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Background: Pulsed low dose rate radiotherapy (PLDR) is a new radiation delivery method, in which the fractional dose is divided into sub-fractional doses with periodical time breaks in between. The goal of our study is to assess the toxicity on healthy tissues resulting from PLDR as compared to conventional radiotherapy (CRT) using the same physical X-ray dose., Methods: We analyzed the weight and survival time for CRT and PLDR groups and studied the inflammatory cytokine transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β), usually released following irradiation. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted for intestinal and bone marrow tissues from rats subjected to 8 Gy whole- body irradiation using CRT and PLDR techniques. We investigated genotoxicity by performing a comet assay (CA) in splenic tissues., Results: Our findings showed an improvement in survival time with PLDR versus CRT by 82%.The mean survival time for CRT rats' group was 6.3 days, while it was 35.9 days for PLDR group.The weight of CRT group decreased gradually by 3.7%, while weight of PLDR group increased gradually by 2.4%.CRT resulted in more cellular atrophy in bone marrow and intestinal tissues than in PLDR treatments as shown by hematoxylin and eosin staining analysis. In addition, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression in bone marrow and intestinal tissues of CRT was higher than those expressed in tissues from PLDR as demonstrated by the Immuno reactive score (IRS). It was10(0.53) and 9.8(0.55) for BM and intestinal tissues, respectively from CRT group and 5.8(0.63) for PLDR for both tissues. The measured CA parameters were larger with CRT compared to PLDR, where the Tail Length (TL), Tail DNA % (TD%) and Tail Moment (TM) measurements were 25.4(3.4), 56.5(7.6) % and 20.5(3.5) for CRT, 7.3(1.9), 30.0(7.2) % and 5.7(1.8) for PLDR, with P value 0.000064, 0.0004 and 0.00017, respectively., Conclusion: This study indicates that PLDR can reduce the toxicity on normal tissues compared to CRT., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was carried out in compliance with a protocol approved by Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Ain Shams University (Code: ASU-SCI/PHYS/2023/9/1). Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections pose a significant threat to human health, prompting the exploration of innovative solutions. In this study, a new series of antibacterial hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) were developed. The HNPs are based on a combination of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), synthesized using Carica papaya leaf extract, and chitosan (CS/SeHNPs) or trimethyl chitosan (TMC/SeHNPs), respectively. Comprehensive characterization using UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, DLS, TEM, and DSC confirmed the structure and properties of the developed HNPs. SeNPs, CS/SeHNPs, and TMC/SeHNPs showed average hydrodynamic size of 78.8, 91.3, and 122 nm, and zeta potentials of -6.35 mV, +32.8 mV, and +54.8 mV, respectively. Biological assessments were conducted, including antibacterial and antibiofilm assays against clinical strains (E. coli, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae), along with antioxidant activity. TMC/SeHNPs demonstrated superior performance compared to SeNPs and CS/SeHNPs with the lowest minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae (3.9 μg/mL) and 62.5 μg/mL against E. coli in addition to robust antibiofilm activity. Furthermore, the TMC/SeHNPs exhibited potent DPPH free radical scavenging ability and demonstrated good biocompatibility, as evidenced by cell viability assays on HFB4 cells. Overall, TMC/SeHNPs emerged as promising candidates in nanomedicine, offering high antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activities alongside excellent biocompatibility., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tacrolimus (TAC) is a frequently used immunosuppressive medication in organ transplantation. However, its nephrotoxic impact limits its long-term usage. This study aims to investigate the effect of linagliptin (Lina) on TAC-induced renal injury and its underlying mechanisms., Methods and Results: Thirty-two Sprague Dawley rats were treated with TAC (1.5 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) and/or Lina (5 mg/kg/day, orally) for 4 weeks. Histological examination was conducted, and serum and urinary biomarkers were measured to assess kidney function and integrity. Furthermore, ELISA, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical assay were employed to determine signaling molecules of oxidative stress, profibrogenic, hypoxic, and apoptotic proteins. Tacrolimus caused renal dysfunction and histological deterioration evidenced by increased serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary cystatin C, and decreased serum albumin as well as elevated tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis scores. Additionally, TAC significantly increased the expression of collagen type-1, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) renal content. Moreover, TAC decreased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2). In addition, TAC increased protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor1-alpha (HIF-1α), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as well as nitric oxide (NO), 4-hydroxynonenal, caspase-3 and Bax renal contents. Furthermore, TAC decreased Bcl-2 renal contents. The Lina administration markedly attenuated these alterations., Conclusion: Lina ameliorated TAC-induced kidney injury through modulation of oxidative stress, hypoxia, and apoptosis related proteins., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, a novel anti-diabetic medication family, are renoprotective in diabetes, but a comparable benefit in chronic non-diabetic kidney diseases is still under investigation. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of linagliptin's (Lina) protective role in a rat model of chronic kidney injury caused by tacrolimus (TAC) independent of blood glucose levels. Thirty-two adult male Sprague Dawley rats were equally randomized into four groups and treated daily for 28 d as follows: The control group; received olive oil (1 mL/kg/d, subcutaneously), group 2; received Lina (5 mg/kg/d, orally), group 3; received TAC (1.5 mg/kg/d, subcutaneously), group 4; received TAC plus Lina concomitantly in doses as the same previous groups. Blood and urine samples were collected to investigate renal function indices and tubular injury markers. Additionally, signaling molecules, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and fibrotic-related proteins in kidney tissue were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis, immunohistochemical and histological examinations. Tacrolimus markedly induced renal injury and fibrosis as indicated by renal dysfunction, histological damage, and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. It also increased transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), Smad4, p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2/ERK1/2, and p-P38/P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein levels. These alterations were markedly attenuated by the Lina administration. Moreover, Lina significantly inhibited EMT, evidenced by inhibiting Vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and elevating E-cadherin. Furthermore, Lina diminished hypoxia-related protein levels with a subsequent reduction in Snail and Twist expressions. We concluded that Lina may protect against TAC-induced interstitial fibrosis by modulating TGF-β1 mediated EMT via Smad-dependent and independent signaling pathways.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an indispensable drug used for the treatment of many autoimmune and cancerous diseases. However, its clinical use is associated with serious side effects, such as lung fibrosis. The main objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that hydroxytyrosol (HT) can mitigate MTX-induced lung fibrosis in rats while synergizing MTX anticancer effects. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in the rats using MTX (14 mg/kg/week, per os (p.o.)). The rats were treated with or without HT (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/d p.o.) or dexamethasone (DEX; 0.5 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) for two weeks concomitantly with MTX. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), interleukin-4 (IL-4), thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2 ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), tissue factor (TF) and fibrin were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, and RT-PCR. Pulmonary fibrosis was manifested by an excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and a marked increase in TGF-β1 and IL-4 in lung tissues. Furthermore, cotreatment with HT or dexamethasone (DEX) significantly attenuated MTX-induced ECM deposition, TGF-β1, and IL-4 expression. Similarly, HT or DEX notably reduced hydroxyproline contents, TXA 2 , fibrin, and TF expression in lung tissues. Moreover, using HT or DEX downregulated the gene expression of TF. A significant decrease in lung contents of VEGF, IL-8, and 8-OHdG was also observed in HT + MTX- or DEX + MTX -treated animals in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the results of our study suggest that HT might represent a potential protective agent against MTX-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progresses over time. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis gives identification of the main metabolic changes that happen during neurodegeneration, by monitoring biochemical and molecular structure alterations that can help in AD diagnosis or treatment approach., Objective: The aim of the present work is to assess AD hallmarks in molecular structure of retina and monitor accumulation of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ 42 ) in brain and retina during disease progression., Methods: AD induced in rats by Aluminum Chloride (AlCl 3 ). Retinal molecular structure during disease progression for 2,4,6 and 8 weeks was assessed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the incidence of the disease was confirmed by a behavioural assessment; the Morris Water Maze test. Aβ 42 levels in the brain and retina were also measured., Results: The results indicated that cognitive impairment starting from 6 weeks of AlCl 3 administration. Retinal concentration of Aβ 42 was significant increase ( p  < 0.05) from 2 weeks that precedes the observed increase of Aβ 42 in the brain which appeared after 4 weeks of AlCl 3 administration. Multivariate principal component analysis discovers that the variance noticed in the infrared spectra due to AD condition and it is time dependent for progression of the disease., Conclusions: The accumulation of Aβ 42 is a sensitive early biomarker in retina for AD. FTIR analysis of the retina revealed changes in hydrogen bond formation or destruction, alterations in lipid chain length and branching accompanied by depleted lipid content and carbonization, as well as degeneration of the retinal tissue due to AD., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to report., (© 2023 – The authors. Published by IOS Press.)

Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is considered to be one of the most promising desulfurization processes as it is energy-efficient and requires mild operating conditions. In this study, a novel green synthesized Al- based metal-organic framework with high surface area has been synthesized hydrothermally using waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles (PET) as a source of terephthalic acid as an organic linker. The prepared Al based MOF have been characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity of the prepared Al-MOF was evaluated in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of both modeled and real crude oil samples. The different operating parameters (temperature, time, catalyst dose, oxidant loading and sonication) on the ODS performance have been optimized. The optimal conditions for maximum removal of thiophene from modeled oil samples were found to be 30 min, 0.5 g of catalyst and 1:3 oil to oxidant ratio. Under the optimized conditions, sulfur removal in real oil samples obtained from Alexandria petroleum company was 90%. The results revealed that, the presented approach is credited to cost-effectiveness, environmental benignity, and ease of preparation, predicting great prospects for desulfurization of fuel oils on a commercial level., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The selective capture of low-concentration CO 2 from air or confined spaces remains a great challenge. In this study, various functional groups were introduced into UiO-66 to generate functionalized derivatives ( UiO-66-R , R = NO 2 , NH 2 , OH , and CH 3 ), aiming at significantly enhancing CO 2 adsorption and separation efficiency. More significantly, UiO-66-NO 2 and UiO-66-NH 2 with high polarity exhibit exceptional CO 2 affinity and optimal separation characteristics in mixed CO 2 /O 2 /N 2 (1:21:78). In addition, the impressive stability of UiO-66-NO 2 and UiO-66-NH 2 endows them with excellent recycling stability. The effective adsorption and separation performances demonstrated by these two functional materials suggest their potential as promising physical adsorbents for capturing low-concentration CO 2 .

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most serious neurodegenerative diseases in the globe. As a result, there is an acute need to discover indications that allow for early disease detection. There is growing scientific data showing the similarities between the eye and other central nervous system components, suggesting that information obtained in ophthalmic research might be valuable in the study and diagnosis of AD. Fifty male albino Wistar rats were separated into five groups: the first group served as control, and the other four groups of animals were administrated aluminium chloride (AlCl 3 ) in a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, respectively. Insights into the function of the retina by electroretinogram (ERG) and the changes thought to have occurred in the molecular structure of the retina and brain using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) as a result of AD progression induced by AlCl 3 in rats were done. Moreover, the measurement of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) was done. After 6 and 8 weeks of AlCl 3 injection, there was a substantial reduction ( p ≤ 0.05) in a- and b-wave amplitudes and a significant rise ( p ≤ 0.05) in implicit time compared to controls. A significant elevation ( p ≤ 0.05) of AchE content was observed after 4, 6, and 8 weeks. FTIR revealed a significant increase ( p ≤ 0.05) of β -turn and β -sheet content associated with significant decrease ( p ≤ 0.05) of α -helix content for all groups administrated with AlCl 3 . Our findings suggest that retinal biomarkers such as ERG of the retina may be used as a screening tool for detection of AD. Secondary structural changes in the proteins of the retina and the brain were similar in AD rats' model and precede retinal dysfunction., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Heba Ahmed Gaber et al.)

This study was designed to evaluate the potential protective impact of estrogen and estrogen receptor against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. The levels of liver injury serum biomarkers, liver content of interleukin-6 (IL-6), relative liver weight and distortion of liver histological pictures were significantly increased in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and SHAM rats that received DEN alone and were further exaggerated when DEN was combined with fulvestrant (F) compared to non-DEN treated rats. The OVX rats showed higher insults than SHAM rats. The tapering impact on these parameters was clear in OVX rats that received estradiol benzoate (EB), silymarin (S) or orlistat (ORS). The immunohistochemistry and/or Western blot analysis of liver tissues showed a prominent increase in fatty acid synthase (FASN) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) expressions in OVX and SHAM rats who received DEN and/ or F compared to SHAM rats. In contrast to S, treatment of OVX rats with EB mitigated DEN-induced expression of FASN and CD36 in liver tissue, while ORS improved DEN-induced expression of FASN. In conclusion, the protective effect against HCC was mediated via estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) which abrogates its downstream genes involved in lipid metabolism namely FASN and CD36 depriving the tumor from survival vital energy source. In addition, ORS induced similar mitigating effect against DEN-induced HCC which could be attributed to FASN inhibition and anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, S alleviated DEN-induced HCC, independent of its estrogenic effect.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is considered a fatal complication of cyclophosphamide (CP). Down-regulation of Nrf2 and induction of pro-inflammatory mediators are the main pathological factors. Recently, ameliorative potential of the angiotensin II (AII) type-1 (AT1) receptor blocker olmesartan (OLM) on oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines was reported. The current study aims to investigate the possible protective effect of OLM on CP-induced HC in Wistar rats. The animals were divided into the control group (0.5% W/V carboxymethylcellulose, p.o.); OLM group (20 mg/kg, p.o., for 21 days); CP group (a single dose of 100 mg/kg, i.p.); and the remaining groups that received CP i.p. with oral OLM 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg for 21 days, respectively. The bladder tissue was collected for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western blot, and oxidative stress assay. The OLM at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg attenuated increase in TNF-α, IL-6, NF-kB, iNOS, and COX-2 induced by CP. Additionally, it up-regulated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, bladder GSH content, and CAT and SOD activities. The data indicated that OLM inhibited ROS-induced NF-kB, which caused inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Hence, OLM holds great promise for preventing CP-induced HC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To establish national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) for most common paediatric computed tomography (CT) examinations in Egypt., Methods: This was a prospective study that included all dedicated paediatric imaging centers in Egypt. Data from 1680 individual paediatric patients undergoing CT scanning of the head, chest and abdomen-pelvis were collected. Computed tomography dose indices were recorded, data were analysed and compared with the internationally published paediatric DRLs in14 countries., Results: The Egyptian NDRLs of the CTDIvol (mGy) for head, chest and abdomen-pelvis scans among four paediatric age groups were found to be (23, 27, 28, 32, 4, 5, 6, 8, 5, 6, 7, 9) mGy, respectively; and the corresponding NDRLs of the DLP (mGycm) for head, chest and abdomen-pelvis scans were found to be (345, 428, 499, 637, 67, 85, 145, 215, 97, 135, 240, 320) mGycm, respectively. There were variations in the radiation doses between CT centers and identical scanners indicating the need for dose optimization. The NDRLs of the CTDIvol (mGy) and the DLP (mGycm) values were similar to or lower than international DRLs., Conclusion: This study summarizes the results of the first Egyptian Computed Tomography survey that provides national diagnostic reference levels for paediatric patients in Egypt. Despite the reasonable NDRLs values, the study depicted certain pros and cons concerning CT practice, and identified some problems that hinder the process of optimization as well as justification in children., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

