Knowledge, attitude, and practices on four medicinal plants for oral health of oral medicine patients from a dental college in Manila

Background@#Medicinal plants are widely used for healthcare needs, including oral health. In the Philippines, garlic, guava, tsaang-gubat, and hierba buena, although primarily recognized as plants used for the treatment of systemic diseases, are indicated as analgesics for dental pain, treatment of gingival inflammation, and oral health maintenance. Despite studies focusing on the effectiveness of these plants for oral health, there is little to no research on the populace’s knowledge, attitude, and practices on these medicinal plants.@*Objectives@#The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Oral Medicine patients from a dental college in Manila on four medicinal plants (garlic, guava, tsaang-gubat, and hierba buena) for oral health.@*Methods@#A descriptive study design was used. Oral Medicine patients (694) were invited to participate in the study through daily text messages containing brief research details. The link to the three-part online questionnaire (Google Forms) was sent via text and Facebook messages, and was answerable within 15-20 minutes. @*Results@#Two hundred fourteen (214) Oral Medicine patients participated, with 147 (68.69%) having knowledge on using medicinal plants for oral health which they mostly knew through friends and acquaintances. Most participants had a generally positive attitude toward medicinal plants for oral health and believed they were beneficial (177, 82.71%), safe, effective, and cheaper than conventional medicine (175, 81.78%), and accessible (171, 79.91%). Only 64 (29.91%) personally used medicinal plants to address their oral health conditions. Garlic (144, 97.96%) was the most widely known and used, followed by guava (52, 35.37%), hierba buena (12, 8.16%), and tsaang-gubat (4, 2.72%).@*Conclusion@#Most participants were knowledgeable with a generally positive attitude toward the four medicinal plants for oral health but did not use these to address their oral health problems.

The Effects of White Tea (Camellia Sinensis) and Infliximab Against Cisplatin- Induced Testicular Damage via Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis / Efectos del Té Blanco (Camellia Sinensis) e Infliximab Contra el Daño Testicular Inducido por Cisplatino a Través del Estrés Oxidativo y la Apoptosis

SUMMARY: Cisplatin (Cis) is an important chemotherapeutic agent used in cancer treatment. Males exposed to Cis were reported to exhibit testicular toxicity. Cis-induced testicular toxicity is mediated by oxidative stress, inflammation, testosterone inhibition and apoptosis. Accordingly, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential protective roles of infliximab (IFX), which is an anti- TNF-a agent, and of white tea (Camellia sinensis), which is known to possess antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, against Cis-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Rats were randomly assigned into five groups as follows: control group, Cisplatin (7 mg/kg) treatment group, Cisplatin (7 mg/kg) + infliximab (7 mg/kg) treatment group, cisplatin + white tea (WT) treatment group, and Cisplatin+ WT+IFX combined treatment group. In the present study, Cis exposure reduced the sperm count. It also increased testicular oxidative stress as well as the levels of inflammatory and apoptotic markers. Histopathological assays supported the biochemical findings. Treatment with IFX and/or WT restored testicular histology, preserved spermatogenesis, suppressed oxidative stress and apoptosis, and significantly ameliorated Cis-induced damage. It was concluded that white tea and infliximab could potentially serve as therapeutic options for the protection of testicular tissue against the harmful effects of Cis.

