Turmeric: from spice to cure. A review of the anti-cancer, radioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric sourced compounds.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been extensively studied for its diverse pharmacological properties, including its potential role as an anticancer agent, antioxidant, and radioprotector. This review provides an overview of the chemical composition of turmeric, focusing on its main bioactive compounds, such as curcuminoids and volatile oils. Curcumin, the most abundant curcuminoid in turmeric, has been widely investigated for its various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the ability of curcumin to modulate multiple signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis, leading to inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and suppression of metastasis. Furthermore, curcumin has shown promising potential as a radioprotective agent by mitigating radiation-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. Additionally, turmeric extracts containing curcuminoids have been reported to exhibit potent antioxidant activity, scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative damage. The multifaceted pharmacological properties of turmeric make it a promising candidate for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer prevention and treatment, as well as for the management of oxidative stress-related disorders. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of turmeric and its bioactive constituents in cancer therapy and radioprotection. This review consolidates the most recent relevant data on turmeric's chemical composition and its therapeutic applications, providing a comprehensive overview of its potential in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as in radioprotection.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Biomarkers of Post-Traumatic Epilepsy: A Comprehensive Overview.

This paper presents an in-depth exploration of Post-Traumatic Epilepsy (PTE), a complex neurological disorder following traumatic brain injury (TBI), characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. With TBI being a global health concern, understanding PTE is crucial for effective diagnosis, management, and prognosis. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, risk factors, and emerging biomarkers of PTE, thereby informing clinical practice and guiding future research. The epidemiological aspect of the study reveals PTE as a significant contributor to acquired epilepsies, with varying incidence influenced by injury severity, age, and intracranial pathologies. The paper delves into the multifactorial nature of PTE risk factors, encompassing clinical, demographic, and genetic elements. Key insights include the association of injury severity, intracranial hemorrhages, and early seizures with increased PTE risk, and the roles of age, gender, and genetic predispositions. Advancements in neuroimaging, electroencephalography, and molecular biology are presented, highlighting their roles in identifying potential PTE biomarkers. These biomarkers, ranging from radiological signs to electroencephalography EEG patterns and molecular indicators, hold promise for enhancing PTE pathogenesis understanding, early diagnosis, and therapeutic guidance. The paper also discusses the critical roles of astrocytes and microglia in PTE, emphasizing the significance of neuroinflammation in PTE development. The insights from this review suggest potential therapeutic targets in neuroinflammation pathways. In conclusion, this paper synthesizes current knowledge in the field, emphasizing the need for continued research and a multidisciplinary approach to effectively manage PTE. Future research directions include longitudinal studies for a better understanding of TBI and PTE outcomes, and the development of targeted interventions based on individualized risk profiles. This research contributes significantly to the broader understanding of epilepsy and TBI.

Model of disease severity in alcoholic hepatitis and novel prognostic insights.

