Potential Effects Research Articles

Water-soluble garlic polysaccharide (WSGP) improves ulcerative colitis by modulating the intestinal barrier and intestinal flora metabolites

WSGP has demonstrated significant potential for various bioactive effects. However, limited research has explored their anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) effects and mechanism on the colonic system and gut microbial metabolites. We evaluated the ameliorative effects of WSGP on the UC mice model. Using H&E to assess histological injury of colon morphology, AB-PAS staining to detect mucin secretion from goblet cells and the mucous layer, IF to evaluate the expression of intercellular tight junction proteins, ELISA to measure inflammatory factors, WB analysis to measure protein expression of inflammatory signaling pathways, RT-qPCR to quantify gene transcription of inflammatory factors, and LC-MS to analyze metabolites in mouse cecum contents. WSGP supplementation increased food intake, body weight, and colon length while reducing disease activity and histological scores in colitis-afflicted mice. WSGP mitigated colonic tissue damage and restored intestinal barrier integrity by suppressing NF-κB/STAT3 signaling, thereby decreasing gene transcription, protein expression of proinflammatory factors, and nitric oxide production. Additionally, WSGP improved UC by altering the variety of intestinal microbial metabolites. This study demonstrates that WSGP supplementation attenuates UC mice by suppressing the NF-κB/STAT3 signaling pathway, enhancing mucosal barrier function, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and modulating gut microbial metabolites.

From computational prediction to experimental validation: Hesperidin's anti-Urolithiatic activity in sodium oxalate-induced urolithiasis models in fruit flies and mice

Kidney stones have been a long-standing health issue, contributing to renal failure, especially in co-morbid patients. There is an increasing interest in exploring natural compounds with anti-urolithiatic properties. Our study utilized in-silico techniques followed by in vivo experiments to evaluate the anti-urolithiatic potential of selected phytoconstituents. Molecular docking studies were conducted on 11 different targets, including inhibitors of kidney stone formation, antioxidant enzymes, and biomarkers of kidney injury, to explore the potential of anti-urolithiatic effects of 38 phytoconstituents from medicinal plants possessing diuretic activity. Further, the anti-urolithiatic activity of the phytoconstituent was evaluated using a sodium oxalate-induced urolithiatic fruit fly and mouse model. Hesperidin emerged as a promising candidate, exhibiting binding interactions with a specific set of 11 target proteins involved in crystal formation with minimal free energy. Hesperidin demonstrated promising anti-urolithiatic potential in mitigating urolithiasis as evidenced by reduced crystal covered area of Malpighian tubules of fruit fly and reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and serum sodium, potassium levels in mice. Moreover, it increased urine volume, preventing crystal deposition, and reduced urine urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, and potassium levels, enhancing urine flow and preventing crystal accumulation. Histopathological analysis further supported its efficacy by showing minimal crystal deposition and reduced kidney damage. Hesperidin exhibited superior effectiveness in reducing various serum and urine parameters, making it promising alternatives for urolithiasis management warranting further investigation to determine its safety and optimal dosages in human.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of ammonia leakage scenarios during ship-to-ship bunkering

Ammonia is emerging as a potential marine fuel, yet its toxicity and risk of accidental leaks pose significant safety challenges compared to other alternatives. This study focuses on the critical ship-to-ship bunkering process using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyse diverse ammonia leakage scenarios considering various leak orientations relative to the wind and the ships. The numerical setup was initially validated against controlled experiments, demonstrating satisfactory agreement. Results indicate that atmospheric ammonia dispersion is significantly influenced by obstacles like the superstructure and hull in the near field, with diminishing effect in the far field. Conventional Gaussian plume models are inadequate within the first few hundred metres from the release source due to the complex near-field flow patterns and increased turbulence generated by the wakes of the hull and superstructure. These findings underscore the necessity for improved ship-scale dispersion models to accurately evaluate the impact of obstacles on ammonia dispersion. The consequence analysis reveals that upward leaks create larger risk zones with potential for irreversible health effects, while horizontal leaks may expose personnel to life-threatening concentrations. Vertical leaks in crosswind configurations generate lethal zones covering tens of metres on deck. These results highlight the importance of considering the exact location of the transfer hose relative to the ship and all potential wind orientations in risk assessments. Given the extensive range of potential dispersion patterns and the inadequacy of conventional Gaussian dispersion models in this context, we strongly recommend vessel-specific CFD simulations before certifying ammonia bunkering operations as safe. This approach is crucial for accurate risk assessment at the ship scale, where complex geometries and multi-directional flows invalidate the assumptions of traditional point-source, uni-directional dispersion models.

