BackgroundMicroscopic analysis of urine sediment is probably the most commonly used diagnostic procedure in nephrology. The urinary cells, however, have not yet undergone careful unbiased characterization.MethodsSingle-cell transcriptomic analysis was performed on 17 urine samples obtained from five subjects at two different occasions, using both spot and 24-hour urine collection. A pooled urine sample from multiple healthy individuals served as a reference control. In total 23,082 cells were analyzed. Urinary cells were compared with human kidney and human bladder datasets to understand similarities and differences among the observed cell types.ResultsAlmost all kidney cell types can be identified in urine, such as podocyte, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, and collecting duct, in addition to macrophages, lymphocytes, and bladder cells. The urinary cell–type composition was subject specific and reasonably stable using different collection methods and over time. Urinary cells clustered with kidney and bladder cells, such as urinary podocytes with kidney podocytes, and principal cells of the kidney and urine, indicating their similarities in gene expression.ConclusionsA reference dataset for cells in human urine was generated. Single-cell transcriptomics enables detection and quantification of almost all types of cells in the kidney and urinary tract.

The knowledge of Iranian population about CKD and its risk factors is low. Future public health education programs should put efforts in educating Iranian community about the asymptomatic nature of CKD in its initial stages and highlighting the importance of regular renal care counseling. The high-risk individuals should receive tailored education and be encouraged to adopt lifestyle modifications to prevent or slow the progression of CKD.

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Primary biological examination of four extracts of the leaves and stems of Hyptis atrorubens Poit. (Lamiaceae), a plant species used as an antimicrobial agent in Guadeloupe, allowed us to select the hydromethanolic extract of the stems for further studies. It was tested against 46 microorganisms in vitro. It was active against 29 microorganisms. The best antibacterial activity was found against bacteria, mostly Gram-positive ones. Bioautography enabled the isolation and identification of four antibacterial compounds from this plant: rosmarinic acid, methyl rosmarinate, isoquercetin, and hyperoside. The MIC and MBC values of these compounds and their combinations were determined against eight pathogenic bacteria. The best inhibitory and bactericidal activity was found for methyl rosmarinate (0.3 mg/mL). Nevertheless, the bactericidal power of rosmarinic acid was much faster in the time kill study. Synergistic effects were found when combining the active compounds. Finally, the inhibitory effects of the compounds were evaluated on the bacterial growth phases at two different temperatures. Our study demonstrated for the first time antimicrobial activity of Hyptis atrorubens with identification of the active compounds. It supports its traditional use in French West Indies. Although its active compounds need to be further evaluated in vivo, this work emphasizes plants as potent sources of new antimicrobial agents when resistance to antibiotics increases dramatically.

This study presents the chemical profile investigation of a 70% ethanol extract obtained from Scabiosa stellata, a medicinal herbaceous traditionally used to treat heel cracks. A C NMR-based dereplication methodology was firstly applied on centrifugal partition chromatography-generated fractions in order to quickly identify the major compounds of the extract. The dereplication process was then completed by semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography in order to identify unknown or minor compounds. Two new bis-iridoids, namely 7-O-caffeoyl-sylvestroside I (1) and 7-O-(p-coumaroyl)-sylvestroside I (2), together with ten known compounds (3-12) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The antibacterial, anti-tyrosinase and DPPH radical scavenging activities of the crude extract, fractions, and isolated compounds were evaluated. A significant antibacterial activity was observed for nine isolated compounds, particularly 1 and 2 which yielded MIC values of 31.2μg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis and 62.5μg/mL against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The cytotoxic activity of these new bis-iridoids was evaluated on a fibrosarcoma cell line (HT1080) and only compound 1 exhibited a moderate cytotoxic activity (IC 35.9μg/mL).

Wood residues produced from forestry activities represent an interesting source of biologically active, high value-added secondary metabolites. In this study, 30 extracts from 10?barks of deciduous and coniferous tree species were investigated for their potential dermo-cosmetic use. The extracts were obtained from Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Alnus glutinosa, Prunus avium, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus robusta, Larix decidua, Picea abies, and Populus tremula after three successive solid/liquid extractions of the barks with n-heptane, methanol, and methanol/water. All extracts were evaluated for their radical scavenging capacity, for their elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, as well as for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. In parallel, the global metabolite profiles of all extracts were established by 1D and 2D?NMR and related to their biological activity. The results showed that the methanol extracts of Q. robur, A.?glutinosa, L.?decidua, and P. abies barks exhibit particularly high activities on most bioassays, suggesting their promising use as active ingredients in the dermo-cosmetic industry.

Abstract:Common spruce (Picea abies L.) is a fast-growing coniferous tree, widely used in several countries for the production of sawn wood, timber and pulp. During this industrial exploitation, large quantities of barks are generated as waste materials. The aim of this study was the bio-guided investigation and the effective recovery of methanol-soluble metabolites of common spruce bark for the development of new dermo-cosmetic agents. The active methanol extract was initially fractionated by Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) using a triphasic solvent system in a step-gradient elution mode. All resulting fractions were evaluated for their antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity and their capability to inhibit tyrosinase, elastase and collagenase activity. In parallel, the chemical composition of each fraction was established by combining a 13 C-NMR dereplication approach and 2D-NMR analyses. As a result, fourteen secondary metabolites corresponding to stilbene, flavonoid and phenolic acid derivatives were directly identified in the CPC fractions. A high amount (0.93 g) of E-astringin was recovered from 3 g of crude extract in a single 125 min run. E-Astringin significantly induced the tyrosinase activity while E-piceid, taxifolin, and taxifolin-3 -O-glucopyranoside exhibited significant anti-tyrosinase activity. The above compounds showed important anti-collagenase and antimicrobial activities, thus providing new perspectives for potential applications as cosmetic ingredients.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the overall estimates of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve measured by ultrasonography in accordance with the electrodiagnostic classification of carpal tunnel syndrome severity. Design MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), and Web of Science were searched for studies reporting the median nerve cross-sectional area measured by ultrasonography for mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome based on electrodiagnostic study. Cross-sectional area values measured at the carpal tunnel inlet were included in the analyses. Results Overall, 866 citations were retrieved and checked for eligibility. Finally, 16 articles were included for meta-analysis. These studies included a total sample of 2292 wrists including 776 mild, 823 moderate, and 693 severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The pooled analysis revealed a mean cross-sectional area of 11.64 mm2 (95% confidence interval = 11.23–12.05 mm2, P < 0.001) for mild carpal tunnel syndrome, a mean cross-sectional area of 13.74 mm2 (95% confidence interval = 12.59–14.89 mm2, P < 0.001) for moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, and a mean cross-sectional area of 16.80 mm2 (95% confidence interval = 14.50–19.1 mm2, P < 0.001) for severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Conclusions This is the first meta-analysis that provides the pooled median nerve cross-sectional area values in accordance with the electrodiagnostic classification of carpal tunnel syndrome severity. The values obtained in this study have clinical utility in ultrasonographic assessment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.