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du Preez HN, Aldous C, Kruger HG, Johnson L. N-Acetylcysteine and Other Sulfur-Donors as a Preventative and Adjunct Therapy for COVID-19. Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci 2022; 2022:4555490. [PMID: 35992575 PMCID: PMC9385285 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4555490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The airway epithelial glycocalyx plays an important role in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 entry into the epithelial cells, while the endothelial glycocalyx contributes to vascular permeability and tone, as well as modulating immune, inflammatory, and coagulation responses. With ample evidence in the scientific literature that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is related to epithelial and endothelial dysfunction, preserving the glycocalyx should be the main focus of any COVID-19 treatment protocol. The most studied functional unit of the glycocalyx is the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate, where the degree and position of the sulfate groups determine the biological activity. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and other sulfur donors contribute to the inorganic sulfate pool, the rate-limiting molecule in sulfation. NAC is not only a precursor to glutathione but also converts to hydrogen sulfide, inorganic sulfate, taurine, Coenzyme A, and albumin. By optimising inorganic sulfate availability, and therefore sulfation, it is proposed that COVID-19 can be prevented or at least most of the symptoms attenuated. A comprehensive COVID-19 treatment protocol is needed to preserve the glycocalyx in both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The use of NAC at a dosage of 600 mg bid for the prevention of COVID-19 is proposed, but a higher dosage of NAC (1200 mg bid) should be administered upon the first onset of symptoms. In the severe to critically ill, it is advised that IV NAC should be administered immediately upon hospital admission, and in the late stage of the disease, IV sodium thiosulfate should be considered. Doxycycline as a protease inhibitor will prevent shedding and further degradation of the glycocalyx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi N du Preez
- Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
| | - Colleen Aldous
- College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Hendrik G Kruger
- Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lin Johnson
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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2
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Li Y, Cha SB, Park Y, Gong BH, Jeong IY, Kim HS, Kang MS, Kim YS, Han CH, Lee HK, Song SW, Park CG, Kang BH. Evaluation of Caspase-3 and Ki-67 expression in squamous cell hyperplasia of the stomach induced by Platycodi radix water extract in Sprague–Dawley rats. J Toxicol Pathol 2022; 35:45-52. [PMID: 35221495 PMCID: PMC8828602 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2021-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Platycodi radix is widely used in traditional herbal medicine for the
treatment of bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and
diabetes. This study aimed to investigate cell proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis
(Caspase-3) potential in squamous cell hyperplasia of the stomach induced by a
Platycodi radix water extract in a subchronic toxicity study. One
hundred formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded stomach tissues of rats treated with
Platycodi radix at doses of 0, 500, 1,000, and 3,000 mg/kg body
weight/day were used for the analysis. They were conventionally stained using hematoxylin
and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemically (IHC) stained using caspase-3 and Ki-67
antibodies. The incidence of squamous cell hyperplasia was significantly increased in the
3,000 mg/kg b.w./day treatment group in both sexes (p<0.01). However, the hyperplastic
change was completely repaired after 4 weeks of recovery period. Ki-67 expression was
similar in all groups, with no statistically significant differences among the groups.
