-
Cancer Biology & Medicine Oct 2023Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Various factors, including dietary habits, and antacid and antibiotic use, have been shown to... (Review)
Review
Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Various factors, including dietary habits, and antacid and antibiotic use, have been shown to influence the esophageal microbiome. Conversely, enrichment and diversity of the esophageal microbiome can also impact its function. Recent studies have revealed prevalent changes in the esophageal microbiome among patients with EC, thus suggesting the potential contribution of the esophageal microbiome to EC development. Additionally, distinct microbiome compositions have been observed in patients with different responses to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, indicating the role of the esophageal microbiome in modulating treatment outcomes. In this review, we have examined previous studies on the esophageal microbiome in healthy individuals and patients with EC or other esophageal diseases, with a focus on identifying microbial communities associated with EC pathogenesis and prognosis. Understanding the role of the microbiome in EC may aid in early detection and optimized treatment strategies, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.
Topics: Humans; Esophageal Neoplasms; Prognosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microbiota
PubMed: 37817487
DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0177 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Feb 2024Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble.... (Review)
Review
Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble. A total of 32 species of this fungal genus have been identified at the level of DNA, of which Aureobasidium pullulans is best known. Aureobasidium is of interest for a sustainable economy because it can be used to produce a wide variety of compounds, including enzymes, polysaccharides, and biosurfactants. Moreover, it can be used to promote plant growth and protect wood and crops. To this end, Aureobasidium cells adhere to wood or plants by producing extracellular polysaccharides, thereby forming a biofilm. This biofilm provides a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings and toxic chemicals. This and the fact that Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential of self-repair make them a potential engineered living material avant la lettre. KEY POINTS: •Aureobasidium produces products of interest to the industry •Aureobasidium can stimulate plant growth and protect crops •Biofinish of A. pullulans is a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings •Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential to function as engineered living materials.
Topics: Aureobasidium; Biofilms; Calcium Carbonate; Crops, Agricultural; Gasoline
PubMed: 38349550
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13025-5 -
Redox Biology Aug 2023Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness in adult, and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a major pathologic event in DR....
Metformin inhibits methylglyoxal-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell death and retinopathy via AMPK-dependent mechanisms: Reversing mitochondrial dysfunction and upregulating glyoxalase 1.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness in adult, and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a major pathologic event in DR. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, is a precursor of AGEs. Although the therapeutic potential of metformin for retinopathy disorders has recently been elucidated, possibly through AMPK activation, it remains unknown how metformin directly affects the MGO-induced stress response in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Therefore, in this study, we compared the effects of metformin and the AMPK activator A769662 on MGO-induced DR in mice, as well as evaluated cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dynamic changes and dysfunction in ARPE-19 cells. We found MGO can induce mitochondrial ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential loss, but reduce cytosolic ROS level in ARPE-19 cells. Although these effects of MGO can be reversed by both metformin and A769662, we demonstrated that reduction of mitochondrial ROS production rather than restoration of cytosolic ROS level contributes to cell protective effects of metformin and A769662. Moreover, MGO inhibits AMPK activity, reduces LC3II accumulation, and suppresses protein and gene expressions of MFN1, PGC-1α and TFAM, leading to mitochondrial fission, inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy. In contrast, these events of MGO were reversed by metformin in an AMPK-dependent manner as evidenced by the effects of compound C and AMPK silencing. In addition, we observed an AMPK-dependent upregulation of glyoxalase 1, a ubiquitous cellular enzyme that participates in the detoxification of MGO. In intravitreal drug-treated mice, we found that AMPK activators can reverse the MGO-induced cotton wool spots, macular edema and retinal damage. Functional, histological and optical coherence tomography analysis support the protective actions of both agents against MGO-elicited retinal damage. Metformin and A769662 via AMPK activation exert a strong protection against MGO-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell death and retinopathy. Therefore, metformin and AMPK activator can be therapeutic agents for DR.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Metformin; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Pyruvaldehyde; Reactive Oxygen Species; Magnesium Oxide; Lactoylglutathione Lyase; Mitochondria; Retinal Diseases; Glycation End Products, Advanced; Epithelial Cells; Retinal Pigments
PubMed: 37348156
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102786 -
Chinese Medical Journal Jul 2023With the development of traditional Chinese medicine research, berberine has shown good efficacy and safety in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
With the development of traditional Chinese medicine research, berberine has shown good efficacy and safety in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple therapy containing berberine, amoxicillin, and vonoprazan for the initial treatment of H. pylori.
