Gentian violet: a 19th century drug re-emerges in the 21st century

The interactive effects of medicinal dyes with conventional antimicrobials against skin pathogens

AIMS

This study aimed to explore potential synergistic effects of medicinal dyes with antimicrobials against pathogens responsible for skin infections.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Antimicrobial testing was conducted using minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration assays. The fractional inhibitory index (ΣFIC) of combinations was calculated, and isobolograms were constructed on selected combinations. Toxicity studies were conducted using the brine-shrimp lethality assay. Combination (1:1 ratio) studies noted that 26% of dye-antibiotic combinations were synergistic against the Gram-positive strains, 15% against the Gram-negative strains, and 14% against the yeasts. The Mercurochrome: Betadine® combination noted synergy at ratios against all the Staphylococcus aureus strains with ΣFIC values ranging from 0.05 to 0.48. The combination of Gentian violet with Gentamycin noted a 15-fold decrease in toxicity, and a selectivity index of 977.50 against the Escherichia coli (DSM 22314) strain. Time-kill studies were conducted on the combinations with the highest safe selectivity index (SI) value and lowest safe SI value i.e. Gentian violet with Gentamycin and Malachite green with Neomycin. Both combinations demonstrated better antimicrobial activity in comparison to the independent values and the controls.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the potential for medicinal dye combinations as a treatment for skin infections.

Removal of doxorubicin hydrochloride and crystal violet from aqueous solutions using spray-dried niobium oxide coated with chitosan-activated carbon: Experimental and DFT calculations

Spray-dried niobium oxide coated with chitosan-activated carbon (NIC) was synthesized and used to remove doxorubicin hydrochloride and crystal violet from aqueous solutions under different parameters such as solution pH (2, 4, 6, and 8), contact time (1 to 9 h), initial concentration (20 to 200 mg L-1), and competing ions (0.1 M of CaCl2 and NaCl). The addition of 5 % chitosan-activated carbon to the matrix of niobium oxide slightly increased the specific surface area from 26 to 30 m2 g-1, with the introduction of a carboxylic functional group. This led to an increase in the amount of adsorbed doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOH) from 30 to 44 mg g-1 and that of crystal violet (CV) from 15 to 32 mg g-1 from the initial respective 100 mg L-1 at pH 8. The data from the concentration study fitted into Liu isotherm having adsorption capacity of 128 and 57 mg g-1 for DOH and CV respectively, while pseudo first and second order are more suitable for adsorption kinetics. The additional functional groups on the IR spectrum of NIC after the adsorption of DOH and CV confirmed the interaction between NIC and the adsorbates' molecules. The mechanism of adsorption was supported by DFT calculations.

Misuse of topical over-the-counter medication: A case report

Overuse of topical medication is a national issue. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are dispensed to patients directly without a physician's prescription and when used improperly without proper knowledge can lead to their misuse and toxicity.

Screening the NCI diversity set V for anti-MRSA activity: cefoxitin synergy and LC-MS/MS confirmation of folate/thymidine biosynthesis inhibition

IMPORTANCE

New antibacterial agents are urgently needed to counter increasingly resistant bacteria. One approach to this problem is library screening for new antibacterial agents. Library screening efforts can be improved by increasing the information content of the screening effort. In this study, we screened the National Cancer Institute diversity set V against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with several enhancements. One of these is to screen the library before and after microsomal metabolism as means to identify potential active metabolites. A second enhancement is to screen the library in the absence and presence of sub-minimum inhibitory concentration levels of another antibiotic, such as cefoxitin in this study. This identified four agents with synergistic activity with cefoxitin out of 16 agents with good MRSA activity alone. Finally, active agents from this effort were counter-screened in the presence of thymidine, which quickly identified three folate/thymidine biosynthesis inhibitors, and also screened for bactericidal vs bacteriostatic activity.

Skin Barrier Function: The Interplay of Physical, Chemical, and Immunologic Properties

An intact barrier function of the skin is important in maintaining skin health. The regulation of the skin barrier depends on a multitude of molecular and immunological signaling pathways. By examining the regulation of a healthy skin barrier, including maintenance of the acid mantle and appropriate levels of ceramides, dermatologists can better formulate solutions to address issues that are related to a disrupted skin barrier. Conversely, by understanding specific skin barrier disruptions that are associated with specific conditions, such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, the development of new compounds could target signaling pathways to provide more effective relief for patients. We aim to review key factors mediating skin barrier regulation and inflammation, including skin acidity, interleukins, nuclear factor kappa B, and sirtuin 3. Furthermore, we will discuss current and emerging treatment options for skin barrier conditions.

Successful treatment of experimental murine vulvovaginal candidiasis with gentian violet

Aim: This study evaluated the antifungal efficacy of gentian violet (GV) in an experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) model. Materials & methods: In vitro susceptibility and cytotoxicity assays were performed to validate the antifungal potential and safety of GV. The antifungal efficacy was then evaluated in vivo through comparative analysis of the fungal burden following treatment with GV or nystatin, as well as assessment of the vaginal tissue by histology and electron microscopy. Results: GV demonstrated a safe antifungal profile against C. albicans, with a significant decrease in fungal burden and an improvement in the inflammatory process evaluated histologically. Conclusion: The results of this study motivate further assessment of GV as a promising alternative for VVC therapy.

Gentian Violet Inhibits Cell Proliferation through Induction of Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Gentian violet (GV) is known to have antibacterial and antifungal effects, but recent studies have demonstrated its inhibitory effects on the growth of several types of cancer cells. Here, we investigated the anticancer efficacy of GV in ovarian cancer cells. GV significantly reduced the proliferation of OVCAR8, SKOV3, and A2780 cells. Results of transferase dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL) assay and Western blot assay indicated that the inhibitory effect of GV on ovarian cancer cells was due to the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, GV significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulated the expression of p53, PUMA, BAX, and p21, critical components for apoptosis induction, in ovarian cancer cells. Our results suggest that GV is a novel antiproliferative agent and is worthy of exploration as a potential therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.

