Background: Presently, there is increasing public consciousness regarding the contamination and detection of microplastics (MPs) within the human body, and studies on the detection and characterization of MPs in human breast milk are limited. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of MPs found in human breast milk and examine the relationship between maternal hygiene practices, complications that may arise during breastfeeding, and the composition of the bacterial microbiota. Methods: Postpartum breast milk was analyzed for MPs using Raman micro-spectroscopy. The relationship between MP detection, maternal hygiene, breastfeeding complications, and bacterial microbiota was examined. In order to identify correlations and differences between groups that had detected and non-detected MPs, statistical analyses were performed, which involved demographic comparisons and correlation network analysis. Results: The mean age of the 59 postpartum women was 28.13 years. We found MPs in 38.98% of breast milk samples (23 of 59), exhibiting diverse morphological and chemical characteristics. Most MP polymers were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. Maternal hygiene and breastfeeding complications differed between the MPs-detected and non-detected groups. Maternal behaviors may influence the presence of microplastics in breast milk, which were associated with these differences. Bacterial microbiota analysis revealed significant taxonomic differences between the MPs-detected and non-detected groups. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus dominated the MPs-detected group, while Enterobacter, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter dominated the non-detected group. The MPs-detected group had a more even bacterial distribution, especially Bacteroides. Conclusions: This study found MPs in 38.98% of breast milk samples using Raman micro-spectrometry, with PP, PE, and PVC being the most common. Significant differences in maternal hygiene and breastfeeding complications were found between the groups with and without MPs. Breast milk microbiota may be linked to MP detection. Further study should be conducted to identify the possible maternal-child health.

: Exuberant inflammation manifesting as a “cytokine storm” has been suggested as a central feature in the pathogenesis of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study investigated two prognostic biomarkers, the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in patients with severe COVID-19 at the time of admission in the intensive care unit (ICU). Of 60 ICU patients with COVID-19 enrolled and analyzed in this prospective cohort study, 48 patients (80%) were alive at ICU discharge. HMGB1 and IL-6 plasma levels at ICU admission were elevated compared with a healthy control, both in ICU nonsurvivors and ICU survivors. HMGB1 and IL-6 plasma levels were higher in patients with a higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (> 10), and the presence of septic shock or acute kidney injury. HMGB1 and IL-6 plasma levels were also higher in patients with a poor oxygenation status (PaO₂/FiO₂ < 150 mm Hg) and a longer duration of ventilation (> 7 days). Plasma HMGB1 and IL-6 levels at ICU admission also correlated with other prognostic markers, including the maximum neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer levels, and C-reactive protein levels. Plasma HMGB1 and IL-6 levels at ICU admission predicted ICU mortality with comparable accuracy to the SOFA score and the COVID-GRAM risk score. Higher HMGB1 and IL-6 were not independently associated with ICU mortality after adjustment for age, gender, and comorbidities in multivariate analysis models. In conclusion, plasma HMGB1 and IL6 at ICU admission may serve as prognostic biomarkers in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

The Kheaw Hom remedy is a traditional Thai medicine widely used to treat fevers. Some plant ingredients in this remedy have been investigated for their antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. However, there have been no reports on the antimalarial activities of the medicinal plants in this remedy. Therefore, this study focuses on identifying potential antimalarial drug candidates from the medicinal plant ingredients of the Kheaw Hom remedy. Eighteen plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy were extracted using distilled water and ethanol. All extracts were investigated for their in vitro antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity. An extract that exhibited good in vitro antimalarial activity and low toxicity was selected for further investigation by using Peter’s 4-day suppressive test and an acute oral toxicity evaluation in mice. Based on the in vitro antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity studies, the ethanolic extract of Globba malaccensis rhizomes showed promising antimalarial activity against the Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain (IC₅₀ = 1.50 µg/mL) with less toxicity to Vero cells (CC₅₀ of >80 µg/mL). This extract exhibited a significant dose-dependent reduction in parasitemia in P. berghei-infected mice. The maximum suppressive effect of this extract (60.53%) was observed at the highest dose administered (600 mg/kg). In a single-dose acute toxicity test, the animals treated at 2000 mg/kg died within 48 h after extract administration. In conclusion, our study indicates that the ethanolic extract of G. malaccensis rhizomes exhibited in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activities, which could serve as a promising starting point for antimalarial drug.

