Vol.1 No.6 -11 : Histological and Biological Effects of Some Soft Drinks on Male Albino Rats

By : Nehad R. EL-Tahan1 and Rania A. Ahmed2

Abstract

sodas that could have a caloric or noncaloric sweetener. Several studies showed that the excessive consumption of soft drinks leads to harmful health effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of some soft drinks on the public health by examining the histological structure of kidney, body weight, biochemical values, bone mineral density (BMD ) and bone Xray . Twenty male rats, (weighing 140 ±5 g) , were divided into 4 groups. ; Group 1 (the control group) fed only on basal diet. ; Group 2 received cola diet soft drink ; Group 3 received orange soft drink and Group 4 received lemon soda soft drink. For histopathological examination, The kidneys were removed. The bone mineral density of the rats was assessed using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The body weight change and blood values were also determined. The histological examination of the kidneys showed general glomerular congestion, vacuolation, intertubular bleeding, tubular necrosis and hypotrophy of glomeruli . The weight gain was higher in the groups consuming diet drinks than the control group and the other group rats. There was a significant decrease in the bone mineral density of test groups when compared to the control group .


11. Histological and Biological Effects of Some Soft Drinks on Male Albino Rats

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Vol.1 No.6 – 12: Evaluation of Nuclepore Membrane Filtration Technique for Diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium Infection

By : Ahmed Abdelhalim Yameny

Society of Pathological Biochemistry and Hematology, Egypt

Ahmed A. Yameny (Email: dr.ahmedyameny@yahoo.com)

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease. It is one of the most important diseases of humans in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, rapid characterization of schistosome eggs considered a key step for clinical management, diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium is generally based on the detection of eggs in a single urine specimen, Urine filtration is one of the methods recommended by the WHO for the detection of S.haematobium. In 1976, Peters et al adapted a nuclepore filter for the diagnosis of S.haematobium eggs. They used a filter 13 mm in diameter with 8 µm pores, in another study done by Peters et al (1976), they proved that under field conditions, filtration of two 5 ml aliquots using 8 µm pore filters was very practical, if eggs of S.haematobium are present (size 150 by 60 µm), they are unable to pass through the filter and can be observed and counted under a microscope fitted with a 10x objective.

This study used both the microscopic examination techniques of urine, centrifugation sedimentation technique and Nuclepore membrane filtration technique to detect Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine for 1000 patient samples, to evaluate each technique alone and the two techniques together. This study showed that the nuclepore filtration method more valid than the sedimentation centrifugation method, nuclepore filtration detect 77 infected cases with a sensitivity of 97.5%, but sedimentation detect 64 infected cases with a sensitivity of 81%, in this study we considered the sum of nuclepore and sedimentation as a gold standard, they detected 79 infected cases to compare them with other methods.


Evaluation-of-Nuclepore-Membrane-Filteration-Technique-for-Diagnosis-of-Schistosoma-haematobium-Infection-Final-converted

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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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Vol.1 No.4 -1 : Histopathological effects of Diflubenzuron and Chromafenozide (IGRs) on egg development in the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae).

By : Ahmed, K. S.; El-Bermawy, S. M.; Ismael, E. H.; Abdel-Gawwad R. M. and Saleh, T. A.*

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible pathogenic impacts of the LC50 of the two insect growth regulators: the chitin synthesis inhibitor, Dimilin® (Diflubenzuron), and the ecdysone agonist, Virtu® (Chromafenozide) on the ovarian tissue of adult female Spodoptera littoralis. Therefore, the LC50 (1.3 & 3 ppm of Dimilin® and 0.1 ppm of Virtu®) were applied to the 2nd and 4th larval instars, respectively. The meroistic polytrophic ovariole of S. littoralis is divided into a terminal filament, a germarium and a vitellarium; the germarium contains the oogonia and the follicular cells that surround the oocytes to form the ovarian follicles in the vitellarium. The ovarian follicles of treated F1 females with Dimilin® exhibited vacuolization, stuffing of follicular sheath, loss of vitellin and degeneration of many cell components of follicular epithelium and oocytes. These obvious signs of damage were increased when using 4th larval instars treatment than the 2nd.Also, damage was pronounced in the ovarioles of the Virtu® treated F1 females. Ovariole growth was stunted and vitellogenesis and chorion formation were inhibited. So, this work shows the high potency and efficacy of the two IGRs on developed ova of S. littoralis


1. Histopathological effects of Diflubenzuron and Chromafenozide (IGRs) on egg development in the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae).

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Vol.1 No.4 -2 : Hemoglobin A2 Cut off Values in Egyptian Cohort as a marker of β -Thalassemia carriers.

By : Noura M. Kablan1, Manal O. El Hamshary1, Mohamed T. Hamza2,Ghada M. Nasr1, Alaa A. Hemeida3, Tarif H. Salam2

Abstract

Beta thalassemias (β-thalassemias) are a group of inherited blood disorders caused by reduced or absent synthesis of beta chains of hemoglobin resulting in variable phenotypes ranging from severe anemia to clinically asymptomatic individuals. The total annual incidence of symptomatic individuals is estimated 1 in 100.000 throughout the world. HbA2 determination plays a key role in screening programs for β-thalassemia since a small increase in this fraction is the most important marker of β-thalassemia heterozygous carriers. This study aims to detect the cut off value of Hb A2 in Egyptian individuals with β-thalassemia and microcytic hypochromic anemia, using automated HPLC. The study was carried out on 112 male and female cases. Their ages ranged from 2 years to 35 years. They were 28 normal cases, 20 cases diagnosed as microcytic hypochromic anemia, 52 cases as β-thalassemia trait and 12 cases as β-thalassemia intermedia. Informed consents were obtained from their care givers. CBC was done to all groups and HbA2 levels were measured using HPLC Bio- Rad D-10 dual program (β-thal short program) for identification of types of Hb and determining the cut off value of Hb A2. The Hb A2 cut off value in microcytic hypochromic anemia cases was >2.2%, in β-thalassemia intermedia cases was >3.2% and in β-thalassemia trait cases was >3.6% which showed the best cut off value, and hence the cut off value of Hb A2 could be used as a factor that plays a key role in screening programs for β- thalassemia carriers.


2. Hemoglobin A2 Cut off Values in Egyptian Cohort as a marker of β -Thalassemia carriers.

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