The action of curcumin against damage resulting from cerebral stroke: A systematic review.

Stroke is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Treatments for stroke are limited, and preventive treatments are scarce. Curcumin (CUR) has several biological effects, as described in the literature, which highlight its antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, this qualitative systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of CUR on damage caused by stroke in rodent models. A systematic search was performed on three databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. In addition, the risk-of-bias and quality of the studies were assessed using SYRCLE and Collaborative Approach for Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies, respectively. The selection, inclusion, and exclusion criteria were established by the authors. At the end of our systematic search of the three databases, we found a total of 728 articles. After excluding duplicates and triplicates and reading the abstracts, keywords, and full texts, 53 articles were finally included in this systematic review. CUR exerts several beneficial effects against the damage caused by both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, via different pathways. However, because of its low bioavailability, Free-form CUR only exerted significant effects when it was administered at high concentrations. In contrast, when CUR was administered using nanostructured systems, positive responses were observed even at low concentrations. The mechanisms of action of CUR, free or in nanostructure, are extremely important for the recovery of injured brain tissue after a stroke; CUR has neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects and helps to maintain the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Finally, we concluded that CUR presents an extremely important and significant response profile against the damage caused by stroke, making it a possible therapeutic candidate for individuals affected by this disease.

Clinical and ultrasound response to intralesional sodium thiosulfate for the treatment of calcinosis cutis in the setting of systemic sclerosis. A case-based review.

Calcinosis cutis (CC) is defined as the deposition of calcium salts on the skin and subcutaneous tissue. It is associated with different conditions, including some autoimmune diseases, and it can generate significant inflammation, pain, and functional impairment. Different therapies have been tried with limited results. Intralesional sodium thiosulfate seems a promising therapeutic option. We report a patient with diffuse systemic sclerosis who presented with two symmetrical plaques on both axillae, which caused pain and skin retraction. The clinical diagnosis was consistent with CC, which was confirmed by skin biopsy and ultrasound. The patient was treated with a 250 mg/ml solution of sodium thiosulfate injected into the plaques. Complete resolution was achieved after three monthly sessions. The only reported adverse effect was a transient burning sensation during the injections. Given its effectiveness and safety, we believe that intralesional sodium thiosulfate could become a valid first-line option for the treatment of CC.

Curcumin-loaded nanoemulsion improves haemorrhagic stroke recovery in wistar rats.

Cerebrovascular diseases are currently a major global health problem. Considering the limitations of current therapy, the search for new alternatives for the treatment of these diseases is necessary and, in this context, curcumin, a molecule that has neuroprotective properties already described in the literature. A limiting factor when considering therapies for the nervous tissue is the presence of the blood-brain barrier which stimulates the search for new drug delivery strategies. In this context, nanoencapsulation seems to be a promising alternative. In this work, we compared the protective effects of free and nanoemulsified curcumin after intracerebral haemorrhage induced by collagenase (ICH) in Wistar rats. Injury area, motor activity, oxidative stress in the brain and serum biochemical parameters were investigated. Two hours after surgery, the first dose was injected intraperitoneally, followed by 24 and 48 h administration. Behavioural analysis was performed through 3 different tests: open field, beam walking and foot fault (24, 48 and 72 h respectively). At the end of the recovering time (3 days after injury), the animals were euthanized and the brain (for analysis of injury area and oxidative stress), blood (for biochemical parameters), kidney and liver (for histopathological examination) were investigated. Curcumin nanoemulsion 30 mg/kg was able to improve behavioural recovery, reduce the size of the haematoma and attenuate the weight loss caused by ICH. In terms of oxidative parameters, we observed that curcumin nanoemulsion modulated antioxidant responses with therapeutic potential against ICH. Only discrete results in few parameters were found with free-curcumin in the same dose.

