Associations of racial and ethnic discrimination with adverse changes in exercise and screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

Xia Tong,Gee Gilbert C.,Jian Li,Liu Xinyue,Dai Jin,Shi Lu,Zhang Donglan,Chen Zhuo,Han Xuesong,Li Yan,Li Hongmei,Wen Ming,Su Dejun,Chen Liwei 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

Objectives: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a growing prevalence of racial and ethnic discrimination occurred when many Americans struggled to maintain healthy lifestyles. This study investigated the associations of racial and ethnic discrimination with changes in exercise and screen time during the pandemic in the United States (US). Methods: We included 2,613 adults who self-identified as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, or Hispanic from the Health, Ethnicity, and Pandemic (HEAP) study, a cross-sectional survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of US adults between October and November 2020. We assessed self-reported racial and ethnic discrimination by measuring COVID-19-related racial and ethnic bias and examined its associations with changes in exercise and screen time using multivariable logistic regression models. We analyzed data between September 2021 and March 2022.Results: COVID-19-related racial and ethnic bias was associated with decreased exercise time among non-Hispanic Asian (odds ratio [OR]=1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–1.89) and Hispanic people (OR=1.91; 95% CI, 1.32–2.77), and with increased screen time among non-Hispanic Black people (OR=1.94; 95% CI, 1.33–2.85), adjusting for age, gender, education, marital status, annual household income, insurance, and employment status. Conclusions: Racial and ethnic discrimination may have adversely influenced exercise and screen time changes among racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms through which racial and ethnic discrimination can impact lifestyles and to develop potential strategies to address racial and ethnic discrimination as a barrier to healthy lifestyles.

Roles of Signaling Pathways in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer

Liu, Xia,Yun, Fen,Shi, Lin,Li, Zhe-Hai,Luo, Nian-Rong,Jia, Yong-Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.15

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process though which an epithelial phenotype can be converted into a phenotype of mesenchymal cells. Under physiological conditions EMT is important for embryogenesis, organ development, wound repair and tissue remodeling. However, EMT may also be activated under pathologic conditions, especially in carcinogenesis and metastatic progression. Major signaling pathways involved in EMT include transforming growth factor ${\beta}(TGF-{\beta})$, Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog and other signaling pathways. These pathways are related to several transcription factors, including Twist, Smads and zinc finger proteins snail and slug. These interact with each other to provide crosstalk between the relevant signaling pathways. This review lays emphasis on studying the relationship between EMT and signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and metastatic progression.

Kinetics and computational docking studies on the inhibition of tyrosinase induced by oxymatrine.

Liu, Xiao-Xia,Sun, Shi-Qing,Wang, Yu-Jie,Xu, Wei,Wang, Yi-Fang,Park, Daeui,Zhou, Hai-Meng,Han, Hong-Yan Humana Press 2013 Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol.169 No.1

<P>A combination of enzymatic inhibition kinetics and computational prediction was employed to search for an effective inhibitor of tyrosinase. We found that oxymatrine significantly inhibited tyrosinase, and that this reaction was not accompanied by detectable conformational changes. Kinetic analysis showed that oxymatrine reversibly inhibited tyrosinase in a mixed-type manner. Measurements of intrinsic and ANS-binding fluorescences showed that oxymatrine did not induce any conspicuous changes in the tertiary structure. We also conducted a docking simulation between tyrosinase and oxymatrine using two docking programs, Dock6.3 and AutoDock4.2 (binding energy was -118.81 kcal/mol for Dock6 and -8.04 kcal/mol for AutoDock4). The results also suggested that oxymatrine interacts mostly with the residues of CYS83 and HIS263 in the active site of tyrosinase. This strategy of predicting tyrosinase inhibition by simulation of docking coupling with kinetics may prove useful in screening for potential tyrosinase inhibitors. Knowledge of tyrosinase inhibition can provide medical, cosmetic, and agricultural applications. Our study suggests that oxymatrine is an important agent for various applications related to pigment formation.</P>

Serum Peroxiredoxin3 is a Useful Biomarker for Early Diagnosis and Assessemnt of Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chinese Patients

