Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by Ozonated Glycerol

We evaluated the SARS-CoV-2-inactivation activity of ozonated glycerol (OG). When a viral solution with 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) was mixed with test solutions at a ratio of 1:19 and incubated for 20 s, OG with ozone concentrations of over 1000 ppm inactivated ≥ 94.38% of the virus. Extension of the reaction time to 1 h led to the inactivation of ≥ 99.82% of the virus (the viral titer was below the detection limit). Extension to 24 h resulted in concentrations over 200 ppm OG inactivating ≥ 99.87% of the virus (the viral titers were below the detection limit). Next, viral solutions with 1, 20, and 40% FBS were mixed with test solutions at a ratio of 1:19 and incubated for 5 min. Whereas the virucidal activity of 500 ppm OG was very limited in the presence of 1% FBS (79.47% inactivation), it increased in the presence of 20 and 40% FBS (95.13 and 97.95% inactivation, respectively; the viral titers were not below the detection limit). Meanwhile, over 1000 ppm OG inactivated ≥ 99.44% of the virus regardless of the FBS concentration (the viral titers were below the detection limit). Extension of the reaction time to 1 h led to 500 ppm OG inactivating ≥ 99.91 and ≥ 99.95% of the virus with 20 and 40% FBS, respectively (the viral titers were below the detection limit). These results suggested that OG might be useful as a virucidal agent against SARS-CoV-2.

Ozone Therapy in Ethidium Bromide-Induced Demyelination in Rats: Possible Protective Effect

Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, is characterized by excessive demyelination. The study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of ozone (O3) therapy in ethidium bromide (EB)-induced demyelination in rats either alone or in combination with corticosteroids in order to decrease the dose of steroid therapy. Rats were divided into Group (1) normal control rats received saline, Group (2) Sham-operated rats received saline, Group (3) Sham-operated rats received vehicle (oxygen), Group (4) EB-treated rats received EB, Group (5) EB-treated rats received O3, Group (6) EB-treated rats received methylprednisolone (MP), and Group (7) EB-treated rats received half the dose of MP concomitant with O3. EB-treated rats showed a significant increase in the number of footfalls in the grid walk test, decreased brain GSH, and paraoxonase-1 enzyme activity, whereas brain MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, INF-γ, Cox-2 immunoreactivity, and p53 protein levels were increased. A significant decline in brain serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and MBP immunoreactivity was also reported. Significant improvement of the above-mentioned parameters was demonstrated with the administration of either MP or O3, whereas best amelioration was achieved by combining half the dose of MP with ozone.

Medical ozone therapy reduces shock wave therapy-induced renal injury

OBJECTIVES

Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) lithotripsy is the preferred treatment modality for uncomplicated kidney stones. More recently free oxygen radical production following ESW application has been considered to be crucial in shock wave-induced renal damage. It has been shown that ozone therapy (OT) has ameliorative and preventive effects against various pathological conditions due to increased nitro-oxidative stress. In current study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of OT against ESW-induced renal injury.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, ESW, and ESW + OT groups. All groups except sham-operated group were subjected to ESW procedure. ESW + OT group received 1 mg/kg/day of oxygen/ozone mixture intraperitoneally at 2 h before ESW, and OT was continued once a day for consecutive three days. The animals were killed at the 4th day, and kidney tissue and blood samples were harvested for biochemical and histopathologic analysis.

RESULTS

Serum ALT and AST levels, serum neopterin, tissue nitrite/nitrate levels, and tissue oxidative stress parameters were increased in the ESW group and almost came close to control values in the treatment group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. ESW + OT). Histopathological injury scores were significantly lower in treatment group than the ESW group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. ESW + OT). Immunohistochemical iNOS staining scores in ESW group were higher than those of sham-operated group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. sham-operated), iNOS staining scores in OT group were significantly lower than the ESW group (p < 0.05, ESW + OT vs. ESW).

CONCLUSION

OT ameliorates nitro-oxidative stress and reduces the severity of pathological changes in the experimental ESW-induced renal injury of rat model.