Multi-faceted potential of sophoridine compound's anti-arrhythmic and antioxidant effects through ROS/CaMKII pathway

Cardiac arrhythmias remain a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, for novel antiarrhythmic therapies. This study states that the first report of sophoridine (SPN), a quinolizidine alkaloid derived from traditional Chinese herbs, shows promise as a potential candidate due to its anti-arrhythmic and antioxidant properties. The study found that cell viability in H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes remained stable even when treated with SPN at a higher dosage of 100 μg/ml. This phenomenon was accompanied by increases in mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling, at 50 and 100 μg/ml. Glucose fluctuations regulate ventricular arrhythmias caused by SPN by activating the ROS/CaMKII pathway. Experimental models using zebrafish provided additional evidence supporting the regulatory effects of SPN on heart rate. In addition, the administration of SPN resulted in substantial deregulation of crucial genes involved in heart development (nppa, nppb, tnnt2a) at the transcriptional level in zebrafish. These findings provide insight into the various pharmacological properties of SPN and this opens up new possibilities for anti-arrhythmic treatment strategies.

Unveiling Current Advances in Bioelectronic Medicine: A Comprehensive Review

Background: Bioelectronic medicine is an emerging therapy that makes use of neural signals and the nervous system to help in the treatment of injuries and diseases. The nervous sys-tem consists of disciplined circuits that involve the communication of every major organ of the human body as all the organs of the human body are regulated and controlled by neural circuits. Objective: The objective of this review is to overview the current implementations of bioelectron-ic medicines within the human body. The main target is to heal the body without administering a wide array of exogenous drugs. On understanding these neural circuits at a molecular level, it could be possible to understand, manipulate, and modify the body’s functioning with the help of electrical impulses to modify neural impulses. Methods: The literature related to bioelectronic medicines, and their applications was collected through different websites, academic research portals, and databases, sorted, and presented in this review. Results: Bioelectronic medicine is emerging as a cutting-edge area in healthcare, demonstrating its potential to transform the diagnosis and management of inflammation and related conditions. With established efficacy in a variety of disorders and marketed available treatments, it highlights an enormous shift toward individualized and specialized therapeutic approaches, providing prom-ise for improved outcomes and a higher quality of life for patients worldwide. Conclusion: The study focuses on potential advances in bioelectronic medicine for alleviating in-flammation and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and spinal cord in-jury. Bioelectronic treatments provide innovative therapeutic options with the potential for con-siderable clinical effects.

Chemometrics Evaluation of Lemongrass Essential Oils: Authenticity, Quality and Selection Of Bioactives against t. cruzi.

AbstractThe effectiveness of treatments against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is limited in the chronic phase of the disease. The essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus) have shown activity against this parasite. This study aimed to use principal component analysis (PCA) to analyze the data of lemongrass essential oils submitted to gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC‐FID) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) as well as partial least squares (PLS) regressions to correlate chemical variability with the results of biological assays. The PLS models highlighted geraniol, caryophyllene, and limonene as the main compounds responsible for antioxidant activity. Regarding cytotoxicity, the PLS models indicated that this activity is a cumulative effect of multiple compounds. For the trypanocidal effect, median lethal concentration (CL50) values ranged from 15.12 ± 3.96 to 110.10 ± 11.22 μg mL−1, resulting in selectivity index (SI) values of 2.99 to 22.55 times more selective for T. cruzi compared to host cells. PLS indicated that geraniol, neral and geranial were the main contributors to the trypanocidal effect, suggesting the potential for somatic or synergistic effects against trypomastigote forms.