Caspase-3 expression was significantly increased in both sexes in the 3,000 mg/kg b.w./day
treatment group (p<0.01), compared with the vehicle control groups, and then reduced to
normal levels in the recovery groups in both sexes. In conclusion, this study showed that
squamous cell hyperplasia induced by the Platycodi radix water extract in
the limiting ridge of the stomach is not considered to be abnormal proliferative change;
as a result, squamous cell hyperplasia is considered to be a non-adverse effect when
induced by the oral administration of the Platycodi radix water extract
once daily for 13 weeks in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghua Li
- Dt&SanoMedics. Co. Ltd., 15F, 126, Teheran-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Beom Cha
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngil Park
- Non-clinical Center, Dt&CRO Co. Ltd., 46, Yurim-Ro 154 beon-Gil, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ho Gong
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Yeong Jeong
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak-Soo Kim
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Soo Kang
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Suk Kim
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hoon Han
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Kul Lee
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Si-Whan Song
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae-Gyoo Park
- Non-clinical Center, Dt&CRO Co. Ltd., 46, Yurim-Ro 154 beon-Gil, Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
| | - Boo-Hyon Kang
- Nonclinical Research Institute, ChemOn Inc., Yongin-Si, Republic of Korea
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3
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du Preez HN, Aldous C, Hayden MR, Kruger HG, Lin J. Pathogenesis of COVID-19 described through the lens of an undersulfated and degraded epithelial and endothelial glycocalyx. FASEB J 2021; 36:e22052. [PMID: 34862979 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101100rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The glycocalyx surrounds every eukaryotic cell and is a complex mesh of proteins and carbohydrates. It consists of proteoglycans with glycosaminoglycan side chains, which are highly sulfated under normal physiological conditions. The degree of sulfation and the position of the sulfate groups mainly determine biological function. The intact highly sulfated glycocalyx of the epithelium may repel severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) through electrostatic forces. However, if the glycocalyx is undersulfated and 3-O-sulfotransferase 3B (3OST-3B) is overexpressed, as is the case during chronic inflammatory conditions, SARS-CoV-2 entry may be facilitated by the glycocalyx. The degree of sulfation and position of the sulfate groups will also affect functions such as immune modulation, the inflammatory response, vascular permeability and tone, coagulation, mediation of sheer stress, and protection against oxidative stress. The rate-limiting factor to sulfation is the availability of inorganic sulfate. Various genetic and epigenetic factors will affect sulfur metabolism and inorganic sulfate availability, such as various dietary factors, and exposure to drugs, environmental toxins, and biotoxins, which will deplete inorganic sulfate. The role that undersulfation plays in the various comorbid conditions that predispose to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is also considered. The undersulfated glycocalyx may not only increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, but would also result in a hyperinflammatory response, vascular permeability, and shedding of the glycocalyx components, giving rise to a procoagulant and antifibrinolytic state and eventual multiple organ failure. These symptoms relate to a diagnosis of systemic septic shock seen in almost all COVID-19 deaths. The focus of prevention and treatment protocols proposed is the preservation of epithelial and endothelial glycocalyx integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi N du Preez
- Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Colleen Aldous
- College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Melvin R Hayden
- Division of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Center, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Hendrik G Kruger
- Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Johnson Lin
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Yoshida M. Chloroacetanilide herbicide-induced rat enterochromaffin cell tumors: a case study within the context of the IPCS framework, for analyzing the relevance of a cancer mode of action for humans. J Toxicol Pathol 2021; 34:213-222. [PMID: 34290475 PMCID: PMC8280306 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2021-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The WHO International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) framework for analyzing the
relevance of a cancer mode of action (MoA) for humans (IPCS cancer-HRF) is an application
to assess human relevance of tumorigenic hazards found through rodent bioassays. The
chloroacetanilide herbicides, butachlor and alachlor, induced enterochromaffin-like (ECL)
cell tumors in rat stomachs, at the highest doses. This study analyzed the human relevance
of this tumor by applying the IPCS cancer-HRF using published data. In a postulated MoA,
early key events (KEs) included decreased mucosal thickness in the fundic region, due to
reduced parietal cells. The following KEs included increased pH of gastric acid and
hypergastrinemia, leading to enhanced cell proliferation and hyperplasia, and resulting in
the outcome of an ECL cell tumor. The data showed consistencies in dose-response and
temporal concordance with the KEs and specificity in the tumor response, providing
strengthened evidence of the KEs. While the early KE was not the same, similar MoAs have
already been established for omeprazole and ciprofloxacin. The integrated data indicated
that the postulated MoAs were biologically plausible. Alternative MoAs were excluded..
