Common Active Ingredients Research Articles

The toxicological impact of the sunscreen active ingredient octinoxate on the photosynthesis activity of Chlorella sp.

Products designed to filter ultraviolet (UV) light are responsible for growing levels of anthropogenic environmental contamination. Octinoxate (ONT) is among the most common UV filtering active ingredients in cosmetics and sunscreens. The present study was designed to evaluate the toxicological effects of ONT on the photosynthetic activity of the Chlorella species of marine microalgae. These analyses identified ONT as a potent photo-toxicant, the effects of which were more pronounced upon light exposure relative to in the dark. Short-term ONT exposure had no effect on photosynthetic electron transport capacity in the dark but did significantly reduce the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity in Chlorella cells, suggesting that this compound can directly suppress the photosynthetic Calvin cycle. When cells were subsequently exposed to light, the disruption of this cycle resulted in an excess of excitation energy, in turn driving the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS-mediated disruption of cellular metabolism further aggravated this ONT-induced microalgal damage. As such, under natural light conditions, these microalgae cells are exposed to increased oxidative stress that impairs their growth and causes pigment bleaching. Restricting the utilization of ONT-containing sunscreens thus has the potential to better preserve the integrity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Subchronic impacts of 2,4-D herbicide Weedestroy®AM40 on associative learning in juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens).

Aquatic herbicides are commonly used to control a wide variety of invasive and nuisance plants. One common active ingredient used in commercial herbicide formulations in Midwestern states is 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Due to the stability of 2,4-D in aquatic environments, many non-target aquatic species experience prolonged exposure throughout critical developmental life stages that can affect essential behaviors. However, the impacts of 2,4-D exposure on learning behaviors in juvenile fish are poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a series of experiments using a maze environment to determine the effects of a commercial 2,4-D amine salt herbicide formulation (Weedestroy®AM40; WAM40; at 0.00, 0.50, 2.00, and 50.00 mg/L 2,4-D acid equivalent (a.e.)) exposure on juvenile yellow perch's ability to perform a feed associated learning behavior. We observed a significant decrease in the ability of yellow perch to correctly complete the feed associated learning behavior within 200 s when exposed to WAM40 at 2.00 and 50.00 mg/L 2,4-D as compared to controls (p=0.0002; p < 0.0001, respectively) and within 600 s when exposed to WAM40 at 2.00 and 50.0 mg/L 2,4-D as compared to the controls (p=0.0107 and p < 0.0001). These data suggest that exposure to 2,4-D in WAM40 can both increase the amount of time it takes for yellow perch to complete a feed associated learning behavior and/or obstruct the behavior altogether. Further experiments showed no significant decreases in locomotion (p > 0.05), hunger motivation (p > 0.05), and a visually guided startle response (p > 0.05), in all treatment groups tested as compared to controls. This suggests that 2,4-D in WAM40 does not inhibit feed associated learning behaviors via interaction with these mechanisms. Altogether, the results indicate that the use of 2,4-D herbicides for weed control in aquatic ecosystems could present risks to cognitive functions that control essential behaviors of yellow perch.

How can single particle compression and nanoindentation contribute to the understanding of pharmaceutical powder compression?

The deformation behaviour of a powder and, thus, of the individual particles is a crucial parameter in powder compaction and affects powder compressibility and compactibility. The classical approach for the characterization of the deformation behaviour is the performance of powder compression experiments combined with the application of mathematical models, such as the Heckel-Model, for the derivation of characteristic compression parameters. However, the correlation of these parameters with the deformation behaviour is physically often not well understood. Single particle compression and nanoindentation enables the in-depth investigation of the deformation behaviour of particulate materials.In this study, single particle compression experiments were performed for the characterization of the deformation behaviour of common pharmaceutical excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with various, irregular particle morphologies of industrial relevance and the findings are compared with the results from powder compression. The technique was found useful for the characterization and clarification of the qualitative deformation behaviour. However, the derivation of a quantitative functional relationship between single particle deformation behavior and powder compression is limited. Nanoindentation was performed as complementary technique for the characterization of the micromechanical behavior of the APIs. A linear relationship between median indentation hardness and material densification strength as characteristic parameter derived by in-die powder compression analysis is found.

