2, 3-Dimethylsuccinic acid and fulvic acid attenuate lead-induced oxidative misbalance in brain tissues of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Lead has long been known as neurotoxic and immunotoxic heavy metal in human and animals including fish, whereas, 2, 3-dimethylsuccinic acid (DMSA) and fulvic acid (FA) are well-known biological chelators. The present investigation was carried out to assess the potential chelating and antioxidant effects of dietary supplementation with DMSA and FA against lead acetate (Pb)-induced oxidative stress in Nile tilapia, O. niloticus. One-hundred and eighty apparently healthy O. niloticus fish (30 ± 2.5 g) were allocated into six equal groups. The first group was fed on basal diet and served as control, while the second group was fed on DMSA-supplemented basal diets at levels of 30 mg/kg diet; the third group was fed on FA-supplemented basal diet at level of 0.3 mg/kg diet; the forth, fifths, and sixth groups were exposed to 14.4 mg Pb /L water (1/10 LC50) and feed on basal diet only, basal diet supplemented with DMSA (0.3 mg/kg diet), or basal diet supplemented with FA (0.3 mg/kg diet), respectively. Antioxidant and lipid peroxidative status, activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as the histopathologic findings were evaluated in brain tissues, while the Pb residues were evaluated in liver, muscles, and brain tissues. The results of the present study showed that DMSA and FA decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and Pb residue in tissues of Pb-exposed fish and improved the histologic picture and brain contents of glutathione (GSH), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), G6PD, LDH, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). It could be concluded that DMSA and FA supplementation exhibited potential neuroprotective effect against Pb-induced oxidative brain damages in O. niloticus through improvement of antioxidant status of the brain tissue.

Organochlorine pesticide residues in raw and grilled freshwater fish (Oreochromis niloticus) collected from various locations along the Nile basin in Egypt

The current study aimed to assess meat quality of samples of Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus), along with examining organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in these samples and their potential risks to humans. About 55 samples were collected from eleven sites on the Nile River in Egypt: Damietta, El-Behera, El-Dakahlia, Kafrelsheikh, El-Gharbia, El-Menoufia, Cairo, El-Giza, El-Fayoum, El-Menia, and Aswan Governorates. Fish samples were analyzed fresh and grilled for meat quality characteristics and the presence of OCP residues using the QuEChERS method for extraction and cleanup accompanied by detection using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) system. Then, risk hazards of OCP residues were calculated. Results showed that all quality criteria of raw and cooked meat samples were within the permissible levels set by the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS). The detected residues of OCPs in fresh samples were hexachlorocyclohexanes (α-HCH, β-HCH, and δ-HCH), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan, and p,p'-DDE. Endrin aldehyde was detected in all tested sites, while heptachlor epoxide was found in eight (73%) out of the 11 tested locations. After grilling, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan, and endrin aldehyde compounds were found in fish meat. Cooking fish samples reduced the OCP residue amounts by at least 95% of detected amounts in fresh meat.

Molecular hepatoprotective effects of lipoic acid against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats: Hepatoprotection at molecular level

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is a noteworthy well-being issue that can prompt the progression of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Prominently, many antioxidants have been shown to have defensive impacts against liver fibrosis.

AIM

Subsequently, in the present study, the viability of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) in ensuring against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-actuated liver fibrosis and the mechanism(s) involved in this defensive impact were considered in rats.

RESULTS

The present results uncovered that in the CCl₄-treated group, the expression of antioxidant enzymes and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) messenger RNA (mRNA) was downregulated ( p < 0.05), and the levels of lipid peroxide and nitric oxide were increased ( p < 0.05) in the treated rat livers along with increased collagen deposition compared to that of the control group. Also, the gene expression levels of the proinflammatory factors interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, transforming growth factor-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were upregulated significantly ( p < 0.05) in the CCl₄ group. These negative impacts were all restrained by α-LA.

CONCLUSIONS

These outcomes show that α-LA might be compelling at forestalling collagen deposition and hepatic oxidative stress as well as downregulating the expression of hepatic proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS, and NF-κB and upregulating MMP-13 expression.