Based on sufficient evidence, an MoA was established in rats. When addressing chemically
inducible MoAs of human relevance, KEs of hypergastrinemia and trophic ECL cell
hyperplasia were judged to not be qualitatively and quantitatively plausible in humans.
The MoA in rats is unlikely to be present in humans; however, the potential effects on
parietal cells cannot be excluded. Thus, the IPCS cancer-HRF is very useful for assessing
human relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Midori Yoshida
- Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office of Japan, Akasaka Park Bld 22F, 5-2-20 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6122, Japan
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Jain M, Narayanan S, Tiwari DP, Ranjan B, Jadhav A, Venkataramulu D, Chandrayan G, Jayarao C, Bhoite P, Krishnappa M, Dubey AK. Safety assessment of Gossence™ (galactooligosaccharides): Genotoxicity and general toxicity studies in Sprague Dawley rats. TOXICOLOGY RESEARCH AND APPLICATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/2397847319860375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) used as prebiotics are one of the major constituents of the infant milk formulas. GOS (Gossence™) is produced by a patented process of biotransformation of lactose; hence toxicology studies were carried out to assess its safety. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the general and genetic toxicity of Gossence™. In 14-day and subchronic (90-day) oral toxicity studies in Sprague Dawley rats, daily administration of GOS at dose levels of 1000, 2000, or 5000 mg/kg (equivalent to 1347, 2694, and 6735 mg/kg/day of Gossence™, respectively) did not cause any mortality, or clinical signs, and changes in body weights, feed consumption, hematology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis. In 90-day study, no changes in ophthalmological and neurological findings were observed. Significant increases in the cecum weights (with and/or without content) at dose levels of ≥2000 mg/kg were observed in both 14-day and 90-day studies. Based on the results of 90-day study, the no-observed-adverse-effect-level for GOS is 5000 mg/kg/day which is equivalent to 6735 mg Gossence™/kg/day. In the bacterial reverse mutation test, there was no significant increase in the mean numbers of revertants at the tested concentrations. Gossence™ was not mutagenic up to 5000 µg/plate. In chromosomal aberration test, there was no statistically significant increase in the number of percent aberrant metaphase for the Gossence™. Gossence™ is non-clastogenic (negative) in the in vitro chromosomal aberration test using human peripheral blood lymphocyte during short and prolonged treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Jain
- Tata Chemicals Limited-Innovation Centre, Ambedveth (V), Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - S Narayanan
- Tata Chemicals Limited-Innovation Centre, Ambedveth (V), Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Deepika Pandey Tiwari
- Tata Chemicals Limited-Innovation Centre, Ambedveth (V), Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bibhuti Ranjan
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Avinash Jadhav
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Deepa Venkataramulu
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Govind Chandrayan
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Chaitra Jayarao
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Prabhakar Bhoite
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohan Krishnappa
- Department of Safety Assessment, Syngene International Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Dubey
- Tata Chemicals Limited-Innovation Centre, Ambedveth (V), Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Paulsen TR, Stiller S, Weber K, Donath C, Schreiband G, Jensen KH. A 90-day toxicity and genotoxicity study with high-purity phenylcapsaicin. TOXICOLOGY RESEARCH AND APPLICATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/2397847318773060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the safety of the synthetic capsaicin analogue phenylcapsaicin (PheCap; 7-phenylhept-6-yne-acid-hydroxy-3-mathoxylbenzylamide, CAS no 848127-67-3), a 90-day repeated dose oral gavage of 0, 30, 100 or 250 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day toxicity study with a 28-day recovery period was conducted using Wistar rats. Examinations of clinical signs, body and organ weight, haematology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, food consumption and macroscopic, as well as histopathological tissue examinations were carried out for signs of toxicity. Degenerative, but reversible changes in the liver at 250 mg/kg bw/day, and local irritating effects in the stomach at 100 and 250 mg/kg bw/day were found. These findings were associated with test item-related clinical symptoms, that is, diarrhoea, salivation and moving of bedding material. PheCap did neither cause gene mutations by base pair changes or frame shifts in the genome of the tester stains Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537 or TA 102 nor induce structural and/or numerical chromosomal damage in human lymphocytes. Therefore, it can be concluded that PheCap is not genotoxic. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of PheCap for systemic toxicity is considered to be at 100 mg/kg bw/day which is based on degenerative changes in the liver. Due to irritating effects in the stomach, the NOAEL for local effects was established at 30 mg/kg bw/day.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Claudia Donath
- Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing Munich GmbH, Planegg, Germany
| | | | - Knut Helge Jensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Zacarías MF, Souza TC, Zaburlín N, Carmona Cara D, Reinheimer J, Nicoli J, Vinderola G. Influence of Technological Treatments on the Functionality ofBifidobacterium lactisINL1, a Breast Milk-Derived Probiotic. J Food Sci 2017; 82:2462-2470. [DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Zacarías
- Inst. de Lactología Industrial (INLAIN); Univ. Nacional del Litoral; Santiago del Estero 2829 3000 Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Tassia Costa Souza
- Inst. de Lactología Industrial (INLAIN); Univ. Nacional del Litoral; Santiago del Estero 2829 3000 Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Natalia Zaburlín
- Inst. de Lactología Industrial (INLAIN); Univ. Nacional del Litoral; Santiago del Estero 2829 3000 Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Denise Carmona Cara
- the Dept. de Morfologia, Inst. de Ciências Biológicas (ICB); Univ. Federal de Minas Gerais; Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
| | - Jorge Reinheimer
- Inst. de Lactología Industrial (INLAIN); Univ. Nacional del Litoral; Santiago del Estero 2829 3000 Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Jacques Nicoli
- the Dept. de Microbiologia; Inst. de Ciências Biológicas (ICB); Univ. Federal de Minas Gerais; Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
| | - Gabriel Vinderola
- Inst. de Lactología Industrial (INLAIN); Univ. Nacional del Litoral; Santiago del Estero 2829 3000 Santa Fe Argentina
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Zhou Y, Kruger C, Ravi GS, Kumar DPS, Vijayasarathi SK, Lavingia M, Chen X, Ambriz P. Safety evaluation of galacto-oligosaccharides. TOXICOLOGY RESEARCH AND APPLICATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/2397847317715864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) have been added to infant formulas and conventional foods as prebiotics all over the world. The present study was conducted to assess the subchronic toxicity of a GOS syrup (VITAGOS™) when administered orally by gavage daily at 0, 1020, 2041, and 4082 mg GOS syrup/kg/day to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats to deliver doses of 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg GOS/kg/day for 90 days. Throughout the entire treatment period, no abnormal clinical signs or mortalities were observed. Similarly, no test article-related toxicologically adverse findings were seen in body weight, feed consumption, ophthalmological findings, hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, and gross pathology or histopathology. Significant increases in the cecum weight of males and females treated with 2000 mg GOS/kg/day were associated with mucosal hypertrophy/hyperplasia; no changes in the cecum were noted at lower doses. The organ weight and histopathological changes noted in the cecum are consistent with findings in rats administered other poorly digestible and fermentable substances; thus, this is considered to be an adaptive rather than toxic response. The No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Levels for VITAGOS™ is 4082 mg GOS syrup/kg body weight/day or 2000 mg GOS/kg body weight/day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Zhou
- ChromaDex Spherix Consulting, Business Unit of ChromaDex, Inc., MD, USA
| | - Claire Kruger
- ChromaDex Spherix Consulting, Business Unit of ChromaDex, Inc., MD, USA
| | - GS Ravi
- Advinus Therapeutics Limited, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | - Mayuri Lavingia
- Vitalus Nutrition Inc., Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Vitalus Nutrition Inc., Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pamela Ambriz
- Vitalus Nutrition Inc., Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
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9
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Betton GR. A review of the toxicology and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Cell Biol Toxicol 2013; 29:321-38. [DOI: 10.1007/s10565-013-9257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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