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Alopecia areata (AA) is a common cause of hair loss with no available universally successful treatment. Thus, new innovative treatments are urgently needed. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fractional carbon dioxide laser (FCL) alone or combined with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) solution, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or vitamin D3 solution in treating AA. Sixty-four AA patients with 185 lesions were recruited and divided into four treatment groups. All patients received FCL either alone (group A, n = 19) or followed by topical TA (group B, n = 16) or PRP (group C, n = 15), or vitamin D3 solution (group D, n = 14). The response was assessed using Alopecia Areata Severity Index (AASI), MacDonald Hull and Norris grading, and trichoscopy. Histopathological features and immunohistochemical decorin expression were studied. All groups showed significant improvement in AASI compared to the baseline, with insignificant differences between them. Post-treatment, trichoscopic features of disease activity significantly decreased in all groups. Compared to control biopsies, both anagen follicles and decorin expression were significantly decreased in all pretreatment specimens. After treatment, all groups showed significantly increased anagen follicles and decorin expression compared to the baseline. Accordingly, FCL is an effective treatment for AA alone or combined with TA, PRP, or vitamin D3 solution. In AA, Decorin expression was downregulated, while enhanced expression following successful treatment occurred. This suggests the role of decorin in AA pathogenesis. However, further research is still recommended to clarify the exact role of decorin in AA pathogenesis and to investigate the therapeutic benefits of decorin-based therapy.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is considered the commonest subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the world. It is a refractory disease with a high mortality rate due to frequent relapses. Several prognostic parameters are now widely studied for risk stratification and achieving a better outcome. Objectives: In this study, we aim to assess the prognostic value of immunohistochemical expression of CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 independently as surrogate markers for cell of origin (COO) classification of DLBCL and their correlation with clinicopathological characters and survival. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study conducted on 63 cases of DLBCL, NOS. Full-faced sections were constructed and immunostained for CD10, BCL6, and MUM1. Results: CD10 expression was associated with early-stage (P=0.003), normal serum LDH level (P=0.022), absence of B symptoms (P=0.019), low international prognostic index (IPI) and age-adjusted-IPI (P=0.001) and also associated with longer progression free survival (PFS) (P=0.006). BCL6 expression was associated with centroblastic variant (P=0.005), good ECOG performance status (P=0.038) and low IPI (P=0.004) and also associated with better overall survival (OS) (P=0.028) and PFS (P=0.018). MUM1 expression was associated with advanced-stage (P=0.002) while no significant association was detected with other clinicopathological parameters or survival. Conclusion CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 can be used independently as prognostic immunohistochemical markers for DLBCL that may denote the clinical behavior of the disease and further patients' outcomes.

2,2′-Bifuran-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid (BFDCA), a highly promising biobased diacid monomer, was used to modify poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to obtain copolyesters with increased biocarbon conten...

With the goal of achieving high barrier with bio-based materials, for example, for packaging applications, a series of novel furfural-based polyesters bearing sulfide-bridged difuran dicarboxylic acid units with high oxygen barrier properties were synthesized and characterized. For the novel poly(alkylene sulfanediyldifuranoate)s, a 11.2-1.9× higher barrier improvement factor compared to amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) was observed which places the novel polyesters in the top class among previously reported 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and 2,2'-bifuran-based polyesters. Titanium-catalyzed polycondensation reactions between the novel synthesized monomer, dimethyl 5,5'-sulfanediyldi(furan-2-carboxylate), and four different diols, ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and 1,5-pentanediol, afforded difuran polyesters with high intrinsic viscosities (0.76-0.90 dL/g). These polyesters had good thermal stability, decomposing at 342-363 and 328-570 °C under nitrogen and air, respectively, which allowed processing them into free-standing films via melt-pressing. In tensile testing of the film specimens, tensile moduli in the range of 0.4-2.6 GPa were recorded, with higher values observed for the polyesters with shorter diol units. Interestingly, besides the low oxygen permeability, the renewable sulfide-bridged furan monomer also endowed the polyesters with slight UV shielding effect, with cutoff wavelengths of ca. 350 nm, in contrast to FDCA-based polyesters, which lack significant UV light absorption at over 300 nm.

