Using halofuginone-silver thermosensitive nanohydrogels with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for healing wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus.

Contamination by pathogens, such as bacteria, can irritate a wound and prevent its healing, which may affect the physical fitness of the infected person. As such, the development of more novel nano-biomaterials able to cope with the inflammatory reaction to bacterial infection during the wound healing process to accelerate wound healing is required. Herein, a halofuginone­silver nano thermosensitive hydrogel (HTPM&AgNPs-gel) was prepared via a physical swelling method. HTPM&AgNPs-gel was characterized based on thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, morphology, injectability, and rheological mechanics that reflected its exemplary nature. Moreover, HTPM&AgNPs-gel was further tested for its ability to facilitate healing of skin fibroblasts and exert antibacterial activity. Finally, HTPM&AgNPs-gel was tested for its capacity to accelerate general wound healing and treat bacterially induced wound damage. HTPM&AgNPs-gel appeared spherical under a transmission electron microscope and showed a grid structure under a scanning electron microscope. Additionally, HTPM&AgNPs-gel demonstrated excellent properties, including injectability, temperature-dependent swelling behavior, low loss at high temperatures, and appropriate rheological properties. Further, HTPM&AgNPs-gel was found to effectively promote healing of skin fibroblasts and inhibit the proliferation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. An evaluation of the wound healing efficacy demonstrated that HTPM&AgNPs-gel had a more pronounced ability to facilitate wound repair and antibacterial effects than HTPM-gel or AgNPs-gel alone, and exhibited ideal biocompatibility. Notably, HTPM&AgNPs-gel also inhibited inflammatory responses in the healing process. HTPM&AgNPs-gel exhibited antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and scar repair features, which remarkably promoted wound healing. These findings indicated that HTPM&AgNPs-gel holds great clinical potential as a promising and valuable wound healing treatment.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission by a tripartite medical team led by the Singapore Armed Forces after the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to report the injury or disease patterns, challenges, key observations, and recommendations by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) team that embarked on an Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. METHODS: The SAF medical team that provided HADR assistance to Nepal consisted of personnel from the SAF, Singapore¢s Ministry of Health and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal, the SAF medical team was assigned to the Gokarna district by the local health authorities. In addition to providing primary healthcare, the medical facility was equipped to perform resuscitation and minor procedures. We also assembled mobile medical teams (MMTs) that travelled to various remote areas of the country to deliver medical aid. RESULTS: A total of 3,014 patients were managed by the SAF medical team. Of these patients, 1,286 (42.7%) were men. 574 (19.0%) patients sustained earthquake-related injuries or illnesses, while 2,440 (81.0%) sustained non-earthquake-related injuries or illnesses. The team treated a total of 447 (77.9%) adults and 127 (22.1%) paediatric patients with earthquake-related injuries or illnesses. A significant number of patients developed exacerbations of underlying medical conditions. 2,161 (71.7%) patients were treated in our main facility in Gokarna, while 853 patients (28.3%) were treated by our MMTs. CONCLUSION: The ability to transport healthcare personnel and essential medical equipment within a short time allowed the SAF medical team to provide crucial medical care in the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

Proteomic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells treated with platycodin D.

Platycodin D (PD), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Platycodonis Radix, is a famous Chinese herbal medicine that has been shown to have anti-proliferative effects in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in cellular proteins after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with PD using proteomics approaches. The cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. The proteome was analyzed by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis was used to confirm the expression of changed proteins. Our results showed that PD inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Sixteen proteins were identified to be up-regulated in PD-treated HepG2 cells, including ATP5H, OXCT1, KRT9, CCDC40, ERP29, RCN1, ZNF175, HNRNPH1, HSP27, PA2G4, PHB, BANF1, TPM3, ECH1, LGALS1, and MYL6. Three proteins (i.e., RPS12, EMG1, and KRT1) decreased in HepG2 cells after treatment with PD. The changes in HSP27 and PHB were further confirmed by Western blotting. In conclusion, our results shed new lights on the mechanisms of action for the anti-cancer activity of PD.

Effects of fluoroquinolones on CYP4501A and 3A in male broilers.

The inhibitory effects of fluoroquinolones on the enzyme activity, protein levels and mRNA expression of liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A and 3A were investigated in male broiler chicks. Enrofloxacin (20 mg/kg), sarafloxacin (8 mg/kg) and marbofloxacin (5.5 mg/kg) were administrated in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. A cocktail of the probe drugs caffeine and dapsone was used to determine CYP1A and 3A activity. Western blot analysis and real-time PCR were used to determine the effects on protein levels of CYP1A and 3A, and on CYP1A4, 1A5, 3A37 mRNA levels. Enrofloxacin increased the half-life of elimination for both caffeine and dapsone, and decreased expression of CYP1A and 3A protein. Marbofloxacin decreased the metabolism of caffeine and expression of CYP1A protein. However, no change in mRNA expression was observed for any treatment group. This suggested that high doses of enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin, but not sarafloxacin, inhibit CYP in chick liver raising the possibility of drug-drug interaction when using these compounds.