Coenzyme Q10 supplementation alleviates pain in pregabalin-treated fibromyalgia patients via reducing brain activity and mitochondrial dysfunction

Although coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation has shown to reduce pain levels in chronic pain, the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on pain, anxiety, brain activity, mitochondrial oxidative stress, antioxidants, and inflammation in pregabalin-treated fibromyalgia (FM) patients have not clearly elucidated. We hypothesised that CoQ10 supplementation reduced pain better than pregabalin alone via reducing brain activity, mitochondrial oxidative stress, inflammation, and increasing antioxidant levels in pregabalin-treated FM patients. A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Eleven FM patients were enrolled with 2 weeks wash-out then randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups; pregabalin with CoQ10 or pregabalin with placebo for 40 d. Then, patients in CoQ10 group were switched to placebo, and patients in placebo group were switched to CoQ10 for another 40 d. Pain pressure threshold (PPT), FM questionnaire, anxiety, and pain score were examined. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated to investigate mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammation at day 0, 40, and 80. The level of antioxidants and brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan were also determined at these time points. Pregabalin alone reduced pain and anxiety via decreasing brain activity compared with their baseline. However, it did not affect mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammation. Supplementation with CoQ10 effectively reduced greater pain, anxiety and brain activity, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and inflammation. CoQ10 also increased a reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in FM patients. These findings provide new evidence that CoQ10 supplementation provides further benefit for relieving pain sensation in pregabalin-treated FM patients, possibly via improving mitochondrial function, reducing inflammation, and decreasing brain activity.     

Solid-phase synthesis and antibacterial activity of hydroxycinnamic acid amides and analogues against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus

A library of hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) and analogues were synthesized using solid-phase synthesis technique. These compounds were screened for antibacterial against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (11 strains) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) (4 strains). Dihydrocaffeoyl analogues showed activity against VRSA which were better than the reference drugs, vancomycin and oxacillin. These compounds also exhibited antibacterial activity against MRSA, which were more potent than oxacillin.     

Candida inhibitory effects of six commercial mouthwashes

TheCandida inhibitory activities of commercial mouthwashes with various, active ingredients — fluoride (FLO), cethylpyridinium chloride (CPC), chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), triclosan (TRI) and herbal extracts: Twin Lotus (TLO) and Herbric concentrated (HBC) — were determined. TheCandida activities included growth, germ tube formation and adhesion ofCandida albicans to human buccal mucosa. This study showed that TRI, TLO and CHX mouthwashes had growth inhibitory effects toC. albicans with the MIC of 1/64, 1/64 and 1/32, respectively. CHX, TRI, TLO, HBC and CPC mouthwashes had ability to inhibit adhesion ofC. albicans ATCC 10231 by approximately 85, 80, 70, 65 and 55%, respectively. Germ tube formation, or mycelial conversion, ofC. albicans was inhibited by approximately 90, 85 and 80% after treatment with 20% mouthwashes containing CHX, TRI and CPC, respectively. Fluoride mouthwash showed the weakest in all inhibitory activities. These results suggested that CHX and triclosan mouthwashes were effective in reducing oralCandida activities.     

Comprehensibility, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Thai version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire in Thai patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction  

The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) is a commonly used instrument to assess functional status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Translations and adaptations of the HAQ-DI have been carried out for use with RA patients in several countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the HAQ-DI (Thai HAQ) in Thai patients with RA.     

Evaluation of Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR kit’s performance to rapidly detect isoniazid and rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis from various clinical specimens

Molecular Biology Reports - To determine the accuracy of multiplex real-time PCR (Anyplex? II MTB/MDR kit) in detecting Isoniazid (INH)- and Rifampin (RIF)-resistant Mycobacterium...