Infrared Spectra and Spectral Energy Distributions for Dusty Starbursts and AGN

We present spectroscopic results for all galaxies observed with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) which also have total infrared fluxes f(ir) measured with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), also using AKARI photometry when available. Infrared luminosities and spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 8 um to 160 um are compared to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission from starburst galaxies or mid-infrared dust continuum from AGN at rest frame wavelengths ~ 8 um. A total of 301 spectra are analyzed for which IRS and IRAS include the same unresolved source, as measured by the ratio fv(IRAS 25 um)/fv(IRS 25 um). Sources have 0.004 < z < 0.34 and 42.5 < log L(IR) < 46.8 (erg per s) and cover the full range of starburst galaxy and AGN classifications. Individual spectra are provided electronically, but averages and dispersions are presented. We find that log [L(IR)/vLv(7.7 um)] = 0.74 +- 0.18 in starbursts, that log [L(IR)/vLv(7.7 um)] = 0.96 +- 0.26 in composite sources (starburst plus AGN), that log [L(IR)/vLv(7.9 um)] = 0.80 +- 0.25 in AGN with silicate absorption, and log [L(IR)/vLv(7.9 um)] = 0.51 +- 0.21 in AGN with silicate emission. L(IR) for the most luminous absorption and emission AGN are similar and 2.5 times larger than for the most luminous starbursts. AGN have systematically flatter SEDs than starbursts or composites, but their dispersion in SEDs overlaps starbursts. Sources with the strongest far-infrared luminosity from cool dust components are composite sources, indicating that these sources may contain the most obscured starbursts.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Comparison of the Pharmacokinetics of Eflornithine after Application of Eflornithine Cream and “Eflornithine: Armenicum” Composition in Rates

This chapter reports the study results to determine percutaneous absorption and pharmacokinetics of eflornithine following topical treatment with eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream and “eflornithine–armenicum” composition in rats. The model of aerobic wounds was developed. Eflornithine hydrochloride cream (dose of 460 mg/kg) was applied in group I, and “eflornithine–armenicum” composition was applied in group II at a same dose of Eflornithine. The plasma concentration-time profile of racemic eflornithine following frequent sampling was determined by the HPLC method (LLOQ, 1.5 ng/ml). Eflornithine concentrations were measurable at 24 h, with peak concentrations in plasma 5.3 ng/ml after cream and 3.8 ng/ml after composition application (p < 0.001) and the average time to reach the maximum concentration of eflornithine increases from 2 h to 3.3 h. The area under the pharmacokinetic curve was decreased after composition application by 25%. Eflornithine was eliminated from plasma with a mean terminal half-life of 11.6 hours. It can be assumed that the use of “eflornithine–armenicum” composition allows for maintaining the optimal concentration of two anti-inflammatory compounds at the site of application for a long time, which can improve their pharmacological effect compared to separate use of eflornithine cream

Efficacy of Kan Jang^® in Patients with Mild COVID-19: A Randomized, Quadruple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background and aim. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the treatment of Kan Jang®, a fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Wall. ex. Nees and Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim extracts in patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Methods. One hundred and forty patients received six capsules of Kan Jang® (n = 68, daily dose of andrographolides—90 mg) or placebo (n = 72) and supportive treatment (paracetamol) for 14 consecutive days in a randomized, quadruple-blinded, placebo-controlled, two-parallel-group design. The efficacy outcomes were the rate of cases turning to severe, the detection rate of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 over the time of treatment, the duration, and the severity of symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of smell, taste, pain in muscles) in the acute phase of the disease. Other efficacy measures included improving cognitive and physical performance, quality of life, and the levels of inflammatory blood markers—interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, and D-dimer. Results. Kan Jang® significantly (p p = 0.0176) both in the 112 patients in the included-per-protocol (IPP) analysis and in the 140 patients in the intended-to-treat (ITT) analysis (p = 0.0236); the absolute risk reduction in cases thanks to the Kan Jang treatment was 12.5%, and the number we needed to treat with Kan Jang was 8. The patient’s recovery time (number of sick days at the home/clinic) was shorter in the Kan Jang group compared with the placebo group. The rate of attenuation of inflammatory symptoms in the Kan Jang® group was significantly higher, decreasing the severity of cough, sore throat/pain, runny nose, and muscle soreness compared with the placebo group. Kan Jang® significantly decreased the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptoms scores compared to the placebo in the sample size of 140 patients. However, the relief of fatigue and headache and the decrease in IL-6 in the blood were observed only in a subset of 86 patients infected during the second three waves of the pandemic. Kan Jang® significantly increased physical activity and workout; however, it did not affect cognitive functions (attention and memory), quality of life score, inflammatory marker D-dimer, and C-reactive protein compared with the placebo group. Conclusions. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Kan Jang® is effective in treating mild and moderate COVID-19 irrespective of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of infection

