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Indian Journal of Dental Research :... Jan 2024Dental caries is a dynamic process. By using therapeutic agents, early, noncavitated lesions and caries limited to the enamel can be stopped or even remineralized. For... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Dental caries is a dynamic process. By using therapeutic agents, early, noncavitated lesions and caries limited to the enamel can be stopped or even remineralized. For the remineralization of the initial carious lesion, many nonfluoridated remineralizing agents were investigated.
OBJECTIVES
An observational study to assess the remineralizing efficacy of tricalcium phosphate (TCP), nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) and ozone remineralizing agents on the artificial carious lesion.
METHODOLOGY
In this observational research, the artificial carious lesion was produced on extracted 40 premolar teeth. Later, remineralizing agents (Group A: nHAp, Group B: TCP, Group C: Ozone remineralizing agents, Group D: Control group (Deionized water) were used to remineralize demineralized teeth. Utilizing the Vickers Hardness Number, the level of demineralization and remineralization was assessed. Later these readings were statistically assessed using the Tukey's HSD (honestly significant difference) and ANOVA tests in SPSS version 21.0. The P value was set at 0.05 or less.
RESULTS
After demineralization, there was a decrease in enamel microhardness values, with 32% in Group A, 26% in Group B, 22% in Group C, and 21% in Group D, respectively. From the baseline to demineralization, there was a statistically significant decrease in microhardness across all groups. After remineralization, Groups A, B, and C experienced an increase in microhardness while Group D experienced no changes. This showed that Group A had the highest remineralization percentage, followed by Group B and Group C.
CONCLUSION
nHAp and TCP had the greater remineralizing ability, which can be used to manage initial carious lesions.
Topics: Calcium Phosphates; Tooth Remineralization; Durapatite; Dental Caries; Humans; Ozone; In Vitro Techniques; Cariostatic Agents; Bicuspid; Dental Enamel
PubMed: 38934756
DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_704_22 -
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis Jun 2024Nutraceuticals, that include food ingredients and bioactives from natural products, confer physiological health benefits and protection against chronic diseases. Annatto... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Nutraceuticals, that include food ingredients and bioactives from natural products, confer physiological health benefits and protection against chronic diseases. Annatto is a tropical shrub grown in Central and South America and parts of India. Its seeds are rich in the edible carotenoid-derived apocarotenoid pigment, bixin, which is used as a natural colorant in food, textiles, and cosmetics, and is now gaining attention for its potential health-promoting attributes. Here, we compared a green solvent (ethyl lactate) based extraction of bixin and associated metabolites in annatto seeds (crushed and seed coat) with two other conventional solvents (acetone and acid-base). Bixin was characterized in the extracts using UV-visible- and FTIR-spectroscopy and thin-layer chromatography. The bixin-containing solvent extracts were then profiled for other co-existing metabolites using GC-MS analysis, which were found to be sesquiterpenes, terpenes, terpenoids, phytosterols, and tocotrienols. Their bioactivity was evaluated based on antioxidant and wound-healing efficacies and compared with pure bixin, using NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells in-vitro. Pure bixin, as well as the annatto solvent extracts, showed strong antioxidant and wound healing properties, wherein pure bixin and green solvent extract (ethyl lactate coat) exhibited higher levels of antioxidant activity, achieving 46.00% and 44.60% reduction in MDA levels, respectively, as well as enhanced wound-healing activity, with 54.09% and 53.60% wound closure within 24 h. The green solvent extracts of annatto seeds revealed: (a) differential bioactive profiles in annatto seeds (crushed and seed coat) in comparison with other solvents, and (b) strong antioxidant and wound healing properties. Thus, ethyl lactate extraction shows strong potential for sustainable environmental friendly production of functional foods/nutraceuticals from annatto seeds.
