bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of the Chinese herbal medicine Xiao Yao San for treating anxiety: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Wang Yifan , Chen Xiaofeng , Wei Wei , Ding Yiyun , Guo Rongjuan , Xing Jia , Wang Jialin 
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The effectiveness and safety of the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) Xiao Yao San (XYS) used for treating anxiety disorders are still unknown. Thus, we conducted this systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) to determine its safety and efficacy.Methods: We searched 12 databases for relevant studies from the inception of each database till 10 August 2023. We selected randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy and safety of XYS (including XYS only and XYS + anxiolytics) to those of anxiolytics in patients with anxiety.Results: We found 14 trials with 1,256 patients in total that met the requirements for inclusion. We assessed the majority of studies (8 out of 14) as being at high risk of bias; 6 were assessed as having a moderate risk of bias. Three trials compared oral XYS to anxiolytic medication, and 11 trials compared oral XYS plus anxiolytics to anxiolytic treatment alone. The pooled results showed that the efficacy of treatment in the XYS + anxiolytics groups was significantly higher than that of the anxiolytics alone group (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: [1.13, 1.26]; p &lt; 0.00001; I2 = 0) and the adverse event rates in the XYS + anxiolytics groups were significantly lower than those in the anxiolytics alone group (RR = 0.44; 95% CI: [0.28, 0.82]; p = 0.001 &lt; 0.05; I2 = 13). The efficacy of treatment in the XYS alone groups was also significantly higher than that of the anxiolytics alone groups (RR = 5.41; 95% CI: [2.23, 13.11]; p &lt; 0.0001; I2 = 0). However, there was no statistical difference between the adverse events of the XYS alone group and the anxiolytics alone group, although the incidence of adverse events in the XYS alone group was lower than that in the anxiolytics alone group. The results of the TSA confirmed the above findings.Conclusion: The use of XYS combined with anxiolytics for treating anxiety was found to be safe and effective. However, although XYS alone is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorder, more large-scale research is needed to investigate adverse events.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=350358, identifier CRD42022350358.
Exploring the mechanism of aloe-emodin in the treatment of liver cancer through network pharmacology and cell experiments
Authors: Zhu Mingyang , He Qingmin , Wang Yanan , Duan Liying , Rong Kang , Wu Yingying , Ding Ye , Mi Yang , Ge Xiaoyang , Yang Xiaocui , Yu Yong 
Published: October 2023

Objective: Aloe-emodin (AE) is an anthraquinone compound extracted from the rhizome of the natural plant rhubarb. Initially, it was shown that AE exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. Further studies revealed its antitumor activity against various types of cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying these properties remain unclear. Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, this study investigated the molecular mechanism of AE in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evaluated its therapeutic effect through in vitro experiments.Methods: CTD, Pharmmapper, SuperPred and TargetNet were the databases to obtain potential drug-related targets. DisGenet, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD were used to identify potential disease-related targets. Intersection genes for drugs and diseases were obtained through the Venn diagram. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of intersecting genes were conducted by the website of Bioinformatics. Intersection genes were introduced into STRING to construct a protein-protein interaction network, while the Cytoscape3.9.1 software was used to visualize and analyze the core targets. AutoDock4.2.6 was utilized to achieve molecular docking between drug and core targets. In vitro experiments investigated the therapeutic effects and related mechanisms of AE.Results: 63 overlapped genes were obtained and GO analysis generated 3,646 entries by these 63 intersecting genes. KEGG analysis mainly involved apoptosis, proteoglycans in cancer, TNF signaling pathway, TP53 signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, etc. AKT1, EGFR, ESR1, TP53, and SRC have been identified as core targets because the binding energies of them between aloe-emodin were less than -5 kcal/Mol.The mRNA and protein expression, prognosis, mutation status, and immune infiltration related to core targets were further revealed. The involvement of AKT1 and EGFR, as well as the key target of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, indicated the importance of this signaling pathway in the treatment of HCC using AE. The results of the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow analysis demonstrated the therapeutic effect of AE. The downregulation of EGFR, PI3KR1, AKT1, and BCL2 in mRNA expression and PI3KR1, AKT,p-AKT in protein expression confirmed our hypothesis.Conclusion: Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, our study initially showed that AE exerted a therapeutic effect on HCC by modulating multiple signaling pathways. Various analyses confirmed the antiproliferative activity and pro-apoptotic effect of AE on HCC through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This study revealed the therapeutic mechanism of AE in the treatment of HCC through a novel approach, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of AE.
