Do social support and community engagement act as mechanisms in the association between neighbourhood income inequality and the mental health of mothers in Calgary,Canada? A mediation analysis

PurposeAccording to the social determinants of health framework, income inequality is a potential risk factor for adverse mental health. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms suspected to mediate this relationship. The current study addresses this gap through a mediation analysis to determine if social support and community engagement act as mediators linking neighbourhood income inequality to maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms within a cohort of new mothers living in the City of Calgary, Canada.MethodsData collected at three years postpartum from mothers belonging to the All Our Families (AOF) cohort were used in the current study. Maternal data were collected between 2012 and 2015 and linked to neighbourhood socioeconomic data from the 2006 Canadian Census. Income inequality was measured using Gini coefficients derived from 2006 after-tax census data. Generalized structural equation models were used to quantify the associations between income inequality and mental health symptoms, and to assess the potential direct and indirect mediating effects of maternal social support and community engagement.ResultsIncome inequality was not significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.32, 95%CI = −0.067, 0.70), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.11, 95%CI = −0.39, 0.60), or lower social support. Income inequality was not associated with community engagement. For the depression models, higher social support was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = −0.13, 95%CI = −0.15, −0.097), while community engagement was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.059, 95%CI = −0.15, 0.27). Similarly, for the anxiety models, lower anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with higher levels of social support (β = −0.17, 95%CI = −0.20, −0.13) but not with higher levels of community engagement (β = 0.14, 95%CI = −0.14, 0.41).ConclusionThe current study did not find clear evidence for social support or community engagement mediating the relationship between neighbourhood income inequality and maternal mental health. Future investigations should employ a broader longitudinal approach to capture changes in income inequality, potential mediators, and mental health symptomatology over time.     

Advanced Cancer Patients' Prognostic Awareness and Its Association With Anxiety,Depression and Spiritual Well-Being: A Multi-Country Study in Asia

AimsThe associations between prognostic awareness, acceptance of illness and psychological outcomes (anxiety, depression and spiritual well-being) remain unclear. This study examined the associations between prognostic awareness and various psychological outcomes and how they can be moderated by patient acceptance of illness (cancer).Materials and methodsIn total, 1184 patients with stage IV solid cancer were recruited at major public hospitals across four Asian countries (China, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam). Prognostic awareness and acceptance of illness were assessed through self-reported understanding of treatment intent and acceptance of illness, respectively. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, whereas spiritual well-being was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Multivariate regressions were used to estimate the associations while controlling for patient characteristics.ResultsCompared with being unaware of their prognosis (i.e. believing that their cancer is curable), being aware or unsure of their prognosis was associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms, and lower spiritual well-being scores. Acceptance of illness moderated these relationships and improved the psychological outcomes.ConclusionsThe results suggest that disclosure of prognostic information should be provided in conjunction with psychological interventions that focus on acceptance of illness.     

Effects of virtual Reality-Based Training and aerobic training on gaming disorder,physical activity,physical fitness,and anxiety: A randomized,controlled trial

Background and aimThe effects of physical activity and exercise on gaming disorder severity in individuals with gaming disorder are unknown. The present study aimed to address the empirical gap in the current literature by comparing the effects of virtual reality-based training (VRT) and aerobic training (AT) exercise programs on gaming disorder severity, physical activity, physical fitness, and anxiety versus control group.Materials and methodsForty-four young male adults (18–28 years) with gaming disorder and a sedentary lifestyle were included in the study. The primary outcomes of the study were changes in gaming disorder severity and physical activity, and secondary outcomes included changes in physical fitness and anxiety levels. The participants were randomly assigned to VRT (n = 15), AT (n = 14) and control (n = 15) groups. Training sessions were performed at 50–70% of the maximal heart rate. Exercise programs consisted of 6 weeks of training 3 times a week for 30 min.ResultsThere was a decrease in the severity of gaming disorder as well as an increase in the level of physical activity in the VRT and AT exercise groups compared to the control group. In addition, a reduction was observed in the gaming time and sedentary time in both exercise groups versus control group. VRT group experienced greater improvements in physical fitness parameters than the AT group.ConclusionVRT and AT were effective in reducing gaming time and the severity of gaming disorder in individuals with gaming disorder. The therapeutic effects of VRT and AT can be used for reducing the severity of gaming disorder.     

