bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interaction and potential mechanisms between atorvastatin and voriconazole, agents used to treat dyslipidemia and fungal infections
Authors: Xun Tianrong , Rong Yan , Lv Bin , Tian Jinfei , Zhang Qing , Yang Xixiao 
Published: May 2023

Purpose: Voriconazole (VOR) is combined with atorvastatin (ATO) to treat fungal infections in patients with dyslipidemia in clinical practice. However, the pharmacokinetic interactions and potential mechanisms between them are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic interactions and potential mechanisms between ATO and VOR.Patients and methods: We collected plasma samples from three patients using ATO and VOR. Rats were administered either VOR or normal saline for 6 days, followed by a single dose of 2 mg/kg ATO, and then plasma samples were collected at different time points. The incubation models of human liver microsomes or HepG2 cells were constructed in vitro. A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) system was developed to determine the concentration of ATO, 2-hydroxy-ATO, 4-hydroxy-ATO, and VOR.Results: In patients, VOR significantly reduced the metabolism of ATO and slowed the formation of 2-hydroxy- and 4-hydroxy-ATO. In rats pretreated with orally administered VOR for 6 days or normal saline given a single dose of 2 mg/kg ATO administered orally on Day 6, the t1/2 of ATO was significantly prolonged from 3.61 to 6.43 h, and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0–24h) values of ATO increased from 53.86 to 176.84 h μg.L−1. However, the pharmacokinetic parameters of VOR (20 mg/kg) with or without pretreatment with ATO (2 mg/kg) only slightly changed. In vitro studies indicated that VOR inhibited the metabolism of ATO and testosterone, and the IC50 values were 45.94 and 49.81 μM. However, no significant change in transporter behaviors of ATO was observed when VOR or transporter inhibitors were co-administered.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that VOR has significant interactions with ATO, probably due to VOR’s inhibition of the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of ATO. Based on the clinical cases and potential interactions, the basic data obtained in our study are expected to help adjust the dose of ATO and promote the design of rational dosage regimens for pharmacotherapy for fungal infections in patients with dyslipidemia.
The effect of ginsenosides on liver injury in preclinical studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bian Xing-Bo , Yu Peng-Cheng , Yang Xiao-Hang , Han Liu , Wang Qi-Yao , Zhang Li , Zhang Lian-Xue , Sun Xin 
Published: May 2023

Background: Liver injury is a severe liver lesion caused by various etiologies and is one of the main areas of medical research. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has traditionally been used as medicine to treat diseases and regulate body functions. Ginsenosides are the main active components of ginseng, and their effects on liver injury have been extensively reported.Methods: Preclinical studies meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang Data Knowledge Service Platforms. The Stata 17.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis, meta-regression, and subgroup analysis.Results: This meta-analysis included ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, and compound K (CK), in 43 articles. The overall results showed that multiple ginsenosides significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), affected oxidative stress-related indicators, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), and reduced levels of inflammatory factor, such as factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additionally, there was a large amount of heterogeneity in the meta-analysis results. Our predefined subgroup analysis shows that the animal species, the type of liver injury model, the duration of treatment, and the administration route may be the sources of some of the heterogeneity.Conclusion: In a word, ginsenosides have good efficacy against liver injury, and their potential mechanisms of action target antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and apoptotic-related pathways. However, the overall methodological quality of our current included studies was low, and more high-quality studies are needed to confirm their effects and mechanisms further.
A THz fiber polarization splitter based on anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with the asymmetric dual-suspended cores
Authors: Lu Yipeng , Han Zhongrui , Tian Fengjun , Zeng Zhibin , Chen Youzhi , Xiu Zhiguo , Liu Sichen , liu Chao , Yang Xinghua , Zhang Jianzhong 
Published: May 2023

In this paper a novel THz fiber polarization splitter based on anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with asymmetric dual-suspended cores has been proposed. For the proposed polarization splitter, the ultra-low confinement loss and great polarization splitting performance in the THz band can be achieved, which benefits from the good combination of anti-resonance mechanism with refractive index guidance mechanism. In order to confine the THz wave well in the central large air hole, 8 sets of anti-resonance rings are introduced into the cladding of the fiber. Moreover, the asymmetric dual-suspended cores are used to control the polarization state of the guiding light for enhancing the polarization splitting effect, which exists in the central large air hole of anti-resonant hollow-core fiber. One of the dual cores is designed with a symmetrical structure to reduce the birefringence effect. The other core is designed with an asymmetric structure to increase that in the THz band. The numerical simulations results show that the THz polarization splitter with a length of 0.37 cm is realized in the operating band around 1 THz by optimizing the geometric structure of the dual-suspended-core fiber, and the confinement losses of both x and y polarization modes are lower than 6 × 10−3 dB/cm. Furthermore, the working bandwidth at the center frequency of 1 THz can reach ∼0.06 THz, and the extinction ratio is better than 20 dB. The proposed THz polarization splitter has the characteristics of special short length, low loss and broad bandwidth. In conclusion, it has some potential applications of polarization devices in the field of optical fiber sensing and optical fiber communications.
Sleep and chronotype influence aerobic performance in young soccer players
Authors: Ciorciari Andrea , Mulè Antonino , Castelli Lucia , Galasso Letizia , Esposito Fabio , Roveda Eliana , Montaruli Angela 
Published: May 2023

