Effects of matcha green tea on the pharmacokinetics of nadolol in rats

by Eslam T. Mashaqbeh, Tamam El-Elimat, Osama Y. Alshogran, Iyad Hamzeh, Zahraa M. Obeidat, Ahmed H. Al Sharie, Feras El Hajji

The concurrent use of herbal dietary supplements with prescription medications raises safety concerns due to the potential for clinically significant interactions. Matcha, a shade-grown green tea consumed as an ultra-fine powder, is rich in catechins that may inhibit the transport of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates such as nadolol. This study investigated the effects of administering single and multiple doses of matcha on the pharmacokinetics of nadolol in an in vivo animal model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 (negative control) was administered normal saline followed by a single oral dose of nadolol (10 mg/kg). Group 2 (matcha single-dose) was administered a single dose of matcha (250 mg/kg) whisked in normal saline, followed by nadolol (10 mg/kg) after 30 min. Group 3 (positive control) received itraconazole (50 mg/kg), followed by nadolol (10 mg/kg) after 30 min. Group 4 (matcha multiple-dose) received matcha (250 mg/kg daily for 21 days) before administering nadolol (10 mg/kg) on day 21. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.33, 0.66, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 24 h. Nadolol concentrations in plasma were measured by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using the PK solver add-in for Microsoft Excel. To ensure quality control, caffeine, a key marker compound of matcha green tea, was quantified using HPLC with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). A single oral dosage of matcha (250 mg/kg) had no statistically significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of nadolol compared to the control group (p > .05). Although the multiple-dose matcha group showed an increase in C_max (~45%), AUC_0-t (~18%), and AUC_0-∞ (~22%) for nadolol compared to the control group, these differences were not statistically significant (p > .05). In contrast, the t½ (h) of nadolol increased significantly from 4.0 ± 1.6 in the control group to 7.7 ± 4.2 (p = .039) in the matcha multiple-dose group. Itraconazole co-administration significantly increased systemic exposure (AUC) of nadolol (p = .009), confirming the validity of the animal model. Caffeine, a key marker compound in matcha tea, was quantified at 4.18 ± 0.44% w/w of dry matcha tea powder, equivalent to 41.8 ± 4.4 mg/g. This is the first study to explore the potential pharmacokinetic interaction between matcha tea and nadolol. Single and multiple oral doses of matcha green tea had negligible effects on most pharmacokinetic parameters of nadolol, except for an increased half-life in the multiple-dose group. Further research is needed to establish the clinical relevance of this interaction before definitive recommendations on the safety of matcha tea and nadolol coadministration can be made.

<i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> upregulates <i>Toll2</i>, <i>Toll9</i>, and <i>defensin</i> genes in <i>Bombyx</i> larvae infection model

by Farhan R. Chowdhury, M. Ismail Hossain, Tangerul A. Jepu, Nusrat U. A. Saleh, Fatema T. Zohora, Tasmim A. Saleh, Mrinmoy Sarker, Al Numan, Zainab Yousuf, M. Aftab Uddin, Muktadir S. Hossain

Pneumococcal diseases caused by the human pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae are a major public health concern worldwide. In this study, we examined the pathogenicity of a clinical isolate of S. pneumoniae in the silk moth, Bombyx mori, larvae infection model. The whole genome sequencing of a clinical isolate of S. pneumoniae, Spn1 identified the presence of genes responsible for its virulence and antibiotic resistance. Spn1 infection of Bombyx larvae resulted in death within 24 h concomitant with an increase of phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph. The bacterial load increased in the hemolymph within 9 h post-infection (p.i.) Ampicillin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, imipenem, and erythromycin showed therapeutic effect in infected larvae, although the bacterial strain was resistant to erythromycin in vitro. The Bombyx homologs of mammalian TLR2 and TLR4, known as BmToll2 and BmToll9 (BmToll9−1 and BmToll9−2 isoforms), were upregulated in both the fat body and trachea. The antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes, BmdefensinA and BmdefensinB, known to be regulated by the Toll signaling pathway, were significantly upregulated in both fat body and trachea after S. pneumoniae infection through hemolymph. Our data indicate that the Bombyx larvae can be a suitable infection model to study the pathogenicity of S. pneumoniae.

