A non-antibiotic antimicrobial drug, a biological bacteriostatic agent, is useful for treating aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis

Human Cervix Chip: A Preclinical Model for Studying the Role of the Cervical Mucosa and Microbiome in Female Reproductive Health

Advancements in women's reproductive health have been hindered by insufficient knowledge and the underrepresentation of women in research, leading to symptom-focused care with poor outcomes. Modeling female reproductive biology and disease pathophysiology has been challenging due to the complexity and dynamic nature of the female organs. Here, we briefly review recent advancements made with a new in vitro microfluidic organ-on-a-chip model of the human cervix (Cervix Chip) that faithfully mimics key features of the cervix, including mucus production and physiological responses to hormonal, environmental, and microbial stimuli. We also discuss how this preclinical platform can provide a way to obtain unique insights into the role of mucosal immunity, genetic and risk factors, as well as microbiome and pathogen interactions in human cervix health and disease, while bridging knowledge gaps in fertility and pregnancy-related conditions. By enabling preclinical drug screening and accelerating translational research, the Cervix Chip holds the potential to improve the development of therapeutics, diagnostics, and ultimately, the sexual and reproductive health of millions of women globally.

Antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck collected from Iraq: Bioassay-guided isolation of sinensetin as the anti-MRSA compound

Infections caused by antibiotic-drug-resistant microorganisms are a major global health concern, and they result in millions of deaths every year. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of such drug-resistant microbial strains, and new and effective antimicrobial agents are desperately needed to combat infections caused by MRSA. In the search for effective anti-MRSA agents, the leaves of Citrus grandis (Rutaceae), also known as C. maxima, were investigated. Implementing a bioassay-guided approach, sinensetin (2), which is a polymethoxyflavone, was isolated as a promising anti-MRSA compound, showing inhibitory activity against three (EMRSA-15, MRSA340802 and MRSA274819; MIC values 128-256 μg/mL) of five MRSA strains tested in the present study. Five other flavonoids 6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (1), cirsilineol (3), nobiletin (4), 5-desmethylsinensetin (5) and hesperidin (6) were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of this plant. They displayed varied levels of antimicrobial activities against the tested microbial strains, Micrococcus luteus NCTC 7508, Escherichia coli NCTC 12241 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 12903, and a fungal strain, Candida albicans ATCC 90028, but not against Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 12981. Sinensetin (2) also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the fungal strain C. albicans with an MIC value of 0.0625 mg/mL. The chemical structures of all isolated compounds were unequivocally elucidated by spectroscopic means (1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESIMS). The present study revealed sinensetin (2) as a potential structural template for generating structural analogues and developing anti-MRSA agents and provided scientific evidence supporting the traditional uses of C. grandis in the treatment of microbial infections.

[Mechanisms of Wandai Decoction in Improving Vaginal Flora of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis of the Spleen Deficiency and Excessive Dampness Type: A Study Based on Metagenomics and Metabolomics]

Objective

To explore the mechanism by which Wandai Decoction prevents and treats vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) of the spleen deficiency and excessive dampness type and restores the vaginal flora structure, and to identify the potential metabolic pathways involved using metagenomics and metabolomics.

Methods

Twenty VVC patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to a Wandai Decoction group and a fluconazole group (n = 10 in each group). Subjects in the fluconazole group were given a single oral dose of 150 mg fluconazole, while those in the Wandai Decoction group took the Wandai Decoction orally for 14 days. The vulvovaginal signs and symptoms (VSS) scores of both patient groups were evaluated before and after treatment. Vaginal secretions were collected before and after treatment. The Illumina sequencing and the liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) platform were used to conduct metagenomic and metabolomics analyses of the vaginal secretions, respectively.

Results

The VSS score results showed that the VSS scores of both groups decreased after treatment compared with those before treatment (P < 0.01), and there was no statistically significant difference in the VSS scores between the two groups after treatment. Metagenomics results showed that, after treatment, the vaginal microbial communities in the Wandai Decoction group were of CST Ⅱ and Ⅴ types (predominated by Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus jensenii), while those in the fluconazole group were Lactobacillus_intestinalis and Streptococcus_sp._oral_ taxon_431. KEGG functional enrichment analysis results showed that, in terms of the cell cycle and meiosis functions of Candida albicans, statistically significant differences between the Wandai Decoction and fluconazole groups were observed (P < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis identified 120 differential metabolites between the two groups after treatment. The results of KEGG metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites showed that the Wandai Decoction might be significantly superior to fluconazole in improving local vaginal metabolic pathways of α-linolenic acid, glycerophospholipid metabolism, pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion, and arachidonic acid.

Conclusion

The Wandai Decoction can improve the vaginal flora of VVC patients. It may be superior to fluconazole in the signaling pathways of the cell cycle and meiosis. The improvement of the vaginal flora by the Wandai Decoction may be associated with its effect on metabolic pathways of glycerophospholipid metabolism, pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion, and others in the vagina.

The Effects of Synthetic Polymers on the Release Patterns of Bupivacaine Hydrochloride from Sodium Hyaluronate Hydrogels

BACKGROUND

Using hydrogels for the controlled release of drugs is beneficial for patients, who then receive the proper dose of the medicinal substance. In addition, the formulation can provide more consistent drug absorption while reducing the frequency of dosing.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this investigation is to propose a novel HA (sodium hyaluronate)-based hydrogel for intra-articular injection doped with synthetic polymers and incorporated with bupivacaine hydrochloride (Bu) as a local anesthetic. The other aim of this study is to reveal the effects of the formulation's ingredients on its viscosity and the relationship between the hydrogel's viscosity and drug release.

METHODS

First, HA-based hydrogels doped with synthetic polymers and incorporated with Bu were prepared. A study of the hydrogels' viscosities was performed using a rotational viscometer. Release tests were carried out by employing a paddle-over-disk apparatus following the USP/Ph.Eur guidelines. The drug concentrations in the acceptor fluid were analyzed spectrophotometrically.

RESULTS

It was found that the viscosity of the hydrogels doped with synthetic polymers was higher than the viscosity of the hydrogels made with only HA. The viscosity of the hydrogels doped with AX (ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer) was the highest, measuring 6750 ± 160 cP and 12623 ± 379 cP with and without Bu, respectively. The results of the kinetic experiment indicate that the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models best described the drug release. Bu was released the most slowly from the formulation doped with AX. The release rate constants obtained from the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models were kH = 4.4 ± 0.2 mg × min-1/2 and kK-P = 3.4 ± 0.2 × 10-2 min-N, respectively. The half-release time, calculated using the Higuchi model, was the longest for the formulation doped with AX, at 199.5 ± 17.6 min.

CONCLUSIONS

This indicates that the incorporation of AX into the hydrogel may prolong the drug dissolution. The hydrogel doped with AX was the optimal formulation for the controlled release of Bu.