El cisplatino (Cis) es un importante agente quimioterapéutico utilizado en el tratamiento del cáncer. Se informó que los hombres expuestos a Cis exhibieron toxicidad testicular. La toxicidad testicular inducida por Cis está mediada por el estrés oxidativo, la inflamación, la inhibición de la testosterona y la apoptosis. En consecuencia, este estudio se realizó para evaluar las posibles funciones protectoras de infliximab (IFX), un agente anti-TNF-α, y del té blanco (Camellia sinensis), conocido por sus propiedades antioxidantes, antiapoptóticas y anti-TNF-α -efectos inflamatorios, contra la toxicidad testicular inducida por Cis en ratas. Cinco grupos de ratas se asignaron al azar de la siguiente manera: grupo control, grupo de tratamiento con cisplatino (7 mg/ kg), grupo de tratamiento con cisplatino (7 mg/kg) + infliximab (7 mg/kg), grupo de tratamiento con cisplatino + té blanco (WT), y grupo de tratamiento combinado Cisplatino+ WT+IFX. En el presente estudio, la exposición a Cis redujo el conteo de espermatozoides. También aumentó el estrés oxidativo testicular, así como los niveles de marcadores inflamatorios y apoptóticos. Los ensayos histopatológicos respaldaron los hallazgos bioquímicos. El tratamiento con IFX y/o WT restauró la histología testicular, preservó la espermatogénesis, suprimió el estrés oxidativo y la apoptosis, y mejoró significativamente el daño inducido por Cis. Se concluyó que el té blanco y el infliximab podrían potencialmente servir como opciones terapéuticas para la protección del tejido testicular contra los efectos nocivos de Cis.

Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of Black Tea Extract Mouthrinse and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on Salivary Streptococcus Mutans Load

Background- Dental caries is one of the most frequent oral health problems. The present study shows the antibacterial effect of black tea extract on salivary Sterptococcus Mutans load. Materials & Methods- The study was conducted on 125 individuals. The differences in the Colony Forming Units and count-scores of S.mutans were analyzed in salivary samples collected from individuals before and after administration of 2% black tea extract mouth-rinse and chlorhexidine mouthwash(CM). Results- There was a statistical difference in mean salivary S. mutans colony count and mean count- score before and after administration of black tea extract mouth-rinse (p = 0.0003) and chlorhexidine mouthwash (p = 0.0002) respectively. Hence, it was found that there is no statistically significant difference in the fall of S.mutans load due to black tea mouth-rinse and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Conclusions- A 2% black tea extract mouth-rinse significantly reduces salivary S.mutans load, irrespective of age and gender. Also, it is an effective natural anti-cariogenic agent with no known implicated side effects.

Comparison of the effect of tea tree oil eye gel with standard treatment in patients with anterior blepharitis: An open-label clinical trial

Purpose: Daily cleansing of eyelids is very important to carry out a successful blepharitis treatment. However, there are no therapeutic guidelines for blepharitis. The aim was to compare the symptomatic relief of anterior blepharitis using Blephamed eye gel, a cosmetic product, versus standard treatment. Methods: The study was a prospective, interventional open label clinical trial at a university?based hospital. The test population was subjects aged 18–65 years who presented with mild to moderate anterior blepharitis. Eyelid hygiene was applied twice a day. At each visit, a detailed assessment of symptomatology was carried out. A two?way repeated measure mixed model ANOVA was used to compare two groups by time. Results: In total, 61 patients with mean age of 60.08 ± 16.69 years were enrolled in the study including 30 patients in standard group and 31 patients in Blephamed group. Two groups did not differ in terms of age (P = 0.31) and eye laterality (P = 0.50). The baseline scores of erythema, edema, debris, and symptoms as well as total score were similar between two groups (all P values >0.50). Two groups became different for all these parameters at day 45 (all P values <0.001). Significant interaction was detected between time and intervention groups for all severity parameters of blepharitis as well as total score (all P values <0.001). Conclusion: Eyelid hygiene with Blephamed more significantly decreased symptoms of anterior blepharitis compared to standard treatment.

Preferred practice patterns and review on rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory facial dermatosis commonly found in fair skin tone population. Recent studies have shown the increasing prevalence in the dark skin tone population as well. Ocular involvement is very common and can occur without cutaneous features. Common ocular features are chronic blepharoconjunctivitis with eyelid margin inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction. Corneal complications include corneal vascularization, ulceration, scarring, and rarely, perforation. Diagnosis is largely based on clinical signs, although it is often delayed in the absence of cutaneous changes, particularly in children. The management ranges from local therapy to systemic treatment, depending on the severity of the disease. There is a positive association between demodicosis and rosacea; however, causality is always argued. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment of rosacea and ocular rosacea.

