A cognitive script perspective on how early caregiving experiences inform adolescent peer relationships and loneliness: A 14-year longitudinal study of Chinese families.

Leveraging data from a longitudinal study of Chinese families (n = 364), this research aims to understand the role of secure base script knowledge as a cognitive mechanism by which early caregiving experiences inform adolescents' friendship quality and feelings of loneliness. Results showed that observed maternal sensitivity at 14 and 24 months old was negatively associated with adolescents' self-reported conflicts with close friends (ß = -0.17, p = 0.044) at 15 years old, and this association was partially mediated by their secure base script knowledge assessed at 10 years old. Further, secure base script knowledge moderated the link between adolescents' friend conflict and feelings of loneliness (ß = -0.15, p = 0.037). The results support a cognitive script perspective on the association between early caregiving experiences and later socio-emotional adjustment. Furthermore, this study adds to the developmental literature that has previously focused on more stringent and authoritarian aspects of parenting in Chinese families, thereby contributing to our understanding of how sensitive and supportive parenting practices contribute to socio-emotional development outside of Western contexts. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Maternal sensitivity during infancy and toddlerhood has a long-term association with adolescents' friendship quality and adolescents' secure base script partially explains the association. First evidence to demonstrate that the secure base script in attachment relationships mediates the association between early maternal caregiving and socio-emotional development in Chinese adolescents. Adolescents lacking secure base script knowledge are particularly vulnerable to feelings of loneliness when facing high levels of conflict in close friendships.

Developmental antecedents of adherence to masculinity norms: A 9-year longitudinal study of urban Chinese families.

A growing body of literature shows that adherence to some aspects of Western masculinity norms, including the suppression of emotional vulnerability, avoidance of seeking support from others, and exaggerated physical toughness, is associated with poorer psychological and social outcomes. While existing research suggests that parental gender beliefs and caregiving behaviors might influence the development of children's gendered behaviors, little is known about the developmental origins of individual differences in adherence to masculinity norms. The current study aims to address this gap and presents a longitudinal investigation of how parental gender beliefs and maternal sensitivity during infancy contribute to children's adherence to masculinity norms during middle childhood. Data were drawn from a mixed-method 9-year longitudinal study of 374 urban Chinese families (48.40% with daughters). Parental gender beliefs were assessed at 24 months, maternal sensitivity was assessed with mother-child interaction observations at 14 and 24 months, and children's self-reported adherence to masculinity norms were assessed at age 10 years. Results indicate that while parental gender beliefs had no associations with children's adherence to masculinity norms, maternal sensitivity predicted children's adherence to masculinity norms (ß = -.18, p = .008) above and beyond parental gender beliefs and parental education level; moreover, there was a significant interaction of sex on the effect of maternal sensitivity on children's adherence to masculinity (ß = -.23, p = .025), and the association was significant only for boys. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Prospective within-family bidirectional effects between parental emotion socialization practices and Chinese adolescents' psychosocial adjustment.

Previous research indicates that parental emotion socialization (ES) practices play important roles in adolescents' social and emotional development. However, longitudinal studies testing bidirectional effects are relatively scarce. Additionally, most studies have focused on people from Western societies. In the current 3-year, multi-informant, longitudinal study of Chinese adolescents and their parents, we investigated prospective bidirectional effects between parental positive ES practices and adolescents' psychosocial adjustment (i.e., self-esteem and depressive symptoms). Adolescents (N = 710 at T1, 50% boys, Mage = 12.41, SD = 0.59) reported on parental positive ES practices and their own depressive symptoms and self-esteem when they were in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. Mothers and fathers reported on their own use of positive ES practices at all three time points. We utilized a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to examine between- and within-family effects. Overall results showed robust effects of adolescent depressive symptoms on parental positive ES practices and bidirectional effects between parental ES and adolescent self-esteem. Effects differed by informants whether using adolescent-perceived data, or mother- or father-reported data. However, these child effects and bidirectional effects did not differ by adolescent sex. Our findings add to the understanding of parental ES and adolescent psychosocial adjustment.

