ABSTRACT
Bats are important reservoir hosts of emerging viruses. Recent viral outbreaks and pandemics have resulted in an increased research focus on the genetic diversity, population structure, and distribution of bat species. Lyle’s flying fox (Pteropus lylei) is widely distributed throughout central Thailand, with most colonies congregating in temples within proximity to humans. A lack of knowledge regarding the genetic connectivity among different colonies hinders the investigation of zoonotic disease epidemiology and wildlife management. In this study, we hypothesized that genetic material may be exchanged between Lyle’s flying fox colonies that live in proximity. We assessed the mitochondrial displacement loop and cytochrome b nucleotide sequences of samples collected from 94 individuals from ten colonies across different roosting sites and detected limited genetic differentiation but increased nucleotide divergence within colonies. This suggests that genetic connectivity among Lyle’s flying fox colonies has experienced frequent and recent gene flow. These findings indicate that this species has maintained demographic equilibrium in a stable population, with a slight expansion event in certain populations. These data provide insights into the dynamics of bat populations, and the genetic knowledge gained presents opportunities for the improved monitoring of bat population structure.
ABSTRACT
Sexual dysfunction (SD) is frequently encountered in patients suffering from depression. There is a bidirectional relationship between various types of SD and depression, so the presence or treatment of one condition may exacerbate or improve the other condition. The most frequent sexual problem in untreated depressed patients is declining sexual desire, while in treated depressed patients it is difficulties with erection/ejaculation and with orgasm. Numerous classes of neuropsychiatric medications, commonly used in depressed patients—such as antidepressant, antipsychotic, alpha sympathetic, and opioid drugs—may cause SD. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, also called low-level light/laser therapy, is a novel neuromodulation technique for neuropsychiatric conditions, such as depression. Transcranial PBM (tPBM) targets the cellular metabolism—through the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme, cytochrome c oxidase—and has numerous cellular and physiological beneficial effects on the central nervous system. This paper represents a comprehensive review of the application of tPBM to SD, coexisting with depression or induced by antidepressant medications.
ABSTRACT
Schizandrol A (SZA) and schizandrol B (SZB) are two active ingredients of Wuzhi capsule (WZC), a Chinese proprietary medicine commonly prescribed to alleviate tacrolimus (FK-506)-induced hepatoxicity in China. Due to their inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A enzymes, SZA/SZB may display drug–drug interaction (DDI) with tacrolimus. To identify the extent of this DDI, the enzymes’ inhibitory profiles, including a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) shift, reversible inhibition (RI) and time-dependent inhibition (TDI) were examined with pooled human-liver microsomes (HLMs) and CYP3A5-genotyped HLMs. Subsequently, the acquired parameters were integrated into a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to quantify the interactions between the SZA/SZB and the tacrolimus. The metabolic studies indicated that the SZB displayed both RI and TDI on CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, while the SZA only exhibited TDI on CYP3A4 to a limited extent. Moreover, our PBPK model predicted that multiple doses of SZB would increase tacrolimus exposure by 26% and 57% in CYP3A5 expressers and non-expressers, respectively. Clearly, PBPK modeling has emerged as a powerful approach to examine herb-involved DDI, and special attention should be paid to the combined use of WZC and tacrolimus in clinical practice.