Understanding mixed emotions in organized helping through emotionography
Authors: Hepburn Alexa , Potter Jonathan 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionEmotionography studies emotion: (a) as it occurs naturally in display, reception, attribution, and avowal; (b) within and across diverse stretches of interaction and varied institutional contexts; (c) grounded purposefully in the perspectives of the interactants as those perspectives are displayed in real-time through unfolding talk; (d) using materials that are recorded and transcribed in sufficient precision to capture the granularity consequential for the interactants. We overview contemporary research on “mixed emotion” highlighting theoretical and methodological issues and explore the potential of emotionography as a generative alternative.MethodsThe analysis will use contemporary conversation analysis and discursive psychology to illuminate the workings of organized helping using a collection of recordings from a child protection helpline all of which include laughter alongside crying.ResultsAnalysis shows, on the one hand, how crying and upset display the caller's stance on the trouble being reported, and mark its action-relevant severity; on the other, how laughter manages ongoing parallel issues such as advice resistance. We show that the “mixture” is public and pragmatic, displaying different concerns and stances, and dealing with different issues; all is in the service of action.DiscussionWhen analyzing the specifics of interaction, the concept of “mixed emotion” loses clarity, and it is more accurate to observe competing pragmatic endeavors being pursued in an intricately coordinated fashion. These practices would not be captured by conventional emotion measurement tools such as scales, vignettes, or retrospective interviews. Broader implications for theories of emotion and methods of emotion research are discussed.
Investigating the impact of value congruence on work engagement in EFL teachers: the role of teacher enthusiasm
Authors: Cao Jing , Zhang Weijing 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionThis research aimed to investigate the influence of value congruence on EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers’ work engagement, with a focus on the mediating role of teacher enthusiasm.MethodsA sample of EFL teachers (N = 453) in China participated in the study. Data were collected using self-report measures, including the Value Congruence Scale, Teacher Enthusiasm Scale, and Work Engagement Scale. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data and test the proposed model.ResultsThe results revealed that value congruence had a significant positive direct effect on work engagement. Furthermore, teacher enthusiasm was found to mediate the relationship between value congruence and work engagement.DiscussionThese findings suggest that when EFL teachers perceive a congruence between their personal values and the values upheld by their educational institutions, they are more likely to experience higher levels of work engagement, and this relationship is partially explained by their level of enthusiasm. The study contributes to the understanding of the factors that influence EFL teachers’ work engagement and highlights the importance of value congruence and teacher enthusiasm in fostering a positive work environment. These findings have implications for the development of interventions and practices aimed at enhancing EFL teachers’ well-being and job satisfaction.
Investigating the causal effects of smoking, sleep, and BMI on major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder: a univariable and multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: He Menglin , Zhou Jian , Li Xuehan , Wang Rurong 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundMental disorders, characterized as products of biopsychosocial interactions, have emerged as a leading contributor to the worldwide rise in overall morbidity and disability rates. Life's essentials can affect nearly every aspect of our lives, from physical to mental health. In this study, we try to identify the associations between life's essentials and mental disorders.MethodThree assumptions of Mendelian randomization (MR) were applied to obtain the genetic instruments associated with smoking, sleep, and body mass index (BMI) in genome-wide association studies. Then, we conducted univariable MR (UVMR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) two-sample analyses to estimate the causal effects of these life's essentials on two mental disorders namely, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Additionally, multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the reliability and stability of the study results.ResultsIn the MR analysis of the association of smoking, sleep, and BMI with MDD, we obtained 78, 39, and 302 genetic instruments, respectively. Smoking [odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.06; p = 0.004], sleep (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06; p &lt; 0.001), and BMI (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01–1.02; p &lt; 0.001) were all considered as risk factors for MDD and were independent of each other (smoking: OR, 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01–1.06, p = 0.008; sleep: OR, 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01–1.05, p = 0.001; and BMI: OR, 1.01, 95% CI, 1.01–1.02, p &lt; 0.001). Additionally, 78, 38, and 297 genetic instruments were obtained in the MR analysis of smoking, sleep, and BMI with BD, respectively. Causal associations were observed between smoking (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.17–5.15; p = 0.017), sleep (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.52–4.92; p &lt; 0.001), and BD, and smoking (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.69–3.16; p = 0.018) might be a mediator in the causal effects of sleep on BD. Finally, there was no inconsistency between sensitivity and causality analysis, proving that our results are convincing.ConclusionThe study results provide strong evidence that smoking, sleep, and BMI are causally related to MDD and BD, which need further research to clarify the underlying mechanism.