Autonomy- and connectedness-oriented behaviors of toddlers and mothers at different historical times in urban China.

This study examined toddlers' autonomy- and connectedness-oriented behaviors and mothers' encouragement of autonomy and connectedness in two cohorts (1995 and 2008) in urban China. Observational data were collected from Chinese children and their mothers in a laboratory free play session. The results showed that compared with children in the 1995 cohort (207 children, 95 boys, Mage = 24.09 months), children in the 2008 cohort (281 children, 144 boys, Mage = 24.34 months) displayed fewer connectedness-oriented behaviors and spent more time on autonomous activities. Compared with mothers in the 1995 cohort (45% with a college education), mothers in the 2008 cohort (43.4% with a college education) were less likely to display involvement in children's activities and more likely to encourage child autonomy. The results suggest that macrolevel contexts may play an important role in shaping parenting and children's behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Naringenin improves insulin sensitivity in gestational diabetes mellitus mice through AMPK.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a temporary form of diabetes during pregnancy, which influences the health of maternal-child in clinical practice. It is still urgent to develop new effective treatment for GDM. Naringenin is a bioactive ingredient with multiple activities including anti-diabetic. In current study, the effects of naringenin on GDM symptoms, insulin tolerance, inflammation, and productive outcomes were evaluated and the underlying mechanisms were explored. METHODS: We administrated naringenin to GDM mice and monitored the GDM symptoms, glucose and insulin tolerance, inflammation and productive outcomes. We established tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced insulin resistance skeletal muscle cell model and evaluated the effects of naringenin on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glucose uptake and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) membrane translocation. RESULTS: We found that naringenin ameliorated GDM symptoms, improved glucose and insulin tolerance, inhibited inflammation, and improved productive outcomes. It was further found that naringenin inhibited TNF-α-induced ROS production, enhanced GLUT4 membrane translocation, and glucose uptake, which were abolished by inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). CONCLUSION: Naringenin improves insulin sensitivity in gestational diabetes mellitus mice in an AMPK-dependent manner.

The efficacy and safety of liraglutide in the obese, non-diabetic individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Liraglutide has been shown to improve glucose tolerance and lose weight in individuals with type 2 diabetes. To date, no meta-analysis of liraglutide's safety and efficacy in individuals without diabetes has been conducted. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to carry out a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of liraglutide in the obese, non-diabetic individuals. METHODS: A literature review was performed to identify all published randomised control trials (RCT) of liraglutide for the treatment of obesity in non-diabetic individuals. The search included the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. RESULTS: We included five publications involving a total of 4,754 patients that compared liraglutide with placebo and found that liraglutide to be an effective and safe treatment for weight loss in individuals without diabetes. Primary efficacy end points: mean weight loss (MD = -5.52, 95% CI = -5.93 to -5.11, p<0.00001); lost more than 5% of body weight (OR = 5.46, 95% CI=3.57 to 8.34, p<0.00001) and key secondary efficacy end points: SBP decreased (the MD = -2.56, 95% CI = -3.28 to -1.84, p<0.00001). Safety assessments included the proportion of individuals who were withdrawn due to AE (OR = 2.85, 95% CI= 0.84 to 9.62, p=0.009), and nausea indicated that liraglutide was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that liraglutide to be an effective and safe treatment for weight loss in the obese, non-diabetic individuals.

Low Aromatase Activity and Estradiol/Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Ratio are Associated with Total Hip Bone Mineral Density and the Presence of Osteoporosis: A Study in Chinese Postmenopausal Women.

