Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and sleep quality in the Chinese general populations during sporadic and outbreak periods.

The different coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak patterns may have different impact on the mental health, but there is no such report at present. This study was aimed to investigate general populations mental health and sleep quality during the sporadic and outbreak of COVID-19 in Tianjin of China. Two cross-sectional studies included 1090 participants during the COVID-19 sporadic period from 28th January to 28th February 2022 and 2036 participants during the COVID-19 outbreak period from 1st January to 1st February 2023. We used the propensity score matching method to match the 2 samples (sporadic and outbreak group) with a ratio of 1:1. Finally, 1087 participants were included in each group. The demographics, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were collected from all participants. There was a significant difference between the sporadic and outbreak groups for COVID-19-infected status, anxiety levels, sleep quality, and phycological resilience (all P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that female (P < .05) and depression status (P < .05) were the risk factors for the incidence rate of anxiety and poor sleep quality in sporadic group, and outbreak group, while phycological resilience were robust related to the sleep quality (P < .01). Poor sleep quality (P < .01) was related to the incidence of anxiety in sporadic group but not the outbreak group; anxiety levels (P < .01) were related to sleep quality in sporadic group but not the outbreak group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, general populations experienced high anxiety and poor sleep quality incidence rates, especially in the outbreak period. Different risk models for anxiety and sleep quality were found in the different outbreak patterns.

Noise Suppression of Nitrogen-Vacancy Magnetometer in Lock-In Detection Method by Using Common Mode Rejection.

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds are promising solid-state magnetic sensors with potential applications in power systems, geomagnetic navigation, and diamond NV color center current transformers, in which both high bandwidth and high magnetic field resolution are required. The wide bandwidth requirement often necessitates high laser power, but this induces significant laser fluctuation noise that affects the detection magnetic field resolution severely. Therefore, enhancement of the magnetic field resolution of wide-bandwidth NV center magnetic sensors is highly important because of the reciprocal effects of the bandwidth and magnetic field resolution. In this article, we develop a common mode rejection (CMR) model to eliminate the laser noise effectively. The simulation results show that the noise level of the light-detected magnetic resonance signal is significantly reduced by a factor of 6.2 after applying the CMR technique. After optimization of the laser power and modulation frequency parameters, the optimal system bandwidth was found to be 75 Hz. Simultaneously, the system's detection magnetic field resolution was enhanced significantly, increasing from 4.49 nT/Hz1/2 to 790.8 pT/Hz1/2, which represents an improvement of nearly 5.7 times. This wide-bandwidth, high-magnetic field resolution NV color center magnetic sensor will have applications including power systems, geomagnetic navigation, and diamond NV color center current transformers.

Pico-tesla magnetic field detection with integrated flux concentrators using a multi-frequency modulation technique on the solid nuclear spin in diamonds.

In this paper, we implement integrated magnetic flux concentrators (MFCs) combined with a multi-frequency modulation method to achieve high-magnetic-detection sensitivity using a nuclear spin on the solid nuclear spin in diamonds. First, we excited the nuclear spin in diamonds using a continuous-wave technique, and a linewidth of 1.37 MHz and frequency resolution of 79 Hz were successfully obtained, which is reduced by one order of the linewidth, and increased by 56 times in frequency resolution compared to that excited by an electron spin. The integrated high-permeability MFC was designed to magnify the magnetic field near the diamond, with a magnification of 9.63 times. Then, the multi-frequency modulation technique was used to fully excite the hyperfine energy level of Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centers along the four axes on the diamond with MFC, and magnetic detection sensitivity of 250p T/H z 1/2 was realized. These techniques should allow designing an integrated NV magnetometer with high sensitivity in a small volume.

Sex Differences in Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Depression in Individuals Infected with Omicron in China.

