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Background: Biliary atresia is a congenital biliary condition that is defined by an absence or severe deficit of the extrahepatic biliary tree. Objective: To detect the role of color Doppler and gray scale ultrasonography as possible tools in evaluation of cases of neonatal jaundice for biliary atresia in comparison to intraoperative cholangiography as a golden test in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective study that included assessment of 100 cases, over a period of two years from the outpatient clinic and the inpatient department of Pediatric Hepatology, gastroenterology and nutrition Department, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, diagnosed by neonatal cholestaisis. Results: US score and total biliary atresia score were higher in biliary atresia cases (7.40± 3.69 and 21.73± 3.79, respectively) than non-biliary atresia cases diagnosed by intraoperative cholangiography. Conclusion: We found that US serves as an important non-invasive imaging modality in diagnosis of BA. In addition to US imaging features as gall bladder abnormalities (small, rudimentary or absent gall bladder), positive TC sign and associated congenital anomalies, color Doppler play an important role in diagnosis of BA as it was found that enlargement of the hepatic artery diameter can be highly suggestive of biliary atresia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE AXENIC culture of Thymus decussatus, a rare wild species found only above 1500 m altitude in the St. Katherine Protectorate, Egypt, was established. Full MS (Murashige and Skoog medium) medium supplemented with 0.35 mg/l benzyladenine (BA) and 0.2 mg/l kinetin (Kin) was found to be optimal for micropropagation and acclimatization. Hexane extract showed the most significant cytotoxic effects against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with an IC50 of 12 ± 0.69 μg/ml and selectivity over normal hepatocytes (THLE2 IC50=38.57 ± 1.65 μg/ml). High-performance liquid chromatography identified the main components as flavonoids and phenolic acids, with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant (23.7 μg/g dry weight). The combination of hexane extract with sorafenib had a synergistic effect, decreasing the IC50 from 9.289 ± 0.51 to 2.274 ± 0.13 μg/ml. In contrast, an antagonistic effect was seen with doxorubicin, increasing its IC50 from 0.716 ± 0.04 μg/ml to 6.499 ± 0.36 μg/ml. The hexane extract exhibited S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. Analysis of gene expression profiles showed upregulation of p53 and MDR1 genes. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the flavonoids quercetin, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and rosmarinic acid have high-affinity binding to pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, suggesting possible mechanisms of action. In conclusion, this work supports conserving this rare species and investigating its phytochemicals as potential adjuvants to improve hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transfer rapidly among bacterial species all over the world contributing to the aggravation of antibiotic resistance crisis. Antibiotics at sub-inhibitory concentration induce horizontal gene transfer (HRT) between bacteria, especially through conjugation. The role of common non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals in the market in disseminating antibiotic resistance is not well studied. Objectives: In this work, we indicated the effect of some commonly used non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals including antiemetic (metoclopramide HCl) and antispasmodics (hyoscine butyl bromide and tiemonium methyl sulfate) on the plasmid-mediated conjugal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between pathogenic E. coli in the gastric intestinal tract (GIT). Methods: Broth microdilution assay was used to test the antibacterial activity of the tested non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals. A conjugation mating system was applied in presence of the studied non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals to test their effect on conjugal transfer frequency. Plasmid extraction and PCR were performed to confirm the conjugation process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used for imaging the effect of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals on bacterial cells. Results: No antibacterial activity was reported for the used non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals. Plasmid-mediated conjugal transfer between isolates was induced by metoclopramide HCl but suppressed by hyoscine butyl bromide. Tiemonium methylsulfate slightly promoted conjugal transfer. Aggregation between cells and periplasmic bridges was clear in the case of metoclopramide HCl while in presence of hyoscine butyl bromide little affinity was observed. Conclusion: This study indicates the contribution of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals to the dissemination and evolution of antibiotic resistance at the community level. Metoclopramide HCl showed an important role in the spread of antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]