Influence of anti-tuberculosis drugs plus cycloserine on sputum negative conversion rate, adverse reactions and inflammatory factors in multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs plus cycloserine (CS) on the sputum negative conversion rate, adverse reactions and inflammatory factors in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). METHODS: Seventy patients with MDR-TB who were referred to Nanjing Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2017 to April 2020 were assigned into the research group (RG; 38 cases) for anti-TB drugs plus CS, and the control group (CG; 32 cases) for conventional anti-TB drugs. The two groups were compared in their sputum negative conversion rate, incidence of adverse reactions, and foci absorption rate after 6, 12 and 24 months of treatment. The levels of inflammatory factors; tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), both pre- and post-treatment were detected. Also, pre- and post-treatment, pulmonary function (PF) indexes (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity, FEV1/FVC; FEV1; peak expiratory flow, PEF), and the scores of anxiety and depression (self-rating anxiety/depression scale, SAS/SDS), as well as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were compared. RESULTS: After 6, 12 and 24 months of treatment, the sputum negative conversion rate and foci absorption rate were higher in the RG than in the CG (both P<0.05). The RG presented with fewer adverse reactions, lower TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ levels, higher FEV1, FEV1/FVC and PEF, and lower SAS, SDS and PSQI scores than the CG, post treatment (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While helping to raise the sputum negative conversion rate, improve prognosis, and reduce adverse reactions, anti-TB drugs plus CS can also inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, improve PF and alleviate negative emotion and sleep disorders.

Treatment of androgenetic alopecia with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy: A randomized, placebo-controlled, split-scalp study of efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is one of the most common hair loss disorders. Treatment options for AGA are limited . New therapies for AGA are clinically needed. 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is widely applied in diseases involving the pilosebaceous unit. However, limited research has explored the efficacy of ALA-PDT in treating alopecia. Some studies reported hair regrowth after PDT in alopecia areata patients, but the efficacy of ALA-PDT on AGA remains unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ALA-PDT for the treatment of AGA. METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, split-scalp clinical study was conducted. Subjects with AGA received six sessions of 5% ALA-PDT on one half of their scalp and the red-light therapy on the other half. The treatments were applied every two weeks for six sessions on each subject. RESULTS: There were 7 subjects enrolled in this study. No significant difference in hair density was observed between the red-light treatment and ALA-PDT treatment. The hair density in the ALA-PDT treated half of the scalp significantly decreased 1 week after the treatment, then it increased, and no statistical difference was found at 12 weeks after the last treatment compared to the baseline. There was no significant improvement in hair growth according to a 7-point scale and the subjects' self-assessments. The main adverse effects in ALA-PDT treatment were mild edema and tolerable pain, and no adverse effect was observed in red-light treatment. CONCLUSIONS: 6 sessions of 5% ALA-PDT did not increase the hair growth of AGA patients, but slightly suppressed the sebum secretion on the scalp. The adverse effects of ALA-PDT were mild, which indicated safety and tolerability of this treatment.

Supplementation with asiatic acid during in vitro maturation improves porcine oocyte developmental competence by regulating oxidative stress.

Asiatic acid is a natural triterpene found in Centella asiatica that acts as an effective free radical scavenger. Our previous research showed that asiatic acid delayed porcine oocyte ageing in vitro and improved preimplantation embryo development competence in vitro; however, the protective effects of asiatic acid against oxidative stress in porcine oocyte maturation are still unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of asiatic acid on porcine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) and subsequent embryonic development competence after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The results of the present research showed that 10 µM asiatic acid supplementation did not affect the expansion of cumulus cells or polar body extrusion of porcine oocytes, while asiatic acid application significantly increased the subsequent blastocyst formation rate and quality of porcine PA and IVF embryos. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induces oxidative stress in porcine oocytes. As expected, asiatic acid supplementation not only decreased intracellular ROS levels but also attenuated H2O2-induced intracellular ROS generation. Further analysis revealed that asiatic acid supplementation enhanced intracellular glutathione production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP generation at the end of IVM. In summary, our results reveal that asiatic acid supplementation exerts beneficial effects on porcine oocytes by regulating oxidative stress during the IVM process and could act as a potential antioxidant in porcine oocytes matured in vitro production systems.