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Background: Training parents to implement language and communication intervention strategies is an effective approach to promote language development for children with language delay. Aims: This study introduces an online parent training program conducted in Hubei province, China, which was designed to help parents of language‐delayed children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental language disorder (DLD) or global developmental delay (GDD) apply language intervention strategies into daily interactions and promote their children's language development at home. Methods & Procedures: The Bethel Hearing and Speaking Training Center Family Training for Early Communication & Language Development (Bethel Family Training Program, BFT) (Bethel HSTC, 2020) was designed to improve the language and communication skills for children with language delay in a naturalistic way. The caregivers (including parents, grandparents and other main caregivers) participated in an 8‐h online program, including lectures on milestones in child language development, common misunderstandings of child language development, and three basic family language intervention strategies ('Looking together, playing together, and talking together') incorporating active learning through video analysis and discussion. Tongji Hospital in Hubei then continued with 3 months of online home intervention monitoring to all the caregivers via weekly online Q&As led by BFT certified speech therapists' team. The Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) was carried out before the online parent training program and after the 3‐month online home intervention monitoring. Outcomes & Results: 146 families whose children aged 12–68 months with language delay participated in the online training program. The results of the GDS assessments conducted before and after the program showed that not only did the developmental quotient (DQ) of language improve, but so did the DQ of social behaviour and adaptive behaviour (p < 0.001). There is no between‐group difference in the application of three strategies between the ASD group and the DLD or GDD group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, both caregivers' ability to apply 'looking together, playing together, talking together' strategies and the effective interaction time played important roles in improving the child's language abilities. Conclusion & Implications: The online parent training focusing on improving daily interaction with children through speech–language stimulation strategies promoted the development of language skills. It is an economic and practical approach for children with language delay who have limited access to local language intervention programs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Parent‐implemented language intervention is an effective approach at improving children's language development. Telepractice is an appropriate model of service delivery for audiologists and speech–language therapists and may be the primary mode of service delivery or may supplement in‐person services. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: This paper explores the effectiveness of an online parent training program and provides new evidence that online training on language support strategies (looking together, playing together, talking together) followed by home intervention monitoring works for Mandarin‐speaking children and it is equally effective for children with ASD and non‐ASD diagnosis. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Developmental behavioural paediatricians and speech–language therapists in countries and areas that lack sufficient training resource for every child will have the option to deliver parent training and home intervention monitoring online, which will save time and cost considerably while offering convenience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data literacy (DL) is vital for teachers, as it enables them to build on data and improve teaching and learning. Therefore, developing DL among pre‐service teachers is critical. Objectives: The purpose of this study is threefold: to evaluate whether a feedback visualisation of peer assessment‐based teaching approach (FVPA‐based teaching approach) can (1) promote pre‐service teachers' DL; (2) enhance their learning motivation; and (3) improve their cognitive load. Methods: The research was conducted based on a pre‐test‐post‐test control group quasi‐experimental design. With 20 participants in the experimental group and 21 in the control group, a total of 41 pre‐service teachers were included in the study. The pre‐service teachers in the experimental group adopted the FVPA‐based teaching approach, and those in the control group adopted the traditional peer assessment‐based learning approach. Results and Conclusions: The experimental group participants outperformed the control group participants in DL, learning motivation, and cognitive load. FVPA was conducive to helping pre‐service teachers critically interpret data, understand their teaching and learning issues, and improve self‐reflection. The findings indicate a reciprocal relationship between learning motivation and DL; improving the learning motivation of pre‐service teachers could promote their DL. Implications: This study contributes to current knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the benefits of an FVPA‐based teaching approach in improving pre‐service teachers' DL, motivation, and cognitive load. The study findings, limitations, and prospects for future research are discussed. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic?: Teacher data literacy has emerged as a crucial competency for the forthcoming generation of educators, gaining attention from education institutions globally.Peer assessment, a well‐established practice in pre‐service teacher education, has proven effective in enhancing the learning experience for disadvantaged students by fostering motivation and improving academic performance.Despite the acknowledged benefits of feedback visualisation in facilitating self‐reflection, motivation, and academic performance, creating meaningful visualisations remains a challenge for educators and learners. What this paper adds?: This study introduces feedback visualisation in peer assessment to enhance comprehension of feedback information among pre‐service teachers.Feedback visualisation augments the benefits derived from peer assessment, refining data literacy, improving learning motivation, and alleviating cognitive load among pre‐service educators.The analysis of data directly relevant to pre‐service teachers and the provision of timely feedback can motivate critical analysis and utilisation of data, facilitating the identification of pedagogical and learning challenges.The study explores intricate interactions among learning motivation, data literacy, and cognitive load within the context of peer assessment visual feedback. The implications of study findings for practitioners: We encourage teacher educators to implement peer assessment instruction grounded in visual feedback for a comprehensive understanding of learning outcomes, identification