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Yousry Esam-Eldin Abo-Amer,1 Amal Ahmed Mohamed,2 Mohamed Mahmoud Elhoseeny,3 Samar M Rezk,4 Sherief Abdel-Salam,5 Abdulmohsen H Alrohaimi,6 Asmaa Sayed Abdelgeliel,7 Seham Saeed Alzahrani,8 Ibrahim Jafri,8 Leena S Alqahtani,9 Eman Fayad,8 Mohamed Fakhry,10 Moataz Yousry Soliman11 1Mahala Hepatology Teaching Hospital, Hepatology& Gastroenterology Department, Gharbia, Elgharbia, Egypt; 2National Hepatology & Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Suez, Egypt; 4Department of Clinical Nutrition, Mahalla Hepatology Teaching Hospital, El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Elgharbia, Egypt; 5Department of Tropical Medicine, Hepatology & Gastroenterology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 6Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra, 11961, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt; 8Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23445, Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Asyut, Egypt; 11Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Sherief Abdel-Salam, Department of Tropical Medicine, Hepatology & Gastroenterology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, El-Bahr Street, Tanta, Egypt, Tel +201147773440, Email sheriefabdelsalam@yahoo.comBackground & Aims: This research aimed to determine how variations in the vitamin D receptor gene affected the response of H. pylori infections to eradication therapy.Patients and Methods: On 105 adult H. Pylori-positive patients, a prospective cohort study was carried out. PCR was used to genotype all patients’ VDR gene polymorphisms. The patients in the study received standard triple eradication medication (clarithromycin 500 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and omeprazole 20 mg) twice daily for 14 days. A stool test for H. pylori Ag was conducted 4 weeks following the end of treatment.Results: In our study, the usual triple therapy’s H. pylori eradication rate was 75.2%. The successful eradication of H. pylori and VDR rs 2228570 gene polymorphisms was more prevalent in CT gene polymorphism (64.6%) compared to non-responders (19.2%), while treatment failure was more prevalent in CC gene polymorphism (73.1% in non-responders compared to responders 24.1%), which is statistically significant. In regards to the eradication of H. pylori and VDR rs7975232 gene polymorphisms, the success of eradication was more prevalent in AC gene polymorphism (54.4%) vs non-responders (30.4%), while all patients (14) with gene AA (17.7%) are responders to standard treatment, while the failure of treatment was more prevalent in CC gene polymorphism (69.2% in non-responder vs 27.8% in responders) which is statistically significant. Our findings demonstrated a strong correlation between patients’ responses to H. pylori treatment and polymorphisms in the VDR gene (ApaI and TaqI) (P 0.05).Conclusion: As far as we are aware, this is the first study to identify a potential link between the FokI and Apal VDR polymorphism and treatment response in H pylori-positive patients. To evaluate the findings, more research with larger number of patients and different population is required.Keywords: Helicobacter, infection, gene, polymorphism, response, eradication

The purpose of this study was to test the protective effect of Withania somnifera (WS) against the harmful effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 )-induced kidney failure at the histological, biochemical, and immune levels in Wistar rats. The study assessed the biochemical and immunological changes in five groups ( n  = 6): Group 1 (G1) was the negative control, and the other rats received a single subcutaneous dose of HgCl 2 (2.5 mg/kg in 0.5 mL of 0.9% saline solution) and randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 2 (G2) was the positive control and left without treatment. Groups 3, 4, and 5 (G3, G4, and G5) were treated with different doses of WS root powder for 30 days. The HgCl 2 -positive group showed significant signs of renal toxicity as reflected by increased levels of kidney function parameters (blood urea nitrogen, urea, and creatinine), inflammatory biomarkers, immunological indices (SDF-1, IL-6, NGAL, and KIM-1), and oxidative stress (SOD, TAC, CAT, GSH, and MDA). The positive group rats also showed drastic pathological changes in renal tissues. Different doses of WS treatment significantly reduced the levels of all biochemical markers and decreased pathological damage to the kidney tissues. The antioxidant, phenolic, and flavonoid constituents of WS root powder helped protect rats' kidneys against HgCl 2 -induced kidney toxicity in male rats., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Haddad A. El Rabey et al.)

Background: Vitiligo is an immune-mediated, chronic skin condition that affects both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Antimicrobial peptide overexpression is one of its defining characteristics. Granulysin (GNLY), an antimicrobial peptide, may play a role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases., Objectives: To estimate the serum GNLY levels in vitiligo patients and to correlate those levels with the severity and activity of the disease., Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 60 non-segmental vitiligo patients (Group A) and a control group of 60 people who were matched for age and sex, appeared to be in good health, and were not suffering from vitiligo (Group B). The serum granulysin levels of all subjects were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: When compared to the control group, vitiligo patients had significantly higher serum GNLY levels ( P = 0.001). When compared to patients with stable disease, those with active vitiligo had significantly higher serum GNLY levels ( P = 0.008). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the serum GNLY levels and the vitiligo area severity index and vitiligo disease activity scores ( P = 0.004 and <0.001, respectively)., Limitations: Study population was relatively small. Evaluation of serum granulysin before and after treatment could have been more beneficial., Conclusions: Blood granulysin levels could contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. A higher serum granulysin level may also be a trustworthy predictor of the severity and progression of a disease., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Dermatology Online Journal.)

