Complete and incomplete lower motor neuron facial palsy in post-COVID-19 mucormycosis

Purpose:To study facial nerve palsy (FNP) in post-COVID-19-mucormycosis patients and its ocular complications, report different presentations of FNP in such patients, and propose its etiopathogenesis based on presentation and clinico-radiologic localization.Methods:A prospective cohort study was carried out in patients of post-COVID-19-mucormycosis who presented at our tertiary center, over a period of 3 months. Motor and sensory examination of the facial nerve was done to diagnose FNP and localize the lesion clinically. Slit-lamp examination was done for grading corneal involvement. MRI brain, orbit, and paranasal sinuses (PNS) with contrast were studied to find involvement along the facial nerve. It was assessed whether this site of lesion corresponded with clinical localization. Data were analyzed using the percentage of total cases and Fisher’s test.Results:A total of 300 patients with post-COVID-19 mucormycosis were examined, of which 30 (10%) patients were found to have FNP. All were lower motor neuron (LMN) type and were associated with corneal complications. The most common site clinically was distal to the chorda tympani (66.66%) and radiologically was infratemporal (IT) fossa (63.4%). The clinical localization significantly correlated with the radiological findings (P = 0.012). Twenty percent of patients showed incomplete involvement of facial musclesConclusion:FNP was found to be of LMN type. The most common site of insult was IT fossa. There was a good clinico-radiological correspondence of lesions. Isolated lesions were also found along the peripheral nerve course, presenting as incomplete facial palsy. Recognition of FNP in post-COVID-19 mucormycosis, in all its variable forms, is important to manage corneal complications.     

A new non-hormonal antifertility drug DL 111-IT: II. Effects on testicular hyaluronidase activity in male rats

Effects of DL-111, [3-(2-ethylphenyl)-5-(3-methoxyphenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole] a non-hormonal antifertility agent, on testicular hyaluronidase activity, an accurate biochemical marker for testicular function, were evaluated in male rats. Treatment of 21-day-old rats with DL-111 sc for 7 or 15 days resulted in a significant fall in testicular weight and complete suppression of hyaluronidase activity. During the 30-day post-treatment the enzyme activity was restored to normal levels. Treatment of 40-day-old rats for 7 or 15 days also produced a significant decrease in testicular weight and hyaluronidase activity. Simultaneous administration of LH, PMSG or T with DL-111 to 21-day-old rats blocked the inhibitory activity of the drug as the enzyme activity was restored to untreated control levels. Administration of FSH along with DL-111 had no effect on suppressive action of the drug. These results suggest that in male rats DL-111 inhibits testicular activity by reducing LH levels, thereby reducing T levels as observed by reduced weights of testes and accessory glands of reproduction and hyaluronidase activity.     

Green aspects of photocatalysts during corona pandemic: a promising role for the deactivation of COVID-19 virus

The selection of a facile, eco-friendly, and effective methodology is the need of the hour for efficient curing of the COVID-19 virus in air, water, and many food products. Recently, semiconductor-based photocatalytic methodologies have provided promising, green, and sustainable approaches to battle against viral activation via the oxidative capabilities of various photocatalysts with excellent performance under moderate conditions and negligible by-products generation as well. Considering this, recent advances in photocatalysis for combating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are inclusively highlighted. Starting from the origin to the introduction of the coronavirus, the significant potential of photocatalysis against viral prevention and -disinfection is discussed thoroughly. Various photocatalytic material-based systems including metal-oxides, metal-free and advanced 2D materials (MXenes, MOFs and COFs) are systematically examined to understand the mechanistic insights of virus-disinfection in the human body to fight against COVID-19 disease. Also, a roadmap toward sustainable solutions for ongoing COVID-19 contagion is also presented. Finally, the challenges in this field and future perspectives are comprehensively discussed involving the bottlenecks of current photocatalytic systems along with potential recommendations to deal with upcoming pandemic situations in the future.

Photocatalysts are green, eco-friendly, clean and sustainable and could be a solution to combat COVID-19 because of potential features of various types of metal oxides against viral inactivation via the generation of reactive oxidative species.     

Effect of alpha tocopheryl succinate on adenylate cyclase activity in murine neuroblastoma cells in culture.

Alpha tocopheryl succinate treatment (6-8 micrograms/ml), which inhibited the growth of murine neuroblastoma (NBP2) cells (46 +/? 3%), reduced basal and prostaglandin (PG)E1- and PGA2-stimulated adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in vitro. It also inhibited sodium fluoride (NaF)- and forskolin-stimulated AC activity, suggesting that the effect of vitamin E succinate on AC activity is mediated via stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs) and catalytic subunit. Vitamin E succinate-induced reduction of AC activity is not strictly related to inhibition of cell growth. This is substantiated by the finding that, although retinoic acid and butylated hydroxyanisole reduced the growth by over 50%, they did not inhibit AC activity. On the other hand, 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (R020-1724, 200 micrograms/ml), which inhibited growth (73 +/? 3%) and induced differentiation in NB cells, increased basal and PGE1-stimulated AC activity. Vitamin E succinate treatment also reduced PGE1- and PGA2-AC activity in murine fibroblasts (L-cells) without inhibiting growth.     

Ameliorative Effects of a Polyphenolic Fraction of Cinnamomum zeylanicum L. Bark in Animal Models of Inflammation and Arthritis

Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Syn C. verum, family: Lauraceae) is one of the oldest traditional medicines for inflammatory- and pain-related disorders. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the polyphenol fraction from Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark (CPP) in animal models of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. Dose-response studies of CPP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) used in a separate set of in vivo experiments were conducted in acute (carrageenan-induced rat paw edema), subacute (cotton pellet-induced granuloma), and sub-chronic (AIA, adjuvant-induced established polyarthrtis) models of inflammation in rats and the acetic acid-induced writhing model of pain in mice. Effects of CPP on cytokine (IL-2, IL-4, and IFNγ) release from Concanavalin (ConA)-stimulated lymphocytes were also evaluated in vitro. CPP showed a strong and dose-dependent reduction in paw volume, weight loss reversal effects against carrageenan-induced paw edema, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma models in rats. CPP (200 mg/kg p.o. for 10 days) showed a significant reduction in elevated serum TNF-α concentration without causing gastric ulcerogenicity in the AIA model in rats. CPP also demonstrated mild analgesic effects during acute treatment as evidenced by the reduction in the writhing and paw withdrawal threshold of the inflamed rat paw during the acetic acid-induced writhing model and Randall-Selitto test. CPP was found to inhibit cytokine (IL-2, IL-4, and IFNγ) release from ConA-stimulated lymphocytes in vitro. In conclusion, CPP demonstrated prominent action in animal models of inflammation and arthritis and therefore can be considered as a potential anti-rheumatic agent with disease-modifying action.