of pedagogical challenges, determination of causes, and evidence‐informed instructional decision‐making.Teacher educator should diversify strategies to augment the motivation of pre‐service teachers, cultivating their proactive engagement in data analysis, interpretation, and application to enhance overall data literacy.We recommend that teacher educators provide rich visual feedback or present complex data in a visually accessible format for pre‐service teachers who need additional assistance to mitigate cognitive load and facilitate successful learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pragmatics has generally been defined as the ability to use language in social situations, it is commonly regarded as the third major component of language ability. To date, there is no tool for assessing early pragmatic development of Chinese‐speaking children. Aims: To describe the translation of the Language Use Inventory (LUI) from English to Mandarin Chinese and to report findings on the Chinese version's reliability, validity and developmental sensitivity. Methods & Procedures: The original English version of the LUI was translated into Mandarin Chinese. Parents of 177 typically developing (TD) toddlers and preschool children completed the inventory to examine its internal reliability and construct validity and how scores differed across ages and sexes. A total of 31 parents out of the 177 completed the LUI‐Mandarin, again within 4 weeks, to assess test–retest reliability. To examine discriminative validity, 43 parents of age‐ and sex‐matched TD children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) recruited from Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University completed the LUI‐Mandarin. Outcomes & Results: Cronbach's alpha values for the LUI‐Mandarin's three parts and for 11 of 12 LUI‐Mandarin subscales were 0.707–0.992, with most values in the 0.825–0.992 range. Test–retest reliability ranged from 0.66 to 0.95, indicating good to excellent reliability. Factor analysis of the LUI‐Mandarin revealed two different factors, and the total variance explained was 74.38%. The LUI‐Mandarin total scores and subscale scores increased with age for both boys and girls, providing evidence of the inventory's developmental sensitivity. Girls, however, had higher total scores than boys at earlier ages (18–23 months). The results of the discriminant validity study revealed that performance was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the TD group with respect to LUI total scores and subscale scores (except for subscale A). Conclusions & Implications: The LUI‐Mandarin is the first and only questionnaire available in China that evaluates the pragmatic language skills of children aged between 18 and 47 months. The results of the study show that the LUI‐Mandarin is a valid and reliable tool for Chinese toddlers and preschool children. What this paper adds: What is already known on this subject: The LUI is a parent‐report questionnaire that can provide comprehensive information about very young children's communicative competence. It is widely used both for assessment and to guide intervention. Additionally, it has been translated into French, Italian, Polish, Arabic, Portuguese and Norwegian and it shows good reliability and validity. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: In the present study we describe the translation of the LUI from English to Mandarin Chinese and report findings on the Chinese version's reliability, validity and developmental sensitivity. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The LUI‐Mandarin is the first and only questionnaire available in China that can evaluate pragmatic language skills of children aged between 18 and 47 months. The results show that the LUI‐Mandarin is a valid and reliable tool for use with Chinese toddlers and preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Moral courage among healthcare workers has been extensively studied. However, few studies have been conducted on oncology specialist nurses, who frequently encounter complex moral situations. This study aimed to describe the current situation regarding moral courage and explored its influence on oncology specialist nurses in China. Design: This was an exploratory, descriptive study. Methods: A convenience sample of 390 nurses was conducted from 15 hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, between March and May 2023. Participants were assessed using the Moral Distress Scale‐Revised, Nurses' Moral Courage Scale and the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire. Results: The results demonstrated that moral courage was negatively associated with moral distress, and positively associated with moral sensitivity. Having a master's degree or above, an intermediate title or senior title, medical ethics training, moral distress or moral sensitivity contributed to explaining 54.1% of the variance in moral courage. Conclusions: Moral courage was associated with several factors. Developing clinical intervention strategies and effective teaching methods will be critical for improving moral courage. No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited studies have been conducted on Chinese women's willingness to donate milk following perinatal loss. In this study, we explore the relationship among childbirth trauma, willingness to donate milk, and resilience in women following perinatal loss, and the mediating effect of resilience between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk. A cross‐sectional study was carried out throughout 4 months. We used convenience sampling methods and recruited 241 women following a perinatal loss from eight tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. Participants completed four questionnaires during a face‐to‐face individual interview: the general information questionnaire, the Willingness to Donate Milk Scale (WMDS), the City Birth Trauma Scale, and the Brief Resilience Scale. SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the collected data. In our study, childbirth trauma was negatively correlated with the total and each dimension score of WMDS (p < 0.001). Resilience was positively correlated with the total and each dimension score of WMDS (p < 0.001). Resilience partially mediated the relationship between childbirth‐related symptoms and willingness to donate milk (β = −0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.50 to −0.26), which accounted for 69.03% of the total effect. Resilience partially mediated the relationship between general symptoms and willingness to donate milk (β = −0.31, 95% CI: −0.40 to −0.21), which accounted for 66.89% of the total effect. Resilience partially mediated the relationship between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk in women following perinatal loss. Our findings suggest that resilience can play a significant role in mediating the relationship between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk in women following perinatal loss. These results could help healthcare professionals design interventions for physical and mental recovery after perinatal loss. Key messages: Women's age, occupation, marital age, and degree of postpartum