inhibitory effective parts of Paeoniae Rubra Radix. METHODS: The effective part of Paeoniae Rubra Radix was enriched by Sephadex LH-20. Compounds were isolated by various column chromatography and their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen compounds were identified as: benzoylpaeoniflorin(1), albiflorin(2), paeoniflorigenone(3), methyl gallate(4), adenosine(5),2-amino adenosine(6), 3,3'-Di-O-methylellagic acid(7), 3,3',4-trimethyl ellagic acid(8), dihydrokaempferol(9), glycerol(10), dibutyl phthalate(11). CONCLUSION: Compounds 5-11 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

[Epidemiological study and clinical analysis of 113 laboratory-confirmed cases with hand, foot and mouth disease].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of different pathogenesis type cases, severe and common cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. METHODS: Descriptive epidemic method was used to analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of laboratory-confirmed cases with hand,foot and mouth disease. RESULTS: The epidemiological characteristics 113 cases were the same as epidemic situation at the same time in Anji county. Clinical characteristics were difference in different pathogenesis type cases, severe and common cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. CONCLUSION: Prevention and control work taken should according to the characteristics of the disease, such as early identification of severe cases, handling and controlling over the outbreaks in order to reduce the severe cases and the death.