In vivo activity and atom pair fingerprint analysis of MMV665941 against the apicomplexan parasite Babesia microti, the causative agent of babesiosis in humans and rodents

The effect of MMV665941 on the growth of Babesia microti (B. microti) in mice, was investigated in this study using a fluorescence-based SYBR Green I test. Using atom Pair signatures, we investigated the structural similarity between MMV665941 and the commonly used antibabesial medicines diminazene aceturate (DA), imidocarb dipropionate (ID), or atovaquone (AV). In vitro cultures of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) and, Theileria equi (T. equi) were utilized to determine the MMV665941 and AV interaction using combination ratios ranged from 0.75 IC50 MMV665941:0.75 IC50 AV to 0.50 IC50 MMV665941:0.50 IC50 AV. The used combinations were prepared depending on the IC50 of each drug against the in vitro growth of the tested parasite. Every 96 h, the hemolytic anemia in the treated mice was monitored using a Celltac MEK-6450 computerized hematology analyzer. A single dose of 5 mg/kg MMV665941 exhibited inhibition in the B. microti growth from day 4 post-inoculation (p.i.) till day 12 p.i. MMV665941 caused 62.10%, 49.88%, and 74.23% inhibitions in parasite growth at days 4, 6 and 8 p.i., respectively. Of note, 5 mg/kg MMV665941 resulted in quick recovery of hemolytic anemia caused by babesiosis. The atom pair fingerprint (APfp) analysis revealed that MMV665941 and atovaquone (AV) showed maximum structural similarity. Of note, high concentrations (0.75 IC50) of MMV665941 and AV caused synergistic inhibition on B. bovis growth. These findings suggest that MMV665941 might be a promising drug for babesiosis treatment, particularly when combined with the commonly used antibabesial drug, AV.

New approaches for enhancing the photosensitivity, antibacterial activity, and controlled release behavior of non-porous silica-titania nanoplatforms

This research presents a new approach for the synthesis of inorganic nano-platforms containing >2 layers. Nano-platforms were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, etc. Since it has been reported that the maximum tolerable dose of non-porous silica nanoparticles (NPs) in in-vivo studies is higher than that of mesoporous silica, the non-porous silica was prepared. Curcumin (CUR) was trapped between the surfaces of the spherical non-porous silica and titania NPs (<100 nm) as both fluorescent and therapeutic agents, thus resulting in increased loading capacity of the non-porous silica NPs, as well as providing significant photosensitivity, antibacterial activity, and controlled release. In addition, the surface of NPs was enriched with Methyl violet-10B (MV-10B), and Rhodamine B (RhB). Silica@CUR@titania exhibited approximately 9-fold higher fluorescence intensity than silica@CUR NPs. This finding enabled us to design nano-platforms with minimum toxic effect due to low contents of RhB for bioimaging applications. The antimicrobial efficiency of nano-platforms was evaluated against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. typhimurium, K. pneumonia, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, B. subtilis, B. cereus, and E. faecalis. It was concluded that titania markedly lowered the minimum inhibitory concentration values (MICs) of CUR against all bacteria except B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa. Theoretical simulation was also performed to clarify the accumulation of functionalized NPs in tumor tissue.

Thioacetalation and Multi-Component Thiomethylative Friedel-Crafts Arylation Using BF3SMe2

Herein, a method for thioacetalation using BF₃SMe₂ is presented. The method allows for convenient and odor-free transformation of aldehydes to methyl-dithioacetals, a simple but sparsely reported structural moiety, in good yields with a diverse set of aromatic aldehydes. In addition, a thiomethylative Friedel-Crafts reaction was discovered, affording thiomethylated diarylmethanes in good to excellent yields. The resulting diarylmethane core is of interest as it is found in many biologically active compounds, and its utility is further demonstrated as a novel precursor to unsymmetrical triarylmethanes. This work also highlights the usefulness and the synthetic capabilities of the readily available reagent BF₃SMe₂ beyond its reactivity profile as a dealkylation reagent.

Small-molecule compounds inhibiting S-phase kinase-associated protein 2: A review

S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is a substrate-specific adaptor in Skp1-CUL1-ROC1-F-box E3 ubiquitin ligases and widely regarded as an oncogene. Therefore, Skp2 has remained as an active anticancer research topic since its discovery. Accordingly, the structure of Skp2 has been solved and numerous Skp2 inhibiting compounds have been identified. In this review, we would describe the structural features of Skp2, introduce the ubiquitination function of SCF^Skp2, and summarize the diverse natural and synthetic Skp2 inhibiting compounds reported to date. The IC₅₀ data of the Skp2 inhibitors or inhibiting compounds in various kinds of tumors at cellular levels implied that the cancer type, stage and pathological mechanisms should be taken into consideration when selecting Skp2-inhibiting compound for cancer treatment.

