Effects of neighborhood amenities, services, and built infrastructure on cognitive health: A longitudinal study of older Chinese immigrants in Chicago, United States.

Executive function deficits among Malaysian children with epilepsy.

From isolation to connection: A nursing model for AI-enhanced mental health crisis management in rural Chinese adolescent communities

Over ten years of newborn screening for LSDs in Tuscany (Italy): Epidemiology, novel variants, and the pseudodeficiency burden.

C12orf65 (chromosome 12 open reading frame 65) gene encodes a mitochondrial matrix protein essential for the release of newly synthesized proteins from mitochondrial ribosomes. Biallelic pathogenic variants result in loss of function in the protein complex necessary for oxidative phosphorylation. Pathogenic C12orf65 variants have been associated with various inherited neurological diseases, including Behr syndrome, Leigh syndrome, combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 7, and hereditary spastic paraplegia. This was a retrospective case series of 4 children with C12orf65 mutation from 3 unrelated pedigrees of Chinese descent. Clinical and diagnostic data were collected via retrospective medical record review. The phenotypic manifestations were systematically documented, and the genotypic data were analyzed in conjunction with previous reports. Four subjects exhibited optic nerve atrophy, strabismus, progressive lower limb dystonia, and abnormal gait. Whole exome sequencing revealed the c.394C>T variant in C12orf65 in all 4 patients. Three of the patients had coexisting novel MT-ND4 (m.11696 G>A) and OPA1 (c.1817G>A) variants. We analyzed the gene-phenotypic associations of 4 patients in conjunction with previous reports which added to the current understanding of C12orf65 -related neurodegenerative disorders. The superimposed mutations in 2 of these patients suggest that the heterogeneity of optic neuropathy and the systemic features associated with C12orf65 pathogenic variants may be altered by the genetic background of mitochondrial or nuclear genes that influence mitochondrial function. We recommend genetic evaluation of C12ORF65-related diseases, including other genes responsible for optic neuropathy, and not just limited to Sanger sequencing.

Spatial perception in small-scale, functionally complex parks: The application of a graph-based approach

While prior metabolomic genome-wide association studies (mGWASs) have identified numerous metabolite quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) in European populations, their characterization in East Asians-particularly Han Chinese-remains limited. Here, we integrated genomic and metabolomic data to systematically map plasma mQTLs in Han Chinese individuals and investigated their associations with common traits and diseases. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses of 846 plasma metabolites were performed in 495 Han Chinese individuals to identify mQTLs. Causal genes with robust evidence were prioritized via colocalization analysis and fine-mapping. Subsequently, a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) was performed to explore links between mQTLs and common chronic diseases. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were further applied to infer causal relationships between metabolites and common diseases. We identified 232 genome-wide significant mQTLs ( P < 5 × 10 -8), of which 52.6% (122) were novel. Cross-ancestry comparisons revealed 72 novel cohort-specific mQTLs associated with 16 metabolites. Colocalization analysis confirmed 175 high-confidence gene-metabolite pairs with shared genetic drivers. PheWAS linked 118 mQTLs to 39 diseases across 11 clinical categories. MR analyses revealed seven putatively causal metabolite-disease relationships, including one for asthma, two for type 2 diabetes, and four for inflammatory bowel disease. Our study delineates the genetic architecture of the plasma metabolome in the Han Chinese population, uncovering novel causal associations between metabolite levels and diseases such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease.