In the current study, the hepatoprotective activity of vanillic acid, silymarin, and vanillic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity was tested in male rats for four weeks. Thirty male rats were divided into five groups ( n = 6). The 1st group was a negative control, the 2nd group was a positive control, the 3rd group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid, the 4th group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid-AgNPs, and the 5th group was treated with 50 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin. The CCl 4 -induced hepatic toxicity in the 2nd group was revealed by the liver function and all other biochemical tests. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, lipid peroxidation, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6 were elevated, whereas, total protein, antioxidant enzymes, and irisin were decreased compared to the negative control. The hepatic tissues were also injured as a result of the CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with vanillic acid moderately protected the rats of the 3rd group, whereas treatment with vanillic AgNPs and silymarin in G4 and G5, respectively, greatly protected the rats against the CCl 4 hepatotoxicity, approaching the normal biochemical levels and liver tissue appearance. The biochemical tests were confirmed by the histological investigations of liver tissue.

Coffee is among the most commonly consumed beverage all over the world. Studies have increasingly suggested caffeine and coffee as effective therapeutic interventions against Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have therefore utilized the aluminum chloride rat model for AD to compare the influence of moderately caffeinated (Arabian) and decaffeinated (Date palm seed) coffee on cognitive impairment and pathological events in AD. AD rats given Arabian or Date palm seed coffee were protected against memory impairment and had lower serum levels of the abnormal protein (amyloid-beta; Aβ1-42), the central pathogenic contributor to AD, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Interestingly, Date palm seed (decaffeinated) coffee seems to provide more pronounced protection against AD than Arabian (moderately caffeinated) coffee as evidenced by the greater decrease in serum Aβ levels. These results suggest a surprising therapeutic potential of moderate caffeine intake in Arabian coffee to ameliorate AD through decreasing serum Aβ levels. However, Date palm seed (decaffeinated) coffee, rich in flavonoids, appears to provide a better AD-modifying ability through a direct reduction of Aβ production. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Consumption of moderately caffeinated Arabian coffee attenuated AD-induced cognitive impairment via its anti-amyloidogenic potential, decreasing Aβ levels. Moreover, intake of decaffeinated Date seed extract, rich in flavonoids, exerted a superior anti-AD potential through a direct reduction of Aβ production. Both of them were also safe and maintained hepatic and renal functions in a rat model of AlCl 3 -induced AD. Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm current results and to recommend the regular drinking of Arabian coffee or Date seed extract as a protective approach to delay AD progression in vulnerable individuals or in early disease stages., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Although the etiopathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) is still unclear, inflammation, oxidative stress, and subsequent DNA damage might be considered role players in disease development., Aim: We aimed at exploring the potential link between oxidative DNA damage and inflammation in AA patients through measuring 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), and one of the inflammatory mediators, C-reactive protein (CRP)., Methods: A total of 79 subjects (49 AA patients in addition to 30 apparently healthy control subjects) were tested for serum levels of 8-OHdG, HMBG1, and CRP., Results: Compared with the control group, serum 8-OHdG, HMBG1, and CRP levels were significantly elevated in the studied patients group (0.031, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed that disease course, serum levels of 8-OHdG, and HMBG1 were considered independent predictors for AA severity in both uni- and multivariable analyses., Conclusion: Our results suggest a possible role of oxidative stress together with proinflammatory biomarkers in development of AA and their benefit in predicting a severe form of the disease., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: During the last few decades, patients worldwide have been interested in using alternative medicine in treating diseases to avoid the increased side effects of chemical medications. Green coffee is unroasted coffee seeds that have higher amounts of chlorogenic acid compared to roasted coffee. Green coffee was successfully used to protect against obesity, Alzheimer disease, high blood pressure and bacterial infection., Methods: This study aimed to investigate the probable protective activity of the green coffee methanolic extract, silymarin and their combination on CCl 4 -induced liver toxicity in male rats. Thirty Sprague - Dawley male albino rats were divided into 5 groups; control negative (G1) just got the vehicle (olive oil) and the other four groups received CCl 4 dissolved in olive oil through an intraperitoneal injection and were divided into untreated control positive group (G2), the third group (G3) was treated with green coffee methanolic extract, the fourth group (G4) was treated with silymarin, and the fifth group (G5) was treated with a combination of green coffee methanolic extract and silymarin., Results: In the positive control group treated with CCl 4 (G2), the CCl 4 -induced toxicity increased lipid peroxidation, IL-6, kidney function parameters, liver function enzymes, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins, and decreased irisin, antioxidants, CYP450 and high-density lipoprotein levels. Hepatic tissues were also injured. However, treating the injured rats in G3, G4 and G5 significantly improved the altered parameters and hepatic tissues., Conclusions: Green coffee methanolic extract, silymarin, and their combination succeeded in protecting the male rats against CCl4 hepatotoxicity due to their antioxidant activity. Effect of green coffee methanolic extract mixed with silymarin in G5 was more efficient than that of green coffee methanolic extract in G3 or silymarin in G4.