Vol.1 No.5 -1 : Association of some adipokines and oxidative stress biomarkers with septic patients.

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By : Ramy Mostafa, 1; Mohamed Afify, 2 Ahmed I.Amin, 3 Amr Saad4

Abstract

The incidence of sepsis has increased considerably since the late few decades. Sepsis became one of the major causes of death in developed countries. We became in desperate need of updated models for assessing severity of sepsis with no limitations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic role of some adipokines and oxidative stress biomarkers in assessing severity and prediction of early outcomes among septic patients. we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of individuals developing sepsis. Consecutive series of all eligible patients had a double venous blood sample drawn one on hospital admission and one after 48 hour of admission for assaying some adipokines such as lipocalin-2 (LCN 2) & resistin and some oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) & glutathione peroxidase activity (GPX). Admitted patients were followed up to assess early outcomes (length of hospital stay and mortality). The results identified 30 septic cases of them 4 (13%) have SIRS, 5 (17%) have sever sepsis and 21 (70%) with septic shock. We found that lipocalin-2 exhibited elevated levels after 48 hour of admission as compared with on admission measurements (102.9 vs. 85.7 pg/mL, p = <0.001).Resistin showed elevated levels on admission as compared with 48 hour of admission measurements. Malondialdehyde exhibited elevated levels after 48 hour of admission as compared with on admission measurements.Glutathione peroxidase showed significant decrease in its levels after 48 hour of admission as compared with on admission measurements.Also, we found that serum levels of lipocalin-2,resistin and malondialdehyde were significantly higher in non-survivors but glutathione peroxidase were significantly lower in nonsurvivors than survivors at 28 days -follow-up for mortality. In addition, our markers were positively correlated with APACHE II and SOFA scores respectively. It is concluded from this work that lipocalin-2, resistin, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase are valuable for the risk stratification, early diagnosis and prognostication of sepsis in the ICU.

1. Association of some adipokines and oxidative stress biomarkers with septic patients.

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Vol.1 No.5 -2 : Efficacy of a novel water soluble curcumin derivative versus Tadalafile in mediating erectile function.

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By : Zaahkouk,SA.M.1, Atta H.M2., Fouad Hanan. 2, Hesham G.A1. Yehia M. Hussein.1

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a novel curcumin derivative (NCD) versus Tadalafile in erectile signaling. The study was conducted on 15 control male rats and 75 diabetic male rats divided into the following groups:, diabetic, curcumin, NCD, Tadalafile and NCD combined with Tadalafile . Cavernous tissue gene expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Nrf2, NFК-β, and p38, enzyme activities of heme oxygenase (HO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cGMP and intracavernosal pressure (ICP) were assessed. Results showed that 12 weeks after induction of diabetes, erectile dysfunction (ED) was confirmed by the significant decrease in ICP, a significant decrease in cGMP, NOS, HO enzyme activities, a significant decrease in HO-1 gene and a significant elevation of NFК-β, p38 genes. Administration of all therapeutic interventions led to a significant elevation in ICP, cGMP levels, a significant increase in HO-1 and NOS enzymes, a significant increase in HO-1, and Nrf2 gene expression, and a significant decrease in NFК-β, p38 gene expression. NCD or its combination with Tadalafile showed significant superiority and more prolonged duration of action. In conclusion, NCD could enhance erectile function with more efficacy and more prolonged duration of action.

2. Efficacy of a novel water soluble curcumin derivative versus Tadalafile in mediating erectile function.

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Vol.1 No.5 -3 : Biological activity of four plant oils, against the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver), (Coleoptera Curculionidae).

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By : Ahmed F. A.; Hussein K.T. and Gad M.I

Abstract

In the present study, four botanical oils of Melissa officinalis, Borago officinalis, Laurus nobilis and Carapichea ipecacuanha were tested against newly emerged adult males and females of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) for investigating their insecticidal activity, their effects on some bilogical aspects and morphogenetic abnormalities in the all stages.The results revealed that the males of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus were more susceptible to the four botanical oils than the females, followed by the immature larvae. The larvae showed different degrees of susceptibility to the four botanical oils, they showed the highest susceptibility to C. ipecacuanha and the lowest to B. officinalis oil at LC50 levels. Both adult males and females showed the highest susceptibility to C. ipecacuanha and the lowest to L. nobilis oil at LC50 levels. Also, the obtained results showed that the four tested oils disrupted some biological aspects of the tested insects. These oils markedly reduced male and female longevity, female fecundity and hatchability of the laid eggs. Morphogenetic abnormalities such as darkness of pupae, incomplete adult eclusion , dwarfism and crumpled wings and legs of adults appeared in the different stages of the insect as a result of treatment with the four tested oils.

3. Biological activity of four plant oils, against the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver), (Coleoptera Curculionidae).

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Vol.1 No.5 -4 : The role of Caselio (plant fertilizer) exposure on digestive gland histology and heavy metals accumulation in the freshwater snail, Lanistes carinatus.

