The impact of norepinephrine dose reporting heterogeneity on mortality prediction in septic shock patients.

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine (NE) is a cornerstone drug in the management of septic shock, with its dose being used clinically as a marker of disease severity and as mortality predictor. However, variations in NE dose reporting either as salt formulations or base molecule may lead to misinterpretation of mortality risks and hinder the process of care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database to assess the impact of NE dose reporting heterogeneity on mortality prediction in a cohort of septic shock patients. NE doses were converted from the base molecule to equivalent salt doses, and their ability to predict 28-day mortality at common severity dose cut-offs was compared. RESULTS: 4086 eligible patients with septic shock were identified, with a median age of 68 [57-78] years, an admission SOFA score of 7 [6-10], and lactate at diagnosis of 3.2 [2.4-5.1] mmol/L. Median peak NE dose at day 1 was 0.24 [0.12-0.42] µg/kg/min, with a 28-day mortality of 39.3%. The NE dose showed significant heterogeneity in mortality prediction depending on which formulation was reported, with doses reported as bitartrate and tartrate presenting 65 (95% CI 79-43)% and 67 (95% CI 80-47)% lower ORs than base molecule, respectively. This divergence in prediction widened at increasing NE doses. When using a 1 µg/kg/min threshold, predicted mortality was 54 (95% CI 52-56)% and 83 (95% CI 80-87)% for tartrate formulation and base molecule, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Heterogeneous reporting of NE doses significantly affects mortality prediction in septic shock. Standardizing NE dose reporting as base molecule could enhance risk stratification and improve processes of care. These findings underscore the importance of consistent NE dose reporting practices in critical care settings.

Coexistence of a fluid responsive state and venous congestion signals in critically ill patients: a multicenter observational proof-of-concept study.

BACKGROUND: Current recommendations support guiding fluid resuscitation through the assessment of fluid responsiveness. Recently, the concept of fluid tolerance and the prevention of venous congestion (VC) have emerged as relevant aspects to be considered to avoid potentially deleterious side effects of fluid resuscitation. However, there is paucity of data on the relationship of fluid responsiveness and VC. This study aims to compare the prevalence of venous congestion in fluid responsive and fluid unresponsive critically ill patients after intensive care (ICU) admission. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective cross-sectional observational study conducted in three medical-surgical ICUs in Chile. Consecutive mechanically ventilated patients that required vasopressors and admitted < 24 h to ICU were included between November 2022 and June 2023. Patients were assessed simultaneously for fluid responsiveness and VC at a single timepoint. Fluid responsiveness status, VC signals such as central venous pressure, estimation of left ventricular filling pressures, lung, and abdominal ultrasound congestion indexes and relevant clinical data were collected. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included. Median age was 63 [45-71] years old, and median SOFA score was 9 [7-11]. Thirty-eight percent of the patients were fluid responsive (FR+), while 62% were fluid unresponsive (FR-). The most prevalent diagnosis was sepsis (41%) followed by respiratory failure (22%). The prevalence of at least one VC signal was not significantly different between FR+ and FR- groups (53% vs. 57%, p = 0.69), as well as the proportion of patients with 2 or 3 VC signals (15% vs. 21%, p = 0.4). We found no association between fluid balance, CRT status, or diagnostic group and the presence of VC signals. CONCLUSIONS: Venous congestion signals were prevalent in both fluid responsive and unresponsive critically ill patients. The presence of venous congestion was not associated with fluid balance or diagnostic group. Further studies should assess the clinical relevance of these results and their potential impact on resuscitation and monitoring practices.

Evaluation of antifungal activity, mechanisms of action and toxicological profile of the synthetic amide 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide.

