Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of a methanolic extract of Debregeasia salicifolia in Alloxan-induced diabetic albino mice

Diabetes mellitus (DM), an endocrine syndrome characterized by high blood glucose levels due to abrogated insulin activity. The existing treatments for DM have side effects and varying degrees of efficacy. Therefore, it is paramount that novel approaches be developed to enhance the management of DM. Therapeutic plants have been accredited as having comparatively high efficacy with fewer adverse effects. The current study aims to elucidate the phytochemical profile, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-diabetic effects of methanolic extract D. salicifolia (leaves) in Alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Alloxan was injected intraperitoneally (150 mg kg-1, b.w), to induced diabetes in mice. The mice were divided into three groups (n=10). Group 1 (normal control) received normal food and purified water, Group II (diabetic control) received regular feed and clean water and group III (diabetic treated) received a methanolic extract of the plant (300 mg kg-1) for 28 days with a typical diet and clean water throughout the experiment. Blood samples were collected to checked serum glucose and concentration of LDL, TC, TG. The extract demonstrated significant antihyperglycemic activity (P<0.05), whereas improvements in mice's body weight and lipid profiles were observed after treatment with the extract. This study establishes that the extract has high efficacy with comparatively less toxicity that can be used for DM management.

A GSH/CB Dual-Controlled Self-Assembled Nanomedicine for High-Efficacy Doxorubicin-Resistant Breast Cancer Therapy

Chemoresistance is a major therapeutic obstacle in the treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, how to overcome chemoresistance is a problem to be solved. Here, a glutathione (GSH)/cathepsin B (CB) dual-controlled nanomedicine formed by cyclic disulfide-bridged peptide (cyclic-1a) as a potent anticancer agent is reported. Under the sequential treatment of GSH and CB, cyclic-1a can efficiently self-assemble into nanofibers. In vitro studies show that cyclic-1a promotes the apoptosis of MCF-7/DOX cells by inducing the cleavages of caspase-3 and PARP. In vivo studies confirm that cyclic-1a significantly inhibits the progression of MCF-7/DOX cells-derived xenograft in nude mice, with no obvious adverse reactions. This study provides a paradigm of GSH/CB dual-controlled nanomedicine for high-efficacy and low-toxic DOX-resistant breast cancer therapy.

Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Ageusia after Two mRNA Vaccine Doses

To raise awareness about preventive measures in COVID-19 pandemic, even though fully vaccinated. Although recent trials showed high efficacy of vaccines in preventing symptomatic infections, there are some individuals experiencing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this case report, a fully vaccinated young dental practitioner experienced symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection 55 days postvaccination with BNT162b2 Pfizer vaccine with evident ageusia. Diagnostic swabs were performed and used for viral genome sequencing. The patient fully recovered 15 days after diagnosis. Loss of smell and taste, together with nasal congestion were the main reported symptoms. The use of personal protective equipment prevented spread of infection in patients and co-workers. With the increase of people being fully vaccinated, it is still necessary to follow infection preventive protocols by correctly applying personal protective equipment. Although high efficacy has been proved, some individuals may still be vulnerable to symptomatic infection and new guidelines and markers should be adopted and investigated to find out patients for whom vaccination may not determine full immunization.

Interactions Between Opioids and Dextroamphetamine on Locomotor Activity: Influence of an Opioid's Relative Efficacy at the Mu Receptor

Opioids and stimulants are often used in combination for both recreational and non-recreational purposes. High-efficacy mu opioid agonists generally increase the behavioral effects of stimulants, whereas opioid receptor antagonists generally attenuate the behavioral effects of stimulants; however, less is known regarding the interactions between stimulants and opioids possessing low to intermediate efficacy at the mu receptor. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of an opioid's relative efficacy at the mu receptor in altering the behavioral effects of dextro(d-)amphetamine. To this end, opioids possessing a range of relative efficacy at the mu receptor were examined alone and in combination with cumulative doses of d-amphetamine on a test of open-field, locomotor activity in male rats. Levorphanol, buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, (-)-pentazocine, (-)-metazocine, (-)-cyclazocine, (-)-NANM, and nalorphine increased the locomotor effects of d-amphetamine in either an additive or greater-than-additive manner according to an effect-additive model. Only the selective, high-efficacy kappa agonist, spiradoline, and the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, failed to increase the effects of d-amphetamine under the conditions examined. These data indicate that opioids possessing a large range of relative efficacy at the mu receptor, including those possessing very low relative efficacy, significantly increase the locomotor effects of d-amphetamine.

Oxidative [4+2] Annulation of 1-Naphthols with Alkynes Accelerated by an Electron-Deficient Rhodium(III) Catalysts

The 1,3-diethoxycarbonyl-2,4,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl (CpE) rhodium(III) complex displayed high efficacy in the catalytic oxidative annulation of 1-naphthols with internal alkynes under mild conditions. DFT calculations revealed that lower activation energies for the...

