Positive Association Research Articles

Lead exposure and physical frailty in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: cross-sectional results from the METAL study.

Chronic lead exposure continues to be a global environmental concern. Previous studies reported high levels of lead exposure in people with diabetes. Frailty is one of the vital comorbidities of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, researchers have not determined whether lead exposure is a risk factor for frailty in people with T2DM. This cross-sectional study explored the association between blood lead levels and frailty in a Shanghai diabetic population cohort. Individuals who met ≥3 of 5 predefined criteria (weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slow walking speed and low grip strength) were defined as frailty. A total of 884 participants with T2DM (50.6% men, mean age 70.6 ± 7.4 years) were included. Among them, 147 (16.6%) patients were frail, and the median (interquartile range) concentration of blood lead was 16.0 µg/L (12.0-23.0). Compared with the participants within the lowest quartile of serum lead, positive associations of the 2nd and 4th lead quartiles with frailty were observed (OR, 95% CI; 1.70 1.01-2.84 and 1.72 1.03-2.88, respectively) after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). After further adjustment for drinking status, smoking status, diet, education, blood pressure, triglycerides and glycosylated hemoglobin, the associations of serum lead with frailty were still significant for the 4th and 2nd-4th quartiles of lead (1.71, 1.01-2.91 and 1.57, 1.02-2.41, respectively). In the subgroup analyses, we found positive associations of serum lead with frailty in elderly individuals (1.77, 1.13-2.79), those with obesity (2.14, 1.02-4.51), those with unhealthy diets (2.52, 1.26-5.04), and those without hyperlipidemia (2.09, 1.12-3.88), although the interactions were not statistically significant (P for interaction all >0.05). This work provides evidence of an association between chronic lead exposure and physical frailty in a diabetic population in a Chinese cohort. Future prospective and mechanistic studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Effect of oleocanthal-rich olive oil on postprandial oxidative stress markers of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by postprandial dysmetabolism, which has been linked to post-meal redox disturbances. Oleocanthal (OO), one of the most potent bioactive phenols of extra virgin olive oil, has shown redox modulating properties in vitro. However, its acute, in vivo antioxidant properties have never been studied before. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetics of five redox markers (Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TBARS] and glutathione peroxidase activity in serum-GPx3 and erythrocytes (GPx1), protein carbonyls in serum) after the consumption different meals. Design: Five different isocaloric meals comprised of white bread and butter (BU) or butter plus ibuprofen (BU-IBU) or olive oil poor in OO or olive oils containing 250 and 500 mg/Kg of oleocanthal (OO250 and OO500, respectively). We hypothesized that OO-rich olive oil will reduce postprandial oxidative stress in T2DM patients compared to other lipid sources. This study involved 10 patients with T2DM and had a cross-over design. Results: The comparison of incremental Area Under Curves (iAUCs) has shown that OO-rich olive oils were able to alleviate the increments of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and GPx3 and induce a higher red blood cells (RBCs) GPx1 activity compared to OO (P < 0.05). The effect was dose and redox marker depended. Correlation analysis in the pooled sample demonstrated a positive association between postprandial ex vivo platelet sensitivity to ADP and iAUC TBARS. In conclusion, our study has shown that OO-rich olive oils can favorably modulate lipid peroxidation and RBC GPx activity in T2DM patients when consumed as part of a carbohydrate meal. Discussion: This study demonstrates for the first time that, apart from its anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet properties, OO can also exert acute antioxidant effects. Conclusion: This finding emphasizes the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, particularly those with a high OO content, for T2DM patients.

Role of Interpersonal Skills, Communication Capabilities and Information System on Learning Capabilities of Higher Educational Institutions in China: Mediating Role of Students’ Satisfaction

The growth of higher educational institutions much depends upon various factors among which interpersonal skills, communication capabilities and information system are prominent ones. The current study aimed to examine the impact of these factors viz., interpersonal skills, communication capabilities and information system, on the learning capabilities of higher educational institutions in China. The study also checks the mediating role of student satisfaction among these three constructs. The study gathered the data from final year students of higher educational institutions using surveys. The study also examines the data reliability along with association among variables using smart-PLS. The outcomes revealed that the interpersonal skills, communication capabilities and information system have a positive association with learning capabilities. The outcomes also exposed that student satisfaction significantly mediated among exogenous constructs of the study. The study findings would act as a guide to the policymakers regarding enhancing the learning capabilities by focusing on interpersonal skills, communication capabilities and information system.

