Fatima-Zahrae Laaboudi, Mohamed Rejdali, Hassan Amhamdi
et al.
For millennia, various cultures have utilized cannabis for food, textile fiber, ethno-medicines, and pharmacotherapy, owing to its medicinal potential and psychotropic effects. An in-depth exploration of its historical, chemical, and therapeutic dimensions provides context for its contemporary understanding. The criminalization of cannabis in many countries was influenced by the presence of psychoactive cannabinoids; however, scientific advances and growing public awareness have renewed interest in cannabis-related products, especially for medical use. Described as a 'treasure trove,' cannabis produces a diverse array of cannabinoids and non-cannabinoid compounds. Recent research focuses on cannabinoids for treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy. Additionally, secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds, terpenes, and terpenoids are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic effects and their synergistic role with cannabinoids. These compounds show potential in treating neuro and non-neuro disorders, and studies suggest their promise as antitumoral agents. This comprehensive review integrates historical, chemical, and therapeutic perspectives on cannabis, highlighting contemporary research and its vast potential in medicine.
Dipti Basavaraj Sanakal, Shankarsnehit B. Patil, Ravindra D. Totad
et al.
Introduction: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that commonly involved the respiratory system. However, the virus can affect any organ in the body including the liver. Hepatic involvement in COVID-19 could be related to the direct cytopathic effect of the virus, an uncontrolled immune reaction, sepsis, or drug-induced liver injury. Objective: The current study aims to evaluate the relevance of liver enzyme derangement in COVID-19. Methods: The sample size of 165 patients, tested positive for covid 19 and underwent liver enzyme testing. These patients were categorized into mild, severe, and critical diseases based on clinical evaluation, radiological findings, and biochemical parameters. Results: Of 165 patients selected 103 (62.4%) have mild disease, 40(24.2%) have severe and 12(7.2%) suffered from the critical disease. 48(29.1%) patients show deranged liver function. 83.3% of critical patients and 45% of severe patients show deranged liver function.9.09 %of patients died due to severe COVID – 19 infections showing moderately to severe liver function derangement. Conclusions: This study concludes that the severity of COVID-19 disease may increase due to chronic liver disease, particularly fatty liver. Atypical ALT and AST levels during hospitalization were indicative of liver injury and correlated with the severity of patients.
Abstract Background Toxicokinetics of nanomaterials, including studies on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of nanomaterials, are essential in assessing their potential health effects. The fate of nanomaterials after inhalation exposure to multiple nanomaterials is not clearly understood. Methods Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to similar sizes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 10.86 nm) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, 10.82 nm) for 28 days (6-h/day, 5-days/week for four weeks) either with separate NP inhalation exposures or with combined co-exposure in a nose-only inhalation system. Mass concentrations sampled from the breathing zone were AuNP 19.34 ± 2.55 μg/m3 and AgNP 17.38 ± 1.88 μg/m3 for separate exposure and AuNP 8.20 μg/m3 and AgNP 8.99 μg/m3 for co-exposure. Lung retention and clearance were previously determined on day 1 (6-h) of exposure (E-1) and on post-exposure days 1, 7, and 28 (PEO-1, PEO-7, and PEO-28, respectively). In addition, the fate of nanoparticles, including translocation and elimination from the lung to the major organs, were determined during the post-exposure observation period. Results AuNP was translocated to the extrapulmonary organs, including the liver, kidney, spleen, testis, epididymis, olfactory bulb, hilar and brachial lymph nodes, and brain after subacute inhalation and showed biopersistence regardless of AuNP single exposure or AuNP + AgNP co-exposure, showing similar elimination half-time. In contrast, Ag was translocated to the tissues and rapidly eliminated from the tissues regardless of AuNP co-exposure. Ag was continually accumulated in the olfactory bulb and brain and persistent until PEO-28. Conclusion Our co-exposure study of AuNP and AgNP indicated that soluble AgNP and insoluble AuNP translocated differently, showing soluble AgNP could be dissolved into Ag ion to translocate to the extrapulmonary organs and rapidly removed from most organs except the brain and olfactory bulb. Insoluble AuNPs were continually translocated to the extrapulmonary organs, and they were not eliminated rapidly.