FR-Mesoterapia con dutasterida, una futura alternativa para el tratamiento de la alopecia androgenética / RF-Mesotherapy With Dutasteride: A Future Alternative Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia

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Lesión subcutánea cervical tras manipulación quiropráctica: papel de la ecografía cutánea / Subcutaneous Neck Lesion After Chiropractic Manipulation: The Role of Ultrasound Skin Imaging

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Advanced-stage mycosis fungoides: role of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, nuclear factor-κB and nuclear factor of activated T cells pathways.

BACKGROUND: The malignant mechanisms that control the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) are beginning to be identified. Recent evidence suggests that disturbances in specific intracellular signalling pathways, such as RAS-mitogen-activated protein kinase, T-cell receptor (TCR)-phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCG1)-nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of CTCL. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanisms controlling disease development and progression in mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common form of CTCL. METHODS: We collected 100 samples that were submitted for diagnosis of, or a second opinion regarding, MF between 2001 and 2018, 80% of which were in the early clinical stages of the disease. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were used for histological review and to measure the expression by immunohistochemistry of surrogate markers of activation of the TCR-PLCG1-NFAT, JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways. Folliculotropism and large-cell transformation were also examined. RESULTS: NFAT and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) markers showed a comparable activation status in early and advanced stages, while STAT3 activation was more frequent in advanced stages and was associated with large-cell transformation. Consistently with this observation, STAT3 activation occurred in parallel with MF progression in two initially MF-negative cases. A significant association of NFAT with NF-κB markers was also found, reflecting a common mechanism of activation in the two pathways. Genomic studies identified nine mutations in seven genes known to play a potential role in tumorigenesis in T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma, including PLCG1, JAK3 and STAT3, which underlies the activation of these key cell-survival pathways. A higher mutational allele frequency was detected in advanced stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that STAT3 is activated in advanced cases and is associated with large-cell transformation, while the activation of NFAT and NF-κB is maintained throughout the disease. These findings could have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications. What's already known about this topic? Mycosis fungoides is characterized by a clonal expansion of T cells in the skin. The mechanisms controlling disease development and progression are not fully understood. What does this study add? An association of the nuclear factor of activated T cells and nuclear factor kappa B pathways was found, which could reflect a common mechanism of activation. These pathways were activated in early and advanced stages at the same level. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation was associated with large-cell transformation and was more frequent in advanced stages. A genomic analysis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-associated genes was performed. Nine mutations were detected. What is the translational message? These results could have important implications for the treatment of MF in the near future.

High prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among hidradenitis suppurativa patients independent of classic metabolic risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Some chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis, have been associated with an increased prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nevertheless, this prevalence in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has not been assessed to date. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with HS and the risk factors associated with this disorder. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 70 HS patients and 150 age- and gender-matched controls who were evaluated by hepatic ultrasonography (US) and transient elastography (TE) after excluding other secondary causes of chronic liver disease. The diagnosis of NAFLD was established if US and/or TE were altered. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly increased in patients with HS compared to controls (72.9% vs. 24.7%: P < 0.001). In the multivariable regression model adjusted for age, sex and classic metabolic risk factors for NAFLD, HS was significantly and independently associated with the presence of NAFLD [OR 7.75 confidence interval (CI) 2.54-23.64; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high prevalence of NAFLD in HS patients independent of classic metabolic risk factors. Therefore, we suggest HS patients to be evaluated for NAFLD and managed accordingly.

Larva migrans cutánea facial de origen autóctono en España / Facial Cutaneous Larva Migrans Acquired in Spain

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Electrochemical 'bubble swarm' enhancement of ultrasonic surface cleaning.

An investigation of surface cleaning using a swarm of gas bubbles within an acoustically activated stream is presented. Electrolysis of water at Pt microwires (100 µm diameter) to produce both hydrogen and oxygen bubbles is shown to enhance the extent of ultrasonic surface cleaning in a free flowing water stream containing an electrolyte (0.1 M Na2SO4) and low surfactant concentration (2 mM SDS). The surfactant was employed to allow control of the average size of the bubble population within the swarm. The electrochemical bubble swarm (EBS) is shown to perturb acoustic transmission through the stream. To optimise the cleaning process both the ultrasonic field and the electrochemical current are pulsed and synchronized but with different duty cycles. Cleaning action is demonstrated on structured surfaces (porcine skin and finger mimics) loaded with fluorescent particles. This action is shown to be significantly enhanced compared to that found with an inherent bubble population produced by the flow and acoustic regime alone under the same conditions.

