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Rizwan Wahab,1,2,* Neha Kaushik,3,* Farheen Khan,4 Nagendra Kumar Kaushik,5 Su-Jae Lee,3 Eun Ha Choi,5 Abdulaziz A Al-Khedhairy1 1Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 2Al-Jeraisy, Chair for DNA Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South Korea; 4Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Yanbu 42353, Saudi Arabia; 5Plasma Bioscience Research Center/Applied Plasma Medicine Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 01897, South Korea *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Over the past several decades, the incidence of solid cancers has rapidly increased worldwide. Successful removal of tumor-initiating cells within tumors is essential in the field of cancer therapeutics to improve patient disease-free survival rates. The biocompatible multivarient-sized gold nanoparticles (MVS-GNPs) from quantum dots (QDs, Methods: Herein, MVS-GNPs synthesized and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Afterwards, interaction of these GNPs with glioma stem-cell like cells along with cancer cells were evaluated by MTT, cell motility, self-renewal assays and biostatistics was also applied.Results: Among these GNPs, G-QDs contributed to reduce metastatic events and spheroid cell growth, potentially blocking the self-renewal ability of these cells. This study also uncovers the previously unknown role of the inhibition of CTNNB1 signaling as a novel candidate to decrease the tumorigenesis of glioma spheroids and subsequent spheroid growth. The accurate and precise biostatistics results were obtained at quantify level.Conclusion: In summary, G-QDs may exhibit possible contribution on suppressing the growth of tumor-initiating cells. These data reveal a unique therapeutic approach for the elimination of residual resistant stem-like cells during cancer treatment. Keywords: multivarient gold nanoparticles, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, solid tumor, brain cancer, self-renewal, cellular movement, biostatistics

Khalid E Alzahrani,1,2 Abdurahman A Niazy,3 Abdullah M Alswieleh,4 Rizwan Wahab,5 Ahmed M El-Toni,2 Hamdan S Alghamdi3 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 3Prince Naif Health Research Center, Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Background: The increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics is a challenging worldwide health problem that has led to the search for new and more efficient antibacterial agents. Nanotechnology has proven to be an effective tool for the fight against bacteria. Methods: In this paper, we present the synthesis and traits of trimetal (CuZnFe) oxide nanoparticles (NPs) using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. We evaluated the antibacterial activity of these NPs against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis and then compared it to that of their pure single-metal oxide components CuO and ZnO. Results: Our study showed that the antibacterial activity of the trimetal oxide NPs was greater against E. coli than against E. faecalis. Overall, the antimicrobial effect of trimetal NPs is between those of pure ZnO and CuO nanoparticles, which may mean that their cytotoxicity is also between that of pure ZnO and CuO NPs, making them potential antibiotics. However, the cytotoxicity of trimetal NPs to mammalian cells needs to be verified. Conclusion: The combination of three metal oxide NPs (ZnO, CuO, and Fe2O3) in one multimetal (CuZnFe) oxide NPs will enhance the therapeutic strategy against a wide range of microbial infections. Bacteria are unlikely to develop resistance against this new NP because bacteria must go through a series of mutations to become resistant to the trimetal oxide NP. Therefore, this NP can combat existing and emerging bacterial infections. Keywords: nanotechnology, antibacterial agents, nanoparticles, trimetal nanoparticles, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis

Mohamed A Dkhil,1,2 Saleh Al-Quraishy,1 Rizwan Wahab11Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, EgyptAbstract: Nanomedicine has recently emerged as a better option for the treatment of various diseases. Here, we investigated the in vivo anticoccidial properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs). ZNPs were crystalline in nature, with a smooth and spherical surface and a diameter in the range of ~10–15 nm. The X-ray diffraction pattern was utilized to identify the crystalline property of the grown ZNPs, whereas field emission scanning electron microscopy was employed to check the size and morphology of the ZNPs. The data showed that mice infected with Eimeria papillata produced 29.7×103±1,500 oocysts/g feces on day 5 postinfection. This output was significantly decreased, to 12.5×103±1,000 oocysts, in mice treated with ZNPs. Infection also induced inflammation and injury of the jejunum. This was evidenced (1) through an increase in the inflammatory histological score, (2) through increased production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, and (3) through a decrease in both the glutathione level and goblet cell number in mice jejuna. All these infection-induced parameters were significantly altered during treatment with ZNPs. Our results indicate, therefore, that ZNPs have protective effects against E. papillata-induced coccidiosis.Keywords: zinc nanoparticle, Eimeria, mice, jejunum

