Involvement of CircRNAs in regulating The "New Generation of Cancer Hallmarks": A Special Depiction on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The concept of 'Hallmarks of Cancer' is an approach of reducing the enormous complexity of cancer to a set of guiding principles. As the underlying mechanism of cancer are portrayed, we find that we gain insight and additional aspects of the disease arise. The understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) brought a new dimension and led to the discovery of novel hallmarks such as senescent cells, non-mutational epigenetic reprogramming, polymorphic microbiomes and unlocked phenotypic plasticity. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded, covalently closed RNA molecules that are ubiquitous across all species. Recent studies on the circRNAs have highlighted their crucial function in regulating the formation of human malignancies through a range of biological processes. The primary goal of this review is to clarify the role of circRNAs in the most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review also addressed the topic of how circRNAs affect HCC hallmarks, including the new generation hallmarks. Finally, the enormous applications that these rapidly expanding ncRNA molecules serve in the functional and molecular development of effective HCC diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Bisphenol A effects on the host Biomphalaria alexandrina and its parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most potent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that adversely affect aquatic organisms. The present investigation explored the effects of exposure to BPA at 0.1 and 1 mgL-1 concentrations on the fecundity of Biomphalaria alexandrina, snail's infection with Schistosoma mansoni, and histology of the ovotestis and topographical structure of S. mansoni cercariae emerged from exposed snails. The 24 h LC50 and LC90 values of BPA against B. alexandrina were 8.31 and 10.88 mgL-1 BPA, respectively. The exposure of snails to 0.1 or 1 mgL-1 BPA did not affect the snail's survival. However, these concentrations caused an increase in the reproductive rate (Ro) of infected snails. A slight decrease in egg production was observed in snails exposed to 0.1 mgL-1 BPA after being infected (infected then exposed). However, a significant increase in egg production was noted in snails exposed to 1 mgL-1 BPA after infection with S. mansoni. Histopathological investigations indicated a clear alteration in the ovotestis tissue structure of exposed and infected-exposed groups compared to the control snails. Chronic exposure to BPA caused pathological alterations in the gametogenic cells. SEM preparations of S. mansoni cercariae emerged from infected-exposed snails showed obvious body malformations. From a public health perspective, BPA pollution may negatively impact schistosomiasis transmission, as indicated by the disturbance in cercarial production and morphology. However, it has adverse effects on the reproduction and architecture of reproductive organs of exposed snails, indicating that B. alexandrina snails are sensitive to sublethal BPA exposure.

Clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of adult patients with urolithiasis: first report from Somalia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the data of adult patients admitted to the only tertiary care center in Somalia with the diagnosis of urolithiasis and to present the first report from this Sub-Saharan African country.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study was designed as a retrospective single-center study conducted in Somalia Turkiye Training and Research Hospital. Adult patients who received the diagnosis of urolithiasis and who were admitted to the urology department constituted the target population. Reviewed data included demographic parameters, stone features, type of surgical procedure, intraoperative and early postoperative complications, and inpatient mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 3,680 patients were admitted during the study period. Among these, 620 (17%) patients were admitted due to urolithiasis. There was a significant male predominance with a male-to-female ratio of 3.4:1. Urinary bladder was the most common stone location (n=253, 40.8%), followed by the kidney (n=223, 35.9%). The mean stone diameter was 22.41 (5-64); most (39.4%) of the patients had a stone diameter between 20 and 30 mm, while 27.5% had stones with diameters between 10 and 20 mm. Minimally invasive procedures were the primary surgical modality in 52.6% (n=326) of our patients. However, 45.9% (n=285) of the patients underwent open surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of adults with urolithiasis is relatively high in Somalia, as in many other African countries, with a significant male predominance. Although open surgery is rarely used for treating adult urolithiasis in industrialized countries, this approach is still commonly used in Somalia, similar to other parts of Africa.

Our kidneys and teeth may be closer than we think: relationship between dental calculi and renal stone burden grading in a patient series from Somalia

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the correlation between dental calculi grading and renal stone burden grading.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study was designed as an observational single-center study and included consecutive patients with radiologically confirmed renal stones at our center between January 2022 and July 2022. These patients were referred to the dentistry clinic for a dental examination to assess dental calculi and oral hygiene. Investigated parameters included demographic characteristics, renal stone location and diameter, urine pH, and dental evaluation findings (teeth brushing habits, oral hygiene, and dental calculi). Renal stone burden grade and dental calculi grade were calculated, and Spearman's rank-order correlation analysis was used for correlation analyses.