Comparative in vitro study on the local tolerance and efficacy of benzalkonium chloride, myristalkonium chloride and nonoxynol-9 as active principles in vaginal contraceptives

Background Spermicides have been identified as a potentially attractive alternative to hormonal contraceptives and/or intrauterine devices. Thus, this study aimed evaluating the efficacy and local tolerance of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) and myristalkonium chloride (MKC) contained in Pharmatex® vaginal formulations and compare them with nonoxynol-9 (N-9), the most common active ingredient in topical vaginal contraceptives. Methods Human normozoospermic samples were assessed for motility, viability, acrosome status and penetration ability after exposure to control, N-9 or different BKC and MKC doses for 0 and 10 minutes. Local tolerance on HeLa cells was evaluated by the Trypan-blue and MTT assays. Results Exposure to BKC and MKC reduced acrosome integrity while promoting total immobilisation and complete loss of sperm viability (p < .001, n = 15). Both compounds also compromised sperm penetration ability upon exposure (p < .001, n = 15). N-9 induced the same outcomes (p < .001, n = 15); nevertheless, it was more toxic to HeLa cells than BKC and MKC (p < .05, n = 14). Conclusions BKC and MKC present strong in vitro spermicidal activity at lower doses than N-9 and were better tolerated after immediate exposure than N-9. Available Pharmatex® galenic formulations were as effective as products based on N-9.

Recent Development of Active Ingredients in Mouthwashes and Toothpastes for Periodontal Diseases.

Periodontal diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are primarily caused by dental plaque. Several antiplaque and anti-microbial agents have been successfully incorporated into toothpastes and mouthwashes to control plaque biofilms and to prevent and treat gingivitis and periodontitis. The aim of this article was to review recent developments in the antiplaque, anti-gingivitis, and anti-periodontitis properties of some common compounds in toothpastes and mouthwashes by evaluating basic and clinical studies, especially the ones published in the past five years. The common active ingredients in toothpastes and mouthwashes included in this review are chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, stannous chloride, zinc oxide, zinc chloride, and two herbs—licorice and curcumin. We believe this comprehensive review will provide useful up-to-date information for dental care professionals and the general public regarding the major oral care products on the market that are in daily use.

Controlled Pulmonary Delivery of Carrier-Free Budesonide Dry Powder by Atomic Layer Deposition.

Ideal controlled pulmonary drug delivery systems provide sustained release by retarding lung clearance mechanisms and efficient lung deposition to maintain therapeutic concentrations over prolonged time. Here, we use atomic layer deposition (ALD) to simultaneously tailor the release and aerosolization properties of inhaled drug particles without the need for lactose carrier. In particular, we deposit uniform nanoscale oxide ceramic films, such as Al2O3, TiO2, and SiO2, on micronized budesonide particles, a common active pharmaceutical ingredient for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In vitro dissolution and ex vivo isolated perfused rat lung tests demonstrate dramatically slowed release with increasing nanofilm thickness, regardless of the nature of the material. Ex situ transmission electron microscopy at various stages during dissolution unravels mostly intact nanofilms, suggesting that the release mechanism mainly involves the transport of dissolution media through the ALD films. Furthermore, in vitro aerosolization testing by fast screening impactor shows a ∼2-fold increase in fine particle fraction (FPF) for each ALD-coated budesonide formulation after 10 ALD process cycles, also applying very low patient inspiratory pressures. The higher FPFs after the ALD process are attributed to the reduction in the interparticle force arising from the ceramic surfaces, as evidenced by atomic force microscopy measurements. Finally, cell viability, cytokine release, and tissue morphology analyses verify a safe and efficacious use of ALD-coated budesonide particles at the cellular level. Therefore, surface nanoengineering by ALD is highly promising in providing the next generation of inhaled formulations with tailored characteristics of drug release and lung deposition, thereby enhancing controlled pulmonary delivery opportunities.

ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF ONIONS (Allium cepa) ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR ALBINO RATS

ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF ONIONS (Allium cepa) ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR ALBINO RATS

An Analysis for Adulteration and Contamination of Over-the-Counter Weight-Loss Products.

