Knowledge of Alzheimer's disease and associated factors among adults in Zhuhai, China: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the public knowledge regarding Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in Zhuhai, China, focusing on identifying knowledge gaps and the influence of demographic and health factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhuhai, China, from October to November 2022. A total of 1986 residents from 18 communities were selected employing stratified multi-stage equi-proportional sampling. Questionnaires covering general information and the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) were investigated face-to-face. Ordinal multiclass logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between AD awareness and demographic and health characteristics. RESULTS: The average ADKS score was 18.5 (SD = 3.36) in Zhuhai. The lowest awareness rates were observed in the "Symptoms" and "Caregiving" subdomains of ADKS, with rates of 51.01% and 43.78%, respectively. The correct rates for the 30 ADKS questions ranged from 16.62 to 92.6%, showing a bimodal pattern with clusters around 80% and 20%. Women (OR = 1.203, 95% CI: 1.009-1.435), individuals aged 60 years or older (OR = 2.073, 95% CI: 1.467-2.932), those living in urban areas (OR = 1.361, 95% CI: 1.117-1.662), higher average monthly household income per capita (OR = 1.641, 95% CI: 1.297-2.082), and without any neurological or mental disorders (OR = 1.810, 95% CI: 1.323-2.478) were more likely to have higher levels of awareness about Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSIONS: Adults in Zhuhai show a limited knowledge of AD, particularly in the 'Symptoms' and 'Caregiving' subdomains. Upcoming health campaigns must focus on bridging the knowledge gaps in different subdomains of AD, especially among subgroups with lower awareness, as identified in our study.

The Value of Serum Cell-Free DNA Levels in Patients With Schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, which has a major impact on the quality of life and imposes a huge burden on the family. However, the pathogenesis of schizophrenia remains unclear and there are no specific biomarkers. Therefore, we intend to explore whether cf-DNA levels are related to the occurrence and development of schizophrenia. Methods: We analyzed and compared the concentration of cf-DNA in 174 SZ patients and 100 matched healthy controls by using quantitative real-time PCR by amplifying the Alu repeats. Results: We found that cf-DNA levels in peripheral blood reliably distinguished SZ patients from healthy controls (P < 0.05). The ROC analysis also supports the above conclusion. By tracking the absolute concentration of serum cf-DNA in primary cases, we found a distinct increase before treatment with antipsychotics, which decreased progressively after treatment. Conclusions: The present work indicates that cf-DNA may improve the efficiency of disease diagnosis, and the level of cf-DNA plays a predictive role in the development of schizophrenia. By evaluating the level of cf-DNA, we might play a certain role in a more reasonable and standardized clinical treatment of schizophrenia.

[Morin Improves Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Rats via NLRP3/Caspase-1 Pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of morin-regulated NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in rats. METHODS: The rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups: control group, experimental autoimmune thyroiditis group (EAT), low-, medium- and high-dose morin groups (post-modeling gavage of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg morin hydrate per day for 6 weeks) and tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides group (LGT group, post-modeling gavage of 6.25 mg/kg tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidesper day for 6 weeks). Except for the control group, the rat model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis was established by subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL incomplete Freund's adjuvant containing porcine thyroglobulin. The levels of serum thyroglobulin (TgAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) in serum were detected by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA levels of interleukin-17 ( IL-17), interleukin-4 ( IL-4) and interferon γ ( INF- γ) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The levels of serum protein carbonyl content, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity were checked with test kits. Expressions of NLRP3, apoptosis-related speck-like protein (ASC), and Caspase-1 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the EAT group, serum levels of TPOAb, TgAb, T3, and T4 in low-, medium- and high-dose Morin groups and LGT group were reduced ( P<0.01) and the mRNA levels of IL-17, INF-γ and IL-4 were increased ( P<0.01), the protein hydroxyl content, MDA activity, and 8-OHdG levels were reduced ( P<0.01). The levels of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 were reduced ( P<0.01), the levels of 8-OHdG were significantly reduced ( P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 were significantly reduced ( P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences between the data from the low-dose and the medium-dose Morin groups and the data of the LGT group ( P<0.05), while data from the high-dose Morin group showed no significant difference compared with the data of the LGT group. Data from low-, medium- and high-dose Morin groups showed no statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that Morin improved experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in rats through regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

Clinical Features of Fatalities in Patients With COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread to over 213 countries and territories. We sought to describe the clinical features of fatalities in patients with severe COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an Internet-based retrospective cohort study through retrieving the clinical information of 100 COVID-19 deaths from nonduplicating incidental reports in Chinese provincial and other governmental websites between January 23 and March 10, 2020. RESULTS: Approximately 6 of 10 COVID-19 deaths were males (64.0%). The average age was 70.7 ± 13.5 y, and 84% of patients were elderly (over age 60 y). The mean duration from admission to diagnosis was 2.2 ± 3.8 d (median: 1 d). The mean duration from diagnosis to death was 9.9 ± 7.0 d (median: 9 d). Approximately 3 of 4 cases (76.0%) were complicated by 1 or more chronic diseases, including hypertension (41.0%), diabetes (29.0%) and coronary heart disease (27.0%), respiratory disorders (23.0%), and cerebrovascular disease (12.0%). Fever (46.0%), cough (33.0%), and shortness of breath (9.0%) were the most common first symptoms. Multiple organ failure (67.9%), circulatory failure (20.2%), and respiratory failure (11.9%) are the top 3 direct causes of death. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 deaths are mainly elderly and patients with chronic diseases especially cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. Multiple organ failure is the most common direct cause of death.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in MiR219-1 and MiR137 and susceptibility to schizophrenia in a Chinese population.

Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental disorders to severely affect human health worldwide. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within related genes are candidate susceptible factors for the disorder. Rs107822 within MiR219-1 and rs1625579 within MiR137 were genotyped in 589 cases and 622 controls to investigate the possible association between the loci and schizophrenia in a Chinese population. Our results showed significant association between rs107822 and the disorder in allele (C vs. T: adjusted OR = 0.773, 95%CI = 0.655-0.912), co-dominant (TC vs. TT: adjusted OR = 0.734, 95%CI = 0.571-0.943; CC vs. TT: adjusted OR = 0.655, 95%CI = 0.459-0.936), dominant (TC + CC vs. TT: adjusted OR = 0.707, 95%CI = 0.559-0.895), and recessive (CC vs. TC + TT: adjusted OR = 0.724, 95%CI = 0.524-0.999) models, respectively. Meanwhile, negative associations were also observed between rs107822 and the disorder in male and female subgroups, and genotype CC of the locus was significantly associated with a lower positive symptom score of PANSS compared to genotype TT carrier in the cases group. However, we didn't observe a significant association between rs1625579 and the disorder. These findings indicate that rs107822 within MiR219-1 might be involved in pathogenesis of schizophrenia and that genotypes TC, CC and allele C of the locus are protective factors for schizophrenia in a Chinese population.

[Effects of Perfluoroalkyl Substances on the Microbial Community Structure in Surface Sediments of Typical River, China].

In order to reveal the relationship between Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) contamination and the bacterial community composition, surface sediment samples were collected along the Xiaoqing River in Shandong Province in April and July 2014 (XQ1-XQ10), where many PFASs manufacturers were located. PFASs were quantified by HPLC/MS-MS, related environmental factors affecting the microbial community structure were measured, and the microbial community structure in surface sediments was measured by the second-generation sequencing technology Illumina MiSeq. The results not only revealed the degree of PFASs pollution in the sediments of Xiaoqing River, but also illustrated the relationship between PFASs pollution and the microbial community structure. Among the twelve kinds of PFASs detected in this study, PFOA was the predominant compound, and the highest PFOA concentrations were detected in the sample of XQ5 (April: 456. 2 ng. g-1; July: 748.7 ng . g-1) located at the downstream of Xiaoqing River with many fluoropolymer producing facilities. PFOA contamination was the main factor affecting the microbial community structure in April, accordingly community richness and evenness were significantly negatively correlated with PFOA levels. The abundance of Thiobacillus increased with the increasing PFOA concentration in the sediment PFOA. This suggested that Thiobacillus was sensitive to PFOA pollution and might be the potential indicator to reveal the degree of PFOA pollution in sediment. When the concentrations of PFOA were below 100 ng . g-1, no significant effects on the microbial community structure were observed.

[Isolation and characterization of two bacteria with heavy metal resistance and phosphate solubilizing capability].

Two phosphate solubilizing bacteria (T PSB1 and T PSB 2) with high heavy metal resistance were isolated from soil of a lead-zinc mine in Huayuan of Hunan Province, China. These two bacteria were identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkholderia gladioli by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, respectively. In the media containing insoluble inorganic calcium phosphate, the soluble phosphate amounts reached respectively 402.9 mg x L(-1) and 589.9 mg x L(-1) with the bacteria T PSB1 and T PSB2 after two weeks' growth. Moreover, the two bacteria developed solubilizing halos on the plates supplemented with the organic phosphate compounds, and the resulting soluble phosphate amounts in the broth media were respectively 2.97 mg x L(-1) and 4.69 mg x L(-1). In addition, these two bacteria showed the resistance to up to 2000 mg x L(-1) Zn2+, and their phosphate solubilizing amounts reached respectively 114.8 mg x L(-1) and 125.1 mg x L(-1). Similarly, their heavy metal resistance and phosphate solubilizing ability were also found in the Cr and Pb broth media with the concentration of 1000 mg x L(-1). In the Pb media, the soluble phosphate amounts reached respectively 57.9 mg x L(-1) and 71.7 mg x L(-1), and the soluble P amounts in the Cr media were 60.1 mg x L(-1) and 98.4 mg x L(-1) at the concentration of 1000 mg x L(-1).

[An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by poisonous Boletus mushroom in Sichuan, China, 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the source of infection and risk factors and to provide control measures regarding an outbreak of gastroenteritis involving 30 villagers. Who attended the same wedding party held on March 5(th), 2012, a survey was carried out. METHODS: Case was defined as having onset of vomiting, nausea, stomachache or diarrhea among the attendees of a wedding party. We randomly selected and interviewed 140 from 470 attendees on their symptoms and food exposures at the wedding. We compared food-specific attack rates (AR) for gastroenteritis in a retrospective cohort study. The leftover foods were tested for Salmonella, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus. The leftover Boletus mushrooms were examined and species determined by the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. RESULTS: Of the 140 attendees 61% (85) developed gastroenteritis. Case-attendees had vomiting (94%), nausea (89%), stomachache (53%), and diarrhea (51%). The AR among attendees who ate Boletus mushroom was 69% (81/118), compared to 18% (4/22) of those who did not (RR = 3.8, 95%CI: 1.5 - 9.2). When comparing the ARs between the attendees on consumption of other foods, data did not show statistically significant differences. Among the 7 species of Boletus identified from the leftover mushrooms, 3 (B. venenatus, B. sinicus and B. magnificus) were toxic. Store keepers bought dried or fresh mushrooms from local villagers who had picked up them from the mountains. Salmonella, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus tests on those leftover food showed negative results. CONCLUSION: Poisonous Boletus mushroom contributed to this outbreak. We recommended that education should be targeted on mushroom-pickers regarding how to recognize the poisonous mushrooms. Regulations and laws should also be developed to facilitate the necessary process.