Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract and mucosal layer and lead to intestinal damage and ...intestinal dysfunction. IBD is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that significantly impacts public health development. Monoclonal antibodies and other synthetic medications are currently used to treat IBD, but they are suspected of producing serious side effects and causing a number of other problems with long-term use. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that organic macromolecules from plants and animals have an alleviating effect on IBD-related problems, and many of them are also capable of altering enzymatic function, reducing oxidative stress, and inhibiting the production of cytokines and release of proinflammatory transcriptional factors. Thus, in this paper, the natural products with potential anti-IBD activities and their mechanism of action were reviewed, with a focus on the protective effects of natural products on intestinal barrier integrity and the regulation of tight junction protein expression and remodeling. In conclusion, the insights provided in the present review will be useful for further exploration and development of natural products for the treatment of IBD.
Hydatidosis causes a serious health hazard to humans and animals leading to significant economic and veterinary and public health concern worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro ...and ex vivo protoscolicidal effects of synthesized poly(amidoamine), PAMAM, nanoemulsion. In this study, PAMAM was characterized through dynamic light scattering technique to investigate the particle size and zeta potential of nanoemulsified polymer. For the in vitro and ex vivo assays, we used eosin dye exclusion test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to evaluate the effects of the prepared and characterized PAMAM nanoemulsion against protoscoleces from Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato G6 (GenBank: OQ443068.1) isolated from livers of naturally infected camels. Various concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/mL) of PAMAM nanoemulsion at different exposure times (5, 10, 20 and 30 min) were tested against protoscolices. Our findings showed that PAMAM nanoemulsion had considerable concentration- and time-dependent protoscolicidal effect at both in vitro and ex vivo experiments. Regarding in vitro assay, PAMAM nanoemulsion had a potent protoscolicidal effect when compared with the control group with a highest protoscolicidal activity observed at the concentration of 2 mg/mL at all exposure times, such that 100% of protoscolices were killed after 20 min of exposure. Also, the mortality of protoscolices was 100% after 30 min of exposure to 1 and 1.5 mg/mL of PAMAM nanoemulsion, in vitro. Concerning ex vivo assay PAMAM nanoemulsion recorded the highest mortality rates at the concentration of 2 mg/mL (55, 99.4 and 100% at 10, 20, 30 min, respectively). Ultrastructure examination of examined protoscolices after 20 min of exposure to PAMAM nanoemulsion showed a complete loss of rostellar hooks, disruption of suckers with disorganization of hooks with partial or complete loss of them, and damage of protoscolices tegument with loss of their integrity in the form of holes and contraction of the soma region were observed in 1.5 and 2 mg/mL of PAMAM, in vitro and ex vivo, showing more damage in the in vitro conditions. It can be concluded that PAMAM nanoemulsion is a promising protoscolicidal agent offering a high protoscolicidal effect at a short exposure time. Further in vivo studies and preclinical animal trials are required to evaluate its efficacy and clinical applications against hydatid cysts.
The recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic mainly affects the respiratory system; however, several oral and maxillofacial post-COVID-19 complications have also been observed. This series ...reports the growing number of osteonecrosis cases associated with post-COVID-19 patients.
This is a retrospective, multi-center case series that reports cases with maxillary osteonecrosis after various periods of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the period between January and August 2021 based on the PROCESS guidelines.
Twelve cases were reported with post-COVID-19 manifestation of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the maxillary jaw. Five patients were hospitalized during COVID-19 management and all of the twelve cases had at least one systematic Co-morbidity, and undertake corticosteroids prescription based on the COVID-19 disease treatment protocol. The mean onset of osteonecrosis symptoms appearance was 5.5 ± 2.43 weeks calculated from the day of the negative PCR test. The management was successfully done through surgical debridement and pre and post-operative antibiotics. No anti-fungal medications were prescribed as the fungal culture and the histopathological report were negative.
