Effects of circulating vitamin D concentrations on emotion, behavior and attention: A cross-sectional study in preschool children with follow-up behavior experiments in juvenile mice

A systematic review of the effect of dietary and nutritional interventions on the behaviours and mental health of prisoners

Prisoners experience a higher burden of poor health, aggressive behaviours and worsening mental health than the general population. This systematic review aimed to identify research that used nutrition-based interventions in prisons, focusing on outcomes of mental health and behaviours. The systematic review was registered with Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews on 26 January 2022: CRD42022293370. Inclusion criteria comprised of current prisoners with no limit on time, location, age, sex or ethnicity. Only quantitative research in the English language was included. PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched, retrieving 933 results, with 11 included for qualitative synthesis. Studies were checked for quality using the revised tool to assess risk of bias in randomised trials or risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions tool. Of the included studies, seven used nutritional supplements, three included diet changes, and one used education. Of the seven supplement-based studies, six included rule violations as an outcome, and only three demonstrated significant improvements. One study included mental health as an outcome; however, results did not reach significance. Of the three diet change studies, two investigated cognitive function as an outcome, with both reaching significance. Anxiety was included in one diet change study, which found a significant improvement through consuming oily fish. One study using diet education did not find a significant improvement in overall mental resilience. Overall, results are mixed, with the included studies presenting several limitations and heterogeneity. Future research should aim to consider increased homogeneity in research design, allowing for a higher quality of evidence to assess the role nutrition can play in improving the health of prisoners.

A four-lncRNA risk signature for prognostic prediction of osteosarcoma

Aim: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone. However, our understanding of the prognostic indicators and the genetic mechanisms of the disease progression are still incomplete. The aim of this study was to identify a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) risk signature for osteosarcoma survival prediction. Methods: RNA sequencing data and relevant clinical information of osteosarcoma patients were downloaded from the database of Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET). We analyzed the differentially expressed lncRNAs between deceased and living patients by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify a risk signature. We calculated a prognostic risk score for each sample according to this prognosis signature, and divided patients into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the median value of the risk score (0.975). Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve statistics were used to evaluate the performance of the signature. Next, we analyzed the signature's potential function through Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Lastly, qRT-PCR was used to validate the expression levels of the four lncRNAs in clinical samples. Results: Twenty-six differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between deceased and living patients. Four of these lncRNAs (CTB-4E7.1, RP11-553A10.1, RP11-24N18.1, and PVRL3-AS1) were identified as independent prognostic factors, and a risk signature of these four lncRNAs for osteosarcoma survival prediction was constructed. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the five-year survival time in high-risk and low-risk groups was 33.1% and 82.5%, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC was 0.784, which demonstrated that the prognostic signature was reliable and had the potential to predict the survival of patients with osteosarcoma. The expression level of the four lncRNAs in osteosarcoma tissues and cells was determined by qRT-PCR. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that the signature might be related to osteosarcoma through regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the extracellular matrix and also provided new insights into the study of osteosarcoma, including the role of papillomavirus infection, olfactory receptor activity, and olfactory transduction in osteosarcoma. Conclusion: We constructed a novel lncRNA risk signature that served as an independent biomarker for predicting the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients.

Lack of educational impact of video game addiction in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

The use of video games has become widespread worldwide. Excessive use of video games is increasingly becoming a matter of concern, particularly in patients diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Currently, internet gaming disorder (IGD) is not included within the DSM-5-chapter Disorders related to substances and addictive disorders.

Methods

This is a post-hoc descriptive naturalistic study comparing children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD with and without IGD. We used the 85% cut-off point of the test ADITEC-V for video game addiction to split our sample of ADHD patients into those with IGD (>=85%) and those without IGD (<85%).

Results

13 (25%) out of the 51 children and adolescents with ADHD included in our study had an IGD. Patients with IGD had a first contact with internet, smartphones, and videogames at a very early age (5.67 ± 3.31, 6.33 ± 4.60, and 7.50 ± 2.61, respectively). However, only age at first contact with the internet was statistically significantly different when comparing ADHD patients with and without IGD (8.68 ± 2.71 vs. 5.67 ± 3.31, t = 3.166, df = 47, p = 0.01). Different neurodevelopmental, clinical, and neuropsychological measures converging in impulsivity is a risk factor for IGD. Unexpectedly, we found no association between IGD and poor academic achievement.

Discussion

Future studies may include randomized controlled trials for treating IGD, the study of social adjustment as a protective factor against developing an IGD, and the role of serious and non-serious video games in the development of an IGD, among others. Additional research is clearly needed on IGD.

