Search

Microbiota is a collection of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, with bacteria being the most numerous in the human body. Meanwhile, the mycobiome consists of commensal fungi, which are a small part of the microbiota. Examples found in the human body, from the skin to the internal organs, play a role in the immune response, homeostasis, metabolism, and disease. The composition of mycobiome varies over time, and the human intestine is the most studied organ due to the diversity of microbiota. Furthermore, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in oncology patients worldwide. Various studies suggest that mycobiomes play a role in cancer associated with dysbiosis. Chronic inflammation, biofilm formation, and carcinogen products are parts of cancer pathogenesis. Metagenome analysis has provided information about the diversity of microbiota, specifically mycobiome in the human body. The common method for gene sequencing in the metagenome is next-generation sequencing (NGS). Analysis through metagenomes in chronic diseases such as cancer shows that mycobiomes play a role in the process of cancer formation. However, the causal relationship between mycobiomes and cancer remains unknown.

Background/Objectives: Due to concerns about drug resistance and side effects, the discovery of improved drugs for lung cancer has attracted studies to find an effective and safe treatment. Aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is a cancer treatment with minimal side effects. However, ALA-PDT effectiveness can be hindered by ABCG2 and ABCB1 transporters impeding PpIX accumulation. Combining ALA with other substances can enhance PpIX accumulation. Hemin is a potential substance due to its antitumor properties and may be involved in regulating the ABCG2 and ABCB1 expressions. Methods: The objective of this report is to analyze the effects of administering a combination of hemin and ALA after 48 h on A549 lung cancer cells by quantifying cell viability, intracellular PpIX, and ROS accumulation, completed by ABCG2 and ABCB1 expressions. Results: Our data indicate that the combination of hemin and ALA followed by photoirradiation decreased the viability of A549 cells, which was due to increased intracellular PpIX and ROS. The expression of ABCG2 mRNA was significantly decreased after ALA-hemin treatment, while the ABCB1 mRNA expression increased. This result might suggest that ABCG2 plays a greater role than ABCB1 in regulating the PpIX accumulation in A549 lung cancer cells. Conclusions: The combination of ALA and hemin followed by photoirradiation offers a promising novel treatment for lung cancer, and further evaluations of this therapy are required.

Background and objectives: COVID-19 is a respiratory condition frequently followed by an inflammatory reaction in addition to respiratory symptoms, which disrupts the blood coagulation process. One drug candidate known to have dual anti-inflammatory and anticoagulating effects is hydroxysafflor yellow A, an active compound found in the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius. Therefore, this study analysed the effect of C. tinctorius ethanol extract in combination with dexamethasone on coagulation biomarkers in mice induced with the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. Method: Flowers of Carthamus tinctorius were extracted with 98% ethanol. The concentrated extract was used in the study. Twenty-five Balb/c mice, comprising five healthy controls and twenty mice were induced with SARS-CoV2. The SARS-CoV2-induced mice were then randomized to receive seven days of treatment, which consisted of vehicle or dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg BW, dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg BW + C. tinctorius extract 400 mg/kg BW, or dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg BW + C. tinctorius extract 800 mg/kg BW. Subsequently, the lungs and blood of the mice were analysed. Results: SARS-CoV2-induced mice increased all the coagulation markers studied. Treatment with dexamethasone alone or in combination with C. tinctorius extract 400 mg/kg BW did not cause reductions in D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, lactate dehydrogenase, platelet-to-leucocyte ratio, or neutrophil-to-leucocyte ratio. However, dexamethasone co-treatment with C. tinctorius extract at 800 mg/kg BW resulted in the normalization of D-dimer, PAI-1, and NLR in SARS-CoV2-induced mice. Conclusion: The administration of high dose of C. tinctorius flower extracts (800 mg/kg BW) in combination with dexamethasone showed the benefit of minimizing the coagulation disorder in SARS-CoV2.

Objective: This study was conducted to establish a rat model of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pul¬monary fibrosis (AE-IPF) using the combination of bleomycin (BLM) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Materials and Method: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into two equal groups: the sham or the bleomycin and lipopolysaccharides-induced AE-IPF group (BLM-LPS). On Day 7, BLM intratracheally and LPS intraperitoneally were both used to administer AE-IPF. The BLM-LPS group and its respective sham group were terminated on Days 8, 14, or 21. Samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were taken and investigated for cell count and histopathology. Results: On Day 8, histological analysis revealed inflammatory cell infiltration with edema and hyaline membrane, and the BALF differential cell count revealed high neutrophil counts. By having a higher collagen density area and Ashcroft modified score than the sham group on Day 14, the BLM-LPS group displayed significantly lower oxygen saturation, alveolar air area, and a fibrotic appearance. However, there was a spontaneous resolution in inflammation and fibrotic appearance on Day 21 after the BLM administration. Conclusions: By combining BLM and LPS, it was possible to create a successful rat model of AE-IPF. The present model showed the peak exacerbation on Day 8 and the fibrotic peak on Day 14, which gradually improved. The optimal time for the new AE-IPF therapeutic intervention was determined to be between Days 8 and 14. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2023; 10(2.000): 196-204]

