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Surfactant administration significantly improves respiratory outcomes in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, surfactant administration may lead to hemodynamic alterations, particularly in the heart, affecting the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), the consequences of which are not fully understood. This prospective observational study took place in an Indian neonatal care unit from July 2019 to November 2020, enrolling preterm neonates (26–34 weeks' gestation) with RDS needing non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. They were divided into two groups: those who received surfactant while on respiratory support and those who did not. All newborns in the study had an initial echocardiogram within 24 h to detect PDA flow. Subsequent echocardiograms were conducted between 48 and 72 h or earlier based on symptoms. Of 220 infants requiring respiratory support, 84 were enrolled, with 42 in each group. While demographic variables were similar, the surfactant group had a lower median gestational age (29.0 vs. 31.0 weeks). In the surfactant group, a significantly higher percentage of neonates had hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) compared to the non-surfactant group (54.76% vs. 26.19%, P -value =.008). Multiple logistic regression found no significant association between gestation, birth weight, or shock and hsPDA occurrence. Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred more often in the surfactant group. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) > grade 2, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) ≥ grade 2 did not differ significantly between the groups. Surfactant therapy via the less invasive surfactant administration technique was associated with a higher incidence of hsPDA. While surfactant is crucial for neonatal respiratory care, its potential hemodynamic effects, including hsPDA, should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assesses the Paenibacillus sp. D9 lipopeptide biosurfactant synthesis in cheap substrates including functional properties and applicability for varying biotechnological processes. Different experimental setups were made for oil dispersion, heavy metals removals from contaminated environments, and washing performance. The study revealed surface tension activities of 31.7–32.7 mN/m, and maximum biosurfactant yield of more than 8 g/L. Removals of 85.90%, 98.68%, 99.97%, 63.28%, 99.93%, and 94.22% were obtained for Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Zn, respectively from acid mine effluents. In comparison with chemical surfactants, there was pronounced removal of heavy metals from wastewater, contaminated sands, and vegetable matter, as well as improved oil dispersing activity. A comparative study revealed that biosurfactant was more efficient (> 60%) for removal of tomato sauce and coffee stains than chemical surfactants (< 50%). Thus, lipopeptide biosurfactants are green biomolecules reducing hazards and contaminations within the environment. The future use of this lipopeptide biosurfactant is greatly promising in biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lubricating agents facilitate effective harvesting of split-thickness skin grafts. Multiple agents, including water-based gel, mineral oil, glycerin, and poloxamer 188, have been utilized in this capacity. The agent selected is typically at the discretion of the provider and institution, as a single "ideal" lubricant remains to be objectively established. Furthermore, a recent discontinuation of Shur-Clens® Skin Wound Cleanser1 (a wound cleansing solution consisting of the surfactant poloxamer 188) has prompted the search for a suitable substitute for many providers. The purpose of this study is to directly compare five lubricants (including a novel surgical lubricant-based solution) to select a preferred agent. Four practitioners blindly tested five lubricants while harvesting a split-thickness skin graft on a porcine skin model (glycerin, mineral oil, saline, poloxamer 188, and a novel lubricant solution created with surgical lube and sterile water). The results were recorded on a Likert scale where 1 indicated poor performance and 5 indicated excellent performance. Data were pooled, and means were compared with analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey test. The cost of each lubricating solution was also reported. Mean scores for each of the solutions were as follows: dry control = 1.1 ± 0.1; glycerin = 2.62 ± 1.02, saline = 3.88 ± 0.81, mineral oil = 3.75 ± 1.00, novel water-based lubricant solution = 4.63 ± 0.71, and poloxamer 188 = 3.88 ± 0.81. All solutions were superior to dry control (P < .01). Glycerin was noted to have statistically lower scores than all of the other solutions (P < .01). The novel water-based surgical lubricant solution had significantly higher mean scores than both glycerin (P < .01) and mineral oil (P < .05). Each solution was compared according to dollars per 100cc with glycerin and Shur-Clens® representing the most expensive options at almost $3/100cc and saline the least expensive at less than $0.15/100cc. In a porcine skin model, the novel water-based surgical lubricant solution had the best performance. It was statistically superior to glycerin and mineral oil and was also found to be the most cost-effective option in terms of overall performance compared with relative cost. Glycerin had the worst performance with statistically lower scores than all other