Aspergillus niger causes infections such as otitis and pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. Treatment involves voriconazole or amphotericin B, and due to the increase in fungal resistance, the search for new compounds with antifungal activity has intensified. In the development of new drugs, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays are important, as they allow predicting possible damage that a molecule can cause, and in silico studies predict the pharmacokinetic properties. The aim of this study was to verify the antifungal activity and the mechanism of action of the synthetic amide 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide against Aspergillus niger strains and toxicity. 2-Chloro-N-phenylacetamide showed antifungal activity against different strains of Aspergillus niger with minimum inhibitory concentrations between 32 and 256 µg/mL and minimum fungicides between 64 and 1024 µg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide also inhibited conidia germination. When associated with amphotericin B or voriconazole, 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide had antagonistic effects. Interaction with ergosterol in the plasma membrane is the probable mechanism of action.2-Chloro-N-phenylacetamide has favorable physicochemical parameters, good oral bioavailability and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, crosses the blood-brain barrier and inhibits CYP1A2. At concentrations of 50 to 500 µg/mL, it has little hemolytic effect and a protective effect for type A and O red blood cells, and in the cells of the oral mucosa it promotes little genotoxic change. It is concluded that 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide has promising antifungal potential, favorable pharmacokinetic profile for oral administration and low cytotoxic and genotoxic potential, being a promising candidate for in vivo toxicity studies.

Antifungal Activity, Mode of Action, and Cytotoxicity of 4-Chlorobenzyl p-Coumarate: A Promising New Molecule.

Fungal infections represent a serious health problem worldwide. The study evaluated the antifungal activity of 4-chlorobenzyl p-coumarate, an unprecedented semi-synthetic molecule. Docking molecular and assay experiments were conducted to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC), mode of action, effect on growth, fungal death kinetics, drug association, effects on biofilm, micromorphology, and against human keratinocytes. The investigation included 16 strains of Candida spp, including C. albicans, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. dubliniensis, C. lusitaniae, C. utilis, C. rugosa, C. guilhermondi, and C. parapsilosis. Docking analysis predicted affinity between the molecule and all tested targets. MIC and MFC values ranged from 3.9 µg/mL (13.54 µM) to 62.5 µg/mL (217.01 µM), indicating a probable effect on the plasma membrane. The molecule inhibited growth from the first hour of testing. Association with nystatin proved to be indifferent. All concentrations of the molecule reduced fungal biofilm. The compound altered fungal micromorphology. The tested compound exhibited an IC50 of 7.90±0.40 µg/mL (27.45±1.42 µM) for keratinocytes. 4-chlorobenzyl p-coumarate showed strong fungicidal effects, likely through its action on the plasma membrane and alteration of fungal micromorphology, and mildly cytotoxic to human keratinocytes.

Exploring the toxicity profile of coriander (C. sativum L.) essential oil: implications for translational toxicological research.

The plant species C. sativum L. is a staple in cuisine and holds significant ethnopharmacological value. Its essential oil (EO) is of particular interest, yet its toxicity profile remains a subject of inquiry. This study aimed to elucidate the chemical constituents of C. sativum L. EO and evaluate its toxicity through various parameters, including cytotoxicity assays on HaCaT keratinocytes, in vivo toxicity tests on Galleria mellonella larvae, in vivo genotoxicity assessments on mice and cytotoxicity assays on human erythrocytes. Notably, major constituents such as 2-decen-1-ol, dec-(2E)-enal, and 1,6-octadien-3-ol were found to remain predominant. The IC50 value for the essential oil on the keratinocyte cell line was determined to be 60.13 ± 2.02 µg/mL. However, in vivo toxicity tests with G. mellonella larvae demonstrated safety at doses below 4.5 g/kg. Additionally, genotoxicity assessment revealed that a single dose of 20 mg/mL (5 mg/kg) did not induce a significant increase in micronuclei formation. EO concentrations above 250 µg/mL led to significant changes in human erythrocytes cell viability (p < 0.0001), resulting in over 60% hemolysis. These findings collectively suggest that the essential oil of C. sativum L. exhibits a suitable toxicity profile for conducting preclinical studies in vertebrate animal models.

