Relationship between social participation and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults: Multiple mediating roles of depression and cognitive function.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have explored the relationship between social participation, depression, cognitive function, and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults. However, the results of these studies were not consistent. Therefore, the in-depth excavation of the complex relationship mechanism between these four variables is limited. This study aims to explore whether depression and cognitive function act as the multiple mediators between social participation and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This study used the meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) approach. Six databases were comprehensively searched to investigate the relationship between social participation, depression, cognitive function, and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults from inception to March 1, 2023. RESULTS: The analysis included 50 articles that reported 66 effect sizes (N = 161,854). The MASEM found the relationship between social participation and life satisfaction was mediated by depression [ß = 0.085, 95 % CI (0.053, 0.126)] and by cognitive function [ß = 0.015, 95 % CI (0.002, 0.033)], respectively. Depression and cognitive function also played multiple mediating roles between social participation and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults [ß = 0.005, 95 % CI (0.001, 0.012)]. CONCLUSIONS: There was not only a direct association between social participation and life satisfaction, but also an association through multiple mediating roles of depression and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. In the process of using diverse interventions to promote social participation in community-dwelling older adults, more attention should be paid to their psychological status and cognitive function to eliminate intrinsic barriers so as to improve life satisfaction effectively.

"Exogenous boron alleviates salt stress in cotton by maintaining cell wall structure and ion homeostasis".

Salt stress is considered one of the major abiotic stresses that impair agricultural production, while boron (B) is indispensable for plant cell composition and has also been found to alleviate salt stress. However, the regulatory mechanism of how B improves salt resistance via cell wall modification remains unknown. The present study primarily focused on investigating the mechanisms of B-mediated alleviation of salt stress in terms of osmotic substances, cell wall structure and components and ion homeostasis. The results showed that salt stress hindered plant biomass and root growth in cotton. Moreover, salt stress disrupted the morphology of the root cell wall as evidenced by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analysis. The presence of B effectively alleviated these adverse effects, promoting the accumulation of proline, soluble protein, and soluble sugar, while reducing the content of Na+ and Cl- and augmenting the content of K+ and Ca2+ in the roots. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated a decline in the crystallinity of roots cellulose. Boron supply also reduced the contents of chelated pectin and alkali-soluble pectin. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis further affirmed that exogenous B led to a decline in cellulose accumulation. In conclusion, B offered a promising strategy for mitigating the adverse impact of salt stress and enhancing plant growth by countering osmotic and ionic stresses and modifying root cell wall components. This study may provide invaluable insights into the role of B in ameliorating the effects of salt stress on plants, which could have implications for sustainable agriculture.

Effect of exogenous l-aspartate nano­calcium on root growth, calcium forms and cell wall metabolism of Brassica napus L.

Currently, l-aspartate nano­calcium (Ca(L-asp)-NPs) has been sued as a calcium supplement for humans, but its effects on plants are not well elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous Ca(L-asp)-NPs on the growth of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) for the first time. Different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg L-1) of Ca(L-asp)-NPs and 1.18 g L-1 Ca(NO3)2 were used in the nutrient solution. The results indicated that Ca2+ released from Ca(L-asp)-NPs were absorbed by the roots, and had a significant effect on plant height, root length, biomass accumulation, and root structure formation, especially on the growth and development of coarse roots at 100 mg L-1 Ca(L-asp)-NPs. Calcium (Ca) accumulation, Ca-pectinate, Ca-phosphate and Ca­carbonate, and Ca-oxalate in plant roots and leaves were positively linked with Ca(L-asp)-NPs concentration. For cell wall, Ca(L-asp)-NPs treatment increased the content of pectin, and the activity of cell wall degrading enzymes in roots, such as pectin methyl-esterase (PME), cellulose enzyme (CE), polygalacturonase (PG), and ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal). For cell membrane osmotic regulation, Ca(L-asp)-NPs promoted the accumulation of soluble sugar and soluble protein. This finding suggests that 100 mg L-1 Ca(L-asp)-NPs had the best growth-promoting effect on rapeseed. This study provides a valuable reference for exogenous Ca(L-asp)-NPs as new nano Ca supplements for plant growth.

[The effects of kuijiekang capsule on ulcerative colitis induced by TNBS in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Kuijiekang Capsule (KJK) on rats colitis induced by TNBS. METHODS: Rats with TNBS/ethanol-induced colitis were used and treated with KJK. The experimental animals were divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, SASP group (0.50 g/kg), KJK group (0.64, 0.32, 0.16 g/kg). The animals were administrated 0. 5% carboxymethyl cellulose, SASP and KJK respectively (from the 6th d after the establishment of ulcerative colitis model to the end of the experiment, 18 d totally). At the end of the experiment, the colon mucosal damage index (CMDI), the activity of myelperoxidase (MPO) and the occult blood test (OB) in feces were observed, the mucosa pathohistology was measured and thymus and spleen of rats were weighed respectively. Meanwhile, the content of malondiadehyde (MDA) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of colonic tissue were detected. RESULTS: The remarkable effects of KJK at dosage of 0.64, 0.32 g/kg on TNBS-induced colitis were observed, the extent of CMDI and OB were decreased, MPO activeity of colonic tissue was reduced. The extent of atrophy of thymus gland and intumesce of spleen of rat were ameliorated. Meanwhile, the content of MDA was reduced, and the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased. Pathological histology results showed that KJK could alleviate the pathohistological lesion of the colon of rat. CONCLUSION: Treatment with KJK shows beneficial effects on the mucosal damage of rats colitis induced by TNBS/ethanol. The mechanism of the actions of KJK may relate to anti-inflammatory effect, immunoloregulation and anti-oxidation.