The term granuloma annulare (GA) appropriately describes the classic type characterized by ringed erythematous plaques with histological palisaded granulomatous inflammation. However, GA now includes a range of disease. Over time, more atypical, rare types have been reported in isolated case reports or small case series. Here, we describe a unique case of generalized GA presented by two morphologically different lesions in a 52 years old diabetic man. To the best of our knowledge, this association has never been reported in the literature.

Background: Melasma is a common acquired facial hyperpigmented skin disorder. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is autologous plasma containing higher than normal platelets concentrations. Recently, PRP has been used as a therapeutic modality in melasma with significant clinical improvement, possibly due to its abundant contents of growth factors such as TGF-β. The latter represents a natural multifunctional polypeptide that negatively regulates melanocyte differentiation and therefore reduces skin hyperpigmentation. To date, the expression pattern of TGF-β protein in skin of melasma patients following PRP injection is unknown. Here we hypothesize that "injection of PRP in the lesional skin of melasma patients is associated with alterations of TGF-β protein expression".Patients and Methods: The study included 20 adult patients with melasma. Autologous PRP was delivered into the lesional skin either through microneedling or as intradermal microinjections. TGF-β protein expression was immunohistochemically examined in the perilesional and lesional skins before and after PRP treatment and in the healthy skins of nine volunteers (control group).Results: TGF-β protein was expressed within the epidermis, dermal adnexal structures, vascular endothelium, nerves and arrector pili muscle fibers of the healthy skins (control group), perilesional and lesional skins of melasma patients before and after treatment with PRP. Before treatment with PRP, the expression ofTGF-β protein in the lesional (1.26 ± 0.41) and perilesional (1.68 ± 0.51) skins of melasma patients were significantly lower than that in the healthy skins (2.26 ± 0.37, p value

The market of illicit erection/potency enhancers has grown significantly in the last decade. Some of those products lack any data about active ingredients, have dosage mislabeling or claim to contain only natural substances. The aim of this study is to elucidate the various contents and concentration of sildenafil in a cheap illicit erection enhancer tablets available in local markets and to evaluate its potential toxic effects on the liver. An illicit oral preparation (tablet form), sold in local market as an erection enhancer and claim to contain 130 mg of sildenafil citrate/ tablet, was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). The same preparation was dissolved in distilled water and administered per oral route in two doses (8.13 mg/Kg/ day and 50 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks to male mice to investigate its effects on hepatic tissue. A control group was given distilled water only. Analysis of the tablets demonstrated several ingredients including the potential hepatotoxic 1-Bromo-2,4-dimethoxyanthrquinone, and NTrichloroacetyl-tryptamine with no traces for sildenafil citrate. The study showed that the preparation caused dose dependent histopathologic changes in liver of mice. These changes included lobular inflammation, kupffer cell hyperplasia, nuclear alterations (nuclear vesiculation, anisonucleosis, binucleation), hydropic degeneration and large areas of necrosis. Vascular congestion and fibrosis were also observed. The study has confirmed the phenomenon of counterfeit preparation for treatment of erectile dysfunction as the investigated product has been shown to lack active sildenafil despite being marketed as a sildenafil product. In addition, the study has pointed out the potential hepatotoxicity of anthraquinone derivatives.

Nrf2 and Bach1 are important transcriptional factors that protect against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although aberration of these molecules was associated with malignant transformation and progression, their aberration pattern in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is not yet fully studied. In this study, Nrf2 and Bach1 were immunohistochemically examined in 93 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of colonic tumors (65 carcinoma with their corresponding surgical margins and 28 adenomas). Nrf2 expression was gradually increased in the apparently normal mucosa (57 ± 41)-adenoma (90 ± 36)-carcinoma (198 ± 78) direction and only showed significant higher mean of expression in CRC with brisk inflammatory peritumoral response. The mean of Bach1 expression was highest in apparently normal colonic mucosa (267 ± 16), lowest in adenoma (53 ± 31) and high in carcinoma tissues (194 ± 93). Significant higher mean of expression was detected in carcinoma with: LN metastasis (p = 0.04), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.024); perineural invasion (p = 0.03) and advanced pathological stage (p 0.001). Significant higher mean of expression of Nrf2 and Bach1 was detected in adenoma specimens with high grade dysplasia (p = 0.016 and p = 0.024) respectively. In conclusion, Nfr2 and Bach1 expression are altered in CRC but in different way. Nrf2 is gradually increasing from normal mucosa to adenoma and was highest in carcinoma but was not associated with features of tumor invasiveness. Bach1 was highest in normal mucosa; less in adenoma then increased in carcinoma and was associated with features of tumor invasiveness and metastasis. This may indicate a possible role of Nrf2 in CRC carcinogenesis and a role of Bach1 in CRC progression.