Curry Leaf: Traditional Herb and its Medicinal Profile, Multipotential Nutraceutical Properties, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activity

: This review briefly discusses about herbal medication, i.e., Murraya koenigii, also known as curry leaves, that have been useful in traditional medicine for centuries and natural products with different pharmacological activities. It might lead to a better knowledge of natural products' potential therapeutic effects and the creation of promising pharmaceuticals with minimal toxicity and great effectiveness for treating different ailments. The Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), Technological Periodical Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Google Scholar, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Sci Finder, and PubMed were used to compile the content of this review. From 1975 through 2020, data were collected. More than 23 components of M. koenigii have been discovered so far, with sterols, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and alkaloids causing the most concern. Due to its multicomponent nature, M. koenigii has a wide range of beneficial biological activities, including analgesic, anticancer, antioxidative, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antidiabetic activities, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review discusses the vast details of M. koenigii (Curry leaves) and its possible medicinal use for different therapeutic purposes. The plant incorporates other essential substances, as discussed, are beneficial to remedy and deal with several ailment cures that exhibit different pharmacological actions. The accumulated ethnopharmacological details of that plant may be further helpful for the upcoming research about the said properties and use of M. koenigii.

An In Silico Approach to Exploring the Antinociceptive Biological Activities of Linalool and its Metabolites.

Pain is characterized by the unpleasant sensory and emotional sensation associated with actual or potential tissue damage, whereas nociception refers to the mechanism by which noxious stimuli are transmitted from the periphery to the CNS. The main drugs used to treat pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid analgesics, which have side effects that limit their use. Therefore, in the search for new drugs with potential antinociceptive effects, essential oils have been studied, whose constituents (monoterpenes) are emerging as a new therapeutic possibility. Among them, linalool and its metabolites stand out. The present study aims to investigate the antinociceptive potential of linalool and its metabolites through a screening using an in silico approach. Molecular docking was used to evaluate possible interactions with important targets involved in antinociceptive activity, such as α2-adrenergic, GABAergic, muscarinic, opioid, adenosinergic, transient potential, and glutamatergic receptors. The compounds in the investigated series obtained negative energies for all enzymes, representing satisfactory interactions with the targets and highlighting the multi-target potential of the L4 metabolite. Linalool and its metabolites have a high likelihood of modulatory activity against the targets involved in nociception and are potential candidates for future drugs.

Evaluation of Hydrazide-hydrazone and 4-thiazolidinone Derivatives of Etodolac as Potential Anticancer Agents in Leukemia Cells

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are commonly used for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, have also been found to prevent cancer. (±)(R,S) Etodolac is an NSAID that belongs to the class of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Various derivatives of etodolac are synthesized to boost its anti-proliferative action and lessen its potential negative effects. In our earlier studies, some novel derivatives of etodolac exhibited stronger cytotoxic effects on prostate cell lines and had similar effects on leukemia cells in pre-screening experiments. Objective: Using the K562 leukemia cell line as a model, we sought to investigate the anti-cancer properties of a hydrazide-hydrozone derivative (SGK-205) and a 4-thiazolidinone derivative of etodolac (SGK-216). Materials and Methods: In the current investigation, SGK-205 and SGK-216 compounds were administered to K562 cells for 24 and 48 hours at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μM. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT test, and apoptosis by Annexin V-PI staining and mitochondrial membrane potential assays, together with mRNA expressions of apoptotic proteins. The levels of the proteins, HER2 and COX2, were also examined to evaluate COX2 inhibitory capacity. Results: In K562 cells, there was a definite dose-dependent response to SGK-205 and SGK-216 compounds. Results from MTT viability tests, together with mitochondrial membrane potential measurements and Annexin V-PI staining, revealed that SGK-216 and SGK-205 significantly outperformed etodolac in terms of their apoptotic and anti-proliferative activities. The concentration range of 10-20 M for both chemicals was sufficient to start biological responses. Apoptosis was also investigated through the expressions of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, gene expression research demonstrated SGK-205 to be a beneficial substitute to etodolac in lowering COX-2 and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) expression. Conclusion: Our data indicated both derivatives to have higher anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects compared to etodolac. An overall assessment highlighting apoptotic induction potential, acceptable toxicity levels, a consistent dose-response relationship, and COX2 inhibitory actions, in particular, indicated SGK-205 as a viable novel therapeutic.

