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This prospective study examined the longitudinal effects of psychological resilience on depression in a Chinese sample of left-behind children. A total of 386 left-behind children completed both a baseline and a 1-year follow-up survey. The prevalence of depression at the baseline and 1-year follow-up was 12.7 and 8.5 per cent, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age and baseline depressive symptoms were positively associated with follow-up depression, while psychological resilience and quality of life were negatively related to follow-up depression. Our findings provided preliminary evidence that higher psychological resilience was a significantly protective factor of developing depression among left-behind children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood has been targeted as an especially important period for self-esteem formation. The aim of this study is to examine the change and associated factors of self-esteem among children in rural China. A two-year longitudinal study was conducted with a general elementary and secondary school population in Anhui Province, China including 816 children aged between 7 and 16 years. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine relationships between low self-esteem and socio-demographic, family environment, and psychosocial factors. On average, self-esteem level among children was increased across three assessments. Multivariable analysis (GEE) showed that low self-esteem in children was clearly associated with male gender (OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.12–1.89), moderate and severe family dysfunction (OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.40–2.51; OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.25–2.83, respectively), quality of life (OR = .97, 95%CI = .96–.98), depression (OR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.32–2.70), anxiety (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.51–2.77), positive coping styles (OR = .91, 95%CI = .89–.94), and negative coping styles (OR = 1.05, 95%CI = 1.03–1.07). Self-esteem is a dynamic rather than a static construct during childhood. Low self-esteem among children was associated with a number of socio-demographic, family environment, and psychosocial factors. Further studies exploring the pathways and mechanisms by which the effect of these factors impact on self-esteem among children are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Anhui, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit HIV-positive MSM in Anhui, China. A total of 184 HIV-positive MSM gave informed consent and completed the interview. Correlates of suicidal ideation were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Fifty-seven (31%) of HIV-positive MSM had suicidal ideations within six months before the interview. Multivariable analyses showed that learning of their HIV status in the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.6–7.3), perceived HIV stigma (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1–5.2), depression symptoms (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.1–5.9) and anxiety symptoms (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2–6.1) were significantly associated with the suicidal ideation among HIV-positive MSM. The results indicated that suicidal ideation was common among HIV-positive MSM in Anhui, China. There is an urgent need to establish psychological counselling services among HIV-positive MSM in China. Targeting of these potential risk factors could be an effective approach to reduce the suicide risk among this high-risk subgroup by the implementation of early intervention measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the initial lead 4-phenylthiazole 18, a modest HCV inhibitor (EC 50 = 9440 nM), a series of structurally related thiazole derivatives has been identified as a novel chemical class of potent and selective HCV NS5A inhibitors. The introduction of a carboxamide group between the thiazole and pyrrolidine ring (42) of compound 18 resulted in a dramatic increase in activity (EC 50 = 0.92 nM). However, 42 showed only moderate pharmacokinetic properties and limited oral bioavalability of 18.7% in rats. Further optimization of the substituents at the 4-position of the thiazole ring and pyrrolidine nitrogen of the lead compound 42 led to the identification of compound 57, a highly potent and selective NS5A inhibitor of HCV (EC 50 = 4.6 nM), with greater therapeutic index (CC 50 /EC 50 > 10000). Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that compound 57 had a superior oral exposure and desired bioavailability of 45% after oral administration in rats.

Objective: To investigate the expression of B7 co-stimulatory molecules in human multiple myeloma (MM) and the immunoregulatory effects of thalidomide on B7.1 co-stimulator., Methods: The immunoregulatory effects of thalidomide on the expression of B7-1 in human MM cell line was examined by detecting the changes in the expression of B7 co-stimulator on the cells using flow cytometry following the drug treatment., Results: The expression of B7.1 co-stimulator was lowly expressed in human MM cell line and MM patients, with a positivity rate of 0.8 and (2.19-/+2.13) for B7.1 and a rate of 26.4 and (30.28-/+28.11) for B7.2, respectively. Compared with the control group, the thalidomide-treated cells showed significantly increased percentage of CD-80 positive cells in a dose-dependent manner (but not at 0.1 microg/ml) (P<0.01), with the highest percentage reaching (17.7-/+1.53)% at thalidomide concentration of 5 microg/ml., Conclusion: MM cells express low or undetectable levels of B7.1. Thalidomide can up-regulate the expression of B7-1 molecules on myeloma cells, which is probably one of the therapeutic mechanisms of thalidomide.

The study was purposed to explore the changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells in patients with multiple myeloma before and (MM) after treatment with thalidomide so as to provide evidences for effective immunotherapy. The population of CD3(+) T, CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, NK and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg in patients with MM were detected by flow cytometry. Statistical significance of differences in different groups was determined by using the t test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The results showed that the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+ high) T in patients with MM was significantly higher than that of the healthy donors (p > 0.01). The population of CD4(+)CD25(+ high) Treg cells in patients with response to thalidomide was significantly decreased (p < 0.01), but the population of these cells in patients without response not changed significantly (p > 0.05), as compared with patients before treatment. In 16 patients who achieved complete remission after chemotherapy, the population of CD4(+)CD25(+ high) T was 6.91 +/- 1.12%, which was slightly higher than that before treatment. The population of CD3(+) T, CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, NK and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg significantly increased in patients with positive response to thalidomide, but the population of CD8(+) T remained unchanged. It is concluded that the significant increase of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with MM is concerned with the MM pathogenesis; thalidomide may exert its anti-MM effects by down-regulating CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg.

The study was purposed to develop a novel cryopreserved agent (CPA) for platelets, to investigate the morphology of cryopreserved platelets in different CPA and the CD62P expression on membrane of platelets after stimulating by thrombin, as well as to compare the effect of adding UDP-Gal on preserved efficiency of preservation solutions. A novel cryopreserved agent consisting of 2% DMSO, thrombosol and UDP-Gal was developed on basis of using higher concentration of DMSO. The morphology of chilled platelets was observed by transmission electron microscope and compared with fresh platelets. The expression of CD62P on the membrane of platelets was detected at 0, l, 3 months. The results indicated that the significant effect of cryopreservation on morphology of platelets was found according to percentages of round, dendritic and irregular shapes of cryopreserved platelets. The protective effects of 2% DMSO + thrombosol and 2% DMSO + thrombosol + UDP-Gal were better than that of 5% DMSO. Compared with fresh platelets, the expression of CD62P on platelet membrane decreased obviously after cryopreservation, but not observed difference at preservation for 1 month and 3 months, as well as among 3 kinds of different CPA. It is concluded that the protective effects of 2% DMSO + thrombosol and 2% DMSO + thrombosol + UDP-Gal on morphology of platelets are similar, but better than that 5% DMSO. The reaction of cryopreserved platelets to thrombin decreases, while the significant difference is not found among these 3 kinds of CPA. The addition of UDP-Gal to cryopreserved agents not show the protective effect on platelets.

This study was purposed to investigate the effects of thalidomide on proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs), levels of lymphocyte subsets, secretion of cytokines and its killing activity, and to elucidate the immunoregulation mechanisms in treatment of multiple myeloma with thalidomide. The method of MTT was used to detect the effects of thalidomide on the proliferations and the cytotoxic activity of PBMNC; the flow cytometer was used to analyze the lymphocyte subsets; the ELISA was used to measure the concentrations of cytokines in culture supernatants. The results showed that thalidomide enhanced the proliferations of the CD8+ T, NK cells in PHA-stimulated PBMNC from healthy volunteers, increased the secretion of IL-6 significantly, and decreased the secretion of IFN-gamma, and the secretions of IL-2 and IL-10 were not affected. Compared with control group, at the same ratio of effectors to targets the thalidomide (5 microg/ml) could enhance the cytotoxic activity of PBMNC (P < 0.01), the cytotoxic activity was maximal when the ratio of effectors to targets was 40:1. It is concluded that thalidomide preferentially enhances the proliferations of CD8+ T, NK cells in PHA-stimulated PBMNC from healthy volunteers, and enhances the cytotoxic activity of PBMNC by increasing the secretion of IL-6 significantly, in short, thalidomide can exert anti-myeloma effects by increasing cellular immune function.