Ionic liquids for oral insulin delivery Banerjee, Amrita; Ibsen, Kelly; Brown, Tyler ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS,
07/2018, Letnik:
115, Številka:
28
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
With the rise in diabetes mellitus cases worldwide and lack of patient adherence to glycemia management using injectable insulin, there is an urgent need for the development of efficient oral insulin ...formulations. However, the gastrointestinal tract presents a formidable barrier to oral delivery of biologics. Here we report the development of a highly effective oral insulin formulation using choline and geranate (CAGE) ionic liquid. CAGE significantly enhanced paracellular transport of insulin, while protecting it from enzymatic degradation and by interacting with the mucus layer resulting in its thinning. In vivo, insulin-CAGE demonstrated exceptional pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic outcome after jejunal administration in rats. Low insulin doses (3–10 U/kg) brought about a significant decrease in blood glucose levels, which were sustained for longer periods (up to 12 hours), unlike s.c. injected insulin. When 10 U/kg insulin-CAGE was orally delivered in enterically coated capsules using an oral gavage, a sustained decrease in blood glucose of up to 45% was observed. The formulation exhibited high biocompatibility and was stable for 2 months at room temperature and for at least 4 months under refrigeration. Taken together, the results indicate that CAGE is a promising oral delivery vehicle and should be further explored for oral delivery of insulin and other biologics that are currently marketed as injectables.
The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes the disease amphibian chytridiomycosis, which has contributed to population declines in many species of amphibians throughout the world. ...Previous observational studies have shown that nematodes, waterfowl, lizards, other dipterans, and crayfish have properties which may allow them to harbor and spread Bd; therefore, we sought to determine the carrier capabilities of invertebrates to a further extent in a laboratory setting. We use the insect Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to quantify the potential relationship between insects and Bd. Our findings show that D. melanogaster can test positive for Bd for up to five days post-exposure and can transmit Bd to conspecifics without suffering mortality. Insects of various types interact with the amphibian habitat and amphibians themselves, making this a potentially important route of transmission between amphibians and of dispersal across the environment.
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•The first 3D RPE monolayer was used for studying dietary antioxidants.•Phone screen light reduced cell viability and increased oxidative stress levels.•Lutein promoted cell survival ...by reducing oxidative stress.•Lutein improved barrier and phagocytosis functions of light-damaged RPE monolayer.•The highest protective effects were observed with 0.5 µM lutein.
Cumulative light exposure, including electronic device radiation, may induce retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-related retinal diseases, potentially mitigated by lutein. However, there is limited 3D RPE monolayer model to study the effect of phytochemicals on their activity and action mechanisms in vitro. Here, we present a method using a monolayer RPE tissue model on a 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffold. Six-hour of phone screen light increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RPE cells, leading to oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and inhibited metabolism. Pre-treating RPE cells (24 h) with 0.5 µM lutein reduced ROS levels and maintained viability under the same light exposure. Additionally, lutein demonstrated protective effects on crucial RPE functions, including phagocytosis and the retinal-blood barrier. This study underscores the importance of optimal lutein content in shielding RPE from phone screen light damage, and our model holds promise for evaluating the efficacy of antioxidants against light radiation.
Objective This study investigates the impact of mild pulmonary vein obstruction, detected via echocardiography before hospital discharge, on the likelihood of reoperation in patients who have ...undergone repair for Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC). Method Utilizing a single-center, retrospective cohort approach, we analyzed 38 cases from October 2017 to December 2023, excluding patients with functionally univentricular circulations or atrial isomerism. Our primary outcome was the necessity for reoperation within one year due to anatomical issues related to the initial TAPVC repair. Mild obstruction was defined as a pulmonary vein flow velocity ≥1.2 m/s. Result Our findings revealed that 31.6% of patients exhibited pre-discharge mild obstruction. During the median follow-up of 10 months, reoperations were notably higher in the mild obstruction group compared to the normal group, with a significant association between pre-discharge mild obstruction and increased risk of reoperation. Specifically, in the fully adjusted model, mild obstruction was linked to a 13.9-fold increased risk of reoperation. Conclusion Our results suggest that a pre-discharge echocardiography Doppler velocity threshold of 1.2 m/s could serve as a critical predictor for reoperation, emphasizing the need for targeted follow-up strategies for at-risk patients.
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between technical performance scores (TPS) and the early prognosis of tetralogy of Fallot repair (TOF).
A retrospective study was conducted on TOF ...repair patients at our center from Oct 2017 to Oct 2022. Patients were classified into Class 1 (no residua), Class 2 (minor residua), or Class 3 (major residua) based on TPS derived from predischarge echocardiograms and need for reintervention. Statistical methods were used to assess the association between TPS and early prognosis.