RESULTS

Overall, 204 patients were included. The mean patient age was 36.3±15.2. Approximately half of the patients (49.2%) had multiple stones. About 36% of the participants had high-grade dental calculi, while 29.4% had intermediate low-grade dental calculi. Oral hygiene was significantly associated with dental calculi grade (p<0.001). The dental calculi grade was positively and moderately correlated with the renal stone diameter (Spearman's rho=0.493, p<0.001). Among patients with a renal stone diameter greater than 20 mm, intermediate to high-grade dental calculi were found in 88.4%. This proportion was 49.1% for those with a renal stone diameter smaller than 20 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists should consider the presence of undiagnosed kidney stones in patients with especially intermediate or high-grade dental calculi. Urologists should know that patients with large and multiple kidney stones may have dental calculi.

Potential toxic effects of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on the biological, biochemical, and histological aspects of the land snail Helix aspersa

Nanotechnology has come a long way in our lives. However, it maintains some negative effects on the environment. This study aims to use the land snail Helix aspersa as a bioindicator. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) had been used at 70 and 140 µg/L for two weeks by the spraying method. The oxidative biomarkers, condition index (CI), DNA damage, hemocyte count, and phagocytic activity were estimated. The toxicity of TiO₂NPs was determined (LC₅₀ = 544 µg/L). The exposure to TiO₂NPs caused a significant reduction of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the digestive gland of Helix aspersa (the activity of CAT was 3.4 ± 0.1 (P = 0.001), SOD was 11 ± 1 (P = 0.0002) at concentration 140 µg/L after two weeks). The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was (1.13 ± 0.01 µ/mg protein at 140 µg/L compared with controls (5.47 ± 0.01 µ/mg protein). The treatment caused DNA damage in the hemocytes (tail DNA % = 8.66 ± 0.02 and tail moment = 52.99 ± 0 at140 µg/L (P = 0.002)). In the digestive gland, both tail DNA % and tail moment increased (tail moment = 78.38 ± 0.08 compared with control = 2.29 ± 0.09 (P = 0.0001)). The total count of hemocytes significantly decreased after two weeks (the average number was 71 ± 1.5 compared with controls 79 ± 1.1 at 140 µg/L). Furthermore, TiO₂NPs caused histological alterations in the digestive gland of Helix aspersa. It can be concluded that the Helix aspersa can be used as environmental pollution bioindicator. A comprehensive evaluation of toxic effects induced by TiO₂NPs in vivo assays must be investigated.

Conferring of Drought and Heat Stress Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes and Their Response to Selenium Nanoparticles Application

In this study, the role of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs, 10 mg·L^-1) has been investigated in modulating the negative effects of drought and heat stresses on eight bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype seedlings. Those genotypes included Giza-168, Giza-171, Misr-1, Misr-3, Shandweel-1, Sids-1, Sids-12, and Sids-14. The study included six treatments as follows: regular irrigation with 100% Field Capacity (FC) at a temperature of 23 ± 3 °C (T1), drought stress with 60% FC (T2), heat stress of 38 °C for 5 h·day^-1 (T3), foliar spray of 10 mg·L^-1 of SeNPs only (T4), a combination of drought stress with foliar spray of 10 mg·L^-1 of SeNPs (T5), and heat stress with foliar spray of 10 mg·L^-1 of SeNPs (T6). The experiment continued for 31 days. Foliar application of SeNPs improved the plant growth, morpho-physiological and biochemical responses, and expression of stress-responsive genes in wheat (T. aestivum L.) seedlings. Overall, morpho-physiological traits such as plant height (PH), shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), root fresh weight (RFW), and root dry weight (RDW) of wheat genotypes grown under different conditions ranged from 25.37-51.51 cm, 3.29-5.15 g, 0.50-1.97 g, 0.72-4.21 g, and 0.11-1.23 g, respectively. From the morpho-physiological perspective, drought stress had a greater detrimental impact on wheat plants than heat stress, whereas heat stress significantly impacted the expression of stress-responsive genes. Stress responses to drought and heat varied between wheat genotypes, suggesting that different genotypes are more resilient to stress. Exogenous spraying of 10 mg·L^-1 of SeNPs improved the photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic rate, gas exchange, and transpiration rate of wheat plants and enhanced drought and heat tolerance by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the expression level of stress-responsive genes. Our results showed that spraying wheat seedlings with 10 mg·L^-1 of SeNPs enhanced SOD activity for all genotypes as compared to the control, with the Sids-12 genotype having the highest value (196.43 U·mg^-1 FW·min^-1) and the Giza-168 genotype having the lowest (152.30 U·mg^-1 FW·min^-1). The expression of PIP1, LEA-1, HSP70, and HSP90 stress-responsive genes was more significant in tolerant genotypes (Giza-171 and Giza-168) than in sensitive ones (Misr-1 and Misr-3) in response to drought and heat stresses. Under stress conditions, the shoot and root fresh weights, photosynthetic pigment content, stomatal conductance (SC), and transpiration rate (TR) were positively correlated with plant height (PH), while root and shoot dry weights, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and APX were negatively correlated. Multivariate analysis and biplot results revealed that genotypes Giza-168, Giza-171, Sids-12, and Sids-14 performed well in both stress situations and were classified as stress-tolerant genotypes. These best genotypes may be employed in future breeding projects as tools to face climate change. This study concluded that various physio-biochemicals and gene expression attributes under drought and heat stress could be modulated by foliar application of SeNPs in wheat genotypes, potentially alleviating the adverse effects of drought and heat stress.

