Application of Common Culinary Herbs for the Development of Bioactive Materials

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties, can be considered viable candidates for nanotechnology applications, in particular for the phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles. The present work aims to evaluate the potential application of hyssop and oregano for the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, as well as to evaluate the biological activities of their extracts and obtained nanoparticles (antioxidant potential, as well as cell viability, inflammation level and cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts HFIB-G cell line studies). In order to obtain natural extracts, two extraction methods were applied (classical temperature extraction and microwave-assisted extraction), with the extraction method having a major influence on their composition, as demonstrated by both the total phenolic compounds (significantly higher for the microwave-assisted extraction; the oregano extracts had consistently higher TPC values, compared with the hyssop extracts) and in terms of individual components identified via HPLC. The obtained nanoparticles ware characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the lowest dimension nanoparticles being recorded for the nanoparticles obtained using the oregano microwave extract (crystallite size 2.94 nm through XRD, average diameter 10 nm via TEM). The extract composition and particle size also influenced the antioxidant properties (over 60% DPPH inhibition being recorded for the NPs obtained using the oregano microwave extract). Cell viability was not affected at the lowest tested concentrations, which can be correlated with the nitric oxide level. Cell membrane integrity was not affected after exposure to classic temperature hyssop extract-NPs, while the other samples led to a significant LDH increase.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with breast-conserving surgery on the breast cancer condition and immune and inflammatory indexes of patients with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) on the breast cancer (BC) condition and immune and inflammatory indexes of patients with BC.

METHODS

A total of 114 patients with BC admitted to the First People's Hospital of Shangqiu from March 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Fifty-four patients who underwent radical mastectomy alone were enrolled into the control group (Con group), and the other 60 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with BCS were assigned to the observation group (Obs group). The two groups were compared in terms of surgical indexes, therapeutic effects, immune indexes including immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM, and inflammatory indexes. Cox regression analysis was conducted to analyze the independent prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

After therapy, the Obs group yielded a significantly higher effective therapy rate than the Con group and experienced notably shorter hospital stay and operation time than the Con group. In addition, the Obs group showed significantly higher levels of IgG, IgA and IgM and significantly lower levels of TNF-α and IL-6 than the Con group after therapy. According to Cox regression analysis, clinical stage and HER2 were independent prognostic factors impacting patients' OS and DFS.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with BCS can substantially alleviate the disease condition, effectively improve the immune ability, and lower the inflammation level of BC patients, without impacting their 2-year OS and DFS.

Therapeutic effect of adenosylmethionine on viral hepatitis and related factors inducing diseas

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the therapeutic efficacy of adenosylmethionine on viral hepatitis and the related factors inducing disease.

METHODS

From May 2018 to April 2019, 137 patients with viral hepatitis who received treatment in our hospital were selected and assigned to two groups according to different treatment methods. In the control group (CG), 61 cases were treated with routine liver protection and enzyme reduction. In the research group, 76 cases were treated with adenosylmethionine on the basis of the CG. After therapy, the total response rate was analyzed in both groups, and the adverse reactions were observed during the treatment. The liver function indexes [albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutamic acid transaminase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL)], liver fiber indicators [hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type III procollagen (PCIII), type IV collagen (IV-C)], inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] were compared in both groups before and after therapy. ELISA was applied to detect inflammatory factors in both groups before and after treatment. Logistic analysis was applied to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the curative effect of patients with viral hepatitis.

RESULTS

After therapy, the total response rate of patients in RG was obviously higher than that in CG; The total incidence of adverse effects in RG was obviously lower than that in CG; The improvement of liver function indexes and liver fiber indicators in RG was better than that in CG; The expression of inflammatory factors in RG was obviously lower than that in CG. Logistic analysis revealed that patients' age (>40 years old), drinking history, family history, low improvement of hepatic function and hepatic fibrosis, high level of inflammatory cytokines and routine treatment were independent prognostic factors affecting patients with viral hepatitis.

CONCLUSION

Adenosylmethionine intervention can promote disease recovery, reduce inflammation level and improve liver function damage for patients with viral hepatitis.