Attractive targeted sugar bait phase III trials in Kenya, Mali, and Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) target night-time indoor biting mosquitoes and effectively reduce malaria transmission in rural settings across Africa, but additional vector control tools are needed to interrupt transmission. Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) attract and kill mosquitoes, including those biting outdoors. Deployment of ATSBs incorporating the insecticide dinotefuran was associated with major reductions in mosquito density and longevity in Mali. The impact of this promising intervention on malaria transmission and morbidity now needs to be determined in a range of transmission settings. METHODS/DESIGN: We will conduct three similar stand-alone, open-label, two-arm, cluster-randomized, controlled trials (cRCTs) in Mali, Kenya, and Zambia to determine the impact of ATSB + universal vector control versus universal vector control alone on clinical malaria. The trials will use a "fried-egg" design, with primary outcomes measured in the core area of each cluster to reduce spill-over effects. All household structures in the ATSB clusters will receive two ATSBs, but the impact will be measured in the core of clusters. Restricted randomization will be used. The primary outcome is clinical malaria incidence among children aged 5-14 years in Mali and 1-14 years in Kenya and Zambia. A key secondary outcome is malaria parasite prevalence across all ages. The trials will include 76 clusters (38 per arm) in Mali and 70 (35 per arm) in each of Kenya and Zambia. The trials are powered to detect a 30% reduction in clinical malaria, requiring a total of 3850 person-years of follow-up in Mali, 1260 person-years in Kenya, and 1610 person-years in Zambia. These sample sizes will be ascertained using two seasonal 8-month cohorts in Mali and two 6-month seasonal cohorts in Zambia. In Kenya, which has year-round transmission, four 6-month cohorts will be used (total 24 months of follow-up). The design allows for one interim analysis in Mali and Zambia and two in Kenya. DISCUSSION: Strengths of the design include the use of multiple study sites with different transmission patterns and a range of vectors to improve external validity, a large number of clusters within each trial site, restricted randomization, between-cluster separation to minimize contamination between study arms, and an adaptive trial design. Noted threats to internal validity include open-label design, risk of contamination between study arms, risk of imbalance of covariates across study arms, variation in durability of ATSB stations, and potential disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Zambia: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04800055 . Registered on March 15, 2021 Mali: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04149119 . Registered on November 4, 2019 Kenya: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05219565 . Registered on February 2, 2022.

Changes in Food Consumption Trends among American Adults since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The quality and quantity of food consumption have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the consumption of different food groups in order to close the research gap by providing current evidence that reflects a later stage of the pandemic compared to other circulating research conducted at earlier stages. Data collection for this cross-sectional study was performed via an online Qualtrics survey from 10,050 adults aged 40-100 years. Nutritional status was measured using the 24-item short-form Dietary Screening Tool (DST) twice: before and since the COVID-19 pandemic. The DST questions were categorized based on MyPlate items, along with fat, sugar, and sweet items, as well as nutritional supplement intake. In addition, the total DST score was calculated for each participant, which categorized them into one of three groups: "at risk", "possible risk", and "not at risk". The results revealed that the consumption of grains, fruit, lean protein, and dairy decreased significantly, while the consumption of fat, sugar, and sweet items increased significantly due to COVID-19. The biggest decreases in consumption of food subcategories were related to whole grain bread and cereal, followed by fruit as a snack, in comparison with other types of grain and fruit. No changes in the consumption of vegetables, processed meat, or supplement intake were seen. The total DST score showed that, before and since COVID-19, the overall nutrition status of adult Americans has been at risk. In addition, of those participants who were not at risk before COVID-19, 28.5% were either at risk or at possible risk since COVID-19; moreover, of those participants who were at possible risk before COVID-19, 21% were at risk since COVID-19. As a good nutritional status can reduce the risk of severe illness or even mortality rate in times of crisis, the findings of this study can help policymakers and health educators to develop heath-protecting behavior sessions against future pandemics to manage crises.

Characterization and protein engineering of glycosyltransferases for the biosynthesis of diverse hepatoprotective cycloartane-type saponins in Astragalus membranaceus.

