Safety and Dose-Dependent Effects of Echinacea for the Treatment of Acute Cold Episodes in Children: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Clinical Trial

Background: Due to the frequency and severity of cold symptoms in children, and the risk of associated complications, effective treatments are urgently needed. Here we evaluated the safety profile and treatment benefits of Echinacea in children with acute cold and flu symptoms. Methods: A total of 79 children (4–12 years) were randomized to a treatment regimen of three or five times daily Echinaforce Junior tablets (total of 1200 or 2000 mg Echinacea extract, EFJ) for the prospective treatment of upcoming cold and flu episodes at first signs. Parents recorded respiratory symptoms daily during episodes in their child and physicians and parents subjectively rated tolerability. Results: EFJ was used to treat 130 cold episodes in 68 children and was very well tolerated by more than 96% positive physician’s ratings. EFJ-treated cold episodes lasted 7.5 days on average, with nine out of 10 episodes being fully resolved after 10 days. Five EFJ tablets daily reduced the average episode duration by up to 1.7 days (p < 0.02) in comparison to three EFJ tablets daily regimen. Effective symptom resolution finally contributed to a low antibiotic prescription rate in this study of 4.6%. Conclusions: EFJ tablets present a valuable option for the treatment of acute cold episodes in children showing a wide safety margin and increased therapeutic benefits at five tablets daily.

Evaluation in broilers of aerosolized nanoparticles vaccine encapsulating imuno-stimulant and antigens of avian influenza virus/Mycoplasma gallisepticum

The global prevalence of economic primary infection of poultry by H9N2 virus, including the Lineage A, panzootic group ME1, predominant in many ME countries including KSA, and associated with secondary infection by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). This research evaluated in broilers the immunity and protection induced by aerosolization of liposomal nanoparticles vaccine, encapsulating antigens of H9N2 virus (Lineage A, panzootic group ME1) and MG (R-strain), with or without the incorporation of Echinacea extract (EE) immuno-stimulant. Six treatments (TRTs) of broilers were included in the experimental design, with three replicate pens/TRT and stocking of 20 day-old birds/replicate. Birds in TRT 1 received at 14 and 21 d of age the aerosolized nanoparticles, incorporating the antigens and devoid of immuno-stimulant, followed by intra-tracheal challenge at 28 d of age with viable H9N2 and MG; Birds of TRT 2 received aerosolized nanoparticles, incorporating only the EE and challenged similarly; TRT 3 received the aerosolized nanoparticles, incorporating both the antigens and EE followed by challenge; TRT 4 were only challenged(Positive Controls) ; TRT 5 received both the antigens and EE incorporated in aerosolized nanoparticles, and deprived of challenge; TRT 6 were deprived of vaccination and of challenge (Negative Controls). The tracheobronchial washings of TRT 3 showed the highest significant mean levels of each of IgA and IgG specific to H9N2 and MG, associated with lowest tracheal MG colonization, tracheal H9N2 recovery, tracheal histopathologic lesions, mortality, and best performance in BW and feed conversion compared to all other challenged birds of the different treatments (P<0.05). However, broilers free from challenge with MG and H9N2 (TRTs 5 and 6) had the lowest mortality and tracheal lesions, and the highest production performance. The aerosolization of liposomal nanoparticles, encapsulating antigens of H9N2 and MG and EE resulted in enough local immunity for protection of broilers against infection and lesions by the two causative agents, and for attaining the highest production performance in challenged birds. The vaccination by the antigens and EE to birds deprived of challenge had its apparent positive effect on production, an indication of the safety of the killed vaccine on broilers.

SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM OF TREATMENT OF NEUROPENICAL AFT MERCULAR SHELL OF THE ORAL CAVITY

Importance. A comparative analysis of the application of methods for the treatment of neuropenic aft mucous membranes with the use of injection techniques of a homeopathic preparation, which includes ascorbic acid and echinacea extract, has been carried out. stimulating oral immunity, helps faster epithelization of neutropenic aft on the oral mucosa Objectives ― evaluate the effectiveness of using the composition of homeopathic dosage forms in the general scheme of treatment of neuropenic aft. Methods. Under our supervision there were 10 patients aged from 18 to 60 years with a diagnosis of neuropenic aphthae. All surveyed were divided into two groups: main (5 people) and control (5 people). In the main group, patients received therapy according to the generally accepted scheme: oxygen therapy, applications for neuropenic aphtha keratoplasty in combination with anesthesin. Under the base, the aphta was injected with homeopathic preparation No. 7. Then the afta was left under the film with solcoseryl. Results. It has been established that its use allows one to achieve epithelization of aphtha in a shorter period, to prolong the remission of the disease, to arrest the pain syndrome. Clinical well-being came already on the 5th visit, pain syndrome and inflammation phenomena on the mucous membrane of the tongue were removed at the 3rd visit. When applying the traditional method of treatment, clinical well-being was achieved at the 10th visit. Conclusions.The combination of the traditional treatment regimen with the use of homeopathic medicine No. 7 provides a high therapeutic effect, accelerates the process of rehabilitation of the patient and prolongs the periods of remission within 12 months. The data we obtained allow us to introduce this treatment regimen into the clinic of therapeutic dentistry for the conservative treatment of neuropenic aft.

Effect of pretreatments on mycotoxin profiles and levels in dried figs

The aim of this explorative study was to investigate how effective drying preservation methods are in reducing mycotoxin content in figs. Dried autochthonous varieties of white and dark figs (Petrovača Bijela and Šaraguja, respectively) were analysed for mycotoxins using an LC-MS/MS “dilute and shoot” method capable of determining 295 fungal and bacterial secondary metabolites. Before drying in a cabinet dryer the figs were preserved with 0.5 % citric acid solution or 0.5 % ascorbic acid solution or 0.3 % L-cysteine solution or 0.2 % chestnut extract solution or 0.15 % Echinacea extract solution by immersion. We found nine metabolites: aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A, ochratoxin alpha, kojic acid, emodin, altenuene, alternariol methyl ether, brevianamide F, and tryptophol. The most efficient preserver was L-cysteine (15 % reduction), while ascorbic acid favoured mycotoxin production (158 % increase). However, all pretreatment solutions reduced AFB1, which is a major fig contaminant.