Bioresponsive immune-booster-based prodrug nanogel for cancer immunotherapy

The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy motivates a potent immune system by triggering immunogenic cell death (ICD), showing great potential in inhibiting tumor growth and improving the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM). However, the therapeutic effectiveness has been restricted by inferior drug bioavailability. Herein, we reported a universal bioresponsive doxorubicin (DOX)-based nanogel to achieve tumor-specific co-delivery of drugs. DOX-based mannose nanogels (DM NGs) was designed and choosed as an example to elucidate the mechanism of combined chemo-immunotherapy. As expected, the DM NGs exhibited prominent micellar stability, selective drug release and prolonged survival time, benefited from the enhanced tumor permeability and prolonged blood circulation. We discovered that the DOX delivered by DM NGs could induce powerful anti-tumor immune response facilitated by promoting ICD. Meanwhile, the released mannose from DM NGs was proved as a powerful and synergetic treatment for breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, via damaging the glucose metabolism in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Overall, the regulation of tumor microenvironment with DOX-based nanogel is expected to be an effectual candidate strategy to overcome the current limitations of ICD-based immunotherapy, offering a paradigm for the exploitation of immunomodulatory nanomedicines.

Outpatient and inpatient anticoagulation therapy and the risk for hospital admission and death among COVID-19 patients

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a hypercoagulable state. Limited data exist informing the relationship between anticoagulation therapy and risk for COVID-19 related hospitalization and mortality.

METHODS

We evaluated all patients over the age of 18 diagnosed with COVID-19 in a prospective cohort study from March 4th to August 27th, 2020 among 12 hospitals and 60 clinics of M Health Fairview system (USA). We investigated the relationship between (1) 90-day anticoagulation therapy among outpatients before COVID-19 diagnosis and the risk for hospitalization and mortality and (2) Inpatient anticoagulation therapy and mortality risk.

FINDINGS

Of 6195 patients, 598 were immediately hospitalized and 5597 were treated as outpatients. The overall case-fatality rate was 2•8% (n = 175 deaths). Among the patients who were hospitalized, the inpatient mortality was 13%. Among the 5597 COVID-19 patients initially treated as outpatients, 160 (2.9%) were on anticoagulation and 331 were eventually hospitalized (5.9%). In a multivariable analysis, outpatient anticoagulation use was associated with a 43% reduction in risk for hospital admission, HR (95% CI = 0.57, 0.38-0.86), p = 0.007, but was not associated with mortality, HR (95% CI=0.88, 0.50 - 1.52), p = 0.64. Inpatients who were not on anticoagulation (before or after hospitalization) had an increased risk for mortality, HR (95% CI = 2.26, 1.17-4.37), p = 0.015.

INTERPRETATION

Outpatients with COVID-19 who were on outpatient anticoagulation at the time of diagnosis experienced a 43% reduced risk of hospitalization. Failure to initiate anticoagulation upon hospitalization or maintaining outpatient anticoagulation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was associated with increased mortality risk.

FUNDING

No funding was obtained for this study.

In vivo and in silico studies of Dennettia tripetala essential oil reveal the potential harmful effects of habitual consumption of the plant seed

Dennettia tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae), is a plant with nutritional, social economy, and medicinal values. Its rising medicinal profile makes this plant a prospect in drug discovery. However, the reported strong addictive potential among habitual consumers makes the need to establish its safety imperative. In this report, we evaluated the safety profile of the essential oil of the seed of D. tripetala (EODS) in nulliparous female Wistar rats using in vivo single and repeated dose toxicity profiling, as well as in silico toxicity profiling of its known seed oil derived phytoconstituents. Our results showed consistent significant dose-dependent alterations in relative body weights, organ-body and organ-brain weight ratios, haematological and biochemical indices, as well as liver and kidney histoarchitectures, following single and repeated oral administrations. Significant alterations in liver and kidney histoarchitectures were consistent with the observed significant increase in AST/ALT ratio, suggesting deleterious effects of EODS on the kidney and liver. However, the lack of alterations in the histoarchitectures of the hippocampus and hypothalamus suggests that the brain may not have been adversely affected. Also, the in silico analysis suggests that hepatotoxic effects of EODS may be linked to Benzylnitrile, Humulene, Linalool, (Z)-ß-Ocimene. In addition, the failure of ß-Phenylnitroethane, the most abundant phytoconstituent of EODS, to pass phases I and II in silico toxicity screening, and the presence of Caryophyllene oxide, a known toxic compound, coupled with the predicted binding of both to DNA and protein, low LD50 and high percent mortality at 250 mg/kg of repeated doses, further confirmed the potentially toxic nature of EODS. We concluded that based on our in vivo and in silico observations, there is an urgent need for public education to regulate the excessive consumption of the seeds of D. tripetala.

