Bottom-up analysis of emergent properties of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an abundantly available antioxidant with a wide range of antidotal properties currently best studied for its use in treating acetaminophen overdose. It has a robustly established safety profile with easily tolerated side effects and presents the Food and Drug Administration's approval for use in treating acetaminophen overdose patients. It has been proven efficacious in off-label uses, such as in respiratory diseases, heart disease, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and seasonal influenza. Clinical trials have recently shown that NAC's capacity to replenish glutathione stores may significantly improve coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes, especially in high risk individuals. Interestingly, individuals with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency have been shown to experience even greater benefit. The same study has concluded that NAC's ability to mitigate the impact of the cytokine storm and prevent elevation of liver enzymes, C-reactive protein, and ferritin is associated with higher success rates weaning from the ventilator and return to normal function in COVID-19 patients. Considering the background knowledge of biochemistry, current uses of NAC in clinical practice, and newly acquired evidence on its potential efficacy against COVID-19, it is worthwhile to investigate further whether this agent can be used as a treatment or adjuvant for COVID-19.     

NAC壳聚糖膜干预大鼠腹部术后腹膜核转录因子Sp1和NF-κB的表达

目的探讨NAC(N-乙酰半胱氨酸)生物膜对大鼠腹膜损伤粘连修复演变过程中核转录因子Sp1和NF-κB活化的影响。方法建立大鼠腹部回盲部手术动物模型,术中腹膜创面覆盖留置NAC壳聚糖多孔膜,术后腹腔镜连续观测、提取相应腹膜粘连组织,监测腹膜粘连分级变化。大鼠分4组:正常腹膜组,腹膜损伤组(无生物膜覆盖处理),NAC壳聚糖多孔膜组,壳聚糖多孔膜组,每组40只。应用EMSA方法检测Sp1含量,Western blot检测NF-κB,Masson染色法检测Sp1和SP染色法检测NF-κB表达。结果腹膜损伤导致Sp1和NF-κB被激活,壳聚糖多孔膜和NAC壳聚糖多孔膜覆盖损伤的腹膜可以一定程度抑制Sp1和NF-κB的表达。在抑制Sp1和NF-κB表达方面,NAC壳聚糖多孔膜显著优于壳聚糖多孔膜。NAC壳聚糖膜组比壳聚糖膜组更显著减低粘连级别(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论 NAC壳聚糖生物膜可显著下调核转录因子Sp1和NF-κB表达,并有效减轻腹膜粘连形成。     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对心肺转流下心脏直视手术患者肺功能的影响

目的观察N-乙酰半胱氨酸(N-acetylcysteine,NAC)对心肺转流(cardiopulmonary bypass,CPB)下心脏直视手术患者肺功能参数的影响。方法择期在CPB下行心脏瓣膜置换术的风湿性心脏病患者40例,性别不限,年龄40~65岁,体重45~80kg,ASAⅡ或Ⅲ级,心功能Ⅰ~Ⅲ级,随机均分为NAC组和对照组(C组)。NAC组:麻醉诱导后CPB前静脉输注NAC 100mg/kg,CPB开始后静脉持续输注NAC 40mg/kg至术毕。C组:等剂量用生理盐水作为安慰剂静脉输注。于麻醉诱导后(T0)、开胸后CPB前(T1)、术毕关胸后(T2)、术后5h(T3)、24h(T4)和48h(T5)检测呼吸指数(RI)、氧合指数(OI)、肺泡-动脉氧分压差(A-aDO2)和气道阻力(R)。结果与T0时比较,T2~T4时两组患者RI、A-aDO2明显升高(P0.05)、OI明显降低(P0.05)、T2和T3时两组患者气道阻力明显升高(P0.05)。与C组比较,T2~T4时NAC组RI和A-aDO2明显降低(P0.05)、OI明显升高(P0.05)、T2和T3时NAC组气道阻力明显降低(P0.05)。结论 N-乙酰半胱氨酸可以减轻CPB导致的肺功能损伤,对肺脏可能具有保护作用。     

