Ginkgolic acid regulates myogenic development by influencing the proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells.

Ginkgolic acid (GA), isolated from the leaves and seed coats of Ginkgo biloba, exerts several biological effects, including antitumor, antibacterial, anti­HIV and anti­inflammatory effects. However, the effects of GA on C2C12 myoblasts remain unclear. The present study assessed cell viability with the MTT assay and evaluated colony formation through crystal violet staining. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis with Annexin V/7­AAD staining, proliferation with Ki67 staining and cell cycle arrest. Western blotting detected myogenic markers and other relevant proteins. Myotube formation was examined by immunofluorescence, and autophagy was measured using an LC3 antibody­based kit via flow cytometry. The present study showed that treatment of C2C12 cells with GA significantly inhibited their viability and colony formation capacity but did not trigger apoptosis, as indicated by Annexin V/7­AAD staining. However, Ki67 staining indicates that GA exerted dose­dependent antiproliferative effects. Further analysis revealed that GA partially inhibited the growth of C2C12 cells via cell cycle arrest in S phase, highlighting its role in the disruption of cell proliferation. Furthermore, treatment with GA impaired myoblast differentiation, as evidenced by a reduction in the expression of the myogenesis markers, the myosin­heavy chain, myoblast determination protein 1 and myogenin, and suppressed myotube formation. Notably, during C2C12 cell differentiation, GA promoted apoptosis without affecting cell cycle progression or Ki67 expression. Mechanistically, GA could suppress nuclear extracellular signal­regulated kinase phosphorylation, suggesting that it modulates cell proliferation pathways. Moreover, GA triggered autophagy in differentiated C2C12 cells, as confirmed by elevated LC3 II levels. These findings highlight the multifaceted effects of GA on C2C12 cells.

Effect of lidocaine on salicylate-induced tinnitus in guinea pigs: A focus on the auditory cortex.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the intravenous administration of lidocaine in the auditory cortex after the systemic administration of salicylate. Healthy male albino Hartley guinea pigs were divided into two groups. The control group received only lidocaine, whereas the experimental group received lidocaine after checking for the effects of salicylate. Extracellular recordings of spikes in the primary auditory cortex and dorsocaudal areas in healthy albino Hartley guinea pigs were continuously documented (pre- and post-lidocaine, pre- and post-salicylate, and post-salicylate after adding lidocaine to post-salicylate). We recorded 160 single units in the primary auditory cortex from five guinea pigs and 155 single units in the dorsocaudal area from another five guinea pigs to confirm the effects of lidocaine on untreated animals. No significant change was detected in either the threshold or Q10dB value after lidocaine administration in the primary auditory cortex and dorsocaudal areas. Spontaneous firing activity significantly decreased after lidocaine administration in the primary auditory cortex and dorsocaudal areas. Next, we recorded 160 single units in the primary auditory cortex from five guinea pigs and 137 single units in the dorsocaudal area from another five guinea pigs to determine the effects of lidocaine on salicylate-treated animals. The threshold was significantly elevated after salicylate administration; however, no additional change was detected after adding lidocaine to the primary auditory cortex and dorsocaudal areas. Regarding the Q10dB value, lidocaine negated the significant changes induced by salicylate in the primary auditory cortex and dorsocaudal areas. Moreover, lidocaine negated the significant changes in spontaneous firing activities induced by salicylate in the primary auditory cortex and dorsocaudal areas. In conclusion, changes in the Q10dB value and spontaneous firing activities induced by salicylate administration are abolished by lidocaine administration, suggesting that these changes are related to the presence of tinnitus.

Investigation of antitumor activity and albumin interaction of new sulfosalicylate-based complex by spectroscopic and computational approaches.