Markers of clinical and mitochondrial adaptation in response to moderate intensity continuous training: A systematic review and meta-analysis

by Veronica Vabishchevich, Ryan T. Smith, Adam J. Bittel

Background

Aerobic exercise promotes mitochondrial morphological, enzymatic, and bioenergetic adaptions to improve muscle health and function. Although moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) is frequently recommended for sedentary and multiple clinical populations, there is little consensus regarding the effects of chronic MICT on these adaptations. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the evidence for the effects of MICT on molecular transducers of mitochondrial biogenesis and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL. Eligible studies assessed MICT lasting ≥2 weeks in adults, published since 2010, and collected vastus lateralis skeletal muscle biopsies pre and post chronic endurance exercise exposure. Data were extracted for mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), citrate synthase (CS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), mitofusin 2 (MFN2), dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), VO₂max, and mitochondrial density (MitoVD). Meta-analyses using inverse-variance random effects models were conducted for outcomes reported in at least three studies.

Results

A total of fourteen studies (n = 184) met inclusion criteria, with an overall low to moderate risk of bias and very low to low certainty of evidence. MICT significantly increased MitoVD (p p p = 0.05) and MFN2 showed a modest increase (p = 0.01) following MICT. No changes were observed for TFAM, DRP1, or PGC-1α.

Conclusion

MICT significantly improves MFN2 expression, CS activity, MitoVD, and VO₂ max in adults. However, the overall quality of evidence is low. Heterogeneity in molecular responses suggests potential moderating effects of training duration, modality (e.g., cycling vs. treadmill), and sex – warranting further research.

Registration

PROSPERO ID:CRD42024611640.

Impact of injection scheduling on CO₂ migration and trapping efficiency in the Johansen formation

by Hai T. Nguyen

Injection scheduling is increasingly considered as an operational lever for optimizing carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage in saline aquifers, yet its long-term impact on trapping efficiency at field scale remains uncertain. This study employs a field-calibrated vertical equilibrium model of the Johansen formation, offshore Norway, to compare four injection strategies: constant, ramped, pulsed, and low steady, under equal total injected mass. Simulations span 1000 years, including both injection and post-injection phases, to evaluate plume migration, bottom hole pressure (BHP) evolution, and partitioning among residual and solubility trapping. Results show that while injection schedule significantly influences short-term injectivity and peak BHP with differences up to 80 bar, its effect on millennial-scale trapping efficiency is negligible. By 1000 years, all scenarios converge to a similar distribution, with 57–58% dissolved in brine, 30–34% immobilized by residual trapping, and 8–9% persisting as a mobile plume, with inter-schedule differences less than 2% of the total injected mass. These findings indicate that, in a laterally open and well-connected aquifer such as Johansen, long-term storage security is governed primarily by reservoir properties and dissolution dynamics rather than by operational schedule. Consequently, injection scheduling should be regarded as a tool for short-term pressure management and infrastructure safety, not as a determinant of ultimate storage performance. This distinction provides practical guidance for designing CO₂ storage projects and regulatory assessments of long-term containment.

Predicting the frequency of positive laboratory submissions for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in Ontario, Canada, using autoregressive integrated moving average, exponential smoothing, random forest, and recurrent neural network

by Tatiana Petukhova, Maria Spinato, Tanya Rossi, Michele T. Guerin, Cathy A. Bauman, Pauline Nelson-Smikle, Davor Ojkic, Zvonimir Poljak

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is endemic in many pig-producing countries and poses significant health and economic challenges. Enhanced surveillance strategies are essential for effective disease management. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of different time-series modeling techniques to predict weekly PRRSV-positive laboratory submissions in Ontario, Canada. Ten years of PRRSV diagnostic data were obtained from the Animal Health Laboratory at the University of Guelph and were processed into a weekly time series. The dataset was analyzed with autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), exponential smoothing (ETS), random forest (RF), and recurrent neural network (RNN) models. Two validation strategies were employed: a traditional train-test split and a simulated prospective rolling forecast. Model accuracy was evaluated using common predictive error metrics. Descriptive analysis indicated a gradual increase in PRRSV positive submissions over time, with no consistent seasonal pattern. ARIMA and ETS models generally overpredict case counts, while RF and RNN tended to underpredict them. Among the evaluated models, the RF regression model most accurately captured the underlying time-series dynamics and produced the lowest prediction errors across both validation approaches. Despite outperforming other models, the RF model’s high relative prediction errors limit its suitability for accurate forecasting of PRRSV-positive submissions in Ontario’s routine surveillance system. Further data refinement and algorithm improvements are warranted.

