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Objective: To develop a valid and reliable Dysfunctional Daydreaming Scale (DDS). Methodology: This study aimed to create the item pool for the DDS and was conducted in three phases. In the second phase, 45 items out of a total of 67 items were selected for administration to a sample of 40 individuals, chosen through purposive sampling from Gujrat and Sialkot and ranging in age from 12 to 60 years. In the first phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four clinical psychologists and two psychiatrists, as well as ten individuals aged 20 to 60 years. The items were evaluated by five experts in psychology. Results: The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO=0.924) and Bartlett's test of sphericity (x2=6717.842, p<.001) were satisfactory. The exploratory factor analysis identified two factors, "Escapes" and "Emotional Distress," for the DDS with a reliability coefficient of .94 and satisfactory concurrent validity with the MDS (r=.75, p<.01). Conclusions: The DDS is a reliable and valid psychometric test that has been developed locally to evaluate maladaptive thought patterns that may serve as a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among Dysfunctional Daydreaming, Social Anxiety and Depression in adolescents and explore the mediating role of daydreaming between two variables. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional correlational research design was conducted to collect data from 200 participants (Males=94, Females=106) of age range 12 to 19 years (M=17.08, SD= 1.93) with a convenient sampling technique via google form due to COVID-19 during the lockdown period April to June 2020. Inclusion criteria focused on willing participants who were studying online during the pandemic. Unwilling students, along with the freezing of study, were excluded. Three standardized questionnaires, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for measuring Depression, the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) for measuring Social Anxiety and Dysfunctional Daydreaming Scale (DDS) for measuring malfunctioning fantasies, were used. The demographic sheet and informed consent form were filled out correctly to administer the questionnaires. Data were analyzed in SPSS-24 for frequencies, percentages, and correlations. Mediation analysis was conducted in AMOS-24. RESULTS: Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient revealed a positive correlation of Dysfunctional Daydreaming with Social anxiety (r=.50, p<0.05) and Depression (r=0.58, p<0.05). Dysfunctional daydreaming mediated between social anxiety and Depression in adolescents (β=0.34, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The research indicated social support as a predictor of Depression in adolescents with a strengthening impact of abnormal Daydreaming on Depression. An implication for mindfulness interventions that focus on the present moment without judgment is necessary to regulate anxiety, Depression, and daydreaming in college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/introduction: Due to the heterogeneous nature of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complex effects on hemodynamics, there is a need to identify new candidate markers which are involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and can serve as potential targets. As the global diabetes prevalence in 2019 was estimated as 9.3% (463 million people), rising to 10.2% (578 million) by 2030 and 10.9% (700 million) by 2045, the need to limit this rapid prevalence is of concern. The study aims to identify the possible biomarkers of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the help of the system biology approach using R programming. Materials and methods: Several target proteins that were found to be associated with the source genes were further curated for their role in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The differential expression analysis provided 50 differentially expressed genes by pairwise comparison between the biologically comparable groups out of which eight differentially expressed genes were short-listed. These DEGs were as follows: MCL1, PTX3, CYP3A4, PTGS1, SSTR2, SERPINA3, TDO2, and GALNT7. Results: The cluster analysis showed clear differences between the control and treated groups. The functional relationship of the signature genes showed a protein--protein interaction network with the target protein. Moreover, several transcriptional factors such as DBX2, HOXB7, POU3F4, MSX2, EBF1, and E4F1 showed association with these identified differentially expressed genes. Conclusions: The study highlighted the important markers for diabetes mellitus that have shown interaction with other proteins having a role in the progression of diabetes mellitus that can serve as new targets in the management of DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Esophageal-Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is often diagnosed at the middle or late stage, thus requiring more effective therapeutic strategies. Pharmacologically, the anti-tumor activity of the principal active constituent of Sophora flavescens, matrine (MA), has been explored widely. Notwithstanding, it is significant to nanotechnologically enhance the anti-tumor activity of MA in view of its potential to distribute non-tumor cells., Methods: Herein, MA-loaded Nano-Liposomes (MNLs) were prepared to enhance the effect of anti-ESCC. The MNL showed a smaller sized particle (25.95 ± 1.02 nm) with a low polydispersed index (PDI = 0.130 ± 0.054), uniform spherical morphology, good solution stability, and encapsulated efficiency (65.55% ± 2.47). Furthermore, we determined the characteristics of KYSE-150 cells by cell viability assay, IC50, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), Western blot, and apoptotic analysis, which indicated that MNLs down-regulated the cell viability and IC50 in a