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.
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.
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.
In excess of 90% of patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) express a mutated form of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), JAK2V617F. Such aberrant proteins offer great potential for the treatment of these diseases; ...however, inhibitors to JAK2 have had limited success in the clinic in terms of curing the disease. To understand the effects of this oncogene in haematopoietic cells with the aim of improving treatment strategies, we undertook a systematic evaluation of the effects of JAK2V617F expression using proteomics. The effects of JAK2V617F on over 5000 proteins and 2000 nuclear phosphopeptide sites were relatively quantified using either SILAC or eight-channel iTRAQ mass spectrometry. Pathway analysis of the proteins identified as changing indicated disruption to the p53 and MYC signalling pathways. These changes were confirmed using orthogonal approaches. The insight gained from this proteomic analysis led to the formation of hypothesis-driven analysis on inhibitor-mediated effects on primary cells from patients with a JAK2V617F mutation. Simultaneous inhibition of MYC and upregulation of p53 led to the preferential extinction of JAK2V617F-positive CD34+ cells, illustrating a potential therapeutic benefit from combined targeting of p53 and MYC.
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.
Silver nanoparticles are receiving increasing attention in the field of agriculture. This study aims at evaluating the antifungal properties of green synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from
...Aloe vera
leaf extract against two pathogenic fungus
Rhizopus
sp. and
Aspergillus
sp. Results revealed that synthesised nanoparticles showed strong absorption maximum at 400 nm corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. From the scanning photograph it is clear that particles are heterogeneous in shape such as rectangular, triangular and spherical with uniform distribution. FT-IR study showed sharp absorption peaks at 1,631 and 3,433 cm
−1
for amide and alcoholic hydroxide groups, respectively. On the other hand, synthesised silver nanoparticles showed highest antifungal activity against
Aspergillus
sp. than
Rhizopus
sp. by application of 100 μL of 1 M silver nanoparticles with maximum inhibition of the growth of fungal hyphae. However, microscopic observation revealed that synthesised nanoparticles caused detrimental effects on conidial germination along with other deformations such as structure of cell membrane and inhibited normal budding process of both the tested species. Therefore, it has been concluded that
Aloe vera
leaf extract origin silver nanoparticles have tremendous potentiality towards controlling pathogenic fungus. However, further research is needed to check the efficacy of size-dependent AgNPs on different species of fungus.
This engaging biography tells the dramatic story of a Russian noblewoman turned revolutionary terrorist. Born in 1852 in the last years of serfdom, Vera Figner came of age as Imperial Russian society ...was being rocked by the massive upheaval that culminated in the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. At first a champion of populist causes and women's higher education, Figner later became a leader of the terrorist party the People's Will and was an accomplice in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881. Drawing on extensive archival research and careful reading of Figner's copious memoirs, Lynne Ann Hartnett reveals how Figner survived the Bolshevik revolution and Stalin's Great Purges and died a lionized revolutionary legend as the Nazis bore down on Moscow in 1942.
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