METHODS
This study was a single-center, open-label, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients with H. pylori infection were randomly (1:1:1) assigned to receive berberine triple therapy (berberine 500 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, vonoprazan 20 mg, A group), vonoprazan quadruple therapy (vonoprazan 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, colloidal bismuth tartrate 220 mg, B group), or rabeprazole quadruple therapy (rabeprazole 10 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, colloidal bismuth tartrate 220 mg, C group). The drugs were taken twice daily for 14 days. The main outcome was the H. pylori eradication rate. The secondary outcomes were symptom improvement rate, patient compliance, and incidence of adverse events. Furthermore, factors affecting the eradication rate of H. pylori were further analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 300 H. pylori-infected patients were included in this study, and 263 patients completed the study. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that the eradication rates of H. pylori in berberine triple therapy, vonoprazan quadruple therapy, and rabeprazole quadruple therapy were 70.0% (70/100), 77.0% (77/100), and 69.0% (69/100), respectively. The per-protocol (PP) analysis showed that the eradication rates of H. pylori in these three groups were 81.4% (70/86), 86.5% (77/89), and 78.4% (69/88), respectively. Both ITT analysis and PP analysis showed that the H. pylori eradication rate did not significantly differ among the three groups (P >0.05). In addition, the symptom improvement rate, overall adverse reaction rate, and patient compliance were similar among the three groups (P >0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of berberine triple therapy for H. pylori initial treatment was comparable to that of vonoprazan quadruple therapy and rabeprazole quadruple therapy, and it was well tolerated. It could be used as one choice of H. pylori initial treatment.
Topics: Humans; Amoxicillin; Helicobacter pylori; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clarithromycin; Rabeprazole; Berberine; Bismuth; Helicobacter Infections; Drug Therapy, Combination; Treatment Outcome; Proton Pump Inhibitors
PubMed: 37469024
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002696 -
Planta Medica Sep 2023Oral preparations of (guacatonga) are used as antacid, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcerogenic medicines. The clerodane diterpenes casearin B and...
Oral preparations of (guacatonga) are used as antacid, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcerogenic medicines. The clerodane diterpenes casearin B and caseargrewiin F are major active compounds and . The oral bioavailability and metabolism of casearin B and caseargrewiin F were not previously investigated. We aimed to assess the stability of casearin B and caseargrewiin F in physiological conditions and their metabolism in human liver microsomes. The compounds were identified by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and quantified by validated LC-MS methods. The stability of casearin B and caseargrewiin F in physiological conditions was assessed . Both diterpenes showed a fast degradation (p < 0.05) in simulated gastric fluid. Their metabolism was not mediated by cytochrome P-450 enzymes, but the depletion was inhibited by the esterase inhibitor NaF. Both diterpenes and their dialdehydes showed a octanol/water partition coefficient in the range of 3.6 to 4.0, suggesting high permeability. Metabolism kinetic data were fitted to the Michaelis-Menten profile with K values of 61.4 and 66.4 µM and V values of 327 and 648 nmol/min/mg of protein for casearin B and caseargrewiin F, respectively. Metabolism parameters in human liver microsomes were extrapolated to predict human hepatic clearance, and suggest that caseargrewiin F and casearin B have a high hepatic extraction ratio. In conclusion, our data suggest that caseargrewiin F and casearin B present low oral bioavailability due to extensive gastric degradation and high hepatic extraction.
Topics: Humans; Diterpenes, Clerodane; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Liver; Microsomes, Liver
PubMed: 37084791
DOI: 10.1055/a-2078-5920 -
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment Dec 2023To emphasize the role of non-sulfonamides in the treatment of Nocardia infection and reduce the adverse reactions caused by sulfonamides.