Background Chronic fructose consumption is associated with development of obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Cardiovascular diseases are linked to metabolic deregulation observed in MS. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a sulfur containing compound of Allium plants (such as garlic and onion) that increases intracellular reduced glutathione concentrations, which is an endogenous antioxidant. Methods This study investigated the ability of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to alleviate the metabolic disorders in fructose-induced MS in male Wistar rats and to examine its protective effect on aortic and cardiac tissues via its influence on cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) expression. NAC (20 mg/kg b.w./day) was administered to fructose (20% w/v) induced MS animals for twelve weeks. Results Chronic fructose consumption increased body weight gain, relative heart weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), IR and associated with metabolic alterations. Histological and immunohistochemical examination revealed aortic stiffness and myocardial degeneration and fibrosis together with increased CT-1 expression. Treatment with NAC improved IR, SBP, DBP and mitigated atherogenic dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress (OS). Additionally, NAC down-regulated CT-1 expression in the heart and aorta. Furthermore, CT-1 expression in the heart and aorta was positively correlated with basal glycemia, final SBP and DBP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and negatively correlated with high density lipoproteins levels. Conclusion The findings reported here demonstrated, for the first time, the protective effect of NAC against aortic and myocardial degeneration and fibrosis through down-regulation of CT-1 in fructose induced MS animal model. Also, our results revealed the infallible role of NAC to blunt the cardiometabolic deregulation observed in MS.

Several studies have suggested that phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors may be a disease-modifying for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cilostazol (CSZ) has been shown to be a new treatment for cognitive impairment with limited efficacy. Our aim was to investigate the effect of caffeine on the efficacy of CSZ against STZ-induced type 2 diabetes (T2D)-related cognitive impairment in high fat/high fructose fed rats. The efficacy of low doses of caffeine, CSZ, and CSZ plus caffeine against abnormal behavioral, biochemical, histological, or genetic changes of animal models of AD was examined. Eight weeks treatment with CSZ plus caffeine was more effective than CSZ or caffeine in improving impaired behavioral tests for cognition and memory. Histological examination exhibited a significant augmentation in the efficacy of CSZ by caffeine in protecting neurons from damage in T2D rats. Importantly, CSZ and caffeine normalized the accumulation of Amyloid beta (Aβ-42) and phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau) positive cells in the brain of T2D rats. CSZ or CSZ plus caffeine reversed low glutamate gene expression, elevated cholinesterase level, and elevated caspase-3 activity in T2D rats. Furthermore, CSZ plus caffeine was significantly more effective than CSZ or caffeine in inhibiting the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, total oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines and glucogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) in the hippocampus of T2D rats. Also, CSZ plus caffeine was more effective than CSZ or caffeine in alleviating insulin resistance and hypercholesterolemia in T2D rats. Our findings suggest the possibility of effective treatment of AD by enhancing the therapeutic potential of CSZ through combined treatment with lower doses of caffeine. The enhancement of CSZ effect by caffeine is attributed to the increased inhibitory effect of CSZ on insulin resistance, GSK-3β activity, hypercholesterolemia, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, recently has spread as a recreational drug. Its abuse lead to neurobehavioral disturbance in addition to toxic effects on other body organs. To evaluate the toxic effects of chronic administration of low ketamine doses on the memory, testicles, and erection, explore its pathophysiology through oxidative stress mechanism and examine the ameliorating effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). A total of 40 male albino rats were assigned to control, vehicle, ketamine only I.P. (10 mg/kg), and ketamine (10 mg/kg) + NAC (150 mg/kg) groups. Assessment of memory affection and erectile function by Passive Avoidance, Novel Object Recognition, and copulatory tests were performed. Estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum and prefrontal & hippocampal homogenate, and luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone in serum were done. Prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and testes were collected for histopathology. Chronic ketamine administration induced significant memory deficits (P < 0.05), reduced erectile function (P < 0.05), severe hypospermatogenesis, increased MDA, reduced CAT, TAC levels in serum, and tissue homogenate (P < 0.05) and reduction of LH, and testosterone (P < 0.05). Treatment with NAC resulted in significant improvement of memory function, improved erectile function, and decrease in oxidative injury in both serum and tissue homogenates. Testosterone and LH levels exhibited significant difference between treatment groups and controls (P < 0.05). NAC reduced the deleterious histopathological changes. These data suggest that long-term ketamine affects short and long memory, induces erectile and testicular dysfunction through oxidative stress. Co-administration with NAC ameliorates these toxic effects.

Background: The currently therapy of type 2 diabetes is unsatisfactory. Nowadays, there is a great interest in using the medicinal plants for treatment of diabetes. Therefore, we studied the efficacy of stevia extract alone and in combination with commonly used sulfonylureas ”glimepiride” in a trial to introduce a new effective therapeutic regimen for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Nicotinamide (230 mg/kg, IP) followed by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, IP) were injected for induction of type 2 diabetes in male rats. The diabetic groups were treated for 21 days as the following, the first with stevia extract (300 mg/kg), the second with glimepiride (1 mg/kg), and the third with a combination of glimepiride and stevia extract. Many parameters were measured to evaluate the alleviation of the toxic effect of streptozotocin by stevia and/or glimepiride. Immunohistochemical expression of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) was assessed in renal tissues. Results: The stevia extract reduced the blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT, AST, urea, creatinine, tumour necrosis factor (TNFα) levels and malondialdehyde concentration compared to control diabetic group. Stevia treatment improved insulin and adiponectin levels. Stevia reduced eNOS expression in renal tissues compared to the diabetic rats. All these changes were more significant with combined treatment. Conclusion: Stevia and glimepiride may be a new putative therapeutic regimen for management of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Background: Cirrhosis often is a silent disease Clinical symptoms at presentation may include jaundice of the eyes or skin, pruritus, gastrointestinal bleeding, coagulopathy, increasing abdominal girth, and mental status changes. Pruritus may be the presenting symptom, arising years before any other classic clinical and laboratory markers of hepatic dysfunction. This study examines the clinical, laboratory and histopathological changes in the skins of cirrhotic patients with pruritus in comparison with cirrhotic patients without pruritus and healthy control skins . Patients and Methods: To evaluate clinical, laboratory and histopathological changes in cirrhotic patients with pruritus, cirrhotic patients without pruritus and corresponding healthy (control). skin biopsies (20 specimens each) using hematoxylin and eosin stain and to study mast cell density using gimesa stain. Results: In the skin biopsy specimens of the cirrhotic patients with pruritus we found several histological changes including: epidermal hyperplasia (acanthosis) ,vascular ectasia(dilated dermal blood vessels), hypertrophied dermal nerve endings, mixed inflammatory cellular infilterate and lymphocytic vasculopathy (swelling of the endothelial cell lining of the blood vessels without fibrinoid necrosis, leucocytoclasia or extravasation of red blood cells). Evaluation of mast cell count in Gimesa stained skin sections revealed an increased numbers of these cells in the group of cirrhotic patients with pruritus ( N=5-10). The cells noted in perivascular, perineural and interstitial distribution (between collagen bundles). Conclusions: We report, for the first time, some histopathologial changes in the skins of cirrhotic patients with pruritus in comparison with cirrhotic patients without pruritus and healthy control skins .

Background:Hepatic pruritus is a very common symptom among different chronic liver diseases, particularly in those related to cholestasis. Its prevalence is variable among liver diseases, ranging from 5% in chronic hepatitis C virus infection to 70% in primary biliary cirrhosis. Its etiopathogenesis remains poorly understood.Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a member of neurotrophins. many studies clearly demonstrate their role in pruritus. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is overexpressed in prurigonodularis and its therapeutic administration is pruritogenic. In atopic dermatitis, NGF is released by keratinocytes, mast cells and fibroblasts and plasma levels of NGF are also elevated and correlate with disease activity.This study examines the hypothesis that expression of NGF protein is altered in cirrhotic patients with pruritus. Patients and Methods: To test our hypothesis, we examined the expression patterns of NGF protein in cirrhotic patients with pruritus, cirrhotic patients without pruritus and corresponding healthy (control). skin biopsies (20 specimens each) were evaluated using immunoperoxidase staining techniques. Results: We found variations between the skins of cirrhotic patients with and without pruritus and healthy skin. In healthy skin, the expression of NGF protein was strong (basal cell keratinocytes), moderate (spinouslayer), and weak or abscent (granular cell layer). In contrast, marked expression of NGF protein was observed in all layers of skin (total NGF epidermis and dermis) incirrhotic patients with pruritus in comparison with cirrhotic patients without pruritus and healthy control and this was statistically significant. NGF protein expression was strong (basal cell keratinocytes), moderate (spinous layer), and weak or abscent (granular cell layer). The expression of NGF protein was strong in the adnexal structures. Conclusions: We report, for the first time, increased expression of NGF protein in the epidermal keratinocytes of cirrhotic patients with pruritus skin. Our findings suggest possible roles for this protienin pathophysiology of hepatic pruritus. The clinical ramifications of these observations mandate further investigations.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a time progressive problem, give rise in uncontrolled Diabetics increasing risks for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The vulnerability to renal dysfunction manifested with sudden glomerular hypofiltration associated with micro-to macroalbuminuria passing to renal failure. So that, screening of specific enzymes shifts, or urinary albumin may predict onset diabetic nephropathy. Objective: The assessment of urinary alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and microalbuminuria (MAU) for type II diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: In this study,120 type II diabetic patients were compared to 90 healthy volunteers of matched age and sex in Al-Leith General Hospital, Al-Leith Kidney Unit (AKU), Al-Leith, Makkah area, KSA in which random urine samples were collected for testing of MAU, ALP, AAP, ACP and Cr. Results: Mean values of measured biomarkers in patient group for MAU, ALP, AAP, ACP and Cr were 51.92 mg/I, 41.55 U/L, 20.17 U/L, 570.10 U/L and 2.92 mg/dl VS in control group were 12.59 mg/I, 8.84 U/L, 6.94 U/L, 385.87U/L and 1.07 mg/dl respectively. Additionally, there were statistically positive correlation between AAP with MAU and ALP; ACP with MAU, ALP and AAP; Cr level with MAU, ALP, AAP and ACP; on the other hand, there were positive significant correlation between duration of diabetes with all studied markers. Conclusion: Using of MAU in addition to other urinary enzymes could be beneficial non-invasive indicators for renal deterioration in type II diabetics.

Background Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease with different clinically heterogeneous phenotypes. Triple negative BC (TNBC) (ER-/PR-/HER2-) and triple positive BC (TPBC) (ER+/PR+/HER2+) are characterized by unique clinical behavior and therapeutic challenges. However, their exact molecular pathogenesis is not well studied. This study aims to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of androgen receptor (AR) and c-Myc in TPBCs and TNBCs, correlate their expression with the clinicopathologic features, and assess the correlation between AR and c-Myc expression in TPBCs and TNBCs. Material and methods AR and c-Myc were immunohistochemically assessed in 45 TNBC and 15 TPBC specimens. Results AR expression was detected in 17.7% of TNBC and in all TPBC specimens. c-Myc was expressed in 46.7% of TNBC and in all TPBC specimens. AR and c-Myc expression in TNBC was not associated with any of the clinicopathological features. In TPBC, AR expression was higher in older age, larger size, higher stage, and lymph node metastasis while c-Myc expression was higher in tumors with perineural invasion. This is the first study that reported a significant positive correlation between AR and c-Myc expression in TNBC and TPBC. Conclusion The current results suggested that AR and c-Myc proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of TNBC and TPBC. The positive correlation between the two proteins in these subtypes sheds new light on a distinct pathway by which BC cells can modulate their proliferation. Targeting both molecules may provide new therapeutic approaches to improve therapeutic sensitivity and patients' outcomes of these subtypes.

Aims Cigarette smoking (CS) is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Endothelial dysfunction is related to the severity of pulmonary disease in COPD. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of single and combined administration of pioglitazone (Pio) and irbesartan (Irb) against COPD-induced endothelial dysfunction in mice and the involvement of NO and H2S in their effects. Materials and methods Adult male Swiss mice (n = 40, weighing 25–30 g) were assigned into 5 groups. The normal control group received 1% carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC). The CS group was exposed to CS and administered 1% CMC for 3 months. The CS + Pio, CS + Irb, and CS + Pio/Irb groups were subjected to CS and received Pio (60 mg/kg), Irb (50 mg/kg), and their combination respectively, daily orally for 3 months. Body weight gain, mean blood pressure, urinary albumin, serum NO and ET-1 levels with TNF-α and IL-2 levels in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage were measured. Lung H2S and ET-1 levels, protein expression of PPARγ in lung and VEGF in lung and aortic tissues with histological changes were assessed. Key findings Our results illustrated that CS induced a model of COPD with endothelial dysfunction in mice. Pio/Irb singly and in combination elicited protective effects against the pathophysiology of the disease with more improvement in the combined group. There is a strong correlation between NO and H2S as well as the other measured parameters. Significance Collectively, both drugs performed these effects via their anti-inflammatory potential and increasing H2S and NO levels.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used industrial chemical, is known to disrupt endocrine function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic exposure to BPA on the lung tissue of adult male rats as well as any possible alleviating effects resulting from selenium (Se) treatment. Chronic exposure to BPA resulted in prominent inflammation and oxidative stress responses as evidenced by an increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and upregulation of Interleukin-18 (IL-18) expression in lung tissue. In addition, chronic exposure led to modulation of the fibrosis-related gene expression, as we observed augmented follistatin-like1 (FSTL1) expression and diminished a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 5 (ADAMTS5) expression. Se treatment remarkably mitigated changes in the expression of these dysregulated markers of lung injury. The biochemical changes were consistent with the histopathological findings, where cellular infiltration and inflammatory fibrotic changes were observed following BPA administration and a lessening of these effects with concomitant Se treatment. Taken together, the results from the study reveal that chronic exposure to BPA may promote the development of pulmonary inflammatory diseases with possible induction of lung fibrosis. Se treatment effectively suppressed oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, suggesting that Se has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of pulmonary inflammatory diseases.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by several endogenous and exogenous sources, and their levels are controlled by several antioxidants. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between ROS production and removal by antioxidant mechanisms. The risk factors which are commonly associated with chronic diseases (e.g., cancer) interact with the cells through the formation of ROS. These factors include stress, cigarette smoking, air pollutants, radiation, and infection. The lung is considered a target organ continuously affected by exogenous and endogenous ROS. There is now increasing evidence that there is association between oxidative stress and lung cancer. Interestingly, it was found that ROS could not only promote tumorigenesis, but also they have anti-tumorigenic effect. This dual role of ROS in cancers (e.g., lung cancer) relies on their amount, type, and the site of their production. For example, moderate amount of ROS was associated with tumor cell survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. On the contrary, excessive amount of ROS could induce tumor cell death. Thus, it is essential to investigate the dual role of ROS in cancers, for the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting redox regulatory mechanisms.

Drought is one of the complex abiotic phenomena that limit wheat production. Improving drought tolerance at the seedling stage is very important as it is a critical stage affecting the subsequent growth stages. In this study, a population consisted of 138 diverse spring wheat genotypes was used to identify the most drought tolerant genotypes and genomic regions controlling drought tolerance at the seedling stage. Three morphological traits were scored: seedling length, days to wilting, and leaf wilting. All genotypes had a high genetic variation in all the seedling traits scored in this study. Moreover, high significant phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found among these traits. Heritability estimates for these morphological traits ranged from 0.59 to 0.86. Nine genotypes from different countries were identified as drought-tolerant genotypes. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed on the population using 407 Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers which were distributed across 21 wheat chromosomes. The results of GWAS revealed 104 significant QTL controlling drought tolerance and susceptibility in wheat. A set of 12 markers was found to be associated with more than one trait. Out of the 12 markers, the WPT-2356 was found to be associated with drought susceptibility in all traits scored in this study. The gene annotation analysis revealed that this marker fell within TraesCS7B02G438200 gene model which encodes to UBA-like superfamily protein (a negative drought regulator). Moreover, four significant DArT markers WPT-6668, WPT-8460, WPT-8124, and WPT-4196 found in this study were previously reported with their association with drought tolerance and susceptibly at wheat seedling stage. The nine genotypes can be used as candidate parents to improve drought tolerance in spring wheat. Moreover, promising validated markers can be used for marker-assisted selection to genetically improve drought tolerance through a breeding program.

In this work, we have synthesized a series of novel porphyrin derivatives, 1–5, in high yields. The metal complexes of two of the newly synthesized porphyrin derivatives, 1a–d and 2a–d, have also been synthesized in high yields and characterized. In the synthesis of the new porphyrins and metalloporphrins, we employed our reported strategy in which we utilized N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a capping agent in the reaction of pyrrole with different hetero-aryl aldehydes. The new porphyrin derivatives are equipped with different aromatic substituents and hetero-cycles at the peripheral position. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by elemental and spectral analyses. The geometry and magnetic properties of the new metalloporphyrins 1a–d and 2a–d have also been studied. Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the new compounds were evaluated and structure-activity relationships were performed. Porphyrin derivatives 2a and 4 showed exceptional antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid as a reference. While the derivatives 2, 3, and 5 exhibited very strong cytotoxic activity against two human cell lines, HePG-2 and MCF-7. Docking for the most promising antioxidant porphyrins, 2a and 4, into the binding active site of antioxidant protein Human Peroxiredoxin (code: 1HD2) has been carried out to detect the degree of recognition antioxidant activity. Molecular docking of the most cytotoxic active porphyrins, 3 and 5, into the biding site of telomerase inhibitor enzyme has been carried out to assess the degree of recognition cytotoxic activity.

Background: Melasma is a cosmetically disfiguring disorder of facial pigmentation.Objectives: We evaluated the value of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of melasma using two different de...

Background Conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a preinvasive lesion of the ocular surface epithelium that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which has the potential to invade the nearby tissues, leading to visual loss. Unfortunately, the exact mechanisms of CIN and SCC pathogenesis, remain largely unknown. Cytokeratin 17 (CK17) functions specially among keratins as an oncoprotein which has been overexpressed in several cancers. To date, studies about the expression pattern of CK17 in CIN and SCC are limited. Aim The aims were to examine the immunohistochemical expression of CK17 in different conjunctival specimens including morphologically normal conjunctiva, pterygium, CIN, and SCC, and correlate CK17 expression with the available clinicopathological features of CIN and SCC specimens. Materials and methods The authors immunohistochemically investigated CK17 expression in 73 conjunctival specimens (40 CIN, 15 SCC, 10 pterygium, and eight morphologically normal conjunctiva). Results Overexpression of CK17 was detected in CIN and SCC specimens. On the contrary, limited basal expression of CK17 was noted in pterygium specimens and most of the morphologically normal conjunctiva. Significant higher mean of CK17 expression was found in CIN than morphologically normal conjunctiva and pterygium specimens. Moreover, the mean of CK17 expression was significantly higher in SCC specimens than CIN. Insignificant difference was detected between CK17 expression and all the clinicopathological features in CIN and SCC. Conclusion The authors can suggest that CK17 plays a role in the pathogenesis of CIN and SCC, with a possible role of CK17 in differentiation between benign and malignant conjunctival lesions.