solutions. Glycerin was also found to be the least cost-effective due to a large discrepancy between high cost and low overall performance. Saline performed better than expected. These results may be skewed due to the inherently greasy nature of the butcher shop porcine skin, creating limitations and decreasing the fidelity of the model. In a search for the "ideal" lubricant, other models should be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is a transmembrane protein which is expressed by various malignant cells. We found that the expression of CD26/DPP4 was significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma samples in our own patient cohort compared to normal lung tissue. We therefore hypothesize that the inhibition of CD26/DPP4 can potentially suppress lung cancer growth. The CD26/DPP4 inhibitor vildagliptin was employed on Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cell line and a human lung adenocarcinoma (H460) cell line. Two weeks after subcutaneous injection of tumor cells into C57BL/6 and CD1/nude mice, the size of LLC and H460 tumors was significantly reduced by vildagliptin. Immunohistochemically, the number of macrophages (F4/80+) and NK cells (NKp46+) was significantly increased in vildagliptin-treated tumor samples. Mechanistically, we found in vitro that lung cancer cell lines expressed increased levels of surfactant protein upon vildagliptin treatment thereby promoting the pro-inflammatory activity of macrophages. By the depletion of macrophages with clodronate and by using NK cell deficient (IL-15-/-) mice, tumors reversed to the size of controls, suggesting that indeed macrophages and NK cells were responsible for the observed tumor-suppressing effect upon vildagliptin treatment. FACS analysis showed tumor-infiltrating NK cells to express tumor necrosis-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) which induced the intra-cellular stress marker γH2AX. Accordingly, we found upregulated γH2AX in vildagliptin-treated tumors and TRAIL-treated cell lines. Moreover, the effect of vildagliptin-mediated enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity could be reversed by antagonizing the TRAIL receptor. Our data provide evidence that the CD26/DPP4-inhibitor vildagliptin reduces lung cancer growth. We could demonstrate that this effect is exerted by surfactant-activated macrophages and NK cells that act against the tumor via TRAIL-mediated cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work has demonstrated that a surfactant-based dressing was capable of eliminating any evidence of pre-existing biofilms from an ex vivo porcine skin wound model. Herein, the authors test both the surfactant's ability to prevent biofilm formation and its ability to eliminate Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms. To test biofilm formation inhibition, porcine skin explants were inoculated and incubated for 4 hours before treatment. The explants were then dressed with test or control materials. To test biofilm elimination, mature 3-day biofilms were established and then treated and wiped daily. Explants from each group were harvested daily, and total and biofilm-associated bacterial counts were generated up through day 3 posttreatment. The control explants developed a biofilm with ~106 CFU over the course of 3 days for each of the bacteria tested. The surfactant-treated samples had viable bacteria, but with the exception of a single time point for Staphylococcus aureus without silver sulfadiazine, there was no biofilm formation. Unlike previous results, the surfactants could not eliminate the A. baumannii biofilm, unless it was formulated with relevant antibiotics. The surfactant was effective in preventing the formation of biofilms over a 3-day period. Unlike the authors' previous results, the daily surfactant-based approach alone did not eliminate the A. baumannii biofilms unless relevant antibiotics were included. The data suggest that the surfactants can prevent biofilm formation, but that in the case of a confirmed A. baumannii biofilm, the surfactant must include antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soaps and hand sanitizers are used for hand hygiene and are on high demand during COVID-19 pandemic. • Petrochemical based surfactants and alcohols are hazardous to human and environment. • Biosurfactants and plant secondary metabolites could be used as ecofriendly hand hygiene. The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is caused by a highly pathogenic novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). To date, there is no prescribed medicine for COVID-19. Frequent handwashing with soap and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is recommended by WHO for hand hygiene and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, there are safety concerns associated with the use of soaps and alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Therefore, the review aims to highlight the health and environmental concerns associated with the frequent use of soaps/detergents and alcohol-based hand sanitizers amid COVID-19. The potential of some of the natural detergents and sanitizing agents as eco-friendly alternatives to petrochemical-based soaps and alcohol-based hand rubs for hand hygiene are discussed. The market of soaps and hand sanitizers is expected to grow in the coming years and therefore, future research should be directed to develop eco-friendly soaps and hand sanitizers for human and environmental safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]