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Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Microbicides, which are classified as topical antiseptic agents, are a revolutionary advancement in HIV prevention aimed to prevent the entry of infectious agents into... (Review)
Review
Microbicides, which are classified as topical antiseptic agents, are a revolutionary advancement in HIV prevention aimed to prevent the entry of infectious agents into the human body, thus stopping the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Microbicides represent the promise of a new age in preventive measures against one of the world's most pressing health challenges. In addition to their direct antiviral effects during HIV transmission, microbicides also influence vaginal mucosal immunity. This article reviews microbicides by presenting different drug classifications and highlighting significant representatives from each group. It also explains their mechanisms of action and presents information about vaginal mucosal immune responses, emphasizing the critical role they play in responding to HIV during sexual transmission. The article discusses the following groups of microbicides: surfactants or membrane disruptors, vaginal milieu protectors, anionic polymers, dendrimers, carbohydrate-binding proteins, HIV replication inhibitors (reverse transcriptase inhibitors), and multi-purpose prevention technologies, which combine protection against HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception. For each chemical compound, the article provides a brief overview of relevant preclinical and clinical research, emphasizing their potential as microbicides. The article offers insights into the multifaceted impact of microbicides, which signify a pivotal step forward in the pursuit of effective and accessible pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
PubMed: 38931337
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060668 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Adenovirus (HAdV) can cause severe respiratory infections in children and immunocompromised patients. There is a lack of specific therapeutic drugs for HAdV infection,...
Adenovirus (HAdV) can cause severe respiratory infections in children and immunocompromised patients. There is a lack of specific therapeutic drugs for HAdV infection, and the study of anti-adenoviral drugs has far-reaching clinical implications. Elemental selenium can play a specific role as an antioxidant in the human immune cycle by non-specifically binding to the amino acid methionine in body proteins. Methods: The antiviral mechanism of selenomethionine was explored by measuring cell membrane status, intracellular DNA status, cytokine secretion, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ROS production. Conclusions: Selenomethionine improved the regulation of ROS-mediated apoptosis by modulating the expression of Jak1/2, STAT3, and BCL-XL, which led to the inhibition of apoptosis. It is anticipated that selenomethionine will offer a new anti-adenoviral therapeutic alternative.
Topics: Humans; Selenomethionine; Apoptosis; Signal Transduction; Reactive Oxygen Species; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Janus Kinases; Antiviral Agents; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; A549 Cells
PubMed: 38931321
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121966 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes chronic pain, swelling, stiffness, disability, and significantly reduces the quality of life....
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes chronic pain, swelling, stiffness, disability, and significantly reduces the quality of life. Typically, OA is treated using painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While current pharmacologic treatments are common, their potential side effects have prompted exploration into functional dietary supplements. Recently, eggshell membrane (ESM) has emerged as a potential functional ingredient for joint and connective tissue disorders due to its clinical efficacy in relieving joint pain and stiffness. Despite promising clinical evidence, the effects of ESM on OA progression and its mechanism of action remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the efficacy of Ovomet, a powdered natural ESM, against joint pain and disease progression in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rodent model of OA in mice and rats. The results demonstrate that ESM significantly alleviates joint pain and attenuates articular cartilage destruction in both mice and rats that received oral supplementation for 5 days prior to OA induction and for 28 days thereafter. Interestingly, ESM significantly inhibited mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as inflammatory mediators, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the knee joint cartilage at the early stage of OA, within 7 days after OA induction. However, this effect was not observed in the late stage at 28 days after OA induction. ESM further attenuates the induction of protein expression for cartilage-degrading enzymes like matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) 3 and 13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5), in the late-stage. In addition, MIA-induced reduction of the protein expression levels of cartilage components, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), aggrecan (ACAN) and collagen type II α-1 chain (COL2α1), and cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis promoting transcriptional factor SRY-Box 9 (SOX-9) were increased via ESM treatment in the cartilage tissue. Our findings suggest that Ovomet, a natural ESM powder, is a promising dietary functional ingredient that can alleviate pain, inflammatory response, and cartilage degradation associated with the progression of OA.
Topics: Animals; Egg Shell; Cartilage, Articular; Osteoarthritis; Male; Mice; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Rats; Inflammation; Dietary Supplements; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Arthralgia; Time Factors; Iodoacetic Acid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38931240
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121885 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Iron deficiency remains a public health challenge globally. Prebiotics have the potential to improve iron bioavailability by modulating intestinal bacterial population,...