The effects of gastrointestinal disturbances on the onset of depression and anxiety

Background

Stomach pain is an ailment that occurs frequently in the general population. It is not unusual if such stomach issues produce some amount of stress in an individual, but it can be worrying if these pains lead to significant mental health problems. The relationship between some abdominal pain, such as bowel syndrome, and depression or anxiety has been gaining much interest. However, previous studies that have empirically investigated this relationship are scarce.

Methods

To analyze the impact of having gastrointestinal problems, among other socioeconomic conditions, on the onset of depression and anxiety in the Spanish population, we compare treating gastrointestinal diseases as exogenous in a single-equation probit model with a bivariate probit model in which this variable is treated as endogenous. A likelihood-ratio test of the correlation coefficient of the disturbances suggests that gastrointestinal problems are endogenous. Thus, the approach taken herein allows the direct testing of the hypothesis that having gastrointestinal problems and the onset of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are jointly determined by certain socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional analytical study was analyzed using data from a 2017 survey of health indicators and life conditions that was developed by the Statistics Spanish Office.

Results

The probability of having depression or anxiety increases with age, stress, daily limitations and gastrointestinal disorders. On the other hand, the probability is lower for men, married people and those who engage in exercise several times per week. Our findings estimate that having gastrointestinal problems increases the probability of having depression in 7% and the probability of anxiety in 8.8% of the sample.

Conclusions

Our empirical results suggest that not considering the endogeneity of gastrointestinal problems could result in an overestimate of the impact of this factor on the development of depression or anxiety.

Electroacupuncture could balance the gut microbiota and improve the learning and memory abilities of Alzheimer's disease animal model

Alzheimer's disease (AD), as one of most common dementia, mainly affects older people from the worldwide. In this study, we intended to explore the possible mechanism of improving cognitive function and protecting the neuron effect by electroacupuncture.

METHOD

We applied senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice as AD animal model, used Morris water maze, HE staining, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing of gut microbiota and ELISA to demonstrate our hypothesis.

RESULTS

electroacupuncture improved the learning and memory abilities in SAMP8 mice (P<0.05) and could protect the frontal lobe cortex and hippocampus of SAMP8 mice; electroacupuncture significantly decreased the expression of IL-1β (P<0.01), IL-6 (P<0.01) and TNF-α (P<0.01 in hippocampus, P<0.05 in serum) in serum and hippocampus; electroacupuncture balanced the quantity and composition of gut microbiome, especially of the relative abundance in Delta-proteobacteria (P<0.05) and Epsilon-proteobacteria (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

electroacupuncture treatment could inhibit the peripheral and central nerve system inflammatory response by balancing the gut microbiota.

Association between nitric oxide synthase T-786C genetic polymorphism and chronic kidney disease: Meta-analysis incorporating trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

Several meta-analyses of the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) T-786C gene polymorphism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been published. However, the results of these studies were inconsistent, and it is undetermined whether sample sizes are sufficient to reach a definite conclusion.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the relationship between T-786C and CKD by combining previous studies with our case-control sample and incorporate trial sequential analysis (TSA) to verify whether the sample size is adequate to draw a definite conclusion.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant articles on eNOS T-786C and CKD before February 28, 2021. TSA was also incorporated to ascertain a conclusion. A total of 558 hemodialysis cases in the case-control study was recruited from nine dialysis centers in the northern area of Taiwan in 2020. Additionally, 640 healthy subjects of the control group, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, were selected from participants of the annual elderly health examination program at the Tri-Service General Hospital. The functional analysis was based on eQTL data from GTExPortal.

RESULTS

After screening with eligibility criteria, 15 papers were included and eventually combined in a meta-analysis. The result of the TSA showed that the sample size for Caucasians was adequate to ascertain the correlation between eNOS T-786C and CKD but was insufficient for Asians. Therefore, we added our case-control samples (n = 1198), though not associated with CKD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.69-1.46), into a meta-analysis, which supported that eNOS T-786C was significantly associated with CKD in Asians (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.04-1.85) by using an adequate cumulative sample size (n = 4572) analyzed by TSA. Data of eQTL from GTEx showed that T-786C with the C minor allele exhibited relatively lower eNOS mRNA expression in whole blood, indicating the hazardous role of eNOS T-786C in CKD.