Six Australian and five overseas complementary medicines (CM) and meal replacement shake products were analysed for potential adulteration with two common active pharmaceutical ingredients, caffeine and sibutramine, using thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry. The declared amount of caffeine in each product was also reviewed. Finally, the products were examined for heavy metal contamination using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results showed that there was no detected adulteration of either caffeine (for those products that did not list caffeine as an ingredient) or sibutramine in the 11 products; however, based on the product labels, one Australian and one overseas (two in total) CM product contained more than the maximum daily safety limit (400 mg) of caffeine. Potentially excessive lead and/or chromium was detected in six products, including four Australian products and two products purchased online. One Australian CM product appeared to contain these heavy metals at concentrations at, or exceeding, the safety limits specified in the United States Pharmacopeia or set by the World Health Organization. The overconsumption of caffeine and heavy metals has the potential of causing significant health effects in consumers.

A milk casein hydrolysate-derived peptide enhances glucose uptake through the AMP-activated protein kinase signalling pathway in skeletal muscle cells.

What is the central question of this study? How do common active ingredients contained in both Lactobacillus helveticus-fermented milk and milk casein hydrolysate (MCH) enhance glucose metabolism by skeletal muscle? What is the main finding and its importance? MCH enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells by stimulating AMP-activated kinase, but not insulin, signalling. Moreover, the MCH-derived specific peptide Ile-Pro-Pro mimicked this effect, suggesting a mechanism for MCH-induced metabolic improvement. Improvement of glucose metabolism in the skeletal muscle has a key role in exercise performance and prevention of metabolic diseases. In our previous study, we showed that intake of milk casein hydrolysate improves glucose metabolism in humans, but the mechanism of action was not elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of milk casein hydrolysate and its derived peptides on glucose uptake and glucose metabolic signalling in cultured skeletal muscle cells. Differentiated C2C12 myotubes were used for the experiments. The differentiated cells were incubated with milk casein hydrolysate, valine-proline-proline and isoleucine-proline-proline. Subsequently, the rate of 2-deoxy-glucose uptake and the phosphorylation levels of insulin-dependent and -independent signalling factors were examined. We found that the rate of 2-deoxy-glucose uptake in both milk casein hydrolysate and isoleucine-proline-proline-treated cells was higher than that in the control cells. Immunoblotting assays showed that the phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase, a rate-limiting factor in insulin-independent signalling, and of liver kinase B1, an upstream factor of AMP-activated protein kinase, in both milk casein hydrolysate and isoleucine-proline-proline-treated cells were higher than those in the control cells. Such significant effects were not observed after treatment with valine-proline-proline. Moreover, the insulin-dependent signalling was not significantly affected under the different conditions. The findings of our study suggest that milk casein hydrolysate enhances glucose uptake by activating insulin-independent AMP-activated protein kinase signalling in skeletal muscle cells, which might be mediated by a milk casein hydrolysate-derived peptide, namely, isoleucine-proline-proline.

Анализ ассортимента противопротозойных лекарственных средств для ветеринарного применения

This paper presents an analysis of the range of veterinary antiparasitic drugs registered in the territory of the Russian Federation and used for the prevention and treatment of protozoan diseases. At the time of 08/07/2021, 54 antiprotozoal drugs were entered into the State Register of Medicines for Veterinary Use. The most common active ingredient in their composition is Toltrazuril (contained in 12 TN – 22,2%). It was determined that the Russian Federation is a leader in the production and development of anti-protozoal drugs registered on its territory. It was found that most of the investigated drugs are produced in solid dosage forms (35 TN – 64,8%), effective for the treatment of coccidiosis (45 TN – 83,33%) and is used in birds (39 TN – 72,22%). The average annual registration of antiprotozoal drugs is 9% (5 drugs per year).

Анализ ассортимента инсектоакарицидных лекарственных средств для ветеринарного применения

The paper presents an analysis of the range of veterinary medicines registered in the territory of the Russian Federation and used for the prevention and treatment of arachnoentomoses. The most common active ingredient was determined: Fipronil (contained in 54 TN – 24,11% of the total number of insectoacaricides). It has been established that the Russian company NPF Ecoprom JSC occupies a leading position in the production of insecticidal acaricides (31 TN – 13,84%). The overwhelming majority of the investigated drugs were also developed in the Russian Federation – 143 TN (63,84% of the total insectoacaricide market). It was found that the largest number of insectoacaricidal preparations has a wide spectrum of action and is effective for the treatment of arachnoentomoses – 145 TN (64,73%), and the largest group among the target animals are dogs (127 TN can be used for their treatment – 56,70%). The dynamics of state registration of insectoacaricidal preparations was also studied. Most of them are registered in 2020.