Cytotoxicity and Biological Activities of Geopopolis Extract from the Stingless bee (Melipona scutellaris) in Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Geopropolis resins are produced by stingless bees (Meliponinae), developed from the collection of resinous materials, waxes and exudates, from the flora of the region where stingless bees are present, in addition to the addition of clay or earth in its composition. Several biological activities are attributed to Ethanol Extracts of Geopropolis (EEGP). The bioactive properties are associated with the complex chemical composition that the samples have. This work aims to evaluate the biological activities of the EEGP, in order to contribute with a natural therapeutic alternative, to face infections, mainly those caused by resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The EEGP MIC tests showed antibacterial activity against two strains of S. aureus, both at concentrations of 550 µg/mL. The MBC performed with the inhibition values showed that the EEGP has bacteriostatic activity in both strains. Biofilm inhibition rates exhibited an average value greater than 65 % at the highest concentration. The EEGP antioxidant potential test showed good antioxidant activity (IC50) of 11.05±1.55 µg/mL. In the cytotoxicity test against HaCat cells, after 24 hours, EEGP induced cell viability at the three tested concentrations (550 µg/mL: 81.68±3.79 %; 1100 µg/mL: 67.10±3.76 %; 2200 µg/mL: 67.40±1.86 %). In view of the above, the safe use of EEGP from the brazilian northeast could be proven by the cytotoxicity test, and its use as an antioxidant and antibacterial agent has proven to be effective, as an alternative in combating oxidative stress and microorganisms such as S. aureus, which, through the spread and ongoing evolution of drug resistance, generates an active search for effective solutions.

Differential Cardiac Responses after Passive Leg Raising.

This study retrospectively examined the hemodynamic effects of passive leg raising (PLR) in mechanically ventilated patients during fluid removal before spontaneous breathing trials. In previous studies, we noticed varying cardiac responses after PLR completion, particularly in positive tests. Using a bioreactance monitor, we recorded and analyzed hemodynamic parameters, including stroke volume and cardiac index (CI), before and after PLR in post-acute ICU patients. We included 27 patients who underwent 60 PLR procedures. In preload-unresponsive patients, no significant CI changes were observed (CI_t-6 = 3.7 [2.6; 4.7] mL/min/m2 vs. CI_t9 = 3.3 [2.5; 3.4] mL/min/m2; p = 0.306), while in preload-responsive patients, two distinct CI response types to PLR were identified: a transient peak with immediate return to baseline (CI_t-6 = 2.7 [2.5; 3.1] mL/min/m2 vs. 3.3 [2.6; 3.8] L/min/m2; p = 0.119) and a sustained CI elevation lasting beyond the PLR maneuver (CI_t-6 = 2.8 [2.3; 2.9] L/min/m2 vs. 3.3 [2.8; 3.9] ml/min/m2; p = 0.034). The latter was particularly noted when ΔCI during PLR exceeded 25%. Our findings suggest that in certain preload-responsive patients, PLR can induce a more sustained increase in CI, indicating a possible persistent hemodynamic effect. This effect could be due to a combination of autotransfusion and sympathetic activation affecting venous return and vascular tone. Further research in larger cohorts and more comprehensive hemodynamic assessments are warranted to validate these observations and elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms.The Fluid unLoading On Weaning (FLOW) study was prospectively registered under the ID NCT04496583 on 2020-07-29 at ClinicalTrials.gov.

Unveiling Novel Urease Inhibitors for Helicobacter pylori: A Multi-Methodological Approach from Virtual Screening and ADME to Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infections pose a global health challenge demanding innovative therapeutic strategies by which to eradicate them. Urease, a key Hp virulence factor hydrolyzes urea, facilitating bacterial survival in the acidic gastric environment. In this study, a multi-methodological approach combining pharmacophore- and structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA calculations was employed to identify novel inhibitors for Hp urease (HpU). A refined dataset of 8,271,505 small molecules from the ZINC15 database underwent pharmacokinetic and physicochemical filtering, resulting in 16% of compounds for pharmacophore-based virtual screening. Molecular docking simulations were performed in successive stages, utilizing HTVS, SP, and XP algorithms. Subsequent energetic re-scoring with MM-GBSA identified promising candidates interacting with distinct urease variants. Lys219, a residue critical for urea catalysis at the urease binding site, can manifest in two forms, neutral (LYN) or carbamylated (KCX). Notably, the evaluated molecules demonstrated different interaction and energetic patterns in both protein variants. Further evaluation through ADMET predictions highlighted compounds with favorable pharmacological profiles, leading to the identification of 15 candidates. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed comparable structural stability to the control DJM, with candidates 5, 8 and 12 (CA5, CA8, and CA12, respectively) exhibiting the lowest binding free energies. These inhibitors suggest a chelating capacity that is crucial for urease inhibition. The analysis underscores the potential of CA5, CA8, and CA12 as novel HpU inhibitors. Finally, we compare our candidates with the chemical space of urease inhibitors finding physicochemical similarities with potent agents such as thiourea.