A total of 75 TOF repair patients (40% female, 60% male) were analyzed and categorized into TPS1 (24%), TPS2 (53.3%), and TPS3 (22.6%) based on pre-discharge echocardiographic findings. The median follow-up time was 7.0 months. The multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that TPS3 scores are associated with a 12.68-fold increase in risk compared to TPS1 and TPS2 scores 95% CI = 12.68 (0.9∼179.28),
= 0.06. The Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed a weak positive correlation between TPS classification and low cardiac output syndrome (
= 0.26,
= 0.03). However, there were no significant differences in ICU stay or duration of mechanical ventilation among the groups.
TPS3 after intracardiac TOF repair is associated with higher risk of early re-intervention, highlighting the importance of close follow-up and monitoring in this patient population. Patients who develop low cardiac output syndrome in the early postoperative period may have residual defects that require prompt identification.
Bit1 is a proapoptotic mitochondrial protein associated with anoikis. Upon cell detachment, Bit1 is released into the cytoplasm and triggers caspase-independent cell death. Bit1 consists of 179 amino ...acids; for the C-terminal, two thirds of the molecule functions as a peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase, whereas the N-terminus contains a mitochondrial localization signal. Here, we localize the cell death domain (CDD) to the N-terminal 62 amino acids of Bit1 by transfecting cells with truncated Bit1 cDNA constructs. CDD was more potent in killing cells than the full-length Bit1 protein when equivalent amounts of cDNA were transfected. To develop Bit1 CDD into a cancer therapeutic, we engineered a recombinant protein consisting of the CDD fused to iRGD, which is a tumor-specific peptide with unique tumor-penetrating and cell-internalizing properties. iRGD-CDD internalized into cultured tumor cells through a neuropilin-1-activated pathway and triggered cell death. Importantly, iRGD-CDD spread extensively within the tumor when injected intratumorally into orthotopically implanted breast tumors in mice. Repeated treatment with iRGD-CDD strongly inhibited tumor growth, resulting in an average reduction of 77% in tumor volume and eradication of some tumors. The caspase independence of Bit1-induced cell death makes CDD a potentially attractive anticancer agent, because tumor resistance to the main mechanisms of apoptosis is circumvented. Using iRGD to facilitate the spreading of a therapeutic agent throughout the tumor mass may be a useful adjunct to local therapy for tumors that are surgically inoperable or difficult to treat systemically.
In this case report, we utilized a three-dimensional printing model to replicate the complex anatomy of a criss-cross heart with double outlet right ventricle-an extremely rare congenital cardiac ...abnormality. This approach facilitated our understanding of the patient's unique condition and enabled us to plan the surgical procedure with greater precision.
Our department received a 13-year-old female patient who presented with a pronounced heart murmur and a decrease in exercise capacity. Subsequent two-dimensional imaging revealed the presence of a criss-cross heart with double outlet right ventricle-an intricate and uncommon cardiac malformation that poses challenges for accurate visualization through conventional two-dimensional modalities. To address this challenge, we constructed and printed a three-dimensional model using computed tomography data, which enabled us to visualize and understand the complex intracardiac structures and plan surgical interventions with greater precision. Using this approach, we successfully performed a right ventricular double outlet repair, and the patient made a full recovery following the procedure.
The criss-cross heart with double outlet right ventricle constitutes a complex and uncommon cardiac anomaly that poses considerable challenges in terms of diagnosis and surgical intervention. Employing three-dimensional modeling and printing represents a promising approach, given its potential to enhance the precision and comprehensiveness of the anatomical evaluation of the heart. As a result, this method holds significant promise in facilitating accurate diagnosis, meticulous surgical planning, and ultimately improving clinical outcomes for patients affected by this condition.