Efficacy of Kan Jang&reg; in Patients with Mild COVID-19: Interim Analysis of a Randomized, Quadruple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Kan Jang&reg;, the fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Wall. ex. Nees and Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. &amp; Maxim.) Maxim extracts, is a herbal medicinal product for relieving symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Kan Jang&reg;/Nergecov&reg; on duration and the relief of inflammatory symptoms in adults with mild COVID-19. 86 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and mild symptoms for one to three days received supportive treatment (paracetamol) and six Kan Jang&reg; (daily dose of andrographolides&mdash;90 mg) or placebo capsules a day for 14 consecutive days in this randomized, quadruple-blinded, placebo-controlled, two-parallel-group study. The primary efficacy outcomes were the decrease in the acute-phase duration and the severity of symptoms score (sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of smell, taste, pain in muscles), an increase in cognitive functions, physical performance, quality of life, and decrease in IL-6, c-reactive protein, and D-dimer in blood. Kan Jang&reg;/Nergecov&reg; was effective in reducing the risk of progression to severe COVID-19, decreasing the disease progression rate by almost 2.5-fold compared to placebo. Absolute risk reduction by Kan Jang treatment is 14%, the relative risk reduction is 243.9%, and the number Needed to Treat is 7.14. Kan Jang&reg;/Nergecov&reg; reduces the duration of disease, virus clearance, and days of hospitalization and accelerates recovery of patients, relief of sore throat, muscle pain, runny nose, and normalization of body temperature. Kan Jang&reg;/Nergecov&reg; significantly relieves the severity of inflammatory symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, and muscle pain, decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 level in the blood, and increases patients&rsquo; physical performance (workout) compared to placebo. In this study, for the first time we demonstrate that Kan Jang&reg;/Nergecov&reg; is effective in treating mild COVID-19

Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract Background The aim of this clinical trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of curcuminoid complex extract from turmeric rhizome with turmeric volatile oil (CuraMed®) and its combination with boswellic acid extract from Indian frankincense root (Curamin®) vs placebo for the treatment of 40- to 70-year-old patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods The effects of CuraMed® 500-mg capsules (333 mg curcuminoids) and Curamin® 500-mg capsules (350 mg curcuminoids and 150 mg boswellic acid) taken orally three times a day for 12 weeks in 201 patients was investigated in a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Primary outcome efficacy measures included OA physical function performance-based tests, the WOMAC recommended index of joint pain, morning stiffness, limitations of physical function, and the patients’ global assessment of disease severity. Results Favorable effects of both preparations compared to placebo were observed after only 3 months of continuous treatment. A significant effect of Curamin® compared to placebo was observed both in physical performance tests and the WOMAC joint pain index, while superior efficacy of CuraMed vs placebo was observed only in physical performance tests. The effect size compared to placebo was comparable for both treatment groups but was superior in the Curamin® group. The treatments were well tolerated. Conclusions Twelve-week use of curcumin complex or its combination with boswellic acid reduces pain-related symptoms in patients with OA. Curcumin in combination with boswellic acid is more effective. Combining Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extracts in Curamin® increases the efficacy of OA treatment presumably due to synergistic effects of curcumin and boswellic acid. Trial registration This trial is registered at the database www.clinicaltrials.gov . https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02390349?term=EuroPharma&rank=1 . Study registration number: NCT02390349

