Objective: This study aims to prepare sterile gel containing aloe vera (AV) powder and evaluate its physicochemical properties after sterilization by gamma radiation.
Methods: The gel was prepared ...using carbomer as stabilizer, and sterilized by gamma radiation. The physical stability was evaluated including organoleptic, pH, viscosity and sterilization. Furthermore, malic acid concentration was determined as a marker compound contained in the gel.
Results: The gel was successfully prepared containing 20% AV powder and 25% carbomer. The physical properties including organoleptic, pH and viscosity were not significantly changed after sterilization, and also stable even after 28 storage days. Meanwhile, malic acid concentration before and after sterilization were 47.2 mg/ml and 43.9 mg/ml, respectively. This showed the physicochemical properties were not significantly different after sterilization.
Conclusion: Gamma radiation is suitable to sterilize gel containing AV powder.
The application of alginate-based coatings in food preservation is limited owing to their poor antimicrobial, UV-shielding, and water-barrier properties. For this concern, multifunctional alginate ...films were designed for the preservation of green capsicums through the incorporation of aloe vera (AV) and frankincense oil (FO). FTIR confirmed the successful incorporation of AV and FO while XRD showed a crystallinity reduction in the presence of FO. Significant improvements in thermal stability and mechanical properties were achieved in the presence of AV and FO. The addition of AV and FO made the films more bright, yellow and green meanwhile the film's transparency was not significantly influenced. A significant UV-shielding was detected upon increasing either AV or FO. Water vapor permeability was significantly reduced from 21.53 ± 1.43 g mm/m2 day kPa for alginate to 8.18 ± 0.24 g mm/m2 day kPa for the film containing AV at 67% and FO at 6%. Excellent inhibition activities against different bacteria and fungi were obtained for the films containing AV and FO. The prepared films exhibited excellent senescence retardation and resistance to the mass loss for green capsicums. Due to their enhanced UV-barrier, physical and microbial-inhibition properties, the prepared active films might be potentially used in food preservation.
•Aloe vera (AV) and frankincense oil (FO) were incorporated into alginate edible coating.•AV and FO improved UV-shielding, physical and antimicrobial properties.•Both FO and AV didn't significantly affect the film's transparency.•The prepared coating retarded senescence of green capsicums.•The prepared coating might used potentially in food packaging industries.
Interferons (IFNs) have been used for decades to treat polycythemia vera (PV). Single-arm clinical trials assessing IFN in PV patients demonstrated high hematological and molecular response rates, ...indicating potential disease-modifying activity of IFN. However, discontinuation rates of IFNs have been rather high due to frequent treatment-related side-effects.
Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (ROPEG) is a monopegylated IFN consisting of a single isoform, which differentiates it from previous IFNs with respect to tolerability and dosing frequency. ROPEG has improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, which allow extended dosing every 2 weeks and monthly administration during maintenance phase. This review covers ROPEG's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, presents results of randomized clinical trials (RCT) that evaluated ROPEG in the treatment of PV patients, and discusses contemporary findings regarding the potential disease-modifying activity of ROPEG.
RCT have demonstrated high rates of hematological and molecular responses in PV patients treated with ROPEG, irrespective of thrombotic risk. Drug discontinuation rates were generally low. However, even though RCT captured the most important surrogate endpoints of thrombotic risk and disease progression in PV, they were not statistically powered to fully determine whether therapeutic intervention with ROPEG indeed has a direct positive effect on these important clinical outcomes.
Skin moisturization is very crucial for maintaining the flexibility, viscoelasticity, and differentiation of the epidermis and its deprivation causes several diseases from dry skin to dermatitis.
, a ...miracle plant having diverse medicinal properties including skin moisturization effects. This study investigated for the first time the molecular mechanism targeting skin moisturization effects of the
flower and its major active constituent. By treating human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) with
flower water extract (AFWE), we found that AFWE upregulated epidermal involucrin by activating the expression of protein kinase C, p38, and ERK 1/2. Additionally, it modulated filaggrin, increased aquaporin expression, and hyaluronan synthesis via a balanced regulation of HAS1 and HYAL1 protein. Similarly, it was able to protect UVB-induced photodamage. Western blot analysis, ELISA, and qRT- PCR were performed to evaluate various epidermal differentiation markers and moisturization-related factors on human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). TLC and HPLC were used to detect and analyze the chemical constituents. Among them, we found that an active component of
flower, isoorientin (IO) has a high binding affinity to all of its targeted proteins such as involucrin, PKC, P38, etc. through molecular docking assay. This study indicated that the
flower and its active constituent, IO can be used as a prominent ingredient to enhance skin barrier function and improve its related pathologies.