INTRODUCTION: Harmful alcohol consumption is one of the leading risk factors for global disease burden and injury condition, causing death and disability early in life, with over 3 million deaths worldwide every year. Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a clinical syndrome characterized by hepatic failure with recent onset of jaundice, consequence of a heavy chronic alcohol drinking. The disease severity ranges from mild to severe cases, with high short-term mortality. Individual variety regarding disease outcome and therapeutic response complicates the prognosis stratification. Thus, novel parameters and continuously sought for a better disease outcome assessment. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To highlight new parameters that accurately assess 30-day mortality (short-term) in patients with AH and to develop a new severity score that uses readily available parameters accessible to any clinician. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study on patients diagnosed with AH between 2022-2023. We identified 70 patients with AH who met the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) criteria for diagnosis after exclusion of patients with severe comorbidities that could influence disease outcome. Clinical and paraclinical parameters were assessed at least on admission and day 7. Mortality at 30-day was considered the endpoint. The database was composed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation) and the data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 26 (IBM Corporation). RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study with a mortality at 30-days of 22.9% (n=16). The independent variables associated with increased short-term mortality identified using the univariate analysis were: fever, infection, esophageal varices, prothrombin time PT, INR, total bilirubin, CRP, LDH and CHI (creatinine height index). Using multivariate regression we determined a novel prognostic score, with criterion for retaining variable being p<0.05. Total bilirubin day 7, CRP, PT, fever and CHI resulted after the analysis and were included into a new mortality score. Our Prognostic Model Score obtained an area under the ROC of 0.950 (95% CI: 0.890-0.980, p<0.001), with a cut-off value of 13.75 (Sn=87.5%, Sp=91%). Regarding the consecrated prognostic scores, MDF and Lille score obtained good AUROCs=0.839 and 0.881, respectively (p<0.000), with cut-off values comparable with literature (MDF=34.35 vs 32) and (Lille=0.475 vs 0.450). The discriminatory power for ABIC (p=0.58), GAHS (p=0.16), MELD-Na (p=0.61) was not significant. CONCLUSION: We obtained a new prognostic score for the assessment of 30-day mortality in AH that includes markers of inflammation (CRP, fever) and markers of sarcopenia (CHI) along parameters of hepatic disfunction (total bilirubin and PT). Amongst consecrated prognostic models, MDF and Lille scores were representative for our study, while ABIC, GAHS and MELD-Na did not attain statistical significance. Our score is unique by the addition of CRP and this could prove to be a useful tool in AH severity stratification.

Development and Functionalization of a Novel Chitosan-Based Nanosystem for Enhanced Drug Delivery.

Nowadays, infection diseases are one of the most significant threats to humans all around the world. An encouraging strategy for solving this issue and fighting resistant microorganisms is to develop drug carriers for a prolonged release of the antibiotic to the target site. The purpose of this work was to obtain metronidazole-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles using an ion gelation route and to evaluate their properties. Due to the advantages of the ionic gelation method, the synthesized polymeric nanoparticles can be applied in various fields, especially pharmaceutical and medical. Loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency varFied depending on the amount of antibiotic in each formulation. Physicochemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy revealed a narrow particle size distribution where 90% of chitosan particles were 163.7 nm in size and chitosan-loaded metronidazole nanoparticles were 201.3 nm in size, with a zeta potential value of 36.5 mV. IR spectra revealed characteristic peaks of the drug and polymer nanoparticles. Cell viability assessment revealed that samples have no significant impact on tested cells. Release analysis showed that metronidazole was released from the chitosan matrix for 24 h in a prolonged course, implying that antibiotic-encapsulated polymer nanostructures are a promising drug delivery system to prevent or to treat various diseases. It is desirable to obtain new formulations based on drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles through different preparation methods, with reduced cytotoxic potential, in order to improve the therapeutic effect through sustained and prolonged release mechanisms of the drug correlated with the reduction of adverse effects.

Understanding How Minerals Contribute to Optimal Immune Function.

Sufficient mineral supply is vital not only for the innate immune system but also for the components of the adaptive immune defense, which encompass defense mechanisms against pathogens and the delicate balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory regulation in the long term. Generally, a well-balanced diet is capable of providing the necessary minerals to support the immune system. Nevertheless, specific vulnerable populations should be cautious about obtaining adequate amounts of minerals such as magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, and selenium. Inadequate levels of these minerals can temporarily impair immune competence and disrupt the long-term regulation of systemic inflammation. Therefore, comprehending the mechanisms and sources of these minerals is crucial. In exceptional circumstances, mineral deficiencies may necessitate supplementation; however, excessive intake of supplements can have adverse effects on the immune system and should be avoided. Consequently, any supplementation should be approved by medical professionals and administered in recommended doses. This review emphasizes the crucial significance of minerals in promoting optimal functioning of the immune system. It investigates the indispensable minerals required for immune system function and the regulation of inflammation. Moreover, it delves into the significance of maintaining an optimized intake of minerals from a nutritional standpoint.

