An overview of the efficacy of inhaled curcumin: a new mode of administration for an old molecule.

INTRODUCTION: Curcumin is a polyphenol with a variety of pharmacological actions. Despite its therapeutic effects and well-known safety profile, the utility of curcumin has been limited due to its deprived physical, chemical, and pharmacokinetic profile resulting from limited solubility, durability, prompt deterioration and pitiable systemic availability. Employment of an amalgamated framework integrating the potential advantages of a nanoscaffold alongside the beneficial traits of inhalational drug delivery system beautifully bringing down the restricting attributes of intended curative interventions and further assures its clinical success. AREAS COVERED: Current review discussed different application of inhalable nanocurcumin in different medical conditions. Lung diseases have been the prime field in which inhalable nanocurcumin had resulted in significant beneficial effects. Apart from this several lung protective potentials of the inhaled nanocurcumin have been discussed against severe pulmonary disorders such as pulmonary fibrosis, radiation pneumonitis and IUGR induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Also, application of the disclosed intervention in the clinical management of COVID-19 and Alzheimer's Disease has been discussed. EXPERT OPINION: In this portion, the potential of inhalable nanocurcumin in addressing various medical conditions along with ongoing advancements in nanoencapsulation techniques and the existing challenges in transitioning from pre-clinical models to clinical practice has been summarized.

Recent advances in curcumin-based nanoformulations in diabetes.

Diabetes is predicted to affect 700 million people by the year 2045. Despite the potential benefits for diabetics, curcumin's low bioavailability significantly reduces its utility. However, newer formulation methods of decreasing particle size, such as through nanotechnological advances, may improve curcumin's bioavailability and cell-absorption properties. Various curcumin nanoformulations such as nanofibers, nanoparticles-like nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), Solid Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (S-SNEDDS) and nanohydrogels have been evaluated. These studies reported increased bioavailability of nanoformulated curcumin compared to free curcumin. Here, we provide a detailed review of the antidiabetic effects of nanocurcumin compounds and subsequent effects on diabetic complications. Overall, various nanocurcumin formulations highly increase curcumin water-solubility and bioavailability and these safe formulations can positively affect managing some diabetes-related manifestations and complications. Moreover, nanocurcumin efficacy in various diabetes complications is discussed. These complications included inflammation, neuropathy, depression, anxiety, keratopathy, cataract, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction (MI), nephropathy, erectile dysfunction and diabetic wound. Moreover, several nanocurcumin formulations improved wound healing in the diabetic. However, few studies have been performed in humans, and most results have been reported from cellular and animal studies. Therefore, more human studies are needed to prove the antidiabetic effects of nanocurcumin.

Curcumin Nanofibers: A Novel Approach to Enhance the Anticancer Potential and Bioavailability of Curcuminoids.

Development of novel treatment methods for cancer is needed given the limitations of current treatment methods, including side effects and chemotherapeutic resistance, which may provide new hope to cancer patients. Cancer is the second leading cause of global mortality. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, has been used since ancient times for various therapeutic purposes. Several studies have identified its activity against cancer. Despite the established anticancer activity of curcumin, its low aqueous solubility and bioavailability are barriers to its effectiveness. In an attempt to solve this problem, many studies have formulated curcumin nanofiber preparations using a variety of methods. Electrospinning is a simple and affordable method for the production of nanofibers. Studies have shown increased curcumin bioavailability in nanofibers resulting from their high surface/volume ratio and porosity. We have undertaken a detailed review of studies on the anticancer effects of curcumin nanofibers. Curcumin acts by inhibiting various biological cancer pathways, including NF-κB, mTOR, complex I, cytokines, expression of p-p65, Ki67, and angiogenesis-associated genes. It also induces apoptosis through activation of caspase pathways and ROS production in cancer cells. Curcumin-loaded PLA50/PVP50/Cur15 nanofibers were investigated in breast cancer, one of the most studied cancers, and was shown to have significant effects on the widely used HeLa-cell line. Most of the studies undertaken have been performed in cell lines in vitro, while relatively few animal studies have been reported. More preclinical and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the anticancer activity of curcumin nanofibers. Amongst studies undertaken, a variety of curcumin nanofibers of various formulations have been shown to suppress a variety of cancer types. Overall, curcumin nanofibers have been found to be more efficient than free curcumin. Thus, curcumin nanofibers have been observed to improvise cancer treatment, offering great potential for effective cancer management. Further studies, both in vitro and in vivo, involving curcumin nanofibers have the potential to benefit cancer management.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls: A Review of Recent Updates on Food Safety and Environmental Monitoring, Health and Toxicological Implications, and Analysis.

