Microalgae Bioactive Compounds to Topical Applications Products-A Review.

Microalgae are complex photosynthetic organisms found in marine and freshwater environments that produce valuable metabolites. Microalgae-derived metabolites have gained remarkable attention in different industrial biotechnological processes and pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries due to their multiple properties, including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-cancer, phycoimmunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. These properties are recognized as promising components for state-of-the-art cosmetics and cosmeceutical formulations. Efforts are being made to develop natural, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly products that replace synthetic products. This review summarizes some potential cosmeceutical applications of microalgae-derived biomolecules, their mechanisms of action, and extraction methods.

Efficacy of pillar suture for post-tonsillectomy morbidity in children: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Several surgical techniques have been used during tonsillectomy to reduce complications. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of pillar suture in conjunction with tonsillectomy as compared to tonsillectomy without suture in children. METHODS: Two authors independently searched five databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane database) for studies published as recent as December 2018. Of the included studies, we compared tonsillectomy and pillar suture in combination (suture groups) with tonsillectomy alone,without suture, (control group). Postoperative pain intensity and other morbidities (e.g., postoperative bleeding, palatal hematoma, discomfort, and pillar edema) were measured during the postoperative period. RESULTS: Postoperative bleeding [primary (OR = 0.47 [0.27; 0.81]) and secondary (OR = 0.14 [0.02; 0.78]) were significantly decreased in the pillar suture group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in postoperative pain at day 7 (SMD = -0.39 [-0.79; 0.00]), palatal hematoma (OR = 5.00 [0.22; 112.88]), palatal discomfort sensation (OR = 2.62 [0.60; 11.46]), site infection (OR = 5.27 [0.24; 113.35]), and velopharyngeal insufficiency (OR = 2.82 [0.11; 74.51]). By contrast, pillar edema (OR = 9.55 [4.29; 21.29]) was significantly increased in the pillar suture group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Pillar suture combined with tonsillectomy may reduce postoperative bleeding incidence despite increasing pillar edema in pediatric tonsillectomy. Postoperative pain-relief, palatal hematoma, palatal discomfort sensation, site infection, and velopharyngeal insufficiency were not significantly altered compared to tonsillectomy alone. However, further studies are needed to corroborate the results of this study.

Sterol 14α-demethylase mutation leads to amphotericin B resistance in Leishmania mexicana.

Amphotericin B has emerged as the therapy of choice for use against the leishmaniases. Administration of the drug in its liposomal formulation as a single injection is being promoted in a campaign to bring the leishmaniases under control. Understanding the risks and mechanisms of resistance is therefore of great importance. Here we select amphotericin B-resistant Leishmania mexicana parasites with relative ease. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that ergosterol, the sterol known to bind the drug, is prevalent in wild-type cells, but diminished in the resistant line, where alternative sterols become prevalent. This indicates that the resistance phenotype is related to loss of drug binding. Comparing sequences of the parasites' genomes revealed a plethora of single nucleotide polymorphisms that distinguish wild-type and resistant cells, but only one of these was found to be homozygous and associated with a gene encoding an enzyme in the sterol biosynthetic pathway, sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51). The mutation, N176I, is found outside of the enzyme's active site, consistent with the fact that the resistant line continues to produce the enzyme's product. Expression of wild-type sterol 14α-demethylase in the resistant cells caused reversion to drug sensitivity and a restoration of ergosterol synthesis, showing that the mutation is indeed responsible for resistance. The amphotericin B resistant parasites become hypersensitive to pentamidine and also agents that induce oxidative stress. This work reveals the power of combining polyomics approaches, to discover the mechanism underlying drug resistance as well as offering novel insights into the selection of resistance to amphotericin B itself.