AIM
To emphasize the role of non-sulfonamides in the treatment of Nocardia infection and reduce the adverse reactions caused by sulfonamides.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed a case of cutaneous nocardiosis in an immunocompetent individual. The colonies obtained by staining the pus in the lesion with antacid and culturing the agar plates were identified by flight mass spectrometry. The pathogenic identification showed Nocardia brasiliensis infection and the patient was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
RESULTS
After treatment with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, the ulcer gradually peeled and crusted, leaving dark pigmentation. The patient has finally recovered.
CONCLUSION
Sulfonamides are the first-line antibacterial agents for years in treatment of nocardiosis but are of great toxicity and side effects. This patient was successfully treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and it provided a reference protocol for patients with sulfonamide-resistant Nocardia or sulfonamides intolerance.
Topics: Nocardia; Nocardia Infections; Skin Diseases, Bacterial; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Treatment Outcome; Humans; Female; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 37394975
DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2229467 -
Chemosphere Jul 2023Electrocoagulation was investigated as a method for treating wastewater containing polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) from the furniture industry. The study evaluated the...
Electrocoagulation was investigated as a method for treating wastewater containing polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) from the furniture industry. The study evaluated the evolution of iron concentration and passivation during the treatment process. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of inter-electrode distance (d), current density, and mode on treatment performance. Three values of d (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 cm) were studied and found to have no significant effect on performance. However, lower d values resulted in reduced energy consumption due to a decrease in applied voltage. Three values of current density (132, 158, and 197 A m) were studied under two current modes, Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Pulsed Current (APC). The best treatment performance for DC occurred under 158 A m (the treated wastewater was characterized by pH = 4.59 ± 0.02, conductivity = 996 ± 21 μS cm, COD = 1940 ± 55 mgO L, TSS = 105 ± 14 mg L, and Fe = 50.39 ± 1.87 mgFe L). For APC, the best performance was achieved under 197 A m (the treated wastewater was characterized by pH = 6.33 ± 0.06, conductivity = 988 ± 17 μS cm, COD = 1942 ± 312 mgO L, TSS = 199 ± 55 mg L, and Fe = 44.68 ± 4.60 mgFe L). Despite the promising results, treatment performance was insufficient to meet the legal requirements for water discharge. APC was found to be a more economically viable approach, as it reduced anode wear, electrode passivation, and energy consumption. The quantity of iron released increased with d, and the effect of current density on iron concentration was found to be non-linear. However, applying APC reduced the iron content for all tested current densities. The tests showed that EC was effective in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS), achieving removal efficiencies above 92% and 99%, respectively. However, the studied treatment procedures were insufficient to meet the EU legal requirements for water discharge. Therefore, the obtained wastewater should undergo a post-treatment process.
Topics: Wastewater; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Interior Design and Furnishings; Magnesium Oxide; Industrial Waste; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Electrocoagulation; Electrodes; Iron; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36963577
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138500 -
Drug Delivery and Translational Research Sep 2023Diabetic wounds are a serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that can lead to persistent infection, amputation, and even death. Prolonged oxidative stress has...