People can be classified into three chronotypes (CT): morning-type (M-type), Neither-type (N-type) and Evening-type (E-type). M-types perform better in the morning, E-types in the evening. It seems that bad sleep worsens physical performance. The impact of sleep and CT on specific sports and populations is unclear. Therefore, we wanted to assess agility, strength and endurance in young soccer players in relation to their sleep and chronotype. 58 players (13–19 years) were recruited. Sleep and CT were assessed by questionnaires. The physical trial was performed at 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and included three tests to determine agility, strength and endurance. The sample was classified by CT as M-types (n = 11), N-types (n = 29) and E-types (n = 18). Furthermore, they were categorized as people with Good Sleep/Wake quality (GSW, n = 28) and people with Bad Sleep/Wake quality (BSW, n = 30). Comparing the three CTs in the aerobic test, M-types performed better in the morning (p = 0.01), while E-types in the evening (p &lt; 0.001). GSW performed better than BSW (p = 0.019) in the aerobic test in the p.m. session. These results underline the difference in aerobic power between M-and E-types during the morning and evening session; moreover, they show a difference in p.m. aerobic performance according to sleep quality.
A new approach of using organ-on-a-chip and fluid–structure interaction modeling to investigate biomechanical characteristics in tissue-engineered blood vessels
Authors: Wang Liang , Chen Zaozao , Xu Zhuoyue , Yang Yi , Wang Yan , Zhu Jianfeng , Guo Xiaoya , Tang Dalin , Gu Zhongze 
Published: May 2023

