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This study examined the associations between sensory impairment (SI), lack of social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, and depressive symptoms among Americans aged 50 and above. We employed data from the 2018 and 2020 Health and Retirement Study (N = 13,460) to examine four SI groups: no SI, visual impairment (VI) only, hearing impairment (HI) only, and dual sensory impairment (DSI). First, multilevel models were employed to estimate the associations between SI and depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic using the full dataset (N = 13,460). Second, linear regression models were employed to estimate the moderation effect of lack of social contact during the pandemic using the 2020 wave data only (N = 4,133). Among older adults, 15.60% had VI only, 10.16% had HI only, and 9.66% had DSI. All SI groups reported significantly more depressive symptoms than the no SI group. The differences between older adults with VI and DSI and those without SI regarding depressive symptoms narrowed during the pandemic. There was no statistically significant moderation effect of lack of social contact for SI and depressive symptoms. Older adults with SI faced mental health challenges and demonstrated psychological resilience during the pandemic. Future research should examine other risk factors that may modify the relationship between SI and mental health during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of music therapy on children with leukemia who have peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). In this study, we divided 107 patients undergoing PICC into music group (47 cases) and control group (60 cases). The music group received music therapy during PICC, while the control group was given no complementary treatment. The total length of catheterization, the use of sedatives and the changes of pain level and emotion level before and after PICC placement were compared between two groups. Compared with the control group, the total PICC placement time of the music group was significantly shorter (35(30–40) vs. 60(60–60); Z = −8.307; p < 0.001), and the use of sedative medications was also significantly reduced (4.35% (n = 2) vs. 91.84% (n = 45); p < 0.001). Moreover, the pain of catheterization was significantly alleviated. The median difference of pain scores of the music group was significantly less (2(1–3) vs. 5(5–5); p < 0.001). The mood of patients was also improved. The median difference of emotional scores of the music group was significantly more (5(4.75–6) vs. 3(3–3); p < 0.001) than the control group. Music therapy is effective to use in PICC. It can shorten the treatment time, reduce the use of sedative medications, and improve the children's emotion and pain response significantly, which is worth clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetradium trichotomum Lour., is a plant species endemic to tropical South East Asia with particular medicinal importance. However, very little analysis in this plant has been studied up to now from a phytochemical viewpoint. One new amide alkaloid (wuchuyuamide V, 1), as well as two known amide alkaloids-wuchuyuamide III (2), and wuchuyuamide I (3) were obtained from the fruits of T. trichotomum for the first time. The structures of wuchuyuamide V (1) and wuchuyuamide III (2) were unambiguously elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR spectra, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the chief diabetes mellitus complications. Inflammation factors may be one reason for the damage from DM. The purpose of this research is to study the potential protective effects of puerarin on DM and the possible mechanisms of action related to NF-κB signal pathway. Following administration of puerarin to the disease model rat, several changes were observed including the changes of serum biochemical index, improved diastolic dysfunction, and enhanced endogenous antioxidant enzymes activities, further NF-κB signaling activation. Puerarin showed cardio-protective effects on DCM by inhibiting inflammation, and it might be a potential candidate for the treatment of DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isoflavane, suaeglaucin A (1), which was isolated from the herb of Suaeda glauca (Bunge) Bunge, was elucidated as 5,6,8-trimethoxy-7- hydroxycoumaronochromone based on its MS and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The structure of compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Five known compounds (2-6) were also isolated. All compounds were isolated for the first time from Chenopodiaceae. We found that compounds 2 and 4 possessed moderate antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]