Several groups have reported the important role of estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). Because aromatase catalyzes the conversion of T to E2, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of aromatase activity on the bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. A total of 344 postmenopausal women were selected for this study. Serum E2, T, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide (PINP) were examined. The E2/T was positively associated with total hip BMD and PINP (p<0.05). When E2/T was divided into quartiles, participants in lower quartiles of E2/T were likely to have higher PINP and lower BMD (p<0.05). The prevalence of osteoporosis significantly increased as E2/T ratio decreased. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for serum E2, free E2 index (FEI), and E2/T, to assess their diagnostic accuracy in PMOP. The overall area under the curve (AUC) were 0.83 (95% CI=0.77-0.88) for E2, 0.87 (95% CI=0.82-0.92) for FEI, and 0.89 (95% CI=0.85-0.94), respectively. In conclusion, the study suggests that in postmenopausal women, aromatase activity could be an important determinant of skeletal health. The women with lower aromatase activity may have greater likelihood of PMOP and the E2/T was expected to be a valuable indicator for the prediction of PMOP and to monitor the process of osteoporosis.

Clinical and pathological analysis of 116 cases of adult adrenal cortical adenoma and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate origin, gross features, microscopic features, immunohistochemical properties, and differential diagnosis of adrenal cortical adenoma (ACA) in patients ≥20 years old. METHODS: The clinicopathological features of 116 cases of ACA and the immunohistochemical features of 50 cases of ACA were evaluated, and the relevant literature was reviewed. RESULTS: In our cohort, 76.72% (89/116) of the cases were functional, and 27 cases had non-functional, benign adrenal adenomas. ACA presented as an island tumor with an envelope, and the mean tumor size was 3.6 cm (range 1-5 cm), with a mean tumor weight of 9.28 g (range 5-113 g). The shape of the tumor cells was consistent, and mitosis was rarely observed. Forty of the 46 patients with cortisol-secreting ACA had tumors containing granule cells. Primary aldosteronism was observed in 43 cases. Thirty-eight cases had endoscopically visible tumors, with clear cells and lipid-rich cytoplasm arranged in irregular patches or strips. Cortisol-producing ACAs were associated with atrophy of the non-tumorous cortex. Adrenocortical adenomas displayed positive immunohistochemical staining for MELAN-A, Syn (46 of 50 cases of ACA), NSE (44 of 50 cases of ACA), Vim (42 of 50 cases of ACA) and Ki-67 <5% (24 of 50 cases of ACA; the remaining 26 cases were negative for Ki-67). CONCLUSION: Prediction of endocrine syndrome in functional ACA was possible based on its structure and morphologic features, which could prevent an unanticipated postoperative crisis. However, a clinical study is needed to validate these findings.

The association between 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism and behavioral inhibition in Chinese toddlers.

As one of the fundamental individual characteristics, behavioral inhibition in early childhood has considerable implications for the development of social, cognitive, and psychological adjustment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and behavioral inhibition in Chinese children using a cross-sectional design. A sample of 263 2-year-old children (134 boys and 129 girls of Han ethnicity; ages ranging from 24 to 26 months) in China participated in the study. Behavioral inhibition was assessed through laboratory observations, and genomic DNA was collected with buccal swabs. The results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that the homozygous short 5-HTTLPR allele was associated with lower levels of behavioral inhibition, which was different from most of the findings based on individuals in Western countries. The results suggest that social and cultural factors may be involved in shaping links between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and children's specific behaviors.

Hemoglobin A1c for diagnosis of postpartum abnormal glucose tolerance among women with gestational diabetes mellitus: diagnostic meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for the diagnosis of postpartum abnormal glucose tolerance among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: After a systematic review of related studies, the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and other measures about the accuracy of HbA1c in the diagnosis of postpartum abnormal glucose tolerance were pooled using random-effects models. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was used to summarize the overall test performance. RESULTS: Six studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled results on SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 0.36 (95% CI 0.23-0.52), 0.85 (95% CI 0.73-0.92), 2.4 (95% CI 1.6-3.6), 0.75 (95% CI 0.63-0.88) and 3 (95% CI 2-5). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.67 with a Q value of 0.63. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of HbA1c alone is not a sensitive test to detect abnormal glucose tolerance in women with prior GDM.

