Promoter Hypomethylation of miR-124 Gene Is Associated With Major Depressive Disorder.

Based on our previous studies and other evidence, miR-124 is an important biomarker and therapeutic target for major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to clarify the role of miR-124 methylation in MDD and antidepressant effects from the perspective of epigenetics. MethylTarget™ was used to detect methylation levels of the three miR-124 precursor genes (MIR124-1, MIR124-2, and MIR124-3) in 33 pre- and post-treatment MDD patients and 33 healthy controls.

The Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depression-like Behaviors in Mice.

Peripheral inflammation plays a key role in the development of depression-like behaviors. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. Here, we found that the level of citrullinated histone H3 (cit-H3) significantly increased in the plasma of wildtype mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which indicated that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were formed.

Burnout and job satisfaction of psychiatrists in China: a nationwide survey.

Background: Despite a significant shortage of psychiatrists in China, an ever-increasing number of psychiatrists in China are experiencing burnout and job dissatisfaction and considering leaving their jobs. Yet, to our knowledge, there have been no nationwide studies to date that examined both burnout and job dissatisfaction of psychiatrists in China. Therefore, this study evaluated burnout and job dissatisfaction of psychiatrists in China, and identified relevant characteristics.

Public Stigma of COVID-19 and Its Correlates in the General Population of China.

This study aimed to examine the profile of COVID-19-related public stigma and its correlates in the general population of China. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in China from 7 May to 25 May in 2020. A total of 1212 participants from the general population completed the survey measuring their stigmatizing attitudes towards COVID-19, as well as knowledge and causal attributions of COVID-19.

The Effect of Yijinjing on the Cognitive Function of Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia.

Patients with chronic schizophrenia present cognitive impairment, which affects their social function and prevents them from reintegrating into society. Yijinjing is a traditional Chinese aerobic exercise that has a putative psychosomatic effect on improving cognitive function. From January to May 2021, 40 patients with chronic schizophrenia were recruited and randomly divided into a control group and a Yijinjing group.

Sex differences between serum total bilirubin levels and cognition in patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Cognitive deficits are common in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). Abnormal serum total bilirubin (TBIL) levels have been involved in cognitive deficits associated with neuropsychiatric diseases such as mild cognitive impairment and subcortical ischemic vascular disease. However, this relationship has not yet been fully investigated in patients with SCZ.

Chinese mental health workers' family-focused practices: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Mental disorders impose heavy burdens on patients' families and children. It is imperative to provide family-focused services to avoid adverse effects from mental disorders on patients' families and children. However, implementing such services requires a great deal of involvement of mental health workers.

Genetic risk of clozapine-induced leukopenia and neutropenia: a genome-wide association study.

Background: Clozapine is considered to be the most effective antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia. However, it is associated with several adverse effects such as leukopenia, and the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. The authors performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a Chinese population to identify genetic markers for clozapine-induced leukopenia (CIL) and clozapine-induced neutropenia (CIN).

Reversible Changes in BDNF Expression in MK-801-Induced Hippocampal Astrocytes Through NMDAR/PI3K/ERK Signaling.

Dizocilpine (MK-801), a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDA-R) antagonist, can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms in healthy individuals, implicating NMDA-R hypofunction in disease pathogenesis. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is also implicated in schizophrenia, and expression is regulated by NMDA-R activity, suggesting a functional link. We previously found that BDNF signaling was upregulated by MK-801 in cultured hippocampal astrocytes, but the underlying mechanism is not clear.

The Prevalence of Psychological Status During the COVID-19 Epidemic in China: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The COVID-19 is creating panic among people around the world and is causing a huge public mental health crisis. Large numbers of observational studies focused on the prevalence of psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic were published. It is essential to conduct a meta-analysis of the prevalence of different psychological statuses to insight the psychological reactions of general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Network pharmacology-based exploration of therapeutic mechanism of Liu-Yu-Tang in atypical antipsychotic drug-induced metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is prevalent in patients receiving atypical antipsychotic drugs (AADs), but there are few effective interventions. The Traditional Chinese herbal decoction Liu-Yu-Tang (LYT) has achieved clinical improvement for AAD-induced MetS, but its pharmacological mechanism remains unclear.

Method: A network pharmacology-based method was utilized in this study.

Acute psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak among psychiatric professionals in China: a multicentre, cross-sectional, web-based study.

Objectives: To assess the magnitude of mental health outcomes and associated factors among psychiatric professionals in mental health services during COVID-19 in China.

Design, Setting And Participants: This cross-sectional, survey-based, region-stratified study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from psychiatric professionals in 34 hospitals between 29 January and 7 February 2020, in China. Hospitals equipped with fever clinics or deployed on wards for patients with COVID-19 were eligible.

Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Community-Based Addiction Rehabilitation Electronic System in Substance Use Disorder: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Drug use disorder has high potential for relapse and imposes an enormous burden on public health in China. Since the promulgation of the Anti-drug law in 2008, community-based rehabilitation has become the primary approach to treat drug addiction. However, multiple problems occurred in the implementation process, leading to a low detoxification rate in the community.

The efficacy of escitalopram in major depressive disorder: a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study.

The aim of the study was to conduct a multicenter randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of a generic form of escitalopram in treating major depressive disorder (MDD). A total of 390 MDD patients admitted to hospitals in six cities in China were randomized to receive the generic version of escitalopram, the proprietary form of escitalopram (Lexapro) or placebo. During the 8-week treatment, the Hamilton rating scale for depression-17 (HAM-D17), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI), current visual analogue scale pain levels (VAS-P1) and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) assessments were performed at week 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 to evaluate treatment responses.

A Random Forest Model for Predicting Social Functional Improvement in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia After 3 Months of Atypical Antipsychotic Monopharmacy: A Cohort Study.

Purpose: Impaired social functions contribute to the burden of schizophrenia patients and their families, but predictive tools of social functioning prognosis and specific factors are undefined in Chinese clinical practice. This article explores a machine learning tool to identify whether patients will achieve significant social functional improvement after 3 months of atypical antipsychotic monopharmacy and finds the defined risk factors using a multicenter clinical study.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter study on atypical antipsychotic (AAP) treatment in Chinese patients with schizophrenia (SALT-C) was conducted from July 2011 to August 2018.

Safety and related factors of treatment with long-term atypical antipsychotic in Chinese patients with schizophrenia: observational study.

Background: Atypical antipsychotics as first-line drugs have been used in patients with schizophrenia in China and abroad. However, its safety still needs to be evaluated in a large population, especially in Chinese patients.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and related factors of long-term atypical antipsychotic use in patients with schizophrenia in China.

The Role of α-Synuclein in Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity.

Methamphetamine (METH), a highly addictive psychostimulant, is the second most widely used illicit drug. METH produces damage dopamine neurons and apoptosis via multiple inter-regulating mechanisms, including dopamine overload, hyperthermia, oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, protein degradation system dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic METH abuse is associated with neurodegenerative changes in the human brain and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Alcohol Consumption in China Before and During COVID-19: Preliminary Results From an Online Retrospective Survey.

Alcohol is an important aspect of Chinese culture, and alcohol use has been traditionally accepted in China. People with stress, anxiety, and depression may use more alcohol. More people reported symptoms of anxiety and depression during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Sequential Multiple-Assignment Randomized Trials to Compare Antipsychotic Treatments (SMART-CAT) in first-episode schizophrenia patients: Rationale and trial design.

Accumulated studies have investigated pharmacological interventions for first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients. However, studies on subsequent treatment steps, which are essential to guide clinicians, are largely missing. This Sequential Multiple-Assignment Randomized Trials comparing Antipsychotic Treatments (SMART-CAT) program intends to evaluate the effectiveness of commonly used antipsychotic drugs in FES patients.

Brief mindfulness-based intervention of 'STOP (Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, Proceed) touching your face': a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Face-touching behaviour often happens frequently and automatically, and poses potential risk for spreading infectious disease. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown its efficacy in the treatment of behaviour disorders. This study aims to evaluate an online mindfulness-based brief intervention skill named 'STOP (Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, Proceed) touching your face' in reducing face-touching behaviour.

SNX29, a new susceptibility gene shared with major mental disorders in Han Chinese population.

Objectives: Environmental and genetic factors play important roles in the development of schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BPD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Some risk loci are identified with shared genetic effects on major psychiatric disorders. To investigate whether gene played a significant role in these psychiatric disorders in the Han Chinese population.

Patient health questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) to distinguish bipolar II disorder from major depressive disorder.

A sequential-recruited clinical trial has been conducted to assess capacity of Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) in distinguishing bipolar II disorder from major depressive disorder. A total of 73 patients (49 BD-II depression patients) filled sociodemographic characteristics, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Questionnaire (GAD-7), and PHQ-15. Sum score of PHQ-15 showed statistically significant difference in the two groups (t-test, P = 0.