Purpose: Sex differences in depression have been well recognized. However, sex differences in depression among Omicron-infected individuals have received little systematic study. This study compared sex differences in depression in infected individuals during the 2022 Omicron pandemic in China. Patients and Methods: 506 individuals infected with Omicron (males/females = 268/238) were recruited from Tianjin and Shanghai in China. Self-developed Scale of Demographics were used to collect demographic and clinical data, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJGLS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) were used to measure respondents' depression, anxiety, resilience, loneliness and worry, respectively. Results: The prevalence rate of depression in male patients was significantly higher than in female patients (42.2% versus 31.9%; χ2 = 5.64, p = 0.018). Regression analysis showed that in female patients, depression was associated with anxiety [OR = 1.26, 95% CI (1.16-1.36), p < 0.001], and resilience [OR = 0.98, 95% CI (0.96-1.00), p < 0.05], while in male patients, depression was associated with anxiety [OR = 1.24, 95% CI (1.15-1.33), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: This on-site study demonstrates that depression is more frequent in male than female Omicron-infected patients and suggests that sex differences should be considered in prevention and treatment strategies for depression during the Omicron pandemic.

Worse psychological traits associated with higher probability of emotional problems during the Omicron pandemic in Tianjin, China

Background and Objectives: Individuals with specific psychological weaknesses are prone to mental problems during the coronavirus pandemic. This self-rating study assessed the combined effects of infection-related stress, resilience, worry, and loneliness on the likelihood of depression and anxiety among infected and non-infected individuals during the Tianjin Pandemic in 2022.MethodsIndividuals infected with Omicron (n = 249) and health residents (n = 415) were recruited from two hospitals and communities in Tianjin. Each respondent completed the following on-site assessment: Self-developed Scale of Demographics, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJGLS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). The respondents were categorized into depression or non-depression group by SDS scores, and anxiety or non-anxiety group by SAS scores.ResultsThe overall scores of CD-RISC, DJGJLS, and PSWQ were significantly different both between the depression group and non-depression groups and between the anxiety group and non-anxiety groups. The greater likelihood of depression was associated with lower overall scores of CD-RISC and higher scores of PSWQ; the greater likelihood of anxiety was associated with higher scores of PSWQ. The likelihood of depression was also positively associated with having infection-related stress and three demographics. (AU)

In situ construction of Fe3O4@PDA@Au multi hotspot SERS probe for trace detection of benzodiazepines in serum.

The abuse of benzodiazepines is a serious health hazard that can cause damage to the central nervous system.Trace monitoring of benzodiazepines in serum can effectively prevent the damage caused by these drugs. Therefore, in this study, a Fe3O4@PDA@Au core-shell satellite nanomaterial SERS(Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering) probe that integrates magnetic separation techniques and a multi-hotspot structure was synthetized by in situ growth of gold nanoparticles on the surface of PDA(Polymerized dopamine)-coated Fe3O4. The size and gap of Au nanoparticles on the surface of the SERS probe can be modulated by regulating the amount of HAuCl4 to create 3D multi-hotspot structures. The good dispersion and superparamagnetic properties of this SERS probe enable it to fully contact and load the target molecules in the serum, and the applied magnetic field facilitates separation and enrichment.This process increases the molecular density and number of SERS hotspots, thereby enhancing detection sensitivity. Based on the above considerations, this SERS probe can detect traces of eszopiclone and diazepam in serum at concentrations as low as 1 µg/ml with good linearity, offering promising applications in clinical monitoring of drug concentrations in blood.

Worse psychological traits associated with higher probability of emotional problems during the Omicron pandemic in Tianjin, China.

Background and Objectives: Individuals with specific psychological weaknesses are prone to mental problems during the coronavirus pandemic. This self-rating study assessed the combined effects of infection-related stress, resilience, worry, and loneliness on the likelihood of depression and anxiety among infected and non-infected individuals during the Tianjin Pandemic in 2022. Methods: Individuals infected with Omicron (n = 249) and health residents (n = 415) were recruited from two hospitals and communities in Tianjin. Each respondent completed the following on-site assessment: Self-developed Scale of Demographics, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJGLS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). The respondents were categorized into depression or non-depression group by SDS scores, and anxiety or non-anxiety group by SAS scores. Results: The overall scores of CD-RISC, DJGJLS, and PSWQ were significantly different both between the depression group and non-depression groups and between the anxiety group and non-anxiety groups. The greater likelihood of depression was associated with lower overall scores of CD-RISC and higher scores of PSWQ; the greater likelihood of anxiety was associated with higher scores of PSWQ. The likelihood of depression was also positively associated with having infection-related stress and three demographics. Conclusions: This on-site study demonstrates the importance of specific traits in a small-scale pandemic: the worse resilience and the greater worry propensity related to the higher probability of depression, and the greater propensity of worry related to the higher probability of anxiety. Moreover, those experiencing infection-related stress, being male, living alone, and being unemployed are more likely to have depressive problems.