Impact of Information Characteristics on Information Adoption and Public Sector Organizations Success in the China

The quality of information is a significant feature for organizational success which policymakers and researchers must emphasize in building up strategies. The present study examines information characteristics such as information quality, information quantity and information credibility on public sector organizations success in China. The study also investigates the mediating role of information adoption among information quality, information quantity, information credibility and public sector organizations success in China. The survey questionnaires were used to gather the primary data from the respondents. The respondents comprised a sample size of 357 employees of Chinese public sector organizations, chosen through random sampling technique. Smart-PLS was used to measure data validity and nexus among constructs. The results revealed that the information quality, information quantity and information credibility have a positive association with public sector organizations success in China. The outcomes also exposed that the information adoption significantly mediates among information quality, information quantity, information credibility and public sector organizations success in China. It is hoped that the findings of this study will help policymakers and strategists to frame policies and guidelines to achieve the organization success by using high quality information.

A meta-analysis on racial discrimination and alcohol use among Asian Americans.

Racial discrimination has been identified as a contributing risk factor for alcohol use among racially minoritized individuals. The aims of this study were to quantify the relationship between racial discrimination and alcohol use among Asian Americans, examine gender, age and generational status as moderators, and characterize ethnic group representation across the literature. A systematic literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and OpenDissertations. A random effects model using Pearson's r effect sizes was conducted on separate alcohol outcomes. Meta-regression analyses tested for moderating effects, and heterogeneity was examined by identifying outliers and subgroup differences. Risk of bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's regression test. Twenty-two effect sizes were extracted from 18 studies, representing 8926 participants. A significant positive association was found between racial discrimination and alcohol consumption (k = 9, r = 0.13, 95% CI = [0.07, 0.19], I2 = 80.7%, p = 0.002) and problematic alcohol use (k = 12, r = 0.27, 95% CI = [0.12, 0.40] I2 = 93.7%, p = 0.002), but not binge use (k = 3, r = 0.08, 95% CI = [-0.49, 0.60], I2 = 95.0%, p = 0.64). Age, gender, and generational status were not significant moderators (p's > 0.10). When ethnic groups were reported, Chinese Americans were most represented (36.9%), while Indian Americans were notably underrepresented (1.18%). There is a small positive association between racial discrimination and alcohol consumption and problematic alcohol use among Asian Americans. Research should seek to fill gaps identified by this review, including the dearth of longitudinal work needed to establish temporal precedence, the limited understanding of racial discrimination on binge use and underrepresented ethnic groups in this field of research, and reducing heterogeneity between studies.

Assessing the causal role of the structural connectome in temporomandibular disorders: A Mendelian randomization study

ABSTRACT Objective We examined the relationships between the structural connectome and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Methods Bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using Genome-wide association studies data on the structural connectome and TMDs. Results Positive associations with TMD risk were found for white matter structural connectivity from the left hemisphere limbic network to putamen, left hemisphere salience_ventral attention network to caudate, right hemisphere visual network to thalamus, and right hemisphere salience_ventral attention network to right hemisphere control network, while negative associations were observed for connectivity from the left hemisphere control and somatomotor networks to pallidum, left hemisphere somatomotor network to right hemisphere dorsal attention network, and right hemisphere somatomotor network to hippocampus (p< 0.05). In TMD patients, connectivity from the Left-hemisphere visual network to putamen was reduced, whereas connectivity from the Left-hemisphere limbic network to left-hemisphere control network was increased (p< 0.05). Conclusion Our findings provide insights into the TMD pathogenesis.

Negative Social Exchanges are Associated With More Severe Depressive Symptoms Above and Beyond the Effects of Positive Social Exchanges in Male U.S. Service Members and Veterans.