In the present study, the drug delivery by albumin protein and antiproliferetaive activity of new transition metal complex i.e., [Pd (phen)(SSA)] (where phen and SSA represent 1, 10 phenanthroline and sulfosalicylic acid, respectively) was investigated. DFT (density functional theory) calculations were conducted at B3LYP level with 6-311G(d,p)/aug-ccpVTZ-PP basis set for the purpose of geometry optimization, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Experimental tests were conducted to preliminarily assess the lipophilicity and antitumor activity of the metal complex, resulting in promising findings. In-silico prediction was accomplished to assess its toxicity and bioavailability. To evaluate the binding of the newly formed complex with DNA (which results in halting the cell cycle) or serum albumin protein (drug transporter to the tissues), in-silico molecular modeling was employed. Experimental results (spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic) showed that the new compound interacts with each biomolecule via hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions. Molecular docking demonstrated the binding of this complex to the DNA groove and site I of BSA occurs mainly through hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the interactions between [Pd (phen)(SSA)] with DNA or BSA through stable hydrogen bonds.

Food additive salicylates inhibit human and rat placental 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: 3D-QSAR and in silico analysis.

The use of salicylates as flavoring agents in food and beverages is common, but their potential to disrupt the endocrine system remains unclear. Human placental 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (h3ß-HSD1) plays a role in progesterone synthesis and is the potential target. This study evaluated the inhibition of 13 salicylates on h3ß-HSD1, structure-activity relationship (SAR) and compared with rat placental homolog r3ß-HSD4. Salicylates inhibited h3ß-HSD1, depending on carbon chain number in the alcohol moiety and the IC50 values for hexyl, ethylhexyl, homomenthyl, and menthyl salicylates were 53.27, 15.78, 2.35, and 2.31 µM, as mixed inhibitors, respectively, while methyl to benzyl salicylates were ineffective at 100 µM. Interestingly, only hexyl salicylate inhibited r3ß-HSD4 with IC50 of 31.05 µM. Bivariate analysis revealed a negative correlation between IC50 and hydrophobicity (LogP), molecular weight, heavy atoms, and carbon number in the alcohol moiety against h3ß-HSD1. Docking analysis demonstrated that these salicylates bind to cofactor binding sites or between the steroid and cofactor binding sites. Additionally, 3D-QSAR showed distinct binding via hydrogen bond donors and hydrophobic regions. In conclusion, the inhibition of h3ß-HSD1 by salicylates appears to be dependent on factors such as LogP, molecular weight, heavy atoms, and carbon-chain length and there is species-dependent inhibition sensitivity.

Human exposure risk of organic UV filters: A comprehensive analysis based on primary exposure pathways.

The exposure of organic UV filters has been increasingly confirmed to induce adverse effects on humans. However, the critical exposure pathway and the vulnerable population of organic UV filters are not clearly identified. This paper attempts to evaluate the health risk of commonly used organic UV filters from various exposure routes based on comprehensive analysis strategy. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) values of organic UV filters through four pathways (dermal exposure, indoor dust, indoor air, and drinking water) for various age groups were determined. Although the total HQ values (0.01-0.4) from comprehensive exposure of organic UV filters were below risk threshold (1.0), infants were identified as the most vulnerable population, with EDI (75.71 ng/kg-bw/day) of 2-3 times higher than that of adults. Additionally, the total EDI values of individual exposure pathways were estimated and ranked as follows: indoor air (138.44 ng/kg-bw/day) > sunscreen application (37.2 ng/kg-bw/day) > drinking water (21.87 ng/kg-bw/day) > indoor dust (9.24 ng/kg-bw/day). Moreover, we successfully tailored the Sankey diagram to depict the EDI proportion of individual organic UV filters from four exposure pathways. It was noted that EHMC (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and EHS (ethylhexyl salicylate) dominated the contribution of EDI (72 %) via indoor air exposure routes. This study serves as a crucial reference for enhancing public health risk awareness concerning organic UV filters, with a special focus on the vulnerable populations such as infants and children.

Unraveling the Potential of Vitamin B3-Derived Salts with a Salicylate Anion as Dermal Active Agents for Acne Treatment.

