Effect of Glycine on Lead Mobilization, Lead-Induced Oxidative Stress, and Hepatic Toxicity in Rats

The effectiveness of glycine in treating experimental lead intoxication was examined in rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 3 g/L lead acetate in drinking water for 5 weeks and treated thereafter with glycine (100 and 500 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 5 days or glycine (1000 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 28 days. The effect of these treatments on parameters indicative of oxidative stress (glutathione and malondialdehyde levels), the activity of blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, and lead concentration in blood, liver, kidney, brain, and bone were investigated. Liver samples were observed for histopathological changes. Glycine was found to be effective in (1) increasing glutathione levels; (2) reducing malondialdehyde levels; (3) decreasing lead levels in bone with the highest dose. However, glycine had no effect on lead mobilization when 100 and 500 mg/kg glycine were administered. In microscopic examination, glycine showed a protective effect against lead intoxication

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

Clustering COVID-19 ARDS patients through the first days of ICU admission. An analysis of the CIBERESUCICOVID Cohort

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be classified into sub-phenotypes according to different inflammatory/clinical status. Prognostic enrichment was achieved by grouping patients into hypoinflammatory or hyperinflammatory sub-phenotypes, even though the time of analysis may change the classification according to treatment response or disease evolution. We aimed to evaluate when patients can be clustered in more than 1 group, and how they may change the clustering of patients using data of baseline or day 3, and the prognosis of patients according to their evolution by changing or not the cluster.Methods Multicenter, observational prospective, and retrospective study of patients admitted due to ARDS related to COVID-19 infection in Spain. Patients were grouped according to a clustering mixed-type data algorithm (k-prototypes) using continuous and categorical readily available variables at baseline and day 3.Results Of 6205 patients, 3743 (60%) were included in the study. According to silhouette analysis, patients were grouped in two clusters. At baseline, 1402 (37%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2341(63%) in cluster 2. On day 3, 1557(42%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2086 (57%) in cluster 2. The patients included in cluster 2 were older and more frequently hypertensive and had a higher prevalence of shock, organ dysfunction, inflammatory biomarkers, and worst respiratory indexes at both time points. The 90-day mortality was higher in cluster 2 at both clustering processes (43.8% [n = 1025] versus 27.3% [n = 383] at baseline, and 49% [n = 1023] versus 20.6% [n = 321] on day 3). Four hundred and fifty-eight (33%) patients clustered in the first group were clustered in the second group on day 3. In contrast, 638 (27%) patients clustered in the second group were clustered in the first group on day 3.Conclusions During the first days, patients can be clustered into two groups and the process of clustering patients may change as they continue to evolve. This means that despite a vast majority of patients remaining in the same cluster, a minority reaching 33% of patients analyzed may be re-categorized into different clusters based on their progress. Such changes can significantly impact their prognosis

Oxidative stress effects of thinner inhalation

Thinners are chemical mixtures used as industrial solvents. Humans can come into contact with thinner by occupational exposure or by intentional inhalation abuse. Thinner sniffing causes damage to the brain, kidney, liver, lung, and reproductive system. We discuss some proposed mechanism by which thinner induces damage. Recently, the induction of oxidative stress has been suggested as a possible mechanism of damage. This paper reviews the current evidence for oxidative stress effects induced by thinner inhalation. Early ideas about the effects of thinner on lipids are discussed in one section. We discuss several studies that have shown the oxidative effects of thinner inhalation on: lipid peroxidation, levels of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione depletion, and oxidation of proteins and DNA. We have also included studies about oxidative stress effects induced by toluene, the principal component (60-70%) of thinner. Finally, work describing the effects of oxidative stress induced by thinner inhalation on different organs is discussed

Evaluación del efecto de la combinación de ácido 2,3 dimercaptosuccínico (DMSA) y ácido ascórbico como terapia en la intoxicación por plomo en ratas