Diabetic wounds are a serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that can lead to persistent infection, amputation, and even death. Prolonged oxidative stress has been widely recognized as a major instigator in the development of diabetic wounds; therefore, oxidative stress is considered a promising therapeutic target. In the present study, Keap1/Nrf2 signaling was confirmed to be activated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and methylglyoxal (MGO)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Knockdown of Keap1 by siRNA reversed the increase in Keap1 levels, promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and increased the expression of HO-1, an antioxidant protein. To explore therapeutic delivery strategies, milk-derived exosomes (mEXOs) were developed as a novel, efficient, and non-toxic siRNA carrier. SiRNA-Keap1 (siKeap1) was loaded into mEXOs by sonication, and the obtained mEXOs-siKeap1 were found to promote HUVEC proliferation and migration while relieving oxidative stress in MGO-treated HUVECs. Meanwhile, in a mouse model of diabetic wounds, injection of mEXOs-siKeap1 significantly accelerated diabetic wound healing with enhanced collagen formation and neovascularization. Taken together, these data support the development of Keap1 knockdown as a potential therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds and demonstrated the feasibility of mEXOs as a scalable, biocompatible, and cost-effective siRNA delivery system. The therapeutic effect of siKeap1-loaded mEXOs on diabetic wound healing was assessed. First, we found that the expression of Keap1 was upregulated in the wounds of diabetic mice and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) pretreated with methylglyoxal (MGO). Next, we extracted exosomes from raw milk by differential centrifugation and loaded siKeap1 into milk-derived exosomes by sonication. The in vitro application of the synthetic complex (mEXOs-siKeap1) was found to increase the nuclear localization of Nrf2 and the expression of the antioxidant protein HO-1, thus reversing oxidative stress. Furthermore, in vivo mEXOs-siKeap1 administration significantly accelerated the healing rate of diabetic wounds (Scheme 1). Scheme 1 Schematic diagram. A Synthesis of mEXOs-siKeap1 complex. B Mechanism of mEXOs-siKeap1 in vitro. C The treatment effect of mEXOs-siKeap1 on an in vivo mouse model of diabetic wounds.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Antioxidants; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; RNA, Small Interfering; Milk; Exosomes; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Magnesium Oxide; Pyruvaldehyde; Wound Healing; Oxidative Stress; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
PubMed: 36749479
DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01306-x -
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care Jan 2024The initiation of peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) should be considered 2 weeks after conventional laxatives have failed to achieve an...
OBJECTIVES
The initiation of peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) should be considered 2 weeks after conventional laxatives have failed to achieve an adequate response, and affected patients should be evaluated every 2 weeks thereafter. However, this guidance is difficult to implement in acute care hospitals. This study aimed to examine how naldemedine (PAMORA) should be introduced in combination with other laxatives in the acute care setting.
METHODS
This retrospective study evaluated 93 inpatients who received at least four doses of naldemedine. We investigated changes in the average daily defecation counts during the first 7 days after compared with before naldemedine administration and the incidence of diarrhoea.
RESULTS
Daily defecation counts during the first 7 days after compared with before naldemedine administration were greater in both the naldemedine, magnesium oxide (MgO) and another laxative group, and in the naldemedine and another laxative other than MgO group than in the naldemedine only group. The incidence rates of diarrhoea were significantly higher in the naldemedine, MgO, and another laxative group, and in the naldemedine and another laxative other than MgO group than in the naldemedine only group.
CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of naldemedine alone or in combination with MgO should be considered.
Topics: Humans; Laxatives; Retrospective Studies; Magnesium Oxide; Inpatients; Analgesics, Opioid; Constipation; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Diarrhea
PubMed: 35750467
DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2022-003685 -
Digestion 2024The prevalence of constipation in Japan is estimated to be 2-5%. Constipation is a disease found in older adults. In particular, Japan is an aging society, with 65% of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of constipation in Japan is estimated to be 2-5%. Constipation is a disease found in older adults. In particular, Japan is an aging society, with 65% of men and 80.5% of women aged 65 years or older accounting for the majority of its population. Chronic constipation may be associated with survival, cardiovascular events, decreased quality of life, and death. This study summarizes the recent findings regarding constipation treatment practice in Japan.
SUMMARY
Until recently, the diagnosis of constipation was mainly based on medical interviews; however, with the recent development of handheld ultrasound devices, both physicians and nurses can easily and objectively diagnose fecal retention. Magnesium oxide and stimulant laxatives have been the mainstay treatments; however, since 2012, more than five new drugs for treating constipation have become available in Japan.
KEY MESSAGES
Magnesium oxide is less effective in patients who use acid-secretion inhibitors and patients who have undergone total gastrectomy and should be cared for hypermagnesemia. In addition, regular use of stimulant laxatives may lead to colonic inertia and decreased bowel movements; therefore, they should be used only occasionally. The following is an overview of the different uses of conventional and newer laxatives for treating constipation.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Aged; Laxatives; Magnesium Oxide; Japan; Quality of Life; Constipation
PubMed: 37696258
DOI: 10.1159/000533548