Fasting ameliorates metabolism, immunity, and oxidative stress in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats

Background:

Fasting has been recently discovered to improve overall health, but its beneficial effects in the presence of hepatic insufficiency have not been proven.

Aim:

The influence of fasting on the metabolism, immunological aspects, and oxidative stress of 40 male carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-intoxicated Wistar rats was investigated in the present study.

Methods:

The rats were divided into four groups, including a placebo group, CCl4-intoxicated rats, which were injected subcutaneously with 1.0 ml/kg of CCl4 solution, a fasting group, which was fasted 12 h/day for 30 days, and a fourth group, which was injected with CCl4 and fasted.

Results:

The metabolism, immunity, and oxidative stress improved in CCl4-intoxicated rats fasted for 12 h/day for 30 days, as evidenced in significant increase ( p < 0.05) in total protein, globulin, immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG levels, and total antioxidant capacity. In contrast, significant decrease ( p < 0.05) in blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, C-reactive protein, and malondialdehyde levels were observed. Compared with CCl4-intoxicated rats, significant differences in the albumin, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, cardiovascular risk factor, calcium and magnesium levels were not detected.

Conclusions:

The results of the present study showed that fasting improved metabolism, immunity, and oxidative stress in CCl4-intoxicated rats. Thus, fasting during Ramadan is safe for patients with hepatic disorders, as the prophet Mohammed (S) said “Keep the fast, keep your health”.

Posterior fossa meningioma: surgical strategy

Posterior fossa meningioma is the second most common tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. It has a higher rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality compared to acoustic neuroma. Forty posterior fossa meningioma patients managed in our centers were reviewed. Thirty-nine patients were managed surgically with 42 surgical procedures. The approaches used were the translabyrinthine approach in 18 patients (43%), the modified transcochlear in 11 cases (26%), the petro-occipital transsigmoid in 5 cases (12%), the suboccipital in 4 cases (10%), the petro-occipital trassigmoid transcervical in 2 cases (5%), the petro-occipital transsigmoid transtentorial in 1 case (2%), and a subtemporal transtentorial for another case (2%). Facial nerve anatomical integrity was preserved in 87% of procedures but was interrupted in 5 cases, with 4 of the latter subsequently repaired. Total tumor removal was accomplished in 38 cases. A second-stage total tumor removal is planned for the remaining case. There was only one case of perioperative death and no cases of radiological recurrence so far.

Measles in suburban Khartoum: an epidemiological and clinical study

Clinical and epidemiological data were collected from 187 clinically diagnosed measles patients in Haj Yousif area, suburban Khartoum. Laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis in 141 (75%) of the cases, but demonstrated that in 46 (25%) patients the clinical symptoms were not caused by an acute measles virus (MV) infection. According to their vaccination card, 59% of the laboratory-confirmed measles cases had been vaccinated for measles. Compared with non-measles rash disease cases, confirmed measles cases more often had severe illness (P < 0.0001), were dehydrated (P=0.01) at presentation and less likely to recover without complications [OR 0.19 (95% CI 0.09, 0.39)]. There was no difference in death rate (P=0.20). Underweight [weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) <or= -2 SD] was an independent predictor of recovery with complications [OR 0.4 (95% CI 0.2, 0.99)]. Severe measles cases (those who developed diarrhoea, pneumonia, otitis media, encephalitis or haemorrhagic rash) had similar vaccination rates and time intervals since vaccination as uncomplicated measles cases. Although severe measles had lower WAZ-scores (P=0.004), none of the nutritional parameters studied were predictive of outcome. Mortality was higher in the severe measles group [OR 8.8 (95% CI 1.7, 85.2)]. In 11 of 141 confirmed measles cases serological evidence of a recent infection with another virus was found, most commonly varicella zoster virus and dengue virus; spotted fever and rubella were among the most frequent diagnoses in 17 of 47 cases of the non-measles cases.