ConspectusFor the last two decades, materials scientists have contributed to a growing library of porous crystalline materials. These synthetic materials are typically extended networks, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), or discrete materials like metal-organic cages (MOCs) and porous organic cages (POCs). Advanced porous materials have shown promise for various applications due to their modular nature and structural tunability. MOCs have recently garnered attention because of their molecularity that bestows them with many unique possibilities (e.g., solution-processability, structural diversity, and postsynthetic processability).MOCs are discrete molecular assemblies of organic ligands coordinated with either metal cations or metal oxide clusters of different nuclearities, resulting in architectures with inherent porosity. Notably, the molecular nature of MOCs endows them with easy solution-processability unattainable with traditional framework materials. To date, a number of stable MOCs have been reported, such as those based on Rh (Rh-O bond energy: 405 ± 42 kJ/mol), Fe (Fe-O bond energy: 407.0 ± 1.0 kJ/mol), Cr (Cr-O bond energy: 461 ± 8.7 kJ/mol), Ti (Ti-O bond energy: 666.5 ± 5.6 kJ/mol), and Zr (Zr-O bond energy: 766.1 ± 10.6 kJ/mol). Paddle-wheel MOCs have also shown great stability in aqueous environments due to their rigid backbones. The zirconium MOC (Zr-MOCs) family emerges as a class of very robust cages for which their high bond energy endows them with high hydrothermal stability.In 2013, we reported the first four zirconocene tetrahedrons assembled from trinuclear zirconium oxide clusters with ditopic or tritopic organic ligands. Since then, significant progress in the rational design of Zr-MOC has led to an assortment of structures dedicated to meaningful applications.In this Account, we highlight the recent progress in synthesizing Zr-MOCs and Zr-MOC-based higher dimensional frameworks and their applications dedicated in our laboratories and beyond. The general Zr-MOC synthetic strategy involves assembling Zr trinuclear clusters with organic ligands (rigid or flexible) containing various functional groups. This chemistry has afforded cages with structural versatility and active sites, e.g., amino groups, for postsynthetic modifications (PSMs). Since the extrinsic porosity of cage-based frameworks is relatively weak, the resulting frameworks are susceptible to structural rearrangement after solvent removal. To circumvent this limitation, increasing the hydrogen bond ratio and strength between interlinked cages and conducting in situ catalytic polymerizations have been reported to afford permanently porous structures amenable to host-guest reactions.To expand their potential applications, multifunctional Zr-MOCs are highly desired. Such multivariate MOCs can be attained by either employing the isoreticular expansion strategy to create MOCs with high surface areas or using mixed-ligand approaches to afford heterogeneous MOCs. In addition, amorphous MOCs, flexible organic ligands, new functionalities, and MOC-based extended networks are exciting new approaches to developing materials with structural versatility and enhanced characteristics. Thereby, we believe the stability and versatility of the Zr-MOC family hold great potential in expanding and addressing challenging applications.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) and still threatens human life. This pandemic is still causing increased mortality throughout the world. Many recent studies have been conducted to discover the pathophysiology of this virus., Material and Methods: However, in this narrative review, we attempted to summarize some of the alterations in physiological pathways that were evident in this viral invasion. Excessive inflammation that progresses to cytokine storm, changes in humoral and cell-mediated immunity, and observed alterations in iron metabolism are included in the pathogenesis of the virus. Iron homeostasis disturbances may persist for more than two months after the onset of COVID-19, which may lead to reduced iron bioavailability, hypoferremia, hyperferritinemia, impaired hemoglobin, and red blood cell synthesis. Furthermore, hypoferriemia may impair immune system function. Until now, the traditional treatments discovered are still being tried., Results: However, using probiotics as an adjuvant was shown to have beneficial effects on both iron homeostasis and immunity in COVID-19. Herein, we discussed the possible mechanisms achieved by probiotics to ameliorate iron and immunity changes based on the available literature., Conclusion: We concluded that supplementing probiotics with conventional therapy may improve COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes. Taking into consideration the use of good quality probiotics and appropriate dosage, undesirable effects can be avoided., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The efficient preparation of chiral porous organic cages (POCs) with specific functions is challenging, and their application in asymmetric catalysis has not previously been explored. In this work, we have achieved the construction of chiral POCs based on a supramolecular tetraformyl-resorcin[4]arene scaffold with different chiral proline-modified diamine ligands and utilizing dynamic imine chemistry. The incorporation of V-shaped or linear chiral diamines affords the [4 + 8] square prism and [6 + 12] octahedral POCs respectively. The appended chiral proline moieties in such POCs make them highly active supramolecular nanoreactors for asymmetric aldol reactions, delivering up to 92% ee. The spatial distribution of chiral catalytic sites in these two types of POCs greatly affects their catalytic activities and enantioselectivities. This work not only lays a foundation for the asymmetric catalytic application of chiral POCs, but also contributes to our understanding of the catalytic function of biomimetic supramolecular systems., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Every year, about 1 out of 9 get burnt in Egypt, with a mortality rate of 37%, and they suffer from physical disfigurement and trauma. For the treatment of second-degree burns, we aim at making a smart bandage provided with control of drug release (using chitosan nanoparticles) to enhance the healing process. This bandage is composed of natural materials; namely, cellulose acetate (CA), chitosan, and propolis (bee resin) as the loaded drug. Cellulose acetate nanofibers were deacetylated by NaOH after optimizing the reaction time and the concentration of NaOH solution, and the product was confirmed with FTIR analysis. Chitosan/propolis nanoparticles were prepared by ion gelation method with size ranging from 100 to 200 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.3. Chitosan/propolis nanoparticles were preloaded in the CA solution to ensure homogeneity. Loaded deacetylated cellulose nanofibers have shown the highest hydrophobicity measured by contact angle. Cytotoxicity of propolis and chitosan/propolis nanoparticles were tested and the experimental IC 50 value was about 137.5 and 116.0 μg/mL, respectively, with p-value ≤0.001. In addition, chitosan/propolis nanoparticles loaded into cellulose nanofibers showed a cell viability of 89.46% in the cell viability test. In-vivo experiments showed that after 21 days of treatment with the loaded nanofibers repairing of epithelial cells, hair follicles and sebaceous glands in the skin of the burn wound were found in albino-mice model., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tissue factor (TF) activates the coagulation system and has an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Our previous study stated that retinoid receptors (RAR-α and RXR-α) are released as a lipid droplet in monocrotaline/ lipopolysaccharide-induced idiosyncratic liver toxicity in mice. Herein, the interdependence between the release of retinoid receptors RAR-α and RXR-α and TF in Nacetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced mice liver toxicity, is investigated. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) level, platelet and white blood cells (WBCs) counts, protein expression of fibrin, TF, cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 in liver tissues are analyzed. In addition, histopathological evaluation and survival study are also performed. The results indicate that using of TF-antisense (TF-AS) deoxyoligonucleotide (ODN) injection (6 mg/kg), to block TF protein synthesis, significantly restores the elevated level of ALT and WBCs and corrects thrombocytopenia in mice injected with APAP. TF-AS prevents the peri-central overexpression of liver TF, fibrin, cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase- 3. The release of RXR-α and RAR-α droplets, in APAP treated sections, is inhibited upon treatment with TF-AS. In conclusion, the above findings designate that the released RXR-α and RAR-α in APAP liver toxicity is TF dependent. Additionally, the enhancement of cyclin D1 to caspase-3-dependent apoptosis can be prevented by blocking of TF protein synthesis.