Indian food habit & food ingredients may have a role in lowering the severity & high death rate from COVID-19 in Indians: findings from the first nutrigenomic analysis

Background & objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the death rate was reportedly 5-8 fold lower in India which is densely populated as compared to less populated western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary habits were associated with the variations in COVID-19 severity and deaths between western and Indian population at the nutrigenomics level. Methods: In this study nutrigenomics approach was applied. Blood transcriptome of severe COVID-19 patients from three western countries (showing high fatality) and two datasets from Indian patients were used. Gene set enrichment analyses were performed for pathways, metabolites, nutrients, etc., and compared for western and Indian samples to identify the food- and nutrient-related factors, which may be associated with COVID-19 severity. Data on the daily consumption of twelve key food componentsacross four countries were collected and a correlation between nutrigenomics analyses and per capita daily dietary intake was investigated. Results: Distinct dietary habits of Indians were observed, which may be associated with low death rate from COVID-19. Increased consumption of red meat, dairy products and processed foods by western populations may increase the severity and death rate by activating cytokine storm-related pathways, intussusceptive angiogenesis, hypercapnia and enhancing blood glucose levels due to high contents of sphingolipids, palmitic acid and byproducts such as CO2 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Palmitic acid also induces ACE2 expression and increases the infection rate. Coffee and alcohol that are highly consumed in western countries may increase the severity and death rates from COVID-19 by deregulating blood iron, zinc and triglyceride levels. The components of Indian diets maintain high iron and zinc concentrations in blood and rich fibre in their foods may prevent CO2 and LPS-mediated COVID-19 severity. Regular consumption of tea by Indians maintains high high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low triglyceride in blood as catechins in tea act as natural atorvastatin. Importantly, regular consumption of turmeric in daily food by Indians maintains strong immunity and curcumin in turmeric may prevent pathways and mechanisms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity and lowered the death rate. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results suggest that Indian food components suppress cytokine storm and various other severity related pathways of COVID-19 and may have a role in lowering severity and death rates from COVID-19 in India as compared to western populations. However, large multi-centered case?control studies are required to support our current findings.

Stability of Denture Base Acrylic Resin to Tea, Coffe and Turmeric Solutions: An in Vitro Study

Background: The color stability of commercially available denture base acrylic resins (Lucitone-199, DPI and Travelon-HI) was studied in vitro. Material & Methods: The specimens were exposed to tea, coffee and turmeric solutions at 37 ± 1 °C. Colour measurement of the specimens from each brand of denture base acrylic resin recorded by spectrophotometer. The specimens were washed under distilled water and dried before measuring the colour on 0, 10, 20 and 30 days of immersion and color differences were calculated. Results: Statistically the colour change was significant between and within the groups of different heat cure denture base acrylic resins. Conclusion: Where as Lucitone-199 heat cure showed the highest colour variation in tea and coffee followed by DPI and Travelon-HI.

GC-FID guided Identification and Quantification of detectable Phytochemicals in selected Commercial Chamomile Herbal Tea

Background and objective: Phytochemicals are plant-based bioactive ingredients found in tea, fruits, and vegetables with multiple health benefits. This study aimed to identify and quantify the detectable phytochemicals in selected products of chamomile herbal tea (CHT) using the Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) approach. Methods: Selected CHTs were coded as CHT-A to CHT-G. CHT-F was crude and unbranded however, CHT-G was an oil extract of CHT. Ethanolic extracts of CHT were analysed and quantified for their phytoconstituents using the GC-FID method. Results: Phytochemicals detected in their order of abundance in most CHTs were flavonoids > glycosides > alkaloids > steroids > anti-nutrients > saponins > tannins > resveratrol. The flavonoids comprised rutin > flavanone > flavone > anthocyanin > epicatechin > kaempferol > naringenin > proanthocyanin, etc. where the glycosides found in each CHT involved cardiac and cyanogenic glycosides. Alkaloids were highest in CHT-A as ribalinidine > spartein > lunamarin with ephedrine detected just in CHT-B, CHT-C, CHT-D, CHT-E and CHT-F. Saponins occurred in four samples mainly as sapogenin. Anti-nutrients were detected in each CHT and included the phytates and oxalates. Resveratrol was detected in three samples only. Conclusion: Most of the CHTs evaluated showed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, anti-nutrients, saponins, tannins and resveratrol.