This study is focused on the utilization of naturally occurring salicylic acid and nicotinamide (vitamin B3) in the development of novel sustainable Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) with significant potential for treating acne vulgaris. The study highlights how the chemical structure of the cation significantly influences surface activity, lipophilicity, and solubility in aqueous media. Furthermore, the new ionic forms of APIs, the synthesis of which was assessed with Green Chemistry metrics, exhibited very good antibacterial properties against common pathogens that contribute to the development of acne, resulting in remarkable enhancement of biological activity ranging from 200 to as much as 2000 times when compared to salicylic acid alone. The molecular docking studies also revealed the excellent anti-inflammatory activity of N-alkylnicotinamide salicylates comparable to commonly used drugs (indomethacin, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid) and were even characterized by better IC50 values than common anti-inflammatory drugs in some cases. The derivative, featuring a decyl substituent in the pyridinium ring of nicotinamide, exhibited efficacy against Cutibacterium acnes while displaying favorable water solubility and improved wettability on hydrophobic surfaces, marking it as particularly promising. To investigate the impact of the APIs on the biosphere, the EC50 parameter was determined against a model representative of crustaceans─Artemia franciscana. The majority of compounds (with the exception of the salt containing the dodecyl substituent) could be classified as "Relatively Harmless" or "Practically Nontoxic", indicating their potential low environmental impact, which is essential in the context of modern drug development.

Toxicokinetics of 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) and its seven metabolites in humans after controlled single dermal exposure to EHS.

The chemical UV filter 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) is used in various personal-care products. The dermal and oral metabolism of EHS have already been targeted by different studies. However, toxicokinetic data after a single dermal exposure to EHS was missing. In our study, three volunteers were dermally exposed to a commercial EHS-containing sunscreen for 9 h with an application dose of 2 mg sunscreen per cm2 body surface area. The exposure was performed indoors, and sunscreen was applied on about 75% of the total skin area. Complete urine voids were collected over 72 h and eight blood samples were drawn from each subject. Urine samples were analyzed for EHS and seven known metabolites (5OH-EHS, 4OH-EHS, 2OH-EHS, 6OH-EHS, 4oxo-EHS, 5oxo-EHS, and 5cx-EPS) by online-SPE UPLC MS/MS. The peaks of urinary elimination occurred 10-11 h after application. The elimination half-lives (Phase 1) were between 6.6 and 9.7 h. The dominant urinary biomarkers were EHS itself, followed by 5OH-EHS, 5cx-EPS, 5oxo-EHS, and 4OH-EHS. 2OH-EHS, 6OH-EHS, and 4oxo-EHS were detected only in minor amounts. An enhanced analysis of conjugation species revealed marginal amounts of unconjugated metabolites and up to 40% share of sulfate conjugates for 5OH-EHS, 5oxo-EHS, and 5cx-EPS. The results demonstrated a delayed systemic resorption of EHS via the dermal route. Despite an extensive metabolism, the parent compound occurred as main urinary parameter. The delayed dermal resorption as well as the slow elimination of EHS indicate an accumulation up to toxicological relevant doses during daily repeated dermal application to large skin areas.

Effect of mouthwashes on the color stability of a nanohybrid composite resin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different mouthwash solutions on the color stability of a nanohybrid composite resin. Forty discs of Luna nanohybrid composite resin were prepared and randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups (n = 10), determined by the type of immersion solution: distilled water (DW); Oral-B Pro-Health mouthwash (OBPH); Listerine Total Care mouthwash (LTC); or Colgate Plax Infinity mouthwash (CPI). The discs were immersed in solution for 30 minutes a day and stored at 37°C for 24 hours. Digital photographs of each specimen were taken at each timepoint and transferred to a computer program for color analysis. The International Commission on Illumination L*a*b* system was used to analyze the color of the specimens at baseline and the overall color change (ΔE*) at baseline, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. Two-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the influence of solution and time on ΔE* values (α = 0.05). The t test was used as a post hoc test to compare the mean values between groups (α = 0.05). After 30 days, all groups showed small color change values compared with baseline (ΔE*1 < 1.0). However, after 60 days, the LTC and CPI groups showed greater color change (ΔE*2) than the other groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After 90 days, all groups differed significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and all mouthwash groups presented color change values that are considered clinically unacceptable (ΔE*3 > 3.0). The results of this in vitro study indicate that mouthwash solutions do not cause significant color changes in nanohybrid composite resin for a period of up to 30 days; however, longer periods (90 days) of exposure could make the restorative material esthetically unacceptable.