What Is Known and Objective: Sofosbuvir has been approved as the first nonstructural protein 5B polymerase inhibitor with pan-genotypic activity against the hepatitis C (HCV) virus. Daclatasvir is a first-in-class hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 5A replication complex inhibitor. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the reference single nucleotide polymorphism (rs12979860) interleukin 28B (CC genotype) for predicting sustained virological response to sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir in Egyptian patients infected with HCV-4., Methods: Samples were collected at week zero. One hundred and thirty-one patients who reached the end of treatment (at week 12) were divided into three groups, according to their interleukin 28B genotype: Group A included 31 patients (CC genotype), group B included 79 patients (CT genotype) and group C had 21 patients (TT genotype). All patients received treatment for 3 months in the form of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with ribavirin (in case of cirrhotic patients) or without ribavirin (in case of non-cirrhotic patients)., Results and Discussion: Sustained virological response rate was significantly higher in patients with IL28B (CC genotype) vs. (non-CC genotype) (100 vs.88%) (p < 0.0001).These patients also showed lower rates of post-treatment relapse and non-response, compared with the CT and TT patients (0% vs. (7.59% and 28.5%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Also, patients with CC genotype showed higher sustained virological response than non-CC genotypes on both cirrhotic (100% vs. 68.75%) and non-cirrhotic patients (100% vs. 91.66%) (p ≤ 0.0001)., What Is New and Conclusion: Our results suggest that IL28B genotype contributes to the prediction of response to sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: Evaluating the possible protective effect of thymol as an approach against 1,2 N,N-dimethylhydrazine and/or high-fat diet (HFD)-induced colon cancer., Main Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups, namely a normal control group, colon cancer groups received DMH (40 mg/kg i.p., twice weekly), 20% HFD and DMH/HFD, thymol (20 mg/kg/day, p.o.), thymol/DMH and thymol/DMH/HFD (treatment of all groups continued for 16 weeks)., Key Findings: Thymol significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of colon related tumor markers carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as well as the apoptotic marker, caspase-3 compared with the colon cancer group. In addition, it mitigated colonic tissue oxidative stress markers and inflammatory mediators. Moreover, the histopathological study revealed reduction of mucous secretion with elongated nuclei, frequent mitotic figures, focal nuclear stratification, mild interstitial edema, and markedly dilated congested blood vessels, aberrant crypt foci (ACF); adenoma with moderate to severe dysplasia of colon corrected by thymol treatment., Significance: The administration of thymol had a promising preclinical protective efficacy and could be considered as a new strategy for the prophylaxis from colon cancer in clinical practices., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Porous organic molecular (POM) materials can exhibit solvatomorphs via altering their crystallographic packing in the solid state, but investigating real gas mixture separation by porous materials with such a behavior is still very rare. Herein, we report that a lantern-shaped calix[4]resorcinarene-based porous organic cage (POC, namely, CPOC-101 ) can exhibit eight distinct solid-state solvatomorphs via crystallization in different solvents. This POC solvatomorphism has a significant influence on their gas sorption capacities as well as separation abilities. Specifically, the apparent Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area determined by nitrogen gas sorption at 77 K for CPOC-101α crystallized from toluene/chloroform is up to 406 m 2 g -1 , which is much higher than the rest of CPOC-101 solvatomorphs with BET values less than 40 m 2 g -1 . More interestingly, C 2 H 2 and CO 2 adsorbed capacities, in addition to the C 2 H 2 /CO 2 separation ability at room temperature for CPOC-101α , are superior to those of CPOC-101β crystalized from nitrobenzene, the representative of POC solvatomorphs with low BET surface areas. These results indicate the possibility of adjusting gas sorption and separation properties of POC materials by controlling their solvatomorphs.

Obesity is considered a serious global health issue. Patients have been predisposed to comorbidities such as dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and osteoarthritis. Certain fats in the diet have been linked with an increase in obesity, such as saturated and trans-fats. Meanwhile, some dietary fats such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) could potentially reduce energy intake. Various mechanisms for reducing weight by CLAs and MCTs, such as increased lipolysis, improved intestinal microbiota, up-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), increased the expression of uncoupling protein of respiratory chain-1 (UCP-1), and affected satiety hormones are included. These bioactive compounds, CLAs and MCTs, should be used in moderate concentrations to prevent harmful effects such as insulin resistance for CLAs and hypercholesterolemia for MCTs. However, several studies have proposed CLAs or MCTs as adjuvants to the protocol used to minimize bodyweight. Our objective is to summarize the different causes of obesity and to discuss the effects of CLAs or MCTs on body weight and fat deposition in obese animals or humans.

Reversible structural transformation upon exposure to external stimuli can lead to breathing effect or gate-opening phenomena for dynamic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which endow them with excellent gas separation performance. The separation of hydrogen isotopes remains a huge challenge due to their nearly identical physical and chemical properties. The unique feature of dynamic MOFs, especially structural transition triggered by isotopes or by temperature, maximally enhances kinetic quantum sieving and contributes to the highly selective separation of hydrogen isotopes. Herein, we present some examples for the separation of hydrogen isotopes based on dynamic frameworks, and we expect to attract increasing attention to this research field.

Understanding the microbial ecology of a system allows linking members of the community and their metabolic functions to the performance of the wastewater bioreactor. This study provided a comprehensive conceptual framework for microbial communities in wastewater treatment electro-bioreactors (EBRs). The model was based on data acquired from monitoring the effect of altering different bioreactor operational parameters, such as current density and hydraulic retention time, on the microbial communities of an EBR and its nutrient removal efficiency. The model was also based on the 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing data analysis and bioreactor efficiency data. The collective data clearly demonstrated that applying various electric currents affected the microbial community composition and stability and the reactor efficiency in terms of chemical oxygen demand, N and P removals. Moreover, a schematic that recommends operating conditions that are tailored to the type of wastewater that needs to be treated based on the functional microbial communities enriched at specific operating conditions was suggested. In this study, a conceptual model as a simplified representation of the behavior of microbial communities in EBRs was developed. The proposed conceptual model can be used to predict how biological treatment of wastewater in EBRs can be improved by varying several operating conditions.

Background: Retinoid receptors (RRs), RAR-α and RXR-α, work as transcription factors that regulate cell growth, differentiation, survival, and death. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) store retinoid and release its RRs as lipid droplets upon their activation., Purpose: We test the hypothesis that loss of retinoid receptors RAR-α and RXR-α from HSCs is dependent on tissue factor (TF) during thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury., Methods: Liver toxicity markers, TF, fibrin, cleaved caspase-3, and cyclin D1 as well as histopathology were investigated., Results: Increased TF, fibrin, cleaved caspase-3, and cyclin D1 protein expression is seen in zone of central vein after TAA injection compared with vehicle-treated mice. A strong downregulation of RAR-α and RXR-α is seen in TAA-induced liver injury. In addition, histopathological obliteration and pericentral expression of cleaved caspase 3 and cyclin D1 are observed after TAA injection compared with the normal vehicle-treated mice. No changes have been seen in TAA/TF-sense (SC) in whole parameters compared with TAA-treated animals. TAA/TF-antisense (AS)-treated mice show normal expression of all parameters and normal histopathological features when compared with the control mice. In conclusion, this study declares that the strong downregulation of RAR-α and RXR-α may cause liver injury and particularly activation of HSCs in TAA-induced toxicity. TF-AS treatment not only downregulates TF protein expression but also alleviates loss of liver RAR-α and RXR-α and suppresses the activated apoptosis signals in TAA-induced liver toxicity. Finally, TF and RAR-α/RXR-α are important regulatory molecules in TAA induced acute liver injury.

Aim: Investigating the impact of 17β-Estradiol/estrogen receptors in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity., Main Methods: Three weeks post-ovariectomy or sham surgery for the Wistar albino female rats, thirty sham rats were randomly grouped (n = 6), received either vehicle or gentamicin; the estrogen receptors down regulator (fulvestrant); gentamicin plus fulvestrant; gentamicin plus the phytoestrogen (genistein). Forty-eight ovariectomized rats were randomly grouped (n = 6), treated with either vehicle or gentamicin; fulvestrant; gentamicin plus fulvestrant; genistein; gentamicin plus genistein; estradiol benzoate; gentamicin plus estradiol benzoate. Just post-treatment termination, the traditional kidney injury biomarkers (serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen) and novel biomarkers (serum Kidney injury molecule -1, cystatin C, lactate dehydrogenase and, gamma-glutamyl transferase) were determined. Bovine serum albumin labeled with fluorescence isothiocyanate assessed megalin expression/endocytic functionality in the proximal tubules epithelial cells (PTECs). The immunohistochemical investigation for the same-sectioned slides of PTECs assessed the correlation between estrogen receptors α and megalin receptors expression. Histopathological examination of PTECs and subjective scoring system graded the damage markers., Key Findings: Estrogen receptor α expression was markedly dimensioned post-ovariectomy, co-localized and inversely correlated to megalin expression. Serum levels of the novel biomarkers were directly proportional to megalin expression in the PTECs and inversely correlated with estrogen receptor α expression. The injury was exaggerated in ovariectomized and intact rats received fulvestrant. Supplementation with estrogen or genistein ameliorated this injury., Significance: Estrogen/estrogen receptors have a protective impact on gentamicin-induced acute kidney injury. Estrogen receptors antagonist exacerbate the injury, and oppositely, estrogens or phytoestrogens improve it., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Arab Abu Saed area in Giza governorate, south to Cairo contains more than 228 clay brick kilns represent the largest cluster of brickworks in Egypt. Burning of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) in such kilns is the main source of air pollution in the surrounding locations. In this study, investigation of switching the fuel used in brick kilns from (HFO) to Natural Gas (NG) is carried out and the pollution loads are assessed in both cases. In addition, two Gaussian dispersion plume models are employed to estimate the concentration of primary pollutants; PM 10 , SO 2 , and NO 2 at seven locations in the vicinity of Arab Abu Saed to determine the most adversely affected locations. Statistical analysis is applied to evaluate the correlation and conformity of the results of both models. Results show that using of NG leads to a significant reduction of pollution loads of PM 10 , SO 2 and NO 2 reaches 96%, 72%, and 24% respectively. In addition, the reduction of naturally occurring radionuclides in air is analyzed. Activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 in Bq/l for HFO were measured using HPGe detector for six HFO samples. Exposure due to air submersion of naturally occurring radionuclides in the study area leads to annual equivalent dose ranged between 2.16 mSv/y (received by Uterus) and 14 mSv/y (received by skin), and average effective dose 2.65 mSv/y which represent valuable exposure.

This study aims to estimate the safety of white kidney bean (WKB) fertilized by zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) via studying changes of liver and kidney function, lipid profile and histological examination for the liver and kidney tissue in rats fed on it. Twenty Four male albino rats were used in this study divided into four groups; the first fed balanced diet (control group), the second fed WKB treated with normal ZnO (nWKB), the third fed WKB treated with 20 ppm ZnO-NPs (tWKB-1), and the fourth fed WKB treated with 40 ppm ZnO-NPs (tWKB-2). The results revealed that WKB treated with ZnO-NPs reduced body weight, food efficiency ratio, relative liver weight, and relative spleen weight were increased as well as the most biochemical parameters exhibited non-significant changes as compared to control group. Meanwhile, tWKB-2 group demonstrated a decrease in alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase activities as compared to nWKB group.

Here we report a new sensor Tb97.11Eu2.89-L1 that enables ratiometric detection of trace water in CH3CN. As the water content increases from 0% to 2.5% (v/v%), Tb97.11Eu2.89-L1 exhibits an excellent linear relationship between the water content and I543/I615, as well as variable emissive light colors visible to the naked eye.

Osteoporosis poses an important public health problem which affects millions of people worldwide. There is a direct link between calcium deficiency in diet and induction of osteoporosis and bone loss. The current study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of thyme ( Thymus vulgaris L.) and rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.) against osteoporosis in rats with low calcium intake. Essential oils of rosemary and thyme were analyzed. The experiment was carried out on growing male Sprague-Dawley rats; the experimental animals were divided into 5 groups: 1, control negative was fed standard balanced diet; 2, control positive was fed balanced diet with low calcium level (L Ca) (Ca 0.1% w/w); 3, (L Ca) + thyme powder (5% w/w); 4, (L Ca) + rosemary powder (5% w/w); 5, (L Ca) + orally administration with CaCO 3 (27 mg/kg body weight). Blood samples were collected for different biochemical analyses in plasma (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α ), C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-terminal telopeptide (CTX), and 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3). Femur mass, length, and bone mineral density (BMD) were recorded, and histopathological studies for femurs were examined. Low-calcium diet induced osteoporotic changes in positive control rats (decrease in Ca, vitamin D3, and BMD and increase in CTX, PTH, TNF- α , CRP, and MDA). Supplementation with thyme and rosemary inhibited significantly the development of bone loss, increased Ca and vitamin D3 in plasma, improved BMD, and also prevented the inflammation and oxidative stress (improved TNF- α , CRP and MDA) compared to the positive control. The histopathological examination of treated groups showed an improvement in bone histology and protection against bone loss. However, thyme powder showed more effective impact than rosemary. Our study demonstrates that thyme and rosemary effectively mitigated calcium deficiency-induced bone loss and maybe considered as promising candidates for preventing bone resorption and osteoporosis.

Dietary antioxidants are widely distributed in various types of our food. They are strongly associated with reduced risk of many chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and Alzheimer's diseases. They include vitamins such as vitamins A, E, C, and carotenoids. Also, some minerals like; zinc, manganese, copper, iron, and selenium are essential for the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, dietary polyphenols and flavonoids are considered as potent antioxidant compounds. Vegetables, fruits, and edible herbs are the richest sources of such antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress, either directly by reducing reactive species or indirectly by enhancing the body antioxidant defense mechanisms in different ways. These may include upregulating gene expression of some antioxidant enzymes via a nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor2 pathway. Administration of a mixture of antioxidants is beneficial since they act synergistically in various phases. The aims of this review are to summarize the different antioxidants from dietary sources and their role in the prevention of different diseases.