Hibiscus Tea and its Therapeutic Potential in Weight Reduction: Integrative Review / Chá de Hibiscus e seu Potencial Terapêutico na Redução de Peso: Revisão Integrativa

The calyx of the Hibiscus plant are used in the form of an infusion in popular medicine with the purpose of contributing to the weight loss of its users. Therefore, the objective of this work was to verify in the literature the therapeutic potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa tea for weight loss. This is an integrative review done in the following databases: Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science. The final sample consisted of 6 articles. Half of the selected articles had the clear objective of evaluating weight loss, the others evaluated anti-metabolic and anti-stress properties, obesity-related adipogenesis and control of lipid indicators. In the selected studies, the most used part of the plant was the calyx, being fresh and dry. Factors such as the concentration and form of supply of the Hibiscus sabdariffa extract seem to be points to be taken into account in experiments that have food intake as an influence on the other variables. The studies brought evidence that Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts contribute to weight loss and to the suppression of weight gain in human and animal groups with metabolic disorders, without change for the healthy human/animal group. However, studies on the long-term maintenance of weight loss, once achieved, the efficacy and safety of its use, are still insufficient according to the collected evidence.(AU)

Os cálices da planta Hibiscus são utilizados na forma de infusão na medicina popular com o propósito de contribuir na perda ponderal de seus usuários. Diante disto, o trabalho teve como objetivo verificar na literatura o potencial terapêutico do chá de Hibiscus sabdariffa para a perda ponderal. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa realizada nas bases: Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science. A amostra final foi formada por 6 artigos. Metade dos artigos selecionados tinham como objetivo claro avaliar a perda de peso, os demais avaliavam as propriedades antimetabólicas e antiestresse, adipogênese relacionada à obesidade e controle dos indicadores lipídicos. Nos estudos selecionados, a parte da planta mais utilizada foi o cálice, sendo eles frescos e secos. Fatores como a concentração e a forma de fornecimento do extrato do Hibiscus sabdariffa parecem ser pontos a serem levados em consideração em experimentos que tenham a ingestão alimentar como influência sobre as demais variáveis. Os estudos trouxeram evidencias de que os extratos de Hibiscus sabdariffa contribuem para a perda de peso e para a supressão do ganho de peso em grupos humanos e animais com disfunções metabólicas, sem alteração para o grupo de humanos/animais saudáveis. No entanto, estudos sobre a manutenção a longo prazo da perda de peso, uma vez alcançada, a eficácia e segurança de seu uso, ainda são insuficientes de acordo com as evidências coletadas.(AU)

AN OVERVIEW OF NORTHEAST INDIA'S ECO-FRIENDLY TEA TOURISM

India's Northeastern region, which includes Sikkim and is comprised of eight states, is fairly unexplored. Tea tourism has recently gained prominence as a result of the region's ecologically diverse flora and fauna, varied topography, and ethnic groups, which have begun to attract both domestic and international tourists. Tea grown on eco-friendly plantations in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, and other tea-growing districts in the northeast is renowned across the world. Tea tourism is a viable concept of sustainable livelihood in the scenic locations of tea plantations in Assam and other states. Tocklai Tea Research Institute, a century-old heritage tea research institute located in Jorhat, Assam, has the potential to evolve into a tea tourist destination, allowing tea connoisseurs and the general public to witness the entire process of premium Assam tea production. The study examines sustainable tea tourism in Northeast India, as well as the region's potential for growth in tea tourism.

