Investigation on the Essential Oils of the Achillea Species: From Chemical Analysis to the In Silico Uptake against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

In this study, phytochemicals extracted from three different Achillea genera were identified and analyzed to be screened for their interactions with the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. In particular, the antiviral potential of these natural products against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease was investigated, as was their effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-1 main protease as a standard (due to its high similarity with SARS-CoV-2). These enzymes play key roles in the proliferation of viral strains in the human cytological domain. GC-MS analysis was used to identify the essential oils of the Achillea species. Chemi-informatics tools, such as AutoDock 4.2.6, SwissADME, ProTox-II, and LigPlot, were used to investigate the action of the pharmacoactive compounds against the main proteases of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Based on the binding energies of kessanyl acetate, chavibetol (m-eugenol), farnesol, and 7-epi-beta-eudesmol were localized at the active site of the coronaviruses. Furthermore, these molecules, through hydrogen bonding with the amino acid residues of the active sites of viral proteins, were found to block the progression of SARS-CoV-2. Screening and computer analysis provided us with the opportunity to consider these molecules for further preclinical studies. Furthermore, considering their low toxicity, the data may pave the way for new in vitro and in vivo research on these natural inhibitors of the main SARS-CoV-2 protease

Marshall syndrome in children referred to specialist clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ilam, Iran, 2012

Periodic fever syndrome is a self-inflammatory disease. Since the disease is benign and self-limiting, the present study aimed to achieve a model to detect and differentiate it from other infectious diseases .In this study all children residing in Ilam who were suspected of Marshall Syndrome were examined. We chose a sample comprising children referred to Imam Hospital clinic of Ilam in 2012. Inclusion criteria consisted of more than three periods of fever without a source of infection, fever periods shorter than 5 days and repeated at intervals of about one month. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software 16. We used both of descriptive and inferential statistics, Kolmogrov smirnov, Chi-square. Significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was considered. The average of patients' age was 4.9 ± 1.8 months and their gender perception was 85.7 male and 14.3 female. In this study the average age of symptoms emergence was 48.33 ± 23.25 month. The average of fever periods in surveyed patients was 4.09 ± 0.88 days (minimum 3 days & maximum 5 days) and the intervals between fever periods was 40.23 ± 16.84 in average. The applied treatments in this study were Prednisolone and Ttonsillectomy. There was significant relationship between age and the symptoms (P<0.007). By having a true perception of Marshall Syndrome using diagnosis criteria, we could prevent uncontrolled prescription of antibiotics and their possible side effects, and it is a positive step towards reducing healthcare costs

Intestinal digestive enzyme activity under the influence of different dietary supplements methionine and lysine in the diet of Sparidentex hasta

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary methionine and lysine supplementation on digestive enzymes activity in juvenile Sobaity, Sparidentex hasta. For this purpose, 180 juvenile fish with an initial average weight of 31.38 ± 1.4 g were distributed randomly in eighteen (300 L) polyethylene tanks. 6 experimental diets were prepared with different levels of methionine and lysine including control diet (without dietary methionine and lysine), Diet 1: 100% methionine; Diet 2: 75% methionine and 25% lysine; Diet 3: 50% methionine and 50% lysine; Diet 4: 25% methionine and 75% lysine; Diet 5: 100% lysine. During the experimental period, fish were fed to satiation thrice daily (8:00, 13:00 and 18:00 hours) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, digestive enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, lipase and total protease were affected by different dietary levels of methionine and lysine supplementations (P<0/05). Also, the activity of trypsin and chymotrypsin had shown an increasing trend with an increased amount of diet lysine while enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase was higher in treatments contains the maximum amount of methionine supplementation. According to results, the increasing of lysine in diet reduced enzyme activity of lipase. The results, showed no significant differences between experimental treatments in amylase and total protease (P<0/05). Based on the results of evaluation digestive enzymes, amino acids supplements of lysine and methionine were changed the activity of digestive enzymes in juvenile Sobaity, (S. hasta). Finally, Diet 2 with 75% methionine and 25% lysine was suggested for used by Sobaity, as to the balance of dietary methionine and lysine supplementation

The Effect of G-ORS Along With Rice Soup in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The world health organization guidelines for treatment of diarrhea in children emphasize on continued feeding together with prescription of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and supplementary zinc therapy. However, conflicting viewpoints exist regarding the optimal diet and dietary ingredients for children with diarrhea. Moreover, few studies have investigated the effect of rice soup along with ORS in the treatment of this disease. Objectives: This study aimed to explore effects of simultaneous taking of glucose oral rehydration solution (G-ORS) and rice soup in the treatment of acute diarrhea in 8 to 24-month-old children. Patients and Methods: This single-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted in the pediatric ward of 22nd of Bahman hospital, Gonabad, Iran between June 2013 and February 2014. Forty children aged 8-24 months with acute diarrhea were randomly assigned into an intervention group (G-ORS plus rice soup group) comprising 20 babies and a control group (G-ORS) of 20 children based on balanced blocking randomization. The variables under investigation were diarrhea duration, patient hospitalization, need for intravenous (IV) fluids and stool output frequency. Data was analyzed using independent samples t and chi-square test. Results: At the end of study, the time for treating acute watery diarrhea in the intervention and control groups were 21.10 ± 8.81 and 34.55 ± 5.82 hours (P < 0.001) and hospital stay were 34.05 ± 6.62 and 40.20 ± 6.32 hours (P = 0.005). Moreover, stool output frequency were 4.20 ± 0.95 and 8.00 ± 1.37 (P < 0.001) in the first 24 hours, and 2.18 ± 0.60 and 2.80 ± 0.76 (P = 0.03) in the second 24 hours of treatment in intervention and control groups, respectively. Conclusions: Rice soup regimen was highly effective and inexpensive in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children. Thus, in addition to the common treatment by G-ORS, rice soup can be consumed simultaneously with G-ORS

Transdifferentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Into Oligoprogenitor Cells

Introduction: The nerve fibers in central nervous system are surrounded by myelin sheet which is formed by oligodendrocytes. Cell therapy based on oligodendrocytes and their precursors transplantation can hold a promising alternative treatment for myelin sheet repair in demyelinating diseases. Methods: Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) are noninvasive, autologous and easy available source with multipotency characteristics, so they are in focus of interest in regenerative medicine. In the present study, hDPSCs were differentiated into oligoprogenitor using glial induction media, containing Retinoic Acid (RA), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Platelet- Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), N2 and B27. The differentiated Oligoprogenitor Cells (OPCs) were evaluated for nestin, Olig2, NG2 and O4 using immunocytochemistry. Also, the expression of nestin, Olig2 and PDGFR-alpha gens (neuroprogenitor and oligoprogenitor markers) were investigated via RT-PCR technique. Results: The results indicate that glial differentiation medium induces the generation of oligoprogenitor cells as revealed via exhibition of specific glial markers, including Olig2, NG2 and O4. The expersion of nestin gene (neuroprogenitor marker) and Olig2 and PDGFR-alpha genes (oligoprogentor markers) were detected in treated hDPSCs at the end of the induction stage. Conclusion: hDPSCs can be induced to transdifferentiate into oligoprogenitor cells and respond to the routinely applied regents for glial differentiation of mesanchymal stem cells. These data suggest the hDPSCs as a valuable source for cell therapy in neurodegenerative diseases

Calculation of Secondary Neutron Dose Equivalent in Proton Therapy of Thyroid Gland Using FLUKA Code

Proton radiotherapy (PRT) is becoming an established treatment modality for cancer. The localized tumors, the same as undifferentiated thyroid tumors are insufficiently handled by conventional radiotherapy, while protons would propose the prospect of increasing the tumor dose without exceeding the tolerance of the surrounding healthy tissues. In spite of relatively high advantages in giving localized radiation dose to the tumor region, in proton therapy, secondary neutron production can have significant contribution on integral dose and lessen advantages of this modality contrast to conventional radiotherapy techniques. Furthermore, neutrons have high quality factor, therefore, even a small physical dose can cause considerable biological effects. Measuring of this neutron dose is a very critical step in prediction of secondary cancer incidence. It has been found that FLUKA Monte Carlo code simulations have been used to evaluate dose due to secondaries in proton therapy. In this study, first, by validating simulated proton beam range in water phantom with CSDA range from NIST for the studied proton energy range (34-54 MeV), a proton therapy in thyroid gland cancer was simulated using FLUKA code. Secondary neutron dose equivalent of some organs and tissues after the target volume caused by 34 and 54 MeV proton interactions were calculated in order to evaluate secondary cancer incidence. A multilayer cylindrical neck phantom considering all the layers of neck tissues and a proton beam impinging normally on the phantom were also simulated. Trachea (accompanied by Larynx) had the greatest dose equivalent (1.24×10-1 and 1.45 pSv per primary 34 and 54 MeV protons, respectively) among the simulated tissues after the target volume in the neck region

Calculation of Secondary Neutron Dose Equivalent in Proton Therapy of Thyroid Gland Using FLUKA Code

Proton radiotherapy (PRT) is becoming an established treatment modality for cancer. The localized tumors, the same as undifferentiated thyroid tumors are insufficiently handled by conventional radiotherapy, while protons would propose the prospect of increasing the tumor dose without exceeding the tolerance of the surrounding healthy tissues. In spite of relatively high advantages in giving localized radiation dose to the tumor region, in proton therapy, secondary neutron production can have significant contribution on integral dose and lessen advantages of this modality contrast to conventional radiotherapy techniques. Furthermore, neutrons have high quality factor, therefore, even a small physical dose can cause considerable biological effects. Measuring of this neutron dose is a very critical step in prediction of secondary cancer incidence. It has been found that FLUKA Monte Carlo code simulations have been used to evaluate dose due to secondaries in proton therapy. In this study, first, by validating simulated proton beam range in water phantom with CSDA range from NIST for the studied proton energy range (34-54 MeV), a proton therapy in thyroid gland cancer was simulated using FLUKA code. Secondary neutron dose equivalent of some organs and tissues after the target volume caused by 34 and 54 MeV proton interactions were calculated in order to evaluate secondary cancer incidence. A multilayer cylindrical neck phantom considering all the layers of neck tissues and a proton beam impinging normally on the phantom were also simulated. Trachea (accompanied by Larynx) had the greatest dose equivalent (1.24×10-1 and 1.45 pSv per primary 34 and 54 MeV protons, respectively) among the simulated tissues after the target volume in the neck region

Evaluating the effect of a mixture of alcohol and acetic acid for otomycosis therapy

Introduction and objective: Otomycosis is a fungal infection of external auditory meatus. The acute form of the disease causes secretion and pruritus. The usual prescribed medicines for otomycosis are topical clotrimazole 1, amphotericin B and otosporin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with isopropyl alcohol and acetic acid for otomycosis. Materials and methods: In the present study 910 patients examined and those suspected to have otomycosis referred to medical mycology laboratory of Golabchi, Kashan. A questionnaire was also filled for each patient. Both direct and culture examinations were used to confirm otomycosis in the patients. Then the patients were treated with the mixture of isopropyl alcohol+acetic acid. Results: Out of 910 examined patients, 60 patients were suspected to have otomycosis and referred to medical mycology lab. Mycological examinations confirmed otomycosis in 52 patients (86.7). Most of the patients (78.8) were cured perfectly after therapy with the mixture of alcohol and acetic acid. After three weeks, in addition to elimination of clinical signs further smear showed no sign of disease. However in four patients there was a relapse of the disease. Conclusion: Due to therapeutic effect of the mixture of isopropyl alcohol and acetic acid for otomycosis, its low side effects and low rate of relapse, it is recommended to use this mixture for the treatment of otomycosis

Anti-cancer effects of cinnamon: Insights into its apoptosis effects

Cancer is known as a leading cause of death worldwide. In the last two decades, the incidence of cancer has been dramatically increased mostly due to lifestyle changes. The importance of this issue has attracted further attention to discover novel therapies to prevent and treat cancers. According to previous studies, drugs used to treat cancer have shown significant limitations. Therefore, the role of herbal medicines alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs has been extensively studied in cancer treatment. Cinnamon is a natural component showing a wide range of pharmacological functions including anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. Impaired apoptosis plays critical roles in the initiation and progression of cancer. Increasing evidence indicates that cinnamon, as a therapeutic agent, has anti-cancer effects via affecting numerous apoptosis-related pathways in cancer cells. Here, we highlighted anticancer properties of cinnamon, particularly through targeting apoptosis-related mechanisms. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SA