Dynamics and energetics of bovine lactoferrin and phenylmethane dyes interaction followed by surface plasmon resonance

Although toxic and dangerous, Phenylmethane (PhM) dyes have a variety of medicinal functions. To optimize the use of these dyes, it is essential to understand their interaction mechanism with proteins. Through surface plasmon resonance, we investigated the kinetics and thermodynamics of interaction between bovine lactoferrin (BLF) and PhM dyes at pH 7.4, which allowed elucidate the effect of the dyes' functional groups on the binding process. Negative ΔG° revealed that at thermodynamic equilibrium the formed [BLF-PhM]° complex was more stable than the free BLF and PhM molecules. The increase in the number of methyl groups in the PhM structure led to an increase in the rates of association (ka) and dissociation (kd) and the binding constant (Kb). A similar effect was observed when comparing methyl violet B (MVB) and methyl violet 6 B (MV6B), in which the charged MV6B structure promoted an increase in the ka, kd, and Kb values. By contrast, an increase in the number of phenyl groups (2-3 rings) led to a decrease in the Kb values. The [BLF-PhM]° formation was entropically driven, indicating that hydrophobic interactions are critical for stabilizing these complexes These results are beneficial for understanding the molecular dynamics of protein-dye interactions.

Diagnosis of traumatic shoulder arthrotomies using saline load test with intra-articular pressure monitoring

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of saline required to identify a positive traumatic shoulder arthrotomy in a cadaveric model. In addition, intra-articular pressure monitoring was conducted to confirm needle placement and evaluate peak pressure curves prior to capsular failure.

METHODS

We conducted a cadaveric study using thirty fresh-frozen upper extremities with maintained glenohumeral joint. A shoulder arthrotomy was made in the deltopectoral interval using a 4.4-mm trocar. The joint was loaded using an 18-gauge spinal needle inserted posteriorly and attached to a pressure monitoring system. Fluid was introduced at a uniform rate of 1 cc/sec until active extravasation was visualized from the anterior arthrotomy site. Statistical analysis included assessment of distribution, ANOVA and linear regression.

RESULTS

A positive joint challenge was obtained in all specimens (n = 30) within a maximum of 59 ml of fluid (mean 28 ml, STD 15.4). Average intra-articular pressure at visualization (PAV) was 166.8 mmHg (min., 107; max., 268). In twelve specimens, peak pressures (PP) exceeded PAV, showing a corresponding fall in pressure prior to visualization (ΔPP-PAV = 16.5). To reach a sensitivity of 90% and 95% of arthrotomies, 50 and 58 ml of fluid had to be injected.

CONCLUSION

Results demonstrated 58 ml of fluid was required to identify a majority of shoulder arthrotomies. Intra-articular pressure monitoring identified successful needle placement. Pressure curve analysis could identify capsular failure before fluid extravasation visualization which could enhance clinical identification and treatment of traumatic shoulder arthrotomies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV Diagnostic.

Evaluation of Ethyl Violet as an Alternative Dye to Crystal Violet to Visualize the Vessel Wall during Vascular Anastomosis

Crystal violet (CV) ink has been used as a skin marker worldwide. It has been reported to be useful for vessel wall visualization of microvascular anastomoses. Contrastingly, it has been found to be carcinogenic and inhibit migration and proliferation of venous cells. In some countries, its use in the medical field has been restricted. Therefore, it is necessary to consider alternatives to CV. In this present study, we compared the time required for the anastomosis of a 0.8-1 mm diameter vessel in the chicken wrist artery using CV and a CV-free dye (ethyl violet; EV). The surgeon, microscope, and anastomosis microsurgical tools were standardized for comparison. CV and EV were changed for each anastomosis. The same surgeon performed 30 anastomoses using each dye. No visually obvious differences were noted in the vascular transections with CV and EV. As per the results, no statistically significant difference was observed in the time required for anastomosis using CV and EV. EV conforming to California Proposition 65 may be an effective alternative to CV for vascular visualization of microvascular anastomoses. However, further studies on the effectiveness of the EV in clinical cases are needed.

How we approach hemangiomas in infants

Pediatric oncologists are increasingly involved in the management of benign vascular tumors and their associated life-threatening complications. Hemangiomas are the most common referring diagnosis to multidisciplinary vascular anomalies clinics. However, as contemporary research has revealed, hemangiomas are not a single, easily defined entity but rather a diverse set of related vascular tumors, each having a unique natural history, growth pattern, and response to therapy. This manuscript seeks to illustrate how we evaluate and manage these complex tumors, their complications, and associated syndromes, while remaining ever vigilant for malignant hemangioma mimickers such as soft tissue sarcomas and congenital leukemia.

The Antibacterial Action of Safranin and Gentian Violet

BACKGROUND

The increasing resistance of many bacterial pathogens against antibiotic measures urgently requires new or repurposing therapeutic strategies. Gentian violet is a triarylmethane dye used as a histological stain and for Gram's method of classifying bacteria. It also exerts an antimicrobial effect against certain pathogens, especially dermatological infections. Safranin is the most popular counterstain used in medical laboratories due to its low cost and safe laboratory usage. However, few studies have been conducted on the antimicrobial activity of safranin.

OBJECTIVE

With the growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of gentian violet and safranin against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa).

METHODS

All tested bacteria were multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated from skin infections (abscesses and wounds). Using gentian violet and safranin, antibacterial effects were studied using the well-diffusion method against 20 samples of clinically isolated bacteria, 10 diagnosed as S. aureus, and 10 as P. aeruginosa. Bacteria were diagnosed using the VITEK 2 automated system (bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France). Iodine served as the control agent, since both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are sensitive to it.

RESULTS

Gentian violet dye has been shown to be 100% sensitive to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates. Although safranin also had high sensitivity (100%) to S. aureus isolates, its sensitivity to P. aeruginosa was only 20%. Staphylococcus aureus was more resistant to iodine (40% sensitivity) compared to P. aeruginosa, which was 100% sensitive to iodine.

CONCLUSIONS

Gentian violet and safranin are low-cost and better tolerated topical agents that have potential for use in dermatological applications. Gentian violet had good antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, making it useful for treating bacterial skin pathogens such as S. aureus and P. aeruginosa especially for MDR bacteria. While safranin has good efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus), its effect against Gram-negative bacteria (e.g. P. aeruginosa) is poor.

