Significant Protection Research Articles

Boswellia Serrata Powder Regimen Provides Significant Protection Against Renal Damage and Blood Imbalances in Diabetic Rats.

Diabetic kidney disease affects approximately one-third of diabetes patients. Hyperglycemia and oxidative stress contribute to this condition. Boswellia serrata gum resin is known for its antioxidant properties and potential in managing diabetic complications, though its nephroprotective effects are not well documented. This research aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents of B. serrata using LC-MS analysis and explore its benefits in enhancing hematological markers and improving STZ-induced renal dysfunction in rats. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). 40 male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normal control, control with B. serrata (2% w/w), and two diabetic groups. One diabetic group served as a positive control, while the other received B. serrata powder (2% w/w). Results showed that the powder reduced blood sugar, decreased renal markers, increased albumin, total protein and restored hematological parameters. It also enhanced β cell function (HOMA-β) and prevented kidney structural abnormalities. Additionally, B. serrata reduced oxidative stress by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in renal tissues. LC-MS identified 37 phenolic compounds, with apigetrin being the most abundant. These findings suggest that B. serrata holds promise for managing diabetes-related kidney injury.

Investigating the optimistic in-vitro and in-vivo therapeutic effects of wild grape: Vitis jacqumantii R. Parker

Vitis jacquemontii R. Parker is a wild grape traditionally used by indigenous people as a substitute for cultivated grapes. However, its therapeutic effects have not been extensively studied. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, analgesic, and antidepressant properties of V. jacquemontii. The antioxidant potential of this wild fruit plant was evaluated using two widely recognized assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-asino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). In-vitro anticholinesterase effects were determined by assessing butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. The analgesic activity was assessed through writhing and tail immersion test models, while the antidepressant effect was evaluated using forced swimming and tail suspension test models. Results revealed the exceptional potential of V. jacquemontii as a valuable natural resource. The fruit extract (VJF-Crd) demonstrated remarkable free radical scavenging abilities, with an impressive IC50 value of 34.96 μg/mL for DPPH and 56.48 μg/mL for ABTS. The leaf extract (VJL-Crd) also exhibited considerable antioxidant properties, with IC50 values of 73.68 μg/mL for DPPH and 86.72 μg/mL for ABTS. Furthermore, VJF-Crd and VJL-Crd extracts displayed potent inhibitory activity against cholinesterase enzymes, with VJF-Crd demonstrating strong inhibition and VJL-Crd showing moderate inhibition. In terms of analgesia, these extracts exhibited dose-dependent responses in various pain models, with significant protection against acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion, showcasing their potential as natural pain relievers. Moreover, both VJF-Crd and VJL-Crd extracts displayed a notable decrease in immobility in the forced swimming and tail suspension test models, indicating their potential as natural antidepressants. These findings underscore the untapped potential of V. jacquemontii as a source of valuable chemical constituents. The isolation and identification of phyto-constituents from this plant hold promise for new bioactive compounds, particularly in pain management. This study sheds light on the multifaceted medicinal attributes of V. jacquemontii and opens new avenues for developing natural remedies for different ailments, especially pain management.

Chitosan-coated nanoemulsions of a terpene-based natural deep eutectic solvent and lemongrass essential oil to control coffee leaf rust: Two alternatives based on natural products

Coffee production is negatively affected by coffee leaf rust, a disease caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix. As a natural product-based alternative to chemically control the disease, this study evaluated the effect of two chitosan-coated nanoemulsions prepared from Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (EO) and the thymol: pyruvic acid (1:1) natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) on the in vitro germination of H. vastatrix urediospores and on the in vivo control of the disease in Coffea arabica plants under greenhouse conditions. Both nanoformulations inhibited urediospores in vitro germination but only that prepared with EO did it significantly more than its free form active ingredient (the observed reduction was around 60 %). On the other hand, the in vivo experiment showed that the EO and NADES chitosan-coated nanoemulsions offered similar and significant protection for Coffea arabica plants against leaf rust; the disease severity level was found to be less than 2.6 % after 81 days from the application of the treatments to the plants (comparable to the cooper oxychloride, which is one of the commercial fungicides traditionally used), while the free components did not (9.0–13.3 % of severity level by day 81, such as the control). This is the first report demonstrating that chitosan-coated nanoemulsions, containing NADES or EO, protect coffee plants against H. vastatrix infection and can be two alternatives for sustainable pest management. Furthermore, this study contributes to broadening the prospects for using hydrophobic NADES in the design of biopesticides.

