Estrogen (E2) deficiency is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), however, the exact mechanism for the E2 protective effect on CVD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the estrogen receptor (ER) and non-receptor mediated effects of E2 treatment on the cardiac expression of adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), autophagic, mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis-regulating genes in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Female rats were divided into two main groups; sham and bilaterally OVX rats, then each group was subdivided into four subgroups according to treatment; untreated, subcutaneously treated with E2 (30 μg/kg), or Fulvestrant (F) (5 mg/Kg), or a combination of both drugs for 28 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBone tissue is constantly regenerated and repaired through a finely balanced process known as bone remodeling. Many miRNAs act as regulators of the signaling pathways involved in bone metabolic processes to maintain tissue homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the circulating levels of MIR21, MIR34a, and MIR155 in human serum and their bone expression, and the expression of bone turnover-related genes which can reflect the bone quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(1) Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is endemic in Egypt, with the highest prevalence rate worldwide. Sofosbuvir (SOF) is a nucleos(t)ide analog that specifically inhibits HCV replication. This study aimed to explore the possible effects of the therapeutic dose of SOF on the mitochondrial biogenesis and functions of the liver, muscle, and ovarian tissues of young normal female rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAzolla is a floating fern known for its various biological activities. and are multifunctional plants that exhibit biological activity in multiple ways, making them beneficial for various applications. This study aimed to compare the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity activities of two Azolla species, namely and .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSofosbuvir (SOF), a nucleos(t)ide polymerase inhibitor, has been used during the past decade for mass treatment of viral hepatitis C in endemic countries like Egypt, increasing the exposure of women at childbearing age to SOF. This study investigated the long-lasting consequences of the pre-conceptional exposure of young female rats to SOF on the ovarian tissues of F1 offspring and explored the possible molecular mechanisms of these intergenerational effects at various levels. The study was conducted on young female rats that were divided into control group and SOF-exposed group at a dose of 4 mg/kg/day for three months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObesity has harmful consequences on reproductive outcomes and the rapid increase in obesity is assumed to be influenced by epigenetics and trans-generation effects. Our study aimed to explore the effect of maternal and/or paternal obesity on the ovarian tissues of the first-generation female offspring in rats. The study was conducted on 40 adult Wistar albino rats (20 males and 20 females).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A diseased shoulder due to pain, stiffness, or weakness negatively affects patients' quality of life and their ability to carry out activities of daily living. Adhesive capsulitis is a disease characterized by shoulder pain and global limitation of movement in the shoulder joint. Many interventions have been proposed for the treatment of primary adhesive capsulitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Donepezil (DPL), a specific acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is used as a first-line treatment to improve cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it might have a disease modifying effect. Astaxanthin (AST) is a natural potent antioxidant with neuroprotective, anti-amyloidogenic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to prepare nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) co-loaded with donepezil and astaxanthin (DPL/AST-NLCs) and evaluate their in vivo efficacy in an AD-like rat model 30 days after daily intranasal administration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health problem and Egypt has the highest HCV prevalence worldwide. Hence, global efforts target to eliminate HCV by 2030. Sofosbuvir is a nucleotide analogue inhibitor of HCV polymerase essential for viral replication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo explore the antidiabetic effect of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs)-PEG-550 and its related metabolic pathways in muscles and kidney. Diabetes was induced in 5-day neonatal rats; after confirming diabetes, treatment with SPIONs-PEG-550 started at different doses for 4 weeks. Routine analysis of glucose, insulin, adipocytokines, urea and creatinine was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Astaxanthin (AST) is a second-generation antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties and could be a promising candidate for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy, but is shows poor oral bioavailability due to its high lipophilicity.
Purpose: This study aimed to prepare and evaluate AST-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), for enhanced nose-to-brain drug delivery to improve its therapeutic efficacy in rat model of AD.