Bioactivity of Trigonella foenum (Fenugreek) oil on immunological and biochemical response of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

The effect of fenugreek oil (FO) on some parasitological, immunological, and biochemical parameters in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni were investigated. Chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of FO revealed that linoleic acid, (E,E)-4-decadienal, and isopropyl myristate are the major constituents of FO. The results showed that treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with 0.15 ml of FO daily for 10 successive days exhibited a significant reduction in the number of S. mansoni male worms, and coupled worms as compared to an infected control group (p < 0.05). Regarding total egg counts and oogram patterns, FO effectively reduced the percentage of hepatic and intestinal egg counts, and elevated immature and dead eggs in ratios closely to praziquantel (PZQ) treated mice. Meanwhile, FO significantly elevated the levels of glutathione and co-enzyme Q-10 (COQ-10) up to 0.33±0.02 ng/ml and 0.28±0.02 ng/ml, respectively. However, when accompanied with PZQ, COQ-10 level was closer to that of the normal control group (0.37 ± 0.021 ng/ml). The result also showed that FO significantly reduced levels of lipid per-oxidation (0.165±0.01 ng/ml) and vascular endothelial growth factor (0.25±0.02 pg/ml) as compared to the PZQ-treated group (0.234±0.02 ng/ml and 0.31±0.008 pg/ml, respectively). Moreover, FO recovered normal values of caspase-7, and when accompanied with PZQ, annexin-V was also significantly reduced. However, treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with PZQ led to a significant increase in the level of annexin-V as compared to S. mansoni-infected mice group (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that FO may have a potential anti-schistosomal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Also, it may have a recovering effect on apoptotic parameters toward the normal values.

Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism (FokI-rs2228570) among Men with Anemia in Babylon Province, Iraq

Vitamin D or calciferol is a fat-soluble vitamin that has a unique feature of synthesizing in the body mainly by exposure to UV from the sunlight and then transformed to 25 (OH) D by the liver and finally to a vital form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by the kidneys. Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism (FokI-rs2228570) has been proposed as the major cause of anemia. The present study aimed to discover the association between vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism (FokI-rs2228570) in patients with anemia. A total of 120 men with anemia and no kidney disorders have been compared with 60 healthy controls in the present case-control study. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) FokI-rs2228570 was detected by PCR and PCR-RFLP techniques. Levels of serum vitamin D, erythropoietin, and some biochemical parameters were detected by the ELISA assay technique. The mutant homozygous genotype ff was more frequent in patients with anemia (45%) than in the controls (15%). Also, the frequency of the f allele was associated with a significant decrease in the levels of vitamin D and hemoglobin in patients (0.62%); therefore, the mutant allele is a risk factor for developing anemia compared with genetic patterns FF and Ff. Vitamin D deficiency is common in those with anemia which is often associated with low hemoglobin and high levels of erythropoietin. Additionally, the genetic frequencies also affect the level of vitamin D which is indicated by low levels of mutant patterns (Ff, ff) in which patients suffer from severe anemia.

Plant-Based Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Trigger Biochemical and Proteome Modifications in Triticum aestivum L. under Biotic Stress of Puccinia striiformis

