Bioactive Hydroperoxyl Cembranoids from the Red Sea Soft Coral Sarcophyton glaucum

A chemical investigation of an ethyl acetate extract of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum has led to the isolation of two peroxide diterpenes, 11(S) hydroperoxylsarcoph-12(20)-ene (1), and 12(S)-hydroperoxylsarcoph-10-ene (2), as well as 8-epi-sarcophinone (3). In addition to these three new compounds, two known structures were identified including: ent-sarcophine (4) and sarcophine (5). Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, with the relative configuration of 1 and 2 confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Isolated compounds were found to be inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A activity as well as inducers of glutathione S-transferases (GST), quinone reductase (QR), and epoxide hydrolase (mEH) establishing chemo-preventive and tumor anti-initiating activity for these characterized metabolites

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Sulphated tubers extract from the giant taro Alocasia macrorrhiza inhibits the carcinogenesis initiation and modulates macrophage functions

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don, Araceae, is a traditionally edible plant known as giant taro. This work aimed to prepare sulphatedpolysaccharide extract of A. macrorrhizos tubers (SAM) and to investigate its tumor anti-initiation and anti-promotion activities. Methods:Enzymatic, colorimetric, fluorometric, and cell-based assays were used throughout the study. Tumor anti-initiation activity was investigatedby estimation of SAM effect on cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1A1) glutathione-S-transferases (GST), glutathione (GSH), epoxide hydrolase(mEH), and quinone reductase (QR), while Tumor anti-promotion activity was investigated by macrophage proliferation, nitric oxide (NO),and LPS binding to macrophages. SAM inhibited the carcinogen metabolizing enzyme Cyp1A1 and it induced, to variable extent, thedetoxification enzymes (GST, mEH and QR), especially mEH. Additionally, SAM showed anti-inflammatory property by inhibiting NO andit induced the affinity of macrophage to bind pathogens and neoplastic cells. Additionally, SAM was cytotoxic to colon HCT-116 cells.The findings suggested SAM as a promising inhibitor of the carcinogenesis initiation phase.Keywords: Alocasia macrorrhiza; sulphated; Tumor anti-initiation; Cyp1A1; Epoxide hydrolase; glutathione-S-transferases; quinonereductase; FITC-LPS; macrophag

Sulphated tubers extract from the giant taro Alocasia macrorrhiza inhibits the carcinogenesis initiation and modulates macrophage functions

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don, Araceae, is a traditionally edible plant known as giant taro. This work aimed to prepare sulphatedpolysaccharide extract of A. macrorrhizos tubers (SAM) and to investigate its tumor anti-initiation and anti-promotion activities. Methods:Enzymatic, colorimetric, fluorometric, and cell-based assays were used throughout the study. Tumor anti-initiation activity was investigatedby estimation of SAM effect on cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1A1) glutathione-S-transferases (GST), glutathione (GSH), epoxide hydrolase(mEH), and quinone reductase (QR), while Tumor anti-promotion activity was investigated by macrophage proliferation, nitric oxide (NO),and LPS binding to macrophages. SAM inhibited the carcinogen metabolizing enzyme Cyp1A1 and it induced, to variable extent, thedetoxification enzymes (GST, mEH and QR), especially mEH. Additionally, SAM showed anti-inflammatory property by inhibiting NO andit induced the affinity of macrophage to bind pathogens and neoplastic cells. Additionally, SAM was cytotoxic to colon HCT-116 cells.The findings suggested SAM as a promising inhibitor of the carcinogenesis initiation phase.Keywords: Alocasia macrorrhiza; sulphated; Tumor anti-initiation; Cyp1A1; Epoxide hydrolase; glutathione-S-transferases; quinonereductase; FITC-LPS; macrophag

Biocompatibility properties of polyamide 6/PCL blends composite textile scaffold using EA.hy926 human endothelial cells

Enhancing the cytocompatibility profiles, including cell attachment, growth and viability, of designed synthetic scaffolds, has a pivotal role in tissue engineering applications. Polymer blending is one of the most effective methods for providing new desirable biomaterials for tissue scaffolds. This article reports a novel polyamide 6/poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PA6/PCL) blends solution which was fabricated to create composite fibrous tissue scaffolds by varying the concentration ratios of PA6 and PCL. Highly porous blends of fibrous scaffold were fabricated and their suitability as cell-support for EA.hy926 human endothelial cells was studied. Our results demonstrated that the unique nanoscale morphological properties and tune porosity of the blends scaffold were controlled. We found that these properties are mainly dependent on the PA6/PCL blending viscosity value, and the viscosity of the blending solution has an intense effect on the properties of the blends scaffold. The influence of the scaffolds extraction fluids and the scaffold direct contact of both the metabolic viability and the DNA integrity of EA.hy926 endothelial cells, as well as the cell/scaffold interaction analysis by scanning electron microscope, after different co-culturing intervals, demonstrated that PA6/PCL blend scaffolds showed different behaviors. Blend scaffolds of PA6/PCL of 90:10 ratio proved to be excellent endothelial cell carriers, which provided a good cell morphology, DNA integrity and viability, induced DNA synthesis/replication, and enhanced cell proliferation, attachment, and invasion. These results indicate that blends of PA6/PCL composite fibers are a promising 3D substitute for the next generation of synthetic tissue scaffolds that could soon find clinical applications

Tumor Anti-Initiation and Anti-Progression Properties of Sulphated-Extract of Colocasia esculenta

Colocasia esculenta (Taro) is an edible tuberous plant; however, corms are its most worldwide consumed part while the corm powder is widely used in food industries. In this work, a sulphated polysaccharide extract of C. esculenta corm (SCE) was prepared and its cancer chemopreventive properties was explored. The amending of carcinogen metabolism and radical scavenging affinity revealed that SCE is a strong tumor anti-initiation agent via suppressing cytochrome P450-1A and enhancing glutathione and the carcinogen detoxification enzyme; glutathione S-transferase. SCE exhibited a strong scavenging affinity towards critical radicals (hydroxyl and peroxyl). It induced lymphocyte growth and modulated the macrophage functions into an anti-inflammatory profile, via elevating macrophage proliferation and its binding affinity of fluorescein isothiocyanate-lipopolysaccharide (FITC-LPS) and inhibiting nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α generation. Furthermore, SCE showed a potent cytotoxicity against human breast MCF-7 carcinoma cells (IC50 27.73 µg/mL), whereas SCE treatment inhibited the activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC IC50 37.70 µg/mL) and disturbed the pattern of cell cycle phases. An arrest in both S- and G2/M-phases was linked with shifted cell populations towards late apoptosis and necrosis, as detected by flow cytometry. SCE is a promising cancer chemopreventive agent to be used in healthy food industries and for high breast cancer-risk population