Fungal spores in the air can be inhaled and enter the human respiratory tract. The entry of fungi into the respiratory tract can cause colonization or infection depending on the host immune response. Fungal colonization is the first step into debilitating fungal disease in humans, especially in immunocompromised groups. The increased rate of drug-resistant fungi has been reported in human disease and the environment. This study aims to examine the diversity of fungal colonization in humans and the rate of fungal resistance to voriconazole. This cross-sectional study was done in patients with naïve lung cancer who had not been previously treated with any cancer therapy nor given antifungal agent. Induced sputum from 70 subjects was collected and inoculated in the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed to identify fungal species. Voriconazole susceptibility tests were done using the disc diffusion method. This study found Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Penicillium sp. among the most common lower respiratory tract colonies. This study also found the colonization of up to 5 species in a single subject. A high rate of voriconazole-resistant Aspergillus sp. was found (42.4%) among 59 isolates tested. Given that these subjects had never taken antifungal agents previously, the high rate of voriconazole resistance might be attributed to the environment, such as community and agriculture. Mitigation of antifungal use in the agricultural sector, fungal diversity in the environment, and clinical study of fungal colonization/ infection in other high-risk groups are needed.

Abstract Background Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung is a distinctive salivary-gland-type malignant epithelial neoplasm that rarely presents as a primary tumor of the respiratory tract. Complete surgical resection remains the treatment of choice for adenoid cystic carcinoma. We present a case of large ACC tumors that caused severe central airway obstruction and were effectively treated with therapeutic bronchoscopy followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Case presentation A 31-year-old Malay Indonesian female patient who was a nonsmoker and had no family history of cancer was admitted to the emergency ward because of worsening breathlessness accompanied by stridor since 1 week prior. Chest computed tomography revealed segmental atelectasis of the left lung; a mass on the left main bronchus, with infiltrates in segments 1, 2, and 3 of the left lung; and consolidation in the left inferior lobe, with narrowing of the main left bronchus. Lobulated masses obstructing almost the entire distal trachea up to the carina and the entire left main bronchus were found on bronchoscopy. Owing to the large tumors causing severe central airway obstruction, the medical team decided to perform central airway mass removal through rigid bronchoscopy. A neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser was used first to facilitate mass shrinkage. After the laser treatment, mechanical mass removal using a rigid scope was performed. The tracheal and carinal lumens were opened to > 50% of their diameter, with the left main bronchus lumen opened only slightly. After the treatment, the patient was stable, and no stridor was found. Adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy and chemotherapy were performed after the therapeutic bronchoscopy. At the end of the entire treatment, reevaluation by thoracic computed tomography scan and bronchoscopy revealed no remaining mass. Conclusions In cases of nonresectable large adenoid cystic carcinoma tumors with life-threatening central airway obstruction, therapeutic bronchoscopy followed by sequential radiochemotherapy might achieve a complete response outcome.

The heterogeneity of the lung microbiome and its alteration are prevalently seen among chronic lung diseases patients. However, studies to date have primarily focused on the bacterial microbiome in the lung rather than fungal composition, which might play an essential role in the mechanisms of several chronic lung diseases. It is now well established that Aspergillus spp. colonies may induce various unfavorable inflammatory responses. Furthermore, bacterial microbiomes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa provide several mechanisms that inhibit or stimulate Aspergillus spp. life cycles. In this review, we highlighted fungal and bacterial microbiome interactions in the respiratory tract, with a focus on Aspergillus spp.

The detection of Aspergillus antibody has a key role in the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Western blot (WB) and immunochromatography (ICT) lateral flow detection of Aspergillus antibody can be used as confirmatory and screening assays but their comparative performance in TB patients is not known. This study investigated the performance of these assays among 88 post-tuberculosis patients with suspected CPA. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating curve (ROC), area under-curve (AUC) and the agreement between two assays were evaluated. Both WB and ICT showed good sensitivity (80% and 85%, respectively) for detection of Aspergillus antibodies. Substantial agreement (0.716) between these assays was also obtained. The highest AUC result (0.804) was achieved with the combination of WB and ICT. The global intensity of WB correlated with the severity of symptoms in CPA group (p = 0.001). The combination of WB and ICT may increase specificity in CPA diagnosis.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a common sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The diagnosis of CPA is difficult and often misdiagnosed as smear-negative TB in endemic settings. Aspergillus IgG detection is the cornerstone of CPA diagnosis. There are a lack of studies on the prevalence of CPA in GeneXpert/smear-negative TB patients in Indonesia, despite a high number of TB cases. This study aims to determine the CPA rate in HIV-negative, GeneXpert-negative patients presenting with symptoms following completion of TB therapy and to evaluate the performance of LDBio Aspergillus immunochromatographic technology (ICT) lateral flow assay in the diagnosis of CPA. CPA was diagnosed on the basis of symptoms for ≥3 months, characteristic chest imaging and positive Aspergillus culture. Twenty (22%) out of 90 patients met the criteria for CPA. The LDBio test was positive in 16 (80%) CPA patients and in 21 (30%) non-CPA patients (p < 0.001) with 80% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Logistic regression revealed a positive LDBio Aspergillus ICT result, smoking history and diabetes to be important predictors of CPA diagnosis. Although CPA is an unrecognised disease in Indonesia, this study suggests that more than one in five GeneXpert negative patients with persistent symptoms following completion of TB therapy may have CPA.