pain affected their willingness to donate milk after perinatal loss.Resilience has a positive association with the willingness to donate milk and a negative association with childbirth trauma in women following perinatal loss.Childbirth trauma could negatively predict their willingness to donate milk after perinatal loss.Resilience partially mediated the relationship between childbirth trauma and willingness to donate milk in women following perinatal loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, is one of main human malignant tumors. In this paper, we focus on the effect of antitumor activity of cytokine-induced killer ( CIK) cells on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Methods CIK cells were obtained by inducing peripheral blood mononuclear cells with recombinant human (rh) interferon-gamma, monoclonal anti- CD3 antibody, rh interleukin (IL)-1alpha, and rhIL-2, which were added into the culture. A549 cell viability of CIK cells was determined using MTS assay. Flow cytometry ( FCM) experiments were performed to detect cell cycle changes. The expression of P27 in A549 cells treated by CIK cells was evaluated by Western blot. Result The percentage of CD3+ CD16+ CD56+ T cells in a representative peripheral blood mononucleated cell sample was 33.7 ± 1.3%. CIK cells, in dose and time dependent manners, inhibited the proliferation of A549. FCM demonstrated that A549 cells were accumulated in G2/M and G0/G1 phases when treated with CIK cells. FCM was used to analyze whether A549 cells treated with CIK cells induced apotosis or necrosis at 10:1 or 20:1. Compared to the control group, P27 was prominently upregulated in the CIK treated group. Conclusion We propose that the pharmacological mechanisms of A549 cells inhibited by CIK cells can be estimated to possibly elicit different biological significance, which, in part, can be ascribed to a different mass transport rate in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients' treatment decisions may be influenced by the ways in which treatment options are presented. There is little evidence on how patients with advanced cancer choose preferences for advance directives (ADs) in China. Informed by behavioural economics, we assess whether end‐of‐life (EOL) cancer patients held deep‐seated preferences for their health care and whether default options and order effects influenced their decision‐making. Methods: We collected data on 179 advanced cancer patients who were randomly assigned to complete one of the four types of ADs: comfort‐oriented care (CC) AD (comfort default AD); a life extension (LE)‐oriented care option (LE default AD); CC (standard CC AD) and LE‐oriented (standard LE AD). Analysis of variance test was used. Results: In terms of the general goal of care, 32.6% of patients in the comfort default AD group retained the comfort‐oriented choice, twice as many as in the standard CC group without default options. Order effect was significant in only two individual‐specific palliative care choices. Most patients (65.9%) appointed their children to make EOL care decisions, but patients choosing the CC goal were twice as likely to ask their family members to adhere to their choices than patients who chose the LE goal. Conclusion: Patients with advanced cancer did not hold deep‐seated preferences for EOL care. Default options shaped decisions between CC and LE‐oriented care. Order effect only shaped decisions in some specific treatment targets. The structure of ADs matters and influence different treatment outcomes, including the role of palliative care. Patient or Public Contribution: Between August and November 2018, from 640 cancer hospital medical records fitting the selection criteria at a 3A level hospital in Shandong Province, we randomly selected 188 terminal EOL advanced cancer patients using a random generator programme to ensure all eligible patients had an equal chance of selection. Each respondent completes one of the four AD surveys. While respondents might require support in making their healthcare choices, they were informed about the purpose of our research study, and that their survey choices would not affect their actual treatment plan. Patients who did not agree to participate were not surveyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a professional identity promotion strategy (PIPS) on nursing students' professional identity and resilience. Methods: This study was a quasi‐experimental study with a random cluster sample of 103 sophomore undergraduate nursing students. One hundred students answered the questionnaires at both baseline and follow‐up (51 of 53 in the intervention group and 49 of 50 in the control group). Intervention and control groups underwent 5 months PIPS and standard professional education from May 2 to September 27, respectively. Participants completed the professional identity questionnaire for nursing students (PIQNS) and Connor–Davidson resilience scale (CD‐RISC). Data were collected at baseline (T0), after the intervention (T1) and 3 months after the intervention (T2), and analyzed using the Chi‐squared test, Fisher's exact test, and repeated‐measures analysis of variance. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups (p >.05) regarding demographic questions, professional identity, or resilience at baseline (p >.05). Significant differences were found in professional identity between groups (p <.001), measurement times (p =.026), and in the interaction between groups and measurement times (p =.018) from T0 to T2. Significant differences were found in resilience between groups (p <.001), measurement times (p =.007), and in the interaction between groups and measurement times (p =.035) from T0 to T2. Conclusions: The PIPS program improved nursing students' professional identity and resilience. Further long‐term effectiveness of the program needs to be tested with implementation through various forms of mobile technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a plethora of studies that demonstrate the positive impact of strategic human resource management on firm performance, existing knowledge of the processes through which such gains can be achieved remains limited. This study aims to extend our knowledge by investigating the mechanism through which a teamwork-oriented executive strategic human resource management system impacts organizational ambidexterity. Specifically, by integrating the resource-based view and information-processing theory, we examine the mediating role of top management team effectiveness and the moderating role of knowledge-sharing intensity from middle managers to top management teams. Drawing on a multiple-source and multiple-respondent survey from 144 manufacturing firms in China, we show that top management team effectiveness partially mediates the effect of the executive strategic human resource management system on organizational ambidexterity. Moreover, knowledge-sharing intensity from middle managers to top management teams strengthens the effect of the executive strategic human resource management system on organizational ambidexterity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing staff are on the front line of providing healthcare that addresses