CASP4/11 Contributes to NLRP3 Activation and COVID-19 Exacerbation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which promotes inflammation and aggravates severe COVID-19. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 induces upregulation and activation of human caspase-4/CASP4 (mouse caspase-11/CASP11), and this process contributes to NLRP3 activation. In vivo infections performed in transgenic hACE2 humanized mice, deficient or sufficient for Casp11, indicate that hACE2 Casp11-/- mice were protected from disease development, with the increased pulmonary parenchymal area, reduced clinical score of the disease, and reduced mortality. Assessing human samples from fatal cases of COVID-19, we found that CASP4 was expressed in patient lungs and correlated with the expression of inflammasome components and inflammatory mediators, including CASP1, IL1B, IL18, and IL6. Collectively, our data establish that CASP4/11 promotes NLRP3 activation and disease pathology, revealing a possible target for therapeutic interventions for COVID-19.

Exploring the relationship between capillary refill time, skin blood flow and microcirculatory reactivity during early resuscitation of patients with septic shock: a pilot study.

Capillary refill time (CRT), a costless and widely available tool, has emerged as a promising target to guide septic shock resuscitation. However, it has yet to gain universal acceptance due to its potential inter-observer variability. Standardization of CRT assessment may minimize this problem, but few studies have compared this approach with techniques that directly assess skin blood flow (SBF). Our objective was to determine if an abnormal CRT is associated with impaired SBF and microvascular reactivity in early septic shock patients. Twelve septic shock patients were subjected to multimodal perfusion and hemodynamic monitoring for 24 h. Three time-points (0, 1, and 24 h) were registered for each patient. SBF was measured by laser doppler. We performed a baseline SBF measurement and two microvascular reactivity tests: one with a thermal challenge at 44 °C and other with a vascular occlusion test. Ten healthy volunteers were evaluated to obtain reference values. The patients (median age 70 years) exhibited a 28-day mortality of 50%. Baseline CRT was 3.3 [2.7-7.3] seconds. In pooled data analysis, abnormal CRT presented a significantly lower SBF when compared to normal CRT [44 (13.3-80.3) vs 193.2 (99.4-285) APU, p = 0.0001]. CRT was strongly associated with SBF (R2 0.76, p < 0.0001). An abnormal CRT also was associated with impaired thermal challenge and vascular occlusion tests. Abnormal CRT values observed during early septic shock resuscitation are associated with impaired skin blood flow, and abnormal skin microvascular reactivity. Future studies should confirm these results.

Coamorphous Systems of Valsartan: Thermal Analysis Contribution to Evaluate Intermolecular Interactions Effects on the Structural Relaxation.

Coamorphous formation in binary systems of valsartan (Val) with 4,4'-bipyridine (Bipy) and trimethoprim (Tri) was investigated for mixtures with a mole fraction of 0.16~0.86 of valsartan and evaluated in terms of the glass transition temperature. The glass transition of the systems had a behavior outside the values predicted by the Gordon-Taylor equation, showing that Val-Bipy (hydrogen bonding between the components) had a lower deviation and Val-Tri (ionic bonding between the components) had a higher deviation. Mixtures of compositions 2:1 Val-Bipy and 1:1 Val-Tri were selected for further investigation and verified to be stable, as no crystallization was observed during subsequent heating and cooling programs. For these systems, the effective activation energy during glass transition was evaluated. Compared to pure valsartan, the system with the lower glass transition temperature (Val-Bipy) presented the highest effective activation energy, and the system with the higher glass transition temperature (Val-Tri) presented a lower effective activation energy. The results presented a good correlation between the data obtained from two different techniques to determine the fragility and effective activation energy: non-isothermal kinetic analysis by DSC and TSDC.

Accelerated Diversification Explains the Exceptional Species Richness of Tropical Characoid Fishes.