Sub-chronic dermal exposure to aircraft engine oils impacts the reproductive organ weights and alters hematological profiles of Sprague Dawley rats

There is little data available for the toxicity of used aircraft engine oils relative to their unused (new) versions. This study was conducted to determine if grade 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) aircraft engine oils in their new states (G3-N and G4-N) and their used versions (G3-U and G4-U) have the potential to induce toxicity via dermal application. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats were dermally exposed to water (control), new and used versions of G3 and G4 oils to determine the oil sub-chronic toxicity potentials. A volume of 300 μL of undiluted oil was applied to the pad of the Hill Top Chamber System©. Then the chamber was attached to a fur-free test site located at the back of the rat for 6 h/day for 5 consecutive days/week for 21 days (15 total exposures). Recovery rats also received similar treatments and were kept for 14 days post-exposure to screen for reversibility, persistence, or delayed occurrence of toxic effects. Both G3 and G4 oils had a significant impact on the weight of male and female reproductive organs: testes weights for recovery rats exposed to G3-N significantly decreased (12%) relative to controls; G3-N and G3-U decreased uterus weights by 23% and 29%, respectively; G4-N decreased uterus weights by 32% but were resolved at the end of the recovery period; G4-N increased the weight of the adrenals and spleen for females by 34% and 27%, respectively, during the recovery period. G3 and G4 induced more changes in female blood indices than in those for males. Of all versions of oils, G4-N induced the most changes in profiles of female blood. G4-N significantly decreased the white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and increased the mean platelet volumes. Interestingly, males were not affected by exposure to G4-N oil. While G3-N decreased the white blood cells and lymphocytes for females it slightly increased those for males. In summary, G3 and G4 oils impacted the weights for male and reproductive organs. This study highlights the health risks that aircraft maintenance workers may be exposed to if precautions are not taken to minimize exposure to these oils.

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Grade 3 and grade 4 aircraft engine oils contain organophosphate compounds.

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Dermal exposure to these oils impacted organ weights of female and male rats.

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Unused versions of these oils had more effects on blood indices than used versions.

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Females may be more susceptible to exposure to these oils than males.

A 90-day dietary study with fibrillated cellulose in Sprague-Dawley rats

Novel forms of fibrillated cellulose offer improved attributes for use in foods. Conventional cellulose and many of its derivatives are already widely used as food additives and are authorized as safe for use in foods in many countries. However, novel forms have not yet been thoroughly investigated using standardized testing methods. This study assesses the 90-day dietary toxicity of fibrillated cellulose, as compared to a conventional cellulose, Solka Floc. Sprague Dawley rats were fed 2 %, 3 %, or 4 % fibrillated cellulose for 90 consecutive days, and parallel Solka Floc groups were used as controls. Survival, clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmologic evaluations, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, post-mortem anatomic pathology, and histopathology were monitored and performed. No adverse observations were noted in relation to the administration of fibrillated cellulose. Under the conditions of this study and based on the toxicological endpoints evaluated, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for fibrillated cellulose was 2194.2 mg/kg/day (males) and 2666.6 mg/kg/day (females), corresponding to the highest dose tested (4 %) for male and female Sprague Dawley rats. These results demonstrate that fibrillated cellulose behaves similarly to conventional cellulose and raises no safety concerns when used as a food ingredient at these concentrations.

Renoprotective effects of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), amlodipine, valsartan, and losartan in gentamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat model: Biochemical, hematological and histological approaches

The current study investigated the renoprotective effects of stevia, angiotensin-II type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker and calcium (Ca2+) channel blocker in gentamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat models. Six groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats of eight weeks old were taken for the experiment: sham control, nephrotoxicity, treatment with amlodipine (4 mg/kg/day); stevia (200 mg/kg/day); losartan (15 mg/kg/day) and valsartan (5 mg/kg/day), accordingly. The blood sample was taken for the assessment of renal and hepatic-functional variables like serum creatinine, blood urea, BUN and SGPT, SGOT, and total serum bilirubin. Hematological parameters were also examined. Histological examination has been done on kidneys and liver. Alterations of the body weight and the organ's weight were documented. Treatment with stevia and valsartan significantly decreased serum creatinine levels. A reduction of liver enzymes, and total serum bilirubin levels were observed in all the treatment groups. Treatment with valsartan and amlodipine, remarkably and stevia, mildly reduced the renal tissue damage, inflammation, and tubular necrosis. However, the present study demonstrated that losartan treatment aggravated kidney damage by increasing protein cast, calcification, tubular necrosis, and injury. This comparison indicated that both stevia and valsartan have beneficial renoprotective effect and valsartan offers a better treatment option in renal damage over losartan.

