Perceived marginalization and mental health of young adults with migration backgrounds in South Korea: exploring moderating and mediating mechanisms

This study explored the mediating effect of career maturity moderated by intimacy with parents and immigration backgrounds (native- or foreign-born young adults) on the relationship between perceived marginalization and the mental health of young adults with migration backgrounds (having mixed parentage of one Korean and one non-Korean immigrant parent) in South Korea. We collected data from 300 adults aged 25–34 with migration backgrounds (204 born in Korea and 96 born abroad) through the Gallup Research Institute of Korea and conducted a moderated-moderated mediation analysis using Model 21 of PROCESS Macro in SPSS. The analysis showed that career maturity moderated by intimacy with parents and migration backgrounds mediated the relationship between perceived marginalization and mental health. However, the results were only significant for participants who were born abroad and immigrated to Korea, and not for those who were born in Korea. These findings suggest that while greater perceived marginalization leads to lower career maturity and negatively impacts the mental health of foreign-born young adults, higher levels of intimacy with parents can buffer these negative effects

Circulating Mitochondrial DNA in Patients in the ICU as a Marker of Mortality: Derivation and Validation

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a critical activator of inflammation and the innate immune system. However, mtDNA level has not been tested for its role as a biomarker in the intensive care unit (ICU). We hypothesized that circulating cell-free mtDNA levels would be associated with mortality and improve risk prediction in ICU patients. Methods and Findings: Analyses of mtDNA levels were performed on blood samples obtained from two prospective observational cohort studies of ICU patients (the Brigham and Women's Hospital Registry of Critical Illness [BWH RoCI, n = 200] and Molecular Epidemiology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome [ME ARDS, n = 243]). mtDNA levels in plasma were assessed by measuring the copy number of the NADH dehydrogenase 1 gene using quantitative real-time PCR. Medical ICU patients with an elevated mtDNA level (≥3,200 copies/µl plasma) had increased odds of dying within 28 d of ICU admission in both the BWH RoCI (odds ratio [OR] 7.5, 95% CI 3.6–15.8, p = 1×10−7) and ME ARDS (OR 8.4, 95% CI 2.9–24.2, p = 9×10−5) cohorts, while no evidence for association was noted in non-medical ICU patients. The addition of an elevated mtDNA level improved the net reclassification index (NRI) of 28-d mortality among medical ICU patients when added to clinical models in both the BWH RoCI (NRI 79%, standard error 14%, p<1×10−4) and ME ARDS (NRI 55%, standard error 20%, p = 0.007) cohorts. In the BWH RoCI cohort, those with an elevated mtDNA level had an increased risk of death, even in analyses limited to patients with sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Study limitations include the lack of data elucidating the concise pathological roles of mtDNA in the patients, and the limited numbers of measurements for some of biomarkers. Conclusions: Increased mtDNA levels are associated with ICU mortality, and inclusion of mtDNA level improves risk prediction in medical ICU patients. Our data suggest that mtDNA could serve as a viable plasma biomarker in medical ICU patients. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summar

Long non-coding RNA ChRO1 facilitates ATRX/DAXX-dependent H3.3 deposition for transcription-associated heterochromatin reorganization.

Constitutive heterochromatin undergoes a dynamic clustering and spatial reorganization during myogenic differentiation. However the detailed mechanisms and its role in cell differentiation remain largely elusive. Here, we report the identification of a muscle-specific long non-coding RNA, ChRO1, involved in constitutive heterochromatin reorganization. ChRO1 is induced during terminal differentiation of myoblasts, and is specifically localized to the chromocenters in myotubes. ChRO1 is required for efficient cell differentiation, with global impacts on gene expression. It influences DNA methylation and chromatin compaction at peri/centromeric regions. Inhibition of ChRO1 leads to defects in the spatial fusion of chromocenters, and mislocalization of H4K20 trimethylation, Suv420H2, HP1, MeCP2 and cohesin. In particular, ChRO1 specifically associates with ATRX/DAXX/H3.3 complex at chromocenters to promote H3.3 incorporation and transcriptional induction of satellite repeats, which is essential for chromocenter clustering. Thus, our results unveil a mechanism involving a lncRNA that plays a role in large-scale heterochromatin reorganization and cell differentiation.Individual Basic Researcher Program [2018R1D1A1B070 48056 to E.-J.C., 2017R1D1A1B03035883 to J.P.]; Advanced Research Center Program [NRF-2010-0029359 to E.-J.C.]; National Creative Research Laboratory Program [2012R1A3A2048767 to H.-D.Y.]; NRF-2012-Fostering Core Leaders of the Future Basic Science Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea [2012H1A8003093 to J.P.]

Nonstandard Employment and Health in South Korea: The Role of Gender and Family Status

Using nationally representative longitudinal data collected in South Korea from 2006 to 2013, this study evaluates the associations between nonstandard employment and various health outcomes with a focus on gender differences. We also examine to what extent family status, that is, marital status and parenthood, conditions these associations for men and women. Our results reveal an important role of selection in that many of the significantly negative associations between nonstandard/self-employment and health outcomes disappear in fixed-effects models when time-invariant unobserved individual heterogeneity is taken into account. Such negative selection appears to be more pronounced for men than for women. We also find a significant association between nonstandard/self-employment and health, which differs by gender and particular health outcomes examined. As for the moderating role of family status, our results show that mothers do benefit from self-employment in terms of lower depressive symptoms

Estradiol and progesterone regulate NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression and function in GH3 pituitary cells and THESC endometrial cells

ABSTRACTEstradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) are essential sex steroid hormones that play critical roles in the pituitary gland and uterus. Recently, nesfatin-1, a polypeptide hormone that regulates appetite and energy homeostasis in the hypothalamus, was found to be expressed in the pituitary gland and uterus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between these two steroid hormones and the expression and function of nesfatin-1 in the pituitary gland and uterus using GH3 cells, a lacto-somatotroph cell line, and THESC cells, an endometrial stromal cell line. First, we verified the presence of nesfatin-1 and nesfatin-1 binding sites in GH3 and THESC cells. E2 increased the mRNA expression of NUCB2, the gene encoding the nesfatin-1 protein, in GH3 cells, while P4 had no significant effect. In THESC cells, NUCB2 mRNA expression was decreased by E2 but increased by P4. In addition, nesfatin-1 significantly increased growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) mRNA expression in GH3 cells, and E2 enhanced this effect. In THESC cells, nesfatin-1 significantly increased the mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) and PRL, which are decidualization marker genes, and P4 further enhanced this effect. These results suggest that nesfatin-1 may act as a local regulator of GH and PRL production in the pituitary gland and decidualization in the uterus, modulating its effects in response to E2 and P4

NUCB2/nesfatin-1 suppresses the acrosome reaction in sperm within the mouse epididymis

ABSTRACTNesfatin-1, a polypeptide hormone derived from the nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) precursor protein, is known to regulate appetite and energy metabolism. Recent studies have also shown that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is expressed in the reproductive organs of mice. However, the expression and potential role of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the mouse epididymis remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the mouse epididymis and its potential function. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was detected in the epididymis by qRT-PCR and western blotting, and high expression levels were observed in epididymal epithelial cells by immunohistochemical staining. Pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections significantly increased NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the epididymis. After castration, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the epididymis decreased, but was significantly increased by testosterone injection. Nesfatin-1-binding sites were found in the middle piece of testicular sperm, but were scarcely detected in the sperm head. By contrast, nesfatin-1 binding sites were identified on the sperm head within the epididymis. Furthermore, nesfatin-1 treatment inhibited the acrosome reaction in epididymal sperm. These results suggest that the nesfatin-1 protein produced in the epididymis binds to nesfatin-1 binding sites on the sperm head and plays a role in suppressing the acrosome reaction before ejaculation

Triple Silencing of HSP27, cFLIP, and CLU Genes Promotes the Sensitivity of Doxazosin-Induced Apoptosis in PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells

Background: This study investigated how the expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (cFLIP), and clusterin (CLU) affects the progression of cancer cells and their susceptibility to doxazosin-induced apoptosis. By silencing each of these genes individually, their effect on prostate cancer cell viability after doxazosin treatment was investigated. Methods: PC-3 prostate cancer cells were cultured and then subjected to gene silencing using siRNA targeting HSP27, cFLIP, and CLU, either individually, in pairs, or all together. Cells were then treated with doxazosin at various concentrations and their viability was assessed by MTT assay. Results: The study found that silencing the CLU gene in PC-3 cells significantly reduced cell viability after treatment with 25 µM doxazosin. In addition, the dual silencing of cFLIP and CLU decreased cell viability at 10 µM doxazosin. Notably, silencing all three genes of HSP27, cFLIP, CLU was most effective and reduced cell viability even at a lower doxazosin concentration of 1 µM. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that the simultaneous silencing of HSP27, cFLIP, and CLU genes may be a potential strategy to promote apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, which could inform future research on treatments for malignant prostate cancer

ClAg14(C≡CtBu)12 Nanoclusters as Efficient and Selective Electrocatalysts Toward Industrially Relevant CO2 Conversion

Abstract Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have emerged as a promising frontier in the field of electrochemical CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) because of their distinctive catalytic properties. Although numerous metal NCs are developed for CO2RR, their use in practical applications has suffered from their low‐yield synthesis and insufficient catalytic activity. In this study, the large‐scale synthesis and electrocatalytic performance of ClAg14(C≡CtBu)12+ NCs, which exhibit remarkable efficiency in catalyzing CO2‐to‐CO electroreduction with a CO selectivity of over 99% are reported. The underlying mechanisms behind this extraordinary CO2RR activity of ClAg14(C≡CtBu)12+ NCs are investigated by a combination of electrokinetic and theoretical studies. These analyses reveal that different active sites, generated through electrochemical activation, have unique adsorption properties for the reaction intermediates, leading to enhanced CO2RR and suppressed hydrogen production. Furthermore, industrially relevant CO2‐to‐CO electroreduction using ClAg14(C≡CtBu)12+ NCs in a zero‐gap CO2 electrolyzer, achieving high energy efficiency of 51% and catalyst activity of over 1400 A g−1 at a current density of 400 mA cm−2 is demonstrated

Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury: comparisons of the psychological correlates and suicidal presentations across diagnostic subgroups

Abstract Background Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) combined with suicide ideation increases the risk of suicidal behaviors. Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are comorbidities of NSSI compounding this relationship. The present study compared diagnostic subgroups of NSSI based on current depression and PTSD on psychological correlates (i.e., vulnerabilities and impairment) and suicidal presentations (i.e., suicidal cognitions and behaviors) in a psychiatric sample of adolescents. Methods Eighty-seven adolescents meeting DSM-5 criteria for NSSI and 104 age-range-matched nonclinical controls (NC) participated. Participants completed self-report measures on psychological vulnerabilities and impairment (e.g., emotion regulation difficulties, negative cognitions). Adolescents with NSSI also completed clinical interviews on psychiatric diagnoses and a recent self-injurious behavior (SIB). Scores on the psychological correlates of NSSI were compared between adolescents with NSSI and NC, and across three diagnostic subgroups of NSSI (A: NSSI+/depression-/PTSD-, n = 14; B: NSSI+/depression+/PTSD-, n = 57; C: NSSI+/depression+/PTSD+, n = 14). Differences between NSSI diagnostic subgroups were tested on the motives for SIB and accompanying suicidal presentations (e.g., desire, intent, motive, lethality). Results Common comorbidities of NSSI included depression, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD. The NSSI subgroup classification was significantly associated with panic disorder, which was controlled for in the subsequent group comparisons. Overall, adolescents who engage in NSSI with vs. without depression reported more psychological vulnerabilities and impairment and a greater degree of suicidal thoughts/desire in SIB (i.e., groups B, C >A), which remained significant after controlling for panic disorder. An increased odds of the suicidal motive for SIB was found in adolescents with all three conditions (i.e., group C: NSSI+/depression+/PTSD+) compared to those with NSSI but neither depression nor PTSD (i.e., group A: NSSI+/depression-/PTSD-); however, this was not significant after controlling for panic disorder. Conclusions Psychological underpinnings of adolescent NSSI in clinical contexts may be largely associated with concurrent depression. Suicidal motives in adolescents who engage in NSSI in the presence of depression and PTSD may be confounded by the co-occurrence of panic disorder. This study warrants the importance of attending to the comorbid depression with NSSI in adolescents as it is related to an increase in suicidal desire accompanying SIB