Background: In sustainable agriculture, reduction of chemical fertilizers- induced environmental pollutions is mainly considered. Therefore, recently application of organic fertilizers particularly their foliar applications received increased attention. Besides, herbal medicine with higher antioxidant activity will be able to limit the formation of free radical species. Objective: Therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of foliar application of organic fertilizers on antioxidant activity and polyphenolic compounds of Marrubium vulgare L. in greenhouse experiment. Methods: In a completely randomized design experiment with three replications that was carried out in 2019, the applied treatments consisted of four levels (0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg L-1) of foliar application of humic and fulvic acids (0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg L-1). Some phenolic compounds including gallic acid, chloregenic acid, coumarin, hesperidin, and eugenol were detected and quantified in the Marrubium vulgare L. extracts. Results: Application of 250 mg humic acid L-1 resulted in the highest extraction of phenolic compounds, coumarin, reducing this content at a higher applied level and by fulvic acid addition. As such, the foliar application of low concentrations of humic acid before the flowering stage was a useful and effective method to increase the synthesis of phenolic compounds. Among the studied organic acids, the application of 250 mg humic acid L-1 showed the highest antioxidant activities. These compounds can be effective in controlling diseases with free radicals. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present research, a more appropriate management of the growth and propagation of medicinal plants and their quality can be applied. In addition, humic substances application reduces the chemical fertilizers used, thereby maintaining the environment.
Background: To determine the co- relation between the number of comorbid conditions which are related to most commonly associated health care associated infections such as urinary tract infections (UTI), blood stream infections (BSI), ventilator associated infections (VAP), surgical site infections (SSI). Methods: Using secondary data, all the patients who had HAI for 3 years were taken into consideration. Results: Retrospective data collected for the period of 3 years from January 2013 to December 2015 for the inpatients who got admitted for more than 48 hours of duration, the data collected included the parameters for number of co- morbid conditions each patient presented with the diseases / illness of health care associated infections like urinary tract infections, blood stream infection, ventilator associated pneumonia and surgical site infection. The data collected showed that many patients had 1 st co-morbid condition in 40% of the population. Conclusions: Most of the patients who had an HAI , co-related to have one type of co- morbid condition which was common among all the patients , then there a tapering of co-morbid conditions , many patients had 2 nd co- morbid condition of (20%) , 3 rd co- morbid condition of (15%) , 4 th co- morbid condition of (5 %) and 5 th co- morbid condition of (3%) . Hence there is a need to control and to monitor the co- morbid condition before planning any intervention procedures / invasive procedures which may lead to HAI.
Cynthia J. Grondin, Allan Peter Davis, Jolene A. Wiegers
et al.
There is a critical need to understand the health risks associated with vaping e-cigarettes, which has reached epidemic levels among teens. Juul is currently the most popular type of e-cigarette on the market. Using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; http://ctdbase.org), a public resource that integrates chemical, gene, phenotype and disease data, we aimed to analyze the potential molecular mechanisms of eight chemicals detected in the aerosols generated by heating Juul e-cigarette pods: nicotine, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, free radicals, crotonaldehyde, acetone, pyruvaldehyde, and particulate matter. Curated content in CTD, including chemical-gene, chemical-phenotype, and chemical-disease interactions, as well as associated phenotypes and pathway enrichment, were analyzed to help identify potential molecular mechanisms and diseases associated with vaping. Nicotine shows the most direct disease associations of these chemicals, followed by particulate matter and formaldehyde. Together, these chemicals show a direct marker or mechanistic relationship with 400 unique diseases in CTD, particularly in the categories of cardiovascular diseases, nervous system diseases, respiratory tract diseases, cancers, and mental disorders. We chose three respiratory tract diseases to investigate further, and found that in addition to cellular processes of apoptosis and cell proliferation, prioritized phenotypes underlying Juul-associated respiratory tract disease outcomes include response to oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and several cell signaling pathways (p38MAPK, NIK/NFkappaB, calcium-mediated).
