Introduction: The mechanisms by which cyclophosphamide can alter intestinal homeostasis include oxidative stress, inflammatory signalling, and changes in the gut microbiota. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Urolithin A on gut dysbiosis and molecular changes in rats induced by cyclophosphamide. Methods: There were four groups of animals: Control (T1), cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg (T2), cyclophosphamide plus Urolithin A 25 mg/kg/day (T3), and cyclophosphamide plus Urolithin A 50 mg/kg/day (T4), with 60 albino rats in total. The relative expression of mRNA for Nrf2, HO-1, TLR4, and NF-κB was measured by RT-qPCR, and the composition and diversity of gut microbes were measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Cyclophosphamide reduced Nrf2 expression from 1.00 ± 0.04 to 0.42 ± 0.03 and HO-1 from 1.00 ± 0.06 to 0.48 ± 0.04, while increasing TLR4 to 2.89 ± 0.07 and NF-κB to 3.17 ± 0.12. High-dose Urolithin A increased Nrf2 and HO-1 to 1.05 ± 0.06 and 1.13 ± 0.04 and reduced TLR4 and NF-κB to 1.16 ± 0.06 and 1.26 ± 0.07, respectively. Cyclophosphamide also appeared to negatively affect the levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, increase the levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, decrease the diversity and richness of microbes, and increase the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in the gut. In general, the higher dose of Urolithin A (50 mg/kg) showed values that were more closely comparable to those of the control group, though the effect of Urolithin A was only seen in a dose-associated manner. Conclusion: The results here suggest that Urolithin A could attenuate the molecular and microbial disruptions of the intestine induced by cyclophosphamide, but more mechanistic work is needed to confirm causality and protein-level activity of the pathways.
Introduction: Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) have been widely used for fluid replacement in clinical settings. Some studies have considered oral rehydration an alternative to intravenous hydration to prevent chemotherapy-induced nephrotoxicity. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a ready-to-use ORS for hydrating cancer patients before chemotherapy. Methods: Eight chemotherapy patients at risk of dehydration were selected. Patients received ready-to-use ORS for three days before chemotherapy and were evaluated before and after chemotherapy over 4 cycles of treatment. Results: One patient died before the final evaluation. At baseline, none of the patients had either suitable hydration level or normal diuresis; 7 of them showed dehydrated mucous membranes. After the hydration protocol, 5 patients had suitable hydration level; urine concentration was normal in 6 patients; mucous membranes were hydrated in all 7 patients. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness and usefulness of oral rehydration after chemotherapy. The present study showed that administration of ready-to-use ORS before chemotherapy improved hydration levels. Conclusion: Ready-to-use oral rehydration solution can be used for hydration of cancer patients, with advantages in terms of convenience, acceptability, safety, and time. Studies with more patients may lead to definitive conclusions on its use in these conditions.
Introduction: The chemical identity, abundance, and matrix distribution of bioactive compounds from plants are gaining increasing importance in nutritional biochemistry due to their influence on the functional properties of botanical materials. Chemically diverse groups consisting of phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other secondary metabolites are found in many plant materials, including several found in dietary matrices. Objective: It was to obtain the quantitative biochemical profile of selected bioactive constituents in leaves of Ziziphus spina-christi using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled with the assessment of functional antibacterial activity of the characterized extract against selected multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative clinical isolates. Materials and Methods: The leaves of Z. spina-christi were Soxhlet-extracted with ethyl acetate and characterized by HPLC. Thirty MDR Gram-negative isolates from burn infections—10 Escherichia coli, 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 10 Klebsiella pneumoniae—were used for determination of antibacterial activity. Inhibition zones and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using both agar well diffusion and resazurin-based microdilution assays. Triplicate testing for antibacterial activity was performed for each isolate. Results: HPLC revealed the presence of gallic acid (761.0 ppm/mL), caffeine (83.0 ppm/mL), and quercetin (2.2 ppm/mL), with a combined quantified concentration of 846.2 ppm/mL. The compound with the highest abundance in the profile was gallic acid, representing about 89.9%. The largest diameter of the zone of inhibition was seen for E. coli (20–22 mm), followed by K. pneumoniae (18–19 mm) and P. aeruginosa (16–17 mm). The MIC values for E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae were 6.25, 12.5, and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The biochemical profile of the leaves of Z. spina-christi was evident and predominantly included gallic acid and was found to possess measurable antibacterial activity against the investigated MDR Gram-negative pathogens. The combination of the biochemical composition with a defined functional endpoint offers a basis for further investigation of the bioactives of Sidr leaf and their nutritional importance, in addition to their bioaccessibility. Graphical Abstract
Introduction: Population aging has become a major global public health and social issue, and China is one of the countries experiencing the most rapid population aging. According to recent demographic statistics, the proportion of older adults in China continues to increase, creating substantial challenges for the country's health care and elderly care systems. There may be a significant association between overall functional ability and elderly care satisfaction among rural older adults. Objective: It was to examine the relationship between functional ability and elderly care satisfaction among rural older adults and to provide evidence for developing interventions aimed at improving functional ability and enhancing subjective satisfaction with elderly care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 433 older adults aged 65 years and above in ethnic villages of Yunnan Province, China. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize demographic characteristics, living conditions, and functional ability. Chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to examine the associations between demographic factors, functional ability, and elderly care satisfaction. Results: One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in overall functional ability among older adults with different levels of elderly care satisfaction (F = 3.047, p = 0.029), indicating that higher functional ability was associated with greater satisfaction with elderly care. Conclusion: Functional ability is an important determinant of elderly care satisfaction among older adults in rural ethnic villages. Improving older adults' functional ability through health support, daily care services, and skill training may effectively enhance their subjective satisfaction with elderly care and improve their overall quality of later life. Graphical Abstract
Introduction: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is an important component of healthy ageing among elderly nursing home residents. Poor oral health in this population often manifests as tooth loss, impaired mastication, malnutrition, increased digestive burden, and poorer general health. However, the mechanisms through which oral health literacy is associated with OHRQoL remain unclear, particularly in multi-ethnic regions of China. Objective: This study used the Knowledge–Attitude–Practice (KAP) framework to examine the relationships among oral health literacy (OHL), oral health self-efficacy (OHSE), oral health behaviors (OHB), and OHRQoL among nursing home older adults in Guangxi, China. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was adopted. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 789 older adults from five nursing homes in Guangxi, China. OHRQoL, OHL, OHSE, and OHB were measured using the GOHAI, HeLD-14, GSEOH, and OHB-6 scales, respectively. Pearson correlation and PROCESS Model 6 with 5,000 bootstrap resamples were used to test the proposed KAP pathway. A total of 15 participants were selected for semi-structured interviews based on GOHAI score level, denture use, and the presence of oral-related chronic diseases. Results: The mean GOHAI score was 42.90 ± 11.78, falling within the commonly used low-score range (≤50). OHRQoL was positively associated with OHL, OHSE, and OHB (all p < 0.001). Mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects the sequential pathway OHL → OHSE → OHB → OHRQoL (95% CI: 0.011–0.029). The total indirect effect accounted for 61.3% of the total effect. Conclusions: The findings provide empirical support for the KAP framework, demonstrating that oral health literacy influences OHRQoL both directly and indirectly through enhanced self-efficacy and healthier oral health behaviors. Oral health promotion programs for nursing home residents should integrate literacy enhancement, self-efficacy strengthening, and behavioral support strategies to improve OHRQoL. Graphical Abstract Description
