scholarly journals Echinacea purpurea for the Long-term Prevention of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized, Open, Controlled, Exploratory Clinical Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil Kolev ◽  
Lilyana Mircheva ◽  
Michael Edwards ◽  
Sebastian L Johnston ◽  
Krassimir Kalinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Echinacea Purpurea ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Tract Infections

Introduction: SARS CoV2 vaccination is effective in preventing severe COVID 19, but efficacy in reducing viral load and transmission wanes over time. In addition, the emergence of novel SARS CoV2 variants increases the threat of uncontrolled dissemination and additional antiviral therapies are urgently needed for effective containment. In previous in vitro studies Echinacea purpurea demonstrated strong antiviral activity against enveloped viruses, including SARS CoV2. In this study, we examined the potential of Echinacea purpurea in preventing and treating respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and in particular, SARS CoV2 infections. Methods: 120 healthy volunteers (m,f, 18 to 75 years) were randomly assigned to Echinacea prevention or control group without any intervention. After a run-in week, participants went through 3 prevention cycles of 2, 2 and 1 months with daily 2400mg Echinacea purpurea extract (Echinaforce, EF). The prevention cycles were interrupted by breaks of 1 week. Acute respiratory symptoms were treated with 4000 mg EF for up to 10 days, and their severity assessed via a diary. Naso/oropharyngeal swabs and venous blood samples were routinely collected every month and during acute illnesses for detection and identification of respiratory viruses, including SARS CoV2 via RT qPCR and serology. Results: Summarized over all phases of prevention, 21 and 29 samples tested positive for any virus in the EF and control group, of which 5 and 14 samples tested SARS-CoV-2 positive (RR=0.37, Chi square test, p=0.03). Overall, 10 and 14 symptomatic episodes occurred, of which 5 and 8 were COVID 19 (RR=0.70, Chi-square test, p>0.05). EF treatment when applied during acute episodes significantly reduced the overall virus load by at least 2.12 log10 or approx. 99% (t test, p<0.05), the time to virus clearance by 8.0 days for all viruses (Wilcoxon test, p=0.02) and by 4.8 days for SARS CoV2 (p>0.05) in comparison to control. Finally, EF treatment significantly reduced fever days (1 day vs 11 days, Chi square test, p=0.003) but not the overall symptom severity. There were fewer COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the EF treatment group (N=0 vs N=2). Discussion/Conclusion: EF exhibited antiviral effects and reduced the risk of viral RTIs, including SARS CoV2. By substantially reducing virus loads in infected subjects, EF offers a supportive addition to existing mandated treatments like vaccinations. Future confirmatory studies are warranted. Keywords: Echinacea purpurea, ethanolic extract, COVID 19, SARS CoV2, antiviral, prevention, randomized clinical trial Clinical Trials registration Nr: NCT05002179  

scholarly journals 46 Effect of the addition of α-tocopherol to in vitro maturation media of bovine oocytes

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 2-3
Author(s):  
Theisy P Acosta Pérez
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cumulus Expansion ◽  
Minimum Concentration ◽  
Maturation Rate ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
System Data

Abstract α-tocopherol is known to be a powerful antioxidant, in this regard, it was added to bovine oocyte in vitro maturation media to evaluate its effect on oocyte maturation. Oocytes (n = 624) aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered cows were classified by quality and divided in four categories according to cytoplasm appearance and cumulus cells layers. Oocytes were washed in TCM-199 supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) and FSH, then distributed in maturation media (TCM-199 supplemented with FBS, FSH and gentamicin). Three experimental groups of α-tocopherol (50, 100 and 200 mM) and a control group without α-tocopherol were used. Maturation was carried 22 h at 38.5°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. Oocytes were examined to determine cumulus expansion as categorical data (expansion or no expansion), as well as cumulus expansion Index (CEI). For CEI determination oocytes were graded 0 to 4, being 0 those with null expansion and 4 those with a noticeable cell expansion, then the number of oocytes were multiplied by the grade given and a sum of the totals was obtained, the new total was divided by the total of oocytes in the group and the result obtained corresponded to the CEI of the group. Results were analyzed with Chi Square test (for maturation rates) and an ANOVA (for the CEI) using the SAS system, data are presented as mean ± standard error. There was no statistical difference between control and α-tocopherol groups (P &gt;0.05). Numerically, the control group showed a higher maturation rate (100%) and obtained a higher CEI (2.44±0.20), followed by the 50 mM group (98.16%; 2.39±0.13), the groups 200 mM (97.40%; 2.00±0.14) and 100 mM (96.25%; 2.06±0.24) were the lowest. The addition of the minimum concentration (50 mM) of α-tocopherol to the maturation media could improve maturation rates without exposing oocytes to toxic effects.

