Cananga oil inhibits Salmonella infection by mediating the homeostasis of purine metabolism and the TCA cycle.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Cananga oil (CO) is derived from the flowers of the traditional medicinal plant, the ylang-ylang tree. As a traditional antidepressant, CO is commonly utilized in the treatment of various mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and autism. It is also recognized as an efficient antibacterial insecticide, and has been traditionally utilized to combat malaria and acute inflammatory responses resulting from bacterial infections both in vitro and in vivo. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study is to comprehensively investigate the anti-Salmonella activity and mechanism of CO both in vitro and in vivo, with the expectation of providing feasible strategies for exploring new antimicrobial strategies and developing novel drugs. METHODS: The in vitro antibacterial activity of CO was comprehensively analyzed by measuring MIC, MBC, growth curve, time-killing curve, surface motility, biofilm, and Live/dead bacterial staining. The analysis of the chemistry and active ingredients of CO was conducted using GC-MS. To examine the influence of CO on the membrane homeostasis of Salmonella, we conducted utilizing diverse techniques, including ANS, PI, NPN, ONPG, BCECF-AM, DiSC3(5), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In addition, the antibacterial mechanism of CO was analyzed and validated through metabolomics analysis. Finally, a mouse infection model of Salmonella typhimurium was established to evaluate the toxic side effects and therapeutic effects of CO. RESULTS: The antibacterial effect of CO is the result of the combined action of the main chemical components within its six (palmitic acid, α-linolenic acid, stearic acid, benzyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, and myristic acid). Furthermore, CO disrupts the balance of purine metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) in Salmonella, interfering with redox processes. This leads to energy metabolic disorders and oxidative stress damage within the bacteria, resulting in bacterial shock, enhanced membrane damage, and ultimately bacterial death. It is worth emphasizing that CO exerts an effective protective influence on Salmonella infection in vivo within a non-toxic concentration range. CONCLUSION: The outcomes indicate that CO displays remarkable anti-Salmonella activity both in vitro and in vivo. It triggers bacterial death by disrupting the balance of purine metabolism and the TCA cycle, interfering with the redox process, making it a promising anti-Salmonella medication.

Calycosin Alleviates Injury in Airway Epithelial Cells Caused by PM 2.5 Exposure via Activation of AMPK Signalling.

METHODS: Phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were detected by western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was used to validate changes in the levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-кB) p65 nuclear translocation. Mice were administered intraperitoneally with calycosin one hour before anaesthesia and endotracheal instillation of PM 2.5. The extent of lung injury was evaluated in the H&E-stained lung sections. Apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL staining. RESULTS: Administration of calycosin was increased in PM 2.5-treated B2B cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Fluorescence signals from anti-NF-кB p65 were increased in nuclei of cells pretreated with calycosin. The level of p-AMPK was increased by calycosin in vitro and in vivo. After pretreatment with compound C, the inhibitory effects of calycosin on cytotoxicity, levels of inflammatory cytokines and p-AMPK, and levels of NF-кB p65 nuclear translocation were not significantly decreased in vitro or in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Calycosin effectively decreased the release of inflammatory cytokines and alleviated injury caused by PM 2.5. These effects were mediated through activation of AMPK to suppress NF-κB signalling.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jilin, China: A descriptive study.

Coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic. To add to the scarce information on this disease, here, we investigated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 93 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Jilin, China from January 22 to March 15, 2020.We retrospectively investigated the demographic information, recent exposure history, clinical symptoms or signs, comorbidity, chest computed tomographic (CT) scan or X-ray results, laboratory test results, diagnostic classification, treatment, length of hospitalization, complications, and outcomes.Of the 93 patients, 54 were male and 39 female. More than half of these patients had a history of exposure to infected patients. The mean incubation period was 10.4 days in 87 patients, where the data was available. The 5 most common symptoms of illness onset were fever, cough, expectoration, fatigue, and dyspnea. One patient was asymptomatic. The imaging results were abnormal in majority of the patients. Almost one-third of the patients had lymphopenia. All patients received antiviral therapy, 84 patients were treated with antibiotics and 54 received different doses of the hormone for methylprednisolone. In addition, 72 patients used traditional Chinese medicine. Oxygen therapy, high nasal flow oxygen, non-invasive ventilator, invasive ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were used symptomatically in different patients. Except 1 patient who died during treatment, all others were discharged.The average incubation time is prolonged in the present analysis, as compared to that in other reports. A few patients symptoms improved but CT exacerbated. Therefore, we suggest that close follow-up observation is still required after discharge.

Community-acquired pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Chinese adult: A case report.

RATIONALE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been established as an important cause of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with very high mortality. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) producing MRSA has been reported to be associated with necrotizing pneumonia and worse outcome. The incidence of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) pneumonia is very low, as only a few CA-MRSA pneumonia cases were reported in the last few years. We present a case of severe CAP caused by PVL-positive MRSA with ensuing septic shock. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 68-year-old male with no concerning medical history had developed a fever that reached 39.0°C, a productive cough that was sustained for 5 days, and hypodynamia. He was treated with azithromycin and alexipyretic in a nearby clinic for 2 days in which the symptoms were alleviated. However, 1 day later, the symptoms worsened, and he was taken to a local Chinese medicine hospital for traditional medicine treatment. However, his clinical condition deteriorated rapidly, and he then developed dyspnea and hemoptysis. DIAGNOSIS: CA-MRSA pneumonia and septic shock. The sputum culture showed MRSA. Polymerase chain reaction of MRSA isolates was positive for PVL genes. INTERVENTIONS: Mechanical ventilation, fluid resuscitation, and antibiotic therapy were performed. Antibiotic therapy included mezlocillin sodium/sulbactam sodium, linezolid, and oseltamivir. OUTCOMES: He died after 12 hours of treatment. LESSONS: This is a report of severe pneumonia due to PVL-positive CA-MRSA in a healthy adult. CA-MRSA should be considered a pathogen of severe CAP, especially when combined with septic shock in previously healthy individuals.