Design and characterization of dexamethasone phosphate -loaded microcapsules obtained by a double-emulsion method.

Polymeric microcapsules are extensively investigated as drug delivery systems for a broad range of applications. In the present study, Dexamethasone-loaded carboxylated chitosan (CCS)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based microcapsules were prepared in view of their potential administration by inhalation for the treatment of lung diseases. The crosslinking between PVA and CCS was activated by [4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride] (DMT-MM) and the FTIR results proved the formation of ester bonds between the two polymers. The sizes of the obtained microcapsules are influenced by the ratio between the polymers but also by the concentration of the DMT-MM activator. Moreover, the amount of PVA in the system has an important influence on swelling degree, encapsulation efficiency, drug release degree, biodegradation and protein adsorption. The sample with the highest amount of PVA has the highest crosslinking density and thus the lowest swelling degree and encapsulation efficiency. However, an encapsulation degree of 61.3% was obtained for the sample MCP-6 with the lowest PVA content. The same sample showed the lowest BSA adsorption. A controlled and sustained Dexamethasone release of around 90% was observed in PBS at pH 7.4 and 37 °C during 24 h. All the obtained samples were hemocompatibles and thus can be used as efficient drug delivery systems.

Comparative Study of Cytokine Storm Treatment in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia Using Immunomodulators.

(1) Background: In patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, especially moderate and severe forms, a cytokine storm may occur, characterized by the worsening of symptoms and the alteration of biological parameters on days 8-12 of the disease. The therapeutic options for cytokine storms are still controversial, requiring further clarification; (2) Methods: Our study included 344 patients with moderate and severe pneumonia admitted to the internal medicine department who developed a cytokine storm (diagnosed by clinical and biochemical criteria). In group A, 149 patients were treated with Remdesivir and Tocilizumab (together with other drugs, including corticosteroids, antibiotics and anticoagulants), and in group B, 195 patients received Remdesivir and Anakinra. Patients were monitored clinically and by laboratory tests, with the main biochemical parameters being CRP (C-reactive protein), LDH (lactic dehydrogenase) and ferritin; (3) Results: Patients were followed up from a clinical point of view and also by the measurement of CRP, LDH and ferritin at the beginning of therapy, on days three to four and on the tenth day. In both groups, we registered a clinical improvement and a decrease in the parameters of the cytokine storm. In group A, with the IL-6 antagonist Tocilizumab, the beneficial effect occurred faster; in group B, with the IL-1 antagonist Anakinra, the beneficial effect was slower. (4) Conclusions: The use of the immunomodulators, Tocilizumab and Anakinra, in the cytokine storm showed favorable effects, both clinical and biochemical.

Hard Dental Tissues Regeneration-Approaches and Challenges.

With the development of the modern concept of tissue engineering approach and the discovery of the potential of stem cells in dentistry, the regeneration of hard dental tissues has become a reality and a priority of modern dentistry. The present review reports the recent advances on stem-cell based regeneration strategies for hard dental tissues and analyze the feasibility of stem cells and of growth factors in scaffolds-based or scaffold-free approaches in inducing the regeneration of either the whole tooth or only of its component structures.

Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Loaded Chitosan Used to Limit Microorganisms Resistance.