Risk for depression is heightened among male service members/veterans relative to civilians. Research suggests social support protects service members/veterans from depressive symptoms, but most studies focus on positive social support. Negative social support, which can include unwanted emotional involvement or social negativity, could be more impactful on depressive symptoms than positive; however, this has not been examined in military samples. Moreover, it is unclear whether positive interactions buffer the effects of negative interactions. SM/Vs (N = 508) were recruited online using convenience sampling and completed demographics, and measures of depression and social exchange frequencies, a metric of positive and negative social support. This secondary data analysis was drawn from a parent study that was approved by an institutional review board. A correlation comparison calculator compared the strength of bivariate associations of positive social exchanges and negative social exchanges with depression. Linear regression examined the simultaneous effects of positive and negative social exchanges, and subsequently examined whether positive social exchanges moderated the association of negative social exchanges and depression. The positive bivariate association of negative exchanges and depression (r = 0.48, P < .001) was statistically stronger than the negative bivariate association of positive exchanges and depression (r = -0.40, P < .001). A regression analysis revealed that higher negative exchanges were positively associated with depression (partial r = 0.40, P < .001) and higher positive exchanges were negatively associated with depression (partial r = -0.32, P < .001) after accounting for covariates, but positive exchanges did not mitigate the association of negative exchanges and depression (P > .05). Decreasing the frequency of negative social exchanges is associated with lower depressive symptoms and may have a stronger relationship with depression than positive exchanges, suggesting independent pathways to depression. Longitudinal assessments are needed to determine the potential directionality of these relationships and to address the limitations associated with convenience sampling and cross-sectional data collection.

How is coaches’ social identity leadership related to mental health in elite athletes? The mediating role of satisfaction with performance

ABSTRACT It has been found that the way high-performance coaches lead influences both athletes’ performance and mental health. However, limited research exists on the Social Identity Approach to leadership in elite sports, despite growing interest in coaching science regarding interpersonal behaviours and leadership. This study investigates the empirical links between coaches’ leadership, sport performance and mental health from a social identity approach. One hundred and forty-five elite athletes (M age = 20.6 years; SD = 4.1; 62% women, 38% men) answered questionnaires measuring coaches’ social identity leadership, sport performance satisfaction and mental health. The overall structural equation model (SEM) accounted for 36% and 19% of the variances in athletes’ mental health and mental illness dimensions, respectively. There was a positive association between perceived coaches’ social identity leadership and sport performance satisfaction, explaining 10% of its variance. Coaches’ social identity leadership predicted athletes’ mental health but not mental illness. Sport performance satisfaction positively influenced mental health and negatively impacted mental illness. Fostering a sense of “we” and “us” within elite sport training groups is instrumental in promoting sport performance satisfaction and, consequently, enhancing the mental health of athletes. Coaching educational courses may benefit from social identity leadership in interpersonal behaviours.

Resilience and Loss During the Iron-Swords War: The Importance of Coping Strategies

The unprecedented events on October 7th in Israel, characterized by little actual and perceived control over the sources of the stress, have affected virtually every household in Israel, either due to the economic and social consequences of the ensuing war or experiencing the loss of relatives and friends. The current study examined the association between traumatic loss of close friends/relatives and resilience during the initial stages of the Iron-Swords war and explored the moderating role of coping strategies for this link. Data were collected from 286 participants (age range 19-82) who completed online scales assessing loss, resilience, and coping strategies during the first weeks of the Iron-Swords war. Results demonstrated a negative association between emotion-focused coping and resilience, as well as a positive association between problem-focused coping and resilience. Moreover, coping strategies moderated the loss-resilience link, which was significant only for individuals reporting low levels of both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping. Our findings support the claim that relying on at least one dominant coping strategy (i.e., problem-focused coping/emotional-focused coping/both) is efficient to reserve resilience levels at times of adversity. The findings of the current study, based on data collected in the first weeks of the Iron-Swords war, highlight the value of different coping styles in preserving individual resilience as a protective factor against stress during adversity.

Exploring multi-omics and clinical characteristics linked to accelerated biological aging in Asian women of reproductive age: insights from the S-PRESTO study

BackgroundPhenotypic age (PhenoAge), a widely used marker of biological aging, has been shown to be a robust predictor of all-cause mortality and morbidity in different populations. Existing studies on biological aging have primarily focused on individual domains, resulting in a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the multi-systemic dysregulation that occurs in aging.MethodsPhenoAge was evaluated based on a linear combination of chronological age (CA) and 9 clinical biomarkers in 952 multi-ethnic Asian women of reproductive age. Phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel), an aging biomarker, represents PhenoAge after adjusting for CA. This study conducts an in-depth association analysis of PhenoAgeAccel with clinical, nutritional, lipidomic, gut microbiome, and genetic factors.ResultsHigher adiposity, glycaemia, plasma saturated fatty acids, kynurenine pathway metabolites, GlycA, riboflavin, nicotinamide, and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins were positively associated with PhenoAgeAccel. Conversely, a healthier diet and higher levels of pyridoxal phosphate, all-trans retinol, betaine, tryptophan, glutamine, histidine, apolipoprotein B, and insulin-like growth factors were inversely associated with PhenoAgeAccel. Lipidomic analysis found 132 lipid species linked to PhenoAgeAccel, with PC(O-36:0) showing the strongest positive association and CE(24:5) demonstrating the strongest inverse association. A genome-wide association study identified rs9864994 as the top genetic variant (P = 5.69E-07) from the ZDHHC19 gene. Gut microbiome analysis revealed that Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003 and Bacteroides vulgatus were inversely associated with PhenoAgeAccel. Integrative network analysis of aging-related factors underscored the intricate links among clinical, nutritional and lipidomic variables, such as positive associations between kynurenine pathway metabolites, amino acids, adiposity, and insulin resistance. Furthermore, potential mediation effects of blood biomarkers related to inflammation, immune response, and nutritional and energy metabolism were observed in the associations of diet, adiposity, genetic variants, and gut microbial species with PhenoAgeAccel.ConclusionsOur findings provide a comprehensive analysis of aging-related factors across multiple platforms, delineating their complex interconnections. This study is the first to report novel signatures in lipidomics, gut microbiome and blood biomarkers specifically associated with PhenoAgeAccel. These insights are invaluable in understanding the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying biological aging and shed light on potential interventions to mitigate accelerated biological aging by targeting modifiable factors.

A Study Of Association Of Intra-Abdominal Pressure With Severity And Outcome In Patients Of Emergency Laparotomy

Introduction: The present study is done to study the association of intra-abdominal pressure with intra-operative findings and postoperative surgical complications in patients of emergency laparotomies so that timely and appropriate interventions can be planned and administered. Methods: The study was done on 84 patients. The intra-abdominal pressure was measured indirectly by measuring the pressure within the urinary bladder via Foley's catheter. Results: There was positive association between the higher grades of IAP and intra-abdominal contamination and gangrenous bowel, the mean value of IAP being 20.4 mmHg. A statistically positive association was also observed between preoperative IAP and post-operative complications, the mean IAP ≥19mmHg. Conclusion: There is a significant positive association of raised pre-operative intra-abdominal pressure with intra-operative finding of gangrenous and edematous bowel and postoperative surgical complications.

Non-fermented and fermented milk intake in relation to risk of ischemic heart disease and to circulating cardiometabolic proteins in swedish women and men: Two prospective longitudinal cohort studies with 100,775 participants