Effect of berberine on catecholamine levels in rats with experimental cardiac hypertrophy.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of berberine on catecholamine level (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in rats with experimental cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy(CH) was induced by suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction, and the drugs were administered for 8 weeks starting from 4 weeks after surgery. The degree of cardiac hypertrophy was determined by heart and left ventricular weight. The level of adrenaline(AD) and noradrenaline(NA) was detected by HPLC. The data showed that in the CH model rats, the level of plasma and left ventricular tissue AD, and the level of NA in plasma were higher than that of the age-matched controls(indicating increased "total" sympathetic activity). The level of NA in left ventricular tissue of CH model rats was however lower than the age-matched controls. Berberine and captopril showed significant effect on inhibiting the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Berberine decreased plasma NA level and the AD level both in plasma and left ventricular tissue, but had no effect on improving the cardiac NA depletion. Captopril showed significant effect on increasing the depleted cardiac NA and in reducing the elevated plasma NA level. These findings show the efficacy of berberine on modulating the sympathetic nervous activity of rats with experimental cardiac hypertrophy, and reflect the therapeutic potentials of berberine in patients with cardiac hypertrophy and chronic heart failure.

[Effect of zhimu and huangqi on cardiac hypertrophy and response to stimulation in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Zhimu and Huangqi on increasing heart rate and cardiac hypertrophy, and its bradycardia effect, to evaluate the exercise capacity and response to stimulation and to discuss the use of Zhimu in treating heart failure. METHOD: 1. Rats were treated with isoproterenol 1.25 micrograms.kg-1 i.p., and then the increasing of heart rate and the bradycardia effect were measured after administrated with Zhimu or Huangqi for 3 days. 2. Mice cardiac hypertrophy model was established by s.c. ISO 1 mg.kg-1, 2 times per day for 14 days and heart-weight-index was measured after Zhimu and Huangqi was given orally alone or jointly for 14 days. 3. Abdominal aorta banding operation was done in mice and 3 weeks after operation, they were administrated for 2 weeks, and then run-time(exercise capacity), quiet heart rate, ISO response heart rate after i.p. isoproterenol and heart-weight-index were measured. 4. Cardiac hypertrophy model (inject ISO 14 days) mice were administrated for 12 days, and the mortality and dying time of mice in cold (-20 degrees C) and heat(45 degrees C) stimulative condition were observed. RESULT: Zhimu could cut down the increasing of heart rate induced by ISO, decrease significantly heart-weight-index in cardiac hypertrophy mice, reduce the quiet heart rate and prolong the run time in abdominal banding model. Zhimu combined with Huangqi could also improve the ISO response in abdominal banding model mice, reduce the mortality and delay dying time of mice in stimulative condition. CONCLUSION: Zhimu combined with Huangqi can slow down heart rate, enhance the reserve force of the heart, and improve the response capacity of cardiac hypertrophy mice in stimulative condition.

[Study on the effect of zhimu combined huangqi on improving renal hypertension rat's cardiac dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Zhimu and Huangqi used singly or combinatively on improving experimental cardiac dysfunction, and mainly to observe zhimu's effect on restraining sympathetic nerve and blocking beta-adrenergic-recepter and huangqi's effect of improving hemodynamics on heart failure. METHOD: Two-clib one kidney operation was done to make renal hypertension rat model, 8 weeks after operation, rats were divided into groups and medicated for 6 weeks, and then their heart rate and blood pressure were measured, left ventricle was cannulated to estimate heart function, and heart-weight-index and left-ventricle-weight-index were measured. RESULT: Zhimu could slow rats heart rate obviously, prevent cardiac remodeling, but did not affect cardiac function remarkably; Huangqi could reduce blood pressure, heighten +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax remarkably; the combined use of the two drugs could decrease plasma catecholamine concentration, adjust myocardium cAMP content, and improve heart function obviously. CONCLUSION: Zhimu and Huangqi can protect experimental cardiac dysfunction, and the combined use is better than the single use, which shows it better to use the two drugs combinatively in treating heart dysfunction.

Effect of berberine on regression of pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

Berberine is the basic chemical component of a Chinese herb, Coptis chinensis Franch (coptis), considered to be useful in treating some diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension and chronic heart failure (CHF). In this study, we investigate the inhibitory effect of berberine on experimental cardiac hypertrophy, which is regarded as a risk factor of CHF and other heart diseases. Forty-two male SD rats were divided into four groups: age-matched control, aortic banding model, berberine-treated group and captopril-treated group. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction (banding). The drugs were orally administered for 8 weeks starting from 4 weeks after surgery at dosage of berberine 10 mg/kg and captopril 50 mg/kg. Blood pressure (BP) was measured four times during the period of the experiment, and hemodynamic parameters, cardiac index, cell size of left ventricular myocardium and total protein of left ventricular tissue were detected 8 weeks after treatment with drugs. The data from the present study showed that: (1) The BP of the aorta banded rats was increased compared with those of the normal (p < 0.001) and the age-matched control rats (p < 0.001), and berberine showed no significant effect on it. (2) After 8 weeks of treatment with berberine, the elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was slightly decreased compared with the aortic banded rats. Meanwhile, the maximum rates of contraction and relaxation (+/- dp/dtmax) was increased (p < 0.05) and the time to reach the point of maximum rate from beginning of contraction (t-dp/dt) was shortened (p < 0.01), indicating that the functions of heart, both contraction and relaxation, were improved. (3) Cardiac growth was inhibited by treatment with berberine. Both whole heart and left ventricular weight were notably decreased compared with the banded rats (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). (4) The cell size of left ventricular myocardium was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) and the total protein of left ventricular tissue was slightly down-regulated by treatment with berberine. These data suggest that berberine can improve abnormal cardiac function and can prevent the development of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by pressure-overload. This indicates that it may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of CHF.