Although plant secondary metabolites are important source of new drugs, obtaining these compounds is challenging due to their high structural diversity and low abundance. The roots of Astragalus membranaceus are a popular herbal medicine worldwide. It contains a series of cycloartane-type saponins (astragalosides) as hepatoprotective and antivirus components. However, astragalosides exhibit complex sugar substitution patterns which hindered their purification and bioactivity investigation. In this work, glycosyltransferases (GT) from A. membranaceus were studied to synthesize structurally diverse astragalosides. Three new GTs, AmGT1/5 and AmGT9, were characterized as 3-O-glycosyltransferase and 25-O-glycosyltransferase of cycloastragenol respectively. AmGT1G146V/I variants were obtained as specific 3-O-xylosyltransferases by sequence alignment, molecular modelling and site-directed mutagenesis. A combinatorial synthesis system was established using AmGT1/5/9, AmGT1G146V/S and the reported AmGT8 and AmGT8A394F . The system allowed the synthesis of 13 astragalosides in Astragalus root with conversion rates from 22.6% to 98.7%, covering most of the sugar-substitution patterns for astragalosides. In addition, AmGT1 exhibited remarkable sugar donor promiscuity to use 10 different donors, and was used to synthesize three novel astragalosides and ginsenosides. Glycosylation remarkably improved the hepatoprotective and SARS-CoV-2 inhibition activities for triterpenoids. This is one of the first attempts to produce a series of herbal constituents via combinatorial synthesis. The results provided new biocatalytic tools for saponin biosynthesis.

Emotional Eating and Changes in High-Sugar Food and Drink Consumption Linked to Psychological Distress and Worries: A Cohort Study from Norway.

Psychological distress is linked to unhealthy eating behaviors such as emotional eating and consumption of high-sugar food and drinks. Cross-sectional studies from early in the COVID-19 pandemic showed a high occurrence of worries and psychological distress, and this was associated with emotional eating. Few larger studies have examined how this coping pattern develops over time. This cohort study with 24,968 participants assessed changes over time in emotional eating, consumption of sugary foods as an example of unhealthy food choices, and consumption of fruits and vegetables as an example of healthy food choices. Further, associations between these and psychological distress, worries, and socio-demographic factors were assessed. Data were collected at three time points (April 2020, initially in the COVID-19 pandemic, then one and two years later). Emotional eating and intake of sugary foods and drinks were high at the start of the pandemic, followed by a reduction over time. High psychological distress was strongly associated with higher levels of emotional eating and high-sugar food intake, and lower levels of healthy eating habits. The strength of this association reduced over time. Our findings indicate the high frequency in unhealthy food choices seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic improved over time.

Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption during Covid-19 pandemic among office workers in semi-urban area in southern Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

Background: During COVID-19 pandemic, office worker has spent more than 6-8 hours per day sitting for online working following social distancing policy. Considering the popularity of online ordering and home delivery services, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption have increased. However, the link between the types SSB consumption and their BMI was less well documented. Objective: To determine the association of the habitual intake (type, frequency, and volume) of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) with body mass index (BMI). Material and methods: A cross-sectional study, 337 office workers were selected according to probability proportionto-size and systematic random sampling. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews on the type, frequency, and volume of sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Samples of sugar-containing beverages were analyzed using high-throughput liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The chi-square test was used to determine the relationship of SSB consumption with BMI. Unadjusted binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations between BMI and metabolic diseases. Results: Most respondents (56.1%) were overweight (BMI >23 kg/m2). The most consumed SSB was milk tea (e.g., Thai tea and green tea), which was significantly related with BMI (p=0.03). LC-MS/MS analysis showed that sucrose and lactose were the major sugars in milk tea (34.7 g/100mL, on average). 70.6% of the respondents consumed >24 g/day of sugar, which is more than the World Health Organization's recommendation. Conclusions: Health control policies and health education, for example warning labels for the reduction of SSB consumption, may urgently be required to promote health in workplaces and prevent SSB-related metabolic diseases.

Nutrient Content and Compliance with Sodium Standards in Elementary School Meals in the United States Pre- and Post-COVID-19.

