Perceptions of stigma and its correlates among patients with major depressive disorder: A multicenter survey from China.

BACKGROUND: The stigma of major depressive disorder (MDD) is an important public health problem. This study evaluated stigma in MDD patients in China using explanatory model interview catalogue (EMIC) questionnaire and the demographic and clinical symptom factors associated with the stigma of these patients. METHODS: A total of 158 MDD patients from domestic 3 mental health centers were surveyed. We used the EMIC questionnaire to assess stigma of these patients, Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) to assess depressive severity, self-reporting inventory (SCL-90) to assess mental health level, Sheehan disability scale (SDS) to assess social function, and fatigue severity scale (FSS) to assess degree of fatigue. RESULTS: The stigma scores were significantly higher in the 18- to 30-year-old (z = 2.875, P = .024) and 31- to 40-year-old (z = 3.204, P = .008) groups than the 51- to 65-year-old group; in the full-time employment group than the retired group (z = 3.163, P = .016). The stigma scores exhibited significant negative correlation with age (r = -0.169, P = .034) but positive correlations with the scores of MADRS (r = .212, P = .007), total scores (r = .273, P = .001) and subscales of interpersonal sensitivity (r = .233, P = .003), depression (r = .336, P < .001), and anxiety (r = .228, P = .004) of SCL-90, scores of FSS (r = .230, P = .004), and SDS (r = .254, P = .001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that depression subscale of SCL-90 and FSS were independently correlated with stigma. CONCLUSION: The age, employment status, fatigue, and depressive severity are closely associated with the perceived stigma of MDD patients and may be important factors considered for stigma interventions of MDD in China.

Breeding and genotype identification of NLRP3 gene knock-out mice / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To breed and identify NLRP3 gene knock-out mice. Methods: The NLRP3 gene knock-out heterozygote mice were bred alone and copulated. The offsprings were to have three genotypes: wild genotype, heterozygote genotype and homozygote genotype. Genomic DNA was obtained from each pups and were subjected to PCR and T7 endonuclease 1 to identify the genotype. The homozygote mice were mated with the opposite sex heterozygote mice to obtain more homozygote pups. Results: Breeding and reproducing were both successful, and we obtained heterozygote genotype and homozygote genotype mice with NLRP3 gene knock-out. Conclusion: Correct methods of breeding, reproducing and identifying can effectively obtain NLRP3 gene knock-out mice from heterozygote mice.