Melatonin: Translation of Ongoing Studies Into Possible Therapeutic Applications Outside Sleep Disorders.

Purpose: Melatonin, a natural hormone mainly synthesized by the pineal gland, is regulated by circadian rhythm. Synthetic melatonin is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for any indication. However, melatonin receptor agonists such as ramelteon and tasimelteon are US Food and Drug Administration approved and are considered by the American Academy of Family Physicians for the treatment of insomnia.

A Systematic Review on Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention Interventions for Black Girls.

Background: The relationship between drug use and poor sexual health outcomes in Black adolescent females such as diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and early/unwanted pregnancy has been established in the literature. Yet, very few interventions have been successful in reducing the risk of poor sexual health outcomes and drug use for adolescent girls. Even more rare are interventions that are catered to specifically to Black girls in the United States, which is a group that has the highest rates of poorer sexual health outcomes and negative consequences associated with drug use.

Reframing Sexual Health for Black Girls and Women in HIV/STI Prevention Work: Highlighting the Role of Identity and Interpersonal Relationships.

While Black girls and women are disproportionately impacted by sexual health disparities, there continues to be an overwhelming focus on individual risk behaviors within prevention initiatives, which offers a fragmented narrative of the multidimensional nature of risk and plausibly limits effectiveness of prevention programs and attenuates reductions in disparities. Because sexual health is experienced within an individual's beliefs/values, interpersonal relationships, and behaviors and reflects larger social and cultural systems, it is important to critically examine common theories used to inform HIV/STI prevention interventions for Black women and girls. To fill this gap in the literature, we critique two commonly used theories in HIV/STI prevention interventions, namely the social cognitive theory and the theory of gender and power, by highlighting theoretical and practical strengths and weaknesses.

Melatonin for the Early Treatment of COVID-19: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Possible Efficacy.

Objective: To discuss the use of melatonin as an early treatment option on the first day of diagnosis for COVID-19.

Methods: Medical Subject Headings terms "COVID-19" and "viral diseases" were manually searched on PubMed, and relevant articles were included.

Results: The results showed that melatonin acts to reduce reactive oxygen species-mediated damage, cytokine-induced inflammation, and lymphopenia in viral diseases similar to COVID-19.

Correction: Protein fractional synthesis rates within tissues of high- and low-active mice.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Protein fractional synthesis rates within tissues of high- and low-active mice.

With the rise in physical inactivity and its related diseases, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved in physical activity regulation. Biological factors regulating physical activity are studied to establish a possible target for improving the physical activity level. However, little is known about the role metabolism plays in physical activity regulation.