NOD alleles at Idd1 and Idd2 loci drive exocrine pancreatic inflammation.

Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune diabetes and have enabled the identification of several loci associated with diabetes susceptibility, termed insulin-dependent diabetes (Idd). The generation of congenic mice has allowed the characterization of the impact of several loci on disease susceptibility. For instance, NOD.B6-Idd1 and B6.NOD-Idd1 congenic mice were instrumental in demonstrating that susceptibility alleles at the MHC locus (known as Idd1) are necessary but not sufficient for autoimmune diabetes progression. We previously showed that diabetes resistance alleles at the Idd2 locus provide significant protection from autoimmune diabetes onset, second to Idd1. In search of the minimal genetic factors required for T1D onset, we generated B6.Idd1.Idd2 double-congenic mice. Although the combination of Idd1 and Idd2 is not sufficient to induce diabetes onset, we observed immune infiltration in the exocrine pancreas of B6.Idd2 mice, as well as an increase in neutrophils and pancreatic tissue fibrosis. In addition, we observed phenotypic differences in T-cell subsets from B6.Idd1.Idd2 mice relative to single-congenic mice, suggesting epistatic interaction between Idd1 and Idd2 in modulating T-cell function. Altogether, these data show that Idd1 and Idd2 susceptibility alleles are not sufficient for autoimmune diabetes but contribute to inflammation and immune infiltration in the pancreas.

Antimicrobial dynamics and DNA nicking within 1,3-propanediaminium dibromide and dichloride supramolecular frameworks: The critical role of strong hydrogen bonding and subtle molecular interactions

Amine salt compounds are attracting increased attention due to their potential bioactive properties. This study explores the synthesis and detailed characterization of two novel amine salts, 1,3-propanediaminium dibromide (13DPBr) and 1,3-propanediaminium dichloride (13DPCl), through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and optical absorption spectroscopy. Structurally, 13DPBr crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn, while 13DPCl crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2/n. Supramolecular assemblies in both compounds are driven by strong N–H···X (X = Cl, Br) hydrogen bonds, alongside weaker C–H···X interactions. The optical absorption spectra indicated band gaps of 4.32 eV for 13DPBr and 4.56 eV for 13DPCl. The biological activities of these compounds were assessed through DNA nicking assays and antimicrobial tests. The antimicrobial properties were evaluated using agar diffusion assays against pathogenic bacterial strains, including Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) results demonstrated that both salts exhibited strong antibacterial activity, with 13DPBr showing higher efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. DNA nicking assays using pUC19 plasmid DNA revealed that both compounds offered significant protection against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage, preventing the degradation of plasmid DNA. These results highlight the potential of 13DPBr and 13DPCl as promising agents for antimicrobial and DNA protection applications.

Chronic central nervous system leptin administration attenuates kidney dysfunction and injury in a model of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.

