This study reports results from the first International Body Project (IBP-I), which surveyed 7,434 individuals in 10 major world regions about body weight ideals and body dissatisfaction. Participants completed the female Contour Drawing Figure Rating Scale (CDFRS) and self-reported their exposure to Western and local media. Results indicated there were significant cross-regional differences in the ideal female figure and body dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small across high-socioeconomic-status (SES) sites. Within cultures, heavier bodies were preferred in low-SES sites compared to high-SES sites in Malaysia and South Africa (ds = 1.94-2.49) but not in Austria. Participant age, body mass index (BMI), and Western media exposure predicted body weight ideals. BMI and Western media exposure predicted body dissatisfaction among women. Our results show that body dissatisfaction and desire for thinness is commonplace in high-SES settings across world regions, highlighting the need for international attention to this problem.

Loss of cardiac myocytes in heart failure is thought to occur largely through an apoptotic process. Here we show that heart failure can also be precipitated through myocyte necrosis associated with Ca 2+ overload. Inducible transgenic mice with enhanced sarcolemmal L-type Ca 2+ channel (LTCC) activity showed progressive myocyte necrosis that led to pump dysfunction and premature death, effects that were dramatically enhanced by acute stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors. Enhanced Ca 2+ influx-induced cellular necrosis and cardiomyopathy was prevented with either LTCC blockers or β-adrenergic receptor antagonists, demonstrating a proximal relationship among β-adrenergic receptor function, Ca 2+ handling, and heart failure progression through necrotic cell loss. Mechanistically, loss of cyclophilin D, a regulator of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore that underpins necrosis, blocked Ca 2+ influx-induced necrosis of myocytes, heart failure, and isoproterenol-induced premature death. In contrast, overexpression of the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2 was ineffective in mitigating heart failure and death associated with excess Ca 2+ influx and acute β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. This paradigm of mitochondrial-and necrosis-dependent heart failure was also observed in other mouse models of disease, which supports the concept that heart failure is a pleiotropic disorder that involves not only apoptosis, but also necrotic loss of myocytes in association with dysregulated Ca 2+ handling and β-adrenergic receptor signaling.

It is increasingly clear that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a distinct microRNA (miRNA) expression profile that is involved in malignancy; however, little is known about how functional miRNA modulates the metastasis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC (HBV-HCC). In the present study, we demonstrate that the levels of miRNA-143 (miR-143) are dramatically increased in metastatic HBV-HCC of both p21-HBx transgenic mice and HCC patients. Moreover, we show that overexpression of this miRNA is transcribed by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) and favors liver tumor cell invasive and metastatic behavior. H epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive cancer that is strongly associated with chronic infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). 1 Poor prognosis and patient survival with HCC are largely due to invasion/metastasis and postsurgical recurrence. 2 The HBV X protein (HBx), a protein encoded by HBV, is thought to play a key role in the molecular pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC (HBV-HCC). 2,3 Invasion and metastasis are fundamental properties of HBV-HCC, which has a very high mortality rate. Alteration of some adhesion molecules in HBV-HCC has been described, including up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases 1-3 and down-regulation of E-cadherin. Both of these changes indicate that HBx contributes to the metastatic spread of liver tumors. 2,4 Metastasis is a complex cascade, however, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are far from being fully understood.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily endogenous regulatory noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in gene regulation. 5 Recent studies implicate miRNAs in several cancers, and altered miRNA levels can result in aberrant expression of gene products that may contribute to cancer biology, including tumor metastasis. [5][6][7][8] These findings suggest that expression profiling of miRNAs is an alternative method for cancer subtype classification, prognostication, and treatment. 5,7,8 It is known that HCC develops several years after HBV infection. 2,9 A p21-HBx transgenic mouse model was established by introducing the HBx gene into the p21 locus. About 60% of p21-HBx transgenic mice develop hepato-

Background Nurses are experiencing tremendous stress during the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, especially intensive care nurses. The pandemic of the disease is a tragedy, which may leave a catastrophic psychological imprint on nurses. Understanding nurses' mental distress can help when implementing interventions to mitigate psychological injuries to nurses. Aims and objectives To quantify the severity of nurses' post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and stress and explore the influencing factors of their psychological health when caring for patients with COVID‐19. Design A cross‐sectional survey. Methods The PTSD Checklist‐Civilian and the Perceived Stress Scale were administered from 11 to 18 March 2020, to 90 nurses selected from another city to go and help an intensive care unit (ICU) in Wuhan, China. These nurses were selected because of their high levels of clinical performance and resilience status. Results Nurses' average PTSD score was 24.62 ± 6.68, and five (5.6%) of the nurses reported a clinically significant level of PTSD symptoms (>38 points). Nurses' perceived stress averaged 19.33 ± 7, and 20 nurses (22.22%) scored positively >25 points. Nurses' stress and PTSD symptoms were positively correlated (P < .01). Major stress sources included working in an isolated environment, concerns about personal protective equipment shortage and usage, physical and emotional exhaustion, intensive workload, fear of being infected, and insufficient work experiences with COVID‐19. Conclusions This study showed that even relatively highly resilient nurses experienced some degree of mental distress, including PTSD symptoms and perceived stress. Our findings highlight the importance of helping nurses cultivate resilience and reduce stress. Relevance to clinical practice Recommendations for practice include providing adequate training and orientation before assigning nurses to ICU to help, offering disaster‐emergency‐preparedness training to keep nurses prepared, providing caring and authentic nursing leadership, offering ongoing psychological support to frontline nurses.

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