Vol.5 No.3 – 6 : Towards Sustainable Management of E-Waste in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Study of Three International Models

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By: Asma Abdullah Ahmad Filimban1, Furat Ahmed Mahmood Al-Faraj2, Akponanabofa Henry Oti2

1General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection, Saudi Arabia.

2School of Engineering, University of Bolton, United Kingdom

Abstract

Waste produced from end of useful life electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) denoted as e-waste, is one of the fastest waste streams worldwide. The growing amount of e-waste has caused a considerable challenge for policy makers to manage e-waste in an environmentally-sound mode in both developed and developing countries. Effective management of e-waste has become a global concern that is receiving growing attention due to the rapid increase in the quantity of e-waste. This mainly attributed to the rapid technology innovation and shortening product’s useful lifespan coupled with tendency of people to keep up with the advanced technologies. This study compared and critically appraised three e-waste management models (producer responsibility, not-producer responsibility, and sharing responsibility) currently applied in Malaysia and the United States of America (USA), in an attempt to explore best management practices for the collection and treatment of e-waste that can be adopted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data presented in this paper are secondary data obtained from a wide range of authoritative sources. This study recommends developing an e-waste national policy and regulatory framework to effectively manage the rapid growing rate of e-waste in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Towards Sustainable Management of E-Waste in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia A Comparative Study of Three International Models-converted

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Vol.5 No.3 – 5 : Serum cytokine profile during disease progression stages in male and female hepatitis C patients

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By: Abdel-Rahman N. Zekri1, Abeer M. Badr2*, Shimaa Rabah2, Maysa El Razky3, Somaya El Deeb2

1Molecular Virology and Immunology Unit, Department of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11976, Egypt.

2Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.

3Hepatology Department and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, 11441, Egypt.

Abstract

T helper (Th) cytokines play a key role in the immunological aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) pathogenesis. The pattern of Th1 (IL-2, interferon (IFN)-γ), Th2 (IL-10), and immunomodulatory cytokines (IL-12, IL-1β, IFN-α and tumor necrosis factor-α receptor (TNF-αR2) balance participated in the outcome of host immune responses. The study aimed toinvestigate the serum levels of Th1/Th2 and immunomodulatory cytokines in HCV infected patients in both genders during various liver disease stages compared to healthy controls. Blood samples were collected from 16 healthy individuals and 77 patients at different disease stages including chronic, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Levels of serum IL-12 and IL-10 were significantly higher in both genders in all groups than those in corresponding healthy subjects. Whereas, HCV infected female patients showed significant lower levels of IL-2, IL-1β, IFN-α in chronic and cirrhosis stages than corresponding males. Serum level of IFN-γ could be utilized as biomarker for early detection of HCC. Finally, cytokine response variation in gender during various stages of disease, imply that the subsequent activation and attenuated functional immune responses displayed differences in the balance of Th1 and immunomodulatory related cytokines between females and males upon infection.

Serum cytokine profile during disease progression stages in male and female hepatitis C patients-converted

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Vol.5 No.3 – 4 : Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1, Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as potential early biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy

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By: Mohamed M. Omran 1,*, Rasha A. Youssef 2, Fathy M. Eltaweel2, Ashraf A. Tabll3, Ahmed A. Eldeeb4

1 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Chemistry Department,Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Egypt

3 Microbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

4Nephrology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt


Abstract

Background: Albuminuria is used to screen early stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN) but it is limited by the fact that structural damage may precede albumin excretion. This necessitates identifying better biomarkers that diagnose or predict diabetic nephropathy.  The aim of the study was  to evaluate tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as potential biomarkers for early detection of diabetic nephropathy and its progression in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods: A total of 88 subjects were included in this cross-sectional hospital based study, healthy individuals (N=10) and diabetic patients (n= 78). Diabetic patients were classified according to an albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) into normoalbuminuria (A1=30), microalbuminuria (A2=14) and macroalbuminuria  (A3 =34). TIMP-1, PAI-1 levels, NLR were measured in all subjects. Multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) was used to develop a novel index. The diagnostic value of TIMP-1, PAI-1 and NLR was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Results: The mean ± SD of NLR, PAI-1 (ng/ml) and TIMP-1  (ng/ml) in healthy were (1.9±0.30; 6.8 ±2.4 and 76.8±15.7) and in A1 were                             (3.0 ± 2.5;7.7±1.8 and 91.4±19.8) and in A2 were ( 2.2±1.5; 7.6±1.9 and 104.5±20.9) and in A3 were (5.2±3.9; 8.7±1.2 and 120.6±18.2).  The differences between the mean of NLR, PA1-1 and, TIMP in A2 and that of A3 were significant (p <0.007, p =0.03 and, p < 0.011; respectively).  TIMP-1 was the most efficient marker with AUC of 0.72 for discriminant diabetics with A1 from A2; 0.88 for A1 vs A3 and 0.82 for A2 vs A3. A novel index was developed for differentiated between stages of DN based on three blood markers (TIMP-1, PAI-1 and NLR) named TPN.  The mean ± SD  of TPN index  in healthy was  (1.1±0.4)  and in A1 was  (1.2 ±0.3) and in A2 was (1.3 ±0.2) and in A3 were (1.8±0.3) with high significant difference between A2 and A3.The AUC of TPN index was 0.61, 0.88, and 0.88  for discriminant diabetics with A1  from A2 ,A1 vs A3, and A2 vs A3. Conclusions: A novel index named TPN based on three blood markers (TIMP-1, PAI-1 and NLR) may be potentially useful for early detection and to discriminate macro-albuminuria from micro-albuminuria stages.

Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase1 Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as potential early biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy-converted

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Vol.5 No.3 – 3 :Curcumin suppresses cellular adhesion and migration of A549 lung cancer cells via a LIMK1/MLCK dependent mechanism

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By: Ahmed A. Soffar 1, Cecil A. Matta 2, Saleh O. Albatati 3

1. Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

3. Basic Medical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, Mukalla-B.O: (50512-50511), Hadhramaut, Yemen.

Abstract

Cancer cell migration is a major cause of mortality in lung cancer patients. Despite intensive research regarding its efficacy in cancer treatment, the anti-metastatic properties of curcumin have been poorly investigated. Therefore, this work aims to explore the potential anti-migratory and anti-adhesive properties of curcumin on lung cancer cells. We also investigated the underlying molecular mode of action of curcumin. We performed scratch and adhesion assays to investigate the migratory and adhesive potentials of A549 cells. The cellular topological differences upon curcumin treatment were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscope. We also investigated the molecular mechanism triggered by curcumin using quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, we performed MTT toxicity assay to explore the toxic potential of curcumin on cancer cells. Student’s t-test was applied for evaluating the data significance using Microsoft Excel 2016. Our results showed that curcumin attenuates migration and adhesion of A549 cancer cells at non-toxic concentrations. In coincidence, the scanning electron microscope study showed a decreased density of lamellipodia and filopodia upon curcumin treatment. Interestingly, we found that the expression levels of LIMK1 and MLCK genes were downregulated upon curcumin application. Taken together, curcumin inhibits the migration and adhesion abilities of lung cancer cells and could possibly be used as a therapeutic agent against cancer cell migration. The underlying mechanism involves modulation of the expression levels of critical molecular targets including LIMK1 and MLCK proteins.

Curcumin suppresses cellular adhesion and migration of A549 lung cancer cells via a LIMK1 MLCK dependent mechanism-converted

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Vol.5 No.3 – 2 : Effect of boswellic acid in Alzheimer’s disease in experimental rat

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By: Mai M. El-Keiy1, Menna Allah M. youssef 2, Azza A. Bakry2 and

Tarek M. Mohamed1

1 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University,Egypt

2 Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common age-related dementia characterized by cognitive decline and devastating neurodegeneration.The aim of present work was to evaluate the role of bioactive component boswellic acid in improvement cholinergic deficiency in experimental rat model.In this study rats were divided into five groups as group 1 (control group), group 2 (boswellic acid group), group 3 (AD group), group 4 (boswellic acid –pre-treated group) and group 5 (boswellic acid treated group). At the end of experiment totally different neurochemicals, biochemical analysis was assessed. In AD group (G3) acetylcholine was decreased with acetyl cholinesterase elevation as compared to the control groups (G1 and G2). Improvement of acetyl cholinesterase activity and acetyl choline level was observed after pre and treated (G4 and G5) by boswellic acid. There was a significant decrease in the dopamine in hippocampus of AD group (G3)as compared to the control groups (G1 and G2).In contrast pretreated and treated groups by boswellic acid (G4 and G5, respectively) led to elevation of dopamine concentration, with best improvement in pre-treated group(G4)than treated group (G5). In conclusion; the bowsellic acid improved the cholinergic deficiency in Alzheimer disease.

Effect of boswellic acid in Alzheimer’s disease in experimental rat-converted (1)

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Vol.5 No.3 – 1 : Ameliorating role of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Pimpinella anisum (anise) against Zinc oxide nanoparticles induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats

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By: Amel I. Barakat

Zoology department, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Egypt

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used traditionally worldwide for the prevention and treatment of liver disease. Pimpinella anisum (Anise) or Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) are used frequently as spices. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of Anise and Fennel aqueous extract, against ZnO nanoparticles which induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Administration of ZnO nanoparticles (30 mg/kg /kg.b.wt) oral daily for 4 weeks resulted in liver damage manifested by significant increase in serum AST,ALT and ALP. Increase in MDA and decrease in CAT in the group which treated by ZnO nanoparticles.  Immunohistochemistry is observed by the level of Interleukin-6. Rats treated orally with aqueous seed extracts of Pimpinella anisum (Anise, 125 mg/kg) and Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel, 150 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and intoxicated with ZnO nanoparticles showed a significant protection against induced increase in serum liver enzyme (AST,ALT, ALP), restored and ameliorate the increased interleukin-6 level. A significant corrective effect of either Anise or fennel aqueous extract on biochemical parameters were supported by histopathological examination of the rats.

 In conclusion, these data indicated that the aqueous seed extracts of Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) and Pimpinella anisum (Anise) possessed a hepatoprotective activity against hepatotoxicity induced by ZnO nanoparticles in rats.

Ameliorating role of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Pimpinella anisum (anise) of Zinc oxide nanoparticles induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats.-converted

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