Lymphatic self-massage for enhancing immunity during a pandemic

The article is devoted to the problem of improving immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the related effect of lymphatic self-massage.The article analyzes the general concepts of the lymphatic system and its functions, as well as lymphatic self-massage and its effect on cardiovascular and lymphatic systems.It is noted that the lymph flow stimulation through movements activates and normalizes the most important body functions. Using Skype, the authors surveyed medical students about knowledge on benefits and techniques of lymphatic selfmassage.Further, a master class was held on the technique of lymphatic self-massage. The authors studied the awareness of students about the benefits of lymphatic selfmassage, revealed a tendency to chronic diseases and assessed the benefits after the procedure.Based on the data obtained, it was revealed that viral infections, namely COVID-19, provoke one of the most common diseases — autoimmune thyroiditis. So, 64% of the respondents noted about it.Using lymphatic self-massage, the manifestations of this pathology decreases, the facial muscles relax and the blood and lymph outflow improves.Thus, there is an undoubted benefit of lymphatic self-massage for the prevention of diseases with immune involvement, including COVID-19.

Phase 2/3 Trial of Molnupiravir for Treatment of Covid-19 in Nonhospitalized Adults

Molnupiravir is an orally acting novel small-molecule prodrug that acts against Covid-19 by inducing viral mutations to a threshold beyond which it cannot replicate. In a small, double-blind, dose-escalation, trial in non-hospitalized adults with mild/moderate Covid-19 with symptom onset less than 7 days before trial randomization, molnupiravir had with no apparent dose-related effect on adverse events or laboratory tests in relation to dose or treatment. Of the participants receiving molnupiravir 3.1% were hospitalized or died compared with 5.4% treated with placebo.

Autoimmunity affecting the biliary tract fuels the immunosurveillance of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) results from the malignant transformation of cholangiocytes. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are chronic diseases in which cholangiocytes are primarily damaged. Although PSC is an inflammatory condition predisposing to CCA, CCA is almost never found in the autoimmune context of PBC. Here, we hypothesized that PBC might favor CCA immunosurveillance. In preclinical murine models of cholangitis challenged with syngeneic CCA, PBC (but not PSC) reduced the frequency of CCA development and delayed tumor growth kinetics. This PBC-related effect appeared specific to CCA as it was not observed against other cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The protective effect of PBC was relying on type 1 and type 2 T cell responses and, to a lesser extent, on B cells. Single-cell TCR/RNA sequencing revealed the existence of TCR clonotypes shared between the liver and CCA tumor of a PBC host. Altogether, these results evidence a mechanistic overlapping between autoimmunity and cancer immunosurveillance in the biliary tract.

Age-Related Effect of Sleepiness on Driving Performance: A Systematic-Review

Background: Several studies highlighted that sleepiness affects driving abilities. In particular, road traffic injuries due to excessive daytime sleepiness are about 10%–20%. Considering that aging is related to substantial sleep changes and the number of older adults with driving license is increasing, the current review aims to summarize recent studies on this issue. Further, we intend to provide insights for future research. Methods: From the 717 records screened, ten articles were selected and systematically reviewed. Results: Among the selected articles, (a) five studies investigated sleepiness only by self-reported standardized measures; (b) two studies assessed sleepiness also using a behavioral task; (c) three studies obtained objective measures by electroencephalographic recordings. Conclusions: The available literature on the topic reports several limitations. Overall, many findings converge in evidencing that older drivers are less vulnerable to sleep loss and sleepiness-related driving impairments than young adults. These discrepancies in sleepiness vulnerability between age groups may be ascribed to differences in subjects’ lifestyles. Moreover, it has been hypothesized that older adults self-regulate their driving and avoid specific dangerous situations. We believe that an easy protocol to objectively evaluate the vigilance level in elderly and young adults is required, and further studies are needed.

Cytokine-Related Effect of Buccal-Delivered Collagen Peptide Incorporated in Mucoadhesive Films to Improve Female Skin Conditions

Recently, interest in collagen products has increased in the industries However, collagen products that are taken orally have the problem of being degraded by digestive enzymes. Therefore, a collagen peptide buccal delivery film (C-BDF) was developed to enhance the absorption without destruction and a clinical trial was conducted. A C-BDF was developed as a double layer and the permeation of collagen peptide (CP) through swine mucosa was investigated. This clinical study was performed on 43 healthy women, who were divided into either a control (n = 21) or test group (n = 22), over the course of 4 weeks. Skin assessments analyzed the hydration, elasticity, and roughness. In addition, the production of peroxynitrite and IL-1α in RAW 264.7 cells in supernatant media was conducted. A total of 1 kDa of CP in BDF showed significantly stronger permeation through swine mucosa compared to 3 kDa of CP in BDF. The C-BDF significantly enhanced skin hydration, elasticity, and roughness, and it removed wrinkles with no side effects after 2 weeks of intake. In addition, the production of peroxynitrite and IL-1α after the treatment with CP was significantly increased. Therefore, this study showed that collagen peptides could be completely absorbed into mucosa via a buccal delivery system and homeopathic effects might occur.