Study of lung function tests in tea garden factory workers in relation to duration of exposure to tea dust

Background: Occupational hazard is a common health problem in the world today. The tea industry is also no exception. Tea dust inhalation leads to development of many respiratory symptoms: Acute as well as chronic. Workers in the tea factory often are not aware of the ill effects of inhalation of tea dust. There is therefore a need to make them aware of their working environment and take necessary precautions to keep themselves healthy to earn their livelihood. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the pulmonary function tests (PFT) in tea garden factory workers and assess the outcome of exposure duration to tea dust in them. Materials and Methods: The study had been carried out on 210 male tea garden factory workers (cases) and 70 male field workers (control) employed in various tea gardens of Dibrugarh, in Assam. Computerized spirometer was used to evaluate PFTs. The cases were categorized into three categories (70 numbers in every category) according to their exposure duration, namely – Category 1: Exposure duration <1 year; Category 2: Exposure duration of 1–2 years; and Category 3: Exposure duration of >2 years up to 5 years. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA. Results: On comparing with control group values, statistically significant decline of forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume (FEV)1 values were seen in Category 1 while highly significant decline were seen for Categories 2 and 3. Decline of FEV1% in Category 3 was highly significant. Decline of peaked expiratory flow rate values in Category 2 and Category 3 was significant. Conclusion: Increase in exposure duration to tea dust causes a significant decline in lung functions.

Study of the pathological antibacterial effects of tea extract and its role in reducing hypertension in pregnant women

Aims@#Due to the world's direction of alternative medicine and herbal medication, tea leaves have been employed to inhibit certain bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of green, red and black tea as antibacterial against UTIs in pregnant women and changes in blood pressure and iron level in the blood of their women.@*Methodology and results@#Forty-eight isolates were isolated from 50 women suffering from urinary tract infections, Staphylococcus aureus (18) 37.5%, Escherichia coli (15) 31.25%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8) 16.6%, Klebsiella sp. (5) 10.4% and Enterobacter sp. (2) 4.16%. The sensitivity of bacteria to the antibiotics Amikacin, Amoxicillin/Clavulanic, Ampicillin/Sulbactam, Cefixime, Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Imipenem, Nitrofurantion, Penicillin and Tetracycline were tested, while E. coli and P. aeruginosa (8), Enterobacter sp. were resistance for Ceftriaxone and Amoxicillin /Clavulanic (100%). While Enterobacter sp. is sensitive to Nitrofurantoin and Imipenem (100%). The ability of the isolates to form biofilms was tested using the Congo red agar method and the micro titrations plate method. The results showed that not all isolates have the ability to produce biofilms and red tea is the most powerful antibacterial under study. Drinking green tea for two weeks regularly in pregnant women who suffer from high blood pressure showed an improvement in blood pressure, as it became normal 118/78 and with the normal iron level in the blood at a rate of hemoglobin = 11.8, while drinking red tea did not change blood pressure measurements in pregnant women with high blood pressure.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The effect of red tea extract was stronger than other teas used in the study as an antibacterial against urinary tract bacteria. Regular consumed of green tea helps regulate blood pressure, especially for pregnant women who are at risk of hypertension during pregnancy.

Expression of β-xylosidase An-xyl from Aspergillus niger and characterization of its xylose tolerance / 生物工程学报