Çocuk Acil Servisine Zehirlenme Nedeniyle Başvuran Olguların Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Bu çalışmada Selçuk Üniversitesi Meram Tıp Fakültesi ÇocukAcil Servisi'ne başvuran zehirlenme olgularının epidemiyolojik ve demografik özelliklerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 1 ay-18 yaşları arası zehirlenme ile başvuran hastalar alındı. Hastaların tıbbi verileri geriye dönük olarak incelendi. Yaş, cinsiyet, alım zamanı, alınan etken madde,zehirlenme nedeni, mevsimsel dağılımı, klinik bulguları, tedavileri değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Beş yıllık dönemde çocuk acil servisine başvuran 1027 hasta vardı; bu süre içinde zehirlenme olguları tüm başvuruların %1,66’sını oluşturmuştu. Hastaneye yatırılarak takip edilen 513zehirlenme olgusu çalışmaya alındı. Hastaların ortalama yaşları 7,8±5,6 yıl (5 ay-17 yıl) olan, 294 (%57,3)’ü kız, 219 (%42,7)’u erkek idi. Hastaların %86'sında tek ilaç zehirlenmesi tespit edildi.Zehirlenmelerin %64,5'i kaza sonucu ve%35,5'i öz kıyım amaçlı idi. Kaza sonucu zehirlenmeler 2-6 yaş grubunda en yaygın neden iken, öz kıyım amaçlı zehirlenmeler en sık 10-17 yaş grubunda görüldü. Öz kıyım amaçlı zehirlenmelerde kızların oranı belirgin şekilde yüksekti. En sık zehirlenme nedeni ilaç¬lar (%70,2) olup, en sık ilaç grubu amiritiptilin grubu trisiklik antidepresanlardı (%42,2). İkinci en yaygın etken farmakolojik olmayan ajanlardı ve bunların çoğunu insektisid ve organofosfatlar oluşturdu. Başvuru anında hastaların %71,7'i semptomatikti. En sık görülen semptom letarji (%34) idi. Hastaların %77’sine mide yıkama ve aktif kömür, %35,7’sine mide yıkama, %11,1’ine alkali diürez, %9,7’sine antidot tedavisi uygulandı. Hastanede kalış süresi ortanca 2 gün (1-10 gün) idi. Hastaların %50,9'u yoğun bakım ünitesinde takip edildi. Mortalite oranı %0,5 idi.Sonuç: İlaçlar ve organofosfat/insektisid zehirlenmeleri bölgemizde en sık görülen zehirlenme etkenleri idi. Önleyici tedbirlerin alınması, kamu ve sağlık personelini eğitilmesi açısındanher bölgenin kendi zehirlenme özelliklerini belirlemesinin önemli olduğunu düşünüyoruz.

COMPLEXATION OF PRAZIQUANTEL WITH α-, β- AND y-CYCLODEXTRINS IN AQUEOUS-ALCOHOLIC SOLUTIONS

Currently, the percentage of infections with invasive (parasitic) diseases is quite large; therefore, the treatment of helminthiases is an urgent problem in veterinary medicine. Parasitic worms inflict significant damage on animal husbandry, leading to the death of animals, shortage of meat, dairy products, and wool. The most common active ingredient in antihelmintics is praziquantel, which is well known as an effective broad-spectrum anthelmintic. At the same time, praziquantel has low solubility in water and a pronounced bitter taste, which represents a significant obstacle in developing liquid forms of drugs that are convenient for administration to animals. One way to solve these problems is the complexation of medicinal substances with various (natural and synthetic) compounds. In this regard, this paper aims to study the complexation of praziquantel with α-, β-, and -cyclodextrins in aqueous-alcoholic solutions. The studies were carried out by the method of ultraviolet spectroscopy. It was found that the addition of cyclodextrins to aqueous-alcoholic solutions of praziquantel leads to spectral changes indicating the presence of intermolecular interactions and complexation. The isomolar series method showed that in dilute solutions, praziquantel forms complex compounds with cyclodextrins 1:1, that is, one molecule of praziquantel falls on one molecule of α-, β- or y-cyclodextrin. The stability constants of the resulting complexes were calculated using the molar ratio method. It is shown that in the range of 296-316 K, the composition of complex compounds remains unchanged (1:1), and their stability decreases with increasing temperature. The study of the temperature dependences of the stability constants made it possible to determine the standard values of changes in the Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and complexation entropy.

GUAIFENESIN MODIFIES AIRWAY MUCUS, REDUCES MUCUS-CELL SURFACE INTERACTIONS, AND INCREASES MUCOCILIARY TRANSPORT IN AN ORGANOTYPIC IN VITRO MODEL OF MUCUS HYPERSECRETION

SESSION TITLE: Phenotyping and Management of COPD SESSION TYPE: Original Investigations PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 PURPOSE: Airway mucus hypersecretion is a hallmark of chronic bronchitis (CB) and is strongly associated with cough discomfort, reduced pulmonary function, recurring respiratory infections, and the development of obstructive lung disease. Guaifenesin (GGE) is currently the only FDA-approved oral expectorant and the most common active ingredient in prescription and over-the-counter medicines for treatment of acute respiratory congestion and stable CB. Studies in patients with CB demonstrate that GGE reduces airway secretion viscoelasticity and mucus adhesion, inhibits cough reflex sensitivity, and increases mucociliary clearance (MCC). However, despite its broad use, the mechanism of action for GGE remains unclear. Here, we investigate whether GGE acts directly on the respiratory epithelium to modify epithelial cell secretions, reduce mucus/mucosa interactions, and enhance mucociliary transport (MCT) using an organotypic in vitro model of mucus hypersecretion. METHODS: Primary human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) were collected from healthy (HC), heavy smoker (HS; 48.3±18.9 pack year), and COPD (51.3±10.3 pack year) donor lungs (N=3 per group), and differentiated at an air-liquid interface to a mucociliary phenotype. At culture day 35, 20µg/ml GGE was supplemented to the basolateral medium and cultures were maintained in the presence of drug for an additional 15 days. Apical secretions were allowed to accumulate for the duration of the 15-day treatment. Following treatment, mucus concentration, mucus/mucosa interaction strength, in vitro MCT, ciliary beat frequency (CBF), and mucin protein expression were compared. RESULTS: Apical secretions collected from HS and COPD cultures had a higher mucus concentration (12.3±3.0 and 11.1±2.2 % solids, respectively) than HC cultures (7.6±1.1). Moreover, increased mucus concentration was associated with greater mucus/mucosa interaction strength and lower baseline MCT as compared to HC. In all donor groups, 15-day GGE treatment reduced mucus concentration (? % solids: 2.2±1.2 HC, 1.9±0.6 HS, and 2.4±1.8 COPD) and mucus/mucosa interaction strength (? mN/cm: 1.8±0.4 HC, 3.6±1.9 HS, and 1.6±0.4 COPD). GGE-mediated reductions in mucus concentration and mucus/mucosa interaction strength translated to increased in vitro MCT (? µm/sec: 35.1±21.9 HC, 19.6±30.1 HS, and 4.7±0.8 COPD). GGE treatment did not significantly alter MUC5AC or MUC5B secreted protein levels, or CBF. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that GGE significantly reduces airway mucus concentration, reduces mucus-cell surface interaction strength, and increases MCT in vitro through direct interactions with airways epithelial cells in all donor groups (HC, HS, and COPD). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These data suggest that GGE may act directly at the level of the respiratory epithelium to modify airway mucus and improve MCC in conditions characterized by mucus hypersecretions. DISCLOSURES: Global Medical Lead Respiratory relationship with Reckitt Benckiser Please note: $1001 - $5000 Added 04/10/2020 by Graça Maria Alves da Cunha Coutinho, source=Web Response, value=Salary No relevant relationships by Brian Button, source=Web Response Receive research support relationship with Reckitt Benckiser Please note: >$100000 Added 04/09/2020 by Phillip Clapp, source=Web Response, value=Grant/Research Support No relevant relationships by Miriam Figueira, source=Web Response no disclosure on file for Ly Nguyen; Employee relationship with Rekitt Benckiser Please note: >$100000 Added 06/11/2020 by Karin Nicholson, source=Web Response, value=Salary No relevant relationships by Timother Shea, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Holly Thacker, source=Web Response

Comparative Efficacy of Common Active Ingredients in Organic Insecticides Against Difficult to Control Insect Pests.