The Neotropics harbor the most species-rich freshwater fish fauna on the planet, but the timing of that exceptional diversification remains unclear. Did the Neotropics accumulate species steadily throughout their long history, or attain their remarkable diversity recently? Biologists have long debated the relative support for these museum and cradle hypotheses, but few phylogenies of megadiverse tropical clades have included sufficient taxa to distinguish between them. We used 1288 ultraconserved element loci spanning 293 species, 211 genera, and 21 families of characoid fishes to reconstruct a new, fossil-calibrated phylogeny and infer the most likely diversification scenario for a clade that includes a third of Neotropical fish diversity. This phylogeny implies paraphyly of the traditional delimitation of Characiformes because it resolves the largely Neotropical Characoidei as the sister lineage of Siluriformes (catfishes), rather than the African Citharinodei. Time-calibrated phylogenies indicate an ancient origin of major characoid lineages and reveal a much more recent emergence of most characoid species. Diversification rate analyses infer increased speciation and decreased extinction rates during the Oligocene at around 30 Ma during a period of mega-wetland formation in the proto-Orinoco-Amazonas. Three species-rich and ecomorphologically diverse lineages (Anostomidae, Serrasalmidae, and Characidae) that originated more than 60 Ma in the Paleocene experienced particularly notable bursts of Oligocene diversification and now account collectively for 68% of the approximately 2150 species of Characoidei. In addition to paleogeographic changes, we discuss potential accelerants of diversification in these three lineages. While the Neotropics accumulated a museum of ecomorphologically diverse characoid lineages long ago, this geologically dynamic region also cradled a much more recent birth of remarkable species-level diversity. [Biodiversity; Characiformes; macroevolution; Neotropics; phylogenomics; ultraconserved elements.].

Secondary respiratory early and late infections in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation may become aggravated with a secondary respiratory infection. The aim of this study was to describe secondary respiratory infections, their predictive factors, and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A cohort study was carried out in a single tertiary hospital in Santiago, Chile, from 1st June to 31st July 2020. All patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit that required mechanical ventilation were included. RESULTS: A total of 175 patients were enrolled, of which 71 (40.6%) developed at least one secondary respiratory infection during follow-up. Early and late secondary infections were diagnosed in 1.7% and 31.4% respectively. Within late secondary infections, 88% were bacterial, 10% were fungal, and 2% were of viral origin. One-third of isolated bacteria were multidrug-resistant. Bivariate analysis showed that the history of corticosteroids used before admission and the use of dexamethasone during hospitalization were associated with a higher risk of secondary infections (p = 0.041 and p = 0.019 respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that for each additional day of mechanical ventilation, the risk of secondary infection increases 1.1 times (adOR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.13, p = 0.008) CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit and requiring mechanical ventilation had a high rate of secondary infections during their hospital stay. The number of days on MV was a risk factor for acquiring secondary respiratory infections.

Hydrochlorothiazide use is associated with the risk of cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) use and the risk of cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma development. METHODOLOGY: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and LILACS. This study was registered in PROSPERO under protocol CRD42019129710. The meta-analysis was performed using the software Stata (version 12.0). RESULTS: A total of 2181 published studies referring to the theme were identified, from which six were included in this systematic review. Men were more frequently affected by cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma than women, with a 1.42:1 ratio. The mean age for cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma development was 73.7 years. This meta-analysis demonstrated a chance of developing cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma in any region of the body in hydrochlorothiazide users of 1.76-fold higher than in non-users. In addition, a risk factor of 1.80 higher (CI 95% = 1.71-1.89) of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region was observed in HCTZ users. Moreover, in the analysis of the dose used, the chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma was 3.37-fold lower when the concentration of HCTZ used was less than 50,000 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the association between the use of hydrochlorothiazide and the cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma development.

Fallacy of the last bed dilemma.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the relevance of adequate decision making at both public health and healthcare levels. A bioethical response to the demand for medical care, supplies and access to critical care is needed. Ethically sound strategies are required for the allocation of increasingly scarce resources, such as rationing critical care beds. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the so-called 'last bed dilemma'. In this paper, we examine this dilemma, pointing out the main criteria used to solve it and argue that we cannot face these ethical issues as though they are only a dilemma. A more complex ethical view regarding the care of COVID-19 patients that is focused on proportional and ordinary treatments is required. Furthermore, discussions and forward planning are essential because deliberation becomes extremely complex during an emergency and the physicians' sense of responsibility may be increased if it is faced only as a moral dilemma.

