Hepatoprotective effect of silymarin-chitosan nanocomposite against aluminum-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Aluminum (Al) is abundant in the environment, and its toxicity is attributed to free radical formation and subsequent oxidative stress. While silymarin is a well-known antioxidant, its low water solubility and bioavailability limit its therapeutic effects. This study was designated to formulate silymarin chitosan nanoparticles (SM-CS-NPs) and evaluate its ameliorative effect against hepatotoxicity induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl).

Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of Glugea sp. (microsporidia), a parasite of the Red Sea fish Carangoides bajad (Carangidae).

Glugea sp. found infecting the liver of the teleost fish Carangoides bajad from the Red Sea, Egypt, is described based on light microscopy and ultrastructural characteristics combined with phylogenetic analyses. This microsporidium forms whitish xenomas up to ~4 mm in size.

Nephroprotective effects of silymarin and its fabricated nanoparticles against aluminum-induced oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, and genotoxicity.

Background: Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous element with proven nephrotoxicity. Silymarin (SM) is a mixture of polyphenolic components extracted from Silybum marianum and exhibited protective influences. However, SM bioactivity can be enhanced by its incorporation in chitosan (CS) through the use of nanotechnology.

Association Between Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Symptoms Screener (SAMISS) Scores and HIV Care Continuum Outcomes in People Newly Diagnosed with HIV in the US South.

Mental illness (MI) and substance use (SU) are highly prevalent among people with HIV (PWH) and impact care outcomes. The Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Symptoms Screener (SAMISS) is a validated screener for MI and SU, but it is unknown how screening results at entry to care correlate with subsequent HIV outcomes. This is a retrospective chart review of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV between 2016 and 2019 in a Southern US, safety-net clinic.

Efficacy and safety of geranium-oregano-thymol formulations to control of dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato under laboratory and field conditions.

The present study evaluated, in laboratory and field, the efficacy and safety of formulations of Pelargonium graveolens (geranium - G), Origanum majorana (oregano - O) commercial essential oils (EO) and thymol (T) to control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. In the laboratory, three formulas (A: 2% tween 80%, B: powder and C: nanoemulsion) by a mixture of these components (GOT) were prepared and evaluated, and the best one was used to assess its safety and field application against R. sanguineus s.

Punica granatum peel extract modulates levofloxacin-induced oxidative stress and testicular damage in rats.

Levofloxacin (LEV) is one of the Fluoroquinolones antibiotic groups, which are utilized in the therapy of numerous diseases, particularly in reproductive organs. Punica granatum peel is a waste byproduct rich in phytochemicals that are known for their different biological activities. The current research was designed to assess the capability of pomegranate peel extract (PGPE) in counteracting LEV-induced oxidative stress and testicular injury in rats.

Virtual versus paper-based PBL in a pulmonology course for medical undergraduates.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) remains a valid and effective tool for small-group medical education. Using Virtual patients (VP) case simulation in PBL is a recognizable educational method that has successfully prepared students to focus learning on core information that uses realistic patient-based cases relating to everyday clinical scenarios. Using other modalities as the virtual patient in PBL instead of the paper-based methods remains debatable.

A Practical Tool for Risk Management in Clinical Laboratories.

Risk management constitutes an essential component of the Quality Management System (QMS) of medical laboratories. The international medical laboratory standard for quality and competence, International Standards Organization (ISO) 15189, in its 2012 version, specified risk management for the first time. Since then, there has been much focus on this subject.

In vitro propagation for conservation and genetic fidelity of the near threatened Dimocarpus longan plant.

Background: Dimocarpus longan is a tropical tree that produces edible fruit. It is a neglected plant species that is listed as near threatened. In spite of its economic value, the propagation of longan cultivar using conventional methods is extremely difficult.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest During a Prolonged Liposuction and Lipofilling Procedure: A Case Report.

Liposuction is a popular cosmetic procedure. Recently, there has been an increase in the reported complications. Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare life-threatening condition with challenging diagnosis.

Evaluation of the Role of KIM-1 in Detecting Early Nephrotoxicity in Lead-Exposed Workers.

Objectives: Lead nephropathy usually starts silent. This study aimed to evaluate using kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) as an early nephrotoxicity predictor of long-term low-level occupational lead exposure.

Methods: History, examination, and laboratory investigations including: blood lead, urinary KIM-1, serum uric acid, creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, serum albumin, and urine analysis were done on 35 lead-exposed workers and a matched control group.

Efficacy and safety of oral paracetamol versus oral ibuprofen for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral paracetamol versus oral ibuprofen in the treatment of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) in preterm infants. An interventional randomized case-control study, registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03265782), was conducted on 60 preterm infants with gestational age ≤34 weeks, postnatal age of 2-7 d and color Doppler echocardiographic evidence of hsPDA.

Relation of Osteoprotegerin, Visfatin and Ghrelin to Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Background: It is now realized that insulin resistance plays a principal role in initiating the pathologic manifestations of the metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the possible role of osteoprotegerin, visfatin and ghrelin in the pathogenesis of MetS among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design And Methods: Serum blood samples were obtained from 116 subjects (39 T2DM; 48 T2DM with MetS; 29 healthy controls).

