Coral Hydrate, a Novel Antioxidant, Improves Alcohol Intoxication in Mice

Molecular Hydrogen Therapy in Sjögren's Syndrome With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Right-sided Heart Failure: A Case Report of Improved Immune Markers Including Treg, B Cells and Plasma Cell

BACKGROUND/AIM

Connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) is a severe complication characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure, which can lead to right heart failure and death, if untreated. Standard treatments often fail to adequately manage symptoms, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigated the efficacy of molecular hydrogen (H2) therapy in a patient with CTD-PAH.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 56-year-old female with CTD-PAH, diagnosed in 2013 with Sjogren's syndrome complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) and PAH. Despite treatment with sildenafil, bosentan, macitentan, iloprost, and corticosteroids, her condition deteriorated, resulting in severe dyspnea and cardiogenic shock in 2020. In May 2023, molecular hydrogen therapy was initiated as an adjuvant treatment. The patient received daily hydrogen capsules, which led to increased CD127+ Treg cells, reduced anti-Ro antibodies, and decreased B cell subsets. Her clinical symptoms stabilized without adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the potential benefits of molecular hydrogen therapy in CTD-PAH. H2 therapy exhibiting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, leading to improved immune cell profiles and stabilizing clinical symptoms in a patient unresponsive to conventional treatments. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of H2 therapy and validate its efficacy in larger cohorts. Molecular hydrogen therapy shows promise as a safe adjunctive treatment for CTD-PAH, offering a new approach for managing this challenging condition.

Using oral molecular hydrogen supplements to combat microinflammation in humans: a pilot observational study

Background: Persistent inflammation over time can cause gradual harm to the body. Molecular hydrogen has the potential to specifically counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduce disease severity, and enhance overall health. Investigations of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of oral solid hydrogen capsules (OSHCs) are currently limited, prompting our examination of the beneficial effects of OSHCs. Subsequently, we conducted a clinical study to assess the impact of OSHCs supplementation on individuals with chronic inflammation. Materials and methods: Initially, we evaluated the oxidative reduction potential (ORP) properties of the OSHCs solution by comparing it to hydrogen-rich water (HRW) and calcium hydride (CaH2) treated water. In our outpatient department, stable patients with chronic illnesses who were treated with varying doses of OSHCs were randomized into low-, medium-, and high-dose groups for 4 weeks. Primary outcomes included changes in the serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations after four weeks of OSHCs consumption. Secondary outcomes included changes in the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan (BFI-T) fatigue scale, Control Status Scale for Diabetes (CSSD70) scores, and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28). Results: Compared to HRW and CaH2, OSHCs demonstrated a prolonged reduction in ORP for 60 minutes in vitro and enabled a regulated release of hydrogen over 24 hours. A total of 30 participants, with 10 in each dosage (low/medium/high) group, completed the study. The average ESR120 significantly decreased from the first week to the fourth week, with a noticeable dose effect (low-dose group, p = 0.494; high-dose group, p = 0.016). Overall, the average CRP concentration showed a distinct decreasing trend after four weeks of OSHCs administration (w0 vs. w4, p = 0.077). The average DAS28 score demonstrated a significant decrease following OSHCs treatment. Furthermore, there were improvements in the BFI-T and CSSD70 scores. Conclusion: OSHCs supplementation may exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on individuals with chronic inflammation. However, further clinical studies could be investigated to explore the potential therapeutic effects of OSHCs.

Hydrogen therapy: recent advances and emerging materials

Hydrogen therapy, leveraging its selective attenuation of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) and ONOO-, has emerged as a pivotal pathophysiological modulator with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic attributes. Hydrogen therapy has been extensively studied both preclinically and clinically, especially in diseases with an inflammatory nature. Despite the substantial progress, challenges persist in achieving high hydrogen concentrations in target lesions, especially in cancer treatment. A notable breakthrough lies in water/acid reactive materials, offering enhanced hydrogen generation and sustained release potential. However, limitations include hydrogen termination upon material depletion and reduced bioavailability at targeted lesions. To overcome these challenges, catalytic materials like photocatalytic and sonocatalytic materials have surfaced as promising solutions. With enhanced permeability and retention effects, these materials exhibit targeted delivery and sustained stimuli-reactive hydrogen release. The future of hydrogen therapy hinges on continuous exploration and modification of catalytic materials. Researchers are urged to prioritize improved catalytic efficiency, enhanced lesion targeting effects, and heightened biosafety and biocompatibility in future development.

A Novel Antioxidant, Hydrogen-Rich Coral Calcium Alters Gut Microbiome and Bile Acid Synthesis to Improve Methionine-and-Choline-Deficient Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has dramatically increased in recent years, and it is highly associated with metabolic diseases, as well as the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of NAFLD are still scarce. Although hydrogen-rich water shows beneficial effects for hepatic steatosis, the inconvenience limits the application of this antioxidant. In light of this, hydrogen-rich coral calcium (HRCC) was developed due to its convenience and quantifiable characteristics. However, the effects of HRCC on NAFLD are still unknown. In the present study, we found that HRCC treatment improved methionine-and-choline-deficient diet (MCD)-induced hepatic steatosis, increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, and elevated hepatic inflammatory factor expressions in mice. In addition to the increased expressions of antioxidative enzymes, we found that HRCC increased the expressions of bile acid biosynthesis-related genes, including Cyp8b1 and Cyp27a1. Increased hepatic bile acid contents, such as muricholic acids, 23 nor-deoxycholic acid, glycoursodeoxycholic acid, and cholic acids, were also confirmed in MCD mice treated with HRCC. Since the biogenesis of bile acids is associated with the constitution of gut microbiome, the alterations in gut microbiome by HRCC were evaluated. We found that HRCC significantly changed the constitution of gut microbiome in MCD mice and increased the contents of Anaerobacterium, Acutalibacter, Anaerosacchariphilus, and Corynebacterium. Taken together, HRCC improved MCD-induced NAFLD through anti-inflammatory mechanisms and by increasing antioxidative activities. Additionally, HRCC might alter gut microbiome to change hepatic bile acid contents, exerting beneficial effects for the treatment of NAFLD.

Structure and hepatoprotective activity of Usp10/NF-κB/Nrf2 pathway-related Morchella esculenta polysaccharide

The water-soluble Morchella esculenta polysaccharide 2 (MEP2) was purified and isolated from an aqueous extract of the Morchella esculenta fruiting bodies. MEP2, having a molecular weight of 959 kDa, has a →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ glucan backbone, and this branch was substituted at the H-6 position by an α-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ residue and an α-D-Glcp-(1→ residue. The hepatoprotective activity and potential mechanism of action of MEP2 were also investigated. MEP2 ameliorated severe liver damage and regulated the liver function indicators and the alcohol-related enzyme levels in chronic alcohol-induced mice. Combined with biochemical detection, the gut microbiota, metabolites, and proteomics results revealed that MEP2 regulates the levels of hepatic cytokines related to inflammatory response and oxidative stress, as well as those of intestinal Bacteroides, Oscillospira, Parabacteroides, Alistipes, and Prevotella, through the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (Usp10)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in the liver of mice induced by long-term alcohol intake. These data provide experimental evidence for the application of MEP2 in chronic alcohol-induced liver injury.