Eman Ahmed

Protective role of dietary Spirulina platensis against diazinon-induced Oxidative damage in Nile tilapia; Oreochromis niloticus

The current study was performed to investigate the ameliorating effect of dietary supplementation of 0.5 and 1% Spiurolina platensis (SP) diet against the sub-acute toxicity of diazinon (DZN) 0.28mg/L in Nile tilapia. At the end of experiment after 28days, hepatic and renal damage markers (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, uric acid and creatinine), serum biochemical parameters (total proteins, albumin, cholesterol and glucose) and tissue antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde) were detesrmined. The results of the current study revealed significant improvement in hepatic and renal damage markers after SP supplementation in fish exposed to DZN toxicity. Moreover, SP improved serum biochemical markers through increasing serum albumin and globulins with a significant decrease in serum glucose and cholesterol. In addition, liver, kidneys and gills antioxidant status showed a significant improvement after SP supplemented to fish exposed to DZN where a significant increase in tissue antioxidant activity were observed with a significant decline in lipid peroxidation levels. It can be concluded that, SP supplementation attenuated the toxic effect of DZN toxicity in Nile tilapia through improving liver and kidney functions with a significant enhancement of tissue antioxidant status.

Impact of the IL-18 gene polymorphism in response to antiviral therapy in chronic HCV genotype 4 patients

INTRODUCTION Interleukin (IL)-18 is a well-known major proinflammatory cytokine with broad biological effects. The major immunomodulatory functions of IL-18 include enhancing T cell and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Serum levels of this cytokine were shown to increase in chronic hepatitis C patients compared to non-infected healthy people. An association between IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin treatment outcomes has been reported for individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1). In this study, HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) patients were assessed for IL-18 gene polymorphisms and treatment outcomes or severity of liver disease because data concerning the impact of IL-18 gene polymorphisms on patients with HCV-4 infections are limited. METHODS This study included 123 chronic HCV-4 Egyptian patients and 123 apparently healthy volunteer blood donors who served as a control group. HCV genotyping was performed using the line probe assay. IL-18 genotyping was performed using the TaqMan Real-Time PCR method in all 246 patient and control samples. RESULTS In our study, all patients had HCV-4. IL-18 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (-607C/A) genotype distributions and allele frequencies did not differ between HCV patients and normal healthy subjects or between patient groups when compared according to the therapeutic response. Moreover, the presence of an IL-18 SNP was not associated with histological disease severity. We conclude that the presence of the IL-18 SNP rs1946518 does not affect the outcome of chronic HCV-4 treatment in Egyptian patients. CONCLUSIONS The IL-18 SNP rs1946518 does not affect response to treatment in chronic HCV-4 patients.

Effect of a single injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on testicular blood flow measured by color doppler ultrasonography in male Shiba goats

Although color Doppler ultrasonography has been used to evaluate testicular blood flow in many species, very little has been done in goat. Eight male Shiba goats were exposed to a single intramuscular injection of either gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH group; 1 µg/kg BW) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG group; 25 IU/kg BW). Plasma testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and inhibin (INH) were measured just before (0 hr) and at different intervals post injection by radioimmunoassay. Testis volume (TV) and Doppler indices, such as resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of the supratesticular artery, were measured by B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography, respectively. The results indicated an increase in testicular blood flow in both groups, as RI and PI decreased significantly (P<0.05), but this increase was significant higher and earlier in hCG group (1 hr) than in the GnRH group (2 hr). A high correlation was found for RI and PI with both T (RI, r= −0.862; PI, r= −0.707) and INH in the GnRH group (RI, r=0.661; PI, r=0.701). However, a significant (P<0.05) correlation was found between E2 and both RI (r= −0.610) and PI (r= −0.763) in hCG group. In addition, TV significantly increased and was highly correlated with RI in both groups (GnRH, r= −0.718; hCG, r= −0.779). In conclusion, hCG and GnRH may improve testicular blood flow and TV in Shiba goats.

Metformin enhancing the antitumor efficacy of carboplatin against Ehrlich solid carcinoma grown in diabetic mice: Effect on IGF-1 and tumoral expression of IGF-1 receptors

&NA; Diabetes has been listed as a risk factor for various types of cancer. Cancer cell development can be promoted by increased levels of IGF‐1 and hyperinsulinemia that are associated with diabetes type II. Metformin is an anti‐diabetic agent and its potential antitumor impact has become the objective of numerous studies. In this vein, we hypothesize that using metformin in diabetes type II mice may synergistic with carboplatin for reducing the risk of cancer. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antitumor activity of metformin against solid EAC tumor growth in female diabetic mice and its potential pro‐apoptotic and anti‐proliferative effects with clarification of its inconclusive biological mechanisms. Mice were assigned into nine groups; normal control, diabetic control, diabetic plus EAC control, EAC control, and treated groups received carboplatin and/or metformin (100, 200 mg/kg). Metformin administration especially with high dose potentiated the antitumor activity of carboplatin displayed by increased pro‐apoptotic activators “caspase‐3 and bax” and reduced anti‐apoptotic protein bcl‐2. This was confirmed by the histopathological scores. Moreover, the combination therapy was effective in attenuating the expression of the pro‐angiogenic mediator “VEGF” and the microvessel density as revealed by the CD34. Additionally, this combination down‐regulated the high levels of the mutagenic element “IGF‐1” and its receptor expression, and attenuated the intensity of inflammatory mediators. In conclusion, it was found that metformin therapy could enhance apoptotic marker, and suppress the neovascularization and proliferation process. This clarified the ability of metformin to support carboplatin activity in reducing tumor progression in type II diabetes. HighlightsThe study tests the effect of metformin against solid EAC tumor in diabetic mice.Metformin potentiated the antitumor effect of carboplatin by activating apoptosis.Additionally, metformin inhibits the angiogenic and mutagenic markers.Metformin serves as an adjuvant to classic chemotherapeutics in diabetic patients.

Multivitamins preventive therapy against subclinical endometritis in buffaloes: Its correlation to NEFA and oxidative stress

The current study was designed to elucidate the in vivo antioxidant, preventive, and ameliorating effects of vitamins AD3E on the incidence of subclinical endometritis (SCE) in buffaloes. Twenty-four buffaloes were divided equally into two groups; group I: control and group II: received AD3E combination. Endometrial cytological samples (n=48) were collected using cytobrush to diagnose SCE by counting polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) ≥6% at 5th (W5) and≥4% at 7th (W7) weeks postpartum. Results revealed that serum superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide significantly increased and decreased, respectively at W7 in AD3E group. The PMN% were significantly correlated with oxidative/anti-oxidative stress markers at W5 and W7. Vaginal score, PMN%, and blood neutrophils were significantly higher in the control group buffaloes than the AD3E enriched ones. Therefore, the prevalence of SCE reduced significantly in the AD3E supplemented buffaloes as compared to the control ones at W5 (23.15% and 38.46%) and W7 (9.8% and 32.34%), respectively. The control group revealed higher NEFA levels (P≤0.05) at W5 and W7 than the AD3E group. The AD3E supplemented buffaloes had shorter days open and higher pregnancy rate at 120th and 150th days postpartum than the control ones. In conclusion, micronutrients (AD3E) intervention acts as a safeguard against the incidence of postpartum SCE and significantly improves the reproductive performance of buffaloes.

Caffeic acid improves locomotor activity and lessens inflammatory burden in a mouse model of rotenone-induced nigral neurodegeneration: Relevance to Parkinson’s disease therapy

BACKGROUND Caffeic acid phenethyl ester is found in honey bee propolis. It has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Rotenone is a pesticide commonly used for inducing experimental Parkinsons disease (PD) due to complex I inhibition and microglia activating properties. The current study examined neuroprotective effect of caffeic acid against rotenone-induced neurodegeneration in groups of seven mice. METHODS Mice received protective doses of caffeic acid (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg) daily and nine injections of rotenone (1 mg kg, subcutaneously) - every 48 h. Behavioral evaluation of motor function was done by a battery of tests including open-field test, cylinder test, pole test and rotarod test; all these tests showed motor impairment. RESULTS Assay of striatal dopamine highlighted a significant decrease and increases in inflammatory markers. In addition, histopathological assessment of substantia nigra neurons demonstrated low immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in rotenone treated mice. PCR analysis highlighted upregulation for genes encoding CD11b (a microglia surface antigen), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor-κB (NFκB). Treatment with caffeic acid (5 or 10 mg/kg) amended most of rotenone-induced motor deficits, lessened microglia expression and inflammatory mediators and improved the nigral TH immunostaining. CONCLUSION These results confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of caffeic acid and highlighted its neuroprotective activity against rotenone-induced neurodegeneration in mice.