Post-COVID-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (PC-RONJ) could be now considered as one of the potential post-COVID-19 oral and maxillofacial complications that occurs unprovokedly and mainly in the maxilla.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In the present study, we used an in vitro model to investigate the response of the oviduct with respect to inflammatory mediators and their regulatory microRNAs in case of bacterial infection and ...subsequent association with embryo survival. For this, we conducted two experiments. In the first experiment, cultured primary bovine oviductal cells (BOEC) were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24h and the temporal expression pattern of inflammatory mediators and their regulatory microRNAs were measured at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48h after LPS treatment. Intriguingly, the temporal patterns of all miRNAs except miR-21 were significantly up-regulated at 6h after LPS treatment. Whereas, we observed significant overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-1 beta (IL1β) after LPS challenge for 24h. On the other hand, the expression level of essential elements like oviductal glycoprotein 1 (OVGP1) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) was significantly decreased in challenged groups compared with control. Moreover, miR-155, miR-146a, miR-223, miR-21, miR-16 and miR-215 have shown a clear suppression in challenged group after LPS treatment. In the 2nd experiment there were four groups of blastocysts produced, namely embryo+LPS free media, embryo+LPS, BOEC+embryo and BOEC+embryo+LPS. The suboptimal oviduct environment due to LPS challenge is found to have a significant influence on the expression of inflammatory response genes (TNFα and CSF1), stress response genes (SOD and CAT), mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and apoptotic level either in cultured or co-cultured blastocysts. Collectively, LPS challenge led to aberrant changes in oviductal transcriptome profile, which could lead to a suboptimal environment for embryo development.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The escalating demand for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced adverse effects in the pharmaceutical domain has catalyzed a new frontier of innovation and research in the field of pharmacy: ...novel drug delivery systems. These systems are designed to address the limitations of conventional drug administration, such as abbreviated half-life, inadequate targeting, low solubility, and bioavailability. As the disciplines of pharmacy, materials science, and biomedicine continue to advance and converge, the development of efficient and safe drug delivery systems, including biopharmaceutical formulations, has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. This article presents an overview of the latest advancements in drug delivery systems, categorized into four primary areas: carrier-based and coupling-based targeted drug delivery systems, intelligent drug delivery systems, and drug delivery devices, based on their main objectives and methodologies. Additionally, it critically analyzes the technological bottlenecks, current research challenges, and future trends in the application of novel drug delivery systems.
Abstract Introduction Recognition of Long Covid is increasing. In a recent meta-analysis in youth with Long Covid, the most prevalent clinical symptoms were mood (16.50%), fatigue (9.66%), and sleep ...disorders (8.42%). However, there is a paucity of data in the management of these symptoms. Report of case(s) We present a case of severe hypersomnolence after a mild Covid-19 infection in a 13 year-old female with no significant history, an acceptable age-appropriate sleep-wake schedule without nighttime awakenings or sleepiness prior to infection. Post-infection, she developed a one year history of sleep onset and maintenance insomnia, significant circadian delays, sleep inertia, brain fog and headaches. She was referred to sleep medicine and responded to treatment for a circadian rhythm disorder with sleep-wake restructuring, melatonin, and strict sleep hygiene. Sleep fragmentation, unrefreshing sleep, and hypersomnolence persisted; ESS=15/24. Sleep duration was often ≥12 hours in a 24 hour period. The patient could not wake easily, and often missed school or left early for sleepiness and headaches. A trial of gabapentin 200mg at bedtime failed. Sleep diagnostics were performed. Polysomnography showed no sleep disruptors, 8 hours of sleep, and some delayed slow wave sleep periods. Mean sleep latency testing (MSLT) showed MSL of 15.4min; 1 SOREM (nap #1). With a working diagnosis of hypersomnia due to medical condition vs. idiopathic hypersomnia, methylphenidate up to 36mg ER was trialed with some improvement. A recent adult case with Long Covid and ADHD-like syndrome also responded to stimulant use, though no guidelines are established for Long Covid. Oxybate was later added up to 2g once nightly which helped resolve sleep inertia, improve sleep quality and reduce sleepiness(ESS=4/24). She was able to return to school full time and reached normal functioning. Conclusion While the pathophysiology of Long Covid is still under investigation, symptom management of sleepiness can impact functioning. This case demonstrates a successful treatment of a patient with Long Covid and hypersomnolence with resolution of excessive sleepiness, morning inertia, and sleep fragmentation with a treatment approach similar to that of idiopathic hypersomnia, using an oxybate along with daytime stimulant use. Support (if any)
•High incidence of GNB infection is mainly MDR in the PICU.•The prompt need to implement continuous surveillance as a strategy of HAI management.•A multisite study would be essential for comparison ...between different healthcare settings.
Patients in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are susceptible to infections with gram-negative bacteria (GNB).
A prospective observational study was conducted in 2 PICUs at Cairo University Hospitals to determine the incidence and outcome of GNB infections over 1 year. Variables of interest included age, gender, isolated organism, susceptibility to antibiotics, and final outcome.
During the study period, 1420 patients were admitted to the PICU; of these, 291 developed GNB infections. The median age of the studied GNB patients was 50 months (interquartile range IQR, 22-80 months). The mortality rate was 37.1%. Organisms were isolated from blood in the majority (86.6%) of patients, with Klebsiella (36.0%) being the most frequently isolated organism. Among patients with GNB infection, 235 patients, one had a multidrug-resistant (MDR) infection. The length of hospital stay was statistically significantly longer in the MDR group (25 days; IQR, 20-30) than in the non-MDR group (15 days; IQR, 10-20) (P < .01). Mortality was similar in both groups (37.4% vs 35.7% in the MDR and non-MDR groups, respectively; P = .88).
This study highlights high rates of pediatric MDR-GNB infections and emphasizes the need for a continuous surveillance system in the management of these critically ill children.
Primordial odontogenic tumors are a rare recently described mixed odontogenic tumor composed histopathologically of dental papilla like tissue and enamel organ like tissue. Only nine cases have been ...documented worldwide and we are reporting the tenth case which is from Egypt.
A 2-year-old Egyptian boy that presented with an asymptomatic swelling of the mandible which appeared with multilocular radiolucency associated with an impacted developing tooth on a computerized tomography (CT) scan.
The lesion was excised and diagnosed as a primordial odontogenic tumor. The patient was followed up for two years with no recurrence.
Differentiation of primordial odontogenic tumors from other odontogenic tumors, which resemble it histopathologically is crucial to avoid unnecessary aggressive treatment.
Since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the cases of COVID-19 co-infections have been increasingly reported worldwide. Mucormycosis, an opportunistic fungal infection caused by ...members of the Mucorales order, had been frequently isolated in severely and critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Initially, the anamnestic, clinical, and paraclinical features of seven COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases from Egypt were thoroughly reported. Subsequently, an extensive review of the literature was carried out to describe the characteristics of CAM cases globally, aiming to explore the potential risk factors of mortality in CAM patients.
Out of the seven reported patients in the case series, five (71.4%) were males, six (85.7%) had diabetes mellitus, and three (42.9%) had cardiovascular disease. All patients exhibited various forms of facial deformities under the computed tomography scanning, and two of them tested positive for Mucorales using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) was prescribed to all cases, and none of them died until the end of the follow-up. On reviewing the literature, 191 cases were reported worldwide, of which 74.4% were males, 83.2% were from low-middle income countries, and 51.4% were aged 55 years old or below. Diabetes mellitus (79.1%), chronic hypertension (30%), and renal disease/failure (13.6%) were the most common medical comorbidities, while steroids (64.5%) were the most frequently prescribed medication for COVID-19, followed by
(18.2%), antibiotics (12.7%), and
(5.5%).
As the majority of the included studies were observational studies, the obtained evidence needs to be interpreted carefully. Diabetes, steroids, and Remdesivir were not associated with increased mortality risk, thus confirming that steroids used to manage severe and critical COVID-19 patients should not be discontinued. Lung involvement, bilateral manifestation, and
isolation were associated with increased mortality risk, thus confirming that proactive screening is imperative, especially for critically ill patients. Finally, surgical management and antimycotic medications, e.g., amphotericin B and posaconazole, were associated with decreased mortality risk, thus confirming their effectiveness.
Abstract
Background
Cryptosporidium parvum
is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary importance that causes neonatal diarrhea in many vertebrate hosts. In this study, we evaluated the ...efficacy of an affinity-purified antigen as a
C. parvum
vaccine candidate using ileal and liver tissues of experimentally infected neonatal mice by immunohistochemical profiling and immune scoring of CD4
+
, CD8
+
, Caspase-3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). This vaccine was prepared from the
C. parvum
oocysts antigen using immune affinity chromatography with cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B beads.
Methods
Thirty neonatal mice were divided into three groups (10 mice/group): (1) non-immunized non-infected, (2) non-immunized infected (using gastric tubes with a single dose of 1 × 10
5
of
C. parvum
oocysts in 250 µl PBS solution 1 h before a meal) and (3) immunized (twice with 40 µg/kg of purified
C. parvum
antigen at 2-week intervals and then infected with 1 × 10
5
C. parvum
oocysts simultaneously with the second group). After euthanizing the animals on the 10th day, post-infection, their ileal and liver tissues were collected and prepared for immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to detect CD4
+
, CD8+, Caspase-3, and NF-κB levels, which are indicators for T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, apoptosis, and inflammation, respectively.
Results
The IHC results showed that CD4
+
, CD8
+
, Caspase-3, and NF-κB expression varied significantly (
P <
0.001) in both organs in all the groups. We also recorded high CD4
+
levels and low CD8
+
expression in the non-immunized non-infected mice tissues, while the opposite was observed in the non-immunized infected mice tissues. In the immunized infected mice, the CD4
+
level was higher than CD8 + in both organs. While the Caspase-3 levels were higher in the ileal tissue of non-immunized infected than immunized infected mice ileal tissues, the reverse was seen in the liver tissues of both groups. Furthermore, NF-κB expression was higher in the liver tissues of non-immunized infected mice than in immunized infected mice tissues. Therefore, the IHC results and immune-scoring program revealed a significant difference (
P <
0.001) in the CD4
+
, CD8+, Caspase-3, and NF-κB expression levels in both ileal and liver tissues of all mice groups, which might be necessary for immunomodulation in these tissues.
Conclusions
The improvement observed in the immunized infected mice suggests that this vaccine candidate might protect against cryptosporidiosis.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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