Relationship between SIRT1 gene and adolescent depressive disorder with nonsuicidal self-injury behavior: Based on gene methylation and mRNA expression.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior in adolescents is increasing year by year. Patients with a history of both depression and NSSI behavior tend to be at greater risk for suicide. At present, the mechanism of adolescent depressive disorder with NSSI behavior is not clear and still in research and exploration. The expression of the Silent Information Regulator 2 Related Enzyme 1 (SIRT1) gene is closely related to the level of serotonin in molecular mechanisms, and may be closely related to the occurrence and development of depressive disorder. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the SIRT1 gene and NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder. METHODS: A total of 15 adolescent depressed patients with NSSI behavior and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Bisulfite Sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to test the methylation level of SIRT1 gene promoter region of the participants. The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was conducted to measure the mRNA expression level of SIRT1 gene. RESULTS: Our study found that the methylation level of SIRT1 gene promoter region at cytosine-guanine dinucleotide 5 (CpG5) site in depression group was higher than that of control group. Compared with that of control group, the plasma concentration of Sirt1 protein significantly decreased in depression group. CONCLUSION: Our study investigated the methylation level and the mRNA expression of SIRT1 gene in adolescent depressive patients with NSSI behavior. The study points towards finding an in vivo molecular marker for those adolescent patients.

Epigenetic Alterations of the Promoter Region of the POMC Gene in Adolescent Depressive Disorder Patients with Nonsuicidal Self-injury Behaviors.

PURPOSE: The incidence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior among adolescents increases year by year. Patients with a history of both depression and NSSI behaviors tend to have greater risk of suicide. At present, the mechanism of adolescent depressive disorder patients with NSSI behaviors is not clear, epigenetic mechanism may be involved. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene may be associated with depressive disorder. The purpose of this study was to investigate DNA methylation of POMC gene promoter region of adolescent depressive disorder patients with NSSI behaviors. METHODS: Bisulfite Sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to test the methylation level of POMC promoter of 15 adolescent depressive disorder patients with NSSI behaviors and 15 healthy controls (HC). Self-made questionnaires were used to collect clinical data of the case group and control group. Hamilton depression scale-24 (HAMD-24), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) were used to evaluate the characteristics and severity of depressive, anxiety and psychotic symptoms. Adolescent self-injury questionnaire was used to assess NSSI behaviors and its severity. RESULTS: BSP analysis found that the POMC methylation level of cytosine-guanine dinucleotide 1 (CpG1) site was higher in the case group than that of HC (P<0.05). The significance in POMC methylation at CpG1 between case group and HC was gender-independent, and CpG1 methylation level was higher in both male (P<0.05) and female (P<0.05) patients than that in HC. The CpG1 methylation level had a little correlation trends with family history of psychosis (P=0.05). We also found that POMC methylation level at CpG17 in female patients was significantly higher than that of the female HC (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was abnormal methylation in the POMC promoter region of adolescent depressive disorder patients with NSSI behaviors, the methylation of CpG1 may act as epigenetic markers for those adolescents.

Well-Aligned TiO2 Nanotube Arrays with Ag Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Detection of Fe3+ Ion.

Nowadays, determination of the iron ions with high sensitivity and selectivity with novel methods becomes a matter of urgency for monitoring healthy body and environment. In this paper, for the first time, we present a set of high-performance TiO2 nanotube arrays which are quite sensitive to iron ions. Firstly, the anodic oxidation method was adopted to prepare ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays, followed by functionalized Ag nanoparticle deposition with the enhancement ability in iron ion sensing. Besides, the spectrum of the TiO2 nanotube with/without the Ag nanoparticles was analyzed with an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, which shows that Ag nanoparticles can effectively reduce the recombination rate of electrons and holes, and increase the conductivity and the charge transfer rate of the electrodes. Further, when functionalized Ag nanoparticles on well-ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays were used, iron ion sensing performed with the anodic stripping voltammetry method was investigated to validate the great potential of TiO2 nanotube arrays with a sensitivity of approximately 30 µA/ug/L in becoming Fe3+ sensors. This method creates new possibilities for developing sensors for monitoring of Fe3+ in biological samples without any sample pretreatment procedure.