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Bullying victimization has been linked to an elevated risk of both internalizing and externalizing problems, yet the mechanisms underlying these associations, especially from the perspective of naturally occurring informal cliques, are not well understood. Based on two contrasting hypotheses from the healthy context paradox and the peer contagion hypothesis, the current 2-year longitudinal study (a) investigated the interaction effects of individual victimization (i.e., physical, verbal, and relational forms) and clique victimization norms on their reactive-proactive aggression and (b) examined whether they were distinct to these effects on depressive symptoms. Both self-reported and peer-nominated surveys were administrated to 691 junior high school students (55.6% boys; M age = 12.74, SD = 0.43 years) who were identified from 153 cliques (M size = 5.08, SD = 1.89) using a social cognitive map, at two time points 2 years apart. Multilevel modeling indicated that both physical and relational victims (except verbal victims) at baseline committed more reactive forms of aggression (not proactive forms) in cliques with lower victimization norms 2 years later. Similarly, physical victims in lower-victimization cliques reported more depressive symptoms 2 years later. Additionally, these significant results were found in self-reported forms of victimization, but not peer-nominated forms. These findings confirm the healthy context paradox in both individual internalizing and externalizing problems in clique contexts, and elaborate this paradox on different forms of victimization, which provide a more nuanced understanding and have important implications in the field of anti-bullying interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine is effective for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but has limited use in clinic. This study aims to evaluate the effect of berberine combined with stachyose on glycolipid metabolism and gut microbiota and to explore the underlying mechanisms in diabetic rats. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats were orally administered berberine, stachyose and berberine combined with stachyose once daily for 69 days. The oral glucose tolerance and levels of blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride and total cholesterol were determined. The gut microbial profile, colonic miRNA and gene expression were assayed using Illumina sequencing. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the expression of differentially expressed miRNAs and genes. Repeated treatments with berberine alone and combined with stachyose significantly reduced the blood glucose, improved the impaired glucose tolerance, and increased the abundance of beneficial Akkermansiaceae , decreased that of pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae in ZDF rats. Furthermore, combined treatment remarkably decreased the abundances of Desulfovibrionaceae and Proteobacteria in comparison to berberine. Combined treatment evidently decreased the expression of intestinal early growth response protein 1 (Egr1) and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (Hbegf), and significantly increased the expression of miR-10a-5p, but berberine alone not. Berberine combined with stachyose significantly improved glucose metabolism and reshaped gut microbiota in ZDF rats, especially decreased the abundance of pathogenic Desulfovibrionaceae and Proteobacteria compared to berberine alone, providing a novel strategy for treating T2DM. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with regulating the expression of intestinal Egr1 , Hbegf and miR-10a-5p, but remains further elucidation. Repeated treatments with berberine in combination with stachyose significantly improves glycometabolism and reshaped gut microbiota profile in diabetic ZDF rats, and this is partly mediated by regulating colonic miR-10a-5p, Erg1 and Hbegf expression. [Display omitted] • Berberine plus stachyose improves glycometabolism, shapes microbiota in diabetic rat. • Berberine plus stachyose increases colonic miR-10a-5p expression in diabetic rat. • Berberine plus stachyose decreases colonic Egr1 and Hbegf expression in diabetic rat. • Changes of miR-10a-5p, Egr1 and Hbegf explain effects of berberine plus stachyose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family violence as an inducing factor of depressive symptoms has been confirmed in previous studies. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood, particularly in Chinese adolescents. Guided by the social-ecological diathesis-stress model, this three-wave longitudinal study aimed to examine the effects of an individual's cognitive vulnerabilities (rejection-sensitivity anxiety and negative cognitive error) and positive societal contexts (peer support) on the link between family violence and depressive symptoms in Chinese society. A total of 859 Chinese adolescents (44.35 % female; M age = 12.73, SD = 0.43 at baseline) completed self-reporting surveys that assessed variables associated with study and peer-nominated peer support. The results showed that family violence increased the incidence of depressive symptoms in adolescents after two years, resulting in rejection-sensitivity anxiety and negative cognitive error. Surprisingly, higher self-reported peer support, although not peer-nominated support, exacerbated rather than mitigated this indirect effect, supporting the reverse stress-buffering model and extending the healthy context paradox. Most of the measures were based on participants' self-reports. These results emphasize the importance of individual cognition and societal contexts in adolescents with traumatic experiences and provide empirical evidence for the intervention and clinical treatment of depressive symptoms. • The experience of family violence at baseline significantly predicted adolescent depressive symptoms two years later. • Family violence increased adolescent depressive symptoms 2 years later via cognitive vulnerabilities. • Higher self-reported peer support exacerbated this indirect effect between family violence and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal cross-lagged research attempts to examine the directions of relations between Internet addiction and both internalizing and externalizing problems, with attention to the potential moderating effects of peer relationships and gender. 897 Chinese junior middle school students (56.97% boys, M age = 12.73 years, SD = 0.42) completed self-reported Internet addiction, depressive symptoms, and peer-nominated aggressive behavior at two time points, one year apart, as well as self-reported friend support/conflict and positive/delinquent peers at baseline. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that adolescents' Internet addiction would elevate both depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior over time, rather than vice versa. Furthermore, friend conflict (rather than support) moderated these unidirectional relationships that when individuals perceived lower friend conflict, these links were no longer significant. Moreover, similar results were found for adolescents who possessed more positive peers or fewer delinquent peers. In addition, gender differences were found that addicted boys were more vulnerable to aggressive behavior, while addicted girls were more vulnerable to depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that establishing and maintaining good peer social networks would help adolescents keep away from the harmful impacts of Internet overuse on maladjustment. • Adolescents' Internet addiction would elevate both depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior over time, but not vice versa. • Peer relationships played salutary roles in the effects of Internet addiction on internalizing and externalizing problems. • Higher friend conflict would make addicted adolescents more vulnerable to internalizing and externalizing problems. • Affiliation with more positive peers or less delinquent peers protected addicted adolescents from aggressive behavior. • Due to overindulge in the Internet, boys were prone to aggression, whereas girls were prone to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morus alba L. (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) tablets have been approved by the China National Medical Products Administration for T2DM treatment. Our previous study (Liu et al., 2021) revealed that SZ-A protected against diabetes and inflammation in KKAy mice. However, the mechanism and components in SZ-A exerting anti-inflammatory effects are unclear. Investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of SZ-A on inflammation, and identify anti-inflammatory active components in SZ-A. The major ingredients in SZ-A were analyzed by HPLC and sulfuric acid - anthrone spectrophotometry. The inhibitory activities of SZ-A on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation were determined in bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) and RAW264.7 cells. The cytokine levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gene expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by qRT-PCR. The levels of protein phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK were analyzed by Western blot. The main components in SZ-A were found to be 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol (DAB), fagomine (FAG), polysaccharide (APS), and arginine (ARG). SZ-A reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α secreted by LPS-induced RAW264.7 and BMDM cells. Simultaneously, the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were all significantly suppressed by SZ-A in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, SZ-A inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK in BMDM and the activation of ERK and JNK signaling in RAW264.7 cells. We also observed that DNJ, DAB, FAG, and ARG markedly downregulated IL-6 and TNF-α cytokine levels, while APS did not have an obvious effect. SZ-A attenuates inflammation at least partly by blocking the activation of p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK signaling pathways. DNJ, FAG, DAB, and ARG are the main constituents in SZ-A that exert anti-inflammatory effects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]