[Follow-up study on the association between problematic cell phone use and cognitive function of college students in Chizhou City in 2014-2015].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between problematic cell phone use and reasoning ability in adolescent. METHODS: In a stratified cluster sampling design, problematic cell phone use and reasoning ability were evaluated in 929 college students from three universities for twice in one year's follow-up investigation from June 2014 to May 2015. RESULTS: The cross-sectional analysis showed that the score of problematic cell phone use was significantly associated with the score of reasoning ability( the baseline ß =-0. 101, 95% CI-0. 168--0. 034; the follow-up in one year's ß =-0. 161, 95% CI-0. 255--0. 067). However, the score of problematic cell phone use on the baseline was not associated with the score of reasoning ability in one year late. Interestingly, after controlling of multiple confounding factors and the score of problematic cell phone use on the baseline, the scores of reasoning ability in one year late decreased 0. 40 points( 95%CI-0. 60--0. 20), by the score of problematic cell phone use in one year lateincreased ten percent compared to that on the baseline. CONCLUSION: Higher problematic cell phone use is significantly associated with poorer reasoning ability in college students.

[Relationship between bedtime and BMI, waist, blood pressure in college students: a one-year follow-up study].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between bedtime and metabolic syndrome risk factors in college students. METHODS: Participants including 186 male and414 female college students from 2 junior colleges and 1 regular college in Chizhou city were selected using stratified cluster sampling. The data on bedtime and metabolic syndrome was collected in a one-year follow-up survey. The bedtime and sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Indexes including body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured to evaluate metabolic syndrome risk factors. RESULTS: Compared with the students with bedtime before 12 pm, students with bedtime after 12 pm in baseline survey had significant higher risk for any two metabolic syndrome risk factors in one-year follow-up survey( adjusted OR = 2. 08, 95% CI 1. 08-4. 02). The prevalence of any two metabolic syndrome risk factors significantly increased( Ptrend= 0. 004) across students with bedtime before 12 pm in baseline in baseline survey( 5. 8%), students with bedtime after 12 pm in baseline and bedtime before 12 pm in follow-up survey( 12. 5%), and students with bedtime after 12 pm both in baseline and follow-up survey( 15. 0%). Compared with students with bedtime before 12 pm in baseline, the risk for any two metabolic syndrome risk factors among students in other two groups increased, but did not reach statistical significant( Bedtime before 12 pm: adjusted OR = 1. 92, 95% CI 0. 94- 3. 92, P = 0. 072. Bedtime after 12 pm: adjusted OR = 2. 40, 95% CI 0. 86- 6. 73, P = 0. 096). CONCLUSION: Later bedtime is significantly associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome risk factors in college students, and the risk could not reduced through changing the bedtime during one year.

Identification of five human novel genes associated with cell proliferation by cell-based screening from an expressed cDNA ORF library.

The development of functional profiling technologies provides opportunity for high-throughput functional genomics studies. We describe a cell-based screening system to identify novel human genes associated with cell proliferation. The method integrates luciferase reporter gene activity, fluorescence stain, automated microscopy and cellular phenotype assays. We successfully used the system to screen 409 novel human genes cloned by our lab and found that 27 genes significantly up-regulated promoter-Renilla luciferase reporter plasmid (pRL) activity. Among them, five genes, TRAF3IP3, ZNF306, ZNF250, SGOL1, and ZNF434, were determined through morphological observation, calcein AM fluorescence stain, MTT assay and cell cycle analysis to be associated with cell proliferation. Furthermore, we showed that the gene TRAF3IP3, which initially was identified to specifically interact with TRAF3, stimulated cell growth by modulating the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, and RNAi of TRAF3IP3 confirmed that the effect was physiological and necessary. In summary, we integrated a rapid and efficient system for screening novel growth regulatory genes. Using the new screening system we identified five genes associated with cell proliferation for the first time.

Cell-based screening and validation of human novel genes associated with cell viability.

In the present study, a cell-based high-throughput assay is established to identify novel human genes associated with cell viability. The assay relies on the down-regulation of Renilla luciferase (pRL) activity in a 96-well format. In addition, 2-color fluorescence probes were used to distinguish living and dead cells. As the positive control, the authors used the expression vectors encoding Bax, TNFRSF1A, and TAJ, which were widely known to effectively induce programmed cell death. They screened 409 novel genes (including alternative mRNA splicing forms) cloned in their laboratory and found that 39 genes could significantly down-regulate pRL activity. A subsequent fluorescence-based assay revealed that 4 of the 39 genes (PIP5KL1, OLFM1, RNF122, FAM26B) were associated with cell viability. Further function assays validated that the 4 genes were able to induce both necrosis and apoptosis. These results therefore indicate that a rapid and effective screening system has been developed, which should shed light on some functions of novel genes.