Discrepancies in resistant starch and starch physicochemical properties between rice mutants similar in high amylose content

The content of resistant starch (RS) was considered positively correlated with the apparent amylose content (AAC). Here, we analyzed two Indica rice mutants, RS111 and Zhedagaozhi 1B, similar in high AAC and found that their RS content differed remarkably. RS111 had higher RS3 content but lower RS2 content than Zhedagaozhi 1B; correspondingly, cooked RS111 showed slower digestibility. RS111 had smaller irregular and oval starch granules when compared with Zhedagaozhi 1B and the wild type. Zhedagaozhi 1B showed a B-type starch pattern, different from RS111 and the wild type, which showed A-type starch. Meantime, RS111 had more fa and fb1 but less fb3 than Zhedagaozhi 1B. Both mutants showed decreased viscosity and swelling power when compared with the parents. RS111 had the lowest viscosity, and Zhedagaozhi 1B had the smallest swelling power. The different fine structures of amylopectin between RS111 and Zhedagaozhi 1B led to different starch types, gelatinization properties, paste viscosity, and digestibility. In addition to enhancing amylose content, modifications on amylopectin structure showed great potent in breeding rice with different RS2 and RS3 content, which could meet the increasing needs for various rice germplasms

High expression of USP18 is associated with the growth of colorectal carcinoma

Aim. To investigate whether USP18 can be used as a predictive marker for the diagnosis and development of colorectal cancer. Methods. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Dataset and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used to select differential proteins for the ubiquitinspecific peptidases (USPs). The extensive target prediction and network analysis methods were used to assess the association with the USP18 interacting proteins, as well as the statistical correlation between USP18 and the clinical pathology parameters. The effects of USP18 on the proliferation of colorectal cancer were examined using CCK8. The effects of USP18 on the migration of colorectal cancer were examined using wound healing assays. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on the tissue microarray. Results. The results showed that the expression of USP18 was related to age (P=0.014). The positive rates of the USP18 protein in T1, T2, T3, and T4 were 0.00%, 22.92%, 78.38%, and 95.35%, respectively (P<0.00). The positive rates of the USP18 protein in I, II, III, and IV were 47.43%, 83.12%, 66.67%, and 100.00%, respectively (P<0.00). The Western blot assay showed that the expression of USP18 in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in matched paracancerous tissues (P<0.05). The CCK8 experiments suggested that USP18 promoted the migration of CRC cells. Wound healing assays suggested that USP18 promoted the proliferation of CRC cells. Conclusion. This study showed that USP18 can promote the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells and might be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC

Patterns of Bullying Victimization and Associations with Mental Health Problems in Chinese Adolescents: A Latent Class Analysis

Bullying victimization in school students is a serious public health concern and has been linked to a wide range of mental health problems. The current study aims to examine patterns of involvement in different types of bullying victimization among Chinese adolescents and evaluate the associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems. Cross-sectional data from 20,722 middle school students from Guangdong Province were sampled using a multistage, stratified cluster-randomized sampling method. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed on seven items representing bullying victimization. Levels of mental health outcomes were compared across each latent class. Four latent classes were identified for boys: the high victimization class (0.6%), the moderate victimization class (2.8%), the verbal victimization class (12.4%), and the low victimization class (84.2%). For girls, three latent classes were identified: the high victimization class (0.7%), the moderate victimization class (5.6%), and the low victimization class (93.7%). Characteristics of the item probabilities were different between boys and girls. For both genders, a graded relationship was found between bullying victimization class membership and mental health outcomes. These findings underline the complexity of bullying victimization patterns among Chinese adolescents. Students with higher involvement in bullying victimization have more severe mental health problems

The Mediating Effect of Sleep Quality on the Relationship between Emotional and Behavioral Problems and Suicidal Ideation

Emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents are associated with suicidal ideation, but different dimensions of problems may be associated with different levels of suicidal ideation. The aim of this large-scale study was to explore the relationship between different dimensions of emotional and behavioral problems and suicidal ideation in Chinese adolescents and to determine whether sleep disorders play a mediating role in the relationship. In total, 20,475 students completed the questionnaire regarding emotional and behavioral problems, sleep quality and suicidal ideation. After adjustment for covariates, total emotional and behavioral difficulties (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21&ndash;1.23) and sleep disorders (AOR = 4.17, 95% CI = 3.82&ndash;4.54) increased the risk of suicidal ideation, while prosocial problems (AOR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.90&ndash;0.93) decreased the risk of suicidal ideation. Sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between emotional and behavioral problems and suicidal ideation. The standardized indirect effects of emotional and behavioral difficulties on suicidal ideation (standardized &beta; estimate = 0.031, 95% CI = 0.020, 0.044) and the effects of prosocial problems on suicidal ideation (standardized &beta; estimate = &minus;0.039, 95% CI = &minus;0.045, &minus;0.035) mediated by sleep quality were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001). Our study indicates that emotional and behavioral problems increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Additionally, sleep quality plays a mediating role in the association between emotional and behavioral problems and suicidal ideation