Aloe vera is one of numerous feed supplements that can be used to increase productivity and disease resistance in domesticated animals. To reap these advantages, there are various indications, which ...include the proper dosage for better efficacy. As stated earlier, the rising demand for animal source protein in practice is largely met by the strengthening of the livestock sector; this demand goes along with higher demand for animal feeds and animal feed additives. For many years, livestock keepers have been using chemical derivatives and antibiotics to treat their animals against many animal diseases. But the misuse of antibiotics and poor handling of chemical derivatives in different fields has led to tremendous effects, which include adverse effects on animals, plants, the environment, and the final consumer. Herbs are plant sources of safer and inexpensive compounds, so many herbal products have been reported worldwide to enhance several actions such as anti-stress, tonic, antimicrobial, growth stimulant, and immune stimulant in livestock rearing. So many medicinal plant extracts have been tested recently for animal growth performance, immune stimulation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and disease resistance, which have offered good results and have the potential to reduce the use of antibiotics. Aloe vera is one of the herbs that is rapidly utilized as a feed additive in the livestock sector. The physico-chemical composition of Aloe vera and its health characteristics, such as antioxidant properties, healing, immune responses, antimicrobial properties, and many more benefits in domesticated animals, are briefly well discussed in this review article.
Interferon (IFN-α) is effective therapy for polycythemia vera (PV) patients, but it is frequently interrupted because of adverse events. To permit the long-term use of IFN, we propose combining low ...doses of IFN with Nutlin-3, an antagonist of MDM2, which is also capable of promoting PV CD34+ cell apoptosis. Combination treatment with subtherapeutic doses of Peg IFN-α 2a and Nutlin-3 inhibited PV CD34+ cell proliferation by 50% while inhibiting normal CD34+ cells by 30%. Combination treatment with Nutlin-3 and Peg IFN-α 2a inhibited PV colony formation by 55%-90% while inhibiting normal colony formation by 22%-30%. The combination of these agents also decreased the proportion of JAK2V617F-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells in 6 PV patients studied. Treatment with low doses of Peg IFN-α 2a combined with Nutlin-3 increased phospho-p53 and p21 protein levels in PV CD34+ cells and increased the degree of apoptosis. These 2 reagents affect the tumor suppressor p53 through different pathways with Peg IFN-α 2a activating p38 MAP kinase and STAT1, leading to increased p53 transcription, whereas Nutlin-3 prevents the degradation of p53. These data suggest that treatment with low doses of both Nutlin-3 combined with Peg IFN-α 2a can target PV hematopoietic progenitor cells, eliminating the numbers of malignant hematopoietic progenitor cells.
A 82-years old woman was admitted with a progressive cognitive decline for further investigations and treatment.
In the computed tomography of the brain findings of subcortical artherosclerotic ...encephalopathy (SAE) were present. Laboratory findings revealed elevated hemoglobin-levels (19.9 g/dl). In further investigations we found a mutation in JAK-2 as diagnostic sign for polycythemia vera (Pv). After specific treatment of the Pv cognition improved significantly.
In this case report we were able to relate the progressive cognitive impairment in the context of newly diagnosed Pv in conjunction with pre-existing SAE. After Pv-directed therapy cognition improved. This case report underlines the importance of a good diagnostic work-up of patients with cognitive impairment to rule out secondary and possible treatable causes.
Ruxolitinib exerts immunosuppressive activity that may increase the risk of infectious complications. We performed a systematic review of the literature with the aim of estimating the risk of ...infections in patients treated with ruxolitinib. Studies were identified by electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE database. Differences in the incidence of infectious events between ruxolitinib and comparison groups were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Five phase III randomized clinical trials (RCTs) (3 phase IIIa with their extended phase and 2 phase IIIb), 6 phase IV studies and 28 case reports were included in this systematic review. Ruxolitinib was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of herpes zoster infection compared to control group in 3 RCTs including patients with polycythemia vera (OR 7.39 1.33, 41.07) and in a pooled analysis of the extended phase IIIa RCTs (OR 5.20 95%CI 1.27, 21.18). In the larger phase IV post‐marketing study, the incidence of the most frequent infections was 8% for herpes zoster, 6.1% for bronchitis and 6% for urinary tract infections. In the published case reports, the most frequent infections were tuberculosis (N = 10), hepatitis B reactivation (N = 5) and pneumocystis jeroveci infection (N = 2). Evidence is not solid enough to accurately estimate the risk of infection in ruxolitinib‐treated patients. However, published data clearly suggest that the infection risk may be clinically relevant. Well‐designed studies are warranted to evaluate the risk of ruxolitinib‐associated infection, in order to identify the most appropriate antimicrobial prophylactic strategy.
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