The relationship between bicultural identity,acculturative stress,and psychological well‐being in multicultural adolescents: Verification using multivariate latent growth modelling

This study aimed to examine causal relationships between bicultural identity, acculturative stress, and subjective well‐being among multicultural adolescents. Secondary longitudinal data that were obtained from 1,635 multicultural adolescents were analysed. The results showed that bicultural identity had a positive effect on psychological well‐being and a negative impact on acculturative stress; in addition, greater acculturative stress was associated with lower psychological well‐being. Finally, bicultural identity indirectly affected psychological well‐being by mediating the effects of acculturative stress. These findings underscore the need to facilitate the adaptation of multicultural adolescents by reducing acculturative stress and promoting bicultural acceptance in educational institutions.     

Assessment of masticatory function in patients with non‐sagittal occlusal discrepancies

Non‐sagittal occlusal discrepancies such as posterior cross‐bite and anterior openbite are common types of malocclusion, but studies on masticatory function related to those malocclusions have been scarce. The aim of this study was to quantify the masticatory performance in patients with non‐sagittal discrepancies compared to those with normal occlusion, using both objective and subjective measures. Maximum bite force and contact area using Dental Prescale^® system as a static objective assessment, Mixing Ability Index (MAI) as a dynamic objective evaluation and food intake ability (FIA) as a subjective assessment were analysed from 21 people in normal occlusion (Group N) and 64 patients with posterior cross‐bite (Group C), anterior openbite (Group O) or both (Group B). The differences of the maximum bite force, the contact area, the MAI and the FIA were compared, and their correlations were figured out. The non‐sagittal malocclusion groups showed lower values in the maximum bite force, the contact area, the MAI and the FIA compared to those in the normal group (P < 0·0001). Compared to Group N, Groups C, O and B showed 61·5%, 42·1% and 40·1% of the maximum bite force, and 84%, 84% and 76% of hard food FIA, respectively. However, there were no significant differences among Groups C, O and B. The MAI showed higher correlation with the FIA (r = 0·38, P < 0·01), than with the maximum bite force and the contact area (both r = 0·24, P < 0·5). These results revealed that masticatory function in patients with non‐sagittal discrepancies is significantly reduced both objectively and subjectively.     

Striatal Morphology is Associated with Tobacco Cigarette Craving

The striatum has a clear role in addictive disorders and is involved in drug-related craving. Recently, enhanced striatal volume was associated with greater lifetime nicotine exposure, suggesting a bridge between striatal function and structural phenotypes. To assess this link between striatal structure and function, we evaluated the relationship between striatal morphology and this brain region''s well-established role in craving. In tobacco smokers, we assessed striatal volume, surface area, and shape using a new segmentation methodology coupled with local shape indices. Striatal morphology was then related with two measures of craving: state-based craving, assessed by the brief questionnaire of smoking urges (QSU), and craving induced by smoking-related images. A positive association was found between left striatal volume and surface area with both measures of craving. A more specific relationship was found between both craving measures and the dorsal, but not in ventral striatum. Evaluating dorsal striatal subregions showed a single relationship between the caudate and QSU. Although cue-induced craving and the QSU were both associated with enlarged striatal volume and surface area, these measures were differentially associated with global or more local striatal volumes. We also report a connection between greater right striatal shape deformations and cue-induced craving. Shape deformations associated with cue-induced craving were specific to striatal subregions involved in habitual responding to rewarding stimuli, which is relevant given the habitual nature of cue-induced craving. The current findings confirm a relationship between striatal function and morphology and suggest that variation in striatal morphology may be a biomarker for craving severity.     

ALDH1 and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as predictors for neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in breast cancer

Many studies have reported that Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are related to breast cancer prognosis. However, the clinical significance of ALDH1 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in breast cancer has not been fully investigated in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We studied the significance of the expression of ALDH1 and the population of TIL for predicting the prognosis and chemotherapeutic response of patients with breast cancer who had received NAC. Forty patients who underwent NAC were enrolled in this study. ALDH1 and TIL (T cells and tumor associated macrophages) were evaluated before and after NAC. The influences of ALDH1 expression status and TIL populations on both prognosis and chemotherapeutic response were evaluated. ALDH1 positivity was related to estrogen receptor (p?=?0.026) and progesterone receptor negativity (p?=?0.025). Positive change of ALDH1 after NAC tended to be associated with a poor NAC response (p?=?0.078). Patients with more CD8+ T cells before NAC and fewer CD68 (+) macrophages after NAC tended to have better OS, respectively (p?=?0.086, p?=?0.096). The chemotherapeutic response and prognosis of patients with breast cancer who received NAC are thought to be determined by the tumor microenvironment. Further research with more patients and a longer study period is needed.