PurposeThe present study aims to examine the association between religious involvement and mental disorder (anxiety disorder, mood disorder, alcohol use disorder) in a general Chinese population, and explore connections between religious belief and mental disorders in the Hui and Han ethnic groups.MethodData were examined from a representative sample of 2,770 community-dwelling adults in the province of Ningxia located in western China. Self-reported religious attendance and the importance of religious in daily life were measured. The WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to diagnose mental disorders.ResultsIn the overall sample, the importance of religious affiliation was positively associated with mental disorders (especially anxiety) (p<0.01). No association was found between any religious characteristic and mood disorders or alcohol use disorders. With regard to analyses within different ethnic groups, religious affiliation was positively associated with mental disorder in Han ethnicity (p<0.01), but not in Hui ethnicity. When stratified by age and ethnic group, religious affiliation was associated positively with mental disorder in younger Han (p<0.01); whereas high religiosity was associated positively with mental disorder in older Hui (p<0.05). Among older Hui, however, religious affiliation was inversely associated with mood disorder (p<0.05).ConclusionsIn contrast to most previous studies in Western populations, religious involvement is less likely to be inversely related to mental disorder in Mainland China, although this association varies by age and ethnic group.

The association, in different ethnic groups, of apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been unclear. Few studies have examined the association in Chinese minorities. The current study explores the association between apoE gene polymorphism and MCI in one of the biggest ethnic groups—the Hui—and compares it with the Han. The Minimental State Exam, Activities of Daily Living Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale were administered to 306 ethnic Hui and 618 ethnic Han people aged ≥55 years. ApoE genotypes were determined using the high resolution melting curve method. The distribution of the apoE genotype and the frequency of alleles ε2, ε3, and ε4 were similar in the Hui and Han groups. In analyses adjusted for age, gender, and education level, the ε4 allele was a risk factor for MCI in both the Hui group (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.02–6.66) and the Han group (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.19–4.67), but the apoE ε2 allele was protective for MCI only in the Han group (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.38–0.88). The association of some apoE genotypes with MCI may differ in different ethnic groups in China. Further studies are needed to explore this effect among different populations.

In contrast to most previous studies, religious involvement plays less of a role in suicidal behaviors in at least one province of mainland China.

The current study examined the association between religiosity and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), along with the mediating role of depression, in Chinese Muslim elderly sample. 1,347 community Muslims aged 55 years or older were recruited in Ningxia, China. The Mini-Mental State Exam, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Duke University Religion Index were administered. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to detect the mediation effect. Approximately 21.3% participants reported experiencing mild or severe depressive symptoms and 25.7% met criteria for MCI. Religiosity was associated with a lower risk of MCI (OR=0.83, P<0.05), while depression was associated with a greater risk of MCI (OR=1.70, P<0.01). SEM analysis revealed that depression significantly mediated the association between the religiosity and MCI with an effect ratio of 0.33 (explaining 33.0% of the total variance). In summary, religiosity was related to cognitive functioning partly due to its inverse relationship with depression in older Chinese Muslims.

Background Moral injury among healthcare workers received considerable attention in China during the COVID-19 pandemic as a predictor of poor mental health outcomes. This study explored the relationship between moral injury, PTSD, and suicidal behaviors approximately 1 year after the pandemic peaked in this country. Methods An online survey was conducted from March 27 to April 26, 2021, across mainland China. A total of 3,465 health professionals completed the Chinese version of the Moral Injury Symptoms Scale-Health Professional (MISS-HP), Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL‐5). Unconditional logistic regression modeling was used to examine the association between these variables. Results The prevalence of PTSD and suicidal behavior among health professionals were 26.9% and 24.2%, respectively. The MISS-HP was positively correlated with PCL-5 (r = 0.43) and SBQ-R (r = 0.24) scores. Logistic regression revealed that MI was associated with a higher likelihood of PTSD (OR = 3.52, 95% CI: 3.01–4.13) and of suicidal behaviors (OR = 2.13, 95% CI:1.81–2.50) after controlling for socio-demographical variables. Conclusions Moral injury symptoms were associated with a higher risk of PTSD and more suicidal behaviors among health professionals 1 year after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the importance of identifying and treating the moral injury as one way to manage PTSD and suicidal behaviors among health professionals during the post-pandemic period.

In previous studies, adipocytes were found to play an important role in regulating whole-body nutrition and energy balance, and are also important in energy metabolism, hormone secretion, and immune regulation. Different adipocytes have different contributions to the body, with white adipocytes primarily storing energy and brown adipocytes producing heat. Recently discovered beige adipocytes, which have characteristics in between white and brown adipocytes, also have the potential to produce heat. Adipocytes interact with other cells in the microenvironment to promote blood vessel growth and immune and neural network interactions. Adipose tissue plays an important role in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Dysfunction in adipose tissue endocrine and immune regulation can cause and promote the occurrence and development of related diseases. Adipose tissue can also secrete multiple cytokines, which can interact with organs; however, previous studies have not comprehensively summarized the interaction between adipose tissue and other organs. This article reviews the effect of multi-organ crosstalk on the physiology and pathology of adipose tissue, including interactions between the central nervous system, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and intestines, as well as the mechanisms of adipose tissue in the development of various diseases and its role in disease treatment. It emphasizes the importance of a deeper understanding of these mechanisms for the prevention and treatment of related diseases. Determining these mechanisms has enormous potential for identifying new targets for treating diabetes, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.