Glycyrrhetinic acid interaction with solvated and free electrons studied by the CIDNP and dissociative electron attachment techniques.

Electron transfer plays a crucial role in living systems, including the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxygen acts as the terminal electron acceptor in the respiratory chains of aerobic organisms as well as in some photoinduced processes followed by the formation of ROS. This is why the participation of exogenous antioxidants in electron transfer processes in living systems is of particular interest. In the present study, using chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) and dissociative electron attachment (DEA) techniques, we have elucidated the affinity of solvated and free electrons to glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-the aglicon of glycyrrhizin (the main active component of Licorice root). CIDNP is a powerful instrument to study the mechanisms of electron transfer reactions in solution, but the DEA technique shows its effectiveness in gas phase processes. For CIDNP experiments, the photoionization of the dianion of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (HSSA2-) was used as a model reaction of solvated electron generation. DEA experiments testify that GA molecules are even better electron acceptors than molecular oxygen, at least under gas-phase conditions. In addition, the effect of the solvent on the energetics of the reactants is discussed.

Salicylate induces epithelial actin reorganization via activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase and promotes wound healing and contraction in mice.

Wounds that occur in adults form scars due to fibrosis, whereas those in embryos regenerate. If wound healing in embryos is mimicked in adults, scarring can be reduced. We found that mouse fetuses could regenerate tissues up to embryonic day (E) 13, but visible scars remained thereafter. This regeneration pattern requires actin cable formation at the epithelial wound margin via activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Here, we investigated whether the AMPK-activating effect of salicylate, an anti-inflammatory drug, promotes regenerative wound healing. Salicylate administration resulted in actin cable formation and complete wound regeneration in E14 fetuses, in which scarring should have normally occurred, and promoted contraction of the panniculus carnosus muscle, resulting in complete wound regeneration. In vitro, salicylate further induced actin remodeling in mouse epidermal keratinocytes in a manner dependent on cell and substrate target-specific AMPK activation and subsequent regulation of Rac1 signaling. Furthermore, salicylate promoted epithelialization, enhanced panniculus carnosus muscle contraction, and inhibited scar formation in adult mice. Administration of salicylates to wounds immediately after injury may be a novel method for preventing scarring by promoting a wound healing pattern similar to that of embryonic wounds.

Optimal conditions for determination of bacitracin, bacitracin zinc and bacitracin methylene disalicylate in animal feed by ultra-performance liquid tandem mass spectrometry.

An integrated method combining solid-phase extraction (SPE) with ultra-performance liquid tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) has been established for quantifying bacitracin (BTC), bacitracin zinc (BZ), and bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) in animal feed. A pretreatment procedure that can effectively, quickly, and simultaneously extract and purify BTC, BZ, or BMD in feed was developed for the first time through the optimization of extraction and SPE conditions. After extraction with acetonitrile + methanol + 15 % ammonia solution (1:1:1, v:v:v) and dilution with EDTA solution (1.5 mmol/L, pH 7.0), a SPE procedure was carried out with C18 cartridge. Following LC-MS/MS analysis utilized a Waters Peptide BEH C18 column with a gradient elution of 0.1 % formic acid in water/acetonitrile with. This method demonstrated a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.9980) across a 0.01-1.0 mg/L concentration span, based on a matrix-matched standard curve. Satisfactory recoveries of BTC (bacitracin A, B1, B2, and B3), BZ, and BMD in different feeds were obtained from 80.7 % to 108.4 %, with relative standard deviations below 15.7 %. Low limits of quantification ranging within 7.2-20 µg/kg were achieved for bacitracin A, B1, B2, and B3. This method provided an effective and reliable detection method to prevent the addition of BTC and different BTC formulations in feeds.