Topics: Bixaceae; Seeds; Carotenoids; Mice; Animals; Plant Extracts; Phytochemicals; Antioxidants; Solvents; NIH 3T3 Cells; Green Chemistry Technology
PubMed: 38934695
DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.3500 -
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis Jun 2024As cancer continues to rise globally, there is growing interest in discovering novel methods for prevention and treatment. Due to the limitations of traditional cancer... (Review)
Review
As cancer continues to rise globally, there is growing interest in discovering novel methods for prevention and treatment. Due to the limitations of traditional cancer therapies, there has been a growing emphasis on investigating herbal remedies and exploring their potential synergistic effects when combined with chemotherapy drugs. Cinnamaldehyde, derived from cinnamon, has gained significant attention for its potential role in cancer prevention and treatment. Extensive research has demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde exhibits promising anticancer properties by modulating various cellular processes involved in tumor growth and progression. However, challenges and unanswered questions remain regarding the precise mechanisms for its effective use as an anticancer agent. This article aims to explore the multifaceted effects of cinnamaldehyde on cancer cells and shed light on these existing issues. Cinnamaldehyde has diverse anti-cancer mechanisms, including inducing apoptosis by activating caspases and damaging mitochondrial function, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, anti-proliferation, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In addition, cinnamaldehyde also acts as a reactive oxygen species scavenger, reducing oxidative stress and preventing DNA damage and genomic instability. This article emphasizes the promising therapeutic potential of cinnamaldehyde in cancer treatment and underscores the need for future research to unlock novel mechanisms and strategies for combating cancer. By providing valuable insights into the role and mechanism of cinnamaldehyde in cancer, this comprehensive understanding paves the way for its potential as a novel therapeutic agent. Overall, cinnamaldehyde holds great promise as an anticancer agent, and its comprehensive exploration in this article highlights its potential as a valuable addition to cancer treatment options.
Topics: Acrolein; Humans; Neoplasms; Animals; Apoptosis; Antineoplastic Agents; DNA Damage; Cell Proliferation; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 38934689
DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.3502 -
Archivio Italiano Di Urologia,... Jun 2024Single sperm cryopreservation (SSC) is a specific technique especially used in individuals with small numbers of sperm who suffered from non-obstructive azoospermia...
Pentoxifylline treatment as a safe method for selecting viable testicular spermatozoa before cryopreservation of a small numbers of spermatozoa in azoospermia individuals.
BACKGROUND
Single sperm cryopreservation (SSC) is a specific technique especially used in individuals with small numbers of sperm who suffered from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Testicular specimens possess poor motility and low population of viable spermatozoa. Therefore, sperm selection methods such as applying pentoxifylline (PTX) may improve motility in these cases. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of PTX on testicular spermatozoa before and after performing SSC.
METHODS
Thirty testicular samples were obtained from men with azoospermia. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 evaluated the effect of PTX for sperm selection before SSC. Twenty testicular samples were divided to two experimental groups: SSC without (I) and with PTX treatment (II). For PTX treatment spermatozoa were incubated with PTX at 37°C for 30 min and only motile spermatozoa were selected for SSC. In phase 2, ten testicular samples were cryopreserved with SSC and warming procedure was carried out in droplet with and without PTX. Motility and viability rates, morphology by motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME), DNA fragmentation by sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were evaluated.
RESULTS
In phase 1, post warm motility rate was higher in PTX exposed group compared to the unexposed group (25.6 ± 8.13 vs. 0.85 ± 2.1) (p > 0.00). Recovery rate, viability and morphology were not significantly different between groups. DNA integrity and MMP were also similar between both groups. In phase 2 although motility increased in PTX group compared to without PTX group (29.30 ± 12.73 vs. 1.90 ± 2.64) (p > 0.00), the viability rate was not different (70.40 ± 12.12 vs. 65.30 ± 11.87). All above mentioned parameters were similar between the two SSC groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of testicular spermatozoa with PTX before cryopreservation increases motility and did not have adverse effects on viability, morphology, DNA integrity and MMP. PTX could be used as sperm selection method before single sperm cryopreservation, but PTX could not maintain motile the most of viable testicular sperms.
Topics: Male; Humans; Pentoxifylline; Cryopreservation; Azoospermia; Spermatozoa; Sperm Motility; Semen Preservation; DNA Fragmentation; Testis; Adult; Cell Survival; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 38934523
DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2024.12525 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024To examine the potential association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hyperuricemia and to elucidate the underlying contributory factors.
PURPOSE
To examine the potential association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hyperuricemia and to elucidate the underlying contributory factors.
METHODS
Retrospective study on 603 women with PCOS and 604 women without PCOS. Anthropometric features, reproductive hormone profiles, and metabolic parameters were measured and compared between two groups of patients. Examinations of correlations between SUA levels and other parameters were conducted to discern potential correlations.
RESULTS
Both serum uric acid levels and the incidence of hyperuricemia exhibited statistically significant elevations in women with PCOS when compared to their counterparts without PCOS. Nonetheless, this statistical difference was not found between the obese subgroup after stratifying study subjects by body mass index (BMI). Pearson's correlation analysis underscored the prominence of BMI as a robust factor influencing SUA levels in women, regardless of their PCOS status. Furthermore, multivariable linear regression model demonstrated significant positive associations between SUA levels and several variables, namely dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), free androgen index (FAI), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), area under the curve for insulin (AUC-I), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Additionally, it is noteworthy that the prevalence of hyperuricemia exhibited a positive association with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, while conversely, it displayed a negative association with estradiol (E2) levels.