Simple SummaryAccording to USA organic standards, farmers can apply a certified allowable insecticide when all non-chemical practices fail to control pests. However, there exists a lack of control efficacy information to enable decision-making about which organic product works best for a given target pest. In this study, we conducted 153 field trials on different host crops to evaluate the control efficacy of common active ingredients in organic insecticides against insect pest groups considered difficult to control in organic production. The performance of organic products Entrust (spinosad), Azera (pyrethrin and azadirachtin), PyGanic (pyrethrin) and Neemix (azadirachtin) varied widely among pest groups, as well as among pest species within a group, providing an overall reduction in pest infestations by 73.9%, 61.7%, 48.6% and 46.1%, respectively. Those insect pests that were particularly difficult to control included thrips, stinkbugs, cucumber beetles and fruitworms. Several caveats pertaining to the application of the results are discussed.There exists a lack of control efficacy information to enable decision-making about which organic insecticide product works best for a given insect pest. Here, we summarize results of 153 field trials on the control efficacy of common active ingredients in organic insecticides against 12 groups of the most difficult to control insect pests. These trials evaluated primarily the organic products Entrust (spinosad), Azera (pyrethrin and azadirachtin), PyGanic (pyrethrin) and Neemix (azadirachtin), which reduced pest infestations by an overall 73.9%, 61.7%, 48.6% and 46.1% respectively, averaged across all trials. Entrust was the most effective control option for many insect pests, particularly providing >75% control of flea beetles, Colorado potato beetle, cabbageworms and alfalfa weevil, but was relatively ineffective against true bugs and aphids. Azera provided >75% control of green peach aphid, flea beetles, Japanese beetle, Mexican bean beetle, potato leafhopper and cabbageworms. PyGanic was less effective than Entrust and Azera but still provided >75% control of green peach aphid, flea beetles and potato leafhopper. The growth inhibition effects of azadirachtin in Neemix were particularly effective against larvae of Mexican bean beetle and Colorado potato beetle but was generally less effective in trials with insect infestations consisting mainly of adult stages. Those insect pests that were particularly difficult to control included thrips, stinkbugs, cucumber beetles and fruitworms. Several caveats pertaining to the application of the results are discussed.

Impacts of subchronic exposure to a commercial 2,4-D herbicide on developmental stages of multiple freshwater fish species

Invasive, nuisance aquatic species such as Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) are rapidly spreading across the United States. One common active ingredient used to control this invasive species is 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Application of 2,4-D to aquatic environments typically occurs while many freshwater fish are spawning and due to 2,4-D stability in aquatic environments, many non-target species experience prolonged exposure throughout embryogenesis and larval development. The impacts of 2,4-D exposure on phylogenetically distant fish species is poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the impacts of the 2,4-D commercial herbicide DMA4®IVM on nine freshwater fish species from six different families (four orders) at different points during ontogeny. Each species was exposed to ecologically relevant concentrations of a commercial 2,4-D herbicide (0.05, 0.50, and 2.00 ppm or mg/L 2,4-D a. e.), and effects on morphology, survival, and growth were evaluated. Our results demonstrate that exposure of embryonic and larval fish to ecologically relevant concentrations of a commercial 2,4-D herbicide reduced survival in early developmental stages of six freshwater species that spanned five phylogenetic families and three phylogenetic orders; however, sensitivity to 2,4-D exposure did not show correlation with phylogenetic proximity. Altogether, our results indicate that the use of 2,4-D herbicides in aquatic ecosystems at current recommended concentrations (≤2 ppm whole-lake treatment) could present risk to multiple freshwater fish species survival during early development.

Assessment of Pharmacologic Ingredients in Common Over-the-Counter Sinonasal Medications