In vitro antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Anacardium occidentale L. extracts and their toxicity on PBMCs and zebrafish embryos.

This study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial and immunomodulatory action of crude extracts from Anacardium occidentale L. (cashew tree) leaves and bark, and to determine their toxicity to peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to zebrafish embryos and larvae. Chemical analysis of extracts was performed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The antibacterial activity was evaluated against selected bacteria strains by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Cytotoxicity of the extracts was assessed using resazurin method, while the effect on production of ROS by PMN leukocytes was measured by luminol. Embryotoxicity to zebrafish was assessed using the fish embryo acute toxicity test (FET) and quantification of toxicity marker enzymes (AChE, LDH, and GST). 1H-NMR results showed anacardic acid as the main component of the extracts. All bacterial species tested were sensitive to the extracts, with MICs ranging from 312.5 to 10,000 µg/mL. Streptococcus mutans and Escherichia coli were the most susceptible species. The extracts promoted cell viability above 75% at concentrations from 1.25 to 80 µg/mL. Both extracts reduced zymosan-induced ROS (p < 0.05) at concentrations of 1, 8, and 80 µg/mL compared to the control. In vivo, there were embryotoxic effects in zebrafish embryos exposed to both extracts through the presence of lethal and sublethal endpoints. The samples also acted by inhibiting the activities of biomarker enzymes. The A. occidentale L. bark and leaf extracts showed antimicrobial potential and modulated ROS production in vitro, but these also showed embryotoxic effects to zebrafish.

Safety and tolerability of cinnamaldehyde in orabase for oral candidiasis treatment: phase I clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To advance studies on the effect of a new pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of oral fungal infections, we evaluated the safety and tolerability of orabase ointment containing cinnamaldehyde for use on the oral mucosa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clinical trial (phase I) was carried out on 35 individuals with healthy oral mucosa divided into three groups: ointments at 200 µg/mL, n = 12; 300 µg/mL, n = 11; and 400 µg/mL, n = 12. Product safety was assessed using three parameters: (a) clinical evolution as recorded by trained examiners; (b) evolution of the inflammatory process as registered by an exfoliative cytology exam and analyzed by trained pathologists; (c) mucosal swab to count Candida spp. colony-forming units (CFU). These parameters were analyzed both beforehand and at 15 days of treatment. RESULTS: The three ointment concentrations evaluated did not trigger inflammatory processes. The mycological analyses revealed a reduction of at least 99% in the number of Candida spp. CFU. In the exfoliative cytology analyses, the cells were found to be healthy. Participants reported a pleasant taste, yet 17% reported a slight burning sensation when applying the product. CONCLUSIONS: The ointment is safe and tolerable for use on healthy oral mucosa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: RBR-7zwzs3. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ointment proved to be safe and tolerable for use on oral mucosa, encouraging studies to evaluate its clinical efficacy in patients with oral candidiasis, and contributing to a new therapeutic proposal for the treatment of fungal infections caused by Candida spp.

Characterization of the Cell Wall Component through Thermogravimetric Analysis and Its Relationship with an Expansin-like Protein in Deschampsia antarctica.

Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) is one of the two vascular plants that have colonized the Antarctic Peninsula, which is usually exposed to extreme environmental conditions. To support these conditions, the plant carries out modifications in its morphology and metabolism, such as modifications to the cell wall. Thus, we performed a comparative study of the changes in the physiological properties of the cell-wall-associated polysaccharide contents of aerial and root tissues of the D. antarctica via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with a computational approach. The result showed that the thermal stability was lower in aerial tissues with respect to the root samples, while the DTG curve describes four maximum peaks of degradation, which occurred between 282 and 358 °C. The carbohydrate polymers present in the cell wall have been depolymerized showing mainly cellulose and hemicellulose fragments. Additionally, a differentially expressed sequence encoding for an expansin-like (DaEXLA2), which is characterized by possessing cell wall remodeling function, was found in D. antarctica. To gain deep insight into a probable mechanism of action of the expansin protein identified, a comparative model of the structure was carried out. DaEXLA2 protein model displayed two domains with an open groove in the center. Finally, using a cell wall polymer component as a ligand, the protein-ligand interaction was evaluated by molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. The MD simulations showed that DaEXLA2 could interact with cellulose and XXXGXXXG polymers. Finally, the cell wall component description provides the basis for a model for understanding the changes in the cell wall polymers in response to extreme environmental conditions.

