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Child abuse is a significant public health issue that can affect children's physical and mental health. However, few studies have examined rural Chinese left-behind children. The role of social cohesion of rural Chinese communities in the prevention of child abuse remains understudied. The present study aims to investigate certain factors that could reduce child abuse problems, placing a special focus on the protective role of social cohesion, especially for left-behind rural children. Data were collected from a sample of 1,049 school-aged rural children from the largest middle school in China's Henan Province. It was found that social cohesion directly affected physical abuse and emotional abuse; furthermore, social cohesion was more significantly associated with emotional abuse, whereas sexual abuse was a more significant issue for left-behind children than for those living with their parents. However, the moderating effect of the left-behind status on the association between social cohesion and physical abuse was not significant. Our findings suggest that social cohesion is an important factor for preventing emotional and sexual abuse. Thus, it is necessary to enhance social cohesion in rural Chinese communities with left-behind children to reduce their risk of experiencing child abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goiters are enlargements of the thyroid gland and are a global public issue. Quemeiteng granule (QMTG) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat goiter in Yunnan Province. However, the effectiveness and underlying mechanism of these treatments have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of QMTG on goiter and the downstream regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we first evaluated the antigoiter efficacy of QMTG through biochemical indices [body weight, thyroid coefficient, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)] and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining in a Propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced model. Based on microRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis, key miRNA was screened out. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the transcriptional regulation of the target gene by the miRNA. The viability of rat thyroid microvascular endothelial cells (RTMECs) and human thyroid microvascular endothelial cells (HTMECs) was assessed using the CCK-8 assays. The migration and angiogenesis of RTMECs and HTMECs were visualized through tube formation and wound scratch assays. Proteins involved in angiogenesis and the ERK pathway were assessed via Western blotting. QMTG significantly increased body weight, decreased the thyroid coefficient, increased the levels of T3, T4, FT3 and FT4 and reduced TSH levels in rats with goiter. QMTG also promoted the morphological recovery of thyroid follicles. MiR-217-5p was identified as a key miRNA. Our studies revealed that miR-217-5p directly targets FGF2 and that QMTG promotes the recovery of thyroid hormone (TH) levels and morphological changes in the thyroid, suppresses thyroid microvascular endothelial cell vitality, tube formation and migration, and reduces the expression of VEGF, Ang-1 and VCAM-1 triggered by miR-217-5p, thereby inhibiting the Ras/MEK/ERK cascade through FGF2. Our experiments demonstrated that the QMTG had therapeutic effects on goiter. These effects were attributed to the inhibition of ERK pathway-induced proliferation and angiogenesis through the targeting of FGF2 by miR-217-5p. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]