DNA methylation is regarded as the most promising biomarker for forensic age prediction. However, the vast majority of forensic age prediction tools based on DNA methylation reported so far are tissue-specific, which limits their practical applicability. In our previous study, we successfully developed a cross-tissue 10-CpG quantile regression model for age prediction from saliva and buccal swab samples, achieving a mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.45 years. In order to develop a more widely applicable multi-tissue age predictor, in this study, we further quantified DNA methylation at 18 CpG sites in 216 blood samples (Han Chinese, 1-82 years) using two multiplex methylation SNaPshot assays and systematically evaluated 16 model configurations-varying CpG marker panels, age transformation, and tissue variable inclusion-to identify markers with high cross-tissue stability and optimize predictive accuracy. An optimized 10-CpG quantile regression model constructed with 648 samples including 216 blood, 216 saliva, and 216 buccal swab samples achieved MAEs of 3.32 years (blood) and 3.88 years (combined dataset) in 10-fold cross-validation. Specifically, this model demonstrated excellent performance on an independent validation set of forensically relevant chewed gum samples (n = 25, aged 19-70 years; MAE = 2.82 years). Although its prediction accuracies in each sample type were slightly lower than those obtained from each tissue-specific model, the newly developed multi-tissue model would be extremely useful in forensic analysis, especially when dealing with biological samples of uncertain tissue origin or complex cell compositions.

ObjectiveTo investigate Aristaless-like homeobox 4 (ALX4), a paired-like homeodomain transcription factor essential for craniofacial morphogenesis, as a susceptibility gene for non-syndromic orofacial cleft (NSOC) and to explore its potential regulatory mechanisms in the Han Chinese population.DesignA two-stage case-control genetic association study complemented by exploratory RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and functional validation.SettingTertiary medical center for orofacial cleft treatment in western China.Patients, ParticipantsDiscovery phase: 2512 NSOC patients and 2255 controls. Replication phase: 2724 NSOC patients and 1263 controls. RNA-seq: 6 patients with non-syndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO) and 2 lip trauma controls. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) validation: 5 NSCLO patients and 5 controls.Interventions: Genotyping of 76 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ALX4 gene region using the SNPscan method, with three SNPs selected for independent replication. Exploratory RNA-seq of lip tissues, RT-qPCR validation, and dual-luciferase reporter assays.Main Outcome Measure(s)Allelic and genotypic associations between ALX4 variants and NSOC subtypes; differential expression of ALX4 and hsa-miR-455-3p in NSCLO tissues; functional validation of microRNA-target interactions.ResultsMultiple ALX4 SNPs showed significant associations with NSOC subtypes after Bonferroni correction (P < 6.58 × 10-4). rs3861063 demonstrated consistent protective effects for microform cleft lip across both phases. ALX4 and hsa-miR-455-3p were upregulated in NSCLO tissues, confirmed by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that hsa-miR-455-3p directly targets the ALX4 3'UTR (untranslated region), though paradoxical co-upregulation suggests complex regulatory mechanisms.ConclusionsALX4 is a novel NSOC susceptibility gene in Han Chinese, with subtype-specific genetic associations and a complex regulatory interaction involving hsa-miR-455-3p, expanding our understanding of NSOC genetic architecture.

Rationale:Most patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BC) prefer endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. However, some HR+ BC patients often exhibit resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors and even undergo molecular subtyping changes during disease progression. Therefore, precise detection and treatment of these patients after disease progression are crucial.Patient concerns:In October 2021, a 51-year-old Chinese female (Han ethnicity) with a palpable mass in her left breast was diagnosed with HR+ BC. After endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment, the patient’s disease still progressed and transformed into triple-negative BC.Diagnoses:Peripheral blood circulating tumor cells were isolated from the patient and performed targeted sequencing by using next-generation sequencing, revealing the presence of a PIK3CA mutation in the patient.Interventions:The patient’s condition was effectively controlled after treatment with PI3K inhibitors.Outcomes:The patient’s progression free survival was prolonged to 7 months after treatment with the PI3K inhibitor. All adverse reactions were tolerated after symptomatic treatment. Her adverse reactions remained tolerable until further progression.Lessons:Our case fully demonstrates the importance of the early detection of PIK3CA mutations in treatment strategies. In addition, circulating tumor cells-targeted sequencing technology could be used for the concomitant diagnosis of advanced BC and evaluate gene mutations under treatment pressure.