Various federal policies have weakened school meal nutrition standards in the United States since the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, including temporary school meal nutrition waivers to promote post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery. This study used school menu and nutrient data from a nationally representative sample of 128 elementary school districts to examine differences in nutrients (average calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, total sugar, and fiber) and alignment with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sodium targets in 2019 (pre-pandemic) and in 2022 (post-pandemic). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance accounting for repeated measures within school districts, adjusting for geographic region and urbanicity. Small differences in the nutrient content for both breakfast and lunch were observed between 2019 and 2022. Most weeks met USDA sodium Target 1 for breakfast (≥95% of weeks) and Target 1 (≥96% of weeks) and Target 1A for lunch (≥92% of weeks) in both 2019 and 2022, although compliance decreased slightly when condiments were included. Additionally, meals provided on average 57 g of total sugar. Overall, many meals are already in alignment with lower sodium targets. Simple strategies, such as offering lower sodium condiments, can further reduce sodium in school meals. The total sugar levels observed highlight that the USDA should consider limits on added sugars in school meals.

Novel RT-PCR Using Sugar Chain-Immobilized Gold-Nanoparticles Correlates Patients' Symptoms: The Follow-Up Study of COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients.

Background: The transmissible capacity and toxicity of SARS-CoV-2 variants are continually changing. We report here the follow-up study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 2020 to 2022. It is known that the PCR diagnosis for hospitalized patients sometimes causes confusion because of the incompatibility between their diagnosis and symptoms. We applied our sugar chain-immobilized gold-nanoparticles for the extraction and partial purification of RNA from specimens for quantitative RT-PCR assay and evaluated whether the results correlate with patients' symptoms. Methods and Results: Saliva specimens were taken from hospitalized patients with mild or moderate symptoms every early morning. At the time of RT-PCR diagnosis, two methods for the extraction and partial purification of RNA from the specimen were performed: a commonly used Boom (Qiagen) method and our original sugar chain-immobilized gold nanoparticle (SGNP) method. For symptoms, body temperature and oxygen saturation (SpO2) of patients were monitored every 4 h. Conclusions: It was clear that patients infected with the Delta variant needed more time to recover than those with the Omicron variant, and that the SGNP method showed more realistic correlation with the symptoms of patients compared with the common Qiagen method.

Biological Efficacy of Compounds from Stingless Honey and Sting Honey against Two Pathogenic Bacteria: An In Vitro and In Silico Study.

Honey inhibits bacterial growth due to the high sugar concentration, hydrogen peroxide generation, and proteinaceous compounds present in it. In this study, the antibacterial activity of stingless and sting honey against foodborne pathogenic bacteria isolated from spoiled milk samples was examined. The isolated bacterial strains were confirmed as Bacillus cereus and Listeriamonocytogenes through morphological, biochemical, and 16 s RNA analysis. Physiochemical characterizations of the honey samples revealed that both of the honey samples had an acidic pH, low water content, moderate reducing sugar content, and higher proline content. Through the disc diffusion method, the antibacterial activities of the samples were assayed and better results were observed for the 50 mg/disc honey. Both stingless and sting honey showed the most positive efficacy against Bacillus cereus. Therefore, an in silico study was conducted against this bacterium with some common compounds of honey. From several retrieved constituents of stingless and sting honey, 2,4-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl 3(2H)-furan-3-one (furan) and 4H-pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro of both samples and beta.-D-glucopyranose from the stingless revealed high ligand-protein binding efficiencies for the target protein (6d5z, hemolysin II). The root-mean-square deviation, solvent-accessible surface area, the radius of gyration, root-mean-square fluctuations, and hydrogen bonds were used to ensure the binding stability of the docked complexes in the atomistic simulation and confirmed their stability. The combined effort of wet and dry lab-based work support, to some extent, that the antimicrobial properties of honey have great potential for application in medicine as well as in the food industries.

