Essential Oils as Alternative Green Broad-Spectrum Biocides.

Natural compounds from plants represent suitable options to replace synthetic biocides when employed against microorganisms in various applications. Essential oils (EOs) have attracted increased interest due to their biocompatible and rather innocuous nature, and complex biological activity (fungicide, biocide and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory action, etc.).

Montelukast Influence on Lung in Experimental Diabetes.

: The influence of montelukast (MK), an antagonist of cysLT1 leukotriene receptors, on lung lesions caused by experimental diabetes was studied. : The study was conducted on four groups of six adult male Wistar rats. Diabetes was produced by administration of streptozotocin 65 mg/kg ip.

Montelukast influence on kidney in experimental induced diabetes mellitus.

Leukotrienes are important icosanoids group involved in a lot of normal and pathological states. Montelukast (MK) is a selective cysteinyl leukotriene receptor (Cys LT1) antagonist. Purpose.

Importance of Magnesium Status in COVID-19.

A large amount of published research points to the interesting concept (hypothesis) that magnesium (Mg) status may have relevance for the outcome of COVID-19 and that Mg could be protective during the COVID disease course. As an essential element, Mg plays basic biochemical, cellular, and physiological roles required for cardiovascular, immunological, respiratory, and neurological functions. Both low serum and dietary Mg have been associated with the severity of COVID-19 outcomes, including mortality; both are also associated with COVID-19 risk factors such as older age, obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and asthma.

Insights on Some Polysaccharide Gel Type Materials and Their Structural Peculiarities.

Global resources have to be used in responsible ways to ensure the world's future need for advanced materials. Ecologically friendly functional materials based on biopolymers can be successfully obtained from renewable resources, and the most prominent example is cellulose, the well-known most abundant polysaccharide which is usually isolated from highly available biomass (wood and wooden waste, annual plants, cotton, etc.).

Assessment and outcome of hospitalized patients during delta variant COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter international study.

Introduction: To date, the world has experienced four waves of the Coronavirus disease- 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients infected during the era of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant were the subject of this study. The objectives were to describe their clinical manifestations, explain their laboratory and radiological findings, conclude factors contributing to clinical outcomes, and evaluate treatment protocols.

Recommendation on an updated standardization of serum magnesium reference ranges.

Purpose: Serum magnesium is the most frequently used laboratory test for evaluating clinical magnesium status. Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium status), which is associated with many chronic diseases, is diagnosed using the serum magnesium reference range. Currently, no international consensus for a magnesemia normal range exists.

RT- PCR testing of upper respiratory tract samples for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2: Between justification and overestimation, a multi-center international study.

Background: It has been found that patients recovered from COVID 19 may still test Reverse Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) positive without being infectious; the reasons are unclear. The occurrence of false-negative results of RT- PCR interferes with a proper diagnosis. The objectives of that work were to determine factors associated with persistently detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA among recovered hospitalized patients and to determine the incidence of false-negative RT-PCR results and associated factors.

The diagnostic utility of the "Thwaites' system" and "lancet consensus scoring system" in tuberculous vs. non-tuberculous subacute and chronic meningitis: multicenter analysis of 395 adult patients.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) represents a diagnostic and management challenge to clinicians. The "Thwaites' system" and "Lancet consensus scoring system" are utilized to differentiate TBM from bacterial meningitis but their utility in subacute and chronic meningitis where TBM is an important consideration is unknown.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study of adults with subacute and chronic meningitis, defined by symptoms greater than 5 days and less than 30 days for subacute meningitis (SAM) and greater than 30 days for chronic meningitis (CM).

Valorization of lignin in polymer and composite systems for advanced engineering applications - A review.

As fossil fuel resources dwindle and new regulations for a cleaner and safer environment come on stream, there is growing interest in developing new sustainable feedstocks for future fuels, chemicals, polymers and fibers. Therefore materials research is ever more focused on the production of green or bio-based materials and their composites. Lignocellulosic biomass has become the feedstock of choice for these new materials as cellulose and lignin are the most abundant biopolymers on the planet.

Magnesium in addiction - a general view.

Addiction is a dysregulation of brain reward systems that progressively increases, resulting in compulsive drug use and loss of control over drug-taking. Addiction is a brain disease. There is evidence that magnesium deficit is involved in addiction to various addictive substances (heroin, morphine, cocaine, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and others).

Chromium picolinate reduces morphine-dependence in rats, while increasing brain serotonin levels.

Unlabelled: Chromium is an essential trace element with anti-diabetic and anti-depressant effect; the latter is considered related to chromium properties of increasing brain serotonin. Cr salts were shown to improve some forced swimming-parameters and to induce rewarding effects, which are additive to those of morphine, but Cr effect on addictive processes has not been tested.

Aim: The present study aimed to assess chromium picolinate (CrPi) influence on morphine-dependence in rats.

Keratinocyte Motility Is Affected by UVA Radiation-A Comparison between Normal and Dysplastic Cells.

UVA radiation induces multiple and complex changes in the skin, affecting epidermal cell behavior. This study reports the effects of UVA exposure on normal (HaCaT) and dysplastic (DOK) keratinocytes. The adherence, spreading and proliferation were investigated by time-lapse measurement of cell layer impedance on different matrix proteins.

