Effect of phthalocyanine oral and nasal antiseptic solutions on the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In individuals with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load (VL) plays an important role in infectivity. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the reduction in the VL and infectivity induced by phthalocyanine mouthwash and nasal spray in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Patients with mild COVID-19 were recruited to participate in a triple-blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1, non-active mouthwash and saline nasal spray (SNS); Group 2, phthalocyanine mouthwash and SNS; and Group 3 phthalocyanine mouthwash and phthalocyanine nasal spray. VL was assessed in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs collected at the time of clinical diagnosis at baseline as well as 24 and 72 hours after starting the rinsing protocols. Findings: Forty-six participants were included in the analysis: 15, 16, and 15 in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. After 72 hours, the reduction in VL was significantly higher in Group 3 (mean cycle threshold (Ct) decrease: 11.21) than in Group 1 (mean Ct decrease: 5.53). Additionally, only the mean VL in Group 3 was reduced to a non-contagious level after 72 hours. Main conclusions: Use of phthalocyanine mouthwash and nasal spray is effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

Beneficial effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on glycemia and homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in postmenopausal women is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity, especially stroke and coronary heart disease and mortality. Preventing and treating MetS would be useful in preventing disability and promoting normal aging. Previous human studies have found some beneficial effects of Lactobacillus species on some isolated parameters of MetS. Nevertheless, we are not aware, to date, of any study which has verified the influence of probiotics in patients with MetS. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of fermented milk with L. plantarum in the classical parameters related to MetS, as well as in other parameters related to cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-four individuals were paired by age, ethnicity, and body mass index in two groups: Non-fermented milk (NFM = 12) 80 mL/d and fermented milk (FM = 12) 80 mL/d. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, biochemical, inflammatory, and immunologic biomarkers were measured. RESULTS: Total cholesterol and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase had a significant reduction both in NFM (P = 0.043 and P = 0.036, respectively) and FM groups (P = 0.010 and P = 0.018, respectively) after 90 d, whereas low-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a significant reduction in NFM group (P = 0.002) and trend in the FM group (P = 0.092). Glucose and homocysteine levels showed a significant reduction in the FM group compared with the NFM group (P = 0.037 and P = 0.019, respectively). In relation to inflammatory biomarkers, there was a significant decrease in interleukin-6 both in NFM (P = 0.032) and in FM (P = 0.001) groups. CONCLUSION: FM with L. plantarum showed more favorable results than NFM in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women with MetS.