University Students Eating Habits: Normal Semester vs. Lockdown Period Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, university students' eating habits may change due to the stress caused by mandatory full lockdown and social isolation, as well as uncertainty about their academic future. An analysis of 332 Portuguese university students from different areas of study was carried out through an online questionnaire to verify if the lockdown period caused by COVID-19 had any influence on the students' eating habits, as well as if this differed among students from health sciences courses and those from other areas. We found that, compared to a normal semester of classes, during the lockdown period, healthier eating habits were adopted, characterized by a decrease in meal delivery platforms used, self-reported consumption of fast-food, pre-cooked meals, foods rich in sugar and salt, and sugar-sweetened and alcoholic beverages, as well as increased self-reported consumption of vegetables, fruit and legumes, and physical exercise. Thus, although the lockdown led to stress and uncertainty, university students were able to take care of their eating habits and lifestyle, probably as a way of feeling stronger and safer against this disease.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dietary Habits and Sleep Quality Applying the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in Adult Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The study aimed to evaluate the possible correlations between sleep quality and dietary habits in a population of Saudi during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exactly 444 adults completed a web-based cross-sectional study using an electronic questionnaire. Results indicate a significant difference between body mass index (BMI) and bad sleep quality. Smoking is linked to bad sleep quality. Both genders affected by coronavirus had a substantially bad quality compared to non-affected. An association between the degree of craving for sugar and bad sleep quality was found. In addition, there was a statistical difference between males and females who crave sugar very often in bad sleep quality. The result of sleep latency in males was 35.83%, who suffered from a severe sleep disorder, while 41.18% were female. The sleep duration was 65.00%, and 53.90% of males and females slept between 6 and 7 h per day. Sleep efficiency, measured according to the Pittsburgh questionnaire protocol, was measured in percentages, where a value of less than 65.00% is considered the lowest sleep efficiency. Females had a lower sleep efficiency of 25.49% compared to males (13.33%). These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.03). In conclusion, quality and sleep duration were impaired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the observed changes were associated with diet.

Sugary Beverage Advertising to Black and Hispanic Youth in the United States: A Call for Action.

The obesity epidemic remains a major public health issue worldwide, and it is pronounced in the United States. As rates of obesity continue to increase, children now experience obesity at younger ages, which predisposes them to early-onset obesity-related diseases. Of note, Black and Hispanic children experience obesity at higher rates compared with their White counterparts. Although there are many factors that contribute to higher rates of obesity, the increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is one such contributor. Despite the dire state of obesity in these populations, sugar-sweetened beverage companies continue to increase their advertisements to Black and Hispanic children, which can negatively influence the childhood obesity epidemic. This article discusses the effect that sugar-sweetened beverages and their advertisements have on children in underrepresented communities. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51(9):e370-e372.].

Economical gold recovery cycle from bio-sensing AuNPs: an application for nanowaste and COVID-19 testing kits.

We report the controlled growth of biologically active compounds: gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in various shapes, including their green synthesis, characterization, and studies of their applications towards biological, degradation and recycling. Using spectroscopic methods, studies on responsive binding mechanisms of AuNPs with biopolymers herring sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (hsDNA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), dyes degradation study, and exquisitely gold separation studies/recovery from nanowaste, COVID-19 testing kits, and pregnancy testing kits are discussed. The sensing ability of the AuNPs with biopolymers was investigated via various analytical techniques. The rate of degradation of various dyes in the presence and absence of AuNPs was studied by deploying stirring, IR, solar, and UV-Vis methods. AuNPs were found to be the most active cytotoxic agent against human breast cancer cell lines such as MCF-7 and MDAMB-468. Furthermore, an economical process for the recovery of gold traces from nanowaste, COVID-19 detection kits, and pregnancy testing kits was developed using inexpensive and eco-friendly α-cyclodextrin sugar. This method was found to be easy and safest in comparison with the universally accepted cyanidation process. In the future, small gold jewelry makers and related industries would benefit from the proposed gold-recycling process and it might contribute to their socio-economic growth. The methodologies proposed are also beneficial for trace-level forensic investigation.

