Development of a Novel Formulation with Hypericin To Treat Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Based on Photodynamic Therapy in In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

An evaluation of the leishmanicidal activity in vitro and in vivo of hypericin, an expanded-spectrum photosensitizer found in Hypericum perforatum, is presented. Hypericin was evaluated against intracellular amastigotes in vitro of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis. A topical formulation containing 0.5% hypericin was developed and assayed in vivo in a hamster model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Results demonstrate that hypericin induces a significant antiamastigote effect in vitro against L. panamensis by decreasing the number of parasites inside infected cells. The topical formulation of 0.5% hypericin allows healing of L. panamensis-induced lesions upon a topical application of 40 mg/day plus visible-light irradiation (5 J/cm², 15 min), twice a week for 3 weeks.     

Effects of boron-containing compounds on immune responses: review and patenting trends

Introduction: Boron-containing compounds induce effects on immune responses. Such effects are interesting to the biomedical field for the development of therapeutic tools to modulate the immune system.

Areas covered: The scope of BCC use to modify immune responses is expanding, mainly with regard to inflammatory diseases. The information was organized to demonstrate the breadth of reported effects. BCCs act as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity, with the former including regulation of cluster differentiation and cytokine production. In addition, BCCs exert effects on inflammation induced by infectious and noninfectious agents, and there are also reports regarding their effects on mechanisms involving hypersensitivity and transplants. Finally, the authors discuss the beneficial effects of BCCs on pathologies involving various targets and mechanisms.

Expert opinion: Some BCCs are currently used as drugs in humans. The mechanisms by which these BCCs modulate immune responses, as well as the required structure–activity relationship for each observed mechanism of action, should be clarified. The former will allow for the development of improved immunomodulatory drugs with extensive applications in medicine. Patenting trends involve claims concerning the synthesis and actions of identified molecules with a defined profile regarding cytokines, cell differentiation, proliferation, and antibody production.     

In vivo studies of the effectiveness of novel N-halomethylated and non-halomethylated quaternary ammonium salts in the topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Parasitology Research - The physicochemical properties of four N-halomethylated and one non-halomethylated ammonium salts, with proven in vitro antileishmanial activity, were determined according...     

Effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage vs. perineal massage in secundigravida women with gestational oedema: A randomised clinical trial

Perineal trauma (PT) may be considered as a very common injury during the childbirth. The incidence of PT was estimated in 30% to 85%, with 60% to 70% requiring suture. The present study was a prospective, single‐blinded, randomised, clinical trial carried out from January 2015 to January 2016. For this study, 49 secundigravida women diagnosed with gestational oedema were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Group A (n = 30) received the conventional treatment plus perineal massage and group B (n = 19) the conventional treatment plus manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and King Health's Questionnaire (KHQ) were performed to assess pain intensity and quality of life‐related with urinary incontinence (UI). Pain intensity measurements showed statistically significant differences for a decrease after 30‐weeks (P = .037), after 36‐weeks (P = .000), and at the end of puerperium (P = .014) for MLD with respect to perineal massage group. Moreover, inter‐groups repeated measures ANOVA for the values related statistically significant differences to the interaction of each applied treatment (perineal massage and MLD group, separately) over the pain intensity variable. MLD treatment reduced pain intensity with respect to perineal massage in secundigravida women with gestational oedema from 25‐weeks of gestation to the end of puerperium.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene affects inflammatory bowel diseases risk

AIM： To investigate the role that single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） in the promoter of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） gene play in the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases （IBDs） in a New Zealand population, in the context of international studies. METHODS： DNA samples from 388 patients with Crohn＇s disease （CD）, 405 ulcerative colitis （UC）, 27 indeterminate colitis （IC） and 201 randomly selected controls, from Canterbury, New Zealand were screened for 3 common polymorphisms in the TNF-α receptor： -238 G→A, -308 G→A and -857C→T, using a TaqmanR assay. A meta-analysis was performed on the data obtained on these polymorphisms combined with that from other published studies. RESULTS： Individuals carrying the -308 G/A allele had a significantly （OR = 1.91, χ2 = 17.36, P 〈 0.0001） increased risk of pancolitis, and a 1.57-fold increased risk （OR = 1.57, χ2 = 4.34, P = 0.037） of requiring a bowel resection in UC. Carrying the -857 C/T variant decreased the risk of ileocolonic CD （OR = 0.56, χ2 =4.32, P = 0.037）, and the need for a bowel resection （OR = 0.59, χ2 = 4.85, P = 0.028）. The risk of UC was reduced in individuals who were smokers at diagnosis, （OR = 0.48, χ2 = 4.86, P = 0.028）. CONCLUSION： TNF-α is a key cytokine known to play a role in inflammatory response, and the locus for the gene is found in the IBD3 region on chromosome 6p21, known to be associated with an increased risk for IBD. The -308 G/A SNP in the TNF-α promoter is functional, and may account in part for the increased UC risk associated with the IBD3 genomic region. The -857 C/T SNP may decrease IBD risk in certain groups. Pharmaco- or nutrigenomic approaches may be desir- able for individuals with such affected genotypes.