Hunt, N. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

Virucidal activity of Nasaleze Cold(R) & Flu Blocker and Nasaleze(R) Travel in cell cultures infected with human pathogenic coronavirus 229-E

This in vitro study determined the anti-viral efficacy of a unique blend of powder cellulose supplemented with powdered garlic extract (PGE) and a signalling agent. The composition, presented as Nasaleze(R) Cold & Flu Blocker/Nasaleze(R) Travel, was assessed against Human Coronavirus 229E, CoV 229E {ATCC VR-740} in an in vitro experiment. The test substance was used at sub-optimal dosing levels to explore its prevention and treatment capabilities. The virucidal activity of this novel formulation was measured at 48, 72 and 112 hour periods after incubation. Results showed strong reductions in viral titre of Coronavirus 229E compared to a control, while no toxicity to human cells from the test formulation was noted. The extract Nasaleze(R) Cold/Travel showed potential to be used as a therapeutic and preventive agent. The data reconfirms the established anti-viral activity of this formulation acting as a barrier preventing the virus from accessing the nasal mucosa and disrupting its replication.1,2,3

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2018

Activity-is better than connectivity-neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease

Non-invasive methods, such as neurofeedback training (NFT), could support cognitive symptom management in Huntingtons disease (HD) by targeting brain regions whose function is impaired. The aim of our single-blind, sham-controlled study was to collect rigorous evidence regarding the feasibility of NFT in HD by examining two different methods, activity and connectivity real-time fMRI NFT. Thirty-two HD gene-carriers completed 16 runs of NFT training, using an optimized real-time fMRI protocol. Participants were randomized into four groups, two treatment groups, one receiving neurofeedback derived from the activity of the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA), and another receiving neurofeedback based on the correlation of SMA and left striatum activity (connectivity NFT), and two sham control groups, matched to each of the treatment groups. We examined differences between the groups during NFT training sessions and after training at follow-up sessions. Transfer of training was measured by measuring the participants ability to upregulate NFT target levels without feedback (near transfer), as well as by examining change in objective, a-priori defined, behavioural measures of cognitive and psychomotor function (far transfer) before and at 2 months after training. We found that the treatment group had significantly higher NFT target levels during the training sessions compared to the control group. However, we did not find robust evidence of better transfer in the treatment group compared to controls, or a difference between the two NFT methods. We also did not find evidence in support of a relationship between change in cognitive and psychomotor function and NFT learning success. We conclude that although there is evidence that NFT can be used to guide participants to regulate the activity and connectivity of specific regions in the brain, evidence regarding transfer of learning and clinical benefit was not robust. Although the intervention is non-invasive, given the costs and absence of reliable evidence of clinical benefit, we cannot recommend real-time fMRI NFT as a potential intervention in HD.

neuroscience↗