The aim of this study was to determine whether Andrographus paniculata capsule induces clinical and sputum conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pi¬lot study was conducted to pulmonary tuberculosis patient who admitted to Pulmonology Polyclinic of Persahabatan Central General Hospital, Jakarta. A total of 44 pulmonary TB patients were randomly divided into two groups including one group received standard antituberculosis drugs + Andrographis paniculata (n=21) (AP) and one group received standard antituberculosis drugs + placebo (n=23). APC was given 500 milligram per day for eight weeks. The distribution of sex, body weight and body mass index (BMI) as well as the frequency of cough and feature of chest radiography were not significantly different between groups (P >0.05). The proportion of posi¬tive smears in both groups decreased over time until by the twelve weeks, none remained positive. The rate of decline was more pronounced in the AP group reach statistically at weeks 4 and 6 compared to placebo group (P < 0.05). Adjunc¬tive supplementation of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees was to accelerated the beneficial therapeutic effect of TB chemotherapy by improving clinical and sputum response. [Med-Science 2015; 4(1.000): 1869-75]

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent commonly used to treat supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. The drug prevents the recurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and produces a modest reduction of sudden deaths in high-risk patients. This drug is an iodine-containing compound that tends to accumulate in several organs, including the lungs. It has been associated with a variety of adverse events. Of these events, the most serious is amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. Although the incidence of this complication has decreased with the use of lower doses of amiodarone, it can occur with any dose. Because amiodarone is widely used, all clinicians should be vigilant of this possibility. Pulmonary toxicity usually manifests as an acute or subacute pneumonitis, typically with diffuse infiltrates on chest x-ray and high-resolution computed tomography. Other, more localized, forms of pulmonary toxicity may occur, including pleural disease, migratory infiltrates, and single or multiple nodules. With early detection, the prognosis is good. Most patients diagnosed promptly respond well to the withdrawal of amiodarone and the administration of corticosteroids, which are usually given for four to 12 months. It is important that physicians be familiar with amiodarone treatment guidelines and follow published recommendations for the monitoring of pulmonary as well as extrapulmonary adverse effects.

Crosslinking of semiconductors is critical towards building heterostructures to enable flexibility in the design of devices. Bis(fluorophenyl azide)s (FPAs) and their sterically-substituted derivatives (sFPAs) have been demonstrated to be able to photo-crosslink semiconductor polymers upon deep-UV exposure, stabilizing their morphologies in devices. Here, we report the development of both UV (254 nm) and i-line (365 nm) photo-activatable FPA and sFPA – FPA80 and sFPA82 – both incorporating 3,5-bis(methylene)-1,1-dimethyl-4-piperidonium, a conjugation-extending bridge that also bears an ionic group. These materials are useful for generic photo-crosslinking of both conjugated and non-conjugated polyelectrolytes. Good thermal stability and solubility in polar organic solvents are obtained. Good film retention (>80%) can be achieved with a crosslinker loading of less than 10 wt/wt% for high-molecular polymers (Mw > 100k), superior to alkyl bisazides. The photo-crosslinking efficiency of ca. 20% in model polyelectrolytes is limited by the occlusion of ionic crosslinkers from the polymer matrix where the C–H insertion reaction occurs, hence suppressing photo-crosslinking efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionalization of the C(sp3)-H bonds in azaarenes was catalyzed by CoCl2 as an inexpensive Lewis acid catalyst. Enones were demonstrated to be good C=C electrophilic acceptors for the construction of various azaarene-containing 1,4-addition products in yields of up to 95 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct C(sp3)-H alkenylation of 2-methylquinolines with aldehydes as a simple methodology to afford 2-alkenylated quinolines is reported. In the presence of catalytic CoCl2 in water, the economically and ecologically sound transformation is proposed to proceed via the direct benzylic addition to the aldehyde followed by an elimination step to provide 2-alkenylated quinolines in good to excellent yield of up to 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Regioselective copper-diamine-catalyzed C--H arylation of 1,2,4-triazole ring with aryl bromides by Z. Jamal and Y.-C. Teo is presented.

The direct alkenylation of primary and secondary benzylic C-H bonds of alkylquinoline derivatives with aldehydes is achieved in the presence of InCl3 as the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Functionalization of the Benzylic C-H Bonds in Azaarenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed 1,4-Addition to Enones" by Z. Jamal and colleagues is presented.

No products are formed starting from 2-picoline or 2,6-lutidine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]