Konstantin Pikula, Konstantin Kirichenko, Igor Vakhniuk
et al.
Electroplating is a widely used group of industrial processes that make a metal coating on a solid substrate. Our previous research studied the concentrations, characteristics, and chemical composition of nano- and microparticles emitted during different electroplating processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental toxicity of particulate matter obtained from five different electrochemical processes. We collected airborne particle samples formed during aluminum cleaning, aluminum etching, chemical degreasing, nonferrous metals etching, and nickel plating. The toxicity of the particles was evaluated by the standard microalgae growth rate inhibition test. Additionally, we evaluated membrane potential and cell size changes in the microalgae H. akashiwo and P. purpureum exposed to the obtained suspensions of electroplating particles. The findings of this research demonstrate that the aquatic toxicity of electroplating emissions significantly varies between different industrial processes and mostly depends on particle chemical composition and solubility rather than the number of insoluble particles. The sample from an aluminum cleaning workshop was significantly more toxic for both microalgae species compared to the other samples and demonstrated dose and time-dependent toxicity. The samples obtained during chemical degreasing and nonferrous metals etching processes induced depolarization of microalgal cell membranes, demonstrated the potential of chronic toxicity, and stimulated the growth rate of microalgae after 72 h of exposure. Moreover, the sample from a nonferrous metals etching workshop revealed hormetic dose-response toxicity in H. akashiwo, which can lead to harmful algal blooms in the environment.
Background: Few studies have been done considering the effectiveness of aqueous extract of cinnamon in neurological diseases. In previous studies, reducing the pain of hydro-alcoholic cinnamon extract in the second phase (chronic) of the formalin test and reduction of inflammation in animal models as well as in humans following cinnamon administration have been emphasized. There are also studies on the anti-Alzheimerchr('39')s effects of this extract. However, the effects of CWE of this plant on the incidence of diseases associated with the nervous system, especially depression, have not been investigated.
Objective: In the present study, the effects of CWE on depression induced by forced swimming test (FST) in mice were investigated.
Methods: Cinnamon aqueous extract was obtained by boiling method of cinnamon powder. Male NMRI mice (25-30 g) were used (n=8/group). Different doses of CWE (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to the animals 30 min before the (FST). In addition, fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) was administered to distinct animals as positive control.
Results: Intraperitoneal (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) injections of CWE significantly reduced the animals’ immobilization in a dose-dependent manner which in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg was similar to fluoxetine effect.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that the CWE can inhibit depression induced by FST in mice. Since the exact composition of the extract is not identified, the exact mechanism(s) by which the extract reduces the FST is not clear.
Eduardo Rivadeneyra-Domínguez, Yesenia Becerra-Contreras, Alma Vázquez-Luna
et al.