CONCLUSIONS

eNOS T-786C genetic polymorphism was of conclusive significance in the association with CKD among Asians in our meta-analysis. Our case-control samples play a decisive role in changing conclusions from indefinite to definite.

Factors associated with health intentions and behaviour among health checkup participants in Japan

Health intentions and behaviours are essential for improving the health of individuals and society. This study used cross-sectional data from 20,155 health checkup participants in the Yamagata study to identify factors associated with health intentions and behaviours. Information regarding the current level of health intentions and behaviours was collected using a baseline survey questionnaire. Participants were categorised into three groups: having no intention (no intention), having intentions to improve but not acting on them (intention), and already active (action). The associations between background factors and the presence/absence of health intentions and behaviours were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Of the participants, 35.4%, 37.7%, and 26.9% belonged to the no intention, intention, and action groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the factors associated with health intentions were being young, being female, longer duration of education, higher body mass index and abdominal circumference, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. The factors associated with health behaviours were being older and male, not consuming alcohol, not smoking, performing daily exercise, and having diabetes. These results indicate that health guidance considering background factors, including age, gender, education, and comorbidities, may be useful for effectively promoting health intentions and health behaviours in the Japanese population.

Genetic basis of cannabis use: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

With the increase in cannabis use rates, cannabis use disorder is being reported as one of the most common drug use disorders globally. Cannabis use has several known physical, psychological, and social adverse events, such as altered judgement, poor educational outcomes, and respiratory symptoms. The propensity for taking cannabis and the development of a cannabis use disorder may be genetically influenced for some individuals. Heritability estimates suggest a genetic basis for cannabis use, and several genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified possible regions of association, albeit with inconsistent findings. This systematic review aims to summarize the findings from GWASs investigating cannabis use and cannabis use disorder.

METHODS

This systematic review incorporates articles that have performed a GWAS investigating cannabis use or cannabis use disorder. MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, GWAS Catalog, GWAS Central, and NIH Database of Genotype and Phenotype were searched using a comprehensive search strategy. All studies were screened in duplicate, and the quality of evidence was assessed using the quality of genetic association studies (Q-Genie) tool. All studies underwent qualitative synthesis; however, quantitative analysis was not feasible.

RESULTS

Our search identified 5984 articles. Six studies met our eligibility criteria and were included in this review. All six studies reported results that met our significance threshold of p ≤ 1.0 × 10-7. In total 96 genetic variants were identified. While meta-analysis was not possible, this review identified the following genes, ANKFN1, INTS7, PI4K2B, CSMD1, CST7, ACSS1, and SCN9A, to be associated with cannabis use. These regions were previously reported in different mental health conditions, however not in relation to cannabis use.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review summarized GWAS findings within the field of cannabis research. While a meta-analysis was not possible, the summary of findings serves to inform future candidate gene studies and replication efforts. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO CRD42020176016.

Socioeconomic status and vitamin D deficiency among women of childbearing age: a population-based, case-control study in rural northern China

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency of women of childbearing age in rural northern China.

DESIGN

A population-based, case-control study was conducted.

SETTING

Four counties of Henan Province, China from 2009 to 2010.

PARTICIPANTS

1151 non-pregnant healthy women between 18 and 40 years old.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/mL and <30 ng/mL, deficiency as ≥10 ng/mL and <20 ng/mL, and severe deficiency as <10 ng/mL. SES was measured separately by women's and their husbands' education level and occupation, household income and expenditure, as well as aggregately by SES index constructed with principal component analysis.

RESULTS

The median serum 25(OH)D level was 20.90 (13.60-34.60) ng/mL, and the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency, deficiency and severe deficiency was 20.16%, 31.80% and 15.99%, respectively. After adjustment, household annual income <¥10 000 was associated with increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency (adjusted OR (aOR): 2.10, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.14), deficiency (aOR: 1.58, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.29) and severe deficiency (aOR: 2.79, 95% CI 1.78 to 4.38); inadequate household income for expenditure was associated with elevated risk of vitamin D insufficiency (aOR: 1.66, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.54) and deficiency (aOR: 1.81, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.62); low SES index was associated with elevated risk of vitamin D insufficiency (aOR: 2.40, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.80) and deficiency (aOR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.50); and both middle and low SES index were associated with increased risk of vitamin D severe deficiency (aOR: 1.70, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.84; aOR: 2.45, 95% CI 1.45 to 4.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower SES was associated with higher risk of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in women of childbearing age in rural northern China. More should be done to explore potential mechanisms and to narrow down SES inequalities in vitamin D status.