In the present study, we examined whether chronic intracerebroventricular (ICV) leptin administration protects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Twelve-week-old male rats were implanted with an ICV cannula into the right lateral ventricle, and 8-10 days after surgery, leptin (0.021 µg/h, n = 8) or saline vehicle (0.5 µL/h, n = 8) was infused via osmotic minipump connected to the ICV cannula for 12 days. On day 8 of leptin or vehicle infusion, rats were submitted to unilateral ischemia/reperfusion (UIR) by clamping the left pedicle for 30 min. To control for leptin-induced reductions in food intake, the vehicle-treated group was pair-fed (UIR-PF) to match the same amount of food consumed by leptin-treated (UIR-Leptin) rats. On the 12th day of leptin or vehicle infusion (fourth day after AKI), single-left kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured, blood samples were collected to quantify white blood cells, and kidneys were collected for histological assessment of injury. UIR-Leptin-treated rats showed reduced right and left kidney weights (right: 1,040 ± 24 vs. 1,281 ± 36 mg; left: 1,127 ± 71 vs. 1,707 ± 45 mg, for UIR-Leptin and UIR-PF, respectively). ICV leptin infusion improved GFR (0.50 ± 0.06 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03 mL/min/g kidney wt) and reduced kidney injury scores. ICV leptin treatment also attenuated the reduction in circulating adiponectin levels that was observed in UIR-PF rats and increased the circulating white blood cells count compared with UIR-PF rats (16.3 ± 1.3 vs. 9.8 ± 0.6 k/µL). Therefore, we show that leptin, via its actions on the central nervous system, confers significant protection against major kidney dysfunction and injury in a model of ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A major new finding of this study is that chronic activation of leptin receptors in the CNS markedly attenuates acute kidney injury and protects against severe renal dysfunction after ischemia/reperfusion, independently of leptin's anorexic effects.

Low carbon footprint lightweight GPM production: Optimization of carbon fiber and hydrogen peroxide

This study examines the effects of using Carbon Fiber (CF) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) on the mechanical and thermal properties of ground Raw Perlite (RP) based Geopolymer Mortar (GPM). It focuses on determining the optimal dosages of CF and H2O2. This study aims to make perlite-based GPMs that form strong bonds with alkali activators lightweight, while also improving their compressive, tensile, flexural, and thermal properties. Sodium Silicate (Na2SiO3) and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) were used as alkali activators, while H2O2 served as the foaming agent. The NaOH solution was 13 M, and Na2SiO3 was used with a 2-module specification. In this context, a reference GPM was prepared using RP and Crushed Sand (CS). CF was chosen for its advantages, such as low density, high Young's modulus and tensile strength. Various amounts of CF and H2O2 were used to determine the optimal dosage to achieve a durable and lightweight mortar. The results showed that the best performance was achieved with 1 % CF and 1 % H2O2. Compressive strength increased to around 3.5 MPa with the addition of 2 % H2O2 and 2 % CF. It was found that the use of CF provided significant protection in compressive and flexural strength, but increasing the fiber weight or volume ratio beyond a certain dosage could decrease strength efficiency. These findings support the use of 6 mm CF as a reinforcing material in GPMs within the construction industry while emphasizing the need to avoid exceeding a 2 % H2O2 ratio. The results of this research can be considered an important step toward developing environmentally friendly and durable building materials.

Multifunctional adversarial examples: A novel mechanism for authenticatable privacy protection of images

With the rapid development of network technology, more and more images containing personal identity characteristics are being released by users on open network platforms. However, these images are easily collected by malicious users, leading to problems such as privacy leakage, infringement, and tampering, thus harming users’ legitimate interests. Recent studies have found that adversarial examples generated by adding tiny perturbations to an image can mislead image classifiers, causing incorrect classifications. Therefore significant privacy protection against deep neural networks is achieved while the visual quality remains indistinguishable to human eyes. However, these methods cannot protect the authenticity and integrity of the image simultaneously, failing to address infringement and tampering issues, which are also neglectable in the open network platforms. To solve this problem, we propose a novel authentication-enabled privacy protection method. The meaningful information used for authentication, instead of the meaningless perturbations, is embedded into the host image to generate adversarial examples, thereby achieving both authentication and privacy protection simultaneously. This scheme combines attention mechanisms with generative adversarial networks to adaptively select and weight features between different channels, achieving significant improvements in both aggressiveness and authentication capability. Experimental results show that our method outperforms recent similar methods in overall performance.