Examining healthcare needs and decisions to seek health services among Venezuelan migrants living in Trinidad and Tobago using Andersen’s Behavioral Model
Authors: Lyons Nyla , Bhagwandeen Brendon 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionBeginning in 2016, Trinidad and Tobago experienced increasing flows of migrants and refugees from Venezuela. Through a Government Registration Exercise in 2019, followed by a Re-registration Exercise in 2020, migrants and refugees benefitted from access to publicly available primary care and emergency medical services. By applying Andersen’s Behavioral Model for Health Service Use, our study examined the non-communicable disease care needs of migrants, and factors influencing their decision to seek public and private health services.MethodBetween September and December 2020, a health questionnaire was administered via telephone to n = 250 migrants from Venezuela. Descriptive statistics summarized the constructs of Andersen’s Behavioral Model. The model comprised of predisposing factors including migrants’ social characteristics; enabling factors namely monthly earnings, education level and most trusted source of information on medical needs; need for care factors such as migrants self-reported health status, presence of non-communicable health conditions and having visited a doctor in the past 12 months; and the outcome variables which were migrants’ decisions to seek public and private health services. Pearson χ2 tests, odds ratios and multivariable logistic regression with backward elimination examined the factors influencing a migrant’s decision to seek health services.ResultsOverall, 66.8% of migrants reported they would seek public health services, while 22.4% indicated they would seek private health services. Predisposing factors namely length of time residing in Trinidad and Tobago (p = 0.031) and living with family/friends (p = 0.049); the enabling factor of receiving information from publicly available sources (p = 0.037); and the need for care factor of visiting a doctor for a physical health problem (p = 0.010) were significant correlates of their decision to seek care in the public sector. Predisposing factors namely living with family/friends (p = 0.020) and the enabling factor of having difficulty accessing healthcare services (p = 0.045) were significant correlates of their decision to seek care from private providers.DiscussionOur findings demonstrated the positive association between social networks and a migrant’s decision to use public and private health services, thus underscoring the importance of family and friends in facilitating health service use, promoting proper health practices and preventing diseases. Overall, the use of Andersen’s Behavioral Model aided in identifying the factors associated with the use of health services by Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago. However, further studies are needed to better understand their need for ongoing care, to inform policy, and to plan targeted health interventions for addressing the gaps in health service access, barriers and use.
Health literacy: association with socioeconomic determinants and the use of health services in Spain
Authors: Tamayo-Fonseca Nayara , Pereyra-Zamora Pamela , Barona Carmen , Mas Rosa , Irles Mª Ángeles , Nolasco Andreu 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundHealth literacy (HL) is the set of social and cognitive skills that determine person’s level of motivation and the ability to access, understand and use information to promote and maintain good health. The aim of this study is to assess the level of health literacy, and to analyze its relationship with sociodemographic variables, state of health, and use of health services in the population aged 15 and over in the Valencian Community (Spain).MethodsCross-sectional study based on a sample of 5,485 subjects participating in the Health Survey of the Valencia Community. The HLS-EU-Q16 was used. As outcome variables we considered HL categorized into 2 levels: Inadequate or Problematic HL and Sufficient HL and the standardized literacy index. Prevalence rates and HL means were estimated and OR were calculated to analyze the association between variables.ResultsA total of 12.8% of the subjects surveyed presented an inadequate or problematic degree of HL. This percentage was higher in people &gt;85 years (63.1%), with a low level of education (46.5%), in retired people (27.4%) or in other work situations (25.0%), in foreigners (18.1%), in low-income people (16.2%), with a perception of poor health status (26.9%), chronic disease (18.5%) or with activity limitations (56.4% severe, 19.7% not severe). Significant differences were found. With the exception of chronic disease, all the variables analyzed were associated with HL. Low HL was associated with a lower consumption of medicines, a greater use of health services, general medical consultations, poorer knowledge of new health technologies and fewer preventive health visits.ConclusionThe percentage of inadequate or problematic HL was globally not very high, but certain population subgroups notably presented a high degree of inadequate or problematic HL. Raising the HL level of such groups should be regarded as a priority. HL was shown to be associated with the service use and new health technology use. Enhancing the population’s HL should lead to the following: a greater probability of adopting preventive practices; improving the use of the health system; and boosting people’s abilities to manage and to improve their own health.
Risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among adult patients on antiretroviral treatment at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Ntimana Cairo B. , Mashaba Reneilwe G. , Seakamela Kagiso P. , Netshapapame Tshifhiwa , Maimela Eric 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundWorldwide, it is estimated that 38 million people are HIV-positive and that over 36 million people have died from the virus. In South Africa, the prevalence of HIV was reported to be 20.6% with Limpopo Province having 17% HIV. Given the high rate of new HIV infection in Limpopo, there is therefore a need to assess factors promoting risky sexual behavior among people living with HIV in order to help design and develop behavioral interventions aimed at reducing risky behaviors among people living with HIV.MethodsThis was a quantitative cross-sectional prospective study, conducted in Mankweng Hospital. The study consisted of 116 participants of which 40 were males and 76 were females aged 18 years and above. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27. A comparison of proportions was performed using Chi-Square. The association between risky sexual practice and sociodemographic factors was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsThe proportion of risky sexual practices in the total population was 48.3%. Participants who were married, those aged 35–44, and those with tertiary qualifications were more likely to engage in risky sexual practices. Multivariate logistic regression showed widowed participants were less likely to practice risky sexual practices.ConclusionThe present study reported a high prevalence of risky sexual practices of 48.3%. Risky sexual behavior was determined by age, marital status, and level of education. The proportion of married participants was higher in risky sexual behavior. Based on the findings of the present study, it is recommended that targeted interventions and educational programs should be implemented to reduce risky sexual behavior among married individuals, individuals aged 35–44, and individuals with tertiary qualifications.
Physical discomforts, feeling of the high work intensity and the related risk factors of the frontline medical staff during COVID-19 epidemic: an early-outbreak, national survey in China
Authors: Jia Liu , Ye Ming , Wang Hongliang , Wang Huaiquan 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundFacing the unknown virus, COVID-19 medical staff kept wearing thick personal protective equipment during their work in the early stage of the outbreak. The survey was designed to investigate the physical discomforts, the feeling of the work intensity and the related risk factors of the frontline medical staff during COVID-19 epidemic in the early outbreak.MethodsAn national survey was carried out in China from March 17th 2020 to March 20th 2020 by applying a standardized WeChat questionnaire survey. The doctors or nurses working in the wards for the confirmed COVID-19 patients on front-line were eligible to participate in the survey. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used.ResultsA total number of 515 COVID-19 medical staff, including 190 physicians and 325 nurses participated in this survey. 375 medical staff (72.8%) experienced physical discomforts at work, mostly consist of dyspnea (45.8%), pain (41.0%), chest distress (24.1%), dizziness (18.8%), and weakness (17.5%), while wearing thick isolation clothes at work. The mean onset time and peak time of these symptoms were 2.4 h and 3.5 h after working, respectively. 337 medical staff (65.4%) suffered from sleep disorders. 51 medical staff (10%) were highly worried about being infected by COVID-19 even during their work breaks. 246 medical staffs (47.8%) felt high work intensity and the independent influential factors were the effective daily sleep time and anxiety levels at break time (p = 0.04).ConclusionThe frontline medical staff during COVID-19 epidemic felt different physical discomforts when they wear thick isolation clothes at work in the early outbreak and they felt high work intensity. These precious data will help optimize the work management strategy to ensure the physical and mental health of medical staff in the face of similar outbreaks in future.
The effect of the surgical treatment of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome on the thermoregulatory response to exercise in French bulldogs: a pilot study
Authors: Žgank Žiga , Nemec Svete Alenka , Lenasi Helena , Vodičar Janez , Erjavec Vladimira 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionDue to altered anatomy of the upper respiratory tract, brachycephalic dogs exhibit increased airway resistance and reduced surface area for evaporative heat loss, predisposing them to respiratory and thermoregulatory problems, a syndrome referred to as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Compared to non-brachycephalic dogs, brachycephalic breeds are more susceptible to heat-related injuries even at low ambient temperatures and relatively low physical activity levels. Surgical treatment alleviates clinical signs, potentially improving dogs’ thermoregulatory ability with BOAS. Our study aimed to investigate the thermoregulatory response in French bulldogs before and after the surgical correction of BOAS, respectively.MethodsThirteen dogs were exposed to dynamic exercise on a treadmill and the dynamics of their rectal temperature (RT) and heart rate (HR) was measured. The experiment was performed in two independent sessions, before and after the surgical treatment. The test consisted of two consecutive 5-min walks at a speed of 2.5 km/h, first at an inclination of 0% and the second at an inclination of 5%, and a 30-min recovery period. Rectal temperature and HR were measured before the start of the test (t0), at the end of the first (t1) and the second part (t2), and 15 min (t3) and 30 min (t4) in the recovery.ResultsA significant increase in RT and HR was observed during exercise and recovery compared to the resting values, implying that the exercise intensity was sufficient to challenge the thermoregulatory response. The increase of RT was significantly lower during both parts (t1: p  = 0.004; t2: p  &lt;  0.001) of exercise after the surgical treatment than before the treatment. Although a trend of lower RT after recovery was observed compared to before the surgery, it did not reach statistical significance. Similarly to RT, the HR was significantly lower during exercise after the first (p  =  0.020) and the second part (p  =  0.011) of exercise after the surgery compared to before the surgery but did not reach significance in the recovery.ConclusionSurgical treatment of BOAS can improve thermoregulation during exercise in French bulldogs with BOAS.