The impact of oral ciprofloxacin on the structure and functions of rat gastric mucosa

Sijunzi decoction ameliorates gastric precancerous lesions via regulating oxidative phosphorylation based on proteomics and metabolomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sijunzi decoction (SJZD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of gastric precancerous lesions (GPL). However, the mechanism of gastric protection is not fully understood.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy of SJZD in blocking the development of GPL and to reveal the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

First, we established a rat model of GPL, which was induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) combined with an irregular diet and 40% ethanol. The efficacy of SJZD was evaluated based on pathological sections and serum biochemical indices. Then, the pharmacodynamic mechanism of SJZD was revealed by quantitative proteomics based on stable isotope dimethyl labeling. At the same time, the pharmacodynamic mechanism was verified by quantitative metabolomics. In addition, the anti-gastritis effect of SJZD was confirmed by a serum pharmacology method in a cell model, and the functional mechanism was further verified.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that SJZD could block the development of GPL in the animal model. Proteomics and metabolomics revealed that SJZD blocks GPL development by regulating oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In addition, the serum pharmacology results showed that SJZD-containing serum (SJZD-CS) could inhibit apoptosis in MNNG-induced GES-1 cells. OXPHOS inhibitors could significantly reduce the protective effect of SJZD-CS.

CONCLUSION

SJZD effectively ameliorates GPL, and proteomics and metabolomics revealed that its protective effects are closely related to OXPHOS.

Green tea extracts alleviate acetic acid-induced oral inflammation and reconstruct oral microbial balance in mice

Oral cavity contains the second largest microbial community in the human body. Due to the highly vascularized feature of mouth, oral microbes could directly access the bloodstream and affect the host healthy systemically. The imbalance of oral microbiota is closely related to various oral and systemic diseases. Green tea extracts (GTE) mainly contain tea polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acid, flavones, and so on, which equipped with excellent anti-inflammatory activities. Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of GTE on oral health. However, most researches used in vitro models or focused on limited microorganisms. In this study, the regulatory effect of GTE on oral microbiome and the alleviative effect on oral inflammation in vivo were evaluated. The results showed that GTE could efficiently alleviate the inflammations of the tongue, cheek pouch, as well as throat. GTE effectively inhibited the activation of NF-κB through the upregulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, consequently leading to reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. The indexes of spleen and thymus were also elevated by GTE in stomatitis mice. Moreover, GTE promoted the growth of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bacillus, inhibited the reproduction of pathogens Achromobacter, reversing the microbiota disorders in oral cavity. This study not only presents a novel approach for enhancing oral microecology but also facilitates the wider adoption of tea consumption.

Zinc's protective role against hydroxychloroquine-induced cardiac effects in adult male albino rats

Background

Long exposure to Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been complicated by some dangerous though infrequent cardiotoxicity.

Methods

A total of 40 normal adult male albino rats dispersed into 4 groups were used. Group 1 (Control group), Group II (HCQ treated group), Group III (zinc [Zn]-treated group), and Group IV (HCQ and Zn treated group). Once the experimentation ended, rats were sacrificed and cardiac soft tissue sections were processed twenty-four hours at the end of the experiment for histological study.

Results

Cardiac-stained sections revealed that HCQ induced widespread necrosis, dilatation, and vacuolar degeneration. However, the combination of HCQ with Zn ameliorated these damaging effects. Cardiac enzyme parameters were also studied in the 4 groups and revealed CK-MB and troponin were considerably elevated in groups II associated to the control group.

Conclusion

It was concluded that Zn revealed a protective role against HCQ cardiomyopathy in adult male albino rats. This might signify an appreciated means for Zn-based treatment in the upcoming subsequent clinical records to adjust doses and guarantee patient safeguard.

A novel l-rhamnose-binding lectin participates in defending against bacterial infection in zebrafish

l-rhamnose-binding lectin (RBL), which is a class of animal lectins independent of Ca²⁺, can specifically bind l-rhamnose or d-galactose. Although several lectins in zebrafish have been reported, their functional mechanisms have not been fully uncovered. In this study, we discovered a novel l-rhamnose binding lectin (DrRBL) and studied its innate immune function. The DrRBL protein contains only one carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD), which includes two strictly conserved motifs, "YGR" and "DPC". DrRBL was detected in all tested tissues and was present at high levels in the spleen, hepatopancreas and skin. After Aeromonas hydrophila challenge, the DrRBL mRNA level was significantly upregulated. Additionally, DrRBL was secreted into the extracellular matrix. Recombinant DrRBL (rDrRBL) could significantly inhibit the growth of gram-positive/negative bacteria, bind to several bacteria and cause obvious agglutination. The rDrRBL protein could combine with polysaccharides, such as PGN and LPS, rather than LTA. A more detailed study showed that rDrRBL could combine with monosaccharides, such as mannose, rhamnose and glucose, which are important components of PGN and LPS. However, rDrRBL could not bind to ribitol, which is an important component of LTA. The DrRBL deletion mutants, DrRBL^Δ144-150 and DrRBL^Δ198-200, were also constructed. DrRBL^Δ144-150 ("ANYGRTD" deficient) showed weak bacterial inhibiting ability. However, DrRBL^Δ198-200 ("DPC" deficient) showed weak agglutination ability. These results suggest that the "DPC" domain is important for agglutination. The conserved domain "ANYGRTD" is essential for inhibiting bacterial growth.

Patches as Polymeric Systems for Improved Delivery of Topical Corticosteroids: Advances and Future Perspectives

Mucoadhesive polymer patches are a promising alternative for prolonged and controlled delivery of topical corticosteroids (CS) to improve their biopharmaceutical properties (mainly increasing local bioavailability and reducing systemic toxicity). The main biopharmaceutical advantages of patches compared to traditional oral dosage forms are their excellent bioadhesive properties and their increased drug residence time, modified and unidirectional drug release, improved local bioavailability and safety profile, additional pain receptor protection, and patient friendliness. This review describes the main approaches that can be used for the pharmaceutical R&D of oromucosal patches with improved physicochemical, mechanical, and pharmacological properties. The review mainly focuses on ways to increase the bioadhesion of oromucosal patches and to modify drug release, as well as ways to improve local bioavailability and safety by developing unidirectional -release poly-layer patches. Various techniques for obtaining patches and their influence on the structure and properties of the resulting dosage forms are also presented.

Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Titanium Nanotubes Coated with Chitosan: A Promising Formulation with Sustained Release and Enhanced Antibacterial Properties

Due to their high entrapment efficiency, anodized titanium nanotubes (TiO2-NTs) are considered effective reservoirs for loading/releasing strong antibiotics whose systemic administration is associated with diverse and severe side-effects. In this study, TiO2-NTs were synthesized by anodic oxidation of titanium foils, and the effects of electrolyte percentage and viscosity on their dimensions were evaluated. It was found that as the water content increased from 15 to 30%, the wall thickness, length, and inner diameter of the NTs increase from 5.9 to 15.8 nm, 1.56 to 3.21 µm, and 59 to 84 nm, respectively. Ciprofloxacin, a highly potent antibiotic, was loaded into TiO2-NTs with a high encapsulation efficiency of 93%, followed by coating with different chitosan layers to achieve a sustained release profile. The prepared formulations were characterized by various techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and contact measurement. In vitro release studies showed that the higher the chitosan layer count, the more sustained the release. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the formulation against two endodontic species from Peptostreptococcus and Fusobacterium revealed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1 µg/mL for the former and the latter. To summarize, this study demonstrated that TiO2-NTs are promising reservoirs for drug loading, and that the chitosan coating provides not only a sustained release profile, but also a synergistic antibacterial effect.