Efficacy of Adaptogens in Patients with Long COVID-19: A Randomized, Quadruple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Currently, no effective treatment of comorbid complications or COVID-19 long-haulers during convalescence is known. This randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of adaptogens on the recovery of patients with Long COVID symptoms. One hundred patients with confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 test, discharged from COVID Hotel isolation, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or Online Clinics, and who experienced at least three of nine Long COVID symptoms (fatigue, headache, respiratory insufficiency, cognitive performance, mood disorders, loss of smell, taste, and hair, sweatiness, cough, pain in joints, muscles, and chest) in the 30 days before randomization were included in the study of the efficacy of Chisan&reg;/ADAPT-232 (a fixed combination of adaptogens Rhodiola, Eleutherococcus, and Schisandra) supplementation for two weeks. Chisan&reg; decreased the duration of fatigue and pain for one and two days, respectively, in 50% of patients. The number of patients with lack of fatigue and pain symptoms was significantly less in the Chisan&reg; treatment group than in the placebo group on Days 9 (39% vs. 57%, pain relief, p = 0.0019) and 11 (28% vs. 43%, relief of fatigue, * p = 0.0157). Significant relief of severity of all Long COVID symptoms over the time of treatment and the follow-up period was observed in both groups of patients, notably decreasing the level of anxiety and depression from mild and moderate to normal, as well as increasing cognitive performance in patients in the d2 test for attention and increasing their physical activity and workout (daily walk time). However, the significant difference between placebo and Chisan&reg; treatment was observed only with a workout (daily walk time) and relieving respiratory insufficiency (cough). A clinical assessment of blood markers of the inflammatory response (C-reactive protein) and blood coagulation (D-dimer) did not reveal any significant difference over time between treatment groups except significantly lower IL-6 in the Chisan&reg; treatment group. Furthermore, a significant difference between the placebo and Chisan&reg; treatment was observed for creatinine: Chisan&reg; significantly decreased blood creatinine compared to the placebo, suggesting prevention of renal failure progression in Long COVID. In this study, we, for the first time, demonstrate that adaptogens can increase physical performance in Long COVID and reduce the duration of fatigue and chronic pain. It also suggests that Chisan&reg;/ADAPT-232 might be useful for preventing the progression of renal failure associated with increasing creatinine

Science with the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO)

International audienceThe main goal of the Armenian Virtual Observatory is to develop efficient methods for science projects based on the digitized famous Markarian survey (Digitized First Byurakan Survey, DFBS) and other large astronomical databases, both Armenian and international. Two groups of projects are especially productive: search for new interesting objects of definite types by low-dispersion template spectra, and optical identifications of new gamma, X-ray, IR and radio sources. The first one is based on modeling of spectra for a number of types of objects: QSOs, Seyfert galaxies, white dwarfs, subdwarfs, cataclysmic variables, planetary nebulae, C stars, etc. Each kind of object appears in the DFBS with its typical SED and spectral lines (for objects having broad lines only). The search criteria define how many objects will be found for further study, and may restrict these numbers leaving with the best candidates. At present, a number of science projects of search for new objects have been started: search for blue stellar objects, search for extremely red objects, search for variable objects, etc. Optical identifications have been proven to be rather efficient for IR sources from IRAS PSC and FSC. Tests have been carried out for X-ray and radio sources as well

Science with the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO)

International audienceThe main goal of the Armenian Virtual Observatory is to develop efficient methods for science projects based on the digitized famous Markarian survey (Digitized First Byurakan Survey, DFBS) and other large astronomical databases, both Armenian and international. Two groups of projects are especially productive: search for new interesting objects of definite types by low-dispersion template spectra, and optical identifications of new gamma, X-ray, IR and radio sources. The first one is based on modeling of spectra for a number of types of objects: QSOs, Seyfert galaxies, white dwarfs, subdwarfs, cataclysmic variables, planetary nebulae, C stars, etc. Each kind of object appears in the DFBS with its typical SED and spectral lines (for objects having broad lines only). The search criteria define how many objects will be found for further study, and may restrict these numbers leaving with the best candidates. At present, a number of science projects of search for new objects have been started: search for blue stellar objects, search for extremely red objects, search for variable objects, etc. Optical identifications have been proven to be rather efficient for IR sources from IRAS PSC and FSC. Tests have been carried out for X-ray and radio sources as well

Science with the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO)

International audienceThe main goal of the Armenian Virtual Observatory is to develop efficient methods for science projects based on the digitized famous Markarian survey (Digitized First Byurakan Survey, DFBS) and other large astronomical databases, both Armenian and international. Two groups of projects are especially productive: search for new interesting objects of definite types by low-dispersion template spectra, and optical identifications of new gamma, X-ray, IR and radio sources. The first one is based on modeling of spectra for a number of types of objects: QSOs, Seyfert galaxies, white dwarfs, subdwarfs, cataclysmic variables, planetary nebulae, C stars, etc. Each kind of object appears in the DFBS with its typical SED and spectral lines (for objects having broad lines only). The search criteria define how many objects will be found for further study, and may restrict these numbers leaving with the best candidates. At present, a number of science projects of search for new objects have been started: search for blue stellar objects, search for extremely red objects, search for variable objects, etc. Optical identifications have been proven to be rather efficient for IR sources from IRAS PSC and FSC. Tests have been carried out for X-ray and radio sources as well