Ozone therapy ameliorates paraquat-induced lung injury in rats

Paraquat (PQ) overdose can cause acute lung injury and death. Ozone therapy (OT) was previously demonstrated to alleviate inflammation and necrosis in various pathologies. We therefore hypothesized that OT has ameliorative and preventive effects on PQ-induced lung damage due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were separated into three groups: sham, PQ, and PQ+OT groups. 15 mg/kg PQ was administered intraperitoneally in PQ and PQ+OT groups to induce experimental lung injury. One hour after PQ treatment, PQ+OT group was administered a single dose of ozone-oxygen mixture (1 mg/kg/day) by intraperitoneal route for four consecutive days. The animals were sacrificed on fifth day after PQ administration. Blood samples and lung tissues were collected to evaluate the inflammatory processes, antioxidant defense and pulmonary damage. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neopterin levels, tissue oxidative stress parameters, total TGF-β1 levels, and histological injury scores in PQ+OT group were significantly lower than PQ group (P<0.05, PQ vs. PQ+OT). Total antioxidant capacity in PQ+OT group was significantly higher than PQ group (P < 0.05, PQ+OT vs. PQ). These findings suggest that outcome in PQ-induced lung injury may be improved by using OT as an adjuvant therapy.

Anti-inflammatory effects of ozonated water in an experimental mouse model

Previous studies have suggested that ozonated water is safe and possesses antibacterial effects for treatment of experimental peritonitis rats. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of ozonated water that was intraperitoneally injected into an experimental inflammatory mouse model. The concentrations of dissolved ozone decreased constantly and lineally, while the half-life of dissolved ozone was 36.8±2.7 min (27°C). The 10-ppm ozonated water was injected intraperitoneally into mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation. The results showed that the intraperitoneal injection of ozonated water decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results suggest that ozonated water has anti-inflammatory properties and is a potential therapeutic option for acute inflammation.

Effects of high-frequency bio-oxidative ozone therapy in temporomandibular disorder-related pain

OBJECTIVE

It was the aim of this study to compare the efficacy of ozone therapy and drug treatment in patients with painful temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 63 patients with TMD were enrolled; 33 were treated with bio-oxidative therapy and 30 with a ketoprofen tablet thiocolchicoside capsule 2 × 1 for 7 days. Maximum voluntary interincisal mouth opening (MMO) was measured in millimeters using a scale and recorded during the pre- and posttreatment periods. The patients evaluated their subjective pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the independent t test.

RESULTS

The mean MMO of the group that received ozone therapy during the pretreatment period was 46.51 ± 8.2 mm, and it immediately increased to 48.78 ± 7.5 mm after 1 week of ozone therapy, which was statistically significant (p = 0.04). For those who received medication, the mean MMO during the pretreatment period was 46.30 mm, and at the end of 1 week it was 46.9 mm. In the ozone group, 29% of patients showed a gradual decrease in their VAS pain scores compared to pretreatment values (6.3 ± 2.1 to 3.0 ± 2.2). In the medication group, 24% of patients showed a significant decrease in VAS pain scores during the follow-up period (6.9 ± 1.4 to 5.0 ± 1.5).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that bio-oxidative therapy was a more effective treatment than medication therapy for relieving TMJ pain.

The protective effects of ozone therapy in a rat model of acetaminophen-induced liver injury

OBJECTIVES

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose may cause acute liver injury. Ozone therapy (OT) is shown to reduce inflammation and necrosis in several entities. Thus, we have designed this study to evaluate the efficacy of OT in a rat model of APAP-induced liver injury.

METHODS

Twenty-seven Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham, APAP and APAP+OT groups. In the APAP and the APAP+OT groups, liver injury was induced by oral administration of 1 g/kg APAP. The APAP+OT group received a single dose ozone/oxygen mixture (0.7 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 1h after APAP administration. All animals were killed at 24 hour after APAP administration. Blood samples and liver tissues were harvested to determine liver injury and oxidative stress parameters. Liver tissues and blood samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological analyses.

RESULTS

APAP administration caused necrosis in the liver after 24h. The degrees of liver necrosis of the APAP group were higher than the other groups (in both p<0.05, respectively). In the APAP+OT group, liver antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly higher than the APAP group (p<0.05), but were lower than the sham group (p<0.05). In the sham group, serum neopterin, a marker of cell-mediated immunity, concentrations (4.8±1.2 nmol/L) were lower than the APAP (14.7±1.4 nmol/L) and APAP+OT groups (7.5±2.4 nmol/L) (in both p<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that OT prevented liver necrosis in rats and reduced neopterin levels. These findings suggest that the use of OT as an adjuvant therapy which might improve the outcome in APAP induced liver injury.

Medical ozone therapy decreases postoperative uterine adhesion formation in rats

PURPOSE

Various studies have been performed to find out novel treatment strategies to prevent postoperative adhesion formation. Ozone therapy (OT) is shown to reduce inflammation in several pathological conditions. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of OT in a rat model of experimental uterine adhesion (EUA).

METHODS

Thirty female Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into three groups: sham, EUA and EUA+OT. EUA and EUA+OT groups were subjected to the postoperative adhesion procedure by bipolar coagulation on the uterine horns and corresponding pelvic sidewall parietal peritoneum. EUA+OT group received 0.7 mg/kg daily single dose for 3 days of ozone/oxygen mixture intraperitoneally after adhesion induction. All animals were killed on the 7th day and uterine adhesions were scored. Uterine tissues and peritoneal washing fluid were harvested for all analyses.

RESULTS

Uterine malondialdehyde levels in the EUA group were significantly higher compared to the other groups. However, in the EUA group, uterine superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were lower than in other groups. Peritoneal fluid TNF-α levels were found to be significantly different for all groups (p < 0.001). Macroscopic total adhesion score was significantly higher in the EUA group compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). But, total score in the EUA+OT group was lower than in the EUA group (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Medical OT prevents postoperative uterine adhesions by modulating TNF-α levels and oxidative/antioxidative status in an experimental uterine adhesion model.

Ozone therapy prevents renal inflammation and fibrosis in a rat model of acute pyelonephritis

INTRODUCTION

Not only bacterial characteristics but also oxidative/nitrosative stress could play a significant role in renal parenchymal inflammatory processes in acute pyelonephritis (APN). This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ozone therapy (OT), as an immunomodulator and antioxidant, on the renal function, morphology and biochemical parameters of oxidative stress in an experimental model of APN in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty rats were divided equally into five groups as control, APN, APN + Antibiotic, APN + OT, and APN + Antibiotic + OT. APN was induced by 0.1 ml of freshly prepared Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) solution containing 10(10) colony-forming unit/ml into the kidney. A control group was administered 0.1 ml of 0.9 % NaCl solution. Treatment was begun 72 h after bacterial inoculation. Control and APN groups were given 0.9% NaCl solution, APN + Antibiotic and APN + OT were given either antibiotic (ciprofloxacine 150 mg/kg intramuscular/twice daily) or OT. APN + Antibiotic + OT group was given both antibiotic and OT for five consecutive days. At the end of the seventh day, animals were killed via decapitation and trunk blood was collected. Both kidneys were harvested and one half of each kidney were immediately stored for antioxidant enzyme activity, tissue lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content. The remainder was fixed for histopathologic examination.

RESULTS

E. coli-induced APN increased the renal glomerular and tubular dysfunction, oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities. Either antibiotherapy or OT markedly ameliorated renal dysfunction, the antioxidant status of the kidneys and histopathological injuries subjected to E. coli-induced APN. Interestingly, the combination of antibiotherapy and OT was much more effective than either of the treatment modalities alone.

CONCLUSION

The combination of antibiotherapy and OT markedly ameliorated renal dysfunction and improved antioxidant status and histopathologic modalities in rats subjected to E. coli-induced APN than either antibiotherapy or OT treatment alone. Therefore, OT may be considered as an adjuvant therapy to classical antibiotherapy to prevent renal inflammation and fibrosis in APN.

Similarities and differences of hyperbaric oxygen and medical ozone applications

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment is based on the principle of having the patient breath 100% oxygen in an environment above atmospheric pressure. Ozone (O(3)) is a colourless gas with a specific odour and consists of three oxygen atoms. The classical scientific understanding is that the world has become a place suitable for life for aerobic organisms with the increasing oxygen in the atmosphere billions of years ago. The formation of ozone after oxygen has then protected aerobic creatures from harmful rays. We now use these two gases for treatment purposes. It is noteworthy that the oxygen and ozone molecules that are formed by the same atom in different numbers are used for similar medical indications. We will try to emphasize the similarities and differences of HBO and medical ozone applications in this article.