Twelve myxosporean species of the family Myxobolidae infecting freshwater fishes of the River Nile, Egypt, with the description of four novel species.

Myxosporidian parasites infecting fish are very dangerous parasites causing severe damage to a large number of economically important fishes especially in aquaculture. A survey of myxosporean parasites infecting four species of fishes from the River Nile in Egypt is conducted. One hundred and ninety-five out of 316 fish specimens with a percentage of 61.

Neurotoxic effect of lead on rats: Relationship to Apoptosis.

Background: Lead toxicity has been subjected to intensive research work, but some aspects of its mechanism needs to be elucidated.

Objectives: In the current study we aim to investigate the impact of lead toxicity on some different intermediates of apoptotic signaling pathway in experimental rats.

Design And Methods: We measured caspase-8 and caspase-9 [by chemilumenescence], Bax and Bcl-2 [by ELISA] in Experimental rats, injected intraperitoneally with lead acetate for 7days at the dosage of 25, 50 and l00 mg/kg body weight and compared to control rats injected with deionized distilled water instead.

Evaluation of nestin in lung adenocarcinoma: relation to VEGF and Bcl-2.

Context: Nestin is a marker of multipotent precursor cells that is up regulated in cancer.

Objective: To explore its diagnostic role and its relationship to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Bcl-2 in lung adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Evaluation of nestin expression in lung biopsies by real-time PCR and serum VEGF and Bcl-2 by ELISA in 27 adenocarcinoma patients and 15 control subjects.

HER1 R497K and HER2 I655V polymorphisms are linked to development of breast cancer.

Background: Polymorphism of the genes of Human Epidermal growth factor receptor1 (HER1) and receptor2 (HER2) have been reported to be linked to pathogenesis of several malignant tumors but still there is contradiction regarding their association with breast cancer.

Objective: In this case control study we aimed to analyze the frequency of HER1 R497K (rs 11543848) and HER2 I655V (rs 1136201) Polymorphisms in breast cancer.

Subject And Method: The frequency of HER1 Arg(R) 497Lys (K) and HER2 Ile (I) 655Val (V) polymorphisms were tested in 64 breast cancer patients and 86 normal control by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment polymorphism detection.

HLA-G expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a significant prognostic tumor biomarker.

Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a non-classical major histocompatibility class Ib antigen with multiple immune regulatory functions including the induction of immune tolerance in malignancies. The goal of our study was to investigate the expression of membrane form of HLA-G in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) before and after therapy in a trial to evaluate its role as a tumor escape mechanism and prognosis. So we measured its expression by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 25 (ALL) patients and 15 healthy controls and correlated our findings with a variety of clinical and laboratory variables and two important cytokines, IL-10 and INF-γ, and with natural killer (NK) cells.

Passive smoking as a risk factor of dry eye in children.

Purpose. Adult active smoking is a risk factor for dry eye. We hypothesize that passive smoking in children can also produce the same effects.

Prognostic significance of survivin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objectives: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive cancer especially in adults as only 20-40% are cured with current treatment regimens.

Design And Methods: We measured survivin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in serum of 30 ALL patients before and after induction therapy and compared to 30 age and sex matched normal adults.

Results: Survivin at cutoff value 15.

Effect of passive smoking on blood lymphocyte apoptosis in children.

Background: Passive smoking is a well-known risk factor for both recurrent respiratory infections and disturbed lipid profile. Whether passive smoking problems are related to altered lymphocyte survival and its relation to altered lipid profile are the points of concern in this work.

Materials And Methods: Urinary cotinine and creatinine levels as well as lipid profile and flow cytometric assessment of apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were assessed in 26 children with history of indoor exposure to cigarette smokers in comparison with 14 matched children with no such history.

Expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in acute myeloid leukemia and the effect of its inhibition on cultured leukemia blast cells.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a catabolizing enzyme of tryptophan, is a novel immunosuppressive agent blocking T-cell activation in neoplastic cells, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. IDO inhibitors as 1-methyl tryptophan (1MT) can abrogate IDO enzymatic activity and may result in an effective immune response. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated from peripheral blood of 25 AML patients and 25 normal adults.

Selenium and glutathione peroxidase status in adult Egyptian patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

This study was undertaken to evaluate selenium (Se) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) status in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) before and after induction therapy. Twenty-five patients with newly diagnosed AML and 15 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects were included in this study. Serum Se level by the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric technique and GPX activity by an adaptation of Beutler method was performed for the patients before and after receiving the induction therapy.

High-dose sodium selenite can induce apoptosis of lymphoma cells in adult patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of administration of high doses of sodium selenite on the apoptosis of lymphoma cells in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Forty patients with newly diagnosed NHL were randomly divided into two groups. Group I received standard chemotherapy, whereas group II received adjuvant sodium selenite 0.