Substantial Increase in Transactional Sex and HIV Risk Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in Botswana.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting public health response has disrupted the lives of adolescents and their families worldwide. We evaluated the impact of the pandemic on attitudes, beliefs, and sexual risk behavior among adolescents in Botswana. Participants were recruited using household-based sampling across residential districts (blocks) in and around Gaborone, Botswana, and completed surveys on laptop computers at a private, central location. We compared baseline survey data from 380 adolescents who completed the survey pre-pandemic (n = 139) to those who completed the survey intra-pandemic (n = 241). Participants had a mean age of 15.2 years; 58.6% were girls and 41.4% were boys. Intra-pandemic, participants reported greater engagement in transactional sex (38.1% compared to 13.6% pre-pandemic, p <. 05), more favorable attitudes toward transactional sex with sugar daddies and sugar mommies (p <. 05), greater intentions to remain sexually active in the future (29.2% vs.13.6%, respectively, p <.05), and lower self-efficacy in handling risky sexual situations (p < .01). Public health interventions that lessen these concerning shifts in attitudes and behaviors will be key to protecting the sexual health of adolescents and to supporting their safe transition to adulthood.

The 'sugar tax' in Bermuda: a mixed methods study of general population and key stakeholder perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Taxes on discretionary foods and sugar-sweetened beverages have emerged as a strategy for health promotion. Between 2018-2019, the Bermuda government introduced a phased tax on imported sugar-sweetened beverages, confectionery, products containing cocoa and pure sugar, and eliminated import duties on select healthy food items. The aim of this study was to conduct an mixed methods evaluation of perceptions of the tax among the general population and key stakeholders. METHODS: We conducted a survey of the general population (N = 400), and semi-structured interviews with key informants (N = 14) from the government, food and beverage, and health sectors to understand awareness, acceptability, and perceived impact of the tax after implementation. Survey data was analysed using thematic analysis, summary statistics, and Chi-squared tests. Key informant interviews were analysed using the framework method. RESULTS: General population respondents had high awareness of the sugar tax (94%) but low awareness of the healthy food subsidy (32%). Most respondents (67%) felt the tax was not an appropriate way to motivate healthier consumption due to beliefs the tax would not be effective (44%), and because of the high price of healthy food (20%). However, nearly half (48%) reported consuming fewer taxed products, primarily for health reasons but also motivated by price increases. Key informants indicated there was high awareness but limited understanding of the tax policy. Informants expressed support for taxation as a health promotion strategy, conditional on policy implementation. The lack of clear price differentiation between taxed and un-taxed products and the absence of accompanying health education were key factors believed to affect the impact of the tax. No informants were aware of use of tax revenues for health purposes and tax revenue was reportedly re-directed to other priorities after implementation. CONCLUSIONS: There was high awareness, but limited acceptability of the Bermuda sugar tax as implemented. Clarity in the tax policy, appropriateness of the tax mechanism, and use of revenue in alignment with the tax aim are critical components for acceptance. The absence of complementary education and health promotion affected acceptance and may limit potential health impacts. The lessons learned in Bermuda can inform similar policies in other settings.

Sugar is not always sweet: exploring the relationship between hyperglycemia and COVID-19 in a predominantly African American population.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of admission glucose in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with and without diabetes mellitus in a largely African American cohort. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study included 708 adults (89% non-Hispanic Black) admitted with COVID-19 to an urban hospital between 1 March and 15 May 2020. Patients with diabetes were compared with those without and were stratified based on admission glucose of 140 and 180 mg/dL. Adjusted ORs were calculated for outcomes of mortality, intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, acute kidney injury (AKI), and length of stay based on admission glucose levels. RESULTS: Patients with diabetes with admission glucose >140 mg/dL (vs <140 g/dL) had 2.4-fold increased odds of intubation (95% CI 1.2 to 4.6) and 2.1-fold increased odds of ICU admission (95% CI 1.0 to 4.3). Patients with diabetes with admission glucose >180 mg/dL (vs <180 g/dL) had a 1.9-fold increased mortality (95% CI 1.2 to 3.1). Patients without diabetes with admission glucose >140 mg/dL had a 2.3-fold increased mortality (95% CI 1.3 to 4.3), 2.7-fold increased odds of ICU admission (95% CI 1.3 to 5.4), 1.9-fold increased odds of intubation (95% CI 1.0 to 3.7) and 2.2-fold odds of AKI (95% CI 1.1 to 3.8). Patients without diabetes with glucose >180 mg/dL had 4.4-fold increased odds of mortality (95% CI 1.9 to 10.4), 2.7-fold increased odds of intubation (95% CI 1.2 to 5.8) and 3-fold increased odds of ICU admission (95% CI 1.3 to 6.6). CONCLUSION: Our results show hyperglycemia portends worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 with and without diabetes. While our study was limited by its retrospective design, our findings suggest that patients presenting with hyperglycemia require closer observation and more aggressive therapies.