Methods: AST-NLCs were prepared using hot high-pressure homogenization technique, and processing parameters such as total lipid-to-drug ratio, solid lipid-to-liquid lipid ratio, and concentration of surfactant were optimized.
Background: Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease characterized by excessive adiposity, and is linked to an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds that exert interesting pharmacological effects as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering agents. In the present study, we investigated the possible therapeutic effects of the flavonoid chrysin on obesity and NAFLD in rats, and the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways in mediating these effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have recently been identified to have a pivotal role in many diseases, including breast cancer (BC). This study aims to investigate the relative quantification of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19, microRNA (miR) 675-5p, 675-3p, and miR-let 7 in breast cancer patients. The study was performed on three groups: Group 1: 30 non-intervened BC female patients about to undergo breast surgery; group 2: 30 postoperative female BC patients about to receive adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy; and group 3: 30 apparently healthy female volunteers as the control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Obesity is a pandemic disease that is rapidly growing into a serious health problem and has economic impact on healthcare systems. This bleak image has elicited creative responses, and nanotechnology is a promising approach in obesity treatment. This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on a high-fat-diet rat model of obesity and compared their effect to a traditional anti-obesity drug (orlistat).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe importance of B complex vitamins starts early in the human life cycle and continues across its different stages. At the same time, numerous reports have emphasized the critical role of adequate B complex intake. Most studies examined such issues concerning a specific vitamin B or life stage, with the majority reporting the effect of either excess or deficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBurn wounds are one of the most severe complex forms of trauma. Hence, new treatment strategies that facilitate the healing process; reduce the severity and the healing time is the main concern of the health care systems. In this work, pentoxifylline-valsartan, (PTX- VAL), loaded liposomes integrated into gel were designed for the first time as a novel co-delivery carrier for the treatment of burn wounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: The chronic administration of vitamin C and E can differentially disrupt hepatic insulin molecular pathway in rats. Hence, this study evaluated their effects on lipogenesis in the liver and adipose tissue and investigated the possible involvement of microRNA (miR)-22/29a/27a in the induced impaired glucose tolerance.
Main Methods: Wistar rats were orally supplemented with vitamin C (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg) or vitamin E (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) for eight months.
Background: Silymarin (SIL) has long been utilized to treat a variety of liver illnesses, but due to its poor water solubility and low membrane permeability, it has a low oral bioavailability, limiting its therapeutic potential.
Aim: Design and evaluate hepatic-targeted delivery of safe biocompatible formulated SIL-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (SCNPs) to enhance SIL's anti-fibrotic effectiveness in rats with CCl-induced liver fibrosis.
Methods: The SCNPs and chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique and are characterized by physicochemical parameters such as particle size, morphology, zeta potential, and in vitro release studies.
Biomedicines
November 2021
Background: The main obstacles of silymarin (SIL) application in liver diseases are its low bioavailability, elevated metabolism, rapid excretion in bile and urine, and inefficient intestinal resorption. The study aimed to synthesize and characterize silymarin-conjugated gold nanoparticles (SGNPs) formulation to improve SIL bioavailability and release for potentiating its antifibrotic action.
Methods: Both SGNPs and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were prepared and characterized using standard characterization techniques.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive, multifactorial, and the most common neurodegenerative disease which causes dementia and mental deterioration in the elderly. The available treatments for AD are not disease-modifying drugs and only provide symptomatic relief. Astaxanthin (ATX), a second-generation antioxidant, is a dark red carotenoid and exhibits the highest antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiapoptotic effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe article presents an experimental study on the possible repurposed use of valsartan (Val), in the local treatment of uncontrolled diabetic foot ulcer. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), loaded with Val were prepared by applying 3 full factorial design using modified high shear homogenization method. The lipid phase composed of Precirol® ATO 5 (P ATO 5) and/or Gelucire 50/13 (G 50/13) in different ratios and a nonionic emulsifier, Pluronic 188 (P188), was used in different percentages.
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