patients' needs. Sleep quality is highly related to work performance and quality of life among nurses. Aims: This study aimed to examine the influence of sociodemographic variables, menopause syndrome, and health‐promoting behaviors on sleep quality in a sample of middle‐aged nurses in China. Methods: A cross‐sectional design was employed. A consecutive sample of 424 nurses was recruited from a university‐affiliated hospital in Bengbu, China. Self‐reported, structured questionnaires, including sociodemographic surveys, the Kupperman Menopausal Index, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, were administered between October 2018 and July 2019. This study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Results: Study participants had a mean sleep quality level of 5.30 points (SD = 3.16), indicating potential sleep problems. The results of regression models showed that menopause syndrome and spiritual growth were important predictors of sleep quality for premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause groups. Conclusion: Middle‐aged nurses with more severe menopause syndrome and less spiritual growth might experience worse sleep quality. Relevance to clinical practice: This study highlights important factors influencing the level of sleep quality in Chinese middle‐aged nurses. Identifying the factors that are associated with sleep quality may help with the development of proper interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, there is no unified standard for the responsibilities and authority of nurse anesthetists, resulting in different professional expectations from anesthesiologists and nursing managers, which may result in high levels of role stress and burnout in nurse anesthetists. Additional factors such as high occupational risk and heavy work may also contribute to role stress and burnout. Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among 198 nurses from six tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province. The t test, analysis of variance, linear regression, and logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors for role stress and professional burnout. Results: The scores of role conflict and role ambiguity in role stress were 30.61 ± 9.53 and 31.89 ± 9.56, respectively; satisfaction with income and the working environment, the hospital's attention, years of experience as a nurse, clarity concerning the nurse anesthetist's occupational scope, and attitude to career prospects were independent risk factors for role stress. The burnout data were non-normally distributed and were expressed as medians and quartiles. The scores of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal achievement in professional burnout were 30 (26-34), 11 (8-14), and 23 (20-26) respectively. The number of working hours per week, attitude to career prospects, satisfaction with the working environment and income, physical health, gender, and education were independent risk factors for burnout. Conclusions: Chinese nurse anesthetists were found to be in danger of high role stress and professional burnout, a situation requiring the attention of managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the levels of illness perception and identify interrelations among the variables of illness perception, demographic, and health‐related characteristics in a sample of rural Chinese adults with hypertension (HTN). Design: This is a cross‐sectional descriptive study using descriptive and correlation analysis. Sample: It included 163 people diagnosed with HTN for at least 3 years who lived in two rural villages in Zhejiang Province of mainland China during 2014–2015. Measurements: Illness perception was measured by the Chinese Illness Perception Questionnaire‐Revised. Demographic and illness characteristics were collected by the researcher. Weight, height, and blood pressure (BP) were, respectively, measured by calibrated scale and digital sphygmomanometers. Results: The findings showed that the BP control rate was 28.80% in the village. The highest average item score found in timeline (3.98 ± 0.76) and control (3.29 ± 0.67) subscales indicated that rural Chinese adults believe in the chronicity and controllability of HTN. Negative illness representation presented the lowest mean item score (2.64) suggesting that the participants neither perceive symptom variation of the illness nor their illness as serious. Interrelations existed among the illness perception variables with variation from that in other previous study. The cause of HTN was attributed to balance factors, psychological factors, risk factors, and cultural factors in sequence. Age, education, body mass index, and household annual income were correlated with illness perception. Conclusion: These findings suggested that misconceptions about HTN perception existed among rural adults in the villages. Comprehensive health education program is needed to increase rural adults' knowledge and management of HTN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Long‐term care needs are important for older adults with dementia in the West, but they have not received enough attention from China. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a long‐term care needs instrument for older Chinese adults with dementia. Methods: A total of 1,212 older adults with dementia were recruited from five Chinese cities to complete a 30‐item long‐term care needs questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using multiple assessments, including a content validity assessment, Cronbach's alpha, an item‐to‐total correlation test, and exploratory factor analysis. Results: The questionnaire was divided into four sub‐sections: life care services (eight items), basic and specialist care services (12 items), mental comfort psychological services (four items), and homecare support services (six items). Cronbach's alpha was.93 for the whole questionnaire and ranged from.83 to.92 for the four sub‐questionnaires. The item‐to‐total correlation coefficients for the four sub‐questionnaires were between.68 and.88, and the test–retest correlation coefficient was.88. Conclusion: Our results validated the reliability and validity of a questionnaire designed to measure the quality of long‐term care services for older Chinese adults with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Little is known about the information sources of Chinese patients with cancer and their family caregivers, yet this knowledge is critical for providing patient-centred care. Objective To assess and compare the information sources used by Chinese patients with cancer and their family caregivers. Design The validated Health Information Wants Questionnaire ( HIWQ) was translated and administered in March 2014. Setting The oncology department of a general hospital in south-west China. Participants A convenience sample of 198 individuals, including 79 patients with cancer (mean age=55.24, SD=13.80) and 119 family caregivers (mean age=46.83, SD=14.61). Main outcome measures Ratings on the HIWQ items assessing information sources for different types of information. Results The interaction between information source and group was significant ( F3,576=6.32, P<.01). Caregivers