Amelioration of exosome and mesenchymal stem cells in rats infected with diabetic nephropathy by attenuating early markers and aquaporin-1 expression

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent diabetic microvascular condition. It is the leading cause of kidney disease in the advanced stages. There is no currently effective treatment available. This research aimed to investigate the curative potentials of exosomes isolated from mesenchymal stem cells affecting DN. This study was performed on 70 male adult albino rats. Adult rats were randomized into seven groups: Group I: Negative control group, Group II: DN group, Group III: Balanites treated group, Group IV: MSCs treated group, Group V: Exosome treated group, Group VI: Balanites + MSCs treated group and Group VII: Balanites + exosome treated group. Following the trial period, blood and renal tissues were subjected to biochemical, gene expression analyses, and histopathological examinations. Results showed that MDA was substantially increased, whereas TAC was significantly decreased in the kidney in the DN group compared to normal health rats. Undesired elevated values of MDA levels and a decrease in TAC were substantially ameliorated in groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes compared to the DN group. A substantial elevation in TNF-α and substantially diminished concentration of IGF-1 were noticed in DN rats compared to normal health rats. Compared to the DN group, the co-administration of Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes substantially improved the undesirable elevated values of TNF-α and IGF-1. Furthermore, in the DN group, the mRNA expression of Vanin-1, Nephrin, and collagen IV was significantly higher than in normal healthy rats. Compared with DN rats, Vanin-1, Nephrin, and collagen IV Upregulation were substantially reduced in groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes. In DN rats, AQP1 expression was significantly lower than in normal healthy rats. Furthermore, the groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes demonstrated a substantial increase in AQP1 mRNA expression compared to DN rats.

Genetic investigation of 93 families with microphthalmia or posterior microphthalmos

Microphthalmia is a developmental eye defect that is highly variable in severity and in its potential for systemic association. Despite the discovery of many disease genes in microphthalmia, at least 50% of patients remain undiagnosed genetically. Here, we describe a cohort of 147 patients (93 families) from our highly consanguineous population with various forms of microphthalmia (including the distinct entity of posterior microphthalmos) that were investigated using a next-generation sequencing multi-gene panel (i-panel) as well as whole exome sequencing and molecular karyotyping. A potentially causal mutation was identified in the majority of the cohort with microphthalmia (61%) and posterior microphthalmos (82%). The identified mutations (55 point mutations, 15 of which are novel) spanned 24 known disease genes, some of which have not or only very rarely been linked to microphthalmia (PAX6, SLC18A2, DSC3 and CNKSR1). Our study has also identified interesting candidate variants in 2 genes that have not been linked to human diseases (MYO10 and ZNF219), which we present here as novel candidates for microphthalmia. In addition to revealing novel phenotypic aspects of microphthalmia, this study expands its allelic and locus heterogeneity and highlights the need for expanded testing of patients with this condition.

Predictors of Mortality in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Egypt has the highest prevalence of the world hepatitis C virus (HCV) load. Hence, the problem of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is considered a huge burden on the community. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is the only source of donation in Egypt till now. Survival rates had shown significant improvement in the past decades. This study provides analysis of the mortality rates and possible predictors of mortality following LDLT. It also aids in developing a practical and easy-to-apply risk index for prediction of early mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study is a retrospective study that was designed to analyze data from 128 adult patients with ESLD who underwent LDLT in the Liver Transplantation Unit at Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. Early and late mortality were identified. All potential risk factors were tested using univariate regression for association with early and late mortality. Significant variables were then entered into a multivariable logistic regression model for identifying the predictors for mortality.

RESULTS

Sepsis was the most common cause of early mortality. Early mortality and 1-year mortality were 29 (23%) and 23 (18%), respectively. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, intraoperative packed red blood corpuscles (RBCs), and duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay were found to be independently associated with early mortality.

CONCLUSION

A MELD score >20, intraoperative transfusion >8 units of packed RBCs, and ICU stay >9 days are three independent predictors of early mortality. Their incorporation into a combined Risk Index can be used to improve outcomes of LDLT.

Simultaneous determination of cetirizine, phenyl propanolamine and nimesulide using third derivative spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography in pharmaceutical preparations

Background

The combination between cetirizine (CET), phenylpropanolamine (PPA) and nimesulide (NMS) under trade name Nemeriv Cp tablet is prescribed for nasal congestion, cold, sneezing, and allergy. Among all published methods for the three drugs; there is no reported method concerning estimation of CTZ, PPA and NMS simultaneously and this motivates us to develop new and simple methods for their assay in pure form and tablet preparations.

Results

Two new methodologies were described for the simultaneous quantification of cetirizine (CTZ), PPA and NMS. Spectrophotometric procedures relies on measuring the amplitudes of the third derivative curves at 238 nm for CTZ, 218 nm for PPA and 305 nm for NMS. The calibration graphs were rectilinear over the ranges of 8–90 µg/mL for CTZ, 20–100 µg/mL for PPA and 20–200 µg/mL for NMS respectively. Regarding the HPLC method; monolithic column (100 mm × 4.6 mm i.d) was used for the separation. The used mobile phase composed of 0.1 M phosphate buffer and methanol in the ratio of 40:60, v/v at pH 7.0. The analysis was performed using UV detector at 215 nm. Calibration curves showed the linearity over concentration ranges of 5–40, 10–100 and 10–120 µg/mL for CTZ, PPA and NMS.

Conclusion

Application of the proposed methods to the laboratory prepared tablets was carried out successfully. The results were compared with those obtained from previously published methods and they were satisfactory.Graphical abstract

Solar-Diesel Hybrid Model and Control for Central Heating

A complete technical study on a Hybrid heating system is carried out with the aid of computer simulation. The main objective of this work was to provide more insight into combining Solar and Diesel energies to be utilized in domestic central heating. The motivation for such a system was basically the ever increasing Diesel prices in the Kingdome. This work revealed that the cost of Diesel in heating houses could be lowered by at least fifteen percent if the hybrid system is implemented. Complete mathematical model of a representative house was derived for the sake of computer simulation. The model was validated and verified through computer simulations (Matlab Simulink based) with real collected weather data of Jordan (complete year record). Finally a controller strategy was devised and tested using the derived mathematical model.

The Arabic vowels: features and possible clinical application in communication disorders

Most scholars, old and modern, agree that the vowel system of the Arabic language is composed of 3 vowels only, namely /i/, /ε/ and /u/. The spoken Cairo dialect suggests that there are 6 identifiable vowels, with a short and long variant for each.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to test the validity of the notion that there are 6 × 2 distinct vowels, with a more central one.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Spectral analysis was used to measure F(1) and F(2) for the vowels of 14 real words. Data was collected from 60 healthy adult informants, 30 males and 30 females. They were native Egyptians speaking the colloquial Cairene dialect.

RESULTS

The values of the 6 long and short vowels plus the central one are presented. A significant difference was found between each of them. The long and short vowels differed only in the duration but did not differ in their formant values.

CONCLUSION

The study illustrates the distinctive features of the vowels of the Arabic language. Each of the 7 vowels represents a distinct entity. This will have important implications in assessment and management of language, speech and voice disorders in children and adults.