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Background: Critical thinking (CT) is an essential competence for medical students. Family socioeconomic status (family SES) and general self-efficacy (GSE) play crucial roles in the development of CT. However, the association among family SES, GSE, and CT in Chinese medical students has yet to be fully investigated.Objectives: To investigate the role of family SES and GSE in the development of CT in Chinese medical students.Methods: 1,338 medical students were recruited using multistage stratified cluster sampling from three institutions in China. The Chinese critical thinking disposition inventory (CTDI-CV), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and a self-made inventory assessing family SES were administered to collect data. The relationship between CT and family SES as well as GSE was evaluated by structural equation modeling.Results: Students of higher family SES obtained higher CTDI-CV and GSES scores. A positive correlation was found between family SES and CT (r = 0.101–0.141, p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), as well as between family SES and GSE (r = 0.111–0.129, p < 0.01). Moreover, GSE was moderately correlated with CT (r = 0.418, p < 0.01). The model of partial mediate effect of GSE showed the best fit index with X2 = 29.698, df = 9 and X2/df = 3.300, NFI = 0.990, IFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.984, CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.041.Conclusion: Family SES has a positive albeit limited influence on GSE and CT in Chinese medical students. GSE mediates the effect of family SES on CT and plays a larger role. Enhancing medical student’ GSE maybe an efficacious way to improve medical students’ CT.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with multiple autoantibody production and often affects the kidneys, known as lupus nephritis. However, the mechanism underlying lupus nephritis development is unclear. Biofilms that protect bacteria from stress are ubiquitous in almost every environment. Here, we identified that a conserved peptide (HU1) derived from DNABII proteins, one of major bacterial biofilm components, was specifically recognized by sera from about 47% patients with SLE. Moreover, the serum anti-HU1 levels showed a significant positive correlation with lupus nephritis occurrence. Presence of antibodies against HU1 in pristane-induced mice aggravated lupus nephritis, although these antibodies also attenuated bacterial biofilm formation. We further identified that antibodies against HU1 cross-recognized protein disulfide isomerase (P4HB) located on the renal cell surface and inhibited the activities of this enzyme. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism underlying the development of lupus nephritis triggered by bacterial biofilms.

Biofilms present challenges to numerous industries. Herein, a simple approach was developed based on chloride-accelerated Fenton chemistry, where copper oxide nanoparticles facilitate efficient generation of reactive chlorine species for biofilm removal.