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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical event characterized by a reduction in the excretory function of the kidneys. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), N-acetylmethionine (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) are antioxidants with scanty known genetic mechanisms. We aimed to assess both kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and growth-arrested DNA damage-inducible gene-153 (GADD-153) genes expression in paracetamol (PA) induced AKI. Also, to recognize whether NAC, NAM and/or NAG have roles in altering the expression of these genes for ameliorating the AKI induced by PA.

The flora of Algeria includes six species of Onopordum (Asteraceae). Twenty-one morphological characters were recorded from herbarium specimens and identification keys were built using the program suite DELTA. Information on the distribution of these species in Algeria is provided. After studying aspects related to populations size and ecology, provisional regional conservation status for O. ambiguum is given: Endangered (EN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FRESH and herbarium specimens of 158 species and infra-specific taxa belonging to 77 genera, including the newly recorded Helenium amarum (Raf.) H. Rock var. amarum, Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Gaertn. and Orbivestus cinerascens (Sch. Bip) H.Rob.,were assembled to represent the spineless members of the Asteraceae in the flora of Egypt. Morphological variations in the stems, leaves, capitula, phyllaries and achenes of every taxon were recorded comparatively as 83 characters with 195 character-states in a data matrix and subjected to analysis under the key-generating suit of computer programs DELTA. Of the 83 characters, 56 are binary, while the rest are ordered multi-states; measureable characters were categorized into the latter type to allow for possible variation in the value of the same character in different specimens of the same taxon. A conventional key to all taxa was obtained together with detailed and item descriptions. The detailed descriptions are too voluminous and only the key and item descriptions are provided. The item descriptions, in conjunction with the list of characters, can be used to re-synthesize the detailed descriptions and to reconstruct the original data matrix which can be manipulated to accommodate additional characters and/or taxa. The key and descriptions have a number of advantages over all of their predecessors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel occurrence of Helenium amarum (Raf.) H. Rock var. amarum and Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae) in the flora of Egypt is reported. Apart from the single collection of H. amarum var. amarum in Australia, this taxon was not recorded previously outside its country of origin in South-Eastern United States and Mexico. With the recording of Pulicaria dysenterica in Egypt, Libya remains the only Mediterranean country where it has not as yet been found. Detailed description of the two species in terms of 83 characters is provided. A data matrix including the eight Pulicaria species found in Egypt and 19 of their morphological characters was compiled and a conventional key was constructed using the key-generating computer program suit DELTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was conducted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism as well as the potential hepatoprotective effects of royal jelly (RJ) against hepatic ischemia/ reperfusion (IR) injury., Methods: Rats were assigned into four groups; sham (received vehicle), IR (30 minutes ischemia and 45 minutes reperfusion), sham pretreated with RJ (200 mg/kg P.O.), and IR pretreated with RJ (200 mg/kg P.O.). The experiment lasted for 28 days., Results: Hepatic IR significantly induced hepatic dysfunctions, as manifested by elevation of serum transaminases, ALP and LDH levels. Moreover, hepatic IR caused a significant up-regulation of P38-MAPK, NF-κB-p65, TNF-α and MDA levels along with marked down-regulation of Nrf-2, HO-1, COX-4, cytoglobin, IκBa, IL-10, GSH, GST and SOD levels. Additionally, marked histopathological changes were observed after hepatic IR injury. On the contrary, pretreatment with RJ significantly improved hepatic functions along with the alleviation of histopathological changes. Moreover, RJ restored oxidant/antioxidant balance as well as hepatic expressions of Nrf- 2, HO-1, COX-4, and cytoglobin. Simultaneously, RJ significantly mitigated the inflammatory response by down-regulation of P38-MAPK, NF-κB-p65, TNF-α expression., Conclusion: The present results revealed that RJ has successfully protected the liver against hepatic IR injury through modulation of cytoglobin, Nrf-2/HO-1/COX-4, and P38-MAPK/NF-κB-p65/TNF- α signaling pathways., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)