Implications of Vitamins in COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment through Immunomodulatory and Anti-Oxidative Mechanisms

Since the appearance of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its announcement as a global pandemic, the search for prophylactic and therapeutic options have become a priority for governments and the scientific community. The approval of several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is being crucial to overcome this situation, although the victory will not be achieved while the whole population worldwide is not protected against the virus. This is why alternatives should be studied in order to successfully support the immune system before and during a possible infection. An optimal inflammatory and oxidative stress status depends on an adequate diet. Poor levels of several nutrients could be related to an impaired immune response and, therefore, an increased susceptibility to infection and serious outcomes. Vitamins exert a number of anti-microbial, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, which can be of use to fight against this and several other diseases (especially vitamin D and C). Even though they cannot be considered as a definitive therapeutic option, in part owing to the lack of solid conclusions from well-designed clinical trials, currently available evidence from similar respiratory diseases may indicate that it would be rational to deeply explore the use of vitamins during this global pandemic.

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Status in Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterizied by elevated levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) which is an important source of substrates to be oxidized by different oxidative agents. Subsequently, the oxidized LDLs (oxLDLs) induce further oxidative reactions in FH patients, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and advanced cardiovascular events in these patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of oxidant/antioxidant markers with FH. Methods: This case-control study comprised 18 HoFH, 18 HeFH, and 20 healthy subjects. Oxidant/antioxidant markers including MDA, MPO, thiol, nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), SOD, and CAT were assessed by colorimetric methods. Prooxidant-antioxidant balance was also measured by pro-oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB) assay. Results: The levels of MDA (p < 0.001), MPO activity (p < 0.001), thiol (p < 0.001), NO (p < 0.01), and PAB (p < 0.001) were notably higher in HoFH group in comparison with healthy subjects. HeFH group also showed significantly higher levels of thiol (p < 0.001) and PAB (p < 0.001) when compared to healthy subjects. Elevated levels of MDA (p < 0.001) and PAB (p < 0.001) were also observed in HoFH relative to HeFH. No significant differences were found between the studied groups in the case of antioxidant enzyme activities. The results of binary logistic regression showed that PAB (OR: 0.979; p = 0.033), and MDA (OR: 0.996; p = 0.018) levels were inversely associated with HoFH, although, after adjustment for age and LDL-C levels, these associations were diminished. Conclusion: Several oxidant/antioxidant differences were found between FH patients and healthy individuals as well as between HoFH and HeFH patients. These differences might be strongly dependent on plasma LDL-C levels.

Role of Epithelium-Derived Cytokines in Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis: Evidence and Therapeutic Perspectives

Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are two of the most common chronic skin conditions. Current target therapies represent viable and safe solutions for the most severe cases of these two dermatoses but, presently, several limitations exist in terms of efficacy and side effects. A new class of products, epithelium-derived cytokines (TSLP, IL-25, IL-33), show an increasing potential for use in target therapy for these patients, and demonstrate a direct link between a generalized inflammatory and oxidative stress status and the human skin. A review was conducted to better understand their role in the aforementioned conditions. Of these three molecules, TSLP led has been most often considered in studies regarding target therapies, and most of the results in the literature are related to this cytokine. These three cytokines share common stimuli and are linked to each other in both acute and chronic phases of these diseases, and have been challenged as target therapies or biomarkers of disease activity. The results lead to the conclusion that epithelium-derived cytokines could represent a therapeutic opportunity for these patients, especially in itch control. Furthermore, they might work better when paired together with currently available therapies or in combination with in-development treatments. Further studies are needed in order to verify the efficacy and safety of the biologic treatments currently under development.

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Mitigated 2,4,6- Trinitrobenzenesulfonic (TNBS) Acid Solution Induced Colitis By Downregulating NF-κB Related Transcription

BackgroundTitanium dioxide (TiO2) with nanofractions is increasingly applied in food products as a food additive, which makes consumers under the health risks of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) oral exposure. The recent ban of food additive TiO2 (E171) use in France aggravated public controversy on safety of orally ingesting TiO2-NPs. This work aimed to determine biological effects of TiO2-NPs (38.3 ± 9.3) oral consumption (100 mg/kg bw, 10 days) on TNBS-induced colitis mice and healthy mice, and the additional vitamin E administration was also conducted to explore the possible mechanism of TiO2-NPs on colitis development.ResultsOral consumption of TiO2-NPs exacerbated oxidative stress status in colitis mice by decreasing the colonic glutathione (GSH) and total glutathione (T-GSH) levels, however, TiO2-NPs administration repaired the dysbacteriosis of colitis mice, and downregulated the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signal pathway and inflammatory factor (IL-1β and TNF-α) transcription levels in colon tissue, which finally decreased the TNF-α expression level and participated in the mitigation of colitis symptoms. Moreover, further vitamin E intervention after TiO2-NPs consumption could relieve the oxidative stress status (mainly by scavenging reactive oxygen species, ROS) and the inflammatory factor over-transcription in colonic epithelium of colitis mice, but the effect of TiO2-NPs on dysbacteriosis repair would not be further changed by Vitamin E. At last, TiO2-NPs induced oxidative stress status and increased NF-κB signal transcription level in colonic epithelium, which increased daily disease activity index (DAI) score and caused mild mucosal inflammatory cell infiltrate in healthy mice. ConclusionOur present work showed that oral TiO2-NPs administration indeed induced oxidative stress and made an adverse effect on the development of colitis, but TiO2-NPs could also downregulate the NF-κB signal transduction level by repairing gut dysbacteriosis, which made a predominant role in alleviating colitis. On the other hand, it should also be noticed that TiO2-NPs oral ingestion caused potential colonic inflammation risks in healthy mice.