Mitigating methylglyoxal-induced glycation stress: the protective role of iron, copper, and manganese coordination compounds in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Glycation-induced stress (G-iS) is a physiological phenomenon that leads to the formation of advanced glycation end-products, triggering detrimental effects such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to intracellular structures, tissues, and organs. This process is particularly relevant because it has been associated with various human pathologies, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. As therapeutic alternatives, coordination compounds with antioxidant activity show promising potential due to their versatility in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation. Herein, we investigated the antioxidant-related protective potential of a series of complexes: [Cu(II)(BMPA)Cl2] (1), [Fe(III)(BMPA)Cl3] (2), and [Cl(BMPA)MnII-(μ-Cl)2-MnII(BMPA)-(μ-Cl)- MnII(BMPA)(Cl)2]•5H2O (3), all synthesized with the ligand bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BMPA) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to G-iS caused by methylglyoxal (MG). Pre- treatment with complexes 1-3 proved highly effective, increasing yeast tolerance to G-iS and attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction. This observed phenotype appears to result from a reduction in intracellular oxidation, lipid peroxidation levels, and glycation. Additionally, an increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase was observed following treatment with complexes 1-3. Notably, although complexes 1-3 provided significant protection against oxidative stress induced by H2O2 and menadione, their protective role was more effective against MG-induced glycation stress. Our results indicate that these complexes possess both antiglycation and antioxidant properties, warranting further investigation as potential interventions for mitigating glycation and oxidative stress-related pathologies.

Dual intervention of Boeravinone B and Chebulinic Acid mitigates BHT-Induced toxicity in HepG2 cells: modulating apoptosis and autophagy

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) is found to exert cellular toxicity through induction of oxidative stress although being used as antioxidant in many food products. This study investigates the protective effects of two herbal compounds Boeravinone B (BB) and Chebulinic acid (CA) in combination (B4C3 i.e. BB 4 µg/mL and CA 3 µg/mL). Key findings revealed that BHT exerted toxicity through induction of ROS (234.47 a.u.) and RNS (0.042 µM/mL), but B4C3 has significantly reduced it (115.46 a.u. and 0.018 µM/mL respecctively). BHT exposure raised the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD (70.9%), CAT (7.08 units/mL), GPX (1.21 units/mL), levels of protein carbonyls (3.52 units/mg) and lipid peroxides (418.34%). Whereas treatment with B4C3 decreased the levels of SOD (29.92%), CAT (3.12 units/mL), GPX (0.36 units/mL), protein carbonyls (0.91 units/mg of protein) and lipid peroxides (106.67%) during BHT exposure. It was found that 20.56% cells were apoptotic while 73.83% were autophagic during BHT treatment. However, proposed phytotherapy rescued the cells from apoptotic and autophagic death and supported cell growth which was confirmed by RT-PCR and growth analysis. Collectively, B4C3 offered a significant protection against BHT-induced cellular damage, suggesting its potential as therapeutic agents for oxidative stress-related hepatotoxicity.

Effectiveness of the 2023-2024 Omicron XBB.1.5-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273.815) in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalizations and medical encounters among adults in the United States

Effectiveness of the 2023-2024 Omicron XBB.1.5-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273.815) in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalizations and medical encounters among adults in the United States

Novel eco-friendly quinolinone derivative as a water-soluble corrosion inhibitor for low carbon steel: Synthesis, inhibitive efficacy, and DFT analysis

A novel and rapid synthetic route for producing 4-imino-3-(2-phenylhydrazono)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (IQ) from 3-(2-phenylhydrazono)quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)‑dione 1 is introduced. The inhibitory effectiveness of IQ in mitigating the corrosion of low carbon steel (LCS) in acidic environments was evaluated using weight loss (Wt-L) and electrochemical methods, such as potentiodynamic polarization (Pd-P) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The optimum concentration of IQ was determined to be 30×10−3 Mm, at which it exhibited the highest inhibition efficiency of approximately 93.2 %. The nature of IQ as a mixed-type inhibitor was demonstrated by its ability to inhibit both anodic and cathodic reactions, primarily acting as an anodic inhibitor.The adsorption of IQ onto the LCS surface followed the Langmuir adsorption model, indicating a monolayer adsorption mechanism. Moreover, EIS findings suggest that IQ forms a protective layer on the LCS surface at the metal/electrolyte interface, preventing its dissolution in the acidic medium. Further analysis of the corrosive solution containing IQ after two days of LCS immersion showed the formation of Fe-IQ complex, confirmed by ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we confirmed that a protective layer of IQ forms on the surface of LCS. Additionally, in silico studies of IQ revealed the active sites responsible for its interaction with the LCS surface under acidic conditions. These findings underscore the potential of IQ as an effective corrosion inhibitor for LCS in acidic environments, providing significant protection by forming a stable, protective film on the metal surface.