Nonphytate phosphorus requirement and phosphorus excretion of broiler chicks fed diets composed of normal or high available phosphate corn with and without microbial phytase

A study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the young (0 to 3 wk) broiler chicken to utilize the P provided by a high available P corn [HAPC; 0.27% total P and 0.17% nonphytate P] in comparison with yellow dent corn (YDC; 0.23% total P and 0.03% nonphytate P), and to determine the extent to which supplementation with exogenous phytase enzyme could reduce the demands for dietary P and subsequently reduce P excretion. Diets prepared using the two types of corn differed in the amount of phytate-bound P, with the HAPC diets containing approximately 50% less phytate-bound P. Treatment diets were prepared by varying the amount of dicalcium phosphate, and ranged from 0.10 to 0.50% nonphytate P for YDC diets, and from 0.18 to 0.50% nonphytate P for HAPC diets. Sublots of each diet were supplemented with 800 units/kg phytase. Each diet was fed to six pens of five male chicks of a commercial broiler strain from 1 to 21 d of age. Regression analysis was used to estimate nonphytate P requirements for each corn type with and without phytase supplementation. The greatest need for nonphytate P was for maximum tibia ash, with requirements of 0.39, 0.29, 0.37, and 0.32% in diets with YDC, YDC plus phytase, HAPC, and HAPC plus phytase, respectively. Addition of phytase liberated approximately 50% of the phytate-bound P from each diet. These levels were sufficient to support body weight, feed conversion, and livability. Fecal P content of broilers fed diets with YDC at the NRC (1994) recommended level of 0.45% nonphytate P was 1.21%, whereas at the respective requirement points indicated above, the P content was 1.09, 0.87, 0.78, and 0.64% in feces from broilers fed diets with YDC, YDC plus phytase, HAPC, and HAPC plus phytase, respectively. Thus, fecal P output could be reduced while maintaining optimum performance by the use of reduced dietary nonphytate P, introduction of HAPC, and phytase supplementation. One of the greatest benefits of phytase supplementation appeared to be maintaining livability at lower dietary levels of nonphytate P.

Hypertension and its determinants among primary-school children in Kuwait: an epidemiological study

A multistage, stratified random sample of 1312 students (aged 6-10 years) was selected from the five regions in Kuwait. Parents were interviewed and weight, height and urine analysis of the children were taken. Blood pressure was measured on at least three separate occasions. The overall prevalence of hypertension (average systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure > 95th percentile for age and sex) was 5.1%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, certain groups of Kuwaiti schoolchildren were much more likely to develop hypertension. They included children whose parents were consanguineous, children with a family history of hypertension and obese children.

Successful term pregnancy following conservative debulking surgery for a stage IIIA serous low-malignant-potential tumor of the ovary: a case report

Low-malignant-potential tumors of the ovary can occur in young women of childbearing age. Often these tumors are early stage and confined to the ovary at diagnosis allowing for fertility-preserving surgery. This case report describes a 25-year-old woman who presented with an advanced-stage metastatic LMP tumor and who underwent successful tumor debulking while preserving normal ovarian function. A successful spontaneous pregnancy occurred subsequently and the patient has remained well with 2 years of follow-up.

Influence of dietary lysine levels and arginine:lysine ratios on performance of broilers exposed to heat or cold stress during the period of three to six weeks of age

Four trials of identical experimental design were conducted to determine the effects of temperature, dietary Lys level, and dietary Arg:Lys ratios on performance and carcass yield of male broilers. Birds of a commercial strain were grown from 21 to 42 d of age in wire-floored finishing batteries placed in environmental chambers. The chambers were programmed to provide either a constant thermoneutral temperature (21.1 C), a constant cold temperature (15.5 C), or a cycling hot diurnal temperature (25.5 to 33.3 C). Within each environment there was a factorial arrangement of three Lys levels (1.0, 1.1, and 1.2%) with four Arg:Lys ratios (1.1:1, 1.2:1, 1.3:1, and 1.4:1). Environmental temperature significantly influenced virtually every characteristic examined. Hot cyclic temperatures reduced weight gain, feed intake, and breast meat yield, and increased feed conversion, dressing percentage, leg quarter yield, and abdominal fat content. The cold environment promoted increased feed intake and mortality. Ascites and cardiomyopathy were the leading causes of death under cold exposure and thermoneutral conditions, whereas complications arising from heat exposure were the main cause of death under hot cyclic conditions. Levels of Lys affected leg quarter yield and abdominal fat content over all environments but increased breast meat yield only under cold conditions. Increasing Arg:Lys ratios improved feed conversion and dressing percentage and reduced abdominal fat content; it could not be determined whether these responses were consistent with Arg per se or were due to a nonspecific N response. As increasing Lys levels or Arg:Lys ratios did not improve weight gain, increase breast meat yield, or attenuate adverse effects due to heat or cold exposure, it is concluded that the levels of Lys and Arg suggested for 21 to 42 d by the NRC are adequate for birds of this age under the environmental conditions encountered.