This study aimed to assess the possible modulatory effect of nebivolol against methylprednisolone-induced osteoporosis in rats. Weekly administration of methylprednisolone (7 mg/kg), for six consecutive weeks caused significant increases in serum calcium, bone malondialdehyde, and hydroxyproline as well as serum alkaline phosphatase, but it significantly decreased serum phosphorous and osteocalcin, bone reduced glutathione, and nitric oxide (NO) as well as bone antioxidant enzymes activities compared with the control group. The results were confirmed by histopathological findings of femur bone. On the other hand, administration of alendronate (1 mg/kg) with nebivolol (1.5 mg/kg) orally and daily for seven consecutive days after methylprednisolone treatment caused marked mitigation in the above-mentioned parameters compared with methylprednisolone group. In conclusion, nebivolol proved to enhance the effect of alendronate in modulating methylprednisolone osteoporotic effect, which might be attributed to its release of NO together with its profound reducing capability in the oxidative cascade of bone tissue., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The purpose of this study was to illustrate the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) administration on bone turnover and bone resorbing agents in rats and how L-arginine (L-arg) or vitamin E (vit E) co-administrations might affect them. Fasting rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): G1-normal healthy animals; G2-ZnO-NPs-exposed rats (600 mg/kg - 1/day -1 ); G3-ZnO-NPs-exposed rats co-administrated L-arg (200 mg/kg - 1/day -1 ); G4-ZnO-NPs-exposed rats co-administrated vit E (200 mg/kg - 1/day -1 ). The ingredients were orally administered daily. The body weight and food consumption of rats were recorded during the administration period and the experiment continued for three consecutive weeks. The results demonstrated that ZnO-NPs administration induced bone loss in rats as manifested by reduced activity of bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and increased level of C-terminal peptide type I collagen (CTx). The increase of inflammatory markers, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by ZnO-NPs suggests that deleterious effects of ZnO-NPs on bone turnover were, in part, due to inflammation. Confirming to this suggestion, both L-arg and vit E reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels and consequently decreased bone resorption as indicated by reduced serum CTx level. This study proved that ZnO-NPs can induce bone turnover, which may be reduced by L-arg or vit.E co-administration, partly by anti-inflammatory mechanism.

Doxorubicin (DOX) exerts toxic effects in several organs particularly kidney. The present study aimed to assess the protective effect of proanthocyanidins (PAs) against DOX-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. A single dose of DOX (7.5 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly increased kidney weight, kidney/body weight ratio, serum urea, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha levels, and kidney contents of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, and caspase-3 activity with significant reduction in final body weight, serum albumin, kidney contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase activity as compared with control group. In contrast, pretreatment with PAs (200 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days before DOX and for 7 days after DOX ameliorated kidney function and oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological evidence confirmed the protective effects of PAs from the tissue damage induced by DOX. In conclusion, PAs have a multi-nephroprotective effect that might be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptoic activities., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. A single dose of DOX (7.5 mg/kg i.v.) induced nephrotoxicity evidenced by significant elevations in kidney weight, kidney/body weight ratio, serum urea, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and renal contents of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, and caspase-3. Also, it causes significant reduction in final body weight, serum albumin, renal contents of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity. Histopathological changes in the kidney tissue confirmed the nephrotoxic effect. In contrast, pretreatment with ALA (50 mg/kg, orally) for 14 days before DOX and for 7 days after DOX administration mitigated renal toxicity evidenced by greater improvement in the examined oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis parameters. In conclusion, ALA had promising protective effects against DOX-induced nephrotoxicity that might be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptoic activities., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Gentamicin (GM) is a drug used commonly against gram-negative bacteria. Its therapeutic use is mainly limited by its nephrotoxicity. This investigation was aimed at evaluating the nephroprotective effects of rosemary (RM; Rosmarinus officinalis) and thyme (TV; Thymus vulgaris) against GM toxicity. Rats were divided into four groups. Normal control group was treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with saline; positive control group was administered GM 60 mg/kg/day i.p.; RM group was co-administered 8% RM aqueous extract, 10 mL/kg/day, orally with GM; and TV group was co-administered 8% TV aqueous extract orally, 10 mL/kg/day with GM. Both RM and TV groups extracted significantly ameliorated plasma kidney function biomarkers, and reduced malondialdhyde and glucose levels. Meanwhile, RM extract significantly modulated the electrolyte concentration and increased plasma insulin levels as compared with the GM group. However, the aqueous extract of RM showed more pronounced effects than TV extract. Our data were confirmed by histopathological examination and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation analysis. Deleterious histopathological changes and increased DNA fragmentation induced by GM treatment were markedly controlled by the co-administration of RM and TV. Such renoprotective influence of RM and TV suggests their concurrent supplementation with GM therapy to limit GM toxicity.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypercholesterolemia (HC) when poorly controlled lead to debilitating central nervous system complications including cognitive deficits and memory impairment. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms that may be responsible for such deficits., Methods: Both diabetes and HC were induced in two groups of rats independently using alloxan and high cholesterol diet, respectively., Results: Acetyl cholinesterase was significantly increased in brain of diabetic rats. Also, brain malondialdehyde level was extremely elevated in both diabetic and hypercholesterolemic groups. Meanwhile, brain albumin was markedly decreased in both of them. However, the brain iron level was significantly increased in DM with concomitant increase in total antioxidant capacity in the same group as compared to the normal control. The concentration of brain calcium was noticeably increased in HC group. Our results were confirmed by the increased activity of lactate dehydrogenase in both DM and HC groups, indicating major brain cytotoxicity., Conclusions: Overall, our results suggested that both DM and HC have deleterious effects on the brain which may be attributed to oxidative stress and dysregulation of both cholinergic function and calcium level. Administration of antioxidant is recommended in both cases., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Cinnamic acid (CA) and cinnamaldehyde (CD) are major constituents of cinnamon species. They possess various pharmacological properties of which their antioxidant activity is a prime one. This study aims to investigate potential protective effects against cisplatin (CP)-induced splenotoxicity in rats. A single dose of CP (5 mg/kg) injected i.p. caused a significant decrease in hemoglobin content (18%), total leucocytic count (46%), neutrophils (78%), and catalase (CAT) splenic activity (64%) with a marked increase in lymphocytes (26%) and splenic content of malondialdehyde (68%) and TNF-α (69%) as compared with the control group. Contrarily, CA (50 mg/kg, p.o.) or CD (40 mg/kg, p.o.) administration for 7 days before CP ameliorated CP-induced splenotoxicity as indicated by mitigation of the biochemical parameters and histopathological changes. These results revealed the promising protective effects of CA and CD on CP-induced splenotoxicity in rats; an effect that might be attributed to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Tissue factor (TF) is a membranous glycoprotein that activates the coagulation system when blood vessels or tissues are damaged. TF was up-regulated in monocrotaline (MCT)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) hepatotoxicity model. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that TF-dependent fibrin deposition occurs in liver toxicity induced by CCl4 in mice. Pericentral deposition of TF and fibrin is induced after CCl4-induced liver toxicity. The toxicity was evaluated by determination of serum activities of ALT, AST and ALP as well as GSH content and histopathological changes. The results showed that injection of mice with TF-antisense deoxyoligonucleotide (TF-AS) prevented the accumulation of TF and fibrin in the hepatic tissues. Furthermore, it significantly restored blood biochemical parameters, GSH content and distorted histopathological features caused by CCl4. The current study demonstrates that TF activation is associated with CCl4-induced liver injury. Furthermore, administration of TF-AS successfully prevented this type of liver injury., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present study is to assess the possible protective effects of thymol and carvacrol against cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity. A single dose of CP {6 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)} injected to male rats revealed significant increases in serum urea, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels. It also increased kidney contents of malondialdehyde and caspase-3 activity with significant reduction in serum albumin, kidney content of reduced glutathione as well as catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity as compared to that of the control group. In contrast, administration of thymol {20 mg/kg, orally (p.o.)} and/or carvacrol (15 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days before CP injection and for 7 days after CP administration restored the kidney function and examined oxidative stress parameters. In conclusion, thymol was more effective nephroprotective than carvacrol. Moreover, a combination of thymol and carvacrol had a synergistic nephroprotective effect that might be attributed to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Ginger is a remedy known to possess a number of pharmacological properties. This study investigated efficacy of ginger pretreatment in alleviating acetaminophen-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into six groups; negative control, acetaminophen (APAP) (600 mg/kg single intraperitoneal injection); vitamin E (75 mg/kg), ginger (100 mg/kg), vitamin E + APAP, and ginger + APAP. Administration of APAP elicited significant liver injury that was manifested by remarkable increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), arginase activities, and total bilirubin concentration. Meanwhile, APAP significantly decreased plasma total proteins and albumin levels. APAP administration resulted in substantial increase in each of plasma triacylglycerols (TAGs), malondialdhyde (MDA) levels, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). However, ginger or vitamin E treatment prior to APAP showed significant hepatoprotective effect by lowering the hepatic marker enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, and arginase) and total bilirubin in plasma. In addition, they remarkably ameliorated the APAP-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting lipid peroxidation (MDA). Pretreatment by ginger or vitamin E significantly restored TAGs, and total protein levels. Histopathological examination of APAP treated rats showed alterations in normal hepatic histoarchitecture, with necrosis and vacuolization of cells. These alterations were substantially decreased by ginger or vitamin E. Our results demonstrated that ginger can prevent hepatic injuries, alleviating oxidative stress in a manner comparable to that of vitamin E. Combination therapy of ginger and APAP is recommended especially in cases with hepatic disorders or when high doses of APAP are required.

