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Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jun 2024Plant vernacular names can provide clues about the popular use of a species in different regions and are valuable sources of information about the culture or vocabulary...
Phytochemical analysis and investigation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic activities of hydroethanolic extracts of Alternanthera dentata, Ocimum carnosum, and Plectranthus barbatus, three species with vernacular names derived from analgesic drugs.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Plant vernacular names can provide clues about the popular use of a species in different regions and are valuable sources of information about the culture or vocabulary of a population. Several medicinal plants in Brazil have received names of medicines and brand-name products.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The present work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and pharmacological activity in the central nervous system of three species known popularly by brand names of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and digestive drugs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Hydroethanolic extracts of Alternanthera dentata (AD), Ocimum carnosum (OC), and Plectranthus barbatus (PB) aerial parts were submitted to phytochemical analysis by HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS/MS and evaluated in animal models at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Mice were tested on hot plate, acetic acid-induced writing, formalin-induced licking, and intestinal transit tests. Aspirin and morphine were employed as standard drugs.
RESULTS
The three extracts did not change the mice's response on the hot plate. Hydroethanolic extracts of AD and PB reduced the number of writhes and licking time, while OC was only effective on the licking test at dose of 1000 mg/kg. In addition, AD and OC reduced intestinal transit, while PB increased gut motility.
CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacological tests supported some popular uses, suggesting peripheral antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, while the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of several flavonoids in the three hydroethanolic extracts and steroids in PB, with some barbatusterol derivatives described for the first time in the species.
PubMed: 38950795
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118508 -
Explore (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2024The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of auricular point acupressure in relieving postoperative pain and reducing anxiety among patients with perianal...
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of auricular point acupressure in relieving postoperative pain and reducing anxiety among patients with perianal abscesses.
METHODS
We included 61 patients with perianal abscesses who were admitted to the Nantong First People's Hospital between July 2019 and June 2020 and were scheduled to undergo one-stage radical surgery. We divided them into the treatment group (n = 31), where patients were administered preoperative auricular acupressure targeting the bilateral Shenmen, subcortical, and other points. They were instructed to apply pressure five to six times per day, each time for about 3-5 min. Patients in the control group (n = 30) received routine preoperative preparation. The treatment duration for both groups was one week. We compared the two groups using the pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, the use of additional postoperative analgesics, and scores on the Hamilton anxiety and depression scales pre- and post-surgery at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 1 week after surgery, as well as at the time of the first bowel movement.
RESULTS
Patients in the treatment group reported lower VAS scores than those of the control group at 48 h, 72 h, 1 week, and at the first defecation post-surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Additional postoperative analgesics were used in seven patients in the treatment group (22.58 %) and in 10 patients in the control group (33.33 %). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ = 0.88, P = 0.35). Postoperative scores for the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study demonstrated that auricular point acupressure was effective in alleviating postoperative pain in patients with perianal abscesses and simultaneously reduced their postoperative psychological stress reactions. This dual effect provided both pain relief and a reduction of anxiety with fewer adverse reactions, making it a safe and effective treatment option.
PubMed: 38950488
DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103020 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jul 2024-methyladenosine (mA) is a fundamentally important RNA modification for gene regulation, whose function is achieved through mA readers. However, whether and how mA...
-methyladenosine (mA) is a fundamentally important RNA modification for gene regulation, whose function is achieved through mA readers. However, whether and how mA readers play regulatory roles during fruit ripening and quality formation remains unclear. Here, we characterized SlYTH2 as a tomato mA reader protein and profiled the binding sites of SlYTH2 at the transcriptome-wide level. SlYTH2 undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation and promotes RNA-protein condensate formation. The target mRNAs of SlYTH2, namely mA-modified and associated with volatile synthesis, are enriched in SlYTH2-induced condensates. Through polysome profiling assays and proteomic analysis, we demonstrate that knockout of expedites the translation process of and , resulting in augmented production of aroma-associated volatiles. This aroma enrichment significantly increased consumer preferences for CRISPR-edited fruit over wild type. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of mA in plant RNA metabolism and provided a promising strategy to generate fruits that are more attractive to consumers.
Topics: Solanum lycopersicum; Fruit; Adenosine; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Protein Biosynthesis; Odorants
PubMed: 38950372
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405100121 -
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Jul 2024Tropomyosin receptor kinases (Trks) are receptor tyrosine kinases activated by neurotrophic factors, called neurotrophins. Among them, TrkA interacts with the nerve...
Tropomyosin receptor kinases (Trks) are receptor tyrosine kinases activated by neurotrophic factors, called neurotrophins. Among them, TrkA interacts with the nerve growth factor (NGF), which leads to pain induction. mRNA-display screening was carried out to discover a hit compound , which inhibits protein-protein interactions between TrkA and NGF. Subsequent structure optimization improving phosphorylation inhibitory activity and serum stability was pursued using a unique process that took advantage of the peptide being synthesized by translation from mRNA. This gave peptide , which showed an analgesic effect in a rat incisional pain model. The peptides described here can serve as a new class of analgesics, and the structure optimization methods reported provide a strategy for discovering new peptide drugs.
