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Music serves as a prevalent emotional regulation tool among young people. However, the correlational and causal relationships between music use, emotion regulation ability, and emotional symptoms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations and causal relationships between healthy and unhealthy music use, emotion regulation ability, and emotional symptoms, including alexithymia, depression, and anxiety. This study included 16,588 college students nationwide in China. All participants were assessed online with the Healthy‐Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS), the Regulatory Emotional Self‐Efficacy Scale (RESE), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20), and the 10‐item Kessler Psychological Stress Scale (K10) using a cluster convenience sampling method. We applied a regularized partial correlation network (RPCN) and Bayesian network to analyze the network characteristics of the outcomes. In the RPCN analysis, healthy music use showed the second strongest expected influence (one‐step) and correlated positively with emotion regulation self‐efficacy while inversely correlating with externally oriented thinking of alexithymia and depression. The Bayesian network indicated that healthy music use was located downstream of the network, positively predicted by managing anger‐irritation and expressing positive affect in emotion regulation self‐efficacy. In contrast, unhealthy music use in the RPCN displayed the strongest bridge strength and bridge expected influence (one‐step). It negatively correlated with expressing positive affect in emotion regulation self‐efficacy and positively correlated with alexithymia, anxiety, and depression. The Bayesian network highlighted that unhealthy music use was positively affected by anxiety, depression, and difficulty identifying feelings. In addition, managing despondency‐distress influences difficulty identifying feelings through depression, subsequently affecting unhealthy music use and, finally, influencing externally oriented thinking. This study provides a novel framework for understanding the role of emotion regulation self‐efficacy and alexithymia in the relationship between music use and emotional symptoms. Emotion regulation and mental health may benefit from music‐based interventions and therapies informed by the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several commonly used opioid analgesics, such as fentanyl, sufentanil, alfentanil, and hydrocodone, are by report primarily metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme. The concurrent use of ritonavir, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, can lead to significant drug interactions. Using physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and simulation, this study examines the effects of different dosing regimens of ritonavir on the pharmacokinetics of these opioids. The findings reveal that co-administration of ritonavir significantly increases the exposure of fentanyl analogs, with over a 10-fold increase in the exposure of alfentanil and sufentanil when given with ritonavir. Conversely, the effect of ritonavir on fentanyl exposure is modest, likely due to additional metabolism pathways. Additionally, the study demonstrates that the steady-state exposure of hydrocodone and its active metabolite hydromorphone can be increased by up to 87% and 95%, respectively, with concurrent use of ritonavir. The extended-release formulation of hydrocodone is particularly affected. These insights from PBPK modeling provide valuable guidance for optimizing opioid dosing and minimizing the risk of toxicity when used in combination with ritonavir-containing prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more inclined to use drugs and relapse for regulating emotions compared to men. This study aimed to explore the effects of group music and imagery in alleviating anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving for women with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) in a compulsory rehabilitation context. A total of 90 women with MUD were randomly assigned to the music therapy treatment arm (n = 45) or control treatment arm (n = 45). Participants in the music therapy treatment arm received 12 biweekly sessions of group music and imagery (GrpMI) and those in the control treatment arm received 6 weeks of usual care. Anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving were assessed at pre-test and post-test. After the intervention, participants in the GrpMI group reported significantly greater improvements than those in the control group for state anxiety (F = 6.27; p =.02; Partial η2 =.13), trait anxiety (F = 4.49; p =.04; Partial η2 =.09), depression (F = 5.48; p =.02; Partial η2 =.11), and craving (F = 4.53; p =.04; Partial η2 =.09). There was no significant difference between groups in emotion regulation difficulties (F =.95, p =.34, Partial η2 =.09). GrpMI significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and craving for women with MUD. Emotion regulation ability may need a longer period of treatment for significant improvement. Future studies could add long-term follow-up and compare the effects of group music therapy in women versus men with SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a heme-containing peroxidase, mainly expressed in neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, in monocytes. MPO is known to have a broad bactericidal ability via catalyzing the reaction of Cl− with H2O2 to produce a strong oxidant, hypochlorous acid (HOCl). However, the overproduction of MPO-derived oxidants has drawn attention to its detrimental role, especially in diseases characterized by acute or chronic inflammation. Broadly speaking, MPO and its derived oxidants are involved in the pathological processes of diseases mainly through the oxidation of biomolecules, which promotes inflammation and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, some researchers found that MPO deficiency or using MPO inhibitors could attenuate inflammation and tissue injuries. Taken together, MPO might be a promising target for both prognostic and therapeutic interventions. Therefore, understanding the role of MPO in the progress of various diseases is of great value. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the diverse roles of MPO in the progression of several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, renal diseases, and lung diseases (including COVID-19). This information serves as a valuable reference for subsequent mechanistic research and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the treatment effects of laparoscopy versus laparotomy on heterotopic pregnancy (HP) after in vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer (IVF‐ET). Methods: The retrospective case–control study enrolled 109 patients diagnosed with HP after IVF‐ET treatment in our hospital from January 2009 to March 2020. All patients received surgical treatment by either laparoscopy or laparotomy. Data for general characteristics, diagnostic features, surgical parameters, as well as perinatal and neonatal outcomes were collected. Results: Sixty‐two patients received laparoscopy and 47 received laparotomy. Significantly lower percentage of large hemoperitoneum (P = 0.001), shorter surgery duration (P < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.001), higher rates of general anesthesia (P < 0.001), and lower cesarean section rates for singletons (P = 0.003) were found in the laparoscopy group. The perinatal and neonatal outcomes were comparable between the two groups. When interstitial pregnancy was considered alone, the surgical blood loss was significantly reduced in the laparoscopy group (P = 0.021), but there was no significant difference in hemoperitoneum, surgery duration, or perinatal and neonatal outcomes in singletons. Conclusion: Both laparoscopy and laparotomy are effective surgical treatments for HP after IVF‐ET. Laparoscopy is minimally invasive but laparotomy can be an alternative in emergency situations. Synopsis: Laparoscopy is an effective, safe and minimally invasive treatment for heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a major class of phase II metabolic enzymes. Besides their essential role in detoxification, GSTs also exert diverse biological activities in the occurrence and development of various diseases. In the past few decades, much research interest has been paid to exploring the mechanisms of GST overexpression in tumor drug resistance. Correspondingly, many GST inhibitors have been developed and applied, solely or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tumors. Moreover, novel roles of GSTs in other diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis and neurodegenerative diseases, have been recognized in recent years, although the exact regulatory mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This review, firstly summarizes the roles of GSTs and their overexpression in the above-mentioned diseases with emphasis on the modulation of cell signaling pathways and protein functions. Secondly, specific GST inhibitors currently in pre-clinical development and in clinical stages are inventoried. Lastly, applications of GST inhibitors in targeting cell signaling pathways and intracellular biological processes are discussed, and the potential for disease treatment is prospected. Taken together, this review is expected to provide new insights into the interconnection between GST overexpression and human diseases, which may assist future drug discovery targeting GSTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the subacute toxicity and toxicokinetics of a potential anti-cancer drug candidate, pterostilbene, in rats. Animals were orally administered at two repeated doses of 200 and 500 mg/kg for 28 days. No mortality was observed during the 28 days of continuous administration of pterostilbene. Body weight and food consumption in each group increased steadily, while no significant difference was found. Liver weight in the 500 mg/kg female, but not male group increased with mild cytoplasmic vacuoles observed in histopathological study. Toxicokinetics was assessed by measuring plasma concentrations of pterostilbene on the first and 28th day of administration using UPLC–MS/MS. Toxicokinetic parameters showed that AUC0–t significantly increased in all animals, while the increase in females was greater than males. System exposure of pterostilbene appeared to be linear within the administrated dose range. In conclusion, our findings suggested a minimal subacute toxicity profile of pterostilbene, which could strongly support further development of this compound as a novel anti-cancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]