Dementia is projected to rise steepest in racially minoritised communities; nearly six times the UK average. Understanding of disparities is limited due to research under-representation, however evidence suggests racially minoritised people experience delayed diagnoses, more often in crisis situations, and die younger. To explore cultural understandings of ageing and dementia, and barriers/enablers to healthcare access for family-carers of racially minoritised people with memory problems. Generate community-led intervention ideas to improve access/uptake. Scoping review of UK literature 2) Qualitative Photovoice (participatory action research) focus groups with family-carers of people with memory concerns from Chinese, Caribbean and South Asian communities in Sheffield 3) Co-design workshops with community leaders on intervention prototypes. Scoping review of barriers/enablers and existing interventions. Photovoice methodology: purposive recruitment of 24 family-carers (8/community) supporting those aged≥65 with memory concerns; diverse in gender, age and language. Eight-week data collection culminating in focus groups co-facilitated and interpreted by bilingual community research link workers, transcribed verbatim, and independently thematically analysed. Photo-exhibition for public and policy-makers. Stakeholder workshop with community leaders to co-design intervention prototypes. Despite steeply rising dementia rates in racially minoritised communities, inequity persists in service access/uptake. Little is understood about cultural influences effecting engagement with dementia care and no formal intervention development tackling racial inequity has been published. This work will increase knowledge on cultural nuances and structural discrimination impacting families living with dementia and consider new approaches.

ABSTRACT The “1/0” (Top/Bottom) system has long dominated Chinese gay culture, functioning as a rigid semiotic infrastructure that organizes sexual roles through heteronormative gender norms and hegemonic masculinity. The recent emergence of “Side” – a label for men who primarily engage in non-penetrative sex – poses a disruption to this binary order. Drawing on constructivist grounded theory and in-depth interviews with 15 gay men in China who identified as or practiced “Side,” this study unpacks the lived meanings of this identity within a digitalized match-making landscape. Our findings reveal that “Side” is constructed not merely as a sexual preference, but as a multifaceted strategy of well-being, resistance, and digital agency. First, participants articulated “Side” as a praxis of bodily comfort and psychological safety, shifting the paradigm from a performance-oriented “homosexist” script to a well-being-centric ethos. Second, “Side” functions as a discursive shield against the effeminophobia and internalized hierarchies inherent in the 1/0 system, challenging the reproduction of patriarchal power dynamics in same-sex intimacy. Finally, within the algorithmic environment of dating apps, “Side” is deployed as a tactical tool for “data gaming,” allowing individuals to strategically navigate visibility and manage relational expectations. By decoupling sexual legitimacy from penetrative acts, the rise of “Side” suggests an important and still unfolding development in contemporary Chinese gay communities, one that opens space for more flexible and well-being-centered understandings of intimacy.

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of sleep and its determinants among residents of the Chengguan District in Lhasa, to provide foundational evidence for future intervention studies targeting sleep disorders in high-altitude populations. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Chengguan District, Lhasa, between March and June 2023. Using a four-stage cluster random sampling design, 3,742 eligible residents were recruited. Data were collected using a custom Sociodemographic and Health-related Information Form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of the residents in the Chengguan District of Lhasa was 4.58 ± 3.03, and the prevalence rate of sleep disorders was 15.3%. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that factors significantly correlated with sleep disorders encompassed being female, being of Han ethnicity or other ethnic minorities, possessing a high level of education, being married, divorced, or widowed, alcohol intake, taking naps lasting more than 30min, using electronic products for over 30min at night, suffering from chronic diseases, experiencing perceived stress, cognitive performance, engaging in shift work, and exposure to residential noise (χ² = 690.207, P < 0.001). The prevalence of sleep disorders is high among residents in the Chengguan District of Lhasa. Demographic and sociological factors, lifestyle habits, physical and mental health status, occupational factors, and residential noise appear to influence sleep quality. Therefore, it would be beneficial for relevant authorities to focus on these susceptible populations in future interventions, aiming to enhance sleep quality and overall quality of life through environmental improvements, lifestyle modifications, strategic scheduling, and the provision of psychological support.

ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of the expansion of international Chinese education and the fiftieth anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, this study examines the historical evolution of Chinese language education in Thailand through perspectives from language policy and the sociology of education. Employing a qualitative, multi-source analytical approach, it explores shifting social contexts, educational policies, and Chinese school practices across different historical periods. The findings reveal that the development of Thai Chinese education reflects a dynamic negotiation between ethnic cultural continuity and state governance. From the rise of modern Chinese schools in the early twentieth century to the restrictive policies that marginalized Chinese education during the mid-twentieth century, the Chinese community continuously recalibrated its educational practices under shifting political conditions. Since the normalization of Sino-Thai relations and the acceleration of globalization in the late twentieth century, Chinese education has gradually moved from a marginalized ethnic institution to an institutionalized foreign language subject within Thailand's education system. By adopting a historical-institutional lens, this study elucidates the complex interactions among nation-state building, language policy, and educational practice, offering insights into the development of Chinese education across Southeast Asia.

This case study examined the culturally responsive practices of an art therapist working with women experiencing domestic violence within a Han Chinese cultural context in Taiwan. Confucian traditions significantly influence the cultural identity of this majority population. The participant, a Taiwanese art therapist residing in Taiwan, reflected on her clinical experiences through two unstructured, in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three interrelated cultural themes related to patriarchal values and traditional gender expectations, as well as four culturally relevant therapeutic themes. The findings underscore the importance for art therapists to move beyond superficial adjustments and actively engage with clients’ sociocultural realities, while maintaining ongoing critical self-reflexivity in their practice.

To retrospectively analyse the tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate and influencing factors among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Sichuan, China, from 2010 to 2024 and to inform HIV/TB coinfection prevention. A dynamic cohort of PLHIV was established (2010‒2024) to estimate the TB incidence rate. A nested case‒control study was used to identify factors influencing TB incidence via logistic regression. From 2010 to 2024, 1,677,649 person-years (PY) of follow-up were accumulated, with an average follow-up of 5.57 years. The number of HIV/TB coinfections rose from 79 to 1001 (average annual percent change [AAPC] = 19.44%, P < 0.05). Still, in parallel with the growing number of study participants, the annual incidence density (ID) showed no significant trend (AAPC = -1.64%, P > 0.05), yielding a cumulative incidence density (CID) of 5.09 per 1000 PY. The CID varied markedly across regions, ranging from 2.41 to 9.94/1000 PY, with the highest values in the western and southern regions, moderate levels in the northeastern and southeastern peripheries, and the lowest in the central region. Protective factors against TB included older age, female sex, Han ethnicity, higher education, baseline CD4+ T lymphocytes (CD4) ≥ 200 cells/µL, and homosexual transmission. TB risk increased with clinical identification and delay in antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (> 90 days) (all P < 0.001). Sichuan PLHIV presented a relatively high TB incidence rate without a significant change trend; marked regional disparities were evident across the province, with distinct temporal trends in incidence rate variation among regions. TB incidence was influenced by multiple factors, including individual characteristics, infection-related, and ART-related factors. Targeted interventions are urgently needed for HIV/TB coinfection control.

This longitudinal study examined how interactions between both children's negative emotionality predicted parental rejection toward firstborns (Mage = 49.9 months; 55% boys) in 120 Chinese two-child families from 2016 to 2018 in Shanghai (mostly Han ethnicity). Parents reported firstborns' temperament prenatally, secondborns' temperament at 6 months postpartum, and parental rejection prenatally and at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Regression analyses predicting parental rejection toward firstborns at 6 and 12 months postpartum from both children's temperaments controlled for two prior parental rejection. Higher negative emotionality in secondborns predicted greater maternal rejection toward firstborns at 6 months. At 12 months, this association emerged only when firstborns also showed high negative emotionality. No significant effects were observed for paternal rejection.

BackgroundPregnant and postpartum women encounter various health challenges, including physiological stress and mental health issues, which necessitate ongoing health monitoring. Smart bracelets present a promising solution; however, there is limited research on the preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for such devices among this demographic.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the preferences and WTP for smart bracelet attributes among pregnant and postpartum women in China and to explore how these preferences vary by sociodemographic factors, pregnancy stage, parity, and complications.MethodsA cross-sectional discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted involving 464 pregnant and postpartum women recruited from a maternal and child health hospital in Inner Mongolia. Six key attributes were evaluated: cost, hospital backend monitoring, primary function, privacy protection, ease of use, and monitoring report frequency. A mixed logit model was used to estimate preference weights and WTP for each attribute, with subgroup analyses based on income, employment, gestational stage, parity, and other factors.ResultsAmong the 464 pregnant and postpartum women included in the final analysis (valid data rate: 96.67%), the mean age was 31.06 (SD 4.05) years. The majority of participants were of Han ethnicity (n=385, 82.97%), had a high level of education (n=422, 90.95%), resided in urban areas (n=446, 96.12%), and were employed (n=353, 76.08%). In the DCE, cost negatively impacted smart wristband preferences (β=−0.000257; P=.01). Participants exhibited a strong preference for wristbands with fetal heart monitoring (β=1.275; P<.001), high-level privacy protection (β=.541; P<.001), and ease of use (β=.973; P<.001). They were willing to pay ¥4967.45 (based on an exchange rate of US $1=CN ¥6.93) for fetal heart monitoring, ¥2975.17 for sleep monitoring, ¥2109.29 for high-level privacy protection, and ¥3437.09 for daily monitoring. Subgroup analyses indicated that preferences varied according to income, employment, pregnancy stage, parity, complications, and age.ConclusionsThe design of smart bracelets should be tailored to meet the diverse needs of pregnant and postpartum users. Key considerations include the integration of fetal heart and vital sign monitoring, the assurance of data privacy, the enhancement of usability, and the provision of cost-effective options. Understanding the specific preferences of different subgroups can guide the development of inclusive and responsive wearable health technologies for maternal care.

This study examined how early childhood development (ECD) interventions improved children's developmental outcomes in rural China. The three-wave panel data were drawn from a randomized controlled trial with a village-based parenting center intervention conducted between 2016 and 2018. Involving 1,613 children (aged 6-36 months, 52% boys) and their primary caregivers (70% mothers, predominantly Han ethnicity), the causal mediation analysis showed that the parenting center intervention improved children's standardized scores of cognition and language, with the primary caregivers' parenting behaviors (reading books or telling stories with children) playing a significant mediating role. The primary caregivers' parenting behaviors accounted for approximately 17% of the total effect of ECD intervention on children's cognitive outcomes and 29% on language outcomes.

Research on the cognitive benefits of volunteering has largely focused on U.S.-born or general older adult populations, leaving older immigrants understudied despite evidence suggesting that volunteering may protect against cognitive decline. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between volunteering and cognitive functioning among older Chinese immigrants and whether the relationship varies by immigration-related characteristics. A prospective cohort design was applied using data from 2,087 older Chinese immigrants aged 60 and above (mean age =75.6) who participated in three waves of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (Waves 3-5, 2015-2020). Volunteering was measured at Waves 3 and 4. Cognitive functioning was assessed at three waves using a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests. Latent growth curve models and cross-lagged panel models were estimated. At Wave 3, 6.6% of participants reported volunteering through organizations. Volunteering was associated with higher initial cognitive functioning and a slower rate of cognitive decline over time after adjusting for sociodemographic and health covariates. The association was stronger among those migrating at an older age and those with lower levels of acculturation. Cross-lagged analyses indicated that volunteering predicted subsequent cognitive functioning, whereas the reverse association was not statistically significant. Organizational volunteering that offers cognitively and socially engaging activities may support cognitive health among older Chinese immigrants. Benefits appear especially salient for those facing greater social and cultural barriers. Findings underscore the importance of culturally responsive volunteer programs that promote meaningful participation in aging immigrant populations.