Normal hearing in acoustic neuroma patients: a critical evaluation

A series of 128 acoustic neuromas (ANs) managed in our center in the last 6 years were evaluated. Sixteen cases (12.5%) were found to have normal pure tone audiograms. A comparatively younger age was an important characteristic of these patients. Tinnitus, dysequilibrium, and subjective hearing loss or distortion were their most common complaints. Pure tone audiometry showed a mean pure tone average of 14.5 dB. Speech discrimination score and performance intensity phonetically balanced index were very insensitive and showed very high false-negative results. Auditory brainstem responses proved to be a reliable test, being positive in 93.8% of cases. The mean tumor size did not show any significant difference when compared with acoustic neuroma cases with abnormal hearing. The combination of otologic and neurotologic symptoms in a young patient should prompt the clinician to investigation further even if hearing is within normal limits. A high index of suspicion is a prerequisite for the early diagnosis of such subtle lesions.

Lateral approaches to the median skull base through the petrous bone: the system of the modified transcochlear approach

Twenty-three patients with intradural lesions of the petroclival region and prepontine cistern were managed in our centres by the modified transcochlear approach. Total tumour removal was accomplished in 17 patients, while a second stage was planned for the remaining six patients. Two cases died in the immediate post-operative period. All the remaining cases showed a good outcome and returned to work. The basic approach type A is further classified according to its anterior, superior and inferior extension into types B, C and D respectively. The surgical procedure, classification, illustrative case reports and patients' summaries are presented.

Giant cell tumor of the lateral skull base: a case report

Giant cell tumors of the temporal bone are very rare lesions. They should be differentiated from other giant cell lesions of bone, mainly reparative granulomas. A case with a very huge giant cell tumor of the temporal bone extending to the infratemporal fossa, temporomandibular joint, and greater wing of the sphenoid has been presented. Because of their tendency for recurrence, total removal is the treatment of choice for these tumors and was accomplished through the infratemporal fossa approach type B. A follow-up of 2 years and 9 months revealed no evidence of tumor recurrence.

Management of the high jugular bulb in the translabyrinthine approach

A high jugular bulb is a frequent problem in the translabyrinthine approach. This article described a safe technique for effective inferior displacement of the high bulb.

Factors affecting the microbial and chemical composition of silage. IV. Effect of wilting on maize silage

The effect of wilting on the microbial and chemical composition of ensiled maize plants was studied. Wilting stimulated high densities of lactic acid bacteria, with the decrease in counts of undesirable flora, i.e., yeasts, moulds, proteolytic and saccharolytic anaerobes, causing spoilage of silage. Moreover, wilting decreased the losses of dry matter, total acidity, and butyric acid content of silage. Accordingly, wilting proved to be a favourable treatment for the production of good quality silage from maize plants.

Factors affecting the microbial and chemical composition of silage. III. Effect of urea additions on maize silage

The effect of urea additions on the microbiological and chemical properties of silage, produced from young maize plants (Darawa stage), was studied. Urea treatments, i.e., 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00%, stimulated higher densities of the desired microorganisms than the control, while undesired organisms showed lower counts (proteolytic and saccharolytic anaerobes). Addition of 0.25 to 0.50% or urea resulted in the production of high quality silage with pleasant small and high nutritive value, as confirmed by the various microbiological and chemical analyses conducted. Higher levels (0.75 and 1.00%) of urea decreased the quality of the product.