Metformin and alpha lipoic acid ameliorate hypothyroidism and its complications in adult male rats.

Objective: The current study evaluates the effect of metformin (MET) and /or alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on hypothyroidism and its adverse effects on the cardiac, renal, and, hepatic functions in rats.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into five groups: control, rat model of hypothyroidism induced by propylthiouracil (PTU), rat model of hypothyroidism treated with MET, rat model of hypothyroidism treated with ALA, and rat model of hypothyroidism treated with MET and ALA. At the end of the experiment, body weight gain was determined and the blood samples were collected from orbital plexus to measure the serum levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by ELISA, glucose level, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the levels of urea and creatinine spectrophotometrically.

The Neuroprotective Effect of α-Lipoic Acid and/or Metformin against the Behavioral and Neurochemical Changes Induced by Hypothyroidism in Rat.

Objective: The present study evaluates the neuroprotective effect of α-lipoic acid (ALA) and/or metformin (MET) on the behavioral and neurochemical changes induced by hypothyroidism.

Methods: Rats were divided into control, rat model of hypothyroidism induced by propylthiouracil, and rat model of hypothyroidism treated with ALA, MET, or their combination.

Results: Behaviorally, hypothyroid rats revealed impaired memory and reduced motor activity as indicated from the novel object recognition test and open-field test, respectively.

Induction of Anti-Proliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Sorafenib Using miR-27a Inhibitor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines.

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the possible anti-tumor effect of miR-27a inhibitor in combination with Sorafenib (SOR) on cell proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Methods: Transient transfection by oligo-miR27a inhibitor (miR-27ai) was used in this study for targeting the oncogenic miR-27a in HepG2 and Huh7 cells followed by SOR treatment. Cell viability was measured using SRB assay.

Grafted carrageenan: alginate gel beads for catalase enzyme covalent immobilization.

A new matrix formulation was devised for catalase immobilization. Carrageenan-alginate beads different ratios were developed and soaked into different ratios of CaCl-KCl as a hardening solution. The best formulation for loading capacity was selected, treated with polyethylene imine followed by glutaraldehyde and further studied.

Combination Therapy of TRAIL and Thymoquinone Induce Breast Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity-Mediated Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest.

Objective: Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in both developed and developing nations. The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is characterized by its ability to selectively trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. TRAIL-based interventions have led to the development of recombinant human (rhTRAIL) as a promising therapy for different types of human cancer.

Nanoparticles induce genetic, biochemical, and ultrastructure variations in Salvadora persica callus.

Background: Salvadora persica is an endangered medicinal plant due to difficulties in its traditional propagation. It is rich in bioactive compounds that possess many pharmaceutical, antimicrobial activities and widely used in folk medicine. The current study aims at in vitro propagation of Salvadora persica and the application of different nanoparticles (NPs) to induce the synthesis of bioactive and secondary metabolites within the plant.

Urinary high molecular weight matrix metalloproteinases as non-invasive biomarker for detection of bladder cancer.

Background: Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key molecules for tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Over-expression of different MMPs in tumor tissues can disturb the homeostasis and increase the level of various body fluids. Many MMPs including high molecular weights (HMWs) were detected in the urine of prostate and bladder cancer patients.

Diagnostic performances of hepatitis C virus-NS4 antigen in patients with different liver pathologies.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as the major pathogen of liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to quantitate and evaluate the performance of HCV-NS4 antigen as an alternative approach for confirmation of viremia.

Methods: Detection of HCV-NS4 was assessed in 883 patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Clinical relevance of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MT1-MMP) in human breast cancer tissue.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasm among women in most developed countries, including Egypt. Elevated levels of certain proteins in human BC are associated with unfavorable prognosis and progressive stages of the disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the protein expression profile and prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP) and their interaction in operable BC patients.

Acute and chronic saturated fatty acid treatment as a key instigator of the TLR-mediated inflammatory response in human adipose tissue, in vitro.

A post-prandial increase in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and glucose (Glc) activates an inflammatory response, which may be prolonged following restoration of physiological SFAs and Glc levels--a finding referred to as 'metabolic memory'. This study examined chronic and oscillating SFAs and Glc on the inflammatory signalling pathway in human adipose tissue (AT) and adipocytes (Ads) and determined whether Ads are subject to "metabolic memory." Abdominal (Abd) subcutaneous (Sc) explants and Ads were treated with chronic low glucose (L-Glc): 5.

Single nucleotide polymorphism at exon 7 splice acceptor site of OAS1 gene determines response of hepatitis C virus patients to interferon therapy.

Background And Aim: Response to interferon therapy and disease progression in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients differs among individuals, suggesting a possibility of a contribution of host genetic factors. 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), an important component of the innate immune system with a proven antiviral function, may therefore have a relationship with the response to interferon therapy and clinical course of HCV disease. Our aim was to determine the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at exon 7 splice acceptor site (SAS) of the OAS1 gene in relation to the interferon response and status of HCV infection.

Elevated endotoxin levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Emerging data indicate that gut-derived endotoxin may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation in insulin resistant states. This study aimed to examine the importance of serum endotoxin and inflammatory markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to explore the effect of treatment with a lipase inhibitor, Orlistat, on their inflammatory status.

Methods: Fasted serum from 155 patients with biopsy proven NAFLD and 23 control subjects were analysed for endotoxin, soluble CD14 (sCD14), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor II (sTNFRII) and various metabolic parameters.