In this study, we evaluated bioinspired titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) that elicited biochemical and proteome modifications in wheat plants under the biotic stress caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs was confirmed using UV–Vis spectrophotometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. We found that the nanoparticles with crystalline nature were smaller than 100 nm. The results of FTIR analysis showed the presence of potential functional groups exhibiting O-H, N-H, C-C, and Ti-O stretching. The TiO2 NPs of different concentrations (20, 40, 60, and 80 mg L−1) were exogenously applied to wheat plants under the biotic stress caused by Pst, which is responsible for yellow stripe rust disease. The results of the assessment of disease incidence and percent disease index displayed time- and dose-dependent responses. The 40 mg L−1 TiO2 NPs were the most effective in decreasing disease severity. The bioinspired TiO2 NPs were also evaluated for enzymatic (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)), and nonenzymatic metabolites (total proline, phenolic, and flavonoid contents) in wheat plants under stripe rust stress. The 40 mg L−1 TiO2 NPs were effective in eliciting biochemical modifications to reduce biotic stress. We further evaluated the effects of TiO2 NPs through gel- and label-free liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) proteome analysis. We performed proteome analysis of infected wheat leaves and leaves treated with 40 mg L−1 TiO2 NPs under stripe rust stress. The functional classification of the proteins showed downregulation of proteins related to protein and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as of photosynthesis in plants under biotic stress. An upregulation of stress-related proteins was observed, including the defense mechanisms and primary metabolic pathways in plants treated with 40 mg L−1 TiO2 NPs under stress. The experimental results showed the potential of applying biogenic TiO2 NPs to combat fungal diseases of wheat plants and provided insight into the protein expression of plants in response to biotic stress.

Protective role of Balanities aegyptiaca fruit aqueous extract in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

the target of this research was to investigate the effect of Balanities aegyptiaca fruit aqueous extract (200 mg/kg BW), alone or in combination with Praziquantel PZQ (300 mg/kg BW) on some biochemical, parasitological, liver histopathology and immunohistochemical parameters in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Results showed that treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with B. aegyptiaca alone or in combination with PZQ significantly reduced the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as compared to that of the S. mansoni-infected mice group. Treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with B. aegyptiaca or PZQ and their combination led to a significant reduction in the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA) as compared with the infected control group. While a significant elevation was observed in the activities of antioxidant enzymes glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO) compared with the infected. Results revealed that the diameter and number of egg granuloma were significantly condensed after treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with B. aegyptiaca, PZQ or their combination in hepatic and intestinal tissue. The histopathological alterations observed in the liver of S. mansoni-infected mice were remarkably recovered after B. aegyptiaca treatments. The reduction in angiogenesis was mostly observed in the group receiving the combination of B. aegyptiaca and PZQ. The alterations in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were significantly less in the liver sinusoids. Overall, B. aegyptiaca significantly inhibited the liver and intestinal damage accompanied by schistosomiasis. It demonstrated potent antioxidant and immunoprotective activities. This study advises that B. aegyptiaca can be considered promising for the development of a complementary and/or alternative against schistosomiasis.

Physiochemical properties of palm olein

In the last decade, palm oil has ascended to the most advanced and widely used vegetable oil in the world. Triaclglycerol or triglycerides make up the majority of palm oil’s composition. Before being isolated, palm oil undergoes lipase-catalytic hydrolysis, which results in a high fatty acid and glyceride content, as well as a comparatively high fatty acid content.This study is about the physiochemistry of palm olein. This study to characterize palm oil using AOCS method for the determination of physicochemical parameters such as free fatty acids (FFA) is 0.3% to 0.5% is 0.6-1, acid value (AV) is 0.6-1, the result is saponification value (SV) is 210 mg KOH, for this research, 57.10 gI2 is the value of iodine (IV), the specific gravity is 0.9185 and the moisture content is 0.34%.

Development of New Iso-Cytoplasmic Rice-Restorer Lines and New Rice Hybrids with Superior Grain Yield and Grain-Quality Characteristics by Utilizing Restorers’ Fertility Genes

This research was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, during the 2018–2020 rice-growing seasons to develop and evaluate four iso-cytoplasmic rice-restorer lines: NRL79, NRL80, NRL81, and NRL82, as well as Giza 178, with ten new hybrids in order to estimate genotypic coefficient, phenotypic coefficient, heritability in a broad sense, and advantage over Giza 178 as a check variety (control) of new restorer lines. This study also estimated combining ability, gene action, better-parent heterosis (BP), mid-parents heterosis (MP), and standard heterosis (SH) over Egyptian Hybrid one (IR69A × Giza 178) as a check hybrid (control) for grain yield, agronomic traits, and some grain quality characters in restorer lines and hybrids. The percentage of advantage over commercial-variety Giza 178 (check) was significant, and highly significant among the newly developed restorer fertility lines for all the studied traits. This indicates that the selection is a highly effective factor in improving these traits. New restorer fertility lines showed highly significant positive values over commercial restorer for grain yield; the values ranged from 51% for NRL80 to 100.4% for NRL82, respectively. Meanwhile, in regard to the grain shape of paddy rice, three lines of the promising lines showed highly significant negative desirable values compared with Giza 178; the values ranged from −7.7% for the NRL80 to −15.2% for NRL79, respectively. Based on the superiority of the new lines, the new lines can be used as new restorer fertility lines to breed promising new hybrids and new inbred rice lines or varieties. From the results of the testcross experiment, the four promising lines were identified as effective restorer fertility lines for two cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines. Moreover, the six rice hybrids showed values for SH heterosis of grain yield/plant of more than 15% over the check hybrid variety, with high values of 1000-grain weight and desirable grain shape; these hybrids were G46A × NRL81 (125.1%), G46A × NRL80 (66.9%), IR69A × NRL79 (47.2%), G46A × NRL79 (24.6%), IR69A × NRL81 (23.4%), and IR69A × NRL82 (16.2%).