甲基苯丙胺与HIV-Tat蛋白协同改变大鼠血脑屏障通透性的氧化应激作用机制

目的 观察甲基苯丙胺与HIV-Tat蛋白协同对大鼠血脑屏障的作用机制.方法 雄性SD大鼠每天2次腹腔注射给予MA10 mg/kg的同时尾静脉注射给予HIV-Tat 400 ng/kg,连续7d,给药结束24 h后随机取10只大鼠尾静脉注射伊文思蓝检测脑组织EB含量,随机取5只大鼠断颈取脑,用于SOD活力、GSH和MDA含量的测定.余下2只大鼠快速断颈取脑,戊二醛-锇酸溶液固定前额叶皮质部分,透射电镜观察结构变化.结果 与正常对照组相比,实验组脑组织中EB含量不同程度增加,提示实验组血脑屏障通透性增加(P＜0.05);MDA含量升高、SOD活力和GSH含量不同程度降低,提示实验组氧化应激反应增强(P＜0.05).MA+Tat组与MA组、Tat组相比,EB含量升高明显,提示MA与HIV-Tat蛋白联用能协同增加血脑屏障通透性;MDA含量显著升高,SOD活力、GSH含量明显下降,提示MA与HIV-Tat蛋白联用能协同增强大鼠脑组织氧化应激反应(P＜0.01);NAC+MA+Tat组与MA+Tat组相比,EB含量降低,提示NAC能一定程度拮抗MA与HIV-Tat蛋白对血脑屏障通透性的影响(P＜0.01);MDA含量下降,SOD活力、GSH含量明显升高,反映NAC能在一定程度拮抗MA与HIV-Tat蛋白对大鼠脑内氧化应激反应增强作用(P＜0.01).各实验组在电镜下观察到血脑屏障一系列超微结构改变,如脑微血管内皮细胞肿胀变薄,血管周围胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞肿胀,胞饮小泡增加等,这些改变以MA+Tat组最为显著.结论 MA和HIV-Tat蛋白能改变血脑屏障通透性,两者具有协同作用,协同作用机制可能与氧化应激有关.     

Acute ammonium dichromate poisoning in a 2 year-old child

Hexavalent chromium compounds are most commonly used in printing, dyeing, plastics and rayon manufacturing. Poisoning in children by ammonium dichromate, an odorless and bright orange-red crystal, are rarely reported. Acute poisoning will result in death due to multi-organ failure. The target organs that are affected by this poison are the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, eyes and skin. On ingestion, initially there is a relative lack of severe symptoms and signs. Hence, the delay in seeking medical attention could lead to the increased rate of mortality. In this case study, we report the ingestion of ammonium dichromate by a child. Despite appropriate management, such as hepatic supportive measures and plasma transfusion, the toxicity progressed to multi-organ failure and death.     

Cigarette smoking during an N-acetylcysteine-assisted cannabis cessation trial in adolescents

Background and objectives: Tobacco and cannabis use are both highly prevalent worldwide. Their co-use is also common in adults and adolescents. Despite this frequent co-occurrence, cessation from both substances is rarely addressed in randomized clinical trials. Given evidence that tobacco use may increase during cannabis cessation attempts, and additionally that tobacco users have poorer cannabis cessation outcomes, we explored tobacco outcomes, specifically cigarette smoking, from an adolescent cannabis cessation trial that tested the efficacy of N-acetylesteine (NAC). Methods: Cannabis-dependent adolescents (ages 15–21; n?=?116) interested in cannabis treatment were randomized to NAC (1200?mg bid) or matched placebo for 8 weeks. Participants did not need to be cigarette smokers or be interested in smoking cessation to qualify for inclusion. Results: Approximately 59% of enrolled participants were daily and non-daily cigarette smokers, and only differed from non-smoking participants on the compulsion sub-scale of the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire. Among cigarette smokers who were retained in the study, there was no change in cigarettes per day for either NAC or placebo groups during the eight-week treatment phase. Being a cigarette smoker did not appear to influence the effects of NAC on cannabis abstinence, though there was a trend in the placebo group of poorer cannabis outcomes for cigarette smokers vs. non-smokers. Conclusions: No evidence was found of compensatory cigarette smoking during this cannabis cessation trial in adolescents. Further work assessing interventions to reduce both cannabis and tobacco use in this population is greatly needed.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠肠屏障保护作用机理的实验研究