The tissue-engineered blood vessel (TEBV) has been developed and used in cardiovascular disease modeling, preclinical drug screening, and for replacement of native diseased arteries. Increasing attention has been paid to biomechanical cues in TEBV and other tissue-engineered organs to better recapitulate the functional properties of the native organs. Currently, computational fluid dynamics models were employed to reveal the hydrodynamics in TEBV-on-a-chip. However, the biomechanical wall stress/strain conditions in the TEBV wall have never been investigated. In this paper, a straight cylindrical TEBV was placed into a polydimethylsiloxane-made microfluidic device to construct the TEBV-on-a-chip. The chip was then perfused with cell culture media flow driven by a peristaltic pump. A three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction (FSI) model was generated to simulate the biomechanical conditions in TEBV and mimic both the dynamic TEBV movement and pulsatile fluid flow. The material stiffness of the TEBV wall was determined by uniaxial tensile testing, while the viscosity of cell culture media was measured using a rheometer. Comparison analysis between the perfusion experiment and FSI model results showed that the average relative error in diameter expansion of TEBV from both approaches was 10.0% in one period. For fluid flow, the average flow velocity over a period was 2.52 cm/s from the FSI model, 10.5% higher than the average velocity of the observed cell clusters (2.28 mm/s) in the experiment. These results demonstrated the facility to apply the FSI modeling approach in TEBV to obtain more comprehensive biomechanical results for investigating mechanical mechanisms of cardiovascular disease development.
The influence of stressful life events on procrastination among college students: multiple mediating roles of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations
Authors: Ma Xiaole , Li Zeheng , Lu Furong 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionFew studies have documented the relationship between stressful life events and procrastination, which is a prevalent and troubling problem among college students. In this regard, the current study examined the association between stressful life events and procrastination through potential mediating effects of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations.MethodsA cross-sectional design was carried out and data were collected from a total of 794 Chinese college students with measures of stressful life events, core self-evaluations, stress beliefs, and procrastination.ResultsStressful life events was positively associated with procrastination in college students. Stress beliefs and core self-evaluations played multiple mediating roles in this relationship.DiscussionThe study provided a novel perspective of finding the possible causes of procrastination in college students and highlighted the roles of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations.
Self-efficacy, reflection, and resilience as predictors of work engagement among English teachers
Authors: Heng Qingzhi , Chu Lina 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionGiven the significant role of work engagement of teachers in educational contexts, some scholarly attention has been directed to exploring the predictors of this construct. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to investigate the predictors of teacher work engagement among Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers by testing a model that includes teacher self-efficacy, teacher reflection, and teacher resilience.MethodsTo achieve this goal, 512 EFL teachers were invited to participate in an online survey, which consisted of four questionnaires. The construct validity of the measures was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Then, structural equation modeling was utilized to examine the relationships between the variables.ResultsThe findings indicated that teacher self-efficacy, teacher reflection, and teacher resilience were direct predictors of work engagement, and teacher self-efficacy had an indirect effect on work engagement via teacher reflection and resilience. Similarly, teacher reflection also had an indirect impact on work engagement through teacher resilience.DiscussionThese results have important implications for teacher education programs. The significance of these predictors of work engagement among EFL teachers highlights the importance of fostering self-efficacy, reflection, and resilience among teachers in order to promote their work engagement. Further research can explore ways to enhance these predictors through training and support programs for teachers.
Sport and academic engagement of 1,387 Slovenian dual-career athletes before and during COVID-19 lockdown—what did we learn?
Authors: Drole Kristina , Paravlic Armin , Coakley Jay , Doupona Mojca 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionSince the coronavirus disease outbreak in 2019, there have been several preventive measures and restrictions applied to minimize the transmission of the virus. While lockdown has affected our everyday lives, it has negatively impacted sport and athletes as well.Methods1,387 Slovenian dual-career (DC) athletes (47.4% females, 52.6% males) participated in the 22-item questionnaire to gather information on their sports and academic engagement before and during COVID-19 lockdown period. Half of the athletes were enrolled in education at the secondary level (n = 819, aged 15–18  years), while the others were enrolled in primary (n = 301, 8–14 years) and tertiary (n = 267, 19–36  years) education. All participants in the current study have a valid athlete categorization by the Slovenian Olympic Committee and are competing at either junior (31.7%), national (26.9%), prospective (29.5%), international (8.5%), world (2.3%) or Olympic (1.2%) level.ResultsDC athletes spent less time on training (−4.7 h; p &lt; 0.001), learning (−1.0 h; p &lt; 0.001), exams (−0.9 h; p &lt; 0.001), laboratory work (−0.6 h; p &lt; 0.001), and other educational activities (−0.3 h; p &lt; 0.001) during COVID-19 lockdown compared to period before the lockdown. Their training environment was changed so they trained either at home or outdoors. Results showed that indoor (−3.7 h; p &lt; 0.001) and team sport athletes (−1.3 h; p &lt; 0.001) trained less than outdoor and individual sports. Male athletes spent more time on training both before (1.3 h; p &lt; 0.001) and during lockdown (1.3 h; p &lt; 0.001) and other sport-related activities (1.3 h; p &lt; 0.001). On the other hand, female athletes spent more time on studying both before (1.5 h; p &lt; 0.001) and during lockdown (2.6 h; p &lt; 0.001). Both sport and educational activities were influenced by athletes’ age (p ≤ 0.017).ConclusionIndoor and team sport athletes were more affected by the governmental measures than outdoor and individual sport athletes. Male athletes experienced a greater decline in learning time compared to female athletes. DC is shown to be beneficial for athletes even in times of COVID-19 lockdown, as DC athletes report smaller decline in motivation, shifting attention from sport to study and having fewer mental problems due to uncertain sports future. The feedback of the preventive measures could serve to assist policy makers and athlete’s support staff to form and apply preventive measures that are more effective for DC athletes’ training and education.
The mediating effect of somatic symptom disorder between psychological factors and quality of life among Chinese breast cancer patients
Authors: Li Zimeng , Zhang Yening , Pang Ying , He Yi , Song Lili , Wang Yan , He Shuangzhi , Tang Lili 
Published: May 2023

ObjectiveWe conducted this cross-sectional study to explore the mediating and predicting role of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) between psychological measures and quality of life (QOL) among Chinese breast cancer patients.MethodsBreast cancer patients were recruited from three clinics in Beijing. Screening tools included the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), the Health Anxiety Scale (Whiteley Index-8, WI-8), the Somatic Symptom Disorder B-Criteria Scale (SSD-12), the Fear of Cancer Recurrence scale (FCR-4), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ-8), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). Chi-square tests, nonparametric tests, mediating effect analysis, and linear regression analysis were used for the data analysis.ResultsAmong the 264 participants, 25.0% were screened positive for SSD. The patients with screened positive SSD had a lower performance status, and a greater number of patients with screened positive SSD received traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (p &lt; 0.05). Strong mediating effects of SSD were found between psychological measures and QOL among patients with breast cancer after adjusting for sociodemographic variables as covariates (p &lt; 0.001). The range of the percentage mediating effects was 25.67% (independent variable = PHQ-9) to 34.68% (independent variable = WI-8). Screened positive SSD predicted low QOL in physical (B = −0.476, p &lt; 0.001), social (B = −0.163, p &lt; 0.001), emotional (B = −0.304, p &lt; 0.001), and functional (B = −0.283, p &lt; 0.001) well-being, as well as substantial concerns caused by breast cancer (B = −0.354, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionScreened positive SSD had strong mediating effects between psychological factors and quality of life among breast cancer patients. Additionally, screened positive SSD was a significant predictor of lower QOL among breast cancer patients. Effective psychosocial interventions for improving QOL should consider the prevention and treatment of SSD or integrated SSD caring dimensions for breast cancer patients.
A systems biology approach for discovering the cellular and molecular aspects of psychogenic non-epileptic seizure
Authors: Malekpour Mahdi , Jafari Aida , Kashkooli Mohammad , Salarikia Seyed Reza , Negahdaripour Manica 
Published: May 2023

ObjectivesPsychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) is the most common non-epileptic disorder in patients referring to epilepsy centers. Contrary to common beliefs about the disease’s harmlessness, the death rate of PNES patients is similar to drug-resistant epilepsy. Meanwhile, the molecular pathomechanism of PNES is unknown with very limited related research. Thus, the aim of this in silico study was to find different proteins and hormones associated with PNES via a systems biology approach.MethodsDifferent bioinformatics databases and literature review were used to find proteins associated with PNES. The protein-hormone interaction network of PNES was constructed to discover its most influential compartments. The pathways associated with PNES pathomechanism were found by enrichment analysis of the identified proteins. Besides, the relationship between PNES-related molecules and psychiatric diseases was discovered, and the brain regions that could express altered levels of blood proteins were discovered.ResultsEight genes and three hormones were found associated with PNES through the review process. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), neuropeptide Y (NPY), cortisol, norepinephrine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were identified to have a high impact on the disease pathogenesis network. Moreover, activation of Janus kinase-signaling transducer and activator of transcription (JAK–STAT) and JAK, as well as signaling of growth hormone receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase /protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), and neurotrophin were found associated with PNES molecular mechanism. Several psychiatric diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol-related disorders were shown to be associated with PNES predominantly through signaling molecules.SignificanceThis study was the first to gather the biochemicals associated with PNES. Multiple components and pathways and several psychiatric diseases associated with PNES, and some brain regions that could be altered during PNES were suggested, which should be confirmed in further studies. Altogether, these findings could be used in future molecular research on PNES patients.
Behavioral effects of triazolam and pregnanolone combinations: reinforcing and sedative-motor effects in female rhesus monkeys
Authors: Cook Jemma E. , Platt Donna M. , Rüedi-Bettschen Daniela , Rowlett James K. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionBenzodiazepines (BZs) are prescribed as anxiolytics, but their use is limited by side effects including abuse liability and daytime drowsiness. Neuroactive steroids are compounds that, like BZs, modulate the effects of GABA at the GABAA receptor. In a previous study, combinations of the BZ triazolam and neuroactive steroid pregnanolone produced supra-additive (i.e., greater than expected effects based on the drugs alone) anxiolytic effects but infra-additive (i.e., lower than expected effects based on the drugs alone) reinforcing effects in male rhesus monkeys, suggestive of an improved therapeutic window.MethodsFemale rhesus monkeys (n=4) self-administered triazolam, pregnanolone, and triazolam-pregnanolone combinations intravenously under a progressive-ratio schedule. In order to assess characteristic sedative-motor effects of BZ-neuroactive steroid combinations, female rhesus monkeys (n=4) were administered triazolam, pregnanolone, and triazolam-pregnanolone combinations. Trained observers, blinded to condition, scored the occurrence of species-typical and drug-induced behaviors.ResultsIn contrast to our previous study with males, triazolam-pregnanolone combinations had primarily supra-additive reinforcing effects in three monkeys but infra-additive reinforcing effects in one monkey. Scores for deep sedation (i.e., defined as atypical loose-limbed posture, eyes closed, does not respond to external stimuli) and observable ataxia (any slip, trip, fall, or loss of balance) were significantly increased by both triazolam and pregnanolone. When combined, triazolam-pregnanolone combinations had supra-additive effects for inducing deep sedation, whereas observable ataxia was attenuated, likely due to the occurrence of robust sedative effects.DiscussionThese results suggest that significant sex differences exist in self-administration of BZ-neuroactive steroid combinations, with females likely to show enhanced sensitivity to reinforcing effects compared with males. Moreover, supra-additive sedative effects occurred for females, demonstrating a higher likelihood of this adverse effect when these drug classes are combined.