The Role of Resveratrol in Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Review of Current Research

: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progres-sive cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired daily functioning. The etiology of AD is complex and multifactorial, involving various pathological mechanisms such as the accumula-tion of amyloid-beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. As the global prevalence of AD continues to rise, there is a growing interest in identifying po-tential therapeutic interventions to prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. Resvera-trol, a natural polyphenolic compound found in various plant sources such as grapes, berries, and peanuts, has gained considerable attention due to its potential neuroprotective effects. Numerous preclinical studies utilizing in vitro and animal models have investigated the impact of resvera-trol on AD pathology and associated cognitive impairments. This review aims to provide a com-prehensive summary of the current research on the role of resveratrol in AD. In conclusion, resveratrol holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for AD due to its ability to target mul-tiple pathological processes involved in the disease. Further research, including well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes, is needed to fully elucidate the efficacy, optimal dosage, and long-term effects of resveratrol in AD patients. Nevertheless, resveratrol remains an intri-guing compound with neuroprotective properties and may contribute to the development of nov-el therapeutic approaches for AD in the future.

Tailored recommendations for infant milk formula intake results in more accurate feeding.

Based on theoretical calculations and actual formula intake data, we conclude that larger infants require a significantly higher daily formula milk intake than smaller infants, and we postulate that infants could benefit from more tailored formula milk intake recommendations. • Adequate energy intake during the infancy period is crucial to support optimal growth and organ development, with the potential for long-lasting health effects. • Current available guidelines on the daily formula milk requirements of infants are based on the needs of infants with their growth pattern following the 50th percentile of the weight-for-age growth curve. • Based on using both theoretical calculations and actual formula intake data, larger infants require a significantly higher daily formula milk intake than smaller infants. • Exclusive formula-fed infants could benefit from more tailored formula milk intake recommendations, in early infancy.

Response of benthic assemblages to heavy metal contamination from shipbreaking operations in a tropical coastal area

The response of macrobenthic communities to both environmental and anthropogenic pressures serves as a valuable indicator of ecosystem integrity. This study aimed to unravel the benthic community structure, examine the heavy metal contamination status, and explore the response of the microbenthic community to heavy metals in a tropical shipbreaking region. For this, sediment and benthos samples were taken from different sampling stations of the shipbreaking area and the non-shipbreaking sites. The results showed the benthic community consisted of 23 taxa, including Polychaeta, Oligochaeta, Amphipoda, Decapoda, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Priapulida, with polychaetes being the predominant group. The benthic community and diversity values were significantly varied between the two sampling sites (p <0.05). Taxa richness was lower in the shipbreaking area, primarily characterized by the dominance of opportunistic benthic groups, particularly Capitella sp. The concentrations of heavy metals (µg. g−1) in the sediment varied within the following ranges: 35.54–258.021 for Zn, 4.84–132.08 for Pb, 22.82–75.25 for Cu, 198.74–764.16 for Mn, 14.57–42.13 for Cr, 4.03–42.23 for Ni, and 3.82–14.85 for Co. Based on concentration levels, Zn, Pb, and Cu were identified as major contaminants with moderate to high potential for adverse effects, particularly evident in the shipbreaking area compared to non-shipbreaking areas. Pollution indices, including enrichment factors and contamination factors, also highlighted contamination by Zn, Pb, and Cu. Among the benthic taxa, Polychaeta demonstrated a high degree of tolerance to elevated concentrations of these heavy metals. Amphipoda density was significantly negatively correlated with Zn, Pb, and Cu concentrations, with significant coefficients of determination (r2= 0.38, p <0.10; r2= 0.64, p <0.01 and r2 = 0.63, p <0.01, respectively). Multivariate analyses (cluster analyses, MDS and CCA) demonstrated both positive and negative relationships among heavy metals and benthic groups. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed the benthic community was negatively correlated with Zn, Pb, and Cu. This finding provided critical insights into the ecological health of aquatic ecosystems, aiding in the development of informed conservation and management strategies.

Trends in the management of horses referred for colic evaluation preceding and during the COVID‐19 pandemic (2013–2023)

SummaryBackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic represented a significant source of anxiety and stress for equine veterinarians and clients, with the potential for measurable effects on caseload and owner economics.ObjectiveTo compare the number of horses presenting for emergency colic evaluation and treatment, as well as costs at two equine referral hospitals.Study designRetrospective cohort.MethodsMedical records of horses admitted to North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic (BEVC) were compared. Total equine accessions, number of horses referred for colic and patient age were recorded over an 11‐year period (2013–2023). Horses were categorised based on treatment as medical, surgical treatment with recovery, surgical exploration with intraoperative euthanasia, or euthanasia without surgery. Total invoice of each case was also recorded.ResultsTotal equine accessions, total number and proportion of horses presenting for evaluation of colic, and number of horses recovering from colic surgery at NCSU increased following onset of the pandemic, while they remained similar to pre‐pandemic levels at BEVC. The proportion of horses presenting for colic that received surgery decreased at both hospitals over the study period. Mean invoice totals for horses surviving colic surgery increased at both hospitals over the study period, but was not significantly associated with euthanasia. Age was not significantly different between categories of colic.Main limitationsRetrospective study design, differences in academic and private practices.ConclusionsThe decreasing proportion of horses admitted for colic that received surgery is likely due to the increased caseload of first‐opinion care at referral practices during the pandemic, as fewer options were available to owners. The increasing number of horses euthanised intraoperatively or euthanised without receiving surgery may be due to the dramatically rising costs of medical care, particularly surgery.

A fast fish swimming protocol that provides similar insights to critical swimming speed.

Performance measures are an important tool to assess the impact of environmental change on animals. In fish, performance is often measured as critical swimming speed (Ucrit), which reflects individual maximal physiological capacities. A drawback of Ucrit is that trials are relatively long (∼30-75 min). Ucrit may therefore not be suitable for several repeated measurements because of the potential for training effects, long recovery periods, and low throughput. Here we test a shorter (∼4-5 min) protocol, "Ucrit fast" (UCfast) in zebrafish (Danio rerio). We show that UCfast and Ucrit have similar, significant repeatabilities within individuals. Unlike Ucrit, repeated UCfast trials did not elicit a training effect. Both UCfast and Ucrit provide the same insights into thermal acclimation, and both provide similar estimates of individual acclimation capacity in doubly acclimated fish. We propose that UCfast is a valid substitute for Ucrit particularly when higher throughput and several repeated measures are necessary.

Skin Health and Complexion Improvement Benefits of Selected Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

Skin health and complexion improvement have become more prioritized and the need for natural remedies are more in demand than the synthetic options. Research in the area of skin care is growing with regular updation of facts and data. In Ayurveda, skin complexion improvement is comparable to the modern concepts such as tyrosinase inhibition and anti-oxidant activity. In this review, selected Ayurvedic medicinal plants are screened from classical Ayurvedic texts as well as the modern scientific literature to investigate their probable potential for skin health and skin lightening effects. All the plants reviewed are found to act as complexion promoters directly or indirectly by their interference in melanogenesis pathway or through antioxidant potentials. This efficiently confirms the goodness of these plants as potential skin care and whitening agents.

PH-independent effects of acid suppressants in dogs and cats: a One Health perspective and case for further investigation.

Our understanding of the use of acid-suppressant drugs (ASDs) in companion animals is largely centered around the treatment of acid-related disorders including gastroesophageal reflux and gastrointestinal ulceration. The companion article by Grady et al, JAVMA, October 2024, summarizes our current knowledge of the efficacy of and indications for ASDs for the treatment of acid-related disorders. Far less is understood about both the benefits of and potential for adverse effects of ASDs outside of the parietal cell including those directed toward inflammation and immunomodulation, tumorigenesis, fibrosis, and oxidative stress. In this Currents in One Health article, we summarize the pH-independent properties of ASDs as demonstrated in studies conducted largely in humans and rodents. The objective of this review is to highlight and increase awareness of the pH-independent effects of ASDs to elucidate the need for further veterinary research in this area.

An invasive prey and changing climate interact to shape the breeding phenology of an endangered predator.

Changes in phenology are occurring from global climate change, yet the impacts of other types of global change on the phenology of animals remain less appreciated. Understanding the potential for synergistic effects of different types of global change on phenology is needed, because changing climate regimes can have cascading effects, particularly on invasive species that vary in their thermal tolerances. Using 25 years of data from 5963 nests and 4675 marked individuals across the entire US breeding range of an endangered predator, the snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), we isolated the effects of an invasion of novel prey and warming temperatures on breeding phenology and its demographic consequences. Over this time period, breeding season length doubled, increasing by approximately 14 weeks. Both temperature and the establishment of invasive prey interacted to explain the timing of nest initiation. Temperature and invasive prey played distinct roles: earlier nest initiation occurred with increasing temperatures, whereas late nesting increased with invasion. Ultimately, both nest survival and juvenile survival declined later in the year, such that effects from invasive prey, but not warming temperatures, have the apparent potential for mistiming in breeding phenology by some individuals. Nonetheless, relatively few nesting events occurred during late fall when nest survival was very low, and seasonal declines in nest survival were weaker and renesting was more frequent in invaded wetlands, such that total reproductive output increased with invasion. Variation in demographic effects illustrate that considering only particular components of demography (e.g., nest survival rates) may be inadequate to infer the overall consequences of changes in phenology, particularly the potential for mistiming of phenological events. These results emphasize that species invasions may profoundly alter phenology of native species, such effects are distinct from climate effects, and both interact to drive population change.