3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole Limits the Oxidative Damage in UVA-Irradiated Dysplastic Keratinocytes.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UVA irradiation affect the keratinocyte cell membrane, DNA, and proteins and may cause serious injury to the skin. Treating human dysplastic keratinocytes (DOK) with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AMT), a common catalase inhibitor, induced a compensatory mechanism for the hydrogen peroxide detoxification, which included a rise in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities. Here, we examined a possible role of AMT in protecting a human DOK cell line against UVA-induced damage.

The protective effects of zinc in experimental gentamicin induced acute renal failure in rats.

This study investigates the effects of zinc in acute kidney injury induced by gentamicin (Ge). We used Wistar male rats distributed in 4 groups of 12 animals each, treated intraperitoneally as follows: Group I (Control) treated with distilled water; Group II (Ge) with experimental induced acute renal failure with Ge; Group III (Ge + Zn) administration of ZnCl in animals with experimental induced renal failure with Ge, Group IV (Zn) treated with ZnCl as positive control. We measured serum levels of urea, creatinine, total antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and urinary proteins before the nephrotoxicity induction (baseline) and 3, 7 and 10 days after Ge administration.

Changes in Some Divalent Cations Concentrations In An Experimental Rat Model of Gentamicin-Induced Acute Renal Failure.

Aim: The changes in divalent cations concentration were assessed in and experimentally gentamicin-induced renal failure in white Wistar rats.

Material And Methods: The white male Wistar rats were distributed into 4 groups of 7 animals each and were treated intraperitoneally as follows: Group I (Control): distilled water in a volume of 0.5ml/100g rat/day for10 days; Group II (Ge): gentamicin 80 mg/kbw/day for 7 days; Group III (Ge+Zn): gentamicin 80 mg/kbw/day for 7 days and ZnCl2 5 mg/kbw/day for 10 days prior to administration of Ge and then another 7 days simultaneously with Ge administration; Group IV (Zn): ZnCl2 5 mg/kbw/day for 17 days.

Magnesium in Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome.

Aim: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate serum Mg concentration in children with nephrotic syndrome and highlight the relationship between Mg concentration and acute nephropathy.

Material And Methods: We conducted a clinical study in 27 patients, aged 2 to 17 years, admitted to the Nephrology clinic of the Iasi "Sf. Maria" Children′s Hospital between 2011-2015, with the diagnosis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS), first episode or relapse.

Hydrocephalus and vasculitis delay therapeutic responses in tuberculous meninigitis: Results of Haydarpasa-III study.

Aims: There is no report on the factors affecting the resolution of symptoms related to meningitis during treatment of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Thus, we examined the factors associated with early therapeutic responses.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter study included 507 patients with microbiologically confirmed TBM.

ANTINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AN N, N'-DISALICYLIDENEMETHYLENDIAMINE-DERIVED SCHIFF BIS BASE AND ITS COPPER(II) COMPLEX.

Aim: The cooper(II) complex combination of N, N'-disalicylidenemethylenediamine and the Schiff bis base were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity.

Material And Methods: In vivo, the anti-inflammatory activity of the metallic complex in comparison with the activity of the Schiff bis base was tested by the method of Winter and co-workers using the Levy technique.

Results And Discussions: Our study on the anti-inflammatory activity of a new Schiff bis base and its complex cooper(II) combination showed that the Schiff bis bases exhibited significant anti-inflammatory action in acute experimental inflammation when compared to the control group.

DIVALENT CATIONS PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND VARICEAL BLEEDING.

Aim: The objective of this study is to evaluate divalent cations serum levels (magnesium, zinc, copper) in liver cirrhossis and one of its major complication (variceal bleeding).

Material And Methods: A prospective case-control study including 60 patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with variceal bleeding admitted to the Emergency Department, and 35 subjects without liver cirrhosis which served as group control. Serum concentrations of zinc, copper and magnesium were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Imidazoline receptor antagonists idazoxan and efaroxan enhance locomotor functions in rats.

Unlabelled: Discovered in 1984, imidazoline receptors (I1, I2, I3) are located centrally and peripherally being involved in various physiologic and pathophysiologic processes in the body. Experimental and clinical investigations have suggested the interrelations between imidazoline, adrenergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic and opioid systems, which may explain the influence of different substances acting on imidazoline receptors in cognitive disorders, behavioral disturbances and motor diseases pathways.

Aim: To investigate the effects of two imidazoline receptor antagonists on locomotor activity and endurance capacity in rats.

Hamsi scoring in the prediction of unfavorable outcomes from tuberculous meningitis: results of Haydarpasa-II study.

Predicting unfavorable outcome is of paramount importance in clinical decision making. Accordingly, we designed this multinational study, which provided the largest case series of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). 43 centers from 14 countries (Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria, Turkey) submitted data of microbiologically confirmed TBM patients hospitalized between 2000 and 2012.

Effects of two serotoninergic agents on the behavioral manifestations in rats.

Aim: To investigate the effects of two serotonin receptor antagonists on spontaneous behavior in rats.

Material And Method: The experiment was carried out on white male Wistar rats (150-200g) divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each, treated intraperitoneally with the same volume of solution as follows: Group I (Control): saline solution 0.1 ml/10 g weight; Group II (SB-269970): SB-269970 1 mg/kbw; Group III (NAN-190): NAN-190 1 mg/kbw.

Sertraline influence on morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.

Unlabelled: Serotonine reuptake inhibitors are an important pharmacological arsenal for treating major depression, a severe disease with poorly understood pathogenic mechanisms. Also, little is known about the action of antidepressants on reward system, the function of which is severely affected in this disorder.

Aim: To assess the influence of sertraline on brain reward system by conditioned place preference technique in rats.