Gentian violet induces apoptosis and ferroptosis via modulating p53 and MDM2 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancies with limited curative options and poor prognosis. Gentian violet (GV) has recently been found to have anti-tumor properties with promising clinical applications. However, its anti-tumor effect and the underlying functional mechanisms in HCC have not been investigated. In this study, we found that GV induced ferroptosis and apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and significantly attenuated the growth of HCC in vivo. Both ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostain-1 (Fer-1) and apoptosis inhibitor Z-VAD-KFM (Z-VAD) partially attenuated GV-induced growth-inhibitory effects, while combined treatment of Fer-1 and Z-VAD completely abolished GV's activities. Increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected after GV treatment. Interestingly, GV elevated the expression levels of both p53 and its negative regulator MDM2, which was dependent on the expression of the dehydrogenase/reductase protein Hep27. Simultaneously silencing both the MDM2 and p53 genes by siRNAs abolished ROS production and partially rescued the cell death induced by GV treatment. Our data demonstrate a GV-Hep27-MDM2-p53 signaling cascade that regulates ferroptosis and apoptosis. Furthermore, our findings provide insights into understanding the anti-tumor function of GV and present the basis of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HCC.

Integrative transcriptome-wide analysis of atopic dermatitis for drug repositioning

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases, which significantly impact the quality of life. Transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was conducted to estimate both transcriptomic and genomic features of AD and detected significant associations between 31 expression quantitative loci and 25 genes. Our results replicated well-known genetic markers for AD, as well as 4 novel associated genes. Next, transcriptome meta-analysis was conducted with 5 studies retrieved from public databases and identified 5 additional novel susceptibility genes for AD. Applying the connectivity map to the results from TWAS and meta-analysis, robustly enriched perturbations were identified and their chemical or functional properties were analyzed. Here, we report the first research on integrative approaches for an AD, combining TWAS and transcriptome meta-analysis. Together, our findings could provide a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of AD and suggest potential drug candidates as alternative treatment options.

Integrative genomic and transcriptomic analyses on publicly available data-sets together with in silico drug repositioning identifies alternative therapeutic options to treat atopic dermatitis.

A contemporary overview on the enigma of managing recalcitrant or intractable post-operative otorrhoea following middle-ear surgery: perspectives, principles and practices

Background

A common problem in otological surgeries is the persistence of ear discharge in a patient who has undergone middle-ear reconstructive surgery, despite an intact graft. There is a dearth of knowledge in the literature on treatment strategies in such post-operative cases of recalcitrant otorrhoea.

Method

This was a retrospective observational descriptive study conducted on 45 patients who fitted the criteria for recalcitrant post-operative otorrhoea. All 45 patients showed no response to conservative treatment for 14 days from onset of discharge. Therefore, these patients were then given antiseptic ear drops.

Results

Thirty patients out of 45 showed a good response to antiseptic ear drops and achieved a dry ear at the end of the treatment.

Conclusion

In patients with recalcitrant otorrhoea with or without granulations after middle-ear reconstruction surgery, this study found that topical antiseptic ear drops, particularly those using boric acid powder, are more effective than topical antibiotic drops.

Lugol's solution and Gentian violet eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in skin wound infections

The study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Lugol's solution 5% and Gentian violet 1% against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm in vivo. The bactericidal efficacy for treatment of MRSA-biofilm skin wound infection was tested in a murine model. Luciferase-tagged S. aureus Xen31, a MRSA-strain derived from S. aureus ATCC-3359130, was used for infection. Wounds were made in the skin of mice and infected with MRSA. The mice were treated with Lugol's solution and Gentian violet. Application of the antimicrobial agents started 24 hours post infection and was repeated daily for five-days. The antimicrobial effect on the biofilm bacteria was evaluated by measuring bioluminescence from MRSA daily for seven-days. Lugol's solution and Gentian violet showed a significant reduction in luminescent signals from the first assessment day to all subsequent days (P < .001). Lugol's solution and Gentian violet effectively eradicated MRSA in biofilm in vivo and could be alternatives or in addition to topical antibiotics when MRSA-biofilm wound infection is suspected.

Targeting aberrant replication and DNA repair events for treating breast cancers

The major limitations of DNA-targeting chemotherapy drugs include life-threatening toxicity, acquired resistance and occurrence of secondary cancers. Here, we report a small molecule, Carbazole Blue (CB), that binds to DNA and inhibits cancer growth and metastasis by targeting DNA-related processes that tumor cells use but not the normal cells. We show that CB inhibits the expression of pro-tumorigenic genes that promote unchecked replication and aberrant DNA repair that cancer cells get addicted to survive. In contrast to chemotherapy drugs, systemic delivery of CB suppressed breast cancer growth and metastasis with no toxicity in pre-clinical mouse models. Using PDX and ex vivo explants from estrogen receptor (ER) positive, ER mutant and TNBC patients, we further demonstrated that CB effectively blocks therapy-sensitive and therapy-resistant breast cancer growth without affecting normal breast tissue. Our data provide a strong rationale to develop CB as a viable therapeutic for treating breast cancers.