A Numerical Investigation of Low Salinity Polymer Flooding Effects from a Geochemical Perspective

Low salinity polymer (LSP) flooding is getting more attention due to its potential of enhancing both displacement and sweep efficiencies. Modeling LSP flooding is challenging due to the complicated physical processes and the sensitivity of polymers to brine salinity. In this study, a coupled numerical model has been implemented to allow investigating the polymer-brine-rock geochemical interactions associated with LSP flooding along with the flow dynamics. MRST was coupled with the geochemical software IPhreeqc. The effects of polymer were captured by considering Todd-Longstaff mixing model, inaccessible pore volume, permeability reduction, polymer adsorption as well as salinity and shear rate effects on polymer viscosity. Regarding geochemistry, the presence of polymer in the aqueous phase was considered by adding a new solution specie and related chemical reactions to PHREEQC database files. Thus, allowing for modeling the geochemical interactions related to the presence of polymer. Coupling the two simulators was successfully performed, verified, and validated through several case studies. The coupled MRST-IPhreeqc simulator allows for modeling a wide variety of geochemical reactions including aqueous, mineral precipitation/dissolution, and ion exchange reactions. Capturing these reactions allows for real time tracking of the aqueous phase salinity and its effect on polymer rheological properties. The coupled simulator was verified against PHREEQC for a realistic reactive transport scenario. Furthermore, the coupled simulator was validated through history matching a single-phase LSP coreflood from the literature. This paper provides an insight into the geochemical interactions between partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and aqueous solution chemistry (salinity and hardness), and their related effect on polymer viscosity. This work is also considered as a base for future two-phase polymer solution and oil interactions, and their related effect on oil recovery.

Effect of aging and signal frequencies on masking level differences

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The typical masking level differences (MLD) paradigm involves homophasic and antiphasic masking conditions. Objectives of the study were to develop homophasic and antiphasic stimulus, to find out the effect of signal frequency, of age on MLD when all the antiphasic conditions are compared to the homophasic S₀N₀ and S_πN_πcondition and to find out effect of interaural time delay of stimulus on aging.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> 90 participants were divided into 3 groups of young adults, early presbycusic adults and geriatric presbycusic adults. Various stimuli were developed and presented. The MLD were using homophasic and antiphasic stimuli at 4 frequencies 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz. Subsequently these were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and paired t test.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> All the conditions used in the study had some condition with and without significant differences. However, at 500 Hz in S₀N₀homophasic condition all four antiphasic conditions among groups and MLD and Interaural time delay between groups showed significant differences were present.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> From these findings, the best frequency is 500 Hz as the homophasic S₀N₀ baseline condition. A significant difference between the groups indicated presence of age-related effect on MLD and interaural time delay, suggesting that age related changes can be observed in the binaural hearing and temporal processing of the signals and can be measured using MLD.</p>

Ethanolic Extract of Ground Vernonia Amygdalina Stem Exhibited Potent Antibacterial Activity and Improved Hematological Bio-Functional Parameters in Normal and Monosodium Glutamate-Intoxicated Rats

Herein, Vernonia amygdalina stem ethanolic extract, VASEE, was elucidated for its antibacterial activity in vitro by disk-diffusion technique and, in vivo effect on some hematological parameters of normal and monosodium glutamate, MSG-intoxicated rats. For in vivo study, 20 male albino rats assigned into five groups (A, B, C, D, and E) were, for 14 days, respectively administered MSG (8000 mg/kg body weight, bw), VASEE (200 mg/kg bw), Control (Vital feed and tap water), MSG (8000 mg/kg bw + VASEE, 200 mg/kg bw), and MSG (8000 mg/kg bw + VASEE, 400 mg/kg bw). In vitro, the VASEE-related activity against the tested bacterial pathogens was significant (P < 0.05), dose dependent and comparable to that by the standard antibacterial drug, Ciprofloxacin. In vivo, VASEE compared to control and MSG groups improved (P < 0.05) and, notably at the highest tested dose modulated the monosodium glutamate intoxication-related effect on, the studied hematology of rats. Thus, VASEE exhibited potent activity against the tested bacterial pathogens, improved, and potentially modulated MSG-intoxication-related effect on, the rats’ hematological functions. The study underscored a promising antibacterial application of the extract of hitherto wasted bitter leaf stem that could offer novel therapeutic benefits on the hematology of especially MSG-intoxicated rats, warranting further studies. Keywords: Hematology, intoxication, bitter leaf stem, packed cell volume, Red blood cell