From their discovery, antibiotics have significantly improved clinical treatments of infections, thus leading to diminishing morbidity and mortality in critical care patients, as well as surgical, transplant and other types of medical procedures. In contemporary medicine, a significant debate regarding the development of multi-drug resistance involves all types of pathogens, especially in acute care hospitals due to suboptimal or inappropriate therapy. The possibility of nanotechnology using nanoparticles as matrices to encapsulate a lot of active molecules should increase drug efficacy, limit adverse effects and be an alternative helping to combat antibiotic resistance. The major aim of this study was to obtain and to analyze physico-chemical features of chitosan used as a drug-delivery system in order to stop the antibiotic resistance of different pathogens. It is well known that World Health Organization stated that multidrug resistance is one of the most important health threats worldwide. In last few years, nano-medicine emerged as an improved therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections agents. This work relies on enhancement of the antimicrobial efficiency of ceftriaxone against gram(+) and gram(-) bacteria by antibiotic encapsulation into chitosan nanoparticles. Physicochemical features of ceftriaxone-loaded polymer nanoparticles were investigated by particle size distribution and zeta potential, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TG/TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characteristics techniques. The obtained results revealed an average particle size of 250 nm and a zeta potential value of 38.5 mV. The release profile indicates an incipient drug deliverance of almost 15%, after 2 h of approximately 83%, followed by a slowed drug release up to 24 h. Characteristics peaks of chitosan were confirmed by FTIR spectra indicating a similar structure in the case of ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. A good encapsulation of the antibiotic into chitosan nanoparticles was also provided by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Morphological characteristics shown by SEM micrographs exhibit spherical nanoparticles of 30-250 nm in size with agglomerated architectures. Chitosan, a natural polymer which is used to load different drugs, provides sustained and prolonged release of antibiotics at a specific target by possessing antimicrobial activity against gram(+) and gram(-) bacteria. In this research, ceftriaxone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were investigated as a carrier in antibiotic delivery.

Signification of Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels in Cases of Compensated Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C Virus without Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) levels are increased during the development of HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma); nonetheless, it can also be produced by non-tumoral hepatocytes in conditions of high cell turnover. Our study aims to provide additional data regarding the causes of elevated AFP in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted an observational prospective cohort study that included 2068 patients with compensated cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b infection. The two main inclusion criteria were the presence of advanced liver fibrosis - Metavir stage F4 - diagnosed by FibroMax testing, Fibroscan or liver biopsy, and the presence of detectable HCV RNA in the serum. Plasmatic AFP levels were determined through the electrochemiluminescence method, with a standard value ranging from 0 to 7 ng/ml. All data were obtained from the Romanian National Health Agency. The average AFP serum levels in patients with compensated cirrhosis without HCC were 9.4 ng/ml (range 0.5 ÷ 406 ng/ml); 30.1% of patients had significantly increased levels of AFP (>15 ng/ml). High values of serum AFP in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis without HCC was correlated with more advanced age (p<0.001), severe necroinflammatory activity detected by FibroMax (p<0.001), severe NASH (p<0.001), severe steatosis (p<0.001), low platelets (p<0.001), increased values of AST and ALT (p<0.001).

Environmental Factors in Romanian and Belgian Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease - a Retrospective Comparative Study.

Background:Several environmental factors have been associated with onset of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): smoking, hygiene, microorganisms, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, appendectomy, diet, breastfeeding, vitamin D, stress and ambient air pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of these factors in a Romanian and Belgian population with IBD. Material and methods:A total of 129 patients with an IBD diagnosis (76 from Romania and 53 from Belgium) participated in an interview and were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding environmental factors before and after the onset of IBD; 35 Romanian and 21 Belgian healthy individuals constituted the control group. Results:A total of 40 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 89 with Crohn's disease (CD) were included. Gender distribution was 43% males and 57% females. They had a median age of 42 years (range between 19-74 years), a median disease duration of eight years and 79% were in clinical remission. Both Romanian and Belgian IBD patients reported an increased antibiotic consumption before IBD onset compared to controls: 58% vs 10% (p<0.001) and 51% vs 5% (p<0.001), respectively. Belgian IBD patients declared significantly more frequent OCP use (53% vs 9%, p <0.001), they were breastfed in a lower proportion (49% vs 76%, p <0.001) and had experienced a higher level of psychosocial stress (p<0.001). Conclusion:Antibiotic consumption before IBD onset may play a pivotal role in IBD development in both Romanian and Belgian populations. In Belgian patients, OCP consumption, a higher level of psychosocial stress and lack of breastfeeding may also be involved.