BackgroundThe effect of milk on the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and acute myocardial infarction (MI) is unclear. We aimed to examine the association between non-fermented and fermented milk consumption on these endpoints and investigate the relationship between milk intake and cardiometabolic-related proteins in plasma.MethodsOur study is based on two Swedish prospective cohort studies that included 59,998 women and 40,777 men without IHD or cancer at baseline who provided repeated measures of diet and lifestyle factors and plasma proteomics data in two subcohorts. Through registry linkage, 17,896 cases with IHD were documented during up to 33 years of follow-up, including 10,714 with MI. We used time-updated multivariable Cox regression analysis to examine non-fermented or fermented milk intake with time to IHD or MI. Using high-throughput multiplex immunoassays, 276 cardiometabolic plasma proteins were measured in two subcohorts. We applied multivariable-adjusted regression models using a discovery-replication design to examine protein associations with increasing consumption of non-fermented or fermented milk.ResultsThe results for non-fermented milk differed by sex (p-value for interaction = 0.01). In women, we found a pattern of successively greater risk of IHD and MI at non-fermented milk intake levels higher than 1.5 glasses/day. Compared with an intake of 0.5 glass/day (100 mL/day), non-fermented milk intake of 2 glasses/day in women conferred a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.05 (95% CI 1.01–1.08) for IHD, an intake of 3 glasses/day an HR of 1.12 (95% CI 1.06–1.19), and an intake of 4 glasses/day an HR of 1.21 (95% CI 1.10–1.32). Findings were similar for whole, medium-fat, and low-fat milk. We did not detect higher risks of IHD with increasing milk intakes in men. Fermented milk intake was unrelated to the risk of IHD or MI in either sex. Increasing non-fermented milk intake in women was robustly associated with a higher concentration of plasma ACE2 and a lower concentration of FGF21.ConclusionsWe show a positive association between high amounts of non-fermented milk intake and IHD in women but not men. We suggest metabolic pathways related to ACE2 and FGF21 potentially underlie the association.Graphical abstractOur analysis of two large cohort studies involving 100,775 participants and 17,896 clinically confirmed IHD events supports a dose–response positive association between non-fermented milk intake higher than 300 mL/day with higher rates of IHD (and acute MI specifically) in women, but not in men. The higher risk of IHD with high milk intake in women was evident, irrespective of the fat content of the milk. Fermented milk intake was unrelated to the risk of IHD in both women and men. Non-fermented milk intake was associated in different directions with circulating levels of ACE2 and FGF21 in women—two essential cardiometabolic proteins, also related to IHD in women in our study.

Association of METS-IR index with Type 2 Diabetes: A cross-sectional analysis of national health and nutrition examination survey data from 2009 to 2018.

With rising global diabetes prevalence, precise early identification and management of diabetes risk are critical research areas. The metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), a novel non-insulin-based tool, is gaining attention for quantifying insulin resistance using multiple metabolic parameters. Despite its potential in predicting diabetes and its precursors, evidence on its specific relationship with diabetes is limited, especially in large-scale population validation and mechanistic exploration. This study aims to analyze the association between METS-IR and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in American adults. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2009 to 2018. Participants aged 20 years and above were included, excluding individuals with missing data on BMI, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol glycated hemoglobin and diabetes status. Logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to assess the association between METS-IR and T2DM, controlling for potential confounding factors. After adjusting for age, gender, race, education level, smoking status, drinking habits, depression, physical activity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, we found a positive association between METS-IR and the risk of T2DM. Specifically, each unit increase in METS-IR was associated with a 7% increase in the risk of T2DM (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.08). Subgroup analysis showed that the association between METS-IR and T2DM incidence was significantly positive in the highest quartile group, particularly among Mexican Americans over 40 years old and those diagnosed with depression, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Our study revealed a significant positive association between METS-IR and the prevalence of T2DM, indicating that this relationship persists even after controlling for various confounding factors. Therefore, monitoring METS-IR may provide a valuable tool for the early identification of individuals at risk of glucose metabolism disorders. Further research should focus on the applicability of METS-IR in different populations and its potential impact on clinical practice.

The correlation between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an analysis of the population-based NHANES (2017–2018)

Background/objectiveNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders, from benign steatosis to more severe conditions like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, with risks of progressing to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) indicates lipid metabolic dysregulation and is associated with increased risks of various diseases. This study examines the relationship between NHHR and NAFLD to evaluate NHHR as a potential predictive biomarker for NAFLD.MethodsData from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used for cross-sectional analysis. After excluding individuals with incomplete data, hepatitis infections, heavy alcohol use, and those under 18, the study included 2,757 adults. The relationship between NHHR and NAFLD was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression, including subgroup analysis and interaction testing.ResultsAmong the 2,757 participants (mean age 49.91 years), 44.9% had NAFLD. NHHR showed a significant positive association with NAFLD, with an unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.71 and a fully adjusted OR of 1.45. Quartile analysis revealed a 228% higher prevalence of NAFLD in the highest NHHR quartile, with an OR of 3.28. This positive association was consistent across various subgroups.ConclusionOur findings suggest that elevated NHHR is positively correlated with the prevalence of NAFLD and possesses predictive value. We recommend that future research validate the clinical utility of NHHR, particularly for early detection of high-risk individuals and guiding personalized interventions.

Identification and mapping of objects targeted for surveillance and their role as risk factors for brucellosis in livestock farms in Kazakhstan.

Objects for Targeted Surveillance (OTS) are infrastructure entities that can be considered as focal points and conduits for transmitting infectious animal diseases, necessitating ongoing epidemiological surveillance. These entities encompass slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, animal markets, burial sites, veterinary laboratories, etc. Currently, in Kazakhstan, a funded research project is underway to establish a Geographic Information System (GIS) database of OTSs and investigate their role in the emergence and dissemination of infectious livestock diseases. This initial investigation examined the correlation between brucellosis outbreaks in cattle and small ruminant farms in the southeastern region of Kazakhstan and the presence of OTSs categorized as "slaughterhouses," "cattle markets," and "meat processing plants. The study area (namely Qyzylorda, Turkestan, Zhambyl, Almaty, Zhetysu, Abay and East Kazakhstan oblasts), characterized by the highest livestock density in the country, covers 335 slaughterhouses (with varying levels of biosecurity), 45 livestock markets and 15 meat processing plants. Between 2020 and 2023, 338 cases of brucellosis were reported from livestock farms in this region. The findings of the regression model reveal a statistically significant (p<0.05) positive association between the incidence of brucellosis cases and the number of OTSs in the region. Conversely, meat processing plants and livestock markets did not exhibit a significant influence on the prevalence of brucellosis cases. These results corroborate the hypothesis of an elevated risk of brucellosis transmission in regions with slaughterhouses, likely attributable to increased animal movements within and across regions, interactions with vehicles and contact with slaughterhouse staff. These outcomes mark a pivotal advancement in the national agricultural development agenda. The research will be extended to encompass the entire country, compiling a comprehensive OTS database.

Characterization of the function and clinical value of ERCC family genes in lung adenocarcinoma

IntroductionERCC genes, responsible for encoding enzymes involved in base excision repair, have been implicated in various cancers, contributing to chemoresistance. However, a comprehensive analysis of the prognostic and therapeutic significance of this gene family in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is lacking.MethodsThis study conducted a multidimensional assessment of ERCC family genes in LUAD using bioinformatic approaches, including mRNA expression level, gene methylation, and copy number variation (CNV), as well as their correlations with clinical outcome, gene set variations, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). In addition, We evaluated the anti-tumor effects of ERCC8 in cell lines, demonstrating its clinical potential on an experimental level.ResultsOverall, the expression of ERCC genes exhibited a negative correlation with good prognosis, with ERCC6L and ERCC8 demonstrating the most reliable predictive performance. Gene methylation level and CNV increases of ERCC genes generally displayed negative and positive associations with their expression levels, respectively. Additionally, GSVA analysis suggested that ERCC expression was positively correlated with cell cycle and apoptosis pathways but negatively correlated to the TSC/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, the expression of ERCC genes exhibited a complex relationship with TILs and the response to anti-tumor drugs. The results of in vitro cellular experiments show that inhibiting ERCC8 can alleviate the malignant phenotype of LUAD cells.DiscussionOur study revealed the multifaceted biological and clinical significance of ERCC family members in LUAD. These findings provide new insights into the function of ERCC family genes in LUAD and their potential clinical applications.

Pathways from Childhood Emotional Neglect to Traditional Victimization among Secondary Vocational School Students: The Roles of Family Functioning, Psychopathy, and Socioeconomic Status.

Considering the high prevalence and detrimental developmental outcomes of traditional victimization, it is imperative to explore the influencing factors and mechanisms of traditional victimization to formulate targeted prevention interventions. Previous studies have shown a significant and positive association between childhood emotional neglect and traditional victimization. To our knowledge, there is a limited understanding of the mechanism of this association. To fill this gap, this study examined the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and traditional victimization, as well as the roles of family functioning, psychopathy, and socioeconomic status (SES) among secondary vocational school students. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 605 secondary vocational school students from grades 10 to 11 (Mage = 16.19, SD = 0.79). Participants provided data on demographic variables, childhood emotional neglect, traditional victimization, family functioning, psychopathy, and SES by answering anonymous questionnaires. The findings showed that childhood emotional neglect was not directly related to traditional victimization, but it was indirectly related to traditional victimization through the mediation of family functioning, the mediation of psychopathy, as well as the chain mediation of family functioning and psychopathy among secondary vocational school students. Additionally, SES could not moderate the relationships between childhood emotional neglect and family functioning, psychopathy, as well as traditional victimization among secondary vocational school students. These findings suggest that interventions for decreasing traditional victimization among secondary vocational school students should not only focus on reducing childhood emotional neglect but also target family functioning and psychopathy. Besides, these findings also imply SES cannot remediate the negative effects of childhood emotional neglect on secondary vocational school students.

