Persistent Neurological Deficits in Mouse PASC Reveal Antiviral Drug Limitations.

Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) encompasses persistent neurological symptoms, including olfactory and autonomic dysfunction. Here, we report chronic neurological dysfunction in mice infected with a virulent mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 that does not infect the brain. Long after recovery from nasal infection, we observed loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in olfactory bulb glomeruli and neurotransmitter levels in the substantia nigra (SN) persisted. Vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in these brain areas was accompanied by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and neurobehavioral changes. RNAseq analysis unveiled persistent microglia activation, as found in human neurodegenerative diseases. Early treatment with antivirals (nirmatrelvir and molnupiravir) reduced virus titers and lung inflammation but failed to prevent neurological abnormalities, as observed in patients. Together these results show that chronic deficiencies in neuronal function in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice are not directly linked to ongoing olfactory epithelium dysfunction. Rather, they bear similarity with neurodegenerative disease, the vulnerability of which is exacerbated by chronic inflammation.

American ginseng supplementation attenuates creatine kinase level induced by submaximal exercise in human beings.

AIM: To investigate whether American ginseng (AG, Panax quinquefolium) supplementation was able to improve endurance exercise performance. METHODS: Thirteen physically active male college students were divided into two groups (AG or placebo) and received supplementation for 4 wk, before the exhaustive running exercise. Treadmill speed was increased to a pace equivalent to 80% VO2max of the subject. A 4-wk washout period followed before the subjects crossed over and received the alternate supplement for the next 4 wk. They then completed a second exhaustive running exercise. The physiological variables that were examined included time to exhaustion and oxygen pulse. Moreover, the plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate were measured prior to the exercise, at 15 and 30 min during exercise, immediately after exercise, and 20, 40, 60, and 120 min after exercise. RESULTS: The major finding of this investigation was that the production plasma CK during the exercise significantly decreased for group AG than for group P. Secondary physiological finding was that 80% VO2max running was not improved over a 4-wk AG supplementation regimen. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with AG for 4 wk prior to an exhaustive aerobic treadmill running reduced the leakage of CK during exercise, but did not enhance aerobic work capacity. The reduction of plasma CK may be due to the fact that AG is effective for the decrease of skeletal muscle cell membrane damage, induced by exercise during the high-intensity treadmill run.

Sorption and desorption kinetics of surfactants TX-100 and DPC on different fractions of soils.

Surfactant-based technologies are promising remediation alternatives. The information on sorption and desorption kinetics of surfactants on soils is important in the successful application of surfactant-based technologies. In this study, the sorption and desorption rates of nonionic surfactant TX-100 and cationic DPC were correlated to the surfactant concentration, soil organic matters (SOM), and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). The results indicated that at higher initial surfactant concentrations, sorption rates of surfactants increased linearly with SOM and soil CEC for TX-100 and DPC, respectively. The sorption rates and initial surfactant concentrations followed the first order relation for TX-100 and second order for DPC. A linear relationship between the sorption rates of surfactants and soil characteristics was developed. The desorption rates of TX-100 and DPC increased linearly with the increased surfactant levels sorbed on soils but were irrelevant to soil characteristics and the contact time of surfactant sorption. The rate of surfactant desorption was similar as the amount of surfactants sorbed on soils was in the same range. The cationic DPC sorbed and desorbed at two orders of magnitude faster than the nonionic TX-100, suggesting that both sorption and desorption have to be considered in the remediation process.