The hydrolysis of xylo-oligosaccharides catalyzed by β-xylosidase plays an important role in the degradation of lignocellulose. However, the enzyme is easily inhibited by its catalytic product xylose, which severely limits its application. Based on molecular docking, this paper studied the xylose affinity of Aspergillus niger β-xylosidase An-xyl, which was significantly differentially expressed in the fermentation medium of tea stalks, through cloning, expression and characterization. The synergistic degradation effect of this enzyme and cellulase on lignocellulose in tea stems was investigated. Molecular docking showed that the affinity of An-xyl to xylose was lower than that of Aspergillus oryzae β-xylosidase with poor xylose tolerance. The Ki value of xylose inhibition constant of recombinant-expressed An-xyl was 433.2 mmol/L, higher than that of most β-xylosidases of the GH3 family. The Km and Vmax towards pNPX were 3.6 mmol/L and 10 000 μmol/(min·mL), respectively. The optimum temperature of An-xyl was 65 ℃, the optimum pH was 4.0, 61% of the An-xyl activity could be retained upon treatment at 65 ℃ for 300 min, and 80% of the An-xyl activity could be retained upon treatment at pH 2.0-8.0 for 24 h. The hydrolysis of tea stem by An-xyl and cellulase produced 19.3% and 38.6% higher reducing sugar content at 2 h and 4 h, respectively, than that of using cellulase alone. This study showed that the An-xyl mined from differential expression exhibited high xylose tolerance and higher catalytic activity and stability, and could hydrolyze tea stem lignocellulose synergistically, which enriched the resource of β-xylosidase with high xylose tolerance, thus may facilitate the advanced experimental research and its application.

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of green tea polyphenols by response surface methodology / 药学实践杂志

Objective To optimize the microwave-assisted extraction process of green tea polyphenols. Methods The extraction yield of tea polyphenols was figured up by building the standard curve of gallic acid and examining the concentration of tea polyphenols in green tea extract with the introduction of a correction factor. The effects of four single factor levels of microwave extraction time, microwave output power, liquid-to-material yield, and ethanol volume fraction on the extraction yield of tea polyphenols were primarily studied in this experiment. The response surface was applied to further optimize the extraction process of green tea polyphenols after exploring the appropriate range of four single factor levels. Results The optimal extraction process was as follows: extraction time 37 s, microwave output power 350 w, material - liquid yield 1∶45 (g/ml), ethanol volume fraction 55%, and the actual extraction yield of tea polyphenols was 25.65%, which was not much different from the theoretical value. Conclusion The microwave-assisted green tea polyphenol extraction process optimized by response surface methodology is time-saving and practicable, and the extraction yield is high.

Nutrient content of 122 kinds of retail handcrafted milk tea products in Shanghai / 环境与职业医学

Background The retail milk tea industry is in a period of rapid development, but there is little research on its nutrient content, which restricts the nutritional guidance of milk tea. Objective To determine the levels of nutrients in best-selling handcrafted milk tea in Shanghai and analyze the nutritional characteristics. Methods In 2018 and 2021, a total of 13 handcrafted milk tea brands with ≥3 branch stores in Shanghai were selected by searching for milk tea on Meituan and Ele.me food delivery platforms, and a total of 122 types of handcrafted milk tea products were collected from the top three sales [milk tea (including all sweetness levels available), milk cover tea, and fruit tea]. National standard methods were used to detect energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugar, trans fatty acid, calcium, caffeine, and tea polyphenol. Results The median energy of the milk tea samples was 310 kJ (per 100 g sample). The main sources of energy were carbohydrate and fat. The levels of energy, protein, and fat in milk cover tea and milk tea were significantly higher than those in fruit tea (P＜0.05), and there was no significant difference in carbohydrate among them. The total sugar, fructose, and glucose levels in milk tea were significantly lower than those in milk cover tea and fruit tea, and the lactose level in fruit tea was significantly lower than those in milk tea and milk cover tea (P＜0.05). Themedian trans fat acid level in milk cover tea was higher than that in milk tea (P＜0.05). The median levels of caffeine and tea polyphenol were higher in milk tea than in milk cover tea (P＜0.05). The levels of energy, carbohydrate, sucrose, total sugar, and calcium in milk tea were positively correlated with the number of ingredients added (0-3) (r=0.386, 0.371, 0.238, 0.698, 0.466, respectively, P < 0.05). The levels of energy, carbohydrate, and total sugar tended to increase with increasing sweetness (P<0.05), and total sugar was mainly sucrose, followed by fructose and glucose. The total sugar levels of the samples labeled sugar free, light sugar, half sugar, less sugar, and regular sugar were 3.40 (2.20, 4.9), 4.97 (4.25, 5.97), 5.80 (4.31, 6.88), 6.59 (5.17, 8.53), and 7.96 (6.82, 9.20) g, respectively; the proportions of the samples containing more than 0.5 g of total sugar were 93.3% for sugar free milk tea, 47.4% for light sugar milk tea, and 94.0% for regular sugar milk tea; the proportion of the regular sugar samples with sugar content greater than 10 g was 18.0% (all samples with nominal sugar content were measured per 100 g). Conclusion The retail handcrafted milk tea in Shanghai is characterized by high energy, high added sugar, high fat, and low protein. It is necessary to standardize the added sugar content and sweetness labeling, strengthen the nutrition education of milk tea, and guide residents to limit its intake.