Biosorptive removal of crystal violet dye from aqueous solutions by Ficus religiosa leaves and Daucus carota pomace in ecofriendly way

In this study, Ficus religiosa leaves (FRLs) and Daucus carota pomace (DCP) were used effectively for the removal of carcinogenic and non-biodegradable Crystal Violet dye from the aqueous medium on the batch scale as low-cost and environment-friendly biosorbents. Certain experimental conditions such as adsorbent dose, contact time, pH, and temperature were studied for thermodynamic and isothermal data investigations and optimized conditions for F. religiosa leaves and D. carota pomace were: adsorbent dose; 0.8 and 1.8 g, contact time; 30 and 25 min, pH; 9 and 3 and temperature; 70 °C and 30 °C, respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and D-R isotherms were studied, and the sorption process indicated chemisorption mode is predominant. The same is supported by kinetic investigation of equilibrium data. The maximum adsorption capacity (q_max) for F. religiosa leaves and D. carota pomace was obtained as 2.4 and 27 mg/g, respectively, which showed that D. carota pomace (DCP) is more effective adsorbent than F. religiosa leaves (FRLs) for removal of CV dye. Exothermic nature and intraparticle diffusion mode are more predominant during the removal of CV dye by these biomaterials, which can be recycled using ethanol.[Figure: see text]Novelty statement: Ficus religiosa and Daucus carota biowaste was explored here for removing an anionic dye. This study will be helpful for exploring the waste potential for phytoremediation of toxic substances using indigenous resources in an ecofriendly way.

Characterization of Morphologic and Cytochemical Staining Properties of Exogenous Materials Mimicking Fungal Organisms Encountered in Skin Biopsies

BACKGROUND

Exogenous materials may be encountered in skin biopsies as contamination. Contamination may occur during the biopsy procedure in the clinic or during tissue processing in the laboratory. Although the experienced pathologist may often instinctively ignore clear examples of contamination, such tissue may be a source of confusion for young pathologists and those in training. Foreign materials can typically be recognized as exogenous by morphology, polarizability, and the presence or absence of a tissue reaction, but we have rarely encountered situations in which exogenous materials could be misinterpreted as organisms, either by their morphologic appearance or staining properties.

METHODS

Exogenous materials used during skin biopsy and grossing were embedded in a nonhuman tissue scaffold and prepared into histologic slides. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid-Schiff with diastase, and Grocott methenamine silver stains were performed, and each material was evaluated under polarized microscopy.

RESULTS

Exogenous materials were divided into the following 3 categories with shared morphologic appearances and staining properties: suture materials, plant-based materials, and synthetic materials.

CONCLUSION

We present a comprehensive characterization of the morphologic and cytochemical staining properties of multiple exogenous materials that may contaminate a skin biopsy. This characterization will aid the pathologist by providing a mechanism to identify potential contaminants in skin biopsies.

Ventricular Assist Device Driveline Infections: A Systematic Review

Infection is the most common complication in patients undergoing ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. Driveline exit site (DLES) infection is the most frequent VAD infection and is a significant cause of adverse events in VAD patients, contributing to morbidity, even mortality, and repetitive hospital readmissions. There are many risk factors for driveline infection (DLI) including younger age, smaller constitution of patients, obesity, exposed velour at the DLES, longer duration of device support, lower cardiac index, higher heart failure score, DLES trauma, and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and depression. The incidence of DLI depends also on the device type. Numerous measures to prevent DLI currently exist. Some of them are proven, whereas the others remain controversial. Current recommendations on DLES care and DLI management are predominantly based on expert consensus and clinical experience of the certain centers. However, careful and uniform DLES care including obligatory driveline immobilization, previously prepared sterile dressing change kits, and continuous patient education are probably crucial for prevention of DLI. Diagnosis and treatment of DLI are often challenging because of certain immunological alterations in VAD patients and microbial biofilm formation on the driveline surface areas. Although there are many conservative and surgical methods described in the DLI treatment, the only possible permanent solution for DLI resolution in VAD patients is heart transplantation. This systematic review brings a comprehensive synthesis of recent data on the prevention, diagnostic workup, and conservative and surgical management of DLI in VAD patients.

Air-Spun Silk-Based Micro-/Nanofibers and Thin Films for Drug Delivery

Micro-/nanofibers have shown high promise as drug delivery vehicles due to their high porosity and surface-area-to-volume ratio. The current study utilizes air-spraying, a novel fiber fabrication technique, to create silk micro-/nanofibers without the need for a high voltage power source. Air-spraying was used to create silk fibrous mats embedded with several model drugs with high efficiency. In order to compare the effect of biomaterial geometry on the release of the model drugs, silk films were also created and characterized. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a drug release study were performed on both fiber and film samples to study how the model drugs interact with the protein structure. FTIR analysis showed that while drugs could interact with the protein structure of porous silk fibers, they could not interact with the flat geometry of silk films. As a result, fibers could protect select model drugs from thermal degradation and slow their release from the fiber network with more control than the silk films. A trend was also revealed where hydrophobic drugs were better protected and had a slower release than hydrophilic drugs. The results suggest that the physical and chemical properties of drugs and protein-based biomaterials are important for creating drug delivery vehicles with tailored release profiles and that fibers provide better tunability than films do.

Cost-effective large-area Ag nanotube arrays for SERS detections: effects of nanotube geometry

This study demonstrated highly-ordered metallic nanotube arrays (MeNTAs) with a precisely controlled geometric shape to promote surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Using both simulation and experimental methods, we designed and fabricated MeNTAs with nanotube geometries that possess a large surface area to absorb probe molecules as well as geometric features capable of inducing hot spots for SERS enhancement. The proposed top-down wafer-scale lithographic and sputter-deposition process is a simple and cost-effective approach to the fabrication of 1 mm × 1 mm MeNTA at room temperature. Simulation results of nanotubes with various materials (Au, Ag, and Cu), diameters (100-1500 nm), geometric shapes (circle, equilateral triangle and square) and triangle corner curvatures (ranging from 0 to 300 nm) identified Ag triangles with sharp tips as the geometry best suited to SERS enhancement. The SERS spectra of crystal violet molecules generated from the Ag MeNTAs verified the patterns observed in computational simulations, wherein the effects of MeNTA on SERS decreased with an increase in the size of the nanotubes. Enhancement factor of 1.06 × 10⁹was obtained from our triangular Ag MeNTA, confirming its efficacy as an ultrahigh sensitivity SERS-active substrate.