Pedunculoside alleviates cognitive deficits and neuronal cell apoptosis by activating the AMPK signaling cascade

BackgroundMitochondrial dysfunction emerges as an early pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are pivotal in the initiation of neuronal cell apoptosis. Pedunculoside(Ped), a novel triterpene saponin derived from the dried barks of Ilex rotunda Thunb, exhibits a potent anti-inflammatory effect. In the course of drug screening, we discovered that Ped offers significant protection against apoptosis induced by Aβ1-42. Nevertheless, the role and mechanism of Ped in AD are yet to be elucidated.MethodsOxidative stress was evaluated by measuring mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ROS production. The expression of proteins associated with apoptosis was determined using western blot analysis and flow cytometry. In vivo, the pathological characteristics of AD were investigated through Western blot and tissue immunofluorescence techniques. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris Water Maze and Novel Object Recognition tests.ResultsWe demonstrated that Ped decreased apoptosis in PC12 cells, reduced the generation of intracellular ROS, and restored mitochondrial membrane potential. Mechanistically, we found that the protective effect of Ped against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity was associated with activation of the AMPK/GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway. In vivo, Ped alleviated memory deficits and inhibited neuronal apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of 3 × Tg AD mice, along with the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway.ConclusionThe findings indicate that Ped exerts its neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress and apoptosis through the AMPK signaling cascade. The results demonstrate that Ped is a potential candidate for the treatment of AD.Graphical

IL-7 promotes mRNA vaccine-induced long-term immunity

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a key technology in combating existing and emerging infectious diseases. However, improving the immunogenicity and durability of mRNA vaccines remains a challenge. To elicit optimal immune responses, integrating antigen-encoded mRNA and immunostimulatory adjuvants into a single formulation is a promising approach to enhancing the efficacy of mRNA vaccines. Here, we report an adjuvant strategy to enhance the efficacy of mRNA vaccines by co-loading mRNA encoding the antigen (rabies virus glycoprotein, RABV-G) and mRNA encoding IL-7 into lipid nanoparticles, achieving co-delivery to the same antigen-presenting cells. A single immunization with G&IL-7 mRNA vaccine elicited robust humoral immune responses in mice and conferred complete protection against RABV challenge. Notably, the high levels of neutralizing antibody induced by the G&IL-7 mRNA vaccine were maintained for at least 6 months, providing mice with long-term significant and complete protection against RABV. Additionally, IL-7 also enhanced antibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2. These data demonstrate that IL-7 is a potent mRNA vaccine adjuvant that can provide the required immune stimulation in various mRNA vaccine formulations.Graphical

Ameliorative impacts of carvacrol on DNA integrity, oxidative stress, and sperm quality in asthenozoospermic infertile individuals during cryopreservation.

Nowadays, the cryopreservation process can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause damage to the motility, cell membrane, and DNA integrity of sperm. This study is aimed at evaluating the impact of carvacrol, as a powerful antioxidant, on sperm features and improving oxidative stress throughout the cryopreservation procedure. In this prospective study, semen samples from 25 patients with asthenozoospermia were separated into three groups: fresh, freezing, and freezing + carvacrol (a dose of 100µM). The subsequent parameters were evaluated using standard methods in all three groups: sperm motility according to WHO criteria, sperm morphology using Papanicolaou staining, sperm viability with eosin-nigrosin staining, DNA integrity with acridine orange staining, levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) using ELISA. Also, DNA fragmentation was analyzed by the SDFA kit, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed by rhodamine staining. Average sperm viability, motility, mitochondrial membrane potentiality, integrity of sperm membrane, and antioxidant enzyme levels are meaningfully reduced in the freezing group in contrast to the control group. The freezing group showed a meaningful rise in the mean MDA levels and DNA fragmentation compared to the control group. In the freezing group supplemented with carvacrol, a meaningful rise could be visible in mean percentages of viability, motility, and antioxidant enzyme levels, whereas mean levels of MDA and DNA fragmentation meaningfully declined in contrast to the freezing group. The results demonstrate that carvacrol, a potent antioxidant, offers significant protection against the loss generated by the freeze-thaw procedure, thereby improving sperm quality.