En el presente trabajo se evaluó el efecto del ácido ascórbico (vitamina C) en un esquema de tres concentraciones, administradas como terapia individual, y combinada con ácido 2,3-dimercaptosuccínico (DMSA) en la intoxicación por Pb en ratas. Se evaluaron los niveles de Pb en sangre, hígado, riñón, cerebro y hueso, actividad de la enzima d-ALA y niveles de glutatión y de lipidoperoxidación. La vitamina C no disminuyó los niveles de Pb en sangre ni restituyó la actividad de d-ALA. La dosis alta de vitamina C produjo movilización de Pb de hueso sin redistribuir el metal a tejidos. El DMSA disminuyó la concentración de Pb en sangre y órganos y revirtió los parámetros indicativos del estrés oxidativo. La administración de vitamina C durante la terapia de quelación con DMSA no produjo efecto sinérgico en ninguno de los parámetros evaluados. The effect of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), alone or combined with 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), on lead toxicity was investigated in rats. Lead levels were analyzed in blood, liver, kidney, brain and bone. Levels of glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and ALA-D activity were also evaluated. Treatment with Vitamin C alone resulted in the reversal of oxidative stress, without a decline in blood lead level nor the restoration of ALA-D activity. Vitamin C (1000 mg/kg) produced the mobilization of bone Pb without an increase in blood level. DMSA reduced lead levels in blood and tissues. The combination of Vitamin C with DMSA did not increase the effect of the chelating agent

Síntesis de benzopiran-2-onas y estudio de su actividad antifúngica Síntesis de benzopiran-2-onas y estudio de su actividad antifúngica

  En este trabajo se presenta el estudio de síntesis, caracterización y aplicación catalítica de hidróxidos doble laminares y Iodo en la obtención de benzopiran-2-onas. En esta metodología de síntesis se analizó la ventaja de utilizar la radiación infrarroja como fuente de energía comparándola con el calentamiento convencional. Otro punto descrito, es el estudio de los derivados de benzopiran-2-onas como moléculas con actividad antifúngica utilizando como modelo el hongo fitopatógeno Sclerotium cepivorum. El hidróxido doble laminar con una proporción molar X = 0.36 (X = Al/Al+Mg) fue el más eficiente en la reacción de Knoevenagel, mientras que el Iodo (0.4 mmol) fue un catalizador eficiente en la reacción de Pechmann. Al comparar los análisis de las diferentes fuentes de calentamiento utilizadas, se observó que la radiación infrarroja requiere menor tiempo de reacción en comparación con el calentamiento convencional. Los derivados de benzopiran-2-onas 3a-d presentaron efecto antifúngico a concentraciones mayores a 1.33 μg/μL hasta por 30 días.  The synthesis, characterization and catalytic effect of layered double hydroxides and iodine for the benzopyran-2-ones preparation were investigated. In this procedure the advantage was analyzed both the infrared irradiation as energy source and the conventional heating. Another important point described in this work, is the study of those derived of benzopyran-2-ones like molecules with antifungal activity using the plant pathogen fungi Sclerotium cepivorum. The layered double hydroxide with a molar propor­tion X = 0.36 (X = Al/Al+Mg) was the most efficient in the Knoevenagel reaction, on the other hand the Iodine (0.4 mmol) it was an efficient catalyst in the reaction of Pechmann. When comparing the different heating sources used, the infrared requires smaller time of reaction than the conventional method. Those derived of benzopyran-2-ones 3a-d pre­sented effect antifungal at concentrations higher than 1.33 μg/μL until for 30 days.</p

Evaluación de la actividad biológica de extractos acuosos de macromicetos del noreste de México

En este estudio se evaluó la citotoxicidad, el efecto inmunomodulador y antioxidante de extractos acuosos de Lentinus lepideus, Ganoderma applanatum, Armillaria tabescens y Calvatia cyathiformis. El efecto inmunomodulador se evaluó en ratones BALB/c de acuerdo a la técnica de Cunningham. La citotoxicidad se evaluó en células de hígado de Chang y Hep G2. El efecto antioxidante se determinó mediante la prueba del DCFDA. Todos los extractos produjeron un efecto antioxidante y ninguno de ellos fue citotóxico. Lentinus lepideus produjo un incremento significativo de la respuesta inmune. In this study the cytotoxicity, immunomodulating, and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of Mexican strains of Lentinus lepideus, Ganoderma applanatum, Armillaria tabescens, and Calvatia cyathiformis were evaluated. Immunomodulating activity was evaluated in BALB/c mice according to the Cunningham technique. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in Chang liver cells and HepG2 cells. The antioxidant effect was evaluated by the DCFDA probe. All the extracts produced an antioxidant effect and were not cytotoxic. Lentinus lepideus produced a significant increase of the immune response