Continuing medical education program completion and influencing factors: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan Province, China

ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study was designed to explore the completion of continuing medical education (CME) programs and identify the factors influencing their completion.MethodsThe data for this study were generated from the National CME Program Application and Information Feedback Online System and the Sichuan CME Administrative Platform. The data were processed using descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression methods. The completion of each CME program was determined by the research team members according to the criteria created by the Office of the Sichuan CME Commission.ResultsA total of 180 hospitals and 3,622 CME programs were included. Among the 3,622 CME programs, 2,936 (81.1%) were determined to be completed. Comparative analysis showed that in terms of hospital characteristics, specialist hospitals, county hospitals, hospitals with 500–1,000 beds, and hospitals in the regions with government medical expenditure input equal to or more than 3,000 million RMB displayed the highest completion rates. For program attributes, national programs, programs in the field of pharmacy, and programs with 1–3 duration days demonstrated the highest completion rates. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that hospital region with different government medical expenditure input had the strongest positive association with the completion of CME programs [OR = 2.922, 95%CI (1.642–5.198)], while the duration time showed the strongest negative association [OR = 0.235, 95%CI (0.141–0.393)].ConclusionThis is the first study in China to analyze the completion of CME programs and identify its influencing factors at the provincial level. It is recommended that the government in the region should pay great attention to the construction of measures regarding the factors affecting the completion of CME programs. This includes providing more financial support to CME providers to ensure the formal operation of their CME activities, formulating guidelines on the application of CME programs to reasonably allocate and control the distribution of accredited CME programs across different hospital scales and disciplines, especially offering more training support to county hospitals, promulgating administrative documents to raise attention to the completion of CME programs, and special scrutiny on CME programs with longer durations to provide and protect training opportunities for those in need.

Relations among the trifurcated narcissism domains at trait and state level: Two of a kind?

This study explored narcissistic states using a hierarchical, trifurcated structure, examining state variability and trait-state associations of agentic extraversion, self-centered antagonism, and narcissistic neuroticism. The primary objective was to investigate whether the structural composition of narcissism, well-established in trait data, could be replicated in state data. We examined this structure at both between- and within-person levels in state data, including situation-specific structures of narcissism. The study used data from an experimental study where participants ( N = 189) met in groups of up to four people weekly over six weeks. Multilevel confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the narcissism structure was largely the same at both levels. However, within-person compositions of narcissism differed across affiliative versus controversial situations. In affiliative contexts, grandiosity manifested exclusively through agentic extraversion, with no expression through self-centered antagonism. In controversial settings, agentic extraversion and narcissistic neuroticism exhibited a slight negative association, contrasting the positive association observed across all group meetings. Our results show that narcissistic states exhibited less variability compared to the Big Five and rarely varied above their corresponding trait levels. This research contributes to a refined understanding of narcissism, highlighting the interplay between trait tendencies and situational factors in shaping narcissistic state expressions.

Study on the Influence of the Built Environment and Personal Attributes on Commuting Distance: A Case Study of the Tianjin Central Area Divided by TAZ Units

Long commuting distances pose a significant challenge for many large cities, undermining the principles of sustainable urban development. The factors influencing urban commuting distances among residents are complex and necessitate hierarchical analysis. This study uses Tianjin, one of China’s four municipalities, as a case study, employing transportation analysis zones (TAZ) as research units. We classify these units based on resident and working populations, extracting multiple built environment and personal attribute factors to establish a model that examines the influence of the job–housing balance. The analysis identifies 12 sub-items across two categories of influencing factors, with correlations tested through spatial analysis and linear regression. We found 28 positive associations and 35 negative associations. Notably, the job–housing relationship for the working population was generally more sensitive to changes than that of the resident population. At the TAZ level, personal attributes exerted a more significant influence on the job–housing balance than built environment factors, with commuting mode, life stage, age, and income level notably affecting commuting distances.