广泛性焦虑障碍住院患者与健康对照者的认知功能比较研究

背景 广泛性焦虑障碍（GAD）是常见的慢性精神疾病，常伴有不同程度的认知功能损害，严重影响患者的生活质量及社会功能。 目的 比较GAD住院患者与健康对照者认知功能的差异。 方法 选取2018年8月至2020年1月在南方医科大学南方医院住院治疗的GAD患者为GAD组（n=30），同期通过广告在南方医科大学南方医院住院患者陪护人员中招募年龄、性别相匹配的健康志愿者为健康对照组（n=30）。使用汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）、汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）和Beck自杀意念量表中文版（BSI-CV）进行心理测评，采用精神运动警觉性任务（PVT）、Go/No-go联想任务、N-back任务分别评估认知功能的注意、抑制及工作记忆功能。比较两组一般情况、量表测评总分及认知功能差异，进一步采用多因素Logistic回归分析探究GAD住院患者和健康对照者的认知功能差异。 结果 GAD组HAMA、HAMD总分和最严重情况时BSI-CV总分及最严重情况时存在自杀意念者所占比例高于健康对照组（P<0.05）。N-back任务：GAD组1-back击中目标率（NBACK1a）、2-back击中目标率（NBACK2a）低于健康对照组，1-back击中目标的平均反应时（NBACK1b）长于健康对照组（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，NBACK1a〔OR=0.946，95%CI（0.898，0.997），P=0.038〕、NBACK1b〔OR=1.007，95%CI（1.000，1.014），P=0.042〕是GAD的影响因素。 结论 与健康对照者相比，GAD住院患者的工作记忆较差，需要临床关注。     

2035年中国入围科技期刊“世界第一方阵”:基础、差距与推进思路

【目的】 在“中国科技期刊卓越行动计划”实施三周年之际,有必要对我国科技期刊2035年迈入“世界第一方阵”目标的具体任务进行重新审视和预判,以进一步明确发展方向,动态调整推进思路。【方法】 采用国内外科技期刊、科技论文、科技期刊评价成果的系统性发展数据对科技期刊“世界第一方阵” 国家(或地区)在高水平科技期刊数量与质量层面的入围标准进行界定,在深入总结现有基础和优势的同时,对我国科技期刊综合实力与“世界第一方阵”国家(或地区)的现实差距进行逐一梳理和剖析,并对实现目标的可行性和推进思路进行研判和设计。【结果】 必须继续加强高水平英文科技期刊创办和培育力度、持续加大优秀中文科技期刊的建设强度、快速推进国内外科技期刊论文等质同效评价制度的建设与引导,并积极探索建立科学家和科研机构办好一流科技期刊的责任制度和贡献激励机制、创新发展编辑人才队伍培养与激励管理思路、深入实践灵活多样的期刊出版市场资本运作模式、稳步推进期刊出版市场机制和管理制度改革,为我国科技期刊事业的高质量发展提速增效。【结论】 虽然当前阶段目标任务艰巨,但迈入“世界第一方阵”未来可期。     

Derivation of occupational exposure limits: Differences in methods and protection levels

Frameworks for deriving occupational exposure limits (OELs) and OEL-analogue values (such as derived-no-effect levels [DNELs]) in various regulatory areas in the EU and at national level in Germany were analysed. Reasons for differences between frameworks and possible means of improving transparency and harmonisation were identified. Differences between assessment factors used for deriving exposure limits proved to be one important reason for diverging numerical values. Distributions for exposure time, interspecies and intraspecies extrapolation were combined by probabilistic methods and compared with default values of assessment factors used in the various OEL frameworks in order to investigate protection levels. In a subchronic inhalation study showing local effects in the respiratory tract, the probability that assessment factors were sufficiently high to protect 99% and 95% of the target population (workers) from adverse effects varied considerably from 9% to 71% and 17% to 87%, respectively, between the frameworks. All steps of the derivation process, including the uncertainty associated with the point of departure (POD), were further analysed with two examples of full probabilistic assessments. It is proposed that benchmark modelling should be the method of choice for deriving PODs and that all OEL frameworks should provide detailed guidance documents and clearly define their protection goals by stating the proportion of the exposed population the OEL aims to cover and the probability with which they intend to provide protection from adverse effects. Harmonisation can be achieved by agreeing on the way to perform the methodological steps for deriving OELs and on common protection goals.