CONCLUSIONS
PCOS is associated with a significant elevation of SUA level and hyperuricemia prevalence. HA, IR, and dyslipidemia may be the mediators in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia in women with PCOS.
Topics: Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Female; Hyperuricemia; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Uric Acid; Insulin Resistance; Body Mass Index; Young Adult
PubMed: 38933825
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1356859 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024W.T. Aiton is an outstanding herb with the homology of medicine and food. Its ripe fruits are traditionally used as an important tonic for kidneys and liver in China.... (Review)
Review
W.T. Aiton is an outstanding herb with the homology of medicine and food. Its ripe fruits are traditionally used as an important tonic for kidneys and liver in China. W.T. Aiton is rich in nutritional components and a variety of bioactive ingredients. A total of 206 compounds have been isolated and identified, they mainly include flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoid glycosides, and triterpenoids. These compounds exert anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, liver protective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. W.T. Aiton has been traditionally used to treat many complex diseases, including osteoporotic bone pain, rheumatic bone, cancer, related aging symptoms, and so on. In the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are more than 100 prescriptions containing W.T. Aiton. Among them, some classical preparations including Er Zhi Wan and Zhenqi fuzheng formula, are used in the treatment of various cancers with good therapeutic effects. Additionally, W.T. Aiton has also many excellent applications for functional food, ornamental plants, bioindicator of air pollution, algicidal agents, and feed additives. W.T. Aiton has rich plant resources. However, the application potential of it has not been fully exploited. We hope that this paper provides a theoretical basis for the high-value and high-connotation development of W.T. Aiton in the future.
PubMed: 38933667
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1330732 -
F1000Research 2023Strawberry is a fruit with a high antioxidant capacity due to its richness in phenolic compounds that suffer a rapid post-harvest deterioration. Spray drying is an...
Strawberry is a fruit with a high antioxidant capacity due to its richness in phenolic compounds that suffer a rapid post-harvest deterioration. Spray drying is an alternative to reduce losses; however, these powders present problems of instantanisation, making it necessary to implement agglomeration processes. During storage, powdered food products can undergo a series of changes in their amorphous state from a product initially in a vitreous state to a gummy state, where all properties are substantially modified due to the increased mobility of water in the matrix. The research objective was to evaluate the storage stability (6 months) of a fluidized bed agglomerated strawberry powder mixture at three temperatures (15, 25 and 25°C), a controlled environment at 65% relative moisture, and PET laminated film bags as packaging. Moisture, water activity, and compacted density, Carr and Hausner indices, solubility, hygroscopicity, wettability, angle of repose, antioxidant capacities, total phenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, color (CIE-Lab) and particle size were monitored. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) for all dependent variables concerning storage time; storage temperature had no significant effect on S, ABTS, DPPH and Hu. The time-temperature interaction during storage had no significant effect (p>0.05) on S, ABTS, DPPH, Hu and L. The agglomerate showed moisture and aw values that confer excellent stability against deterioration reactions; it retained good fluidity, low cohesiveness, and retentions above 50% for antioxidant capacity, 76% for total phenols, 39% for anthocyanins, and 40% for vitamin C; particle size was retained during the evaluation. The color was only affected in the 35°C treatment from the fifth month onwards. The study will serve as a tool for the determination of the shelf life of the chipboard once the critical values of the attributes selected as predictors of shelf life are defined.
Topics: Fragaria; Antioxidants; Powders; Food Storage; Phenols; Temperature; Spray Drying; Particle Size; Anthocyanins; Ascorbic Acid
PubMed: 38933490
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.138509.1 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals worldwide. Currently, a positional war is ongoing in Ukraine, and the military is encountering...
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals worldwide. Currently, a positional war is ongoing in Ukraine, and the military is encountering a significant number of rodents in trenches and dugouts, which are known reservoirs for , the causative agent of leptospirosis-a potentially dangerous infectious disease with a high mortality rate. The civilian population is also at potential risk of leptospirosis. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6, 2023, has led to widespread devastation and human suffering. In the short term, there is a significant risk of rodent-borne diseases such as leptospirosis. We utilized data from the Ukrainian Centre for Disease Prevention Control and observed a substantial increase in prevalence in 2023. The notification rate in Ukraine in 2023 was 1.06 per 100,000 persons, which is higher than that of other countries in the European Union. Particular attention is being given to Zakarpattia Oblast, located on the western border of Ukraine, which shares boundaries with Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, with an extremely high incidence rate of 12.08 per 100,000 persons. Based on these findings, we recommend education and awareness campaigns, vaccination, personal protective measures, and improved surveillance to address the increasing incidence of leptospirosis in Ukraine.