Developmental disorders (DDs) are important leading cause of disability in developed countries and also in the United States. DDs are a group of individual conditions that result from abnormal nervous system development and cause altered function. They can begin at any time from prenatal to 22 years of age and the disability usually presents itself throughout a person's life time. Down syndrome, autism, neural tube defects, schizophrenia, cretinism, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are among the most common DDs that currently plague numerous countries and have varying incidence rates. Their occurrence may be partially attributable to the lack of certain dietary nutrients. Notably, essential vitamins, minerals, and ω-3 fatty acids are often deficient in the general population of America and developed countries and are exceptionally deficient in patients suffering from mental disorders. Typically, most of these disorders are treated with prescription drugs, but many of these drugs cause unwanted side effects. Therefore, psychiatrists recommend alternative or complementary nutritional remedies to overcome the adverse effects of those drugs. Studies have shown that daily supplements of vital nutrients, such as that contain amino acids, often effectively reduce symptoms of the patients, because they are converted into neurotransmitters that alleviate depression and other mental disorders. The aim of this article is to discuss the role of dietary imbalances in the incidence of DD and to emphasize which dietary supplements can aid in the treatment of the above-mentioned DD.

Ezrin is a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family of proteins, which link the actin-containing cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane. Overexpression of ezrin protein is correlated with the metastatic potential in several cancers. Little is known about the distribution of ezrin in normal epidermis and nonmelanoma skin cancer; therefore, in the current study, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of ezrin in normal skin (10 biopsies) and epithelial skin tumors (25 basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and 20 squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]). Ezrin was expressed in epidermis of all normal controls with a prominent membranous pattern compared with 93.3% positivity in malignant cases with a significant higher intensity (assessed by H score) in favor of the latter (P = .002). Cytoplasmic expression of ezrin either alone or associated with membranous expression was both seen in BCC and SCC. The median value of H score in SCC (160) cases was higher than that in BCC (60). H score values of ezrin expression in BCC was significantly higher in tumors arising in sites other than the head and neck (P = .04). In SCC, the intensity of ezrin expression tended to be associated with advanced stage (P = .08). Our study demonstrated the probable tumorigenic role of ezrin in epithelial skin tumor formation. It may enhance local invasion or metastasis of epithelial skin tumors, which necessitates further larger study to clarify. The intensity rather than the pattern of ezrin expression had a more probable impact on the tumor behavior., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this paper was to assess the content of selected essential metals (Fe, Zn, Cu and Cr) and some heavy metals (Pb and Cd) in raw cow's milk collected from different Egyptian areas during different periods of one year (January-February, May-June and September-October 2009). Twenty-one samples of raw milk were analysed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for quantitative determination. The highest metal accumulation levels for Cd, Cr, Fe and Cu are found in milk samples collected from Shubra, while samples from Menofia and Tanash are high in Pb and Zn, respectively. On the other hand, the highest metal accumulation levels were during January-February for Cd, Cr and Zn. In the period of May-June, the content of Pb, Cu and Fe were the highest, while the samples during the September-October period are characterised by the lowest metal content.

Objective: To assess homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12, trace element levels and oxidant/antioxidant status in Down syndrome (DS) mothers and children., Design and Methods: 42 mothers with previous history of bearing DS baby with karyotypically confirmed full trisomy 21 were included. 48 healthy mothers with their healthy children were considered as control. Serum B12, folic acid, total homocysteine (tHcy), vitamins E and C, TBARS and trace elements were estimated., Results: DS mothers showed higher levels of tHCy, lower levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 than controls. tHCy and folic acid concentrations were significantly decreased, while vitamin B12 exhibited a slight decrease in DS children versus control. Vitamins E and C, zinc and copper levels were markedly reduced in DS mothers. By contrast, TBARS showed significant elevation in them. Furthermore, DS children had severe reduction of vitamin C and zinc levels relative to healthy children. However, vitamin E showed slight reduction and TBARS displayed a slight rise in DS children., Conclusion: Abnormal folic acid-homocysteine metabolism is a potent marker to identify women at risk for having DS child and it also exposes them to oxidant/antioxidant imbalance., (2010 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We compare an inverse-planning intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique with three previously published forward-planning dynamic arc therapy techniques and a newly implemented technique for treatment of prostate only. The three previously published dynamic arc techniques are dynamic arc therapy (DAT), two-axis dynamic arc therapy (2A-DAT), and modified dynamic arc therapy (M-DAT). The newly implemented technique is the bilateral wedged dynamic arc (BW-DAT). In all dynamic arcs, the multileaf collimator is moving during rotation to fit the prostate, except that, in 2A-DAT, it is fitting two separate symmetrical rhombi including the prostate. The rectum is shielded during rotation only in the cases of M-DAT and BW-DAT. The results obtained indicate that the BW-DAT, M-DAT, and DAT techniques provide the intended dose coverage of the prescribed dose to the planning target volume (PTV)--that is, 95% of the PTV is covered by 100% of the dose. The maximum dose to a 3-cm margin of healthy tissue that surrounds the PTV is lower by 2.5% in the case of IMRT than in both BW-DAT and M-DAT, but it is lower by 5.0% than that in both DAT and 2A-DAT. The maximum dose to the rest of the healthy tissue in the case of BW-DAT is 33.2 Gy +/- 2.2 Gy. This dose covers percentage healthy body volumes of 8% +/- 3.2% with IMRT, 4% +/- 1.5% with DAT, and 6% +/- 1.2% with both 2A-DAT and M-DAT. Also, this dose is much lower than the accepted maximum dose (52 Gy) to the femoral heads and necks according to Report 62 from the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. Accordingly, it would be possible to neglect delineation of the femoral heads and necks as organs at risk in cases of BW-DAT. Doses to 15%, 25%, 35%, and 50% (D15%, D25%, D35%, and D50%) of the rectum volume in the case of BW-DAT were 43.5 Gy +/- 8.6 Gy, 24.2 Gy +/- 8.7 Gy, 13.2 Gy +/- 4.2 Gy, and 5.7 Gy +/- 2.1 Gy respectively. The D15% of rectum in the case of IMRT was lower than that in BW-DAT, M-DAT, 2A-DAT, and DAT by 7.3%, 10.3%, 33.0%, and 17.6% of the prescribed dose (78 Gy in 39 fractions) respectively. The D25%, D35%, and D50% of the rectum volume in the cases of IMRT and DAT were comparable (with a maximum variation of 4.5%); they were similarly comparable in the cases of M-DAT and BW-DAT (with maximum variation of 1.5%). These same doses in BW-DAT were lower than those in IMRT by 8.7%, 10.6%, and 6.2% respectively, but they were quite lower than those in 2A-DAT, because the average variation was 41.6% (with a maximum of 44.0%). The D15%, D25%, D35%, and D50% of the bladder volume in the case of BW-DAT were 33.2 Gy +/- 10.9 Gy, 17.4 Gy +/- 7.9 Gy, 6.5 Gy +/- 4.3 Gy, and 4.2 Gy +/- 3.5 Gy respectively. The D15% and D25% of the bladder in the cases of IMRT, M-DAT, and BW-DAT were comparable (with a maximum variation of 2.2% and 3.6% respectively), and the mean values of each dose were lower in DAT by 14.3% and 11.7% respectively. However, the values of D35% and D50% in the four techniques were comparable, with maximum variations of 5.1% and 2.7% respectively. The D15%, D25%, D35%, and D50% of the bladder in the case of DAT were lower than those in 2A-DAT by 20.1%, 26.9%, 16.0%, and 2.7% respectively. Ion chamber measurements showed good agreement between the calculated and measured isocentric doses (maximum deviation: 3.2%). Accuracy of the dose distribution calculation for BW-DAT was evaluated by film dosimetry using a gamma index, allowing 3% dose variation and 3 mm distance to agreement as the individual acceptance criteria. We found that fewer than 6.5% of the pixels in the dose distributions of the scanned and calculated area of 10 x 10 cm failed the acceptance criteria. We conclude that, in addition to simplicity of the dose calculation, the BW-DAT technique provides the intended concave dose distribution for treatment of the prostate only. Compared with IMRT, it produces better dose protection to the most of the rectum volume and to the healthy tissue outside the treatment volume. Also, as compared with the other forward planning dynamic arc techniques, it gives the most favorable isodose distributions to the prostate and rectum.