PubMed: 38950284
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00715 -
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.... Jul 2024Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) in older adults cause considerable health and socioeconomic burdens due to worsening ability to perform activities of daily...
BACKGROUND
Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) in older adults cause considerable health and socioeconomic burdens due to worsening ability to perform activities of daily living. The long-term effects of VCFs on patient outcomes, particularly prolonged analgesic use and functional decline, remain unknown. The aims of this study were to examine long-term clinical outcomes and to determine the risk factors for persistent pain and functional disability after VCFs.
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study evaluated mortality, duration of analgesic use, and changes in care requirements in older adults with VCFs using claims data from a suburban prefecture in the Greater Tokyo Area. Patients were included if they were ≥65 years of age and had been diagnosed with a VCF between June 2014 and February 2019, as determined on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes; we also used claims data that could determine whether the patients underwent imaging examinations. Patients who discontinued outpatient visits within 1 month after the VCF diagnosis were excluded.
RESULTS
We included 18,392 patients with VCFs and a mean age of 80 years. Seventy-six percent of patients were women, and the median follow-up period was 670 days. At the index VCF diagnosis, 3,631 patients (19.7%) were care-dependent. Overall, 968 patients (5.3%) died within 1 year. Among the 8,375 patients who received analgesics, 22% required analgesics for >4 months. Factors associated with prolonged analgesic use for >1 year were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.39 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16 to 1.65]) and VCFs in the thoracolumbar region (OR, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.50 to 2.55]) or lumbar region (OR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.23 to 2.04]) (the reference was the thoracic region). The care needs of 1,510 patients (8.2%) increased within 1 year. Patients with a preexisting care dependency had a 10 times higher risk of increased care need (30.2% [1,060 of 3,509]) than those who had been independent at the time of the index diagnosis (3.0% [450 of 14,761]) (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with preexisting care dependency were more likely to experience functional decline following VCFs than those who were independent, which underscores the need for intensive and appropriate allocation of health-care resources to care-dependent patients.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
PubMed: 38950100
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.23.01438 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jun 2024The presence of phenazopyridine in water is an environmental problem that can cause damage to human health and the environment. However, few studies have reported the...
The presence of phenazopyridine in water is an environmental problem that can cause damage to human health and the environment. However, few studies have reported the adsorption of this emerging contaminant from aqueous matrices. Furthermore, existing research explored only conventional modeling to describe the adsorption phenomenon without understanding the behavior at the molecular level. Herein, the statistical physical modeling of phenazopyridine adsorption into graphene oxide is reported. Steric, energetic, and thermodynamic interpretations were used to describe the phenomenon that controls drug adsorption. The equilibrium data were fitted by mono, double, and multi-layer models, considering factors such as the numbers of phenazopyridine molecules by adsorption sites, density of receptor sites, and half saturation concentration. Furthermore, the statistical physical approach also calculated the thermodynamic parameters (free enthalpy, internal energy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy). The maximum adsorption capacity at the equilibrium was reached at 298 K (510.94 mg g). The results showed the physical meaning of adsorption, indicating that the adsorption occurs in multiple layers. The temperature affected the density of receptor sites and half saturation concentration. At the same time, the adsorbed species assumes different positions on the adsorbent surface as a function of the increase in the temperature. Meanwhile, the thermodynamic functions revealed increased entropy with the temperature and the equilibrium concentration.
PubMed: 38949732
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34115-x -
Natural Product Research Jul 2024(Family: Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant widely distributed in arid parts of the world, including Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. This plant has enormous... (Review)
Review
(Family: Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant widely distributed in arid parts of the world, including Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. This plant has enormous ethnobotanical values and is used to treat various common ailments such as swelling, infections, cancer, hydrophobia, pain and skin diseases. Moreover, it is also utilised as food for goats, to make sheds for animals and as a suitable soil binder. This review article is an attempt to analyse critically and to provide updated and categorised information about including comprehensive knowledge of the botanical description, traditional/folklore uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological/biological potential, and to facilitate scientific basis for future work. The phytochemical studies (qualitative and quantitative) on have indicated the presence of important phytochemical classes, namely alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, phenolics, tannins, steroids, and terpenoids. Pharmacological studies such as anti-inflammatory/analgesic, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-tumour, anti-nociceptive, enzyme inhibition, and termiticidal activities were reported from different parts of this plant. Most of the bioassays from this plant have been done on the crude extract. Minimal information about the phytochemicals (responsible for biological activities), except a few compounds has been reported. The potential chemical compounds may need to be purified and tested for the biological potential from isolated compounds in future.
PubMed: 38949575
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2370045 -
Pain Practice : the Official Journal of... Jul 2024Gabapentin, a widely prescribed medication for various neuropathic pain conditions, has demonstrated efficacy in managing diverse neurological disorders. While...