Telithromycin: The First of the Ketolides

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S Shain ◽  
Guy W Amsden
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Safety Issue ◽  
Qtc Interval ◽  
Phagocytic Cells ◽  
Medline Search ◽  
Atypical Pathogens ◽  
Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: To review the chemistry, spectrum of activity, pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and safety of telithromycin. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search from 1966 to December 2000 was performed via OVID and PubMed using the following search terms: HMR 3647, HMR3647, Ketek, RU 66647, and telithromycin. An extensive review of retrieved literature, abstracts from international scientific conferences, and minutes from regulatory authority meetings was also performed. DATA EXTRACTION: Medicinal chemistry, in vitro, animal, and human trials were reviewed for information on the antimicrobial activity, clinical efficacy, pharmacology, and safety of telithromycin. DATA SYNTHESIS: Several chemical modifications to the macrolide structure have led to the development of telithromycin, the first ketolide antimicrobial that demonstrates improved activity against penicillin- and macrolide/azalide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae due to its unique binding to the ribosomal target site. Although telithromycin may be useful in the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections due to its activity against common typical and atypical pathogens, questions concerning its reliable activity against Haemophilus influenzae need to be addressed. Telithromycin's pharmacokinetics permit once-daily dosing for abbreviated periods and good distribution into lung tissue and phagocytic cells. Clinical and bacteriologic cure rates have been similar to those of comparator agents in human efficacy trials; however, the incidence of adverse gastrointestinal events were generally higher with telithromycin patients. Like other macrolides and many newer fluoroquinolones, telithromycin's ability to prolong the QTc interval is a potential safety issue, especially in elderly patients with predisposing conditions or those who are concurrently receiving drugs that are substrates for CYP2D6 and 3A4. Liver function test elevations demonstrated during clinical trials, although not overtly severe, may warrant monitoring in some patients taking multiple hepatically metabolized/cleared agents. CONCLUSIONS: Telithromycin offers potential advantages over traditional macrolides/azalides for community-acquired respiratory tract infections caused by macrolide-resistant pathogens. Further studies are needed to elucidate its clinical efficacy against H. influenzae, potential drug interactions, and safety in various subpopulations.

scholarly journals A role of oropharyngeal microbiota in developing acute and chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-367
Author(s):  
I. I. Ababii ◽  
L. A. Danilov ◽  
M. K. Maniuc ◽  
P. I. Ababii ◽  
S. S. Ghinda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Chronic Tonsillitis ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections

Currently, a rise in incidence of polyethological inflammation of the upper respiratory tract mucosa paralleled by altered resident and transient microbiota displaying in many cases increased antibiotic resistance has been noted. Opportunistic microbes play a major role in developing inflammatory process in Pirogov–Waldeyer’s ring. An inflammatory process occurring in the tonsillar lymphatic tissue results in host systemic complications. Fighting against acute and chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract holds the main task in pediatric otorhinolaryngology, as they can consequently elicit the cardiovascular, genitourinary and musculoskeletal complications. The results of studies examining this issue remain very contradictory, which accounted for a need to conduct our study on the territory of Moldova featured with mixed climatic conditions. Here, we wanted to study a role of microbial factor in etiopathogenesis of chronic tonsillitis in children. Bacteriological microbiota data for superficial palatine tonsils were obtained form 608 children subdivided into 5 groups: group I — 333 children with compensated chronic tonsillitis; group II — 87 children with decompensated chronic tonsillitis; group III — 91 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections (comparison group); group IV — 48 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections treated with antibiotic therapy; group V — 49 apparently healthy children (control group). It was found that β-hemolytic streptococcus exerting high sensitivity to virtually all antibiotics groups was detected in 17.4% of children with acute tonsilar inflammatory processes and decompensated defense in the lymphatic pharyngeal ring compared to 3.5% in control group. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in all study groups ranging within 4.8–21.7%, including 14% in apparently healthy children characterized by reduced antibiotics sensitivity. The data obtained suggest that sickly children with acute and chronic upper respiratory tract infections constitute a risk group for developing somatic diseases. The high incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae indicates a need for performing immunoprophylaxis, use of therapeutic vaccination as a up-to-date, combined approach in treatment of such pediatric cohort.

71 EFFECT OF CELL QUANTITY IN MICE CHIMERA PRODUCTION BY DEMI-BLASTOCYST AGGREGATION

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
C. Pontes Godoi ◽  
P. D. Moço ◽  
B. Cazari ◽  
P. T. Mihara ◽  
P. V. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Mass ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Aggregation Technique

Eight-cell-stage to pre-compaction morula are the most used embryonic stages to aggregation, because the embryos, in these early stages, synthesise cell adhesion molecules that increase the aggregation chances among them (Vestweber et al. 1987 Develop. Biol. 124, 451–456). Although post-compaction embryos produce reduced aggregation rates, they are not refractory to this process (Nogueira et al. 2010 Transgenic Res. 19, 344–345). Based on the evidence of less permissive aggregation in post-compaction-stage embryos and the need to expose the inner surface of those embryos to improve aggregation rate, the aim of this study was to evaluate, in mice, the influence of cell quantity (i.e. the quantity of half-embryos put together to aggregate themselves) in the chimerism rate of split blastocysts. Embryos, with preferentially different phenotypes, were obtained from C57BL/6/EGFP and Swiss Webster strains. Females ranging from 21 to 45 days old were superstimulated and mated according to Mancini et al. (2008 Transgenic Res. 17, 1015). Eight-cell-stage embryos (8C) and pre-compaction morula (PCM) were recovered (2 to 2.5 days post coitum) and had their zona pellucida removed using pronase treatment (2 mg mL–1 for 15 min), whereas blastocysts (recovered 3.5 dpc) were split with a microblade controlled by micromanipulator in an inverted microscope (NK2; Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany and Eclipse Ti; Nikon, Tokyo, Japan, respectively). The aggregation groups were a control (C) with 2 pre-compaction whole embryos (8C or PCM, or both) and 2 experimental with post-compaction embryos [i.e. 2 (2DB) or 4 (4DB) demi-blastocysts]. The structures (2 or 4) of the groups were stuck to each other with the use of phytohemagglutinin (1 mg mL–1) and cultured in vitro by 24 h (37°C, 5% CO2 and saturated humidity). After culture, the presence of chimeric embryos was verified by detection of a single, cohesive cell mass or a structure in an 8 shape with more than one-half of its total diameter aggregated. For the 4DB group, a successful aggregation was considered when, at least 2 of 4 DB had aggregated. The results were analysed using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Kruskal-Wallis (to compare among groups, between groups and among medians of group replicates, respectively) and significance was considered when P < 0.05. The aggregation rates for the groups C, 2DB and 4DB were, respectively, 77.3a; 8.3b and 36.4%c (P < 0.001). The increasing of the aggregation technique efficacy, in post-compaction stages, would be particularly interesting in farm animals (e.g. bovine species), where it is not feasible to obtain, in vivo, pre-compaction stages embryos (as 8 cells) and when only trophectoderm aggregation is wanted. It was concluded that cell increasing (from 2 to 4 DB) improved the chimerism rate, but not enough to be similar to the control group. Supported by FAPESP of Brazil.

scholarly journals In Vitro Activities of Peptide Deformylase Inhibitors against Gram-Positive Pathogens

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1117-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wise ◽  
J. M. Andrews ◽  
J. Ashby
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Active Agent ◽  
Peptide Deformylase ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Similar Activity ◽  
Amoxicillin Clavulanate ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACT The activities of six peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitors against 107 respiratory tract pathogens were studied and compared to those of ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae, BB-83698 and BB-83815 were the most active PDF inhibitors (MIC at which 90% of the organisms tested were inhibited [MIC90], 0.25 μg/ml). Five of the agents showed similar activity against Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC90, 0.12 μg/ml). All PDF inhibitors were less active against Haemophilus influenzae; BB-3497 was the most active agent (MIC90, 2 μg/ml). Five agents were studied against Chlamydia spp. and showed activity similar to that of ciprofloxacin (MIC, 0.5 to 4 μg/ml). This study demonstrates that PDF inhibitors have the potential to be developed for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

Clinical efficacy and safety of silver nanoparticlebased disinfectant combined with piperacillin sodium and sulbactam sodium in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 756-761
Author(s):  
Xiaofei Li ◽  
Lina Sheng ◽  
Juncai Tu ◽  
Lianqing Lou
Keyword(s):  
Tract Infection ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Silver Nanoparticle ◽  
Lower Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Experimental Group

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of piperacillin sulbactam in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections, as well as the efficacy of silver nanoparticle-based disinfectant in equipment disinfection to reduce exogenous infection. From May 2018 to November 2018, 100 patients that had been diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection and hospitalized were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was given piperacillin/sulbactam, and the control group was given mezlocillin/sulbactam, where 5.0 g was added to 100 mL of normal saline and administered via intravenous drip twice a day over a treatment course of 14 days. The cure rate of the experimental and control groups were 65.22% and 56.52% respectively. The efficacy rate was 91.30% and 91.30% respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The results indicated that piperacillin/sulbactam is a safe, effective treatment for lower respiratory tract infections in elderly patients, the equipment was sterilized with silver nanoparticle-based disinfectant to reduce the incidence of adverse reactions and exogenous infections.

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