Dietary protein in the ICU in relation to health outcomes.

Critical care nutrition guidelines recommend provision of higher protein doses than recommended in health. These recommendations have been predominately based on lower quality evidence and physiological rationale that greater protein doses may attenuate the significant muscle loss observed in critically ill patients. This review discusses the mechanistic action of protein in the critically ill, details results from recent trials on health outcomes, discusses considerations for interpretation of trial results, and provides an overview of future directions. Two recent large clinical trials have investigated different protein doses and the effect on clinical outcome. Important findings revealed potential harm in certain sub-groups of patients. This harm must be balanced with the potential for beneficial effects on muscle mass and physical function given that two recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses demonstrated attenuation of muscle loss with higher protein doses. Utilizing biological markers such as urea: creatinine ratio or urea levels may prove useful in monitoring harm from higher protein doses. Future research should focus on prospectively investigating biological signatures of harm as well as taking into the consideration elements that will likely enhance the effectiveness of protein dose.

A Review on Probiotics and Their Role in the Management of Cancer

: Probiotics are advantageous bacteria that provide numerous health benefits to individuals when ingested and help to keep the gut microbiota balance. These beneficial bacteria can be found in food, supplements, and medicines. Foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, tempeh, and miso, while bacteria of lactic acid and bifido are the predominant microbial strains commonly employed in various applications. Due to their potential health benefits and minimal side effects, probiotics are widely accepted globally. Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome is crucial for overall health, and any disturbance in the gut's microbiota can trigger inflammatory immune responses and initiate various diseases such as cancer. Cancer is a grave and frequently fatal illness that impacts a significant number of individuals. It arises due to uncontrolled cell growth and is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. The disease originates from a single cell and can potentially metastasize, spreading through the body. As of now, cancer has no known cure, and the safety and efficacy of conventional chemotherapies and synthetic drugs employed in its treatment are subject to scrutiny. These treatments can negatively impact a patient's well-being, affect drug resistance, and are often too expensive for many patients to afford. Therefore, researchers are exploring more effective and safe ways to manage cancer. Certain probiotic strains have the potential to be beneficial in preventing cancer or as a complement to traditional chemotherapy by altering gut microbiota and improving the reactions of the body’s defense system. Hence, the review examines the likelihood of probiotics as simply an alternative approach to preventing and treating cancer.

Yiqi Jiedu Xiaoying Decoction Improves Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Rats by Regulating Th17/Treg Cell Balance.

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is a widely used animal model to study the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Yiqi Jiedu Xiaoying Decoction (YJXD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potential immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of YJXD on EAT in rats and explored its underlying mechanisms. Female Wistar rats were induced to develop EAT by immunization with thyroglobulin (Tg) and taken sodium iodide water (0.05%) and then treated with YJXD or sodium selenite. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of thyroid tissue in EAT rats. Th17 and Treg cell frequencies were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression levels of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines and thyroid autoantibody were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of Th17- and Treg-related transcriptional factors was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Our results demonstrated that treatment with YJXD significantly attenuated the severity of EAT, as evidenced by reduced thyroid gland inflammatory infiltration and decreased serum thyroglobulin autoantibody levels. Importantly, YJXD treatment effectively modulated the Th17/Treg cell balance by suppressing Th17 cell differentiation and promoting Treg cell expansion. Moreover, YJXD was also found to regulate the expression levels of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines and transcriptional factors, further supporting its immunomodulatory effects in EAT. YJXD exerted therapeutic effects on EAT by regulating the Th17/Treg cell balance, modulating the production of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines and the expression of transcriptional factors.