Shi, Liang,Wu, Li-Li,Yang, Jian-Rong,Chen, Xiao-Fei,Zhang, Yi,Chen, Zeng-Qiang,Liu, Cun-Li,Chi, Sheng-Ying,Zheng, Jia-Ying,Huang, Hai-Xia,Yu, Fu-Jun,Lin, Xiang-Yang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Background: Recently, peroxiredoxin3 (PRDX3) was identified as a novel molecular marker for the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its potential clinical application as a serum marker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC has not been investigated. Methods: PRDX3, alpha-fetaprotein (AFP), and other biochemical parameters were measured in serum samples from 297 Chinese patients, including 96 with HCC, 98 with liver cirrhosis (LC), and 103 healthy controls (HCs). Correlations between serum PRDX3 expression and clinicopathological variables and the relationship between serum PRDX3 expression and prognosis were analyzed. Results: Serum PRDX3 was significantly higher in HCC patients than in the LC and HC groups. The sensitivity and specificity of serum PRDX3 for the diagnosis of HCC were 85.9% and 75.3%, respectively, at a cutoff of 153.26 ng/mL, and the area under the curve was 0.865. Moreover, serum PRDX3 expression was strongly associated with AFP level, tumor diameter, TNM stage, and portal vein invasion. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that HCC patients with high serum PRDX3 expression had a shorter median survival time than those with low PRDX3 expression. Moreover, serum PRDX3 expression was an independent risk factor for overall survival. The inverse correlation between serum PRDX3 and patient survival remained significant in patients with early-stage HCC and in those with normal serum AFP levels. Conclusions: Serum PRDX3 can be used as a noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of HCC.

EXISTENCE OF PERIODIC SOLUTIONS WITH PRESCRIBED MINIMAL PERIOD FOR A FOURTH ORDER NONLINEAR DIFFERENCE SYSTEM

LIU, XIA,ZHOU, TAO,SHI, HAIPING The Korean Society for Computational and Applied M 2018 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.36 No.5

In this article, we consider a fourth order nonlinear difference system. By making use of the critical point theory, we obtain some new existence theorems of at least one periodic solution with minimal period. Our main approach used in this article is the variational technique and the Saddle Point Theorem.

EXISTENCE OF PERIODIC SOLUTIONS WITH PRESCRIBED MINIMAL PERIOD FOR A FOURTH ORDER NONLINEAR DIFFERENCE SYSTEM

XIA LIU,TAO ZHOU,HAIPING SHI 한국전산응용수학회 2018 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.36 No.5

In this article, we consider a fourth order nonlinear dierence system. By making use of the critical point theory, we obtain some new existence theorems of at least one periodic solution with minimal period. Our main approach used in this article is the variational technique and the Saddle Point Theorem.

miR-340 Reverses Cisplatin Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines by Targeting Nrf2-dependent Antioxidant Pathway

Shi, Liang,Chen, Zhan-Guo,Wu, Li-li,Zheng, Jian-Jian,Yang, Jian-Rong,Chen, Xiao-Fei,Chen, Zeng-Qiang,Liu, Cun-Li,Chi, Sheng-Ying,Zheng, Jia-Ying,Huang, Hai-Xia,Lin, Xiang-Yang,Zheng, Fang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the development of chemoresistance in liver cancer cells usually results in a relapse and worsening of prognosis. It has been demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification play crucial roles in chemotherapy resistance. Currently, extensive research has shown that there is another potential mechanism of gene expression control, which is mediated through the function of short noncoding RNAs, especially for microRNAs (miRNAs), but little is known about their roles in cancer cell drug resistance. In present study, by taking advantage of miRNA effects on the resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line to cisplatin, it has been demonstrated that miR-340 were significantly downregulated whereas Nrf2 was upregulated in HepG2/CDDP (cisplatin) cells, compared with parental HepG2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays of Nrf2-3'-untranslated region-based reporter constructor indicated that Nrf2 was the direct target gene of miR-340, miR-340 mimics suppressing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway and enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Interestingly, transfection with miR-340 mimics combined with miR-340 inhibitors reactivated the Nrf2 related pathway and restored the resistance of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP. Collectively, the results first suggested that lower expression of miR-340 is involved in the development of CDDP resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, at least partly due to regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Insomnia Symptoms in Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: Prevalence, Clinical Correlates, and the Relationship With Psychiatric Medications Use

Yudong Shi,Wei Li,Changhao Chen,Xiaoping Yuan,Yingying Yang,Song Wang,Zhiwei Liu,Feng Geng,Jiawei Wang,Xiangfen Luo,Xiangwang Wen,Lei Xia,Huanzhong Liu 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.11