concentration-dependent manner and induced a significant change in JC-1 fluorescence from red to green., Results: The above observations resulted in increased Bax and Caspase-3 levels, coupled with a substantial decrease in Bcl-2 and apoptotic promotion at the advanced stage compared with MA., Conclusion: Based on these results, MNLs may serve as a more effective and promising therapeutic option for ESCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Severe neurological condition like Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a significantly negative impact on families and society, wherein there is no proven cure. As one of the principal active constituents of Achyranthes bidentata Blume, ecdysterone (ECR) has demonstrated antioxidant and cognitive dysfunction improvement effects. Nonetheless, the mechanism underlying the improvement of cognitive dysfunction by ECR remains unclear. This study sought to ascertain whether ECR may allebviate cognitive impairment by reducing oxidative stress via activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) antioxidant system through Akt/GSK3β pathway., Methods: In terms of the experimental procedure, we determined the neuroprotective benefits of ECR in vivo via a cognitive impairment model of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8), we performed procedures such as behavioral testing, biochemical assaying, Nissl and TUNEL stainings, as well as flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Furthermore, we investigated the underlying mechanistic action of ECR by activating PC12 cells with β-amyloid peptide fragment 25-35 (Aβ25-35)., Results: In vivo studies showed that ECR effectively improved cognitive impairment in SAMP8 via enhancement of learning and memory capabilities, but decreased oxidative stress, apoptosis and neuronal damage in the hippocampus. During the in vitro study, we observed that ECR dose-dependently reduced the oxidative stress and apoptosis that were induced in PC12 cells by Aβ25-35. Additionally, the use of Akt inhibitors further established the potential of ECR to control Nrf2 through activation of the Akt/GSK3β pathway and protect the PC12 cells from Aβ25-35 induced damage., Conclusions: These findings offer proof that ECR reduces cognitive impairment by triggering the Nrf2 antioxidant system via the Akt/GSK3β pathway and offer fresh information on ECR's potential as a promising therapeutic development candidate for AD., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Background: As a pentacyclic triterpenoid, OA (oleanolic acid) has exhibited antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory and antitumor effects. VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial cells receptor-2) tyrosine kinase activity could be inhibited by apatinib, a small-molecule antiangiogenic agent., Objective: Thus, this study sought to investigate the mechanism underlying the synergistic antitumor activity of combined OA and apatinib patent., Methods: Through CCK8 (Cell counting kit 8 assay), flow cytometric and western blotting techniques, we conducted in vitro studies on apatinib and OA effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis in H22 cell line. H22 tumor-burdened mice model was established in vivo, while the related signaling pathways were studied via pathological examination, western blotting and qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction)., Results: Growth of H22 cells in vitro and in vivo could be inhibited effectively by apatinib and OA. Thus, OA repaired liver function and inhibited oxidative stress induced by apatinib., Conclusion: OA can treat apatinib induced liver injury in H22 Tumor-burdened mice by enhancing the suppresssive effect of apatinib on the growth of tumor., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: The potential mechanism underlying the protective effect of Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) co-treatment with 1, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (Vit-D) on neuropathy in diabetic high-fat rats was investigated., Methods: The rat diabetic hyperlipidemia (DH) model was established via streptozotocin and a high-fat diet (HFD). After co-treatment (of AS-IV and Vit-D at respective doses of 50 mg/kg via oral gavage and 30000 IU/kg via intramuscular injection), blood glucose levels, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as apoptosis and histopathology were evaluated with appropriate techniques., Results: Co-treatment could effectively reduce blood glucose levels substantially (p< 0.01), improve weight loss, and decrease oral glucose tolerance. Reduced respective sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities in rats were substantially improved (p<0.01) after co-treatment. Also, we observed obvious improvement in DH-induced injured nerve fiber myelin structure and other organ pathologies in co-treated rats. Besides, we observed up-regulated expressions of peroxisomal-proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) and Vit-D receptors (VDR) (p< 0.01) through the western blotting technique. Using the same technique, we also discovered reduced levels of interleukin (IL)1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, coupled with increased IL-10 and superoxide dismutase levels (p< 0.01). Importantly, co-treatment could effectively exert antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Also, co-treatment resulted in the up-regulation of PPAR-α and VDR expressions, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and promotion of β-cell sensitivity to insulin., Conclusion: The combined application of AS-IV and Vit-D exhibited health effects such as anti-oxidation, regulation of inflammatory factors, and promotion of cell repair, which may be considered as the mechanisms underlying treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and improvement in biochemical indicators., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)