Association between Parkinson disease and selenium levels in the body: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, but its pathogenesis is still not entirely understood. While some trace elements, such as selenium, iron, and copper, are considered pivotal in PD onset due to their role in oxidative stress, the association between selenium concentrations and PD susceptibility remains ambiguous. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and framed by the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome paradigm. Data were sourced from 4 prominent electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Eligible studies must have had a PD case group and a control group, both of which presented data on selenium concentrations. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Of 1541 initially identified articles, 12 studies comprising a total of 597 PD cases and 733 controls were selected for the meta-analysis. Pronounced heterogeneity was observed among these studies. When assessing blood selenium levels, no significant difference was found between patients with PD and the controls. However, when examining the cerebrospinal fluid, selenium levels in PD patients were significantly elevated compared to controls (standard mean difference = 1.21, 95% CI 0.04-2.39, P < .05). Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and evaluation of publication bias were performed to ensure data robustness. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated selenium levels in cerebrospinal fluid may be associated with a higher risk of Parkinson. Further prospective research is required to solidify this potential link and to offer avenues for novel therapeutic interventions or preventive measures.

Quality Analysis of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasmapheresis.

To summarized the technology of autologous platelet-rich plasmapheresis and analyzed the product quality, in order to provide safe and effective product guarantee service for clinical treatment. Technical parameters were set according to patient age, weight, height, and preoperative routine blood indices. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was collected, and the product quality and adverse reactions of patients were statistically analyzed. Autologous PRP had platelet (PLT), white blood cell (WBC), and red blood cell (RBC) counts of (1250.26 ± 435.88) × 109/L, (1.19 ± 1.95) × 109/L, and (0.05 ± 0.04) × 1012/L, respectively. The PLT enrichment ratio in PRP was 5.66 ± 1.66. There was no significant difference in PLT, RBC, WBC, or hematocrit before and after apheresis (P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 8%, and all were mild. When clinical patients use PRP in the treatment of diseases, autologous platelet-rich plasmapheresis technology was used to apheresis PRP, which has good product quality and few adverse reactions, and thus can be adopted more widely.

The effect of courage on stress: The mediating mechanism of behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation in high-risk occupations.

Employees in high-risk occupations are exposed to tremendous work acute stress or prolonged stress disorders that are likely to undermine the health and organizational effectiveness. Based on positive psychology, courage which refers to behavioral approach despite the experience of fear could buffer the negative effects on stress. However, there is little known about the mechanisms by which courage decreases the risk of stress. Motivational systems may play an underlying role in this process, as behavioral inhibition system (BIS) is inhibited and behavioral activation system (BAS) is evoked by risk or threat. The current study aimed to examine the mediating effects of behavioral inhibition and activation on the relationship between courage and stress in the high-risk occupations. This study recruited 1,761 high-risk employees aged from 18 to 27 (M = 19.32; SD = 4.14) with a cluster sampling method who completed Courage Measure (CM), the BIS/BAS Scales and the Psychological Stress Evaluation Test (PSET). The correlation and mediation analyses examined the inter-variable correlations as well as the underlying mechanism between courage and stress. The results support the hypothesis and reveal that the behavioral inhibition mediates the association between courage and stress (B indirect = -0.02, p < 0. 01, 95%CI = -0.03 to -0.003). The behavioral activation of fun seeking mediates the association between courage and stress as well (B indirect = -0.04, p < 0. 01, 95%CI = -0.058 to -0.029). These findings suggest that behavioral inhibition and activation of fun seeking play imperative mechanism underpinning the buffering effect of courage on stress. Other theoretical and applied implications for desensitizing stress in the high-risk occupations are discussed.

Effects of ovarian reserve and hormone therapy on hearing in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the hearing function around menopause, to analyze the effects of ovarian reserve and hormone therapy on hearing, and to study factors related to hearing loss among women around menopause. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 109 women around menopause aged 45-55 years, including 40 women with ovarian failure, 48 with ovarian non-failure, and 21 receiving hormone therapy. All women underwent an audiologic evaluation, and hormone blood testing was performed. The general condition, reproductive history, medical history, lifestyle, and menopausal symptoms were collected through a questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The auditory threshold and anti-Mullerian hormone level. RESULTS: Women in the ovarian failure group presented with a decreased hearing level in all frequency bands compared with those in the ovarian non-failure group; the significant differences occurred at 8000 Hz, 10 000 Hz, 12 500 Hz, and 16 000 Hz in the right-ear air conduction. The auditory threshold was lower in the hormone therapy group than in the ovarian failure group, but the difference was statistically significant only in the right-ear air conduction at 10 000 Hz. There were two risk factors for hearing loss: an anti-Mullerian hormone level <0.01 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 2.624) and frequent earphone use (OR = 3.846). CONCLUSIONS: A decline in ovarian function is associated with hearing loss in women, especially in relation to extended high-frequency air conduction of the right ear. Preserving ovarian function and reducing earphone use are important measures to protect women's hearing. However, the effect of hormone therapy on hearing requires further investigation.