28-day inhalation toxicity of 3-methoxybutyl chloroformate in rats

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3-MBCF up to 6 ppm induced mortality in 28-day inhalation study of rats.

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The NOAEL of 3-MBCF in 28 day inhalation toxicity study, was less than 3 ppm.

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3-MBCF under 12 ppm did not induce micronucleus formation in the bone marrow of rats.

The 28-day repeated inhalation study was applied for hazard assessment of 3-methoxybutyl chloroformate (3-MBCF) in Sprague Dawley rats. Groups of five rats per sex were exposed 6 h/day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks to test substance concentration (ranging from 3 to 12 ppm) using a whole-body exposure system. At the terminal sacrifice, following blood collection and gross pathological examination, organ weights were determined and fixed organs were examined. The micronucleus test was performed using bone marrow cells. Exposure of 3-MBCF induced mortality at concentrations above 6 ppm. Decreases in body weight and food intake, hematologic alterations, organ weight changes, and gross and microscopic findings were seen even at the lowest concentrations of 3 ppm. Histopathology revealed principal test substance exposure correlated with lesions in the respiratory tract in both male and female rats above 3 ppm. Groups of male rats exposed above 6 ppm show microscopic lesions in spleens, livers, testes and epididymides; however, the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes frequency in bone marrow cells was not changed. Based on histopathology of the respiratory tract and other organs, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 3-MBCF in the present study was less than 3 ppm.

Haematological evaluation of sodium fluoride toxicity in oryctolagus cunniculus

Blood is promptly affected by environmental pollutants and toxicants that can cause many metabolic disorders. The high level of fluoride acts as a potential pollutant, insecticide and rodenticide with very high toxicity, associated with the hematological damage. This study aimed to determine the toxicity of Sodium Fluoride on hematological parameters in Oryctolagus cunniculus. Twenty rabbits were acclimatized and divided in to control group and three experimental groups.Experimental group-I, II and III were treated with 10, 30 and 50 mg/kg body weight doses of Sodium Fluoride orally. Various blood parameters such as TEC, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, TLC and PLT count were investigated. Result findings showed that values of blood indices in experimental groups were significantly lower than the control group. Oneway ANOVA was applied for statistical analysis. The outcomes of the current studies indicated the reduction in RBC counts (anemia), leukocyte count (leukocytopenia), monocytosis, eosinopenia, neutrophilia and thrombocytosis on fluoride intoxication. Hematological disruptions like microcytic hypochromic anemia and decreased leukocyte count may be linked to the inflammatory effects of Sodium Fluoride on lymphatic organs.

The utility of inflammation and platelet biomarkers in patients with acute coronary syndromes

Introduction

Thrombotic and inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the study was the evaluation of inflammation (white blood cells count/WBC, C-reactive protein/CRP, interleukin-6/IL-6) and platelet (platelet count/PLT, mean platelet volume/MPV, large platelet/LPLT, beta-thromboglobulin/β-TG) biomarkers in the groups of ACS patients depending on the severity of signs and symptoms and compared to controls without coronary artery disease.

Materials and methods

The study group included 93 patients categorized into 3 subgroups depending on the severity of signs and symptoms of ACS. PLT, MPV, LPLT, and WBC were determined on hematological analyzer, IL-6 and β-TG were measured using the ELISA method.

Results

In the whole group of ACS patients WBC, CRP, IL-6, MPV, and β-TG were significantly higher as compared to controls. Analyzing the inflammation and platelet biomarkers depending on the severity of signs and symptoms in comparison to controls, statistically significant differences for above-mentioned parameters were also found. There were no significant differences between the advancement of coronary artery changes and inflammation as well as platelet parameters, except for CRP concentrations. The AUCs for all inflammation parameters tested were similar, however the highest AUCs showed WBC and CRP. Among platelet parameters the highest AUC revealed β-TG.

Conclusion

Markers of inflammation and platelet activation may be associated to myocardial ischemia and myocardial injury. WBC, CRP and IL-6 as inflammation parameters and MPV and β-TG as platelet biomarkers may be useful indicators of the presence of coronary artery disease.