Assessment of the levels of some prognostic biomolecules (galectins, ACE2, SCUBE1/2/3) in COVID-19 patients.

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the differences between healthy people and COVID-19 patients in terms of some immunological biomolecules, especially including those related to the inflammation process. Materials & methods: A total of 180 participants (90 healthy controls and 90 COVID-19 patients) were included. The expression levels of eight different inflammation-related biomolecules were measured by the ELISA technique. Results: The mean levels of ACE2, ANG1-7, GAL3, GAL9, SCUBE1, SCUBE2 and SCUBE3 were elevated in COVID-19 patients when compared with healthy controls, while the mean level of GAL2 was lower in COVID-19 patients than controls. Conclusion: To understand the cytokine storm mechanism and related parameters, more detailed studies should be performed investigating more related biomolecules and related signaling pathways.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in 10,000 samples from 7853 patients in Eastern Turkey by positive real-time PCR.

Aim: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, started in December 2019 and has spread across the world. Materials & methods: We analyzed real-time PCR results of 10,000 samples from 2 April to 30 May 2020 in three neighbor cities located in the East of Turkey. The final study population was 7853 cases, after excluding screening tests. Results: Real-time PCR was performed to detect the SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase gene fragment. The number of total positive samples out of 7853 were 487; however, the number of nonrepeating positive patient was 373 (4.8%). Cough and fever were the most common symptoms in positive cases. Conclusion: Epidemiologic studies should be performed about the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection to better understand the effect of the virus across the world.

Antibacterial effects of curcumin: An in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration study.

AIM: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of curcumin with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method in standard bacterial strains. METHODS: The in vitro antibacterial activity of curcumin was evaluated against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (ATCC 29213), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ATCC 43300), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603) using the macrodilution broth susceptibility test method. After incubation in tubes, the antibacterial activity of curcumin was detected by a lack of turbidity, which indicated the inhibition of bacterial growth. The concentration in the tube with the highest dilution showing no turbidity was defined as the MIC. RESULTS: The curcumin MIC values were 175 µg/ml, 129 µg/ml, 219 µg/ml, 217 µg/ml, 163 µg/ml, 293 µg/ml and 216 µg/ml against P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, MSSA, MRSA, E. coli, E. faecalis and K. Pneumonia, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study revealed antibacterial effects of curcumin against standard bacterial strains in high concentrations. Animal experiments have demonstrated that curcumin applied at high doses has strong antibacterial activity. There is a need for further in vivo studies to shed light on antibacterial effects of curcumin with high concentrations.

CDP-choline modulates matrix metalloproteinases in rat sciatic injury.

BACKGROUND: CDP-choline (cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine) improves functional recovery, promotes nerve regeneration, and decreases perineural scarring in rat peripheral nerve injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of action of CDP-choline with regard to matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the rat-transected sciatic nerve injury model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomized into Sham, Saline, and CDP-choline groups. Rats in Sham group received Sham surgery, whereas rats in Saline and CDP-choline groups underwent right sciatic nerve transection followed by immediate primary saturation and injected intraperitoneally with 0.9% NaCl (1 mL/kg) and CDP-choline (600 µg/kg), respectively. Sciatic nerve samples were obtained 1, 3, and 7 d after the surgery and analyzed for levels and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-3, and axonal regeneration. RESULTS: CDP-choline treatment decreased the levels and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, whereas increasing levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 significantly on the third and seventh day after injury compared to Saline group. In addition, CDP-choline administration resulted in new axon formation and formation and advancement of myelination on newly formed islets (compartments) of axonal regrowth. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show, for the first time, that CDP-choline modulates MMP activity and promotes the expression of TIMPs to stimulate axonal regeneration. These data help to explain one mechanism by which CDP-choline provides neuroprotection in peripheral nerve injury.

[Can curcumin prevent the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofi lm on the surface of tympanostomy tubes?]. / Kurkumin, timpanostomi tüpleri yüzeyinde Pseudomonas aeruginosa biyofi lminin olusmasina engel olabilir mi?

Formation of bacterial biofilm on the surface of tympanostomy tubes are held responsible in the pathogenesis of post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea. To prevent the formation of biofilm, various methods were employed and varying degrees of success have been achieved. In some recent studies curcumin, which is the fenolic form of Curcuma longa (turmeric), has been pointed out to have inhibitory effects on virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the administration of curcumin is able to prevent the formation of P.aeruginosa biofilm on the surface of silicone tympanostomy tubes in vitro conditions. For this purpose, qualitative and quantitative analysis of P.aeruginosa biofilm created on the surface of the tympanostomy tubes were performed following a period of 48 hours incubation in microplate wells that contained decreasing concentrations of curcumin. For qualitative analysis, specimens were evaluated with an environmental scanning electron microscope for the existence of biofilm. For the quantitative analysis, bacteria attached to the tube surface was detached using a combination of vortexing and sonication. Following serial dilutions, the obtained solution was then inoculated on the sheep blood agar plates using calibrated loop, incubated for 24 hours and the colony forming unit (CFU) per mL were recorded. Environmental scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that 100 µg/mL of curcumin could prevent formation of the biofilm. Lower concentrations of curcumin could not prevent the biofilm formation. Qualitative analysis also revealed that when the concentrations of curcumin in the wells were decreased, the number of CFU/mL was increased significantly. Mean number of CFU in 100 µg/mL and 12.5 µg/mL groups were 35±7.07 and 650±494, respectively. Curcumin could prevent formation of P.aeruginosa biofilm on the surface of tympanostomy tubes in vitro with concentrations lower than the MIC value. The results of the present study show that local administration of curcumin may prevent suppurative otitis media following tympanostomy tube insertion, keep the patency of the tube and decrease the rate of treatment failure. In vivo studies are needed to support the in vitro anti-biofilm action of curcumin on tympanostomy tubes.

Evidence for the existence of pyrimidinergic transmission in rat brain.

The uridine nucleotides uridine-5'-triphosphate (UTP) and uridine-5'-diphosphate (UDP) have previously been identified in media from cultured cells. However, no study to date has demonstrated their presence in brain extracellular fluid (ECF) obtained in vivo. Using a novel method, we now show that UTP and UDP, as well as uridine, are detectable in dialysates of striatal ECF obtained from freely-moving rats. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of uridine or exposure of striatum to depolarizing concentrations of potassium chloride increases extracellular uridine, UTP and UDP, while tetrodotoxin (TTX) decreases their ECF levels. Uridine administration also enhances cholinergic neurotransmission which is accompanied by enhanced brain levels of diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and blocked by suramin, but not by PPADS (pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid) or MRS2578 suggesting a possible mediation of P2Y2 receptors activated by UTP. These observations suggest that uridine, UTP and UDP may function as pyrimidinergic neurotransmitters, and that enhancement of such neurotransmission underlies pharmacologic effects of exogenous uridine on the brain.