Acrylamide is a vinyl monomer that is widely used for the synthesis of polyacrylamides, the treatment of drinking water, and as an additive in cosmetics. Acrylamide is also produced during the thermal processing of carbohydrate-rich foods. Although the potential toxic effects of acrylamide have been reported, few studies have evaluated biochemical parameters in blood. The present study investigated alterations of blood chemistry, hepatic function, and blood cytometry in acrylamide-treated rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were assigned to four experimental groups (n = 8/group): one control group received 0.3 ml of vehicle (saline solution), and the other three groups received acrylamide (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg, i.p., for 14 days). At the end of treatment, blood samples were collected to obtain serum, which was then processed using a Vitros250 device. For blood cytometry, the samples were processed in a Sysmex analyzer. The blood chemistry results showed that urea nitrogen, urea, and creatinine were elevated in the acrylamide-treated groups. Tests of hepatic function showed that total and direct bilirubins, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase were also elevated compared with vehicle, whereas the levels of total proteins and albumin decreased. Blood cytometry showed that the levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes, and platelets and mean cell volume decreased in the acrylamide-treated groups compared with vehicle. Overall, the present findings indicate that acrylamide causes deleterious effects on renal and hepatic physiology, producing dose-dependent alterations of blood chemistry and cytometry parameters in male Wistar rats. Keywords: Acrylamide, Blood cytometry, Blood chemistry, Hepatic function
Xavier Sánchez Choez, María Luciana Armijos Acurio, Ruth E. Jimbo Sotomayor
Abstract Background Upper respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of misuse of antibiotics, a problem that leads to unnecessary adverse events and antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic prescription in Ecuador was analyzed in order to evaluate the state of antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections. Both the appropriateness and adequacy of prescribing was evaluated. Appropriateness represents the percentage of prescriptions that are indicated; adequacy refers to the percentage of patients requiring antibiotics who are treated. Methods The aim of the study is to analyze the appropriateness and adequacy of antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in the Ambulatory Health Centers of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador. This is a cross-sectional study of patients from one Health Center of the Ministry of Public Health in the District 17D03 in Ecuador during 2015 with upper respiratory tract infection as a primary diagnosis. Results We included a total of 1393 patients in the analysis. Out of the 1393 patients identified, 523 were prescribed antibiotics, constituting an antibiotic prescription rate of 37.5%, and 51 required antibiotics, reflecting a real need of antibiotics of 3.7%. Appropriateness: Of these 523 patients who were treated, 51 required an antibiotic, resulting in an appropriate antibiotic prescription rate of 9.75%. Adequacy: When analyzing each individual case, 33 of these 51 patients received an antibiotic, constituting an adequate prescription rate of 64.7%. Conclusions The results of our study report a 90.25% of inappropriate prescription. The antibiotic prescription, appropriate prescription, and adequate prescription rates show the need for implementation of strategies in order to reduce them. Related aspects regarding prescriber’s behavior and the patient’s expectations should be analyzed.
The presence of metals in the environment is a matter of concern, since human activities are the major cause of pollution and metals can enter the food chain and bioaccumulate in hard and soft tissues/organs, which results in a long half-life of the metal in the body. Metal intoxication has a negative impact on human health and can alter different systems depending on metal type and concentration and duration of metal exposure. The present review focuses on the most common metals found in contaminated areas (cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel, mercury, chromium, lead, aluminum, titanium, and iron, as well as metalloid arsenic) and their effects on bone tissue. Both the lack and excess of these metals in the body can alter bone dynamics. Long term exposure and short exposure to high concentrations induce an imbalance in the bone remodeling process, altering both formation and resorption and leading to the development of different bone pathologies.
Deborah E. Keil, Brenda Buck, Dirk Goossens
et al.