Occurrence of Textile Dyes and Metals in Tunisian Textile Dyeing Effluent: Effects on Oxidative Stress Status and Histological Changes in Balb/c Mice

Although it is known that textile wastewater contains highly toxic contaminants whose effects in humans represent public health problems in several countries, studies involving mammal species are scarce. This study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity profile of 90-days oral administration of textile dyeing effluent (TDE) on oxidative stress status and histological changes of male mice. The TDE was collected from the textile plant of Monastir, Tunisia and evaluated for the metals, aromatic amines, and textile dyes using analytical approaches. Metal analysis by ICP-MS showed that the tested TDE exhibited very high levels of Cr, As, and Sr, which exceeded the wastewater emission limits prescribed by WHO and Tunisian authority. The screening of TDE through UPLC-MS/MS confirmed the presence of two textile dyes: a triphenylmethane dye (Crystal violet) and a disperse azo dye (Disperse yellow 3). Exposure to TDE significantly altered the malondialdehyde (MDA), Conjugated dienes (CDs), Sulfhydryl proteins (SHP) and catalase levels in the hepatic and renal tissues. Furthermore, histopathology observation showed that hepatocellular and renal lesions were induced by TDE exposure. The present study concluded that TDE may involve induction of oxidative stress which ensues in pathological lesions in several vital organs suggesting its high toxicity. Metals and textile dyes may be associated with the observed toxicological effects of the TDE. These pollutants, which may have seeped into surrounding rivers in Monastir city, can cause severe health malaise in wildlife and humans.

Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers in acute mercury intoxication

Objective:&nbsp;Very few studies have evaluated the association between mercury exposure and oxidative stress in humans, particularly in children. This is the first report where we aimed to determine the oxidative stress status of children who were accidently exposed to elemental mercury. Methods: In the present study, the study group was composed of 86 randomly selected children poisoned by mercury; the control group was composed of 78 children who had no history of mercury exposure. At admission, blood samples were collected. Blood superoxide dismutase activity, catalase enzyme activity, and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured by Fridovich, Beutler, and Lawrence Burk methods respectively, and the results were given as U/g Hb . Malondialdehyde level was measured by Ohkawa methods , and the results were given as mmol/ml. Results:&nbsp;Catalase levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (1.28&plusmn;0.62 vs 3.90 &plusmn; 0.86 U/g Hb, p<0.01). In exposed children, SOD levels were significantly higher than the controls (5936 &plusmn; 810 vs 2226 &plusmn; 464 U/g Hb, p<0,05), while the GPx activity was significantly lower (13.01 &plusmn; 3.21&nbsp; vs 34.97 &plusmn; 7.32 U/g Hb, p<0.01). The MDA levels of the mercury group were significantly higher than the MDA levels of the control group (2.85&plusmn;0.84&nbsp; vs 2.05&plusmn;0.79 mmol/ml, p<0.05) . Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that acute mercury poisoning causes alteration of oxidative stress status in children exposed to elemental mercury.

PSVII-2 Effects of xylanase and its optimal supplementation level on viscosity of jejunal digesta, nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and growth performance of nursery pigs

This study aimed to determine supplemental effects of xylanase (endo-β-1,4-xylanase, CJ BIO, Korea) and its optimal supplementation level on viscosity of jejunal digesta, nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and growth performance of pigs. Sixty weaned pigs (6.9 ± 0.8 kg BW) were randomly allotted to 5 treatments based on a RCBD with initial BW and sex as block and fed in 3 phases (P1/2/3 for 10/14/14 d, respectively). Dietary treatment were the supplementation levels of xylanase providing (0, 220, 440, 880, and 1,760 XU/kg feed). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to P3 diets as an indigestible marker to measure AID. On d 38, all pigs were euthanized to collect ileal and jejunal digesta to measure AID and viscosity, respectively; jejunal mucosa and tissue to measure intestinal health parameters. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4. Xylanase supplementation from 0 to 350 XU/kg increased (P &lt; 0.05) ADG (596 to 746 g/d) during the last week, whereas there was no effect by xylanase on the overall growth performance. Increasing xylanase supplementation reduced (P &lt; 0.05) digesta viscosity (1.91 to 1.48 mPa.s); increased (P &lt; 0.05) the AID of EE (83.9 to 89.5%), NDF (52.9 to 56.9%) and ADF (35.3 to 39.3%); tended to reduce Cupriavidus (P = 0.073; 1.33 to 0.63%) and Megasphaera (P = 0.063; 1.26 to 0.23%); and tended to increase Succinivibrio (P = 0.076; 1.10 to 2.71%) and Pseudomonas (P = 0.060; 4.89 to 13.29%). Xylanase supplementation from 0 to 520 XU/kg reduced (P &lt; 0.05) jejunal MDA (0.99 to 0.58 µmol/mg protein). In conclusion, xylanase supplementation showed benefits on intestinal health by reducing digesta viscosity, oxidative stress status, and harmful bacteria in the jejunal mucosa and by increasing the AID of nutrients. Xylanase supplementation at a range of 350 to 520 XU/kg feed provided the most benefits.