Chloroquinolone Carboxamide Derivatives as New Anti-HSV-1 Promising Drugs.

BACKGROUND: Since the emergence of HSV resistant strains, new antiviral agents have emerged and still are urgently needed, especially those with alternative targets. OBJECTIVE: In this work, we evaluated new quinolone derivatives as anti-HSV. METHODS: For this study, cells were infected and treated with different components to evaluate the profile of HSV replication in vitro. In addition, studies were performed to determine the pharmacokinetic toxicity and profile of the compound. RESULTS: Indeed the EC50 values of these promising molecules ranged between 8 µM and 32 µM. We have also showed that all compounds inhibited the expression of ICP27 viral proteins, which gives new insights in the search for new target for antiherpetic therapy. Chlorine in positions C6 and phosphonate in position C1 have shown to be important for viral inhibition. The chloroquinolone carboxamide derivatives fulfilled "Lipinsky Rule of Five" for good oral bioavailability and showed higher intestinal absorption and blood brain barrier penetration, as well as lower toxicity profile. CONCLUSION: Although the inhibition activities of chloroquinolone carboxamide derivatives were lower than acyclovir, they showed different modes of action in comparison to the drugs currently available. These findings encourage us to continue pre-clinical studies for the development of new anti-HSV-1 agents.

A Systematic Review on Processed/Ultra-Processed Foods and Arterial Hypertension in Adults and Older People.

The increase in the availability of processed and ultra-processed foods has altered the eating patterns of populations, and these foods constitute an exposure factor for the development of arterial hypertension. This systematic review analyzed evidence of the association between consumption of processed/ultra-processed foods and arterial hypertension in adults and older people. Electronic searches for relevant articles were performed in the PUBMED, EMBASE and LILACS databases. The review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The search of the databases led to the retrieval of 2323 articles, eight of which were included in the review. A positive association was found between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and blood pressure/arterial hypertension, whereas insufficient evidence was found for the association between the consumption of processed foods and arterial hypertension. The results reveal the high consumption of ultra-processed foods in developed and middle-income countries, warning of the health risks of such foods, which have a high energy density and are rich in salt, sugar and fat. The findings underscore the urgent need for the adoption of measures that exert a positive impact on the quality of life of populations, especially those at greater risk, such as adults and older people.