obtained more information than patients from the Internet. Caregivers and patients did not differ in the amount of information they obtained from doctors/nurses, interpersonal contacts or mass media. The interaction between information type and information source was significant ( F18,3456=6.38, P<.01). Participants obtained more information of all types from doctors/nurses than from the other three sources and obtained more information from interpersonal contacts than from mass media or the Internet. Conclusions The information sources of Chinese patients with cancer and their family caregivers were similar, with an important difference that caregivers obtained more online information than patients. These findings have important implications for patient care and education in China where the family typically plays a major role in the care and decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of osteoprotegerin ( OPG) gene therapy on alveolar bone resorption caused by experimental periodontitis in rats, thus forming a foundation for potential clinical applications of OPG gene therapy in the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Material and Methods To study the effects of OPG on alveolar bone protection, an experimental periodontitis model was used by placing a bacterial plaque retentive silk ligature in the gingival sulcus around the maxillary second molar tooth, injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and high carbohydrate diet. A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 rats in each group: group I (control) was treated with 10 μL normal saline injection; group II with 10 μL mock vector; and group III with 10 μL local OPG gene transfer by transfection with in vitro constructed pcDNA3.1- human OPG (pcDNA3.1-hOPG). A subperiosteal injection was done adjacent to the second molars on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Four weeks later, all animals were killed and radiographic, histological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and LSD-Bonferroni test. Results Group III ( OPG gene therapy) had significantly enhanced ( p < 0.05) integrated optical density of OPG, had significantly decreased alveolar bone resorption volume and active osteoclast number ( p < 0.05) through descriptive histological examination when compared with the other two groups at week 4. Conclusion Local recombinant OPG plasmid-mediated gene therapy suppresses osteoclastogenesis in vivo and inhibits alveolar bone height reduction caused by experimental periodontitis in rats. OPG gene therapy may be beneficial in preventing progressive periodontal bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to understand the mental health status of an understudied group of migrant children - children of migrant workers in China. A total of 1,466 children from Beijing participated in the study that compared migrant children (n = 1,019) to their local peers (n = 447) in public and private school settings. Results showed that overall, migrant children reported more internalizing and externalizing mental health problems and lower life satisfaction than local peers. However, public school attendance served as a protective factor for migrant children's mental health. The mental health status of migrant children attending public schools, including externalizing problems as well as friend and school satisfaction, was not different from local children. In addition, our data indicates that the protective effect of public school attendance for migrant children may be even more salient among girls than boys, and for younger children than older children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To explore general practitioners ( GPs)knowledge of ageing, attitudes towards older people and factors affecting their knowledge and attitudes in a Chinese context. Methods Four hundred GPs were surveyed using the Chinese version of the Aging Semantic Differential ( CASD) and the Chinese version of the Facts on Aging Quiz ( CFAQ1) scale. Results The CASD scores indicated that GPs had a neutral attitude towards older people. The CFAQ1 scores indicated a low level of knowledge about ageing. GPs' awareness of the mental and social facts of ageing was poorer compared to that of physical facts. Male GPs had a significantly higher negative bias score than female GPs. No other variables had a statistically significant influence on knowledge and attitudes. Conclusions The findings suggest the need for education interventions for GPs regarding knowledge of ageing and also provide evidence to guide future development of continuing medical programs for this group of medical doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been consistently demonstrated that initial exertion of self-control had negative influence on people's performance on subsequent self-control tasks. This phenomenon is referred to as the ego depletion effect. Based on action control theory, the current research investigated whether the ego depletion effect could be moderated by individuals' action versus state orientation. Our results showed that only state-oriented individuals exhibited ego depletion. For individuals with action orientation, however, their performance was not influenced by initial exertion of self-control. The beneficial effect of action orientation against ego depletion in our experiment results from its facilitation for adapting to the depleting task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multi-center, randomized, double-blind, multiple dose-escalation study was conducted to assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a newly developed polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, PEX168 once weekly in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Fifty patients aged 20-65 years, either treatment-naive or having been treated with single oral antidiabetic agents were eligible. Antidiabetic agents were stopped for 14 days before the study was initiated. Patients were allocated randomly into groups with subcutaneous PEX168 or placebo once-weekly for 8 weeks followed by 6 weeks observation. From baseline to 8 weeks, HbA1c were decreased by up to 0.0, 0.2, 0.6, 0.9, and −0.4% in the 50, 100, 200, 300 μg PEX168 groups, and placebo group respectively. The mean elimination half-life of PEX168 was 131.8-139.8 hours. The mean tmax was 67.3 hours. Steady-state plasma PEX168 concentrations were attained after 4 weeks. PEX168 once-weekly were tolerable by the patients: adverse effects reported ranged from 'mild' to 'moderate'. The most frequent drug-related adverse effects were nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea of mild to moderate severity. Administration of the PEG-conjugated GLP-1 receptor agonist PEX168 resulted in dose-proportional pharmacokinetic and antidiabetic pharmacodynamic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chewing-side preference ( CSP) may be associated with temporomandibular disorders. However, little information exists regarding whether CSP will lead to osseous changes of temporomandibular joint ( TMJ) in asymptomatic participants. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between osseous morphology of TMJ in asymptomatic participants with CSP and without CSP. Of the 121 healthy dentate participants, 35 participants with left CSP, 38 with right CSP and other 48 without CSP were scanned by cone-beam computed tomography. The dimensions of the reconstructed images of opposing TMJs were compared. Statistical analyses were performed using spss 16.0 software. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the dimensions of bilateral structures of the TMJ ( P1 > 0·05) in participants without CSP. However, the posterior-superior, posterior and lateral joint space of the preferred side were smaller than that of the unpreferred side in participants with CSP ( P2 < 0·01) and bilateral TMJ in participants without CSP ( P3 < 0·01). In addition, width of condylar neck of the unpreferred side both in sagittal and perpendicular to the long axis of condyle views was greater than that of the preferred side in participants with CSP ( P2 < 0·01) and bilateral TMJ of participants without CSP ( P4 < 0·01). Also, the inclination of articular eminence of the preferred side in view perpendicular to the long axis of condyle was less than that of the unpreferred side ( P2 < 0·05). These findings suggest CSP affects osseous morphology of TMJ in asymptomatic participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study was to investigate the correlation between ovarian chocolate cysts and serum carbohydrate antigen ( CA)-125 levels and to demonstrate the effect of ultrasound-guided interventional sclerotherapy ( UGIS) on serum CA-125 levels. Methods Based on the serum CA-125 level, as determined by chemiluminescence detection prior to UGIS, 105 patients with ovarian chocolate cysts were divided into the normal group ( CA-125 ≤ 35 U/mL, 45 patients) and the abnormal group (35 U/mL < CA-125 ≤ 200 U/mL, 60 patients). There were six clinical indicators including age, disease duration, dysmenorrhea history, child-bearing history, abortion history and surgical history. The ultrasonography characteristics were cyst diameter, cyst wall thickness and the side on which the cyst occurred. The correlations between serum CA-125 levels pretreatment and the clinical indicators and ultrasonography characteristics was analyzed. The serum CA-125 levels pretreatment, 3 months post-treatment and 6 months post-treatment were compared. Results The pretreatment serum CA-125 levels of the 105 patients positively correlated with disease duration ( r = 0.3932, P = 0.0040), dysmenorrhea history ( r = 0.2351, P = 0.0111), cyst diameter ( r = 0.3415, P < 0.0001) and cyst wall thickness ( r = 0.4263, P < 0.0001). Compared with the pretreatment level, the mean serum CA-125 level in the abnormal group at 3 months post-treatment was significantly lower ( P < 0.01), and at 6 months post-treatment, the mean serum CA-125 level had decreased to a normal level ( P < 0.01). Conclusion UGIS significantly decreased abnormal serum CA-125 levels in patients with ovarian chocolate cysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced neural activation have been consistently observed during repeated items processing, a phenomenon termed repetition suppression. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI) to investigate whether and how stimuli of emotional valence affects repetition suppression by adopting Chinese personality-trait words as materials. Seventeen participants were required to read the negative and neutral Chinese personality-trait words silently. And then they were presented with repeated and novel items during scanning. Results showed significant repetition suppression in the inferior occipital gyrus only for neutral personality-trait words, whereas similar repetition suppression in the left inferior temporal gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus was revealed for both the word types. These results indicated common and distinct neural substrates during processing Chinese repeated negative and neutral personality-trait words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study was designed to investigate the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of inflammatory dental pulp stem cells (i DPSCs). Materials and Methods inflammatory DPSCs were isolated from the inflammatory pulps of rat incisors and cocultured with MTA-conditioned medium. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the proliferation of i DPSCs. Alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) activity, alizarin red staining, real-time RT- PCR, and Western blot assay were used to investigate the differentiation capacity as well as the involvement of NF-κB pathway in i DPSCs. Results Mineral trioxide aggregate-treated i DPSCs demonstrated the higher ALP activity and formed more mineralized nodules than the untreated group. The odonto/osteoblastic markers ( Alp, Runx2/RUNX2, Osx/OSX, Ocn/OCN, and Dspp/DSP, respectively) in MTA-treated i DPSCs were significantly upregulated as compared with untreated i DPSCs. Mechanistically, cytoplastic phos-P65 and nuclear P65 in MTA-treated i DPSCs were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibition of NF-κB pathway suppressed the MTA-induced odonto/osteoblastic differentiation of i DPSCs, as indicated by decreased ALP levels, weakened mineralization capacity and downregulated levels of odonto/osteoblastic genes ( Osx, Ocn, and Dspp). Conclusions Mineral trioxide aggregate enhances the odonto/osteogenic capacity of DPSCs from inflammatory sites via activating the NF-κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To evaluate the direct effects of periodontal therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD) patients with chronic periodontitis ( CP). Materials and Methods In a pilot randomized controlled trial, 60 COPD patients with CP were randomly assigned to receive scaling and root planing ( SRP) treatment, supragingival scaling treatment, or oral hygiene instructions only with no periodontal treatment. We evaluated their periodontal indexes, respiratory function, and COPD exacerbations at baseline, 6 months, 1, and 2 years. Results Compared with the control group, measurements of periodontal indexes were significantly improved in patients in two treatment groups at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up (all p < 0.05). Overall, the means of forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity ( FEV1/ FVC) and FEV1 were significantly higher in the two therapy groups compared with the control group during the follow-up ( p < 0.05). In addition, the frequencies of COPD exacerbation were significantly lower in the two therapy groups than in the control group at 2-year follow-up ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Our preliminary results from this pilot trial suggest that periodontal therapy in COPD patients with CP may improve lung function and decrease the frequency of COPD exacerbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The study aims to evaluate the change of related subgingival periodontopathogens among different stage of gingivitis in adolescent and assess the relationship between periodontopathogens and the progression of periodontal inflammation. Methods A total of 77 subgingival plaque samples from 35 adolescent individuals were divided into three groups including