目的观察N-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）对重症急性胰腺炎（SAP）大鼠肠屏障功能的保护作用及其可能机理。方法将80只Wistar大鼠随机（随机数字表法）分为正常对照组（CON组,n=8）、假手术组（SO组,n=24）、SAP组（n=24）及NAC组（n=24）,后3组再随机（随机数字表法）分为6、12及24 h 3个时间点组,每个时间点组8只大鼠。通过胰胆管逆行注射5%牛磺胆酸钠的方法制作大鼠SAP模型,SO组大鼠则通过胰胆管逆行注射生理盐水。NAC组大鼠于造模前1 h经腹腔注射NAC,而SO组和SAP组大鼠于相应时间点经腹腔注射生理盐水。CON组大鼠不做任何处理,麻醉后直接取右心室血5 mL及回肠组织约5 cm,余3组大鼠则于术后6、12及24 h麻醉后取材。检测血浆淀粉酶（AMY）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、内毒素、D-乳酸及二胺氧化酶（DAO）含量;检测回肠组织总超氧化物歧化酶（T-SOD）、髓过氧化物酶（MPO）及丙二醛（MDA）含量;观察回肠上皮细胞的凋亡情况、回肠组织的病理学改变并对其进行评分;检测回肠组织bax和bcl-2 mRNA及其蛋白的表达水平。结果与同时相SAP组比较,NAC组大鼠各时相的血浆CRP水平均较低（P〈0.05）,而AMY水平在12 h和24 h时较低（P〈0.05）;NAC组大鼠的DAO、内毒素及D-乳酸水平在12 h和24 h时均较低（P〈0.05）,但DAO水平在6 h时高于SAP组（P〈0.05）;NAC组大鼠各时相回肠组织中的MPO及MDA水平均较低（P〈0.05）,而T-SOD水平则在12 h和24 h时较高（P〈0.05）;NAC组大鼠回肠上皮细胞的凋亡指数均较低（P〈0.01）,组织病理学评分在12 h及24 h时亦较低（P〈0.05）;NAC组大鼠回肠组织中bax mRNA及其蛋白的表达水平均较低（P〈0.05）,而bcl-2 mRNA及其蛋白的表达水平则均较高（P〈0.05）。结论 NAC对SAP大鼠的肠屏障功能具有保护作用,其机理除了抗氧化作用外,还可能与其抗凋亡作用有关。     

Propofol with N-Acetylcysteine Reduces Global Myocardial Ischemic Reperfusion Injury More than Ketamine in a Rat Model

Objective: We examined the cardioprotective effects of propofol and ketamine with and without N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Methods: 60 rats were divided into six groups of 10 rats each. Anesthesia induction was produced with an intraperitonal injection of ketamine in Groups 1–3 and propofol in Groups 4–6. NAC (200 mg kg^{? 1}) was given intraperitonally during anesthesia induction in Groups 3 and 6. Groups 2, 3, 5, and 6 were subjected to 90 s of myocardial ischemia by clamping the ascending aorta, and then reperfusion was begun by unclamping the ascending aorta. After 60 min of reperfusion, blood samples were taken from the ascending aorta for biochemical analyses, and heart tissue samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results: Creatine kinase (CK), myocardial band of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and troponin-I (Tn-I) levels were significantly higher in the ischemia–reperfusion groups (2, 3, 5, 6) compared to the nonischemic groups (1, 4). CK, CK-MB, and Tn-I levels did not differ significantly between the ketamine groups (1–3) and the propofol groups (4–6) p >. 05). Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 and were significantly lower in Groups 4 and 6 than in Group 5 (p <. 05). Malondialdehyde levels in the propofol groups (4–6) were significantly lower than in the ketamine groups (1–3; p <. 05). Catalase levels in propofol groups were higher than ketamine groups. Superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher in Group 6 than in Group 3 (p <. 05). Conclusions: In this rat model of global cardiac ischemia, propofol with NAC attenuates myocardial injury more than ketamine (with or without NAC).     

Review of Oxidative Stress in Brain and Spinal Cord Injury: Suggestions for Pharmacological and Nutritional Management Strategies

Abstract

Much of the damage that occurs in the central nervous system (CNS) following trauma is due to secondary effects of glutamate excitotoxicity, Ca2+ overload, and oxidative stress, three mechanisms that in a spiraling interactive cascade end in neuronal death. Oxidative stress activates mechanisms that result in a neutrophil-mediated inflammation that also causes secondary damage. Mechanisms of oxidative stress are reviewed, with particular attention paid to lipid peroxidation and the central role of reduced glutathione in scavenging peroxides. We suggest that decreasing oxidative stress will greatly reduce the amount of secondary damage due to trauma. Oxidative stress can be minimized by 1) maintaining reduced-glutathione levels through the administration of cysteine precursors such as N- acetylcysteine and 2) limiting neutrophil invasion by administering platelet-activating factor antagonists such as BN 52021. Aggressive nutritional support following CNS trauma can also contribute to maximizing antioxidant defenses. Furthermore, we suggest that flavonoids such as quercetin have the potential to be therapeutically effective because of their free radical quenching, iron chelating, and anti-inflammatory properties. (I Spinal Cord Med 1998; 21:309-334)