Cold water cleaning of brain proteins, biofilm and bone - harnessing an ultrasonically activated stream.

In the absence of sufficient cleaning of medical instruments, contamination and infection can result in serious consequences for the health sector and remains a significant unmet challenge. In this paper we describe a novel cleaning system reliant on cavitation action created in a free flowing fluid stream where ultrasonic transmission to a surface, through the stream, is achieved using careful design and control of the device architecture, sound field and the materials employed. Cleaning was achieved with purified water at room temperature, moderate fluid flow rates and without the need for chemical additives or the high power consumption associated with conventional strategies. This study illustrates the potential in harnessing an ultrasonically activated stream to remove biological contamination including brain tissue from surgical stainless steel substrates, S. epidermidis biofilms from glass, and fat/soft tissue matter from bone structures with considerable basic and clinical applications.

Analysis of secreted protease inhibitors after water stress in potato tubers.

Potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum) secrete two kinds of proteinase inhibitors after a water stress. The polypeptides have differing inhibitory activities but are Kunitz-type inhibitors based on amino-terminal sequences homologies. A proteolysis maturation type of a cell protease inhibitor was observed. They can constitute high MW complex, sometimes with another type of protein. The function of these protease inhibitors is discussed in relation to plant defence.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a tomato cDNA encoding a systemically wound-inducible bZIP DNA-binding protein.

Localized wounding of one leaf in intact tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants triggers rapid systemic transcriptional responses that might be involved in defense. To better understand the mechanism(s) of intercellular signal transmission in wounded tomatoes, and to identify the array of genes systemically up-regulated by wounding, a subtractive cDNA library for wounded tomato leaves was constructed. A novel cDNA clone (designated LebZIP1) encoding a DNA-binding protein was isolated and identified. This clone appears to be encoded by a single gene, and belongs to the family of basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) transcription factors shown to be up-regulated by cold and dark treatments. Analysis of the mRNA levels suggests that the transcript for LebZIP1 is both organ-specific and up-regulated by wounding. In wounded wild-type tomatoes, the LebZIP1 mRNA levels in distant tissue were maximally up-regulated within only 5 min following localized wounding. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) prevented the rapid wound-induced increase in LebZIP1 mRNA levels, while the basal levels of LebZIP1 transcripts were higher in the ABA mutants notabilis (not), sitiens (sit), and flacca (flc), and wound-induced increases were greater in the ABA-deficient mutants. Together, these results suggest that ABA acts to curtail the wound-induced synthesis of LebZIP1 mRNA.

Rapid and systemic accumulation of chloroplast mRNA-binding protein transcripts after flame stimulus in tomato.

It has been shown that tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants respond to flame wounding and electrical stimulation by a rapid (15 min) and systemic up-regulation of proteinase inhibitor (pin) genes. To find other genes having a similar expression pattern, we used subtractive cDNA screening between flamed and control plants to select clones up-regulated by flame wounding. We report the characterization of one of them, a chloroplast mRNA-binding protein encoded by a single gene and expressed preferentially in the leaves. Systemic gene expression in response to flaming in the youngest terminal leaf exhibited three distinct phases: a rapid and transient increase (5-15 min) in transcript accumulation, a decline to basal levels (15-45 min), and then a second, more prolonged increase (60-90 min). In contrast, after a mechanical wound the rapid, transient increase (5 min) was followed by a rapid decline to basal levels but no later, prolonged accumulation. In the petiole, the initial flame-wound-evoked transient increase (15 min) was followed by a continuous decline for 3 h. The nature of the wound signal(s) causing such rapid changes in transcript abundance is discussed in relation to electrical signaling, which has recently been implicated in plant responses to wounding.