Effects of pioglitazone on high-fat-diet-induced ventricular remodeling and dysfunction in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on high-fat (HF)-diet-induced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction in rats. METHODS: A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely, control, HF diet, and pioglitazone treatment group. High-fat diet group (HF group) animals were treated with HF diet for 30 weeks, whereas pioglitazone group was treated with HF diet for 30 weeks and pioglitazone in the last 6 weeks of the 30-week treatment. Fasting plasma free fatty acids (FFAs), serum, and myocardial triglyceride were measured. Left ventricular function was assessed by echocardiography. Renin, angiotensin II, and angiotensin types 1 and 2 (AT1/AT2) receptors in the myocardium were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure, plasma FFA, serum, and myocardial triglyceride concentrations in HF group were higher than in control and pioglitazone groups (P < .01). There was no significant difference in LV weight index and LV posterior wall thickness between HF and pioglitazone groups; both were higher than in the control group (P < .01). Left ventricular ejection fraction, fraction of shortening, and cardiac index in HF group were lower than in the control and pioglitazone groups (P < .05). Myocardial expression of angiotensin II and AT1 receptor protein in HF group was higher when compared with the control and pioglitazone groups (P < .01). Myocardial renin and angiotensin II messenger RNA (mRNA) in HF group was also higher when compared with the control and pioglitazone groups, whereas the expression of AT2 mRNA was lower (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone diminished HF-diet-induced LV dysfunction. These effects may be related to a reduction in blood pressure, myocardial triglycerides sedimentary, and suppression of renin-angiotensin system.

Relationship between adiponectin and testosterone in patients with type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin and testosterone in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum level of adiponectin and testosterone were prospectively measured in 65 patients with type 2 diabetes and in 20 healthy subjects. Testosterone was determined by the radio-immunoassay whereas adiponectin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The average serum testosterone did not differ between the diabetes and the control group, but the average adiponectin in the diabetes group was lower (14.6 (14.2-15.0) vs. 24.3 (24.05-24.55) ng/mL, P = 0.001). In the diabetes group, the serum adiponectin level in patients with renal dysfunction (22.3 (21.5-23.1) ng/mL) was higher than in patients with no complications (12.1 (11.45-12.75) ng/mL) and than in patients with coronary artery disease (11.2 (10.25-12.15) ng/mL) (P = 0.009). Univariate correlation analysis showed an inverse weak correlation between adiponectin and testosterone concentrations in male diabetic patients (r = -0.27, P = 0.009). There was no significant correlation between adiponectin and testosterone in female patients (r = -0.05, P = 0.167). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that patients with type 2 diabetes have lower serum adiponectin concentration than healthy individuals, and that there is a weak inverse correlation between adiponectin and testosterone serum concentrations in male diabetics.

Elevated serum levels of advanced glycation end products and their monocyte receptors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Animal experiments showed that interaction between advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptors (RAGE) play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) can function as a decoy for RAGE ligands. The present study aimed to examine the levels of AGEs, RAGE and sRAGE in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: RAGE gene expression was determined by real-time PCR in 50 patients with T2D (27 men, mean age 52 ± 7.7 years) and 50 age-matched controls without T2D. Serum AGEs and sRAGEs were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Serum level of AGEs was increased in patients with T2D (10.35 ± 2.27 µg/mL vs.7.69 ± 0.56 µg/mL, p <0.05). sRAGE was decreased in patients with T2D (573.6 ± 172.5 pg/mL vs. 603.4 ± 120.8 pg/mL p <0.01). RAGE gene expression was higher in T2D than in controls (p <0.01). There was an association between monocyte RAGE and serum levels of AGEs in both T2D patients (r = 0.29, p = 0.03) and controls (r = 0.31, p = 0.02). Serum AGEs correlated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in both patients with T2D (r = 0.322, p = 0.004) and controls (r = 0.281, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Serum AGEs and monocyte RAGE expression are increased in patients with T2D, whereas serum sRAGE is decreased. Pharmacological intervention on serum AGEs and sRAGE may be a potential therapy for diabetes.