The behavioural ecology of ultrasonic-singing katydids is not well understood, and the general bioacoustics, barely known for a few Neotropical Meconematinae, tends to be overlooked for species from Southeast Asia. These include Asiatic species of Phlugidini, commonly known as crystal predatory katydids. One of its genera, Asiophlugis consists of 16 species for which acoustic signals and stridulum anatomy are broadly unknown. These characters can be used to understand species boundaries. Here, we sampled Asiophlugis from five sites in Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island, recorded the acoustic signals of five species plus one subspecies using ultrasound sensitive equipment, and examined their stridulum anatomy. The calling songs of the taxa involved were documented for the first time. We found that the stridulum anatomy (e.g., tooth distributions, tooth length and tooth density) is distinct between species but less so between subspecies. In contrary, songs of different taxa are different based on acoustic parameters (e.g., pulse duration, peak frequency) and descriptive patterns, even between the subspecies. We also did not observe that song signals are more different in sympatry than in allopatry. Whether this can be generalised requires further sampling, highlighting the need for more research on the ultrasonic acoustic communication in Asiatic katydids.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different lighting levels on the total protein and amino acid content of the isolated Lyngbya sp. Algal samples were collected from the Euphrates River in Nassiriyah, southern Iraq. The isolated algae were cultivated under optimal laboratory conditions for two weeks, exposed to varying levels of lighting. After this period, protein and amino acid contents were measured. The results revealed significant differences at a probability level of 0.05. The highest total protein content was observed at a luminance level of 100 (72.17%), while the lowest was at a luminance level of 5 (15.11%). Significant differences in amino acid levels were also noted, depending on the lighting intensity. These findings indicate that lighting levels significantly influence both the protein content and the amino acid profile in the dry matter of the Lyngbya sp. samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals pose a significant threat to aquatic environments due to their widespread industrial use and untreated disposal into water. Studies have demonstrated that algae can effectively absorb and accumulate heavy metals from polluted areas. The present study investigated the ability of the green alga, Chlorella vulgaris to accumulate some heavy metals. Chlorella vulgaris was isolated and identified from water samples collected from the surface water of the Euphrates River. The alga was treated with different concentrations (10, 15, 20, and, 25 mg/L) of heavy metals (copper, lead, cadmium, and cobalt) for 14 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of algae. The results showed that C. vulgaris can accumulate heavy metals. Cobalt was the highest accumulated metal followed by low accumulated metals of copper, lead, and cadmium. Heavy metal concentrations of cobalt, copper, lead, and cadmium were accumulated in C. vulgaris with concentrations of 0.57, 0.12, 0.05, and 0.02% dry weight, respectively. Cadmium was the most toxic metal to cell shape and contents, followed by cobalt. However, copper and lead showed no effect. The findings of the study suggest that C. vulgaris can be used in bioremediation to remove heavy metal contamination from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the biochemical complexity of seminal fluid, we attempt to study the possible correlation between fructose, which is secreted under the effect of androgen hormone, and autoimmunity, which might play a role in varicocele associated infertility, in reducing sperm motility. Seminal fructose, antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and blood steroids hormones (testosterone and progesterone) levels were measured in 66 infertile males with varicocele and 84 without varicocele referred for fertility treatment. Seminal analysis was performed with biochemical measurements of seminal fructose and mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) for ASA. Serum levels of progesterone and testosterone were estimated using a competitive chemoluminescent enzyme immunoassay. The mean values for serum testosterone were 380.74±24.331, 365.9±16.55, and 367.5±21.8 ng/dl, progesterone 0.325±0.243, 0.341±0.022, and 0.357 ± 0.0306 ng/ml, and seminal plasma fructose 359.6 ± 26.75, 315.6 ± 13.08, and 332.08 ± 24.38 mg/dl in males with varicocele, without varicocele, and fertile males, respectively. A significant high level of testosterone was observed within varicocele group (P=.001). This result showed that testosterone may play a role as an infertility determinant in subjects with varicocele. ASA was detected in 18 (26.47%) of cases with varicocele, 20 (38.46%) without varicocele, and in 16 (32.0%) fertile men. Cases with ASAs associated with low sperm motility morphology. An inverse correlation between sperm-bound antibodies and viscosity has been shown (P=.017). ASA showed some significant inverse relations with ages, durations of infertility, and viscosity (P

Breast vasculature is visualised on all screening and diagnostic imaging of the breast. Various vascular breast lesions exist, spanning from chronic systemic processes, congenital malformations, post-traumatic sequela, benign masses, to malignant tumours. Accurate diagnosis of vascular lesions on breast imaging can be difficult due to overlapping characteristics. Radiologists should be aware of key multi-technique imaging features to make an accurate diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary biopsies. This article reviews the normal vascular anatomy of the breast, commonly used imaging techniques to diagnose vascular lesions, and an in-depth review of various vascular breast lesions. Finally, management recommendations and clinical guidance are discussed so that the radiologist can appropriately triage these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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