Amiodarone is a benzofuran class III antiarrhythmic drug used to treat a wide spectrum of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The parenteral formulation is prepared in polysorbate 80 diluent. We report an unusual case of acute elevation of aminotransaminase concentrations after the initiation of intravenous amiodarone. An 88-year-old Caucasian female developed acute hepatitis and renal failure after initiating intravenous amiodarone for atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response in the setting of acutely decompensated heart failure and hepatic congestion. Liver transaminases returned to baseline within 7 days after discontinuing the drug. Researchers hypothesized that this type of injury is related to liver ischemia with possible superimposed direct drug toxicity. The CIOMS/RUCAM scale identifies our patient’s acute hepatitis as a highly probable adverse drug reaction. Future research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which hyperacute drug toxicity occurs in the setting of impaired hepatic perfusion and venous congestion.

(1) Plants, due to their phytochemicals, have long been known for their pharmacological potential and medicinal value. Verjuice, the acidic juice of unripe green grape, is still poorly characterized in terms of its chemical composition and biological activities. (2) In this study, we characterized the chemical composition, antioxidant and antitumor potential of verjuice extract. Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride reagents were used to identify the total phenol and total flavonoid composition. Various conventional methods were used to quantify the alkaloids and tannins. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay and Neutral Red assay were used to assess the antioxidant and antitumor activities, respectively. (3) We showed that the verjuice extract contains alkaloids, tannins, and a high quantity of total flavonoids and total phenols. Besides its antioxidant activity, verjuice significantly repressed human pulmonary adenocarcinoma (A549) cells’ viability in both dose- and time-dependent manners. Moreover, verjuice extract significantly enhanced the anticancer potential of cisplatin. (4) Altogether, these observations suggest a potential use of verjuice as a natural antitumor remedy.

The skin serves as the body’s first line of defense, guarding against mechanical, chemical, and thermal damage to the interior organs. It includes a highly developed immune response that serves as a barrier against pathogenic infections. Wound healing is a dynamic process underpinned by numerous cellular activities, including homeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, that require proper harmonious integration to effectively repair the damaged tissue. Following cutaneous damage, microorganisms can quickly enter the tissues beneath the skin, which can result in chronic wounds and fatal infections. Natural phytomedicines that possess considerable pharmacological properties have been widely and effectively employed forwound treatment and infection prevention. Since ancient times, phytotherapy has been able to efficiently treat cutaneous wounds, reduce the onset of infections, and minimize the usage of antibiotics that cause critical antibiotic resistance. There are a remarkable number of wound-healing botanicals that have been widely used in the Northern Hemisphere, including Achiella millefolium, Aloe vera, Althaea officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Curcuma longa, Eucalyptus, Jojoba, plantain, pine, green tea, pomegranate, and Inula. This review addresses the most often used medicinal plants from the Northern Hemisphere that facilitate the treatment of wounds, and also suggests viable natural alternatives that can be used in the field of wound care.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death worldwide. Depending on the severity of the injury, TBI can reflect a broad range of consequences such as speech impairment, memory disturbances, and premature death. In this study, embryonic neural stem cells (ENSC) were isolated from E14 mouse embryos and cultured to produce neurospheres which were induced to generate differentiated cells (DC). As a cell replacement treatment option, we aimed to transplant ENSC or DC into the adult injured C57BL/6 mouse cortex controlled cortical impact (CCI) model, 7 days post-trauma, in comparison to saline injection (control). The effect of grafted cells on neuroinflammation and neurogenesis was investigated at 1 and 4 weeks post-transplantation. Results showed that microglia were activated following mild CCI, but not enhanced after engraftment of ENSC or DC. Indeed, ipsilateral lesioned somatosensory area expressed high levels of Iba-1+ microglia within the different groups after 1 and 4 weeks. On the other hand, treatment with ENSC or DC demonstrated a significant reduction in astrogliosis. The levels of GFAP expressing astrocytes started decreasing early (1 week) in the ENSC group and then were similarly low at 4 weeks in both ENSC and DC. Moreover, neurogenesis was significantly enhanced in ENSC and DC groups. Indeed, a significant increase in the number of DCX expressing progenitor cells was observed at 1 week in the ENSC group, and in DC and ENSC groups at 4 weeks. Furthermore, the number of mature neuronal cells (NeuN+) significantly increased in DC group at 4 weeks whereas they decreased in ENSC group at 1 week. Therefore, injection of ENSC or DC post-CCI caused decreased astrogliosis and suggested an increased neurogenesis via inducing neural progenitor proliferation and expression rather than neuronal maturation. Thus, ENSC may play a role in replacing lost cells and brain repair following TBI by improving neurogenesis and reducing neuroinflammation, reflecting an optimal environment for transplanted and newly born cells.

Traumatic brain injury, often referred to as the "silent epidemic," is a nondegenerative, non-congenital insult to the brain due to a blow or penetrating object that disrupts the function of the brain leading to permanent or temporary impairment of cognition, physical and psychosocial functions. Traumatic brain injury usually has poor prognosis for long-term treatment and is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide; approximately 10 million deaths and/or hospitalizations annually are directly related to traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury involves primary and secondary insults. Primary injury occurs during the initial insult, and results from direct or indirect force applied to the physical structures of the brain. Secondary injury is characterized by longer-term degeneration of neurons, glial cells, and vascular tissues due to activation of several proteases, glutamate and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. In addition, there is growing evidence that the blood-brain barrier is involved in the course of traumatic brain injury pathophysiology and has detrimental effects on the overall pathology of brain trauma, as will be discussed in this work.

A key concern in agriculture is how to feed the expanding population and safeguard the environment from the ill effects of climate change. To feed a growing global population, food production and security are significant problems, as food output may need to double by 2050. Thus, more innovative and effective approaches for increasing agricultural productivity (hence, food production) are required to meet the rising demand for food. The world’s most widely cultivated grains include corn, wheat, and rice, which serve as the foundation for basic foods. This review focuses on some of the key most up-to-date approaches that boost wheat, rice, corn, barley, and oat yields with insight into how molecular technology and genetics may raise the production and resource-efficient use of these important grains. Although red light management and genetic manipulation show maximal grain yield enhancement, other covered strategies including bacterial-nutrient management, solar brightening, facing abiotic stress through innovative agricultural systems, fertilizer management, harmful gas emissions reduction, photosynthesis enhancement, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and varietal improvement also enhance grain production and increase plant resistance to harmful environmental circumstances. This study also discusses the potential challenges of the addressed approaches and possible future perspectives.

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