Shake table testing of a seismic isolation system for lightweight structures

AbstractThe implementation of seismic isolation in lightweight structures, such as houses, is limited, except for Japan, where nearly 5000 houses are seismically isolated with highly engineered systems. The use of such systems in countries of growing economies is prohibitive due to their cost, difficulties in locally fabricating components, and incompatibility with local construction practices. Previous studies on low‐cost isolation systems showed that isolation devices with rolling rather than sliding elements are more suitable for lightweight structures. A low‐cost isolation system based on a deformable rolling bearing developed at the University at Buffalo has simple components that can be easily manufactured, has a large displacement capacity, and features a fail‐safe mechanism. The bearing is composed of one flat and one concave concrete plate and a rubber rolling ball. This paper presents the results of shake table testing of half‐length scale versions of prototype houses and small bridges equipped with this deformable rolling isolation system in three‐directional seismic excitation. The results showed that deformable rolling bearings provide significant seismic protection of lightweight structures against strong ground motions, which in the testing reached a maximum peak ground velocity of 1.2 m/s in the test scale and a peak ground acceleration of 4 g in the horizontal direction and up to 1 g in the vertical direction. The isolation system was particularly effective in the horizontal direction, whereas it did not provide any vertical isolation. The tests included cases of extreme response, which included vertical impact within the bearing's components and uplift of the isolated structure.

An Optimised Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine Ferret Efficacy Model Successfully Translates H1N1 Clinical Data.

Between 2013 and 2016, the A/H1N1pdm09 component of the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) produced instances of lower-than-expected vaccine effectiveness. Standard pre-clinical ferret models, using a human-like vaccine dose and focusing on antigenic match to circulating wildtype (wt) strains, were unable to predict these fluctuations. By optimising the vaccine dose and utilising clinically relevant endpoints, we aimed to develop a ferret efficacy model able to reproduce clinical observations. Ferrets were intranasally vaccinated with 4 Log10 FFU/animal (1000-fold reduction compared to clinical dose) of seven historical LAIV formulations with known (19-90%) H1N1 vaccine efficacy or effectiveness (VE). Following homologous H1N1 wt virus challenge, protection was assessed based on primary endpoints of wt virus shedding in the upper respiratory tract and the development of fever. LAIV formulations with high (82-90%) H1N1 VE provided significant protection from wt challenge, while formulations with reduced (19-32%) VE tended not to provide significant protection. The strongest correlation observed was between reduction in wt shedding and VE (R2 = 0.75). Conversely, serum immunogenicity following vaccination was not a reliable indicator of protection (R2 = 0.37). This demonstrated that, by optimisation of the vaccine dose and the use of non-serological, clinically relevant protection endpoints, the ferret model could successfully translate clinical H1N1 LAIV VE data.

Influence of Secondary Metabolites According to Maturation of Perilla (Perilla frutescens) on Respiratory Protective Effect in Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)-Induced Human Nasal Cell.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure worsens chronic respiratory diseases through oxidative stress and inflammation. Perilla frutescens (L.) has potential respiratory protective properties, but the impact of growth stages on its beneficial metabolites is unclear. We aimed to evaluate how different growth stages affect phenolic acids, flavonoids, and polycosanols in perilla seeds and flowers and their efficacy in countering PM2.5-induced damage. Perilla seeds and flowers from five varieties at 10, 20, 30, and 40 days post-flowering were analyzed for metabolite content. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and respiratory protective effects were tested in RPMI 2650 cells. Our findings indicated that perilla flowers contained higher levels of functional components than seeds and exhibited significant variation with maturation. Phenolic acids of perilla flowers were highest at the early stages of maturation after flowering. However, individual flavones of perilla flowers were the highest at the late maturation stages after flowering. Extracts from perilla flowers harvested 20 days after flowering exhibited significant respiratory protection, effectively inhibiting inflammatory cytokines, mucus secretion, and oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, the flower parts of perilla, particularly those harvested 20 days after flowering, are useful materials for obtaining phenolic compounds, including rosmarinic acid, with high antioxidant and respiratory enhancement effects.