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By : Sherin K. Sheir

Abstract

The adverse effects of Caselio, the plant fertilizer (PMR) on the freshwater snail, Lanistes carinatus were studied. Snails were collected from Bahr Shebeen canal, Menoufia Province, Egypt. Snails were exposed to 200 and 600 μl/l of the fertilizer (PMR) for 0, 1, 3 and 7 days. Shell, operculum, foot and soft tissue metals concentrations (Cd, Pb, Al, Cu, Mg, Ti and Na), lipid peroxidase and histopatholgy of digestive gland were investigated. Tested metals concentrations accumulated differently in the shell, operculum, foot and soft tissue under the effect of the fertilizer where soft tissue accumulated essential metals and most of the non-essential metals. Exposure to PMR caused significant increase in lipid peroxidase of snails` digestive gland ranging from 52-82 % increase than control snails (P ≤ 0.03). The fertilizer caused tissue damage in the digestive tubules as necrosis, fusion and increased lipofuscin pigment significantly of exposed snails` (200 and 600 μl/l) when compared to the control group (134.33 ± 2.85, 80.0 ± 8.18 and 69.33 ± 3.18, respectively, P = 0.0003) after 7 days of exposure. In conclusion, different organs accumulated different amounts of essential and nonessential metals under the effect of PMR. The fertilizer caused lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin pigments increase (aging) to the digestive gland of L. carinatus

4. The role of Caselio (plant fertilizer) exposure on digestive gland histology and heavy metals accumulation in the freshwater snail, Lanistes carinatus.

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Vol.1 No.5 -5 : Apoptotic Marker Alternations in the Spleen of Experimentally Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid Rat.

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By : Ezar Hafez; Ahmed Masoud; Magdy Barnous; Ehab Tousson

Abstract

Apoptosis plays a critical role in the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms, especially those with high cell turnover such as the lymphoid system. The current study aimed to examined the effects of changes in thyroid hormones on apoptosis of spleen in male rats. 30 rats were equally divided into three groups (10 animals each). G1, control group in which animals did not received any treatment; G2, Hypothyroid group in which rats received 0.05% 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) in drinking water for 6 weeks; G3, Hyperthyroid group in which rats received 100 μg/Kg L-Thyroxin sodium administration in drinking water for 6 weeks. In the present study; serum T3 and T4 concentrations were depressed and serum TSH concentration was significantly elevated in rats receiving PTU-induced hypothyroidism. On the other hand; serum T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly elevated and serum TSH concentration was depressed in rats receiving L-Thyroxin sodium-induced hyperthyroidism. In the current study; spleen in both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rats revealed many of abnormalities as marked disruption of spleen structure, loss in distinction between the white and red pulps, degeneration and vacuolation with an increased in the lymphocyte population. Also, a significant increase in p53 and Caspase3 apoptotic cells and a significant decrease in Bcl-2 antiapoptotic cells in the spleen tissues revealed the possibility of the apoptosis occurrence after PTU or Thyroxin administration in the case of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

5. Apoptotic Marker Alternations in the Spleen of Experimentally Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid Rat.

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Vol.1 No.5 -6 : Study of the effect of silver nanoparticles encapsulated by doxorubicin drug in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

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By : Rasha Said Shams El-Dine1, Samir Ali Abd El Kaream2

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third deadliest and fifth most common cancer worldwide. Many drugs that have the potential to treat cancers have had limited success due to their lack of efficient and safe delivery mechanisms that allow the drug molecules to cross cell membranes. Electrical pulses-mediated drug delivery, known as electroporation, is gaining attention as a possible approach to enhance uptake of chemotherapy. The present work studied the effect of silver nanoparticles encapsulated by doxorubicin drug in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The study was conducted on 40 albino mice weighting 20-25 g of 8-10 weeks of age, and were divided into two major groups. Group A:10 mice were used as a control , group B: 40 mice have induced HCC by DABE this group were subdivided into three subgroups; sub groupB1 10 mice which were not received any treatment, and were kept at room environment and, sub group B2: 10 mice were injected i.p with a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of doxorubicin only every day for 21days, sub group B3 :10 mice were injected i.p. with a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of doxorubicin encapsulated by the silver nanoparticles every day for 21days.Parts of liver tissue and blood samples were collected from all from mice of each group for histopathological examination; the nanocapsules were of the size range 200 ± 20 nm and loaded with the positively charged anticancer drug doxorubicin with an efficiency of 89%. The loading of the drug into the capsule occurs by virtue of the pH-responsive property of the capsule wall, which is determined by the pKa of the polyelectrolytes. As the pH is varied, about 64% of the drug is released in acidic pH while 77% is released in neutral pH. Molecular detection of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and Glypican-3 (gly3) mRNAs by RT-PCR before and after treatment by silver nanoparticles encapsulated doxorubicin drug were studied in mice with HCC. Silver nanoparticles encapsulated doxorubicin drug showed effective results for treatment of HCC compared to results obtained with doxorubicin drug resulting in reduced tumor growth, and induction of apoptosis in the treated cells by enhancing of delivering chemotherapy and anticancer drugs with enhanced efficacy and fewer adverse effects.

6. Study of the effect of silver nanoparticles encapsulated by doxorubicin drug in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

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