Case report of Hashimoto encephalopathy in a 21-year-old female patient

Hashimoto encephalopathy is a rarely diagnosed autoimmune neurological disorder, associated with the presence of antithyroid antibodies. The variability of clinical presentation, rarity of the disease, and absence of specific diagnostic markers make timely diagnosis very complicated. This article describes a clinical case of a female patient with Hashimoto encephalopathy and discusses diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment approaches. We emphasize the importance of establishing a timely diagnosis, considering high efficacy of targeted treatment.

Population Variability Generated during Rescue Process and Passaging of Recombinant Mumps Viruses

Recombinant mumps viruses (MuVs) based on established vaccine strains represent attractive vector candidates as they have known track records for high efficacy and the viral genome does not integrate in the host cells. We developed a rescue system based on the consensus sequence of the L-Zagreb vaccine and generated seven different recombinant MuVs by (a) insertion of one or two additional transcription units (ATUs), (b) lengthening of a noncoding region to the extent that the longest noncoding region in MuV genome is created, or (c) replacement of original L-Zagreb sequences with sequences rich in CG and AT dinucleotides. All viruses were successfully rescued and faithfully matched sequences of input plasmids. In primary rescued stocks, low percentages of heterogeneous positions were found (maximum 0.12%) and substitutions were predominantly obtained in minor variants, with maximally four substitutions seen in consensus. ATUs did not accumulate more mutations than the natural MuV genes. Six substitutions characteristic for recombinant viruses generated in our system were defined, as they repetitively occurred during rescue processes. In subsequent passaging of primary rescue stocks in Vero cells, different inconsistencies within quasispecies structures were observed. In order to assure that unwanted mutations did not emerge and accumulate, sub-consensus variability should be closely monitored. As we show for Pro408Leu mutation in L gene and a stop codon in one of ATUs, positively selected variants can rise to frequencies over 85% in only few passages.

Side Effects After Vaccination Using the Pfizer-Biontech (Bnt162b2) Against Sars-Cov-2 in the Young Adults

Background: In order to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, national immunization programs have started in many countries. Vaccinations are effective in preventing infection and severe clinical form of COVID-19, which affects 15% of patients. Despite the high efficacy of The Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine, the characterization of side effects in age-stratified populations is still not exhaustive in the literature.Aim: The aim of our study is to determine what side effects affect the population of young adults following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (BNT162b2).Material and methods: An anonymous survey was conducted. People vaccinated with two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BNT162b2) were qualified for the study. The Paired Wilcoxon and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis.Results: The main side effects after the first dose were increased pain, pain and swelling at the injection site. After the 2nd dose, the dominant side effects were weakness, fever and headache. In the case of the 2nd dose, no difference in side effects was observed between those who suffered of COVID-19 and those who had no symptoms of COVID-19 in their past medical history.

Disinfection of environmental objects against coccidia oocysts in broiler chickens

The purpose of the research is developing a method for disinfection of environmental objects against coccidia oocysts in broiler chickens.Materials and methods. At the VNIIP – FSC VIEV vivarium, a bioassay test was performed to experimentally infect 60 chickens aged 14 days which were divided into six equivalent groups of 10 birds each and kept isolated in cages. Chickens from the first, second and third groups were administered orally, using a micropipette, 1 ml of an Eimeria oocyst suspension treated with 4, 5 and 6% solutions of the combined eimeriocide agent. Chickens from the fourth group were administered 1 ml of Eimeria oocyst suspension treated with 4% phenol solution (base drug). Chickens from the fifth group received 1 ml of a buffered solution and were used as a noninfected control. Chickens from the sixth group received 1 ml of suspension containing 2000 oocysts/mL and were used as an infected control. The efficacy of disinfection with eimeriocide and the basic drug was determined based on the percentage of decrease in the recovery of Eimeria oocysts after being exposed to drugs as compared to chickens of the infected control. The efficacy of 5% eimeriocide against poultry coccidia oocysts in a production test was determined empirically with the set of oocysts on control sites as compared with the basic drug on a poultry farm in the Moscow Region.Results and discussion. The intense-effectiveness of 4% eimeriocide against coccidia oocysts was 99.31%, and the 5 and 6% combined agent showed 100% efficacy. The basic drug, 4% phenol showed 74.65% intense-effectiveness. The results obtained in the production test of 5% eimeriocide at a dose of 0.5 l per 1 m2 with a 2 hour-exposure indicate its high efficacy for disinfection against coccidia oocysts in broiler chickens. The intense-effectiveness was 97.25% versus 59.03% efficacy of the base drug, phenol.