A class of organic chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) consists of chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon atoms. High boiling points, chemical stability, non-flammability, and insulating properties have enabled them to be used in various industries. Because of their high toxicity, PCBs were one of the first industrial compounds to be banned from production. These compounds have high-fat solubility with bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties in the environment, food chain, and individuals. Hence, they may have an impact not only on individual organisms but ultimately on whole ecosystems. The main sources of PCB exposure are food and environmental pollutants. In the toxicology of PCBs, oxidative stress plays the most influential function. The induction of CYP1A1 due to the high affinity of PCBs for aryl hydrocarbon receptors is considered a trigger for oxidative stress. Production of reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione occur due to phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolism, respectively. Thus, cellular redox balance may be disrupted in the presence of PCBs and their metabolites. Chronic and long-term exposure to these compounds can often lead to life-threatening diseases, like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancer, and reproductive and endocrine disorders. We present the current knowledge of the routes of PCB exposure and bioaccumulation, the outlook regarding environmental and food safety, the potential role of PCBs in various diseases, the principal mechanisms responsible for PCB toxicity, and the main detection techniques used for PCBs.

Evaluation of serum nitric oxide synthase levels in patients with coronary slow flow based on corrected TIMI frame count.

Introduction: The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) finding in angiography is characterized by the delayed filling of the terminal vessels without significant epicardial coronary disease. The endothelium performs a vital role in cardiovascular homeostasis by releasing vasoactive substances. Endothelial cells produce nitric oxide (NO) as one of these essential compounds. Three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). We aimed to determine the role of NOS in the development of CSFP as the first human study. Material and methods: A total of 129 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The patients were classified into five groups based on the results of coronary angiography: Group 1 without coronary artery disease (CAD) and without CSF, group 2 without CAD and with CSF, group 3 with CAD (< 50%) and without CSF, group 4 with CAD (50-90%) and without CSF, and group 5 with CAD and CSF. The serum level of NOS was determined in the participants. Coronary flow was quantified in patients with CSFP using the corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) method, and the correlation between the levels of this biomarker and CTFC was investigated. Results: In this study, the NOS serum levels were not significantly correlated with the mean CTFC. Since the total amount of NOS was measured as a result of 3 isoforms of this enzyme, the lack of correlation could be related to increased iNOS level and decreased eNOS concentration. Conclusions: These results should be confirmed by more human studies.

A systematic review of mechanistic studies on the relationship between pesticide exposure and cancer induction.

INTRODUCTION: Pesticides are toxic and biological substances used for mitigating harmful pests. Their application in agricultural fields and homes increased environmental pollution. Studies showed their harmful effects on human health, specifically children, who are more vulnerable than adults. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has introduced several pesticides as carcinogens. This study aims to systematically summarize and review all studies related to pesticides and cancer. METHODOLOGY: This systematic review is based on PRISMA rules. Three central databases were employed to find studies on pesticide exposure and cancer correlation published from 2017 to September 2022. RESULTS: After reviewing several studies, we found that most studies revealed a significant relationship between pesticide exposure and an increased cancer incidence rate. Among the most studied group of pesticides is organochlorine (OC) pesticides. OC pesticides and their residues could significantly increase cancer in children and adults. Mechanistic studies revealed that pesticides could increase the risk of different cancers by genetics, like an increased expression of some genes like p21, p53 or epigenetic impairments. Cell cycle impairments like expanding the G1 to S phase transition are another mechanism of causing cancer. DNA methylation and histone modifications increase the risk of numerous cancers. CONCLUSION: Based on epidemiological studies, pesticides are a significant concern to human health, specifically cancer development, and should be more restrained. Their most reported mechanism of action were genetic and epigenetic impairments which cause cancers.

A systematic review on the role of melatonin and its mechanisms on diabetes-related reproductive impairment in non-clinical studies.

Background: Diabetes-induced reproductive complications can lead to subfertility and infertility, raising the need to protect reproductive organs. There are limited medications used to improve reproductive health in diabetic patients. Melatonin, mainly produced by the pineal gland, may improve diabetes-associated reproductive complications through various mechanisms and may be a preferred candidate to protect the reproductive system. The present review aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of melatonin's effect on the reproductive system adversely affected by diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature electronic search was done using the PRISMA guidelines. Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched for publications up to June 2022. Search terms were selected based on the study purpose and were explored in titles and abstracts. After screening, out of a total of 169 articles, 14 pertinent articles were included based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The results of studies using rats and mice suggest that DM adversely affects reproductive tissues, including testes and epididymis, prostate, corpus cavernosum, and ovary leading to alterations in histological and biochemical parameters compared to the normal groups. Treatment with melatonin improves oxidative stress, blocks apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress and caspase activation, reduces pro-inflammation cytokines, and enhances steroidogenesis. Conclusion: Melatonin exerted a protective action on the impaired reproductive system in in-vivo and in-vitro models of DM. The topic has to be followed up in human pregnancy cases that will need more time to be collected and approved.

Assessment of cloth masks ability to limit Covid-19 particles spread: a systematic review.

After the spread of Covid 19 worldwide, the use of cloth masks increased significantly due to a shortage of medical masks. Meanwhile, there were different opinions about the effectiveness of these masks and, so far, no study has been done to find the best fabric masks. This study reviews and summarizes all studies related to fabric masks' effectiveness and various fabrics against coronavirus. This systematic review is based on PRISMA rules. Two researchers separately examined three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Laboratory and clinical studies were included. After extracting the articles, their quality was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool. In addition to efficacy, other factors, including the penetration of masks, pressure drop, and quality factor, were examined to select the best fabrics. Of the 42 studies selected, 39 were laboratory studies, and 3 were clinical studies. Among the various fabrics examined, cotton quilt 120 thread per inch (TPI), copy paper (bonded), hybrid of cotton with chiffon/ silk, and flannel filtration were found to have over 90% effectiveness in the particle size range of Covid-19. The results and comparison of different factors (pressure drop, filtration efficacy, penetration, filtration quality, and fit factor have been evaluated) showed that among different fabrics, hybrid masks, 2-layered cotton quilt, 2-layered 100% cotton, cotton flannel, and hairy tea towel + fleece sweater had the best performance. Clinical studies have not explicitly examined cloth masks' effectiveness in Covid-19, so the effectiveness of these types of masks for Covid 19 is questionable, and more studies are needed.

Harnessing Therapeutic Potentials of Statins Using Nanofibrous Carriers.

Statins are a wide category of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor drugs extensively prescribed for hypercholesterolemia. In fact, many studies showed beneficial effects of these agents on a variety of related illnesses, which include increased atherosclerotic plaque stability, decreased proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, platelet aggregation, the dampening of vascular inflammation, and also anabolic effects on bone tissue. Therefore, these drugs are considered as pleiotropic agents having different clinical applications other than those for which they were initially developed. Controlled drug delivery is an efficient way of delivery in tissue engineering. Amongst different controlled release formulations, nanofibers are a novel, alternative, widely used agent because of their unique properties. These include their sustained release of drug, a high drug-loading capacity, flexible shapes with a high surface-to-volume ratio, and superior porosity. Electrospinning is an economic and a simple method employed to produce nanofibers. In this report, studies related to statin nanofiber applications have been reviewed and their results have been summarized. Four different applications of statin nanofibers have been reported, including bone generation, endothelial stenosis and thrombosis, peripheral nerve injury, and anti-inflammatory action. Studies carried out both in vitro and in vivo showed effectiveness of statins in bone healing, aneurysm, and the healing of sciatic nerve injury. In addition, statins showed apoptosis effects and anti-inflammatory effects, with dose-dependent reduction of IL-6 and dose-independent reduction of TNF-α. Despite these promising results, validation via clinical trials is yet to be performed. The scope of statins in their pleiotropic range of actions is still not completely explored, and studies are still needed to enlighten different useful aspects of such drugs.