Development of Paroxetine Hydrochloride Single Layer Controlled-Release Tablets Based on 3² Factorial Design

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the main contributors to disability and suicide mortality globally. Paroxetine hydrochloride (PHH) is the most potent antidepressant used for MDD treatment. Due to its reduced side effects PAXIL&#174; CR is a widely-used controlled-release formulation of PHH. However, the complicated double-layer production of PAXIL&#174; CR faces the risk of layer separation. In this study, PHH enteric coating single layer controlled-release tablets (PHH-EC-SLTs) were designed as a simplified substitution of PAXIL&#174; CR through a rational formulation screening. The optimized PHH-EC-SLTs showed similar release behaviors in vitro to PAXIL&#174; CR and the release profiles corresponded to a zero-order release model (R2 = 0.9958). Polymer matrix erosion was the main release mechanism, according to the fitting exponents n &gt; 1 in the Korsmeyer-Pappas model. Crucial pharmacokinetic parameters including peak-reaching time (Tmax), peak concentration (Cmax) and the area under the blood level-time curve (AUC0-48) of PHH-EC-SLTs and PAXIL&#174; CR had no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) and the relative bioavailability (F = 97.97%) of PHH-EC-SLTs demonstrated their similar pharmacokinetic profiles in vivo. In view of avoiding layer separation risk and simplifying the preparation processing, the self-made PHH-EC-SLTs could be considered as a safe and economic alternative to PAXIL&#174; CR

Germacrone Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Germacrone, a natural 10-membered monocyclic sesquiterpene with three double bonds and a ketone, was isolated from the roots of traditional Chinese medicine Saussurea costus (SC). The pharmacological value and intrinsic mechanism of germacrone in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we further explored the internal molecular mechanism by which germacrone exerts its antiproliferation and antimigration ability against ESCC. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays showed that germacrone dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of ESCC cells. Flow cytometry analysis (FACS) and wound healing experiments on germacrone treated ESCC cells showed that germacrone could induce apoptosis and inhibit the migration of ESCC cells in a dose-dependent manner. In the study on the mechanism of action of germacrone in antiesophageal cancer, we found that germacrone increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the cytoplasm of ESCC, resulting in the activation of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 and decreased the expression of Grp78, thereby reducing the inhibition of Caspase-12 and Caspase-7. In addition, we found that germacrone also inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, we determined that germacrone exerted an antiesophageal effect through intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways and by inhibiting STAT3 activity in ESCC cells

Association of sexual minority status, gender nonconformity with childhood victimization and adulthood depressive symptoms : a path analysis

Background: Sexual minority status and childhood gender nonconformity have been associated with elevated risks of childhood adversities and poorer mental health. Objective: To explore how abuse and bullying explain the disparities in the associations of sexual minority status and childhood gender nonconformity with adulthood depressive symptoms in men. Participants and setting: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-report questionnaire among Chinese adult men (18 35 years) who were identified as heterosexual (n = 873) and sexual minority (n = 858) in Guangzhou from 2017 to 2019. Methods: Structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted for path analysis. Results: The levels of exposure to childhood maltreatment were higher in sexual minorities than in straight men, and sexual minority status predicted an increased risk of depressive symptoms via childhood maltreatment (indirect effect: beta = 0.026, p = 0.004). Meanwhile, childhood gender nonconformity predicted higher depressive symptoms via both family (indirect effect: beta = 0.042, p < 0.001) and school (indirect effect: beta = 0.028, p < 0.001) victimization, and there was a direct effect (beta = 0.154, p < 0.001) of gender nonconformity on depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Sexual minority status and gender nonconformity are indicators of men's increased risk of childhood victimization and adulthood depressive symptoms. As a result, intervention based on both family and school dimensions needs to be developed

Sexual orientation and sleep problem among Chinese college students : mediating roles of interpersonal problems and depressive symptoms

Background: This study aimed to investigate disparities in sleep quality between sexual minority and heterosexual college students, and to examine the serial multiple mediation effects of interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms on sexual minority disparities in sleep quality. We also explored the sex differences in the mediating effects. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2019 School-based Chinese College Students Health Survey using a multistage, stratified-cluster, random-sampling method to examine the risk factors of sleep disparities and the mediation effects. Measures included sexual orientation, perceived interpersonal relationships (i.e., family, teachers, and peer relationship), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and other covariates. Results: Of all the college students in the analysis, 95.8% were heterosexual, 4.2% were sexual minorities. In the adjusted model without mediation, sexual minority students were at a higher risk of poor sleep quality (P < 0.001). Serial multiple mediation analysis revealed that: both interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms mediated the link between sexual orientation and sleep quality; a serial indirect pathway (i.e., sexual orientation. interpersonal relationships. depressive symptoms. sleep quality) existed. Moreover, the serial indirect pathway might be moderated by sex. Limitations: Causal inference is limited due to the cross-sectional design. Conclusions: Interventions to prevent or manage sleep disorders of sexual minority college students may yield better results if they consider the effects of improving interpersonal relationships and depression symptoms comprehensively than targeting sleep problems alone