Evaluation of Parental Acceptability and Use of Intervention Components to Reduce Pre-School Children's Intake of Sugar-Rich Food and Drinks.

Knowledge is needed about effective tools that reach public health objectives focused on reducing the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks. The purpose of this study was to assess the parental acceptability, use and motivational potential of intervention components developed in the randomized family-based trial 'Are you too sweet?' aimed at reducing the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks among children (5-7 y). Intervention components included guidance on sugar-rich foods and drinks at a school health nurse consultation, a box with home-use materials and a digital platform. The methods used were a questionnaire among intervention families (n = 83) and semi-structured interviews with parents in selected intervention families (n = 24). Results showed the good acceptability and usefulness of the components, with reported frequencies of use of materials ranging from 48% to 94% and a high satisfaction rate with the school health nurse consultation. Personalized feedback and guidance from the school health nurse seemed to be a motivational trigger, and components that were compatible with existing practices were most frequently used. However, the components were not considered engaging by all families. Overall, intervention components were well received and hold the potential for enhancing parental knowledge and parenting practices regarding limiting the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks.

Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in Brazil: past, present, and future.

Increasing rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental caries) are positively associated with the consumption of added sugars, particularly in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Governments worldwide have implemented SSB taxes to reduce the consumption of sugars added to beverages to reduce the prevalence of NCDs. There is a tax on manufactured products, including SSBs in Brazil. However, in 2016 and 2018, the Brazilian federal government decreased the tax rate, bucking global trends. The SSB industry has criticised such policies, and current tax levels are too low to reduce consumption sufficiently to prevent harm. Research supports positive public health impact potential for a higher SSB tax in Brazil. Sharing experience among countries and complementary policies (nutrition education and front of pack labelling) could increase the positive impacts of an SSB tax. We describe the history of SSB taxes in Brazil and the rationale it provides for specific SSB taxes across the country.

Synthesis of Sugar and Nucleoside Analogs and Evaluation of Their Anticancer and Analgesic Potentials.

Chemical modification of sugars and nucleosides has a long history of producing compounds with improved selectivity and efficacy. In this study, several modified sugars (2-3) and ribonucleoside analogs (4-8) have been synthesized from α-d-glucose in a total of 21 steps. The compounds were tested for peripheral anti-nociceptive characteristics in the acetic acid-induced writhing assay in mice, where compounds 2, 7, and 8 showed a significant reduction in the number of writhes by 56%, 62%, and 63%, respectively. The compounds were also tested for their cytotoxic potential against human HeLa cell line via trypan blue dye exclusion test followed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Compound 6 demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value of 54 µg/mL. Molecular docking simulations revealed that compounds 2, 7, and 8 had a comparable binding affinity to cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. Additionally, the bridged nucleoside analogs 7 and 8 potently inhibited adenosine kinase enzyme as well, which indicates an alternate mechanistic pathway behind their anti-nociceptive action. Cytotoxic compound 6 demonstrated strong docking with cancer drug targets human cytidine deaminase, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, human thymidine kinase 1, human thymidylate synthase, and human adenosine deaminase 2. This is the first ever reporting of the synthesis and analgesic property of compound 8 and the cytotoxic potential of compound 6.

Too much sugar does not just make us fat; it can also make us sick.

The post-COVID-19 care era is likely to see a burgeoning of metabolic dysfunction and chronic kidney disease. Attention to self-care, including nutrition, will underpin the management of those affected. The damaging effects of sugar-sweetened beverages are well documented and profound and counter many accepted medical treatments. Government leadership is urgently required with explicit and strong messaging to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages.