Predictors of healthcare-seeking behavior among Chinese patients with irritable bowel syndrome

AIM To analyze predictors of healthcare-seeking behavior among Chinese patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) and their satisfaction with medical care.METHODS Participating patients met IBS Rome Ⅲ criteria(excluding those with organic diseases) and were enrolled in an IBS database in a tertiary university hospital. Participants completed IBS questionnaires in face-to-face interviews. The questionnaires covered intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms, medical consultations, colonoscopy,medications, and self-reported response to medications during the whole disease course and in the past year. Univariate associations and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify predictors for frequent healthcareseeking behavior(≥ 3 times/year), frequent colonoscopies(≥ 2 times/year), long-term medications, and poor satisfaction with medical care.RESULTS In total, 516 patients(293 males, 223 females) were included. Participants' average age was 43.2 ± 11.8 years. Before study enrollment, 55.2% had received medical consultations for IBS symptoms. Ordinary abdominal pain/discomfort(non-defecation) was an independent predictor for healthcare-seeking behavior(OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.31-3.27). Frequent colonoscopies were reported by 14.7% of patients(3.1 ± 1.4 times per year). Sensation of incomplete evacuation was an independent predictor for frequent colonoscopies(OR = 2.76, 95%CI: 1.35-5.67). During the whole disease course, 89% of patients took medications for IBS symptoms, and 14.7% reported they were satisfied with medical care. Patients with anxiety were more likely to report dissatisfaction with medical care(OR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.20-3.59). In the past year, patients with severe(OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.06-2.82) and persistent(OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.01-2.72) IBS symptoms sought medical care more frequently.CONCLUSION Chinese patients with IBS present high rates of frequent healthcare-seeking behavior, colonoscopies, and medications, and low satisfaction with medical care. Intestinal symptoms are major predictors for healthcare-seeking behavior.

Characterization of hippocampal Cajal-Retzius cells during development in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease(Tg2576)

Cajal-Retzius cells are reelin-secreting neurons in the marginal zone of the neocortex and hippocampus. The aim of this study was to investigate Cajal-Retzius cells in Alzheimer＇s disease pathology. Results revealed that the number of Cajal-Retzius cells markedly reduced with age in both wild type and in mice over-expressing the Swedish double mutant form of amyloid precursor protein 695 （transgenic （Tg） 2576 mice）. Numerous reelin-positive neurons were positive for activated caspase 3 in Tg2576 mice, suggesting that Cajal-Retzius neuronal loss occurred via apoptosis in this Alzheimer＇s disease model. Compared with wild type, the number of Cajal-Retzius cells was significantly lower in Tg2576 mice. Western blot analysis confirmed that reelin levels were markedly lower in Tg2576 mice than in wild-type mice. The decline in Cajal-Retzius cells in Tg2576 mice was found to occur concomitantly with the onset of Alzheimer＇s disease amyloid pathology and related behavioral deficits. Overall, these data indicated that Cajal-Retzius cell loss occurred with the onset and development of Alzheimer＇s disease.

Boosting photocatalytic activity through tuning electron spin states and external magnetic fields

Photocatalysis is considered as one of the most promising technologies to generate renewable energy and degrade environmental pollutants.Tremendous efforts have been made to improve photocatalytic efficiency.Among these,tuning spin polarization and introducing an external magnetic field are considered two promising strategies to boost photocatalytic performance.Herein this review highlights the recent breakthroughs through manipulating spin states and applying external magnetic fields for enhancing photocatalytic reactions.The relevant characterization techniques and fundamental mechanisms are summarized.Spin polarization states of photocatalysts have received considerable attention due to their unique roles,including inhibiting the recombination of photoexcited carriers owing to spin orientation constraint,enhancing the reaction product selectivity,and reducing the reaction barriers via optimizing the absorption energy and binding strength.As for the effects of external magnetic field on photocatalytic performance,we mainly discuss the separation enhancement of photoinduced carriers under static and time-varying magnetic fields and the magneto-hydrodynamic effect of charged particles.Lastly,the negative magnetoresistance effect is discussed due to the synergistic effects of the electron spin state and an external magnetic field.These discussions in this review may provide new insights into designing new semiconductors for boosting photocatalytic performance in internal and external magnetic fields.