Operator exposure and cabin protection in plant protection product application

AbstractTightly sealed driver's cabs can effectively protect the user from exposure when applying crop protection products. Therefore, under certain conditions, users in such cabins can avoid wearing personal protective equipment for skin and eyes. The protective effect depends on the technical design and handling of the different cabin types and can be divided into categories with different levels of protection. Since the level of protection of the different types of cabins and the associated possibility of not wearing personal protective equipment has not been sufficiently scientifically verified in the past, the present study was carried out to close this gap. Field and laboratory test methods were developed and used to assess exposure levels. External contamination of the cabin was measured using various dosimeters. Exposure inside the cabins was measured on coveralls and gloves to measure dermal exposure and with aerosol sampling pumps to determine inhalation exposure. Tests were conducted on tractors with different cab categories using an air-assisted orchard sprayer as a worst-case scenario for exposure to spray drift. Additionally, an alternative laboratory test method was developed and conducted to evaluate filter efficiency under controlled conditions and compare it with the field tests. The results showed that exposure inside closed cabins was generally low and was not notably correlated with the cabin category. All types of cabins tested were found to provide significant protection from dermal and inhalation exposure.

Antioxidant, neuroprotective, and neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) differentiation effects of melanins and arginine-modified melanins from Daedaleopsis tricolor and Fomes fomentarius

BackgroundMicrobial melanins possess a broad spectrum of biological activities. However, there is little understanding of their neuroprotective and neuronal cell differentiation properties. This study aimed to extract, purify, and modify melanins from two medicinal fungi (Daedaleopsis tricolor and Fomes fomentarius), and to evaluate their antioxidant activity, as well as their cell protective ability against neurotoxins. In addition, the study also investigated the feasibility of combining melanins or modified melanins with retinoic acid (RA) to induce neuronal differentiation.MethodsMelanin was extracted and purified using alkaline acid-based methods. Antioxidant activities and neuroprotective effects were evaluated using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays, respectively. In addition, morphological changes of SH-SY5Y cells were recorded by using a Pannoramic MIDI scanner.ResultsAll melanins and arginine-modified melanins displayed mild DPPH scavenging activities, which were statistically lower than that of ascorbic acid (p < 0.05). In terms of neuroprotection, both melanins and arginine-modified melanins exhibited significant cell protection against H2O2 after 24 h exposure (p < 0.05). Notably, there is no significant difference between F. fomentarius melanin and its modified form as they both increased cell viability by about 20%. Contrarily, while D. tricolor melanin enhanced the cell viability with 16%, its modified form increased the cell viability with 21%. These activities, however, are significantly lower than the positive control (N-acetylcysteine, p < 0.05). Regarding MPTP, only the arginine-modified melanins of the two fungi significantly protected the cells after 24 h exposure to the toxin (p < 0.05). Specifically, F. fomentarius and D. tricolor modified melanins enhanced the cell viability with 10.2% and 11.1%, respectively, whereas that of the positive control was 13.2%. Interestingly, combining RA (10 µM) with 20 µg/mL of either F. fomentarius, or especially D. tricolor arginine-modified melanin, significantly promoted neuroblastoma cell differentiation into mature neuronal cells compared to using RA alone (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe arginine-modified melanins of D. tricolor and F. fomentarius have potential for neuroprotection against Parkinsonian neurotoxins. In addition, the arginine-modified melanin of D. tricolor may serve as an excellent material for research in neuroblastoma treatment.