Study of the preparation, characterization, and solubility of lidocaine complexed with 5-sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to prepare solid dispersions of lidocaine (Lid) with 5-sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate (SSA) by freeze-drying (freeze-dried [FD] Lid/SSA = 1/1) and to evaluate their physical properties. METHODS: Here, we evaluated the physicochemical properties and solubility of solid dispersions of Lid and SSA prepared by freeze-drying (freeze-dried [FD] Lid/SSA = 1/1). RESULTS: Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that after freeze-drying, the endothermic peak due to Lid melting, the dehydration peak, and the endothermic peak due to SSA melting disappeared. Powder X-ray diffraction results showed that the characteristic Lid and SSA peaks disappeared after freeze-drying, indicating a halo pattern. The near-infrared spectroscopy results suggested that Lid-derived -NH and -CH groups and the Lid-derived -OH and -CH groups from the SSA peak shifted and broadened after freeze-drying, suggesting their involvement in complex formation through Lid/SSA intermolecular interactions. Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements showed a cross-peak due to the interaction between the Lid-derived -CH group and the SSA-derived -OH group, suggesting hydrogen bonding. Diffusion-ordered spectroscopy NMR measurements showed that the diffusion coefficients of Lid and SSA aggregated in FD Lid/SSA, suggesting a change in Lid dispersibility in the solvent owing to the formation of a complex with SSA. The solubility of FD Lid/SSA was approximately 88 mg/mL (∼20-fold higher than that of Lid). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that complex formation occurred in FD Lid/SSA; this enhanced the solubility of this dispersion.

Tracheal Intubation and Mechanical Ventilation in Adults with Severe Salicylate Poisoning.

BACKGROUND: Salicylate poisoning may lead to critical acid-base disturbances. Tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for patients with severe salicylism has been strongly discouraged. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe pH trends, complications, and outcomes in a cohort of salicylate-poisoned patients who were intubated. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) with severe salicylate poisoning (serum salicylate concentration >40 mg/dL and admission to an intensive care unit) over a 14-year period (2007-2021). The primary and secondary outcomes were the change in serum pH and the occurrence of severe complications (systolic blood pressure <80 mm Hg, oxygen saturation <80%, or cardiac arrest), respectively, in the 6 h after presentation. RESULTS: Among 32 adults with severe salicylate poisoning (median serum salicylate level 64.2, interquartile range 52.5-70.7), 11 (34%) underwent tracheal intubation. The initial mean pH (±SD) in the no intubation group was 7.48 ± 0.07 and was 7.36 ± 0.04 in the intubation group. The mean absolute difference in pH measured before and after intubation was -0.02 (95% confidence interval -0.11 to 0.07). No severe complications were observed during or up to 6 h after tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: In our single-center experience managing adults with severe salicylate poisoning, tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were not associated with substantial perturbation of serum pH or severe complications. These findings challenge the current paradigm that these interventions should be avoided in salicylate-poisoned patients.

New metabolites of 2-ethylhexyl salicylate in human urine after simulated real-life dermal sunscreen application.