Desert areas are usually characterized by a continuous deposition of fine airborne particles. Over time, this process results in the accumulation of silt and clay on desert surfaces. We evaluated health effects associated with regional atmospheric dust, or geogenic dust, deposited on surfaces in the Nellis Dunes Recreation Area (NDRA) in Clark County, Nevada, a popular off-road vehicle (ORV) recreational site frequented daily by riders, families, and day campers. Because of atmospheric mixing and the mostly regional origin of the accumulated particles, the re-suspended airborne dust is composed of a complex mixture of minerals and metals including aluminum, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, strontium, cesium, lead, uranium, and others. Geogenic dust with a median diameter of 4.1 μm was administered via oropharyngeal aspiration to female B6C3F1 mice at doses of 0.01 to 100 mg dust/kg body weight, four times, a week apart, for 28-days. Immuno- and neurotoxicological outcomes 24 h following the last exposure were evaluated. Antigen-specific IgM responses were dose-responsively suppressed at 0.1, 1.0, 10 and 100 mg/kg/day. Splenic and thymic lymphocytic subpopulations and natural killer cell activity also were significantly reduced. Antibodies against MBP, NF-68, and GFAP were not affected, while brain CD3+ T cells were decreased in number. A lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 0.1 mg/kg/day and a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 0.01 mg/kg/day were derived based on the antigen-specific IgM responses. Keywords: Geogenic dust, Heavy metals, Minerals, Lung exposure, Immunotoxicity, Neurotoxicity
Arsenic, cadmium and lead levels in tobacco filler and cigarette smoke were determined in a 568-sample worldwide survey. Median tobacco levels for arsenic, cadmium and lead were 237, 769 and 397 ng/g respectively, comparable to those previously reported albeit somewhat lower for lead and cadmium. Median mainstream smoke yields for arsenic, cadmium and lead were <3.75, 18.2, and <12.8 ng/cig. under ISO, and <8.71, 75.1 and <45.7 ng/cig. under Health Canada Intense (HCI) smoking regime respectively. In the case of cigarettes with activated carbon, a selective retention of cadmium but not lead or arsenic was observed. This effect was more pronounced under ISO than under HCI smoking regimes. Cadmium selective retention by activated carbon was confirmed by testing specially designed prototype cigarettes and the causes for this selective filtration were investigated. The differences between cadmium, arsenic and lead in terms of their speciation in tobaccos and in cigarette smoke could be related to their distribution in the ash, butt, mainstream (in gas-phase and particulate-phase) and sidestream smoke of a smoked cigarette. The possible formation of organometallic cadmium derivatives in the smoke gas-phase is discussed, the presence of which could adequately explain the observed cadmium selective filtration.
Sohini Das Biswas, Babli Garai, Moitreyee Banerjee
Background: Tobacco use has toxic effects on different organs. This study was carried out to assess the effect of indigenous tobacco both in smoking (bidi) and smokeless (gutkha, zarda and khaini) forms on buccal cells at chromosomal level, through assessment of different nuclear anomalies as biomarker. Methods:This study was done on people living in Durgapur and its adjacent areas, West Bengal, India during January to July 2011. The samples were collected from 50 smokers (case group), 50 smokeless tobacco consumers or chewers (case group) and 50 non-tobacco consumers (control group). Micronucleus assay was used to assess buccal cell nuclear changes. Buccal smears collected from study subjects were prepared on a grease free slide. Prepared slides were observed under light microscope and 2 to 5 fields were observed randomly for counting the different anomalies. In each field, the frequency of each anomaly was assessed in 100 cells and reported with percentage. Results:Chewers had significantly the highest frequency of all nuclear anomalies compared to smokers and healthy controls (HCs). Smokers also had significantly more anomalies compared to HCs. Condensed chromatin (CC), karyolysis (KL) and bi-nucleation (BN) in chewers and CC, pyknosis and BN in smokers were the most frequent anomalies. KL was significantly more frequent in chewers compared to smokers (59.8 ± 6.4 vs. 24.2 ± 12.4%, P < 0.001), however, the frequency of other nuclear anomalies were not significantly different in these two study groups. Presence of each nuclear anomaly was significantly greater in older ages in all study groups. Conclusion:Tobacco can cause and increase the rate of nuclear anomalies in both smoking and smokeless forms compared to HCs. The genotoxic effects of tobacco on buccal cells are partly age-related. Cell nuclear anomalies in buccal tissue can be used as biomarker indicating the detrimental effects of tobacco.
Martyn A. Sharpe, Andrew D. Livingston, David S. Baskin
Thimerosal generates ethylmercury in aqueous solution and is widely used as preservative. We have investigated the toxicology of Thimerosal in normal human astrocytes, paying particular attention to mitochondrial function and the generation of specific oxidants. We find that ethylmercury not only inhibits mitochondrial respiration leading to a drop in the steady state membrane potential, but also concurrent with these phenomena increases the formation of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and Fenton/Haber-Weiss generated hydroxyl radical. These oxidants increase the levels of cellular aldehyde/ketones. Additionally, we find a five-fold increase in the levels of oxidant damaged mitochondrial DNA bases and increases in the levels of mtDNA nicks and blunt-ended breaks. Highly damaged mitochondria are characterized by having very low membrane potentials, increased superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production, and extensively damaged mtDNA and proteins. These mitochondria appear to have undergone a permeability transition, an observation supported by the five-fold increase in Caspase-3 activity observed after Thimerosal treatment.