gingivitis group (mild, 15 samples; moderate, 16 samples; severe, 15 samples), chronic periodontitis group (15 samples) and healthy group (15 samples). Real-time PCR was used to quantitate Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum in subgingival plaque samples. Results All species, except for F. nucleatum, were detected in samples from gingivitis and periodontitis groups in significantly greater number than in those from healthy group ( P < 0.05). In gingivitis groups, the number of P. gingivalis, T. forsythensis, and F. nucleatum in moderate and severe gingivitis groups was significantly higher than in mild gingivitis group ( P < 0.05). After merging moderate gingivitis and severe gingivitis groups into moderate-to-severe gingivitis group, the four periodontopathogens were detected in samples from periodontitis group in significantly greater number than in those from moderate-to-severe gingivitis group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion The number of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, T. forsythensis, and F. nucleatum in subgingival plaque increases with progression of periodontal inflammation in adolescents. Examination of periodontopathogens number in adolescents may be of some value for monitoring of periodontal disease development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the short-term stability of free fluoride ion concentrations and acidity (p H values) of three commercially available SDF solutions over time. Methods Three SDF products for caries control were studied: Cariestop-12%, Cariestop-30% and Saforide-38%. Their expected fluoride ion concentrations were 14,200, 35,400 and 44,800 ppm, respectively. The fluoride ion concentrations were determined with an ion-selective electrode. The acidity was determined with a p H electrode. The measurements were performed when open and at 7 and 28 days. Results The mean fluoride ion concentrations of the freshly opened bottles were 12,525 ± 450, 13,200 ± 2060 and 55,800 ± 2536 ppm, respectively. The mean pH values were 9.4 ± 0.1, 10.4 ± 0.1 and 10.2 ± 0.2, respectively. No significant change ( P > 0.05) in the fluoride ion concentrations or the acidity was detected after 7 or 28 days. Conclusion The three SDF tested solutions were alkaline. The fluoride ion concentrations of Cariestop-30% and Saforide-38% were considerably different. The fluoride ion concentrations and acidity of the products demonstrated a short-term stability over 28 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 741-747 Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the expression of N-Glycolyl GM3 (NeuGcGM3) ganglioside in oral mucosal melanomas. Materials and Methods: To assess the presence of cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) mRNA, an RT-PCR assay was performed in melanoma cell line (ME), an oral mucosal ME, and two fresh oral mucosal melanoma tissues. Expression of NeuGcGM3 ganglioside was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 44 primary oral mucosal melanomas and 10 oral melanotic nevi. Also, the expression of NeuGcGM3 was examined in ME by immunocytochemistry. Results: We first checked the expression of CMAH in ME and two fresh oral mucosal melanoma tissues. Presence of NeuGcGM3 ganglioside was evident in 37 of 44 cases (84.1%), showing a diffuse cytoplasmic and membranous staining. Patients with primary occurrence showed high levels of NeuGcGM3 ganglioside compared to patients with secondary occurrence. On the other hand, negative immunoreaction was evidenced in oral melanotic nevi. ME also presented the expression of NeuGcGM3 by immunocytochemistry. Conclusions: In this work, we for the first time evaluated the expression of 14F7 MAb immunorecognition in oral mucosal melanomas. Our results were in agreement with the assumption that NeuGcGM3 ganglioside may be considered as target for passive and active immunotherapy in oral mucosal melanomas expressing this molecule and indicate less risk of recurrence and a better prognosis. Moreover, ME provides a platform for more studies on the specific function of NeuGcGM3 in oral mucosal melanomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 586-594 Objective: To assess the effect of two oral bacteria Streptococcus sanguinis and Porphyromonas gingivalis upon platelet aggregation. Materials and Methods: Streptococcus sanguinis, P. gingivalis, S. sanguniis + P. gingivalis were added to platelet-rich plasma and platelet aggregation measured using a platelet aggregometer. Platelets were passed through a flow chamber with S. sanguinis, P. gingivalis or a biofilm of S. sanguinis and P. gingivalis coated with saliva. Platelet adhesion to the chamber was observed under a fluorescence microscope for 15 min. The positive control was platelets treated with adrenaline; the negative control was platelets treated with phosphate-buffered saline. Results: The mean (± s.e.) aggregation magnitude of S. sanguinis and P. gingivalis was 77.7 ± 7.4% and 79.3 ± 9.9%, respectively. The aggregation magnitude of S. sanguinis + P. gingivalis was 51.3 ± 12.9%, which was significantly lower than that for S. sanguinis/ P. gingivalis ( P < 0.05). In the flow chamber system, platelets adhered to S. sanguinis/P.gingivalis respectively within 3 min, and reached a plateau at 5-15 min. Under the condition of the S. sanguinis- and P. gingivalis-saliva biofilm, platelet adhesion to the biofilm was significantly reduced at 5-15 min ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: In the static or dynamic flow system, platelets adhered to S. sanguinis or P. gingivalis. However, if S. sanguinis was mixed with P. gingivalis, the aggregation magnitude (%) was significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine vitamin D status and its association with physical performance and muscle mass in older Chinese men. Design Cross-sectional and prospective cohort study design. Setting Hong Kong, People's of Republic of China. Participants Nine hundred thirty-nine community-dwelling men aged 65 and older for cross-sectional analysis and 714 for longitudinal analysis. Measurements Baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD) was measured using a competitive radioimmunoassay kit. Baseline and 4-year physical performance measures (grip strength, 6-m walking speed, step length in a 6-m walk, time to complete five chair stands) were measured, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass ( ASM) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data were collected for confounding factors: demographic, number of diseases, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, physical activity, diet, season of blood sampling, and serum parathyroid hormone ( PTH) level. Multivariate regression analyses were performed with adjustments for confounding factors. Results Mean ± standard deviation serum 25 OHD level of this sample of Chinese community-dwelling older men who had a high level of baseline physical function was 77.9 ± 20.5 nmol/L; 94.1% of participants had serum 25 OHD levels of 50 nmol/L or greater. Median (interquartile range) serum PTH level was 4.1 pmol/L (3.1-5.5 pmol/L). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, serum 25 OHD levels were not associated with baseline or 4-year change in physical performance measures and ASM. Conclusion In Chinese older men who are vitamin D replete and have a high level of baseline physical function, vitamin D may not have an important role in physical function and muscle mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Women choosing breast cancer surgery encounter treatment decision-making (TDM) difficulties, which can cause psychological distress. Decision Aids (DAs) may facilitate TDM, but there are no DAs designed for Chinese populations. We developed a DA for Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, for use during the initial surgical consultation. Aims Conduct a pilot study to assess the DA acceptability and utility among Chinese women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods Women preferred the DA in booklet format. A booklet was developed and revised and evaluated in two consecutive pilot studies (P1 and P2). On concluding their initial diagnostic consultation, 95 and 38 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer received the draft and revised draft DA booklet, respectively. Four-day post-consultation, women had questionnaires read out to them and to which they responded assessing attitudes towards the DA and their understanding of treatment options. Results The original DA was read/partially read by 66/22% ( n = 84) of women, whilst the revised version was read/partially read by 74/16% ( n = 35), including subliterate women (χ2 = 0.76, P = 0.679). Knowledge scores varied with the extent the booklet was read (P1: F = 12.68, d.f. 2, P < 0.001; P2: F = 3.744, d.f. 2, P = 0.034). The revised, shorter version was graphically rich and resulted in improved perceived utility, [except for the 'treatment options' (χ2 = 5.50, P = 0.019) and 'TDM guidance' (χ2 = 8.19, P = 0.004) sections] without increasing anxiety ( F = 0.689, P = 0.408; F = 3.45, P = 0.073). Conclusion The DA was perceived as acceptable and useful for most women. The DA effectiveness is currently being evaluated using a randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2011; 21: 422-431 Background. The genotypic diversity of both Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in children with different caries experience remains unclear. Aim. To investigate the genotypic diversity of S. mutans and S. sobrinus in children with severe early childhood caries (SECC) and in caries-free (CF) children. Methods. Stimulated saliva of 87 SECC and 91 CF children aged 3-4 years was collected and submitted to cultivation, and MS colonies were enumerated. The genomic fingerprint analysis of S. mutans and S. sobrinus was carried out using AP-PCR. Results. One to five genotypes of S. mutans were colonized in an oral cavity of SECC and CF children; 85.5% SECC children and 57.9% CF children harboured more than one genotype of S. mutans. One to three genotypes of S. sobrinus were detected from each SECC child; 31.25% SECC children harboured more than one genotype of S. sobrinus. And one genotype was colonized in each CF child. S. mutans isolates from different individuals displayed distinctive DNA fingerprints. Conclusions. DNA fingerprints of S. mutans and S. sobrinus isolates from 3- to 4-year-old children displayed genetic polymorphism, and S. mutans has greater genetic diversity than S. sobrinus. SECC children harboured more genotypes of S. mutans and S. sobrinus than CF children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wong HM, McGrath CPJ, King NM. Rasch validation of the early childhood oral health impact scale. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39: 449-457. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract - Objectives: The early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS), a proxy measure to assess the impact of oral health problems and on the quality of life of preschool children and their families, has been translated into Chinese and validated employing the classical test theory. However, some invariable problems are related to this theory. The objective of this study was to assess the metric properties of the ECOHIS by applying the item response theory. Methods: A random sample of 1296 Chinese preschool children in Hong Kong participated in the study and were subjected to an oral examination for their caries status. Their parents were asked to respond to the ECOHIS and an extra set of questions concerning their socio-demographic backgrounds. The collected data were analysed using Rasch model. Results: The obtained results support the interpretation of adequate total fit of persons and items, because the mean infit MNSQ (1.08) and outfit MNSQ (0.94) for persons, and the mean infit MNSQ (0.99) and outfit MNSQ (0.94) for items, are within the acceptable ranges (0.6-1.4). The difficulty spread of the items was between −0.81 and 1.96 logits, and the levels of respondents spanned from −5.56 to 6.72 logits on the person-item map. The spread of respondents was skewed and mistargeting, between the items and respondents, was confirmed. Combination of responses of 'often' and 'very often' was suggested because of their flat probability showing on the characteristic curves. Conclusions: Rasch model has been shown to be a feasible and practicable way of assessing the metric properties of the ECOHIS. The results allow the use of ECOHIS to be recommended for clinical research in oral health-related quality of life in young children with minor modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of family-friendly policies (child-care benefits and work flexibility benefits) on organizational commitment and work-family conflict in four developing countries: China, India, Kenya, and Thailand. We also explored the boundary condition (e.g., perceived importance of family-friendly programmes) under which family-friendly policies are more (or less) effective in influencing organizational commitment and reducing work-family conflict. Results revealed national similarities on the effect of flexibility benefits on organizational commitment and work-family conflict. Specifically, we found that across the four countries work flexibility-related family-friendly policy was positively related to organizational commitment and negatively to perceived work-family conflict among those who perceived this policy as more important than less important. Instead, national variations are found in the results regarding child-care benefits. Among these four countries, Kenya and Thailand are two countries in which child-care-related family-friendly policies showed a significant and positive relationship with organizational commitment and/or a significant and negative relationship with work-family conflict. We also found child-care-related family-friendly policies had differential effect among people with various perception of policy importance in Kenya and Thailand, but not in China and India. Particularly, child-care-related family-friendly policy results in greater organizational commitment and lower work-family conflict among those who perceived this policy as more important than less important in Kenya and Thailand. Implications for cross-cultural research, theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]