Background: Kheaw Hom remedy is a traditional Thai medicine used to treat fever. Some plants used in the Kheaw Hom remedy show promising in vitro antimalarial activity. This study prepared novel formulations of plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy and evaluated their antimalarial and toxicological activities.Methods: Seven new formulations were prepared by combining at least three herbs of six selected plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy, namelyMammea siamensisKosterm.,Mesua ferreaL.,Dracaena loureiroiGagnep.,Pogostemon cablin(Blanco) Benth.,Kaempferia galangaL, andEupatorium stoechadosmumHance. In vitro antimalarial activities of each formulation’s aqueous and ethanolic extracts were evaluated using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxicity in Vero and HepG2 cells was assessed using the MTT assay. An extract with good antimalarial potency and selectivity index (SI) was selected for in vivo antimalarial activity using Peter’s 4-day suppressive test and acute oral toxicity test in mice. In addition, bioactive compounds were identified using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.Results: Among the seven new formulations, ethanolic extracts of CPF-1 (Formulation 1) showed the highest activity with an IC₅₀value of 1.32 ± 0.66 µg/ml, followed by ethanolic extracts of Formulation 4 and Formulation 6 with an IC₅₀value of 1.52 ± 0.28 µg/ml and 2.48 ± 0.34 µg/ml, respectively. The highest SI values were obtained for the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 that was selected to confirm its in vivo antimalarial activity and toxicity. The results demonstrated a significant dose-dependent reduction in parasitemia. Maximum suppressive effect of the extract (72.01%) was observed at the highest dose administered (600 mg/kg). No significant toxicity was observed after the administration of 2000 mg/kg. Using GC-MS analysis, the most abundant compound in the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 was ethylp-methoxycinnamate (14.32%), followed by 2-propenoic acid, 3-phenyl-, ethyl ester, (E)- (2.50%), and pentadecane (1.85%).Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of CPF-1 showed promising in vitro and in vivo antimalarial efficacy, with no toxic effects at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, suggesting that the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 may serves as a new herbal formulation for the treatment of malaria. Additional research is required for safety and clinical pharmacology studies.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) primarily affects older women, with limited data on premenopausal cases, especially among Asians. Severe pelvic floor symptoms, including urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction, remain understudied in this population. This study aimed to describe symptom severity and treatment outcomes in premenopausal POP patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on premenopausal POP patients at a university hospital over six years. The Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire (PFBQ) assessed symptom severity, and treatment outcomes were evaluated over two years. Data were presented as counts with percentages or means with standard deviations. Among 87 women (mean age 44.8 ± 4.9 years), 12 (13.8%) had stage I, 47 (54.0%) stage II, 24 (27.7%) stage III, and 4 (4.6%) stage IV POP. Common comorbidities included dyslipidemia (13.8%), diabetes mellitus (11.5%), and thyroid disease (10.3%). Six patients had connective tissue diseases or nerve damage. Premenopausal women accounted for approximately 5.6% (87 out of 1,567) of all new POP cases in this population. The most bothersome symptoms were prolapse bulging (83.9%), urinary frequency (58.6%), and urgency (49.4%). Treatment included pelvic floor muscle training (10%), pessary use (28%), and surgery (62%). Vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic floor repair was most common, with 8 colpocleisis cases. Symptom improvement at two years was highest after surgery (90.1%), followed by pessary (82.6%) and pelvic floor training (68.3%). This study highlights the burden of POP and pelvic floor symptoms in Thai women, emphasizing the need for tailored management strategies.

Aging increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (PD and AD) which are potentially linked to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Paracetamol (APAP) is known for its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties; however, its potential neuroprotective effects against age‐related oxidative stress and neuroinflammation remain inadequately investigated. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether low‐dose APAP could mitigate oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in a D‐galactose (D‐gal)‐induced aging model. In our study, fifty adult male ICR mice were divided into five groups ( n = 10). Except for the normal control group, all mice received D‐gal subcutaneous injections (200 mg/kg) and were fed vehicle, 15 or 50 mg/kg APAP, or 100 mg/kg vitamin E daily for six weeks. After treatment, liver function was assessed by serum liver enzyme analysis. The liver and brain pathologies were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Brain oxidative stress was evaluated through malondialdehyde (MDA) measurement. Additionally, immunohistochemistry was used to determine levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, TGF‐β, and IL‐10) and the oxidative stress marker, NADPH Oxidase 4 (NOX4). The study found no significant changes in serum liver enzymes or liver morphology among the experimental groups. However, the D‐gal group exhibited increased neuronal cell loss, along with elevated levels of MDA and NOX4 in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, D‐gal mice showed elevated levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and TGF‐β, accompanied by decreased IL‐10 levels. Notably, treatment with low‐dose APAP and vitamin E mitigated neuronal cell loss, decreased MDA levels, and attenuated NOX4 expression induced by D‐gal injection. Furthermore, low‐dose APAP, particularly at 50 mg/kg, and vitamin E reversed the alterations in TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐10 induced by D‐gal, while TGF‐β was unaffected. We suggest that low‐dose APAP exerts antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities to protect against neurodegeneration in a mouse model of brain aging induced by chronic D‐gal injection.