Can green tea extract cause specific liver injury?——Discussion of the latest US guidelines on drug-induced liver injury / 临床肝胆病杂志

In recent years, the potential hepatotoxicity of green tea extract (GTE) has attracted more and more attention. With reference to the current studies on liver injury caused by GTE and the latest drug hepatotoxicity classification, this article systematically elaborates on the objectivity and causal mechanisms of liver injury caused by GTE. Based on the main risk factors for liver injury caused by GTE, this article also proposes recommendations for safe and rational use of such products, so as to provide valuable insights for in-depth research on the mechanism of liver injury caused by GTE and risk prevention and control, and meanwhile, it also provides an important reference for the therapeutic use of GTE to improve health conditions.

Reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk is associated with the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea: A multi-center observational study in Shanghai, China / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Omicron, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, is responsible for numerous infections in China. This study investigates the association between the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea (SFHT) and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to develop precise and differentiated strategies for control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).@*METHODS@#This case-control study was conducted at shelter hospitals and quarantine hotels in China. A total of 5348 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled between April 1 and May 31, 2022, while 2190 uninfected individuals served as healthy controls. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographics, underlying diseases, vaccination status, and use of SFHT. Patients were propensity-score-matched using 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching of the logit of the propensity score. Subsequently, a conditional logistic regression model was used for data analysis.@*RESULTS@#Overall, 7538 eligible subjects were recruited, with an average age of [45.54 ± 16.94] years. The age of COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than that of uninfected individuals ([48.25 ± 17.48] years vs [38.92 ± 13.41] years; t = 22.437, P < 0.001). A total of 2190 COVID-19 cases were matched with uninfected individuals at a 1:1 ratio. The use of SFHT (odds ratio = 0.753, 95% confidence interval: 0.692, 0.820) was associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to untreated individuals.@*CONCLUSION@#Our findings suggest that taking SFHT reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is a useful study in the larger picture of COVID-19 management, but data from large-sample multi-center, randomized clinical trial are warranted to confirm the finding. Please cite this article as: Zhang SX, Chen XX, Zheng Y, Cai BH, Shi W, Ru M, Li H, Zhang DD, Tian Y, Chen YL. Reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk is associated with the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea: A multi-center observational study in Shanghai, China. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):369-376.

Tea tree oil, a vibrant source of neuroprotection via neuroinflammation inhibition: a critical insight into repurposing Melaleuca alternifolia by unfolding its characteristics / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Over the past few decades, complementary and alternative treatments have become increasingly popular worldwide. The purported therapeutic characteristics of natural products have come under increased scrutiny both in vitro and in vivo as part of efforts to legitimize their usage. One such product is tea tree oil (TTO), a volatile essential oil primarily obtained from the native Australian plant, Melaleuca alternifolia, which has diverse traditional and industrial applications such as topical preparations for the treatment of skin infections. Its anti-inflammatory-linked immunomodulatory actions have also been reported. This systematic review focuses on the anti-inflammatory effects of TTO and its main components that have shown strong immunomodulatory potential. An extensive literature search was performed electronically for data curation on worldwide accepted scientific databases, such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and esteemed publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, Frontiers, and Taylor & Francis. Considering that the majority of pharmacological studies were conducted on crude oils only, the extracted data were critically analyzed to gain further insight into the prospects of TTO being used as a neuroprotective agent by drug formulation or dietary supplement. In addition, the active constituents contributing to the activity of TTO have not been well justified, and the core mechanisms need to be unveiled especially for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects leading to neuroprotection. Therefore, this review attempts to correlate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of TTO with its neuroprotective mechanisms.

ASD and ADHD in children: a preliminary study / TEA e TDAH em crianças: um estudo preliminar / TEA y TDAH en niños: un estudio preliminar

Early detection of ADHD symptoms in autistic children can significantly impact the course and prognosis of the disorder. The present study aimed to screen the symptoms of ADHD in autistic children using the Brazilian version of Swanson, Nolan and Pelham rating scale ­ 4th (SNAP-IV) applied to 72 parents of children diagnosed with ASD, as well as to assess whether there was a significant difference between children who used words to communicate of those who did not speak any words. The findings revealed a significant frequency in the pre-sentation of symptoms of inattention and of hyperactivity and / or impulsivity, when comparing children who had diagnosis of ASD, but who did not have the symptoms of ADHD. Regarding language, no significant differences were found in this preliminary study. In general, this finding can be considered clinically worrying, especially when considering that the subclinical symptoms of ADHD may overlap in possible interventions

A detecção precoce dos sintomas de TDAH em crianças com autismo pode impactar significativamente o curso e o prognóstico do transtorno. O presente estudo teve como objetivo rastrear os sintomas de TDAH em crianças autistas usando a versão brasileira do Questionário de Swanson, Nolan e Pelham versão IV (SNAP-IV) aplicada em 72 pais de crianças com diagnóstico de TEA, bem como avaliar se havia diferença significativa entre as crianças que usavam palavras para se comunicar daqueles que não falavam palavra alguma. Os achados revelaram alta frequência na apresentação dos sintomas de desatenção e de hiperatividade e/ou impulsividade, ao comparar crianças que tinham diagnóstico de TEA, mas que não apresentavam os sintomas de TDAH. Em relação à linguagem, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas neste estudo preliminar. Em geral, a alta frequência dos sintomas do TDAH clinicamente preocupante, principalmente quando se considera que os sintomas subclínicos do TDAH podem se sobrepor em possíveis intervenções

La detección temprana de los síntomas del TDAH en niños con autismo puede afectar significativamente el curso y el pronóstico del trastorno. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los síntomas del TDAH en niños con autismo utilizando la escala SNAP-IV de la versión brasileña aplicada a 72 padres de niños diagnosticados con TEA, así como evaluar si había una diferencia significativa entre los niños que usaban palabras para comunicarse los que no dijeron ninguna palabra. Los hallazgos revelaron frecuencia significativa en la presentación de síntomas de inatención y de hiperactividad y/o impulsividad, al comparar niños que tenían el diagnóstico del TEA, pero que no presentaba los síntomas del TDAH. En cuanto al lenguaje, no se encontraron diferencias significativas. En general, este hallazgo puede considerarse clínicamente preocupante, especialmente si se considera que los síntomas subclínicos del TDAH pueden superponerse en posibles intervenciones

A severe case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria imported by a French traveler from Cameroon to French Guiana despite regular intake of Artemisia annua herbal tea

ABSTRACT The use of herbal tea with Artemisia annua by travelers and traditional communities in Africa has increased in recent years as a supposed form of malaria prophylaxis, although its use is not recommended due to lack of efficacy. The risk of severe malaria complications that can lead to death is real regarding said behavior, and awareness needs to be raised. We report a case of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria imported in the Amazon rainforest by a traveler returning from Cameroon who treated himself with Artemisia annua herbal tea.