Followership among jordanian nurses: A cross-sectional online study

by Wafaa T. ALQadrie, Ali M. Saleh, Sami AL-Rawashdeh, Ola N. Alfuqaha, Suheir I. Abdallah

Background

In recent years, the concept of followership has gained significant attention, challenging the traditional leadership-centric view of organizational management positions. While effective followership is vital to the success of any organization, it has often been overlooked, especially in healthcare, where teamwork is crucial.

Aim

The current study aimed to identify the followership styles of nurses in Jordan and examine how these styles relate to nurses’ demographic and work-related characteristics.

Method

A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Using a multistage sampling approach, 351 registered nurses were recruited from governmental, private, and teaching hospitals across northern, central, and southern Jordan. Data were collected through an online survey using the validated Kelley Followership Questionnaire–Revised (KFQ-R). Both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted.

Results

Findings revealed that the predominant followership style was exemplary (68.7%), followed by the pragmatist (31.3%). Chi square test revealed statistically significant difference between followership style and marital status (χ² (1) = 6.193, p = .013), working area (χ² (2) = 7.405, p = .025), nursing care delivery system (χ² (3) = 13.926, p = .003), and Decision-making style (χ² (3) = 17.173, p = .001). The binary logistic regression was significant, χ² (26) = 67.77, p 

Using participatory methods to develop a narrative intervention to alleviate distress in children hospitalised with TB in South Africa: The DIMPle project

by Caitlin D. October, Dzunisani P. Baloyi, Lario Viljoen, Rene Raad, Dillon T. Wademan, Megan Palmer, Juli Switala, Michaile G. Anthony, Karen Du Preez, Petra De Koker, Anneke C. Hesseling, Bronwyne Coetzee, Graeme Hoddinott

Children who are hospitalised for tuberculosis (TB) experience challenges that put them at risk of developing emotional, behavioural, and social difficulties. In this methodological paper, we showcase the development of a narrative intervention toolkit with key components of the resulting version 1.0 tool. The study design was participatory and pragmatic, with researchers working with the routine staff of TB hospital wards, children admitted and their caregivers, to iteratively understand and improve children’s experiences of hospitalisation. The project included three phases: (1) a situational analysis to map children and healthcare providers’ perspectives on priorities and potential intervention components, (2) co-development of a beta-version of the intervention, and (3) piloting and incremental refinement toward a version 1.0 of the intervention. The intervention toolkit combined a series of activities alongside the story of ‘Courageous Curly’ to facilitate children’s engagement with their own experiences of hospitalisation, including psychosocial and treatment challenges, captured, and described throughout data collection. We found that dividing the story into short chapters facilitated children’s engagement with the section of story that is being told on a specific day. Each chapter of the story follows/mimics a different stage children can expect during their treatment journey while hospitalised for TB care. Implementation and evaluation of such interventions can mitigate the psychosocial impact of TB in children and inform policies to improve their overall TB care.

Annual U.S. healthcare expenditures attributable to cigar smoking between 2001 and 2018, overall and by payer

by Xin Xu, Ghada Homsi, Sherry T. Liu, Jennifer M. Gaber, Naa A. Inyang, Brian L. Rostron, Caryn F. Nagler, James Nonnemaker

Background

In 2022, 3.7% of U.S. adults currently smoked cigars. This study assesses cigar-smoking-attributable fractions in U.S. healthcare expenditures and associated annual healthcare expenditures overall and by payer, including publicly funded healthcare programs.

Methods

Data were obtained from the 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015–2017 National Health Interview Survey linked with corresponding panels from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data through 2018. The final sample (n = 53,733) was restricted to adults aged 25 + . Estimates from four-part models and data from the Personal Health Care component of the 2001–2018 National Health Expenditures Accounts were combined to estimate fractions of and annual healthcare expenditures attributable to cigar smoking. All models controlled for sociodemographic characteristics and health-related behaviors.

Results

During 2001–2018, an estimated 1.8% (95% CI = 0.9%–3.4%) or $29.7 billion annually of U.S. healthcare expenditures could be attributed to cigar smoking. Most of this was funded by other third-party health insurance programs, a mix of private and public payers (e.g., Department of Veterans Affairs).

Conclusions

Cigar smoking creates a preventable financial burden on the U.S. healthcare system. Health consequences associated with cigar smoking may remain after successful quitting. The findings underscore the importance of preventing initiation of cigar smoking and providing evidence-based cessation methods to reduce the health and economic burden of cigar smoking.