Testing the efficacy of topical antimicrobial treatments using a two- and five-species chronic wound biofilm model

AIMS

The effectiveness of commercially available wound dressings and a HOCl gel formulation was tested against two- and five-species biofilms in a dynamic in vitro chronic wound infection model.

METHOD

Two-species biofilms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) were cultured using a biofilm flow device and treated with wound dressings containing silver, iodine, polyhexamethylene biguanide, crystal violet or HOCl gel at 5 h. Five-species biofilms (P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli) were similarly cultured and treated with HOCl gel at 5 and 24 h. Multidose experiments used two- and five-species biofilms with HOCl applied at 24, 48 and 72 h.

RESULTS

None of the treatments completely disrupted the biofilms and, with the exception of silver, bacteria recovered in number post-treatment. HOCl was most effective when applied to 24 h established biofilms with most activity against P. aeruginosa. Recovery post-treatment was negligible with HOCl applied at 24 h and multiple doses indicated that bacteria were not becoming tolerant to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Realistic models are necessary to test the effectiveness of antimicrobial wound treatments to ensure findings are clinically translatable. HOCl gel shows promise as a new topical antimicrobial for wounds, especially due to its ability to inhibit P. aeruginosa.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study highlights a need for robust in vitro data to support development and use of wound treatments that can only be obtained from the refinement of realistic infection models. Furthermore, it indicates the potential use of HOCl gel for chronic wound management.

Re-Evaluation of Chemotherapeutic Potential of Pyoktanin Blue

Background: Pyoktanin blue (PB) is used for staining tissues and cells, and it is applied in photodynamic therapy due to its potent bactericidal activity. However, clinical application of PB as an antiviral and antitumor agent has been limited due to its potent toxicity. For clinical application, the antitumor and antiviral activity as well as the neurotoxicity of PB were re-evaluated with a chemotherapeutic index. Methods: Tumor-specificity (TS) was determined by the ratio of CC₅₀ against normal oral cells/oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); neurotoxicity by that of normal oral/neuronal cells; antiviral activity by that of mock-infected/virus-infected cells; and potency-selectivity expression (PSE) by dividing TS by CC₅₀ (OSCC). Results: Antitumor activity of PB (assessed by TS and PSE) was comparable with that of DXR and much higher than that of 5-FU and melphalan. PB induced caspase-3 activation and subG1 cell accumulation in an OSCC cell line (Ca9-22). PB and anticancer drugs showed comparable cytotoxicity against both neuronal cells and OSCC cell lines. PB showed no detectable anti-HIV/HSV activity, in contrast to reverse transferase inhibitors, sulfated glucans, and alkaline extract of leaves of S.P. Conclusions: PB showed first-class anticancer activity and neurotoxicity, suggesting the importance of establishing the safe treatment schedule.

ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND ANTI-ADHESION MATERIALS FOR MEDICAL AND SURGICAL GLOVES

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can be common in healthcare settings, such as the intensive care unit and surgical sites, if proper precautions are not followed. Although traditional techniques are encouraged, such as educating the public and healthcare workers to practice proper handwashing or to double glove, they have not been fully effective in combating HAIs. The use of surface-modified antimicrobial gloves may be an alternative approach to prevent the transmission of pathogens between healthcare workers and patients. This paper gives a comprehensive review of strategies to produce antimicrobial gloves. The chemistry of some potential chemically synthesized antimicrobial agents and nature-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces are discussed. The principles of killing microbes must be understood to effectively select these materials and to design and fabricate surfaces for the reduction of bacterial adhesion. Also, current company trends and technologies are presented for gloves proven to effectively kill bacteria. Such glove use, when coupled with in-depth research on diverse surgical procedures and medical examinations, could ease the burden of HAIs.

Molecular Docking Analysis of Anti-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 Ligands against Spike Glycoprotein and the 3-Chymotrypsin-Like Protease

Background:

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-like disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disastrous global pandemic with 16,288,490 infected cases and 649,884 deaths. Until now, no effective treatments are found.

Methods:

The virus uses the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease for inducing the activity of the viral polyproteins and the spike (S) glycoprotein for human cell entry through the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Blocking the active binding sites of these molecules might be beneficial for decreasing the activity of the virus and suppressing the viral entry to the human cells. Here, docking methods were used to identify a group of ligands may perform the blocking operations.

Results:

The results revealed the strongest binding affinities, sorted high to low, for tadalafil (Cialis) (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, tirofiban (antiplatelet), paraxanthine (central nervous system stimulant), dexamethasone, gentian violet cation (triphenylmethane), salbutamol, and amlodipine (calcium channel blocker).

Conclusion:

These substances may provide vital help for further clinical investigation in fighting against the current global pandemic of the COVID-19.

Reuse of Molecules for Glioblastoma Therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain tumor. The current standard of care for GBM is the Stupp protocol which includes surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy concomitant with the DNA alkylator temozolomide; however, survival under this treatment regimen is an abysmal 12-18 months. New and emerging treatments include the application of a physical device, non-invasive 'tumor treating fields' (TTFs), including its concomitant use with standard of care; and varied vaccines and immunotherapeutics being trialed. Some of these approaches have extended life by a few months over standard of care, but in some cases are only available for a minority of GBM patients. Extensive activity is also underway to repurpose and reposition therapeutics for GBM, either alone or in combination with the standard of care. In this review, we present select molecules that target different pathways and are at various stages of clinical translation as case studies to illustrate the rationale for their repurposing-repositioning and potential clinical use.

