COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Aplicação da biotecnologia na obtenção de triterpenos quinonametídeos bioativos utilizando Salacia campestris (Cambess.) Walp. (Celastraceae) como modelo

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer metodologia de cultivo e produção de células e/ou órgãos in vitro da espécie Salacia campestris com vista à obtenção de triterpenos quinonametídeos. Para isso, aplicando-se técnicas biotecnológicas, diversas tentativas de inserir a espécie in vitro foram realizadas utilizando explantes de folhas (limbo foliar e pecíolo), endosperma e sementes. Raízes obtidas in vitro foram cultivadas por 105 dias, sendo a presença e o teor de triterpenos quinonametídeos avaliados no decorrer deste período. Sistemas radiculares de plantas jovens (1 ano) cultivadas em casa de vegetação e sistemas radiculares de plantas adultas foram também analisadas quanto à presença e teor de triterpenos quinonametídeos. Foram utilizadas técnicas cromatográficas e de espetrometria de massas (EM) para a detecção e identificação de 22β-hidroximaitenina, maitenina e netzahualcoieno. Os ensaios citotóxicos in vitro foram realizados, como os dois últimos quinonametídeos, frente à linhagem de células normais 3T3 (fibroblasto) e de células tumorais HeLa (cólon de útero) e B16-F10 (melanoma murino). A partir de explantes de endosperma inoculados em meio de cultura WPM, suplementado com 20 g/L de sacarose, acrescido com 4,0 mg/L de AIB (ácido indolbutírico) e 100 mg/L de PVP (polivinilpirrolidona), foram obtidas raízes in vitro. A partir dos estudos fitoquímicos foram detectados e identificados, nas raízes in vitro e em sistemas radiculares de plantas cultivadas em casa de vegetação, os triterpenos quinonametídeos maitenina e 22β-hidroximaitenina, enquanto que nos sistemas radiculares coletados em campo foram identificados os triterpenos maitenina e netzahualcoieno. O isolamento dos três triterpenos citados também foi realizado. Para as raízes cultivadas...This work aimed to establish a methodology of cultivation and production of in vitro cells and /or organs of Salacia campestris, trying to obtain the quinone-methide triterpenes. Based on this and applying biotechnological techniques, several attempts to insert this species in an in vitro system were performed using leaf explants (leaf and petiole), endosperm and seeds. The in vitro roots obtained were cultured for 105 days, and the presence and content of quinone-methide triterpenes were evaluated during this period. The roots of young plants (1 year) grown in a greenhouse as well roots of adult plants were also analyzed for the presence and content of the quinone-methides. The analysis of the quinone-methides were performed using chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometrometry (MS) led to the identification of 22β-hydroxymaytenin, maytenin and netzahualcoyene. The in vitro cytotoxic assays were performed using the quinone-methides maytenin and netzahualcoyene, comparing with the normal cell line 3T3 (fibroblast) as well the HeLa tumor cells (uterus carcinoma) and B16-F10 (murine melanoma). The in vitro roots were obtained from endosperm explants, inoculated in WPM medium supplemented with 20 g/L sucrose, 4.0 mg/L IBA (indole-butyric acid) and 100 mg/L PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone). The phytochemical studies of the in vitro roots and roots of plants grown in a greenhouse resulted in the identification of the quinone-methide triterpenes maytenin and 22β-hydroxymaytenin, while from the natural roots were identified the quinone-methides maytenin and netzahualcoyene. All of the triterpenes were also isolated. The results obtained for in vitro roots indicated that the greatest accumulation of biomass occurred on the 60th day of culture and the highest levels of maytenin (972.11 mg/g) and ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Effect of environmental and phenological factors on the antimicrobial activity of Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg. roots

Cochlospermum regium (Bixaceae) is a medicinal plant species native to the Brazilian savannah, known as the Cerrado. Local communities use its roots to treat infections of the female reproductive system. This study evaluated how seasonality, phenological stage, geographical location, plant age, and plant cultivation substrate affect the antimicrobial activity of Cochlospermum regium roots against Candida albicans. Although the plant displayed antimicrobial action in all the assayed conditions, the roots collected during fall and winter inhibited C. albicans the most effectively. The geographical location in which the plant material was found did not influence its biological response. Plant age and cultivation substrate did impact the biological response; those grown in sand showed fungicidal activity, while those grown in Cerrado soil fertilized with cow dung showed fungistatic activity during certain periods. The inner bark and core of the root were the main structures underlying the antimicrobial activity of Cochlospermum regium.