Comparison of serum concentrations of essential and toxic elements between cigarette smokers and non-smokers.

The habit of smoking remains a severe public health problem. Heavy metals in cigarettes and mainstream smoke have been extensively investigated. This study has attempted to determine the essential and toxic elements in a biological sample of smokers and non-smokers. In this case-control study, 100 smokers were compared with 100 age- and gender-matched non-smoker healthy subjects. The smoker group was selected via the snowball sampling method. Serum concentrations of trace elements were determined using ICP-MS (Agilent 7900) for subsequent analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using t test or Mann-Whitney U test along with chi-square test at the significant level of less than 0.05. The results of this study indicated that subjects in the smoker group compared with non-smokers had a significantly higher median of manganese (Mn) (11.5 [5.7-17.2] versus 6 [4-12.5] (µg/L), p = 0.003), copper (Cu) (40 [34-47.2] versus 34 [29-42] (µg/L), p = 0.005), arsenic (As) (39 [9-49.2] versus 12 [5-42] (µg/L), p = 0.007), thallium (Tl) (0.54 [0.27-0.68] versus 0.34 [0.11-0.66] (µg/L), p = 0.04), and lower iron (Fe) concentration (218 [156-508] versus 429 [192-573] (µg/L), p = 0.03). This study found that the concentrations of Mn, Cu, As, and TI in cigarette smokers were significantly higher than those obtained from the control group. These results can provide health policymakers with the necessary information to take public health measures towards preventive interventions in the community, though further studies are still warranted.

A double-edged sword of using opioids and COVID-19: a toxicological view.

Today, COVID-19 is spreading around the world. Information about its mechanism, prognostic factors, and management is minimal. COVID-19, as a human disease, has several identifying phases. Physicians of patients with COVID-19 may be interested in knowing whether opioid use disorder may affect their patients' course or prognosis. This information may be crucial when considering the opioid epidemic in the US and other parts of the world. Opioid use at high doses and over several months duration can mitigate the immune system's function, which may complicate the course of COVID-19 disease. Potential suppression of parts of the immune response may be important in prevention, clinical support, and therapeutic use of medications in various phases of the COVID-19. Specifically, opioid use disorders via an inhalation route may enhance the "late hyper-inflammatory phase" or result in end-organ damage. It is well established that opioids decrease ventilation as their effect on the medullary respiratory centers increases the risk of pneumonia. This increased risk has been associated with immune-suppressive opioids. The ultimate role of opioids in COVID-19 is not clear. This paper endorses the need for clinical studies to decipher the role and impact of chronic opioid use on viral diseases such as COVID-19.

Evaluation of the Correlation between Serum Concentrations of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Corrected TIMI Frame Count in Patients with Slow Coronary Flow.

Coronary slow flow (CSF) is an important angiographic entity that is characterized by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the absence of epicardial occlusive disease. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Elevated levels of ADMA cause the induction of endothelial dysfunction and thus promote atherosclerosis. This study was aimed at determining the role of ADMA in the development of CSF. One hundred twenty-nine subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. According to coronary angiography results, these subjects were divided into five groups. The serum concentration of ADMA was measured in these subjects. In this study, there was no significant correlation between serum concentrations of ADMA and mean corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) (P > 0.05). However, the ADMA level was significantly correlated with CTFC in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in patients with CSF (r = -0.381, P = 0.045). Also, plasma ADMA levels were significantly higher in patients with CSF and without CAD compared to patients without CSF and with CAD (50-90%) (P = 0.034). Besides, serum concentrations of ADMA were significantly higher in subjects with BMI < 25 kg/m2 compared with those having BMI > 30 kg/m2 (P = 0.003). It was also shown that the levels of ADMA were significantly higher in subjects with age as a cardiovascular risk factor compared with those without this risk factor (P = 0.024). Further studies with larger population sizes are needed to confirm the present findings on the association between the serum concentrations of ADMA and CSF.

Corrigendum to "Evaluation of the Correlation between Serum Concentrations of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Corrected TIMI Frame Count in Patients with Slow Coronary Flow".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/4592190.].