Encapsulation and release of non-fluorescent crystal violet confined in bile-salt aggregates

In this work, the entrapment of non-fluorescent dye Crystal Violet (CV) in presence of bio-mimetic confined bile-salt aggregates has been studied. The photophysical characteristic properties of CV have been carried out by changing different kinds of hydrophilic head groups and hydrophobic skeletons of bile-salt aggregates (NaC, NaDC, NaTC and NaTGC). The main aim of this work is to modulate the solubility behaviour, fluorescence properties and elucidation of different kinds of non-covalent interaction of CV confined in bile-salt aggregates. To interpret the result, steady state absorption and fluorescence emission techniques have been employed. In aqueous buffer, the CV molecule is non-fluorescent in nature. The value of fluorescence quantum yield (Φ) is ∼10⁻⁴. It has been observed that CV confined in bile-salt aggregates becomes highly fluorescent in nature. The enhancement of ‘Φ’ value of CV in bile-salt aggregates is ∼1000 fold compared to that of aqueous buffer medium. It has also been observed that in the presence of different bile-salt aggregates, CV exhibits remarkable enhancement of absorption and fluorescence emission spectral behaviour. The ground state and the excited state binding constant values of CV in the presence of different bile-salt aggregates have been determined. Moreover, the release of the dye molecule from the confined bile-salt aggregates to the aqueous medium has been executed. It has been found that addition of a very minute concentration of KCl salt (100 nm) to the bile-salt aggregates leads to extreme modification of their photophysical properties of CV. The absorption, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence quantum yield, ground state and excited state binding constant values, partition coefficient and aggregation number of CV molecules entrapped in bile-salt aggregates significantly reduces by addition of KCl. This result clearly confirms that CV releases from the confined system to the aqueous medium.

In this work, the entrapment of non-fluorescent dye Crystal Violet (CV) in presence of bio-mimetic confined bile-salt aggregates has been studied.

Topical Antibacterials in Dermatology

Topical antibacterials are commonly used for superficial pyodermas such as impetigo and treatment or prevention of infections following minor cuts, abrasions, burns, and surgical wounds. Several antibiotics and antiseptics are available for use in different indications. One of the major uses of topical antibacterials is acne in which benzoyl peroxide is the drug of the first choice either singly or in combination with antibiotics or retinoids. Mupirocin and fusidic acid are the two most commonly used antibiotics for the treatment of superficial pyodermas and eradication of staphylococcal carrier state. Bacterial resistance to topical antibiotics is a growing concern and topical antiseptics such as gentian violet are getting renewed interest as alternatives. Incidence of contact dermatitis is a limiting factor for the use of several topical antibacterials. Although many botanical products have demonstrated in vitro activities against skin pathogens, their clinical utilities remain to be established by good-quality clinical trials.

Air-jet spinning corn zein protein nanofibers for drug delivery: Effect of biomaterial structure and shape on release properties

Nanofiber materials are commonly used as delivery vehicles for dermatological drugs due to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, porosity, flexibility, and reproducibility. In this study air-jet spinning was used as a novel and economic method to fabricate corn zein nanofiber meshes with model drugs of varying solubility, molecular weight and charge. The release profiles of these drugs were compared to their release from corn zein films to elucidate the effect of geometry and structure on drug delivery kinetics. In film samples, over 50% of drug was released after only 2 h. However, fiber samples exhibited more sustained release, releasing less than 50% after one day. FTIR, SEM, and DSC were performed on nanofibers and films before and after release of the drugs. Structural analysis revealed that the incorporation of model drugs into the fibers would transform the zein proteins from a random coil network to a more alpha helical structure. Upon release, the protein fiber reverted to its original random coil network. In addition, thermal analysis indicated that fibers can protect the drug molecules in high temperature above 160 °C, while drugs within films will degrade below 130 °C. These findings can likely be attributed to the mechanical infiltration of the drug molecules into the ordered structure of the zein fibers during their solution fabrication. The slow release from fiber samples can be attributed to this biophysical interaction, illustrating that release is dictated by more than diffusion in protein-based carriers. The controlled release of a wide variety of drugs from the air-jet spun corn zein nanofiber meshes demonstrates their success as drug delivery vehicles that can potentially be incorporated into different biological materials in the future.

Endovascular treatment for mycotic aneurysm using pyoktanin- applied devices

Background

Mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm is an extremely rare but serious disease because it can easily rupture and has a high mortality rate. The standard therapy for it comprises graft replacement and debridement using systemic antibiotics; nonetheless, this has a high mortality rate and complications. Endovascular aortic repair is considered a bridging therapy before open surgery. However, we have used it at our institution for the radical treatment of mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm utilizing pyoktanin (methylrosanilide chloride)-applied devices. Thus, the aim of this study was to report our clinical experience with pyoktanin-applied thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the treatment of mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm, including its effects.

Methods

From April 2017 to July 2019, we performed thoracic endovascular aortic repair using pyoktanin for eight cases of mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm using Valiant®. During device preparation before insertion, pyoktanin was flushed from the side port instead of saline containing heparin.

Results

There were no operative deaths, recurrences of infection, or major complications. Two cases died from pneumonia and cancer; the other six cases were alive during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

Pyoktanin-applied thoracic endovascular aortic repair for mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm treatment is effective. However, the appropriate use of antibiotics and bundled therapy is necessary at present.