Production of the Quinone-Methide Triterpene Maytenin by In Vitro Adventitious Roots of Peritassa campestris (Cambess.) A.C.Sm. (Celastraceae) and Rapid Detection and Identification by APCI-IT-MS/MS

Establishment of adventitious root cultures of Peritassa campestris (Celastraceae) was achieved from seed cotyledons cultured in semisolid Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 2% sucrose, 0.01% PVP, and 4.0 mg L−1 IBA. Culture period on accumulation of biomass and quinone-methide triterpene maytenin in adventitious root were investigated. The accumulation of maytenin in these roots was compared with its accumulation in the roots of seedlings grown in a greenhouse (one year old). A rapid detection and identification of maytenin by direct injection into an atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometer (APCI-IT-MS/MS) were performed without prior chromatographic separation. In vitro, the greatest accumulation of biomass occurred within 60 days of culture. The highest level of maytenin—972.11 μg·g−1 dry weight—was detected at seven days of cultivation; this value was 5.55-fold higher than that found in the roots of seedlings grown in a greenhouse

Antimicrobial activity of some celastroloids and their derivatives

Infections are among the 10 deadliest diseases in the world. Here we screened 19 celastroloids and their derivatives 1–19 against several strains of bacteria and yeast of biomedical significance. In general, quinonemethide-type celastroloids, except isoiguesterin (8) exhibited significant antibacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, MRSA ATCC 33592, and the clinical isolate STA6 with MICs of 0.39–12.50 µg/mL, whereas 14(15)-enequinonemethide, balaenol (12), showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 10261 with an MIC of 3.12 µg/mL. Among the phenolic triterpenes and their derivatives, zeylasterone (14) had an MIC of 1.56 µg/mL for all 3 strains of S. aureus, and zeylasteral (15) was active against C. albicans at 3.12 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that most quinonemethides were cytotoxic with IC50s of 0.16–0.36 µg/mL that are below their MIC values. However, 14(15)-enequinonemethide 12 and phenolic triterpenes 14 and 15 exhibited antimicrobial activity at sub-cytotoxic concentrations, suggesting that these celastroloids are potential candidates for further studies. Molecular docking studies were used to investigate the theoretical affinities for potential protein targets of 12 and 14 in S. aureus, and 15 in C. albicans. Based on their docking scores, it can be inferred that 12 and 14 inhibits GyrB in S. aureus, and 15 inhibits Bdf1 in C. albicans.12 month embargo; published: 13 July 2022This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Histochemical investigation of Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg. leaves and chemical composition of its essential oil

Essential oil from Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg. leaves (CR-EO) has been extracted by hydrodistillation; we analysed the CR-EO by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. We also conducted histochemical analysis on cross-sections of the central vein of young and adult leaves. A total of 32 compounds were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed, which represented 94.87% of the total CR-EO oil content. The CR-EO basically consisted of sesquiterpenes (96.87%); its main component was beta-copaen-4-alpha-ol (18.73%), followed by viridiflorol (12.67%). The histochemical analyses identified the main classes of compounds present in both young and adult leaves.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Screening Test for Antibiotics in Medicinal Plants (STAMP): Using Powdered Plant Materials Instead of Extracts

Copyright © 2013 Marielle Cascaes Inácio et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Plants are a rich source of antibiotics, but screening all the existing plant species for biological activity using current methods can be time and resource consuming. The present study is to investigate whether powdered plant materials would perform as well as plant extracts in the screening of plants with antimicrobial activity. In the new method proposed (STAMP), we compared in vitro antimicrobial activity of powdered plant materials from 12 species against bacteria and fungi. We confirmed these results with their corresponding aqueous (wet) and hydro-alcoholic extracts and one species testing the antimicrobial activity of two isolated compounds. Compared with hydro-alcoholic extracts, screening using the powdered plant materials correctly identified the majority of the species with antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans (sensitivity 91%, specificity 86%), C. parapsilosis (sensitivity 100%, specificity 67%), and Staphylococcus aureus (sensitivity 64%, specificity 86%). For bacteria, the method performed better in a pH of 9.0. Th

Screening test for antibiotics in medicinal plants (STAMP): using powdered plant materials instead of extracts

Plants are a rich source of antibiotics, but screening all the existing plant species for biological activity using current methods can be time and resource consuming. The present study is to investigate whether powdered plant materials would perform as well as plant extracts in the screening of plants with antimicrobial activity. In the new method proposed (STAMP), we compared in vitro antimicrobial activity of powdered plant materials from 12 species against bacteria and fungi. We confirmed these results with their corresponding aqueous (wet) and hydro-alcoholic extracts and one species testing the antimicrobial activity of two isolated compounds. Compared with hydro-alcoholic extracts, screening using the powdered plant materials correctly identified the majority of the species with antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans (sensitivity 91%, specificity 86%), C. parapsilosis (sensitivity 100%, specificity 67%), and Staphylococcus aureus (sensitivity 64%, specificity 86%). For bacteria, the method performed better in a pH of 9.0. The antimicrobial activity of two compounds isolated from one species (maytenin and netzahualcoyone) confirmed the results. In conclusion, the use of powdered plant materials for screening plants with antimicrobial properties is a cheap, widely available, technically easy, time sparing, reproducible, and sensitive method and can significantly shorten the time and money spent during drug development.Coordenação de Aprefeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP