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Simple Summary: Childhood cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy face the likelihood of long-term complications, including mutations. In order to assess the long-term effect of radiotherapy on the capacity of cells to repair their DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), five lambs received medulloblastoma radiotherapy to the thecal sac, with three lambs serving as controls. Four years later, lung biopsies were taken and fibroblast cells were amplified and re-irradiated. The cells from the previously treated sheep showed a significant impairment of their DNA DSB repair mechanism, highlighting a potential increase in radiosensitivity. Our results show that previous irradiation can impair the DNA DSB repair mechanism of ovine lung fibroblasts. Children with cancer previously treated with radiotherapy face the likelihood of side effects that can be debilitating or fatal. This study aimed to assess the long-term effect of medulloblastoma radiotherapy on the DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair capability of primary fibroblasts derived from lung biopsies of previously irradiated young sheep. This study included biopsies from three control and five irradiated sheep. The treated sheep had previously received spinal radiotherapy at a total dose of 28 Gy, which is equivalent to pediatric medulloblastoma treatment. Lung biopsies were taken 4 years post-irradiation from high-dose (HD, >18 Gy) and low-dose (LD, <2 Gy) regions. Fifteen cell lines were extracted (six control, four LD and five HD). The cells were irradiated, and DNA DSB repair was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Clonogenic, trypan blue and micronuclei assays were performed. Both the HD and LD cell lines had a significantly higher number of residual γH2AX foci 24 h and a significant decrease in pATM activity post-irradiation compared to the control. There was no statistically significant difference in the clonogenic assay, trypan blue and micronuclei results. Our study showed that a previous irradiation can impair the DNA DSB repair mechanism of ovine lung fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder that is marked by intrusive and distressing thoughts, as well as repetitive behaviors. Trout fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a functional food that might have potential therapeutic effects on many neurological disorders including OCD. Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of Al-Assi River trout fish meal, a dietary source of tryptophan, on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and related molecular pathways in BALB/c mice. Methods: OCD mice were divided into five groups: one control group without any treatment, one group treated with fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), and three groups fed with different doses of trout fish meal (0, 7.5, and 15 g/kg body weight). The mice were subjected to various behavioral tests, such as the marble test, tail suspension test, sucrose preference test, and forced swim test, to evaluate OCD and depressive-like behaviors. Moreover, the expression and protein levels of genes involved in the serotonergic and GABAergic systems were measured. Results: The results indicated that trout fish meal had dose-dependent effects on OCD-like behaviors, revealing exacerbation at lower doses and improvement at higher doses. For instance, in the marble test, OCD mice fed with 7.5 g of trout fish/kg body weight buried more marbles than those fed with 15 g/kg of trout fish (4.5 vs 3.33 out of 6, p>0.05). In the tail suspension test, the immobility time of OCD mice treated with fluoxetine was numerically lower than that of the untreated OCD mice (63.6 vs 87.3 seconds, p>0.05). Furthermore, normal mice had different baseline gene expression profiles than OCD mice. Normal mice had the highest fold increase of Gabra gene expression (3.75) compared to the untreated OCD group, followed by groups treated with 7.5 and 15 g of trout fish/kg body weight (2.02 and 1.44, respectively). Conclusions: This study suggests that dietary interventions rich in tryptophan, such as trout fish meal, may have modulatory effects on OCD symptoms and molecular mechanisms in mice. However, the optimal dosing and individual variability need to be considered. More research is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate the potential efficacy of trout fish meal in treating OCD in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a continuum of chronic inflammatory diseases, is tightly associated with immune system dysregulation and dysbiosis, leading to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and multiple extraintestinal manifestations. The pathogenesis of IBD is not completely elucidated. However, it is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), which is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies. In both IBD and CRC, a complex interplay occurs between the immune system and gut microbiota (GM), leading to the alteration in GM composition. Melatonin, a neuroendocrine hormone, was found to be involved with this interplay, especially since it is present in high amounts in the gut, leading to some protective effects. Actually, melatonin enhances the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, regulates the immune response, alleviates inflammation, and attenuates oxidative stress. Thereby, the authors summarize the multifactorial interaction of melatonin with IBD and with CRC, focusing on new findings related to the mechanisms of action of this hormone, in addition to its documented positive outcomes on the treatment of these two pathologies and possible future perspectives to use melatonin as an adjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ transplant is a crucial therapeutic strategy offering a life‐saving and transformative medical intervention. It provides an opportunity to improve their quality of life and increase their lifespan. The shortage of organs remains a critical global challenge, leading to a prolonged waiting times for organ receivers, which contributes to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. Hence, xenotransplantation offered a promising solution to the global shortage of organs through the use of animal organs, leading to an increase in donor availability, reducing waiting times, minimizing organ trafficking, improving genetic engineering advancements, and driving scientific innovation. Even though xenotransplantation has many benefits in the clinical setting, it has many barriers that are hindering its achievements and constraining its occurrence. Some barriers to xenotransplant are general, such as the immunological barrier, while others are specific to certain regions due to local causes. The Arab region exhibits disparities in clinical settings compared to the global context, marked by the huge economic crisis and a shortage of trained healthcare professionals. Considering the huge resources and advancements needed in the field of xenotransplantation, this review aims to explore the specific barriers toward xenotransplantation in the Arab countries, highlighting the challenges to overcome these barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatomical sciences are visual sciences that deal with the structure at gross and microscopic levels. Throughout history, drawing has served as a prominent tool for learning and teaching anatomical sciences, tracing back to notable figures such as Claudius Galen, Andreas Vesalius, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Henry Vandyke Carter’s illustrations in Gray’s Anatomy among others. In this observational pilot study spanning over three years, we investigated the efficacy of utilizing drawing as a pedagogical tool for learning histology and human anatomy. This study involved 201 participants comprising dental, and allied health sciences. Pre- and post-activity surveys were administered to asses students’ perceptions and attitudes towards incorporating drawing as an adjunctive method for teaching and learning structural sciences, particularly histology and anatomy. Analysis of the survey data revealed a significant level of appreciation and interest in the drawing approach, with 80% of participants expressing a positive inclination towards its future integration into educational practices. The significance of drawing as a pedagogical approach for anatomical sciences, drawing upon insights from previous research and observations gleaned from our surveys. In conclusion, on this basis we recommend further development and implementation of drawing-based teaching methodologies in future educational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]