Topics: Ukraine; Humans; Leptospirosis; Adult; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Incidence; Adolescent; Young Adult; Child; Aged; Leptospira; Child, Preschool; Population Surveillance; Animals
PubMed: 38932783
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1394781 -
Viruses Jun 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of administrating Remdesivir at the acute COVID-19 phase on developing post-COVID symptoms in previously...
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of administrating Remdesivir at the acute COVID-19 phase on developing post-COVID symptoms in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors by controlling factors such as age, sex, body mass index, and vaccination status. A case-control study was performed. Hospitalized COVID-19 survivors who had received intravenous Remdesivir during the acute phase (n = 216) were matched by age, sex, body mass index, and vaccination status with survivors who did not receive antiviral treatment (n = 216). Participants were asked to self-report the presence of any post-COVID symptom (defined as a symptom that started no later than three months after infection) and whether the symptom persisted at the time of study (mean: 18.4, SD: 0.8 months). Anxiety levels (HADS-A), depressive symptoms (HADS-D), sleep quality (PSQI), and severity/disability (FIC) were also compared. The multivariate analysis revealed that administration of Remdesivir at the acute COVID-19 phase was a protective factor for long-term COVID development (OR0.401, 95%CI 0.256-0.628) and specifically for the following post-COVID symptoms: fatigue (OR0.399, 95%CI 0.270-0.590), pain (OR0.368, 95% CI 0.248-0.548), dyspnea at rest (OR0.580, 95%CI 0.361-0.933), concentration loss (OR0.368, 95%CI 0.151-0.901), memory loss (OR0.399, 95%CI 0.270-0.590), hair loss (OR0.103, 95%CI 0.052-0.207), and skin rashes (OR0.037, 95%CI 0.005-0.278). This study supports the potential protective role of intravenous administration of Remdesivir during the COVID-19 acute phase for long-lasting post-COVID symptoms in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.
Topics: Humans; Alanine; Adenosine Monophosphate; Female; Male; Antiviral Agents; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Case-Control Studies; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Adult; Aged
PubMed: 38932239
DOI: 10.3390/v16060947 -
Viruses Jun 2024The thermostability of vaccines, particularly enveloped viral vectored vaccines, remains a challenge to their delivery wherever needed. The freeze-drying of viral...
The thermostability of vaccines, particularly enveloped viral vectored vaccines, remains a challenge to their delivery wherever needed. The freeze-drying of viral vectored vaccines is a promising approach but remains challenging due to the water removal process from the outer and inner parts of the virus. In the case of enveloped viruses, freeze-drying induces increased stress on the envelope, which often leads to the inactivation of the virus. In this study, we designed a method to freeze-dry a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Since the envelope of VSV is composed of 50% lipids and 50% protein, the formulation study focused on both the protein and lipid portions of the vector. Formulations were prepared primarily using sucrose, trehalose, and sorbitol as cryoprotectants; mannitol as a lyoprotectant; and histidine as a buffer. Initially, the infectivity of rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 and the cake stability were investigated at different final moisture content levels. High recovery of the infectious viral titer (~0.5 to 1 log loss) was found at 3-6% moisture content, with no deterioration in the freeze-dried cakes. To further minimize infectious viral titer loss, the composition and concentration of the excipients were studied. An increase from 5 to 10% in both the cryoprotectants and lyoprotectant, together with the addition of 0.5% gelatin, resulted in the improved recovery of the infectious virus titer and stable cake formation. Moreover, the secondary drying temperature of the freeze-drying process showed a significant impact on the infectivity of rVSV-SARS-CoV-2. The infectivity of the vector declined drastically when the temperature was raised above 20 °C. Throughout a long-term stability study, formulations containing 10% sugar (sucrose/trehalose), 10% mannitol, 0.5% gelatin, and 10 mM histidine showed satisfactory stability for six months at 2-8 °C. The development of this freeze-drying process and the optimized formulation minimize the need for a costly cold chain distribution system.
Topics: Freeze Drying; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Vaccines; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Cryoprotective Agents; Trehalose; COVID-19; Animals; Humans; Mannitol; Sucrose; Vero Cells; Chlorocebus aethiops; Sorbitol; Drug Stability; Histidine; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus; Vaccines, Synthetic
PubMed: 38932234
DOI: 10.3390/v16060942