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The aim of the present study was to assess the wound healing efficacy of the experimental medicinal extract mixture (EMEM) composed of brown algae, Cystoseira trinodis, plus three medicinal plants (garlic, liquorice and ginger). The extract was applied on induced excised wounds in rats, either healthy or induced hyperglycemia by alloxan. Healing activity was evaluated for up to 21 days after wounding in terms of decrease in surface area of wound, percentage of wound closure and tissue regeneration using digital planimetry analysis and histopathological examination. The study revealed that topical application of the extract improved and enhanced the healing process in diabetic rat model when compared with diabetic non-treated rats. The extract promoted wound contraction, reduced the wound closure time and induced proliferation of fibroblast as well as angiogenesis and re-epithelialization.

Calligonum comosum (C. comosum) is an Egyptian desert plant that contains polyphenol antioxidants. The present study examined the chemopreventive effect of an extract of C. comosum in a rat model of hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Wistar rats (n=40) were administered 100 mg/kg diethylnitrosamine (DEN) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection once a week for 3 weeks. Subsequently, depending on whether the rats received further administration of 0.8 mg/kg carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) i.p. once a week for 7 weeks and 100 mg/kg C. comosum extract in their diet for 7 weeks, the rats were divided into four groups as follows: Group 1, treatment with DEN alone; group 2, treatment with DEN and C. comosum extract; group 3, treatment with DEN and CCl4; and group 4, treatment with DEN, CCl4 and C. comosum extract. The supplementation of C. comosum extract significantly suppressed the elevation in serum liver enzyme levels, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and γ-glutamyl transferase, and reduced the degree of oval cell proliferation induced by DEN and CCl4. In addition, C. comosum extract significantly decreased the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive preneoplastic hepatic foci induced by DEN, with or without CCl4 treatment. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to provide definitive evidence of the hepatoprotective and chemopreventive effects of C. comosum.

Hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to play a role in the development of liver steatosis and insulin resistance, which are both common characteristics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It was hypothesized that the antioxidant properties of melatonin could potentially improve the impaired functions of hepatic mitochondria in diabetic obese animals. Male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and lean littermates (ZL) were given either melatonin (10 mg/kg BW/day) orally for 6 wk (M-ZDF and M-ZL) or vehicle as control groups (C-ZDF and C-ZL). Hepatic function was evaluated by measurement of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels, liver histopathology and electron microscopy, and hepatic mitochondrial functions. Several impaired functions of hepatic mitochondria were observed in C-ZDF in comparison with C-ZL rats. Melatonin treatment to ZDF rats decreases serum levels of ALT (P

A single morphologic type of Sarcocystis cysts found in two out of 43 examined common coots, Fulica atra, is considered to represent a new species for which the name Sarcocystis atraii n. sp. is proposed and its description is provided. Coots were hunted from the vicinity of Brolos Lake located at KafrElsheikh province, Egypt. The structural morphology of the revealed sarcocysts was described using light and transmission electron microscopy. Sarcocysts were found in the leg and thigh muscles. The cysts were microscopic and measured 165−850 μm in length × 50−85 μm in width. Histologically; the sarcocyst wall was wavy and had minute undulations. Ultrastructurally, it measured 1−3 μm in thickness and possessed many mushroom-like villar protrusions sometimes originating from other mushroom-like villar protrusions that measured approximately 0.5−2 μm in length and up to 2 μm in width, with the presence of electron dense ground substance of 300 nm to 1 μm thick. The bradyzoites were elongated, banana-shaped and measured 7.5−14 × 1.5−2.5 μm, with centrally or terminally located nuclei. The ultrastructural features of the cyst wall belonged to type 24. On the basis of sequencing and phylogenic analyses for 18S rRNA , 28S rRNA genes and ITS-1 region; S. atraii n. sp. is considered a genetically distinct species, being most closely related to avian Sarcocystis spp. whose definitive hosts are predatory mammals.

Lead is a highly prevalent heavy metal pollutant in human and animals which has various toxicological effects on the different organs including reproductive system on particular aspect the male testis. Lead (Pb) exposure enhances the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which negatively affect testis structure and functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of garlic supplement on daily basis and its prophylactic possibility against lead acetate induced testicular dysfunction. Thirty two adult male rats were divided to four groups, eight animals per each. All animals were maintained under standard laboratory conditions with free access to suitable diet and water supply. The 1st group was supplied with water and diet and kept without further treatment as a negative control. The 2nd group was treated by lead acetate( 50mg/L) daily in drinking water as a positive control. The 3rd group was administered commercial garlic powder preparation only (200 mg/kg b.w.) by stomach tube. The 4th group was co-treated with lead acetate in drinking water plus garlic in same doses by stomach tube. Then, all animals were scarified after 42 days for clean excision of epididymis and testes. Semen was collected and analyzed for count, motility and viability. Testicular tissues sections were prepared, stained and examined. Oxidative stress markers, SOD and MDA were determined in testicular tissue homogenate. Immunostaining was carried out on sections of testicular tissue for detection of proapoptotic markers caspase-3 and Bax expression. Finally, the level of expression of Bcl-2 and P53 genes was measured in testicular tissue samples as well. The data summary obtained from co treated group signified the protective effect of garlic against potential lead acetate induced undesired testicular apoptosis.