Effects of long-term cinnamaldehyde immersion on the surface roughness and color of heat-polymerized denture base resin.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Cinnamaldehyde has been successfully used for the short-term disinfection of dentures; however, its long-term effects on the surface and color properties of denture base materials remain unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of simulated immersion in cinnamaldehyde for up to 5 years on the surface roughness and color parameters of a heat-polymerized denture resin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty Ø10×5-mm disk-shaped specimens were prepared from microwave heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and immersed in 4 solutions (n=20): TW-tap water (control), SH - 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, PX-alkaline peroxide, and CA-cinnamaldehyde (27 µg/mL). The immersion protocol simulated 104 cycles (3.5 months), 913 cycles (2.5 years), and 1825 immersion cycles (5 years) of a daily immersion cleaning protocol, with immersion times ranging from 10 to 20-minutes. Surface roughness (Sa) and the color parameters of CIELab (L∗ a∗ b∗, ΔEab), CIEDE2000 (ΔE00), and the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) were analyzed at baseline (t=0) and after the immersion cycles. The data were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures and the Tukey post hoc test (α=.01). RESULTS: Sa was significantly increased in all groups after 1825 cycles compared with baseline (P<.01), regardless of the solution. Only the time factor significantly affected ΔEab, ΔE00, and NBS parameters, which were below the perceptibility and acceptability thresholds. After a simulated 5-year immersion, the surface roughness and color values of CA-treated specimens were not statistically different from those of the other groups (P>.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cinnamaldehyde solution (27 µg/mL) produced minor effects on the surface roughness and color parameters of a heat-polymerized denture base resin similar to those of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and alkaline peroxide after a 5-year simulated immersion.

Early versus deferred anti-SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma in patients admitted for COVID-19: A randomized phase II clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Convalescent plasma (CP), despite limited evidence on its efficacy, is being widely used as a compassionate therapy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early CP therapy in COVID-19 progression. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The study was an open-label, single-center randomized clinical trial performed in an academic medical center in Santiago, Chile, from May 10, 2020, to July 18, 2020, with final follow-up until August 17, 2020. The trial included patients hospitalized within the first 7 days of COVID-19 symptom onset, presenting risk factors for illness progression and not on mechanical ventilation. The intervention consisted of immediate CP (early plasma group) versus no CP unless developing prespecified criteria of deterioration (deferred plasma group). Additional standard treatment was allowed in both arms. The primary outcome was a composite of mechanical ventilation, hospitalization for >14 days, or death. The key secondary outcomes included time to respiratory failure, days of mechanical ventilation, hospital length of stay, mortality at 30 days, and SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR clearance rate. Of 58 randomized patients (mean age, 65.8 years; 50% male), 57 (98.3%) completed the trial. A total of 13 (43.3%) participants from the deferred group received plasma based on clinical aggravation. We failed to find benefit in the primary outcome (32.1% versus 33.3%, odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.32-2.84, p > 0.999) in the early versus deferred CP group. The in-hospital mortality rate was 17.9% versus 6.7% (OR 3.04, 95% CI 0.54-17.17 p = 0.246), mechanical ventilation 17.9% versus 6.7% (OR 3.04, 95% CI 0.54-17.17, p = 0.246), and prolonged hospitalization 21.4% versus 30.0% (OR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.19-2.10, p = 0.554) in the early versus deferred CP group, respectively. The viral clearance rate on day 3 (26% versus 8%, p = 0.204) and day 7 (38% versus 19%, p = 0.374) did not differ between groups. Two patients experienced serious adverse events within 6 hours after plasma transfusion. The main limitation of this study is the lack of statistical power to detect a smaller but clinically relevant therapeutic effect of CP, as well as not having confirmed neutralizing antibodies in donor before plasma infusion. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we failed to find evidence of benefit in mortality, length of hospitalization, or mechanical ventilation requirement by immediate addition of CP therapy in the early stages of COVID-19 compared to its use only in case of patient deterioration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04375098.