Development of Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method for Simultaneous Determination of Three Cationic Dyes in Environmental Samples

Lower dye concentrations and the presence of several dyes along with other matrices in environmental samples restrict their determination. Herein, a highly sensitive and rapid ultra-performance tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for simultaneous determination of cationic dyes, namely methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RB) and crystal violet (CV), in environmental samples. To preconcentrate environmental samples, solid-phase extraction cartridges were developed by using hydrogen peroxide modified pistachio shell biomass (MPSB). The surface morphological and chemical functionalities of MPSB were well characterized. The developed method was validated considering different validation parameters. In terms of accuracy and precision, the %RSD for all three dyes at all four concentration points was found to be between 1.26 and 2.76, while the accuracy reported in terms of the recovery was found to be 98.02%-101.70%. The recovery was found to be in the range of 98.11% to 99.55%. The real sample analysis shows that MB, RB, and CV were found in the ranges of 0.39-5.56, 0.32-1.92 and 0.27-4.36 μg/mL, respectively.

Repurposing the open access malaria box reveals compounds with activity against Tritrichomonas foetus trophozoites

The protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus causes early embryonic death in cattle which results in severe economic loss. In the United States, there are no drugs are approved for treatment of this pathogen. In this study, we evaluated in vitro anti-protozoal effects of compounds from an open access chemical library against T. foetus trophozoites. An initial high-throughput screen identified 16 compounds of interest. Further investigation revealed 12 compounds that inhibited parasite growth and 4 compounds with lethal effects. For lethal compounds, dose-response curves were constructed and the LD₅₀ was calculated for laboratory and field strains of T. foetus. Our experiments revealed chemical scaffolds that were parasiticidal in the micromolar range, and these scaffolds provide a starting point for drug discovery efforts. Further investigation is still needed to investigate suitability of these scaffolds and related compounds in food animals. Importantly, open access chemical libraries can be useful for identifying compounds with activity against protozoan pathogens of veterinary importance.

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No legal treatments are available for bovine trichomoniasis in the United States.

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The open access malaria box was screened for compounds with activity against T. foetus trophozoites.

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Identification of several scaffolds meriting further investigation for suitability in food animals.

Synergistic interactions of cadmium-free quantum dots embedded in a photosensitised polymer surface: efficient killing of multidrug-resistant strains at low ambient light levels

Cadmium-free quantum dots (QD) were combined with crystal violet photosensitising dye and incorporated into medical grade polyurethane via a non-covalent dipping process known as 'swell-encapsulation-shrink'. The antibacterial efficacy of the prepared quantum dot-crystal violet polyurethane substrates (QD + CV PU) was investigated under low power visible light illumination at similar intensities (500 lux) to those present in clinical settings. The antibacterial performance of QD + CV PU was superior to the constituent polymer substrates, eliminating ∼99.9% of an environmental P. aeruginosa strain, a clinical P. aeruginosa strain from a cystic fibrosis patient and a clinical E. coli strain. The nature of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in antibacterial activity of the QD + CV PU surface was investigated using ROS inhibitors and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. The photo-physical interactions of the green-emitting QDs with CV lead to a combination of Type I and II electron transfer and energy transfer processes, with the highly potent ROS singlet oxygen playing a dominant role. This study is the first to demonstrate highly efficient synergistic killing of clinical and environmental strains of intrinsically resistant and multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria using light-activated surfaces containing biocompatible cadmium-free QDs and crystal violet dye at ambient light levels.

Synthetic organic dyes as contaminants of the aquatic environment and their implications for ecosystems: A review

In recent years interest in the fate of chemical compounds in the aquatic environment has increased. There are many reports of the presence of chemical compounds such as pesticides, steroid hormones or antibiotics in the aquatic environment. At present, little is known about synthetic organic dyes as contaminants of water bodies. These dyes are omnipresent in many application areas from the textile, tannery, cosmetic and food industries to human and veterinary medicine. Their large-scale production and widespread applications have caused synthetic organic dyes to permeate into different compartments of water and soil environment. So far, dyes have been determined in environmental samples such as water, suspended particulate matters, sediment and wild fish. For this reason, they are considered micropollutants of aquatic ecosystems. Due to the toxicological properties and pharmacological activity of some synthetic organic dyes their occurrence in water bodies should be monitored. The hazard potential of synthetic organic dyes should be assessed, especially their influence on aquatic biota, not least because dyes in water ecosystems may pose a threat to animal or human health as higher-order consumers. This review collects scientific data considering application areas, toxicity, sources, environmental occurrence and the fate of synthetic organic dyes and the ecological implications of synthetic organic dyes presence in the total environment. Moreover, analytical methods for dye determination and methods for dye removal from wastewater are described.

Orabase-formulated gentian violet effectively improved oral potentially malignant disorder in vitro and in vivo

Oral cancer is a prevalent cancer in male worldwide. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OMPDs) are the oral mucosa lesions that have high malignant transformation rate to oral cancer. The mainstay for OMPDs treatment includes carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser and surgery, which may lead to the side effects of scarring and impaired function of oral cavity in the patients and reduced their willingness to receive curative therapy. Therefore, developing a non-invasive and function-preserving therapy is clinically important. Since development of a novel chemotherapeutic drug requires a lot of time and cost, we applied the high-throughput screening (HTS) approach to identify new bioactivities for FDA-approved drugs, known as drug repurposing. Through this drug repurposing approach, we discovered that gentian violet (GV), which is well known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antihelminthic, antitrypanosomal and antiviral activities, was able to induce significant cell death in DOK oral precancerous cells through ROS production. Moreover, decreased phosphorylation of p53(Ser15) and NFκB(Ser536) was required for GV-induced cell death. In vivo, 3% GV orabase effectively suppressed the progression of DMBA-induced oral precancerous lesions. In conclusion, this new formulation of GV through drug repurposing has the potential to be further developed as a therapeutic drug for OPMD clinically.