Teens talk vaping: A co-produced participatory study exploring teens’ reflections on vaping experiences and exposures in their everyday environments

Increasing prevalence of vaping (e-cigarette use) among youth in Canada and elsewhere has become a serious public health concern. The Teens Talk Vaping project sought to co-produce research about teen vaping with teens to generate in-depth qualitative evidence about the everyday socio-environmental dimensions of teen vaping experiences and exposures across perspectives of both teens who vape and those who do not. Our participatory approach included a capacity-building programme to train teen team members to contribute to the project as ‘co-researchers’, equipping them with the research skills necessary to contribute to all phases of the project, from data collection through to knowledge translation. Paired with adult researchers, teen co-researchers facilitated 7 online focus groups with teens (n=17) from across Canada, including teens who vaped (n=3) and those who did not (n=14). Our participatory thematic analysis generated five themes: (1) Secrecy and surveillance at school; (2) Online omnipresence; (3) Social pressures and positionings; (4) (Un)restricted mobilities and access; and (5) Re-thinking school-based vaping education. Our findings reveal the extent to which exposure to vaping is deeply embedded and normalized in the everyday micro-geographies of teens in Canada as seemingly ‘everywhere.’ Teen vaping prevention efforts must be equity-centred, youth-driven, and take account of the nuanced ways in which vaping is layered into the day-to-day online and offline contexts of young people’s lives

Assessment of Acute Dermal Toxicity of Ethanolic Extracts from Aerial Parts of Ipomoea pes-caprae (l.) R. br on Wistar Albino Rats

ABSTRACT Ipomoea pes-caprae (IP) is a fabulous plant which was traditionally used in various inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Alkylosing spondylitis, Osteoarthritis, Gout etc and also in conditions such as Pain, Ulcer, Cancer and Wounds. The dermal toxicity of Ethanolic extracts from aerial parts of Ipomoea Pescaprae (L.) R.Br was ascertained by carrying out acute dermal toxicity study (OECD 434). Acute dermal toxicity was carried out by single topical application of EELIP and EESIP (Ethanolic extracts of Leaves and Stems of Ipomoea Pescaprae (L.) R.Br) at the dose of 2000 mg/kg. The parameters like body weight changes, signs of toxicity, mortality were recorded during the 14 day study. No significant changes in body weight were observed during acute toxicity studies. No signs of toxicity and mortality were observed during both the acute dermal toxicity studies. The LD 50 of both leaf and stem extracts were found to be >2000 mg/kg by acute dermal toxicity study

Inhibition of IKKβ by celastrol and its analogues – an in silico and in vitro approach

Context: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting the aged population and neuroinflammation is one of the most observed AD pathologies. NF-κB is the central regulator of inflammation and inhibitor κB kinase (IKK) is the converging point in NF-κB activation. Celastrol is a natural triterpene used as a treatment for inflammatory conditions. Objective: This study determines the neuroprotective and inhibitory effect of celastrol on amyloid beta1-42 (Aβ1-42) induced cytotoxicity and IKKβ activity, respectively. Materials and methods: Retinoic acid differentiated IMR-32 cells were treated with celastrol (1 μM) before treatment with Aβ1-42 (IC30 10 μM) for 24 h. The cytotoxicity and IKK phosphorylation were measured by MTT and western blotting analysis, respectively. We screened 36 celastrol analogues for the IKKβ inhibition by molecular docking and evaluated their drug like properties to delineate the neuroprotective effects. Results: Celastrol (1 μM) inhibited Aβ1-42 (10 μM) induced IκBα phosphorylation and protected IMR-32 cells from cell death. Celastrol and 25 analogues showed strong binding affinity with IKKβ as evidenced by strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with critical active site residues. All the 25 analogues displayed strong anti-inflammatory properties but only 11 analogues showed drug-likeness. Collectively, molecule 15 has highest binding affinity, CNS activity and more drug likeness than parent compound celastrol. Discussion and conclusion: The decreased expression of pIκBα in celastrol pretreated cells affirms the functional representation of inhibited IKKβ activity in these cells. The neuroprotective potentials of celastrol and its analogues may be related to IKK inhibition

Phytochemical Analysis of Ethanolic Extract of Merremia emaraginata Burm. F by GC-MS

ABSTRACT Merremia emarginata Burm. F (Convolvulaceae) is a perennial, much branched herb (creeper). It is found widely distributed all over the India. Merremia emarginata is also known as Ipomoea reniformis chois. It is reported to have many important medicinal properties. In the Indigenous system of Medicine, Ipomoea reniformis has been claimed to be useful for cough, headache, neuralgia, rheumatism, diuretic, inflammation, troubles of nose, fever due to enlargement of the liver and also for treating cancer. The present study was designed to investigate the phytoconstituent of the the plant Merremia emarginata Burm. f which contain terpenes, steroids, polyphenols, glycosides, flavanoids, carbohydrates and proteins are confirmed by preliminary phytochemical studies and GC-MS analysis

Inhibition of IKKβ by celastrol and its analogues – an <i>in silico</i> and <i>in vitro</i> approach

<p><b>Context:</b> Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting the aged population and neuroinflammation is one of the most observed AD pathologies. NF-κB is the central regulator of inflammation and inhibitor κB kinase (IKK) is the converging point in NF-κB activation. Celastrol is a natural triterpene used as a treatment for inflammatory conditions.</p> <p><b>Objective:</b> This study determines the neuroprotective and inhibitory effect of celastrol on amyloid beta_1-42 (Aβ_1-42) induced cytotoxicity and IKKβ activity, respectively.</p> <p><b>Materials and methods:</b> Retinoic acid differentiated IMR-32 cells were treated with celastrol (1 μM) before treatment with Aβ_1-42 (IC₃₀ 10 μM) for 24 h. The cytotoxicity and IKK phosphorylation were measured by MTT and western blotting analysis, respectively. We screened 36 celastrol analogues for the IKKβ inhibition by molecular docking and evaluated their drug like properties to delineate the neuroprotective effects.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Celastrol (1 μM) inhibited Aβ_1-42 (10 μM) induced IκBα phosphorylation and protected IMR-32 cells from cell death. Celastrol and 25 analogues showed strong binding affinity with IKKβ as evidenced by strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with critical active site residues. All the 25 analogues displayed strong anti-inflammatory properties but only 11 analogues showed drug-likeness. Collectively, molecule 15 has highest binding affinity, CNS activity and more drug likeness than parent compound celastrol.</p> <p><b>Discussion and conclusion:</b> The decreased expression of pIκBα in celastrol pretreated cells affirms the functional representation of inhibited IKKβ activity in these cells. The neuroprotective potentials of celastrol and its analogues may be related to IKK inhibition.</p