Nanocapsules containing Saussurea lappa essential oil: Formulation, characterization, antidiabetic, anti-cholinesterase and anti-inflammatory potentials.

Plant-based remedies have been widely used for the management of variable diseases due to their safety and less side effects. In the present study, we investigated Saussurea lappa CB. Clarke. (SL) given its largely reported medicinal effects. Specifically, our objective was to provide an insight into a new polymethyl methacrylate based nanocapsules as carriers of SL essential oil and characterize their biologic functions. The nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation technique, characterized and analyzed for their cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer and antidiabetic effects. The results revealed that the developed nanoparticles had a diameter around 145 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.18 and a zeta potential equal to +45 mV and they did not show any cytotoxicity at 25 µg·mL-1. The results also showed an anti-inflammatory activity (reduction in metalloprotease MMP-9 enzyme activity and RNA expression of inflammatory cytokines: TNF-α, GM-CSF and IL1ß), a high anti-Alzheimer's effect (IC50 around 25.0 and 14.9 µg·mL-1 against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, respectively), and a strong antidiabetic effect (IC50 were equal to 22.9 and 75.8 µg·mL-1 against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively). Further studies are required including the in vivo studies (e.g., preclinical), the pharmacokinetic properties, the bioavailability and the underlying associated metabolic pathways.

Asthma patients' perception on their care pathway: a qualitative study.

Because of insufficient asthma control in many patients, the collaboration between stakeholders is regarded as a promising strategy to improve asthma outcomes. This study explored the perceptions of French adult asthma patients on their care pathway. We conducted a qualitative study based on the interviews of 30 asthma patients aged 18-40 years, recruited in French primary care. We performed a thematic analysis of the data collected, using the NVivo software. According to the patients, the stakeholders involved in asthma management included those visible to healthcare professionals (patient, general practitioner, specialist(s), pharmacist, physiotherapist, family and friends) and those concealed by the patients (complementary and alternative practitioners); other stakeholders, such as nurses and occupational physicians, were not involved. Asthma management at diagnosis and follow-up phases proved to be unstructured, and were associated with poor patient education. This was supported by patients' ambivalence (in relation to illness and treatments), poor communication between patients and healthcare professionals (lack of listening and use of inappropriate vocabulary by physicians, underreporting of alternative medicine use by patients) and weak cooperation between professionals (limited to interaction between the general practitioner and the specialist, either pulmonologist or allergist). Asthma management would probably benefit from a more coordinated care pathway at each phase of the disease that is consistent with the expectations and goals of the patients. It should be based on improved organization (involvement of other healthcare professionals and the patient as partners) and processes (regular follow-up, specific tools such as peak flow meter or action plan).

Influence of sociodemographic factors on quality of life during pollen season in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome in asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and its determinants are imperfectly understood. More specifically, the influence of sociodemographic factors on QOL in patients with SAR has been so far little investigated. OBJECTIVE: To examine the changes of QOL during the pollen season in patients with isolated SAR or SAR associated with asthma. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in southern France. Outpatients aged 18 to 60 years and regularly treated by respiratory physicians for SAR (with or without associated asthma) were identified. Patients were recruited before the grass or ragweed pollination period. At peak pollination, patients completed the French versions of the Mini Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-RQLQ) and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). RESULTS: A total of 135 patients was included, 83 with isolated SAR and 52 with associated asthma (mean age, 35.4 years; SD, 10.6 years; 56% female). At pollen peak, QOL scores were lower in women for all instruments, with significant effects on SF-12 MCS and PCS scores in multivariate analyses. Likewise, a university-level education was an independent predictor of higher SF-12 PCS and MCS scores. Patients who lived in rural areas had significantly poorer QOL at pollen peak, as measured by the mini-RQLQ (P = .002) and SF-12 PCS (P = .008). No influence of age, presence of an animal at home, or smoking status could be identified on any QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Being a woman, living in the countryside, and having a lower education level were all independent predictors of poorer QOL of SAR patients. These factors must be taken into account when interpreting QOL of patients with SAR. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Chemical constituents of diesel exhaust particles induce IL-4 production and histamine release by human basophils.

BACKGROUND: An epidemiologic relationship between airway allergic diseases and exposure to atmospheric pollutants has been demonstrated and suggested to be one factor in the increasing prevalence of asthma. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) have been shown to participate in the development of allergic airway inflammation, in which the targets include macrophages, B and T cells, epithelial cells, and mast cells. In addition to the adjuvant effect of DEPs on total and allergen-specific IgE production, DEPs also act to induce chemokines and cytokines and may play a key role in primary sensitization. OBJECTIVE: DEPs have been shown to increase local IL-4-containing Kit(+) cells soon after in vivo nasal challenge. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of DEPs on human basophils, a key source of IL-4. METHODS: Peripheral blood leukocytes from allergic and control subjects were cultured in the presence of organic extracts of DEP (DEPex) with or without allergen. The cultures were analyzed for IL-4-containing cells by using multiparameter flow cytometry, IL-4 secretion with ELISA, and histamine release. RESULTS: Basophils, when exposed in vitro to DEPex, expressed IL-4 and released histamine significantly (P <.01) more than with antigen activation. DEPex did not synergize with allergen in cytokine production and histamine release. DEPex-induced basophil IL-4 expression peaked at 2 hours and persisted through 20 hours, in contrast to allergen-induced IL-4, which was transient. The effect of DEPex on basophil cytokine expression and histamine release was dose dependent and occurred with cells from both allergic and nonallergic subjects. DEPex induced IL-4 expression and histamine release in highly enriched basophil populations, suggesting it acts directly on basophils. Other peripheral blood leukocytes, including T cells, did not contribute to this cytokine expression. Preincubation with N-acetylcysteine completely abrogated DEPex-driven basophil IL-4 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Basophils are a direct target for DEPex, inducing IL-4 expression and histamine release in an IgE-allergen independent fashion. N-acetylcysteine inhibition of DEPex-driven IL-4 expression provides evidence that generation of reactive oxygen species is required for the effects observed. The capability of DEPex to activate basophils in both allergic and nonallergic subjects suggests a potential role of this pollutant in the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases.