No abstract

The content of 27 cytokines was measured in blood plasma from 19 children with severe uncomplicated burns (group 1) and complicated burns (septic toxemia, toxemia, and pneumonia; group 2). Before surgical treatment (day 4 (+/-2) after burn), significant differences were found in the concentrations of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, MCP-1, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Cytokine concentration in group 2 patients was much higher than in group 1 patients and healthy children. The concentrations of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and MCP-1 in group 1 patients significantly surpassed the normal level. Cytokine concentration in the plasma and wound exudates and myeloperoxidase activity in wound exudates from 4 patients of group 2 were measured over 18 days after burn. The inflammatory response was characterized by an increase in the content of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-8, MCP-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, MIP-1alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the wound (as compared to that in the plasma). Activity of myeloperoxidase in all patients was shown to correlate with the amount of MIP-1alpha (r=0.47), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (r=0.47), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (r=0.55, p<0.05). Interleukin-8 concentration was beyond the limits of calibration. No correlation was found between the concentration of any of 27 cytokines in blood plasma and exudate. Our results indicate that during active surgical treatment, the wound serves as the source of inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines play a role in the systemic response and increase the degree of local inflammation, which modulates the number and activity of wound neutrophils.

Full-thickness skin wounds (460 mm(2)) in rats were associated with increased blood chemiluminescence and neutrophil infiltration of the wound tissue and surrounding skin (recorded by myeloperoxidase activity). Activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase in the skin and wound tissue increased on days 4 and 8. A correlation was revealed between activities of these enzymes and myeloperoxidase activity. Activities of myeloperoxidase and catalase increased in patient's skin excised during plastic surgeries of more than 2.5 h duration.

Food supplements based on fermented Carica papaya and Morinda citrifolia, known for their immune modulating, redox balancing, and anti-inflammatory effects, were added to conventional treatment protocols prescribed to patients recovering after severe and moderate COVID-19 disease in order to alleviate long-lasting post-COVID symptoms. A randomized single-center placebo-controlled clinical laboratory study was designed and performed (total number of participants 188, with delta variant of virus 157, with omicron 31). Clinical statuses were assessed using computer tomography, electrocardiography, a questionnaire, and physical endurance. Plasma cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, and INF-gamma), nitrate/nitrite ratio, antioxidant activity (AOA), and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) ATP levels were determined before and 20 days following the addition of 28 g of fermented supplements twice per day. The capacity of PMN to phagocyte and the oral-nasal-pharyngeal microbiota were assessed. Clinical symptoms, IL-6, IL-8, and nitric oxide metabolites diminished significantly compared to the placebo group and their background expression. The PMN capacity to phagocyte, AOA, and ATP content remarkably increased. The oral-nasal-pharyngeal microbiota were unchanged. On these grounds, we suggest that fermented tropical fruits could efficiently diminish post-COVID clinical symptoms through several immune-modulating, redox balancing, and pro-energy mechanisms.

No abstract