Association of IL-10-1082G > A, -819C > T and -592C > A polymorphisms with susceptibility to asthma in children: a systematic reviews and meta-analysis

Summary

Studies evaluating the association of IL-10 polymorphisms with risk of pediatric asthma found inconsistent data. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to get a precise estimation of the associations. Relevant studies identified in the PubMed, Scopus, CNKI databases were used to perform a meta-analysis. A total of 23 case-control studies including nine studies with 1298 cases and 1079 controls on -1082G > A, four studies with 622 cases and 603 controls on -819C > T and ten studies with 1480 case and 1462 controls on -592C > A were selected. Overall, there was no a significant association between IL-10 polymorphisms with pediatric asthma risk in global population. When stratified by ethnicity, there was a significant association of IL-10 -1082G > A with pediatric asthma in Asians and Chinese. This meta-analysis result revealed that IL-10 -1082G > A, -819C > T and -592C > A polymorphisms were not associated with pediatric asthma risk in the global population.

Modification and improvement of biodegradable packaging films by cold plasma; a critical review

Cold plasma is one of the techniques used in recent years to improve the functionality and interfacial attributes of biopolymers. Employing cold plasma for the treatment and modification of biopolymers possesses several advantages including its biocompatibility, elimination of toxic solvents usage, treatment consistency, and appropriateness for heat-sensitive ingredients. Most studies have presented the efficacious use of cold plasma treatment in improving structural, mechanical and thermal properties of film composites. In addition, cold plasma improves the film surface characteristics, particularly in protein-based films, through bringing up the polar functional groups onto the bio-composite surface, consequently increasing roughness, improving printability, increasing adhesion, and reducing contact angle; while it is not effective in the improvement of water vapor permeability of edible films. Cold plasma-treated edible packaging films experienced significant improvement where exposed to microbial contaminations, mainly due to the non-thermal nature of cold plasma technology leading to the protection of antimicrobial potency of bioactive compounds and antimicrobial constitutes. Therefore, it can be concluded that cold plasma treatment is an innovative strategy to strengthen the edible film characteristics as a promising alternative to the currently used chemical and physical modification approaches.

Coronaviruses as the emerging threats for human health: should we be prepared for the future outbreaks of new coronaviruses?

Recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in human communities as the first major zoonotic pandemics of the new millennium following the emergence of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV has increased our awareness about the future threat of viral zoonosis. Although, several studies have been conducted for better understanding of these viruses` evolution, and designing the effective anti-viral drugs and vaccines, the impact of human beings on occurrence of zoonotic diseases has been less considered and discussed. Improvement in global health resulted in human population growth, increasing demand for animal proteins, more exposures to wildlife, zoonotic and degradation of environment, which have facilitated interspecies transmissions. Since world population is increasing proportionately, the protection of public health against zoonotic diseases is a challenging task. It seems that intensified revision of human lifestyle is the best strategy to prevent the potential devastating future zoonotic pandemics. Herein, the characteristics of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, their transmission routs, their pathogenicity, the therapeutic and prevention approaches including of attempts for designing of effective prophylactic vaccines, anti-viral drugs, and the animal models that have been used for these studies have been reviewed (Ref. 134). Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, pandemic, zoonosis, SARS, MERS.

Micro-suspension coating method: a new approach in formulation and development of controlled porosity osmotic pump systems

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to design and evaluate diltiazem hydrochloride controlled porosity osmotic pump (CPOP) system employing a new coating technique named the micro suspension coating method.

METHOD

In this method the fast dissolving pore formers were suspended in polymeric coating solution as micronized particles. Cellulose acetate and dextrose were used as film former polymer and pore former, respectively. 4 comparative parameters i. e., D24h (cumulative release percent after 24 h), Devzero (mean percent deviation of drug release from zero order kinetic), tL (lag time of the drug release) and RSQzero were used to assess various formulations.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant increase of D24h due to the decrease in the thickness of the semipermeable membrane (SPM) and increase of the sucrose concentration (P<0.05). An inverse relationship was seen between sucrose amounts and drug release lag times of the formulations. In addition, lag time was significantly reduced following addition of tween 80 to SPM formulation (P<0.05). Results of scanning electron microscopy studies exhibited formation of pores in the membrane from where the drug release occurred.

CONCLUSION

Micro suspension coating method was found to be a novel and promising method to formulate CPOP system of diltiazem hydrochloride.