Open heart surgery supported by cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with heart and lung ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI). Limb remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) reduces injury caused by ...ischemia–reperfusion in multiple distant organs. We conducted a prospective clinical trial (randomized and controlled) to test the feasibility and safety of limb RIPC, as well as its protective effects against myocardial and pulmonary IRI for infants undergoing repair of simple congenital heart defects. Infants undergoing repair of ventricular septal defects were enrolled in our study and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: limb RIPC or control. RIPC was induced twice (24 h and 1 h preoperatively) via three 5-min cycles of ischemia and reperfusion on the left upper arm using a blood pressure cuff. Lung compliance, respiratory index (RI), and cardiac inotropic score (IS) were calculated for each patient. Serum concentrations of the following factors were measured perioperatively: interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and its isoenzyme (CK-MB), and troponin I (TnI); malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) in cardiomyocytes was analyzed by Western blot. Surgical outcomes, including limb movement and sensory function, were recorded in detail. Sixty infants weighting less than 7 kg were studied, with 30 patients in the RIPC group and 30 in the control group. Within 6 months of discharge from the hospital, no limb disability, sensory disturbance, or other surgical complications were found in any patient. Compared with the control group, patients in the RIPC group had higher Cs and Cd, along with lower RI and IS at various postoperative phases. At the beginning of the operation, serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, LDH, CK, and TnI were higher in the RIPC group than the control group. Postoperatively, release of cytokines and leakage of heart enzymes were attenuated in the RIPC group; serum concentrations of cytokines and heart enzymes were lower in the RIPC group at some, but not all, postoperative time points. Furthermore, the RIPC group had lower coronary sinus venous concentrations of MDA and higher concentrations of SOD. Similarly, the expression of HSP 70 was upregulated in cardiomyocytes from the RIPC group. Limb RIPC can be applied safely and easily in infants, can attenuate systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and can increase systemic tolerance to IRI, imparting a protective effect against myocardial and pulmonary IRI. The expression of HSP 70 has an important role in the mechanism of action for RIPC.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different doses of flavonoids from Allium mongolicum Regel on the production performance and neuroendocrine hormones in meat sheep and to ...determine the optimum dosage of Allium mongolicum Regel flavonoids to add to the basal diet of dry lot-feeding meat sheep. Sixty meat sheep (initial body weight = 39.9 ± 3.2 kg; 6-month-old) were randomly assigned to 4 groups (15 sheep per group). The sheep in the control group were fed a basal diet, and the 3 experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with flavonoids at 11, 22 and 33 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected via the jugular vein at d 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 to determine the neuroendocrine hormone levels. The fasting weight of the sheep was measured during the experimental period, and feed offered and refusals were recorded daily. The basal diet supplemented with flavonoids from 11 to 33 mg/kg significantly increased the daily weight gain and average daily feed intake (P<0.05) and significantly decreased the feed conversion ratio (P<0.05), but there were no differences among the supplementation groups (P>0.05). Starting on d 30, the growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in the sera of the sheep in the supplementation groups increased significantly (P<0.05), and the increases occurred in a time-dependent manner. Compared with control group, after d 30, the serum corticosterone (CORT) levels were reduced in the sheep that consumed the basal diet supplemented with 22 mg/kg flavonoids (P<0.05), but among the other experimental groups, there was a non-significant effect (P>0.05). The serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were increased by the supplementation of flavonoids, but compared with the control group, the effect was not significant. The basal diet supplemented with flavonoids at levels from 11 to 33 mg/kg had a significant effect on the production performance and neuroendocrine hormone levels of meat sheep, and the effect occurred in a time-dependent manner. The effect was especially obvious after 30 d of feeding.
The disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has contributed to global amphibian declines. Bd infects the keratinized epidermal tissue ...in amphibians and causes hyperkeratosis and excessive skin shedding. In individuals of susceptible species, the regulatory function of the amphibian's skin is disrupted resulting in an electrolyte depletion, osmotic imbalance, and eventually death. Safe and effective treatments for chytridiomycosis are urgently needed to control chytrid fungal infections and stabilize populations of endangered amphibian species in captivity and in the wild. Currently, the most widely used anti-Bd treatment is itraconazole. Preparations of itraconazole formulated for amphibian use has proved effective, but treatment involves short baths over seven to ten days, a process which is logistically challenging, stressful, and causes long-term health effects. Here, we explore a novel anti-fungal therapeutic using a single application of the ionic liquid, 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMP-NTf2), for the treatment of chytridiomycosis. BMP-NTf2 was found be effective at killing Bd in vitro at low concentrations (1:1000 dilution). We tested BMP-NTf2 in vivo on two amphibian species, one that is relatively tolerant of chytridiomycosis (Pseudacris regilla) and one that is highly susceptible (Dendrobates tinctorius). A toxicity trial revealed a surprising interaction between Bd infection status and the impact of BMP-NTf2 on D. tinctorius survival. Uninfected D. tinctorius tolerated BMP-NTf2 (mean ± SE; 96.01 ± 9.00 μl/g), such that only 1 out of 30 frogs died following treatment (at a dose of 156.95 μL/g), whereas, a lower dose (mean ± SE; 97.45 ± 3.52 μL/g) was not tolerated by Bd-infected D. tinctorius, where 15 of 23 frogs died shortly upon BMP-NTf2 application. Those that tolerated the BMP-NTf2 application did not exhibit Bd clearance. Thus, BMP-NTf2 application, under the conditions tested here, is not a suitable option for clearing Bd infection in D. tinctorius. However, different results were obtained for P. regilla. Two topical applications of BMP-NTf2 on Bd-infected P. regilla (using a lower BMP-NTf2 dose than on D. tinctorius, mean ± SE; 9.42 ± 1.43 μL/g) reduced Bd growth, although the effect was lower than that obtained by daily doses of itracanozole (50% frogs exhibited complete clearance on day 16 vs. 100% for itracanozole). Our findings suggest that BMP-NTf2 has the potential to treat Bd infection, however the effect depends on several parameters. Further optimization of dose and schedule are needed before BMP-NTf2 can be considered as a safe and effective alternative to more conventional antifungal agents, such as itraconazole.