In this study, we present an intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique based on forward planning dose calculations to provide a concave dose distribution to the prostate and seminal vesicles by means of modified dynamic arc therapy (M-DAT). Dynamic arcs (350 degrees) conforming to the beam's eye view of the prostate and seminal vesicles while shielding the rectum, combined with two lateral oblique conformal fields (15 degrees with respect to laterals) fitting the prostate only,were applied to deliver doses of 78 Gy and 61.23 Gy in 39 fractions to the prostate and seminal vesicles respectively. Dynamic wedges (45 degrees of thick end, anteriorly oriented) were used with conformal beams to adjust the dose homogeneity to the prostate, although in some cases, hard wedges (30 degrees of thick part,inferiorly oriented) were used with arcs to adjust the dose coverage to the seminal vesicles. The M-DAT was applied to 10 patients in supine and 10 patients in prone positioning to determine the proper patient positioning for optimum protection of the rectum. The M-DAT was compared with the simplified intensity-modulated arc therapy (SIMAT) technique, composed of three phases of bilateral dynamic arcs. The mean rectal dose in M-DAT for prone patients was 22.5 +/- 5.1 Gy; in M-DAT and SIMAT for supine patients, it was 30.2 +/- 5.1 Gy and 39.4 +/- 6.0 Gy respectively. The doses to 15%, 25%, 35%, and 50% of the rectum volume in M-DAT for prone patients were 44.5 +/- 10.2 Gy, 33.0 +/- 8.2 Gy, 25.3 +/- 6.4 Gy, and 16.3 +/- 5.6 Gy respectively. These values were lower than those in M-DAT and in SIMAT for supine patients by 7.7%, 18.2%, 22.4%, and 28.5% and by 25.0%, 32.1%, 34.9%, and 41.9% of the prescribed dose (78 Gy) respectively. Ion chamber measurements showed good agreement of the calculated and measured isocentric dose (maximum deviation of 3.5%). Accuracy of the dose distribution calculation was evaluated by film dosimetry using a gamma index, allowing 3% dose variation and 4 mm distance to agreement as the individual acceptance criteria in prostate and seminal vesicle levels alike for all supine and prone patients. We found that fewer than 10% of the pixels in the dose distribution of the calculated area of10 x 10-cm failed the acceptance criteria. These pixels were observed mainly in the low-dose regions, particularly at the level of the seminal vesicles. In conclusion, the single-phase M-DAT technique with patients in the prone position was found to provide the intended coverage of the prescribed doses to the prostate and seminal vesicles with improved protection for the rectum. Accordingly, M-DAT has replaced non-modulated conformal radiotherapy or SIMAT as the standard treatment for prostate cancer in our department.

The effect of yoghurt and soya yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 or B. longum Bb-46 on Ehrlich ascites tumour cell proliferation was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Tumour cells were incubated with B. lactis Bb-12 or B. longum Bb-46 cultivated in de Mann Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth medium, or with their centrifuged supernatant fractions or sediments, for 2 h at 37 degrees C. Treatment resulted in the inhibition of tumour cell proliferation by 85.42 (SD 0.78) and 85.10 (SD 1.28) % by intact micro-organisms, 77.61 (SD 0.29) and 71.43 (SD 1.75) % by their supernatant fractions, but only 4.00 (SD 0.19) and 9.09 (SD 1.24) % by the two sedimented bacteria, respectively. The incubation of tumour cells with yoghurt and soya yoghurt containing Bb-12 for 2 h resulted in 83.01 (SD 0.11) and 88.23 (SD 0.06) % inhibition, respectively, while it was 83.82 (SD 0.24) and 86.36 (SD 0.06) %, respectively for the same products containing Bb-46. Corresponding values for plain yoghurt and soya milk (without bifidobacteria) were 32.81 (SD 0.14) and 5.55 (SD 0.12) %, respectively. The differences between yoghurt or soya yoghurt containing Bb-12 or Bb-46 and plain yoghurt, soya milk or control treatments were statistically significant (n 3; P<0.05). Female Swiss albino mice were injected intraperitoneally with the same tumour cells. The lifespan of mice fed diets supplemented with yoghurt or soya yoghurt containing Bb-12 or Bb-46 was prolonged by 16, 23, 34 and 39 %, respectively compared with that of the positive control group (n 6; P<0.05). The lifespan of groups fed plain yoghurt or soya milk was prolonged by 15 and 8 %, respectively. Prolongation of lifespan was positively correlated with faeces bifidobacterial count in the groups fed yoghurt or soya yoghurt containing bifidobacteria (r 0.917; P<0.05).

A significant increase in body weight with remarkable increase in total food intake and significant increase in protein efficiency ratio were observed following oral administration of R. graveolens ether extract (500 mg/kg body wt) to growing rats for 3 weeks. Serum albumin was significantly decreased after administration of declofenac (15 mg/kg body wt). Albumin/globulin ratio decreased significantly on administration of E. peplus ether extract (500 mg/kg body wt). No significant changes were observed in other biochemical and nutritional parameters on administration of either of the extracts or declofenac. However, only a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase was noticed during treatment with R. graveolens. The results suggest that both plant extracts have no harmful effect on nutritional status and are safe towards kidney functions, while Euphorbia is more safe than Ruta in relation to liver functions.