Objective Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and insomnia symptoms are common in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), which might lead to a poor prognosis and an increased risk of depression relapse. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence, and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of EDS and insomnia symptoms among adolescents with MDD.Methods The sample of this cross-sectional study included 297 adolescents (mean age=15.26 years; range=12–18 years; 218 females) with MDD recruited from three general and four psychiatric hospitals in five cities (Hefei, Bengbu, Fuyang, Suzhou, and Ma’anshan) in Anhui Province, China between January and August, 2021. EDS and insomnia symptoms, and clinical severity of depressive symptoms were assessed using Epworth sleepiness scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity.Results The prevalence of EDS and insomnia symptoms in adolescents with MDD was 39.7% and 38.0%, respectively. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that EDS symptoms were significantly associated with higher body mass index (odds ratio [OR]=1.097, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.027–1.172), more severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.313, 95% CI=1.028–1.679), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use (OR=2.078, 95% CI=1.199–3.601). And insomnia symptoms were positively associated with female sex (OR=1.955, 95% CI=1.052–3.633), suicide attempts (OR=1.765, 95% CI=1.037–3.005), more severe depressive symptoms (OR=2.031, 95% CI=1.523–2.709), and negatively associated with antipsychotics use (OR=0.433, 95% CI=0.196–0.952).Conclusion EDS and insomnia symptoms are common among adolescents with MDD. Considering their negative effects on the clinical prognosis, regular screening and clinical managements should be developed for this patient population.

Functional analysis of prv-miR-LLT11a encoded by pseudorabies virus

Huimin Liu,Li Yang,Zhibin Shi,Ruiqi Lv,Xia Yang,Chuanqing Wang,Lu Chen,Hongtao Chang 대한수의학회 2019 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.20 No.6

Viral-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) play have vital roles in the regulations of virus replications and host immune responses. The results of previous studies have indicated that miRNA clusters are involved in the replication and virulence of the pseudorabies virus (PRV), which may potentially lead to the immune escape or facilitation of PRV replications. This study's previous research revealed that the prv-mirmiR-LLT11a was differentially expressed during PRV infections. The present study's results have demonstrated that the prv-miR-LLT11a could significantly inhibit PRV replications. It was further determined that SLA-1 was the target gene of the prv-miR-LLT11a, and simultaneously, thate overexpression of prv-miR-LLT11a could down-regulate the mRNA and protein levels of SLA-1 in a dose-independent manner. Furthermore, the present study also found observed that the prv-miR-LLT11a canhad also down-regulated the TAP1 expressions. Our findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in on the effects of prv-miR-LLT11a on SLA-1 and TAP1, as well as and its involvement in a potential immune system evasion of PRV.

Association between Toll-Like Receptor 9 -1237T/C Polymorphism and the Susceptibility of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Meta-Analysis

Bing Xia,Jian Shang,Xiaobing Wang,Wei Wang,Huaqin Pan,Shi Liu,Lixia Li,Liping Chen 연세대학교의과대학 2016 Yonsei medical journal Vol.57 No.1

Purpose: The -1237T/C polymorphism of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) gene has been implicated in the susceptibility of inflammatorybowel diseases (IBDs), but the results remain conflicting. We further investigated this association via meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Multiple electronic databases were extensively searched until February, 2015. The strength of associationwas evaluated by calculating the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 2987 cases and 2388 controls from eight studies were analyzed. Overall, association was found between TLR9 -1237T/C polymorphism and the risk of IBDs when all the studies were pooled (recessive model, OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02–2.47, p=0.04; homozygote comparison, OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.04–2.52, p=0.03; allele model, OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00–1.27, p=0.05). Stratificationby ethnicity indicated an association between TLR9 -1237T/C polymorphism and IBDs risk in Caucasians (recessive model,OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02–2.47, p=0.04; homozygote comparison, OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.04–2.52, p=0.03; allele model, OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00–1.27, p=0.05). When stratified by disease type, significant correlation were only found in the Crohn’s disease subgroup (recessive model, OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.05–2.73, p=0.03; homozygote model, OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.07–2.82, p=0.02; allele model, OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.32, p=0.04). Conclusion: The present study suggested that the TLR9 -1237T/C polymorphism might act as a risk factor in the development of IBDs, particularly in Caucasians.