2-Ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) is an organic UV filter which is used in sunscreen and other personal care products. The dermal uptake of EHS was studied in several dermal-exposure experiments. This paper aims to coherently assess urine samples after dermal exposure for the biomarkers EHS, 5OH-EHS, 5oxo-EHS, and 5cx-EPS as well as further biomarkers of interest, specifically 4OH-EHS, 4oxo-EHS, 2OH-EHS, and 6OH-EHS, for the first time. Samples from 18 participants of a pre-existing dermal exposure study under real-life conditions were reassessed using a comprehensive LC-MS/MS method. EHS accounts for 34 % of the cumulative excretion of all analytes within 24 h after exposure, followed by 5OH-EHS (19 %), 5cx-EPS (18 %), 4OH-EHS (15 %) and 5oxo-EHS (11 %). Further metabolites were only quantified in minor amounts. EHS as the most prominent excretion parameter in this study demonstrates the missing first-pass effect after dermal absorption. Furthermore, the applied novel comprehensive analytical procedure revealed oxidation at the ω (5cx-EPS, 6OH-EHS), ω-1 (5OH-EHS, 5oxo-EHS), and ω-2 positions (4OH-EHS, 4oxo-EHS) in the main chain of the ethylhexyl group as well as oxidation in the side chain (2OH-EHS). The presented data are of high relevance for a reliable toxicological risk assessment of dermal exposure to EHS.

Cajaninstilbene acid ameliorates depression-like behaviors in mice by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB mediated neuroinflammation and promoting autophagy.

Depression is a life-threatening neurodegenerative disease lacking a complete cure. Cajaninstilbene acid (CSA), a potent stilbene compound, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects, however, studies on its antidepressant mechanisms are still scarce. This study examined the effects of CSA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression in mice, investigating its mechanisms related to inflammation and autophagy. Mice were treated with CSA (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg) daily for 3 weeks before intraperitoneal LPS injection (0.8 mg/kg). Another cohort underwent the same doses of CSA (7.5-30 mg/kg) daily for 6 weeks in accompany with CUMS stimulation. Behavioral assessments were conducted, and cortical samples were collected for molecular analysis. Findings indicate that CSA ameliorated depressive behaviors induced by both LPS and CUMS. Notably, CSA (15 mg/kg) reversed despair behavior in mice more persistently than amitriptyline, indicating that optimal doses of CSA may effectively decelerate the procession of mood despair and yield a good compliance. CSA countered CUMS-induced activation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway and the reduction in autophagy levels. Furthermore, CSA attenuated the CUMS-induced decline in neuroplasticity. Collectively, these findings suggest that CSA mitigates depression-like behaviors in mice by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB-mediated neuroinflammation and enhancing autophagy. This research provides further insights into CSA's mechanisms of action in ameliorating depressive behaviors, offering a scientific foundation for developing CSA-based antidepressants.

Reduced estrogenic risks of a sunscreen additive: Theoretical design and evaluation of functionally improved salicylates.

Salicylic esters (SEs), the widely used ultraviolet (UV) absorbers in sunscreen products, have been found to have health risks such as skin sensitization and estrogenic effects. This study aims to design SE substitutes that maintain high UV absorbance while reducing estrogenicity. Using molecular docking and Gaussian09 software for initial assessments and further application of a combination of two-dimensional and three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (2D-QSAR and 3D-QSAR, respectively) models, we designed 73 substitutes. The best-performing molecules, ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS)-5 and EHS-15, significantly reduced estrogenicity (44.54 % and 17.60 %, respectively) and enhanced UV absorbance (249.56 % and 46.94 %, respectively). Through screening for human health risks, we found that EHS-5 and EHS-15 were free from skin sensitivity and eye irritation and exhibited reduced skin permeability compared with EHS. Furthermore, the photolysis and synthetic pathways of EHS-5 and EHS-15 were deduced, demonstrating their good photodegradability and potential synthesizability. In addition, we analyzed the mechanisms underlying the changes in estrogenic effects and UV absorption properties. We identified covalent hydrogen bond basicity and acidity Propgen value for atomic molecular properties and the highest occupied molecular orbital eigenvalue as the main factors affecting the estrogenic effect and UV absorbance of SEs, respectively. This study focuses on the design and screening of SEs, exhibiting enhanced functionality, reduced health risks, and synthetic feasibility.

COVID-19 IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: SHOULD WE BE MORE CAREFUL WITH THE USE OF SALICYLATES?

BACKGROUNDS: Fortunately, much has been studied about COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Evidence suggests that these patients do not appear to be at increased risk of severe COVID-19. However, there are still some uncertainties regarding the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in patients with immune-mediated diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the main symptoms of COVID-19 and their frequency in IBD patients and evaluate the impact of the IBD therapeutic drugs on clinical presentation of COVID-19 and to determine factors associated with COVID-19 in this population. METHODS: Adult patients with IBD from three tertiary-care public, teaching hospitals in Ceará, Northeastern Brazil, were evaluated during one scheduled appointment from March to December 2020. Patients with possible or confirmed COVID-19 were compared with patients without COVID-19. Furthermore, incidences of each symptom were evaluated based on the use of IBD therapeutic drugs. RESULTS: A total of 515 patients with IBD were included in the study: 234 with CD, and 281 with UC. Of these, 174 patients (34%) had possible/confirmed COVID-19 of whom 156 (90%) were symptomatic. Main symptoms were fever (65%) and headache (65%); gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in one third of patients and were higher than COVID-19 in general population. The factors associated with having COVID-19 were female gender (OR 1.71, 95%CI: 1.17-2.50); contact at home (OR 5.07, 95%CI: 3.31-7.78) and outside the home (OR 3.14, 95%CI: 2.10-4.71) with a case of COVID-19; work outside of the home (OR 1.87, 95%CI: 1.26-2.78); family history of COVID-19 (OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.58-3.33) use of salicylate (OR 1.71, 95%CI: 1.17-4.28); and asthma (OR 7.10, 95%CI: 1.46-34.57). CONCLUSION: IBD patients at high risk of COVID-19 infection may need to avoid salicylate therapy but further studies are necessary to confirm this association.

Combinative effect of pulsed-light irradiation and solid-state fermentation on ginkgolic acids, ginkgols, ginkgolides, bilobalide, flavonoids, product quality and sensory assessment of Ginkgo biloba dark tea.

Pulsed light (PL) is a prospective non-thermal technology that can improve the degradation of ginkgolic acid (GA) and retain the main bioactive compounds in Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBL). However, only using PL hasn't yet achieved the ideal effect of reducing GA. Fermentation of GBL to make ginkgo dark tea (GDT) could decrease GA. Because different microbial strains are used for fermentation, their metabolites and product quality might differ. However, there is no research on the combinative effect of PL irradiation fixation and microbial strain fermentation on main bioactive compounds and sensory assessment of GDT. In this research, first, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were selected as fermentation strains that can reduce GA from the five microbial strains. Next, the fresh GBL was irradiated by PL for 200 s (fluences of 0.52 J/cm2), followed by B. subtilis, S. cerevisiae, or natural fermentation to make GDT. The results showed that compared with the control (unirradiated and unfermented GBL) and the only PL irradiated GBL, the GA in GDT using PL + B. subtilis fermentation was the lowest, decreasing by 29.74%; PL + natural fermentation reduced by 24.53%. The total flavonoid content increased by 14.64% in GDT using PL + B. subtilis fermentation, whose phenolic and antioxidant levels also increased significantly. Sensory evaluation showed that the color, aroma, and taste of the tea infusion of PL + B. subtilis fermentation had the highest scores. In conclusion, the combined PL irradiation and solid-state fermentation using B. subtilis can effectively reduce GA and increase the main bioactive compounds, thus providing a new technological approach for GDT with lower GA.

The effect of daily usage of Listerine Cool Mint mouthwash on the oropharyngeal microbiome: a substudy of the PReGo trial.