Phytogenic Selenium Nanoparticles Elicited the Physiological, Biochemical, and Antioxidant Defense System Amelioration of Huanglongbing-Infected ‘Kinnow’ Mandarin Plants

Citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB) is commonly known as yellow dragon disease and affects citrus production worldwide. Therefore, it has a significant impact on and deleterious effects in the agro-industrial sector. Significant efforts have been made to combat this disease and mitigate its destructive impact on citrus production, but still, there is no effective biocompatible treatment available to control HLB disorder. This study is considered the first biocompatible approach to evaluate the potential of phytogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to improve the health of HLB-infected ‘Kinnow’ mandarin plants. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) with specific primers were used to detect HLB disease in ‘Kinnow’ mandarin plants, and PCR products were sequenced to identify Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), and accession numbers for CLas1 and CLas2, MZ851933 and MZ851934, respectively, were obtained. SeNPs were synthesized by using Allium sativum L. clove extract as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent and various techniques such as UV-visible spectrophotometry, energy dispersive X-rays, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were used to confirm the biogenesis of SeNPs. Different concentrations of SeNPs (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L⁻¹) were exogenously applied to HLB-infected ‘Kinnow’ mandarin plants and obtained spectacular results. The obtained results from the current study proved that 75 mg L⁻¹ of SeNPs was most effective to improve the chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), total soluble sugar (TSS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total phenolic content (TPC) and significant decrease was observed in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline (PRO) contents of HLB-infected ‘Kinnow’ mandarin plants as compared to untreated diseased citrus plants. In conclusion, these results allow us to synthesize the SeNPs formulation as a promising management strategy to treat the HLB disease in citrus plants.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Some Egyptian Six-Rowed Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Barley production is essential in Egypt. In the present study, 15 different six-rowed Egyptian barley cultivars were studied. To differentiate between the different cultivars under study in terms of morphological characteristics and ISSR, molecular characterization reactions were carried out. Moreover, four cultivars (Giza 123, Giza 126, Giza 136, and Giza 138) were selected for further studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Computational analysis of the DNA barcoding sequences of the two plastid markers rbcL and matK was executed, and the results were deposited in the NCBI database. The morphological traits showed low statistical significance among the different cultivars under study via the data collected from two seasons, suggesting that the mean field performance of these Egyptian cultivars may be equal under these conditions. The results showed that the phylogenetic tree was divided into four groups, one of which contained the most closely related genotypes in the genetic distance, including Giza 124, Giza 130, Giza 138, Giza 136, and Giza 137, which converge in the indicative uses of farmers. The seed coat of the studied cultivars was "rugose". The elevation folding of the rugose pattern ranged from 11 ± 1.73 µm (Giza 126) to 14.67 ± 2.43 µm (Giza 123), suggesting variation in seed quality and its uses in feed and the food industry. According to the similarity matrix of ISSR analysis, the highest similarity value (93%) was recorded between Giza 133 and Giza 132, as well as between Giza 2000 and Giza 126. On the other hand, the lowest similarity value (80%) was recorded between Giza 130 and (Giza 133 and Giza 132), indicating that these cultivars were distantly related. Polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.26 for the primer ISSR UBC 835 to 0.37 for the primers ISSR UBC 814 and ISSR UBC 840. The current study showed that the matK gene is more mutable than the rbcL gene among the tested cultivars.

A possible role for ticks in the transmission of Madurella mycetomatis in a mycetoma-endemic village in Sudan

BACKGROUND

Currently there is a wide knowledge gap in our understanding of mycetoma epidemiological characteristics, including the infection route.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study was carried out to determine the role of exposure to animals and insects such as ticks in the transmission of eumycetoma in two adjacent villages at eastern Sudan.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found between the two villages in the level of contact and exposure to animals and ticks, the percentages of people bitten by ticks, participation in cleaning animal pens and knowledge