BACKGROUND
Gabapentin, a widely prescribed medication for various neuropathic pain conditions, has demonstrated efficacy in managing diverse neurological disorders. While conventional side effects are well-documented, a growing body of evidence suggests the existence of atypical side effects, necessitating comprehensive exploration. This paper aims to systematically review and summarize the literature on the atypical side effects of gabapentin, shedding light on manifestations beyond the conventional spectrum.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted, encompassing peer-reviewed articles published up to the knowledge cutoff date in November 2023. Databases, specifically PubMed, were searched for relevant studies, focusing on atypical side effects such as myoclonus, ataxia, pediatric aggression, respiratory depression, pneumonia, pregnancy complications, sleep interference, encephalopathy, peripheral edema, suicidal ideation, dyskinesia, anorgasmia, and myopathy. Inclusion criteria comprised studies with a focus on gabapentin-related atypical side effects, published in recognized journals and involving human subjects.
RESULTS
The review identified a spectrum of atypical side effects associated with gabapentin use, ranging from neurological manifestations like myoclonus and ataxia to behavioral changes such as pediatric aggression and suicidal ideation. Additionally, respiratory complications, pregnancy-related issues, sleep disturbances, and rare complications like encephalopathy and myopathy were observed. Literature synthesis provided insights into the incidence, clinical presentation, and potential mechanisms underlying these atypical side effects.
CONCLUSION
This comprehensive review highlights the diverse range of atypical side effects associated with gabapentin use, expanding beyond conventional knowledge. Healthcare practitioners must be cognizant of these manifestations, recognizing their potential impact on patient well-being. As clinical decision-making relies on a thorough understanding of a medication's side effect profile, this review contributes to enhancing awareness and fostering informed practices in the prescription and management of gabapentin. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and risk factors associated with these atypical side effects, refining our understanding of gabapentin's safety profile.
PubMed: 38949515
DOI: 10.1111/papr.13400 -
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology Jul 2024Past research on the safety of prenatal exposure to medications has focused on maternal use during gestation, with limited research into the potential effects of...
BACKGROUND
Past research on the safety of prenatal exposure to medications has focused on maternal use during gestation, with limited research into the potential effects of paternal use during the spermatogenic period preceding conception. Knowing the most common medications used by fathers around the time of conception can inform research priorities in this field.
OBJECTIVES
To identify the most common medications dispensed to fathers in the preconception period.
METHODS
Within the MarketScan research database of commercially insured individuals in the United States from 2011 to 2020, we identified pregnancies, estimated the date of conception, linked each pregnancy to the father using family enrolment information and required minimum enrolment period and prescription benefits. Then, we described the use of prescription medications by the father during the 90 days before conception based on pharmacy dispensation claims.
RESULTS
Of 4,437,550 pregnancies, 51.6% were linked with a father. Among the 1,413,762 pregnancies connected with a father that also met the inclusion criteria, the most common classes of medications dispensed were psychotropics (8.66%), antibiotics (7.21%), and analgesics (6.82%). The most frequently dispensed medications were amoxicillin (3.75%), azithromycin (3.15%), fluticasone (2.70%) and acetaminophen/hydrocodone (2.70%). Some fathers filled prescriptions for medications associated with foetal embryopathy when used by the mother, including mycophenolate (0.04%), methotrexate (0.03%) and isotretinoin (0.02%).
CONCLUSIONS
More than a third of fathers filled at least one prescription medication in the preconception period, and several of them are known to be embryotoxic, emphasizing the necessity for further investigation into the potential teratogenicity of paternal exposure.
PubMed: 38949455
DOI: 10.1111/ppe.13098 -
Addiction Biology Jul 2024Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a multifaceted condition influenced by sex, genetic and environmental factors that could be linked with epigenetic changes. Understanding...
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a multifaceted condition influenced by sex, genetic and environmental factors that could be linked with epigenetic changes. Understanding how these factors interact is crucial to understand and address the development and progression of this disorder. Our aim was to elucidate different potential epigenetic and genetic mechanisms between women and men that correlate with OUD under real-world pain unit conditions. Associations between analgesic response and the DNA methylation level of the opioid mu receptor (OPRM1) gene (CpG sites 1-5 selected in the promoter region) were evaluated in 345 long opioid-treated chronic non cancer pain: cases with OUD (n = 67) and controls (without OUD, n = 278). Cases showed younger ages, low employment status and quality of life, but higher morphine equivalent daily dose and psychotropic use, compared to the controls. The patients with OUD showed a significant decrease in OPRM1 DNA methylation, which correlated with clinical outcomes like pain relief, depression and different adverse events. Significant differences were found at the five CpG sites studied for men, and exclusively in women for CpG site 3, in relation to OUD diagnosis. These findings support the importance of epigenetics and sex as biological variables to be considered toward efficient OUD understanding and therapy development.
Topics: Humans; Receptors, Opioid, mu; DNA Methylation; Male; Female; Epigenesis, Genetic; Chronic Pain; Opioid-Related Disorders; Middle Aged; Adult; Sex Factors; Analgesics, Opioid; Case-Control Studies; CpG Islands; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38949208
DOI: 10.1111/adb.13422