Sinonasal remedies are the most frequently purchased category of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the United States. A variety of options for relief are available under proprietary names, although the actual number of available options may not be readily appreciated by the consumer or the clinician. To determine the prevalence of specific ingredients in OTC sinonasal products. This cross-sectional study took physical inventory of brand-name and generic OTC drugs marketed as sinus, cold, allergy, or nasal remedies. Retail pharmacies in New Orleans, Louisiana, commercial websites, and the Drugs, Herbs and Supplements section of MedlinePlus and drugs.com were searched. Data were collected and analyzed from July 1 to 31, 2018. Frequency of active ingredients in OTC formulations. Five pharmacies were visited to identify 18 brands, for which the commercial websites were then searched. The 14 most common brands represented 211 unique products. Only 8 unique nonanalgesic ingredients were identified among these products, with many products sold under the same brand name and with the same active ingredient. Phenylephrine hydrochloride, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, guaifenesin, chlorpheniramine maleate, brompheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and doxylamine succinate were the common active ingredients, with all available OTC sinonasal remedies consisting of 1 or more of these ingredients. The frequency of occurrence of each ingredient ranged from 10 to 261 different products. Combinations of 2, 3, or 4 active ingredients occurred frequently in OTC sinonasal products. These findings suggest that proliferation of brand extension products under a common name is pervasive. Clinicians should be aware of the large array of redundant OTC formulations and lack of specificity when discussing brand-name sinonasal remedies with their patients.

Farmers’ Practices in Using Insecticides to Control Spodoptera exigua Infesting Shallot Allium cepa var. aggregatum in the Shallot Production Centers of Java

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübn. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major insect pest of shallot in Java. This research was aimed to determine how insecticides were used as the common farmers practice for controlling S. exigua. The research was conducted in three shallot production centers in Java: the Districts of Brebes (Central Java Province), Nganjuk (East Java Province), and Bantul (the Special Region of Yogyakarta). Surveys were conducted by interviewing thirty shallot farmers as respondents from each district. The selected thirty farmers were taken from four sub-districts. Almost all farmers (93.3%) in the three districts had similar perception that S. exigua was the major insect pest in shallot and 84.4% farmers stated that this insect was difficult to control. The four most common insecticides active ingredients used were chlorfenapyr, methomyl, chlorpyrifos, and emamectin benzoate. Insecticides remained the first choice and they were applied throughout the shallot season mostly based on the calendar (1-3 days interval). When using insecticides farmers tend to exceed the label recommended rates, and the farmers mostly mixed different insecticides into one spray solution. These results suggest that application of insecticides to control S. exigua was already exessive. The potential risks and efforts essential to minimize the risks are discussed.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Astragalin and Chlorogenic Acid on Escherichia coli-Induced Inflammation of Sheep Endometrial Epithelium Cells.

Endometritis is one of the main diseases which harm sheep husbandry. Astragalin and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are common active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with immunoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, sheep endometrial epithelium cells (SEECs) were successfully purified and identified, and the in vitro inflammation model of SEECs induced by Escherichia coli (E. coli) was successfully established. To explore the effect of astragalin and CGA on the inflammation induced by E. coli and its potential mechanism, six groups were set up, namely, group C, M, astragalin, CGA, BAY, and STR. Cells in group C were incubated with DMEM/F12 for 6 h, while cells in group M, astragalin, CGA, BAY, and STR were incubated with DMEM/F12, astragalin, CGA, BAY, and STR for 3 h, respectively, followed by E. coli infection at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 E. coli per cell for 3 h. Subsequently, the cells and the supernatant were collected to detect the expression of genes in the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by ELISA, qPCR, and western blot. The results showed that E. coli could induce inflammation of SEECs in vitro, while astragalin and CGA could alleviate the inflammatory response induced by E. coli via inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which provides a theoretical and experimental foundation for preventing sheep endometritis clinically.

Controlling arable weeds with natural substances as bio-based herbicides.

Today farmers manage arable weeds with chemical tools or mechanical tillage practices. While the heavy reliance on synthetic herbicides in conventional arable farming is under discussion, the environmentally driven trend towards reduced tillage as a climate-smart agricultural practice becomes more prominent. These trends demand for alternative control methods of weeds. This greenhouse study investigates the control of 21 arable weeds with four natural substances. The experimental setup compared an untreated control with four natural substances (acetic, citric and pelargonic acid and magnesium chloride), and glyphosate was used as the common active ingredient for stubble and presowing herbicide applications. The level of necrotisation (0-100%) was used to assess the efficacy of herbicide treatment. The efficacy differs substantially among the bio-based herbicides. For all natural substances, pelargonic acid has the highest mean efficacy for controlling the weeds tested in this experiment. For most weeds, however, the efficacy of natural substances is much lower compared to glyphosate. Nevertheless, the results indicate that natural substances as bio-based herbicides have the potential to offer an increased target specificity and rapid degradation in the soil. We found a high efficacy of pelargonic acid for controlling Brassica napus.