Paratanaisia spp. was recorded from the right kidney of a cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) in Kafr Elsheikh governorate, Nile Delta, Egypt. The bird showed marked emaciation and dissipation. Necropsy findings revealed marked enlargement and brownish discoloration of the kidney. Microscopic examination demonstrated marked dilatation of renal tubules with hyperplasia of lining epithelium due to presence of a trematode consistent withParatanaisia spp. Eggs of this parasite were also noticed deeply within the interstitial tissue, surrounded with mononuclear cell infiltration, thus indicating their pathogenic potential. This result is the first report of trematodes of this genus parasitizing the kidneys of cattle egrets. Paratanaisia spp. foi registrada no rim direito de um garça-vaqueira (Bubulcus ibis) na região de Kafr Elsheikh, Delta do Nilo, Egito. O pássaro se mostrava bastante emaciado com características consumptivas. Achados de necropsia revelaram acentuado aumento do rim, que estava com descoloração amarronzada. O exame microscópico mostrou importante dilatação dos túbulos renais com hiperplasia epitelial devida á presença de um trematódeo consistente com Paratanaisia spp. Ovos deste parasita foram também encontrados na profundidade do tecido intersticial, com infiltração de células mononucleares, indicando assim potencial patogênico. Este resultado é o primeiro relato deste gênero de trematódeo parasitando rins de garça-vaqueiras.

Hematological findings in a female killer whale ( Orcinus orca) undergoing rehabilitation after sudden severe anorexia revealed continuing increases in serum lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase activities as well as fibrinogen concentration. Serologic evidence of herpesvirus infection and skin vesicles were detected 2 weeks into the treatment regimen of antibiotics and corticosteroids. The whale showed signs of improvement after treatment with anti-herpesvirus drugs, but sudden severe anorexia reappeared, along with marked elevation of fibrinogen concentration that continued until the death. Postmortem examination revealed multiple light tan foci of necrosis in the skeletal and cardiac muscles, and lung consolidation. Microscopic findings indicated disseminated fungal granulomas in the skeletal and cardiac muscles, as well as myocarditis, mycotic embolic thromboarteritis of cardiac blood vessels, and bronchopneumonia with numerous typical Aspergillus-like fungi. Mucor-like structures in granulomas in the heart and skeletal muscle and Aspergillus-like fungi in the lungs were identified using periodic acid–Schiff, Gomori methenamine silver stain, and immunohistochemistry. The present case involves dual infection with Mucor and Aspergillus species in a killer whale with concurrent herpesvirus.

An adult female killer whale (Orcinus orca) was transported to the Port of Nagoya public aquarium in June 2010. While the animal was being maintained in the aquarium there was a gradual decrease in body weight. On October 1st, 2010 the whale exhibited signs of gastrointestinal disease and died on January 14th, 2011. At necropsy examination the gastric compartments were filled with a large number of variably-sized rocks (total weight 81.4 kg) and there was marked ulceration in the third compartment. There were multifocal tubercle-like nodules within the lungs and on sectioning there were numerous abscesses and pulmonary cavities. Microscopically, there was severe suppurative pneumonia associated with fungal hyphae that were infrequently septate and often branched. Numerous bacterial colonies were also present. The hyphae demonstrated immunohistochemical cross-reactivity with Rhizomucor spp. and Cunninghamella bertholletiae was cultured. Bacteriological culture revealed the presence of Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans. This case represents the first documentation of zygomycosis associated with C. bertholletiae in a marine mammal.

Ayman Atiba,1 Tamer Wasfy,2 Walied Abdo,3 Ahmed Ghoneim,2 Tarek Kamal,4 Mustafa Shukry5 1Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 3Department of Pathology, 4Department of Biochemistry, 5Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of topical applied aloe vera (AV) and to facilitate the repair of the standardized alkaline corneal ulcer in normal and diabetic rats.Materials and methods: The corneal alkali-burn injury model was established unilaterally in Wistar rats by filter paper saturated with 0.01 M NaOH contacting the eyes for 45 seconds. Rats were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), normal AV (NAV), diabetic control (DC), and diabetic AV (DAV). NAV and DAV groups were treated with AV gel eye drops four times daily, and NC and DC groups were treated with normal saline for 3 days. Corneal epithelial wound closure and degree of edema were recorded using slit lamp and optical coherence tomography at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours postwounding. Histological examination was conducted to evaluate the degree of inflammation and the healing effect.Results: Corneal epithelial wound healing was better in the NAV group than in the NC group, and it was significantly higher in the DAV group than in the DC group (P

Objective To investigate the in vitro anticancer effect of Aloe vera ( A. vera ) and Calligonum comosum ( C. comosum ) extracts against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Methods HepG2 cells were tested against different doses of A. vera and C. comosum . Viability of the cells was assessed by MTT assay. Evaluation of apoptosis and DNA damage in HepG2 cells were performed using annexin V apoptosis detection kit. The expression of p53 and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) were tested by real time-PCR and flow cytometer analyser. Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections from untreated and treated HepG2 cells were observed using light microscopy. Results The IC 50 values of A. vera and C. comosum extracts were (10.45 ± 0.31) and (9.60 ± 0.01) µg/mL respectively. The extracts separately increased cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells in a time and dose dependent manners. Also, it apparently induced apoptosis through increase P53 and decrease Bcl-2 genes expressions. Conclusions The results indicated that the extracts could have anti-hepatocarcinogenic effect, at least in part, through modulation of apoptosis.