Iron deficiency remains a public health challenge globally. Prebiotics have the potential to improve iron bioavailability by modulating intestinal bacterial population, increasing SCFA production, and stimulating expression of brush border membrane (BBM) iron transport proteins among iron-deficient populations. This study intended to investigate the potential effects of soluble extracts from the cotyledon and seed coat of three pea () varieties (CDC Striker, CDC Dakota, and CDC Meadow) on the expression of BBM iron-related proteins (DCYTB and DMT1) and populations of beneficial intestinal bacteria in vivo using the model by oral gavage (one day old chicks) with 1 mL of 50 mg/mL pea soluble extract solutions. The seed coat treatment groups increased the relative abundance of compared to the cotyledon treatment groups, with CDC Dakota seed coat (dark brown pigmented) recording the highest relative abundance of . In contrast, CDC Striker Cotyledon (dark-green-pigmented) significantly increased the relative abundance of ( < 0.05). Subsequently, the two dark-pigmented treatment groups (CDC Striker Cotyledon and CDC Dakota seed coats) recorded the highest expression of DCYTB. Our study suggests that soluble extracts from the pea seed coat and dark-pigmented pea cotyledon may improve iron bioavailability by affecting intestinal bacterial populations.
Topics: Animals; Pisum sativum; Chickens; Prebiotics; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Iron; Plant Extracts; Intestines; Seeds; Bifidobacterium; Cotyledon; Lactobacillus; Cation Transport Proteins
PubMed: 38931211
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121856 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Gut microbiota might affect the severity and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We aimed to characterize gut dysbiosis and...
Gut microbiota might affect the severity and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We aimed to characterize gut dysbiosis and clinical parameters regarding fibrosis stages assessed by magnetic resonance elastography. This study included 156 patients with MASLD, stratified into no/mild fibrosis (F0-F1) and moderate/severe fibrosis (F2-F4). Fecal specimens were sequenced targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and analyzed using bioinformatics. The genotyping of , , and was assessed by allelic discrimination assays. Our data showed that gut microbial profiles between groups significantly differed in beta-diversity but not in alpha-diversity indices. Enriched and , and depleted were found in the F2-F4 group versus the F0-F1 group. Compared to F0-F1, the F2-F4 group had elevated plasma surrogate markers of gut epithelial permeability and bacterial translocation. The bacterial genera, polymorphisms, old age, and diabetes were independently associated with advanced fibrosis in multivariable analyses. Using the Random Forest classifier, the gut microbial signature of three genera could differentiate the groups with high diagnostic accuracy (AUC of 0.93). These results indicated that the imbalance of enriched pathogenic genera and decreased beneficial bacteria, in association with several clinical and genetic factors, were potential contributors to the pathogenesis and progression of MASLD.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Liver Cirrhosis; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Membrane Proteins; Lipase; Aged; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Dysbiosis; Fatty Liver; Feces; Adult; Genetic Variation; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Bacteria; Acyltransferases; 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; Phospholipases A2, Calcium-Independent
PubMed: 38931155
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121800 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Cadmium (Cd), as the most prevalent heavy metal contaminant poses serious risks to plants, humans, and the environment. The ubiquity of this toxic metal is continuously... (Review)
Review
Cadmium (Cd), as the most prevalent heavy metal contaminant poses serious risks to plants, humans, and the environment. The ubiquity of this toxic metal is continuously increasing due to the rapid discharge of industrial and mining effluents and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a novel strategy to alleviate Cd toxicity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have become the most important NPs used to mitigate the toxicity of abiotic stresses and improve crop productivity. The plants quickly absorb Cd, which subsequently disrupts plant physiological and biochemical processes and increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes the oxidation of cellular structures and significant growth losses. Besides this, Cd toxicity also disrupts leaf osmotic pressure, nutrient uptake, membrane stability, chlorophyll synthesis, and enzyme activities, leading to a serious reduction in growth and biomass productivity. Though plants possess an excellent defense mechanism to counteract Cd toxicity, this is not enough to counter higher concentrations of Cd toxicity. Applying Zn-NPs has proven to have significant potential in mitigating the toxic effects of Cd. ZnO-NPs improve chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, membrane stability, nutrient uptake, and gene expression, which can help to counter toxic effects of Cd stress. Additionally, ZnO-NPs also help to reduce Cd absorption and accumulation in plants, and the complex relationship between ZnO-NPs, osmolytes, hormones, and secondary metabolites plays an important role in Cd tolerance. Thus, this review concentrates on exploring the diverse mechanisms by which ZnO nanoparticles can alleviate Cd toxicity in plants. In the end, this review has identified various research gaps that need addressing to ensure the promising future of ZnO-NPs in mitigating Cd toxicity. The findings of this review contribute to gaining a deeper understanding of the role of ZnO-NPs in combating Cd toxicity to promote safer and sustainable crop production by remediating Cd-polluted soils. This also allows for the development of eco-friendly approaches to remediate Cd-polluted soils to improve soil fertility and environmental quality.
PubMed: 38931138
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121706 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024is a Gram-positive bacteria with the greatest impact in the clinical area, due to the high rate of infections and deaths reaching every year. A previous scenario is...
is a Gram-positive bacteria with the greatest impact in the clinical area, due to the high rate of infections and deaths reaching every year. A previous scenario is associated with the bacteria's ability to develop resistance against conventional antibiotic therapies as well as biofilm formation. The above situation exhibits the necessity to reach new effective strategies against this pathogen. is a medicinal plant commonly used for bacterial infections treatments and has demonstrated antimicrobial effect, although its effect against and bacterial biofilms has not been investigated. The purpose of this work was to analyze the antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential of against . The antimicrobial effect was determined using an ethanolic extract of . The surface charge of the bacterial membrane, the K leakage and the effect on motility were determined. The ability to prevent and remove bacterial biofilms was analyzed in terms of bacterial biomass, metabolic activity and viability. The results showed that presents inhibitory (MIC: 250 µg/mL) and bactericidal (MBC: 500 µg/mL) activity against . The MIC extract increased the bacterial surface charge by 1.4 times and the K concentration in the extracellular medium by 60%. The MIC extract inhibited the motility process by 100%, 61% and 40% after 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The MIC extract prevented the formation of biofilms by more than 80% in terms of biomass production and metabolic activity. An extract at 10 × MIC reduced the metabolic activity by 82% and the viability by ≈50% in preformed biofilms. The results suggest that affects membrane and the process of biofilm formation and removal. This effect could set a precedent to use this plant as alternative for antimicrobial and disinfectant therapies to control infections caused by this pathogen. In addition, this shrub could be considered for carrying out a purification process in order to identify the compounds responsible for the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effect.
PubMed: 38931103
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121671 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In this study, based on ethnobotanical data recorded in Transylvania, the polyphenolic compounds and the permeability of the aerial part's extract of were investigated....
In this study, based on ethnobotanical data recorded in Transylvania, the polyphenolic compounds and the permeability of the aerial part's extract of were investigated. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied for the analysis of the extracts. Parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) for the gastrointestinal tract and the blood-brain barrier was conducted. In the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the species traditionally used for wound, furuncle, and liver disorders, 92 polyphenols were characterized (e.g., flavonoid, hydroxycinnamic acid, catechin, dihydroxybenzoyl, lignan derivatives, and a monoterpene) including 54 compounds identified for the first time in the plant. In the PAMPA tests, eight components were shown to be capable of passive diffusion across the studied membranes. These include apigenin and seven methoxylated flavonoid derivatives. Based on these results, methoxylated flavonoids might promote the pharmacological potential of to be applied in the enhancement of novel remedies.
PubMed: 38931084
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121652 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Fuel cells are at the forefront of modern energy research, with graphene-based materials emerging as key enhancers of performance. This overview explores recent... (Review)
Review
Fuel cells are at the forefront of modern energy research, with graphene-based materials emerging as key enhancers of performance. This overview explores recent advancements in graphene-based cathode materials for fuel cell applications. Graphene's large surface area and excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength make it ideal for use in different solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) as well as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This review covers various forms of graphene, including graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and doped graphene, highlighting their unique attributes and catalytic contributions. It also examines the effects of structural modifications, doping, and functional group integrations on the electrochemical properties and durability of graphene-based cathodes. Additionally, we address the thermal stability challenges of graphene derivatives at high SOFC operating temperatures, suggesting potential solutions and future research directions. This analysis underscores the transformative potential of graphene-based materials in advancing fuel cell technology, aiming for more efficient, cost-effective, and durable energy systems.
PubMed: 38931001
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122937 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024This study investigated the mechanism by which fucoxanthin acts as a novel ferroptosis inducer to inhibit tongue cancer. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory...
This study investigated the mechanism by which fucoxanthin acts as a novel ferroptosis inducer to inhibit tongue cancer. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on SCC-25 human tongue squamous carcinoma cells. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total iron were measured. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to assess glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Keap1, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), p53, and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. Molecular docking was performed to validate interactions. Compared with the control group, the activity of fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The levels of MMP, GSH, and SOD significantly decreased in fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells; the levels of ROS, MDA, and total iron significantly increased. mRNA and protein expression levels of Keap1, GPX4, Nrf2, and HO-1 in fucoxanthin-treated cells were significantly decreased, whereas levels of TFR1 and p53 were significantly increased, in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that binding free energies of fucoxanthin with p53, SLC7A11, GPX4, Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, and TFR1 were below -5 kcal/mol, primarily based on active site hydrogen bonding. Our findings suggest that fucoxanthin can induce ferroptosis in SCC-25 cells, highlighting its potential as a treatment for tongue cancer.
Topics: Humans; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Ferroptosis; Xanthophylls; Heme Oxygenase-1; Cell Line, Tumor; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; Molecular Docking Simulation; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; Tongue Neoplasms; Receptors, Transferrin; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Amino Acid Transport System y+; Superoxide Dismutase; Down-Regulation; Antigens, CD
PubMed: 38930897
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122832