Introduction. ListerineÒ is a bactericidal mouthwash widely used to prevent oral health problems such as dental plaque and gingivitis. However, whether it promotes or undermines a healthy oral microbiome is unclear.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. We hypothesized that the daily use of Listerine Cool Mint would have a significant impact on the oropharyngeal microbiome.Aim. We aimed to assess if daily usage of Listerine Cool Mint influenced the composition of the pharyngeal microbiome.Methodology. The current microbiome substudy is part of the Preventing Resistance in Gonorrhoea trial. This was a double-blind single-centre, crossover, randomized controlled trial of antibacterial versus placebo mouthwash to reduce the incidence of gonorrhoea/chlamydia/syphilis in men who have sex with men (MSM) taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Fifty-nine MSM taking HIV PrEP were enrolled. In this crossover trial, participants received 3 months of daily Listerine followed by 3 months of placebo mouthwash or vice versa. Oropharyngeal swabs were taken at baseline and after 3 months use of each mouthwash. DNA was extracted for shotgun metagenomic sequencing (Illumina Inc.). Non-host reads were taxonomically classified with MiniKraken and Bracken. The alpha and beta diversity indices were compared between baseline and after each mouthwash use. Differentially abundant bacterial taxa were identified using ANOVA-like differential expression analysis.Results. Streptococcus was the most abundant genus in most samples (n = 103, 61.7 %) with a median relative abundance of 31.5% (IQR 20.6-44.8), followed by Prevotella [13.5% (IQR 4.8-22.6)] and Veillonella [10.0% (IQR 4.0-16.8)]. Compared to baseline, the composition of the oral microbiome at the genus level (beta diversity) was significantly different after 3 months of Listerine (P = 0.006, pseudo-F = 2.29) or placebo (P = 0.003, pseudo-F = 2.49, permutational multivariate analysis of variance) use. Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus were significantly more abundant after Listerine use compared to baseline.Conclusion. Listerine use was associated with an increased abundance of common oral opportunistic bacteria previously reported to be enriched in periodontal diseases, oesophageal and colorectal cancer, and systemic diseases. These findings suggest that the regular use of Listerine mouthwash should be carefully considered.

Inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation improves non-nitric oxide-mediated cutaneous microvascular function in reproductive-aged healthy women.

The transcriptional regulator nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a mediator of endothelial dysfunction. Inhibiting NF-κB with salsalate is used to investigate inflammatory mechanisms contributing to accelerated cardiovascular disease risk. However, in the absence of disease, inhibition of NF-κB can impact redox mechanisms, resulting in paradoxically decreased endothelial function. This study aimed to measure microvascular endothelial function during inhibition of the transcriptional regulator NF-κB in reproductive-aged healthy women. In a randomized, single-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled design, nine healthy women were randomly assigned oral salsalate (1,500 mg, twice daily) or placebo treatments for 5 days. Subjects underwent graded perfusion with the endothelium-dependent agonist acetylcholine (ACh, 10-10 to 10-1 M, 33°C) alone and in combination with 15 mM NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester [l-NAME; nonselective nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor] through intradermal microdialysis. Laser-Doppler flux was measured over each microdialysis site, and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as flux divided by mean arterial pressure and normalized to site-specific maximum (CVC%max; 28 mM sodium nitroprusside + 43°C). The l-NAME sensitive component was calculated as the difference between the areas under the dose-response curves. During the placebo and salsalate treatments, the l-NAME sites were reduced compared with the control sites (both P < 0.0001). Across treatments, there was a significant difference between the control and l-NAME sites, where both sites shifted upward following salsalate treatment (both P < 0.0001), whereas the l-NAME-sensitive component was not different (P = 0.94). These data demonstrate that inhibition of the transcriptional regulator NF-κB improves cutaneous microvascular function in reproductive-aged healthy women through non-NO-dependent mechanisms.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) regulates multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immunity by encoding for genes that participate in inflammation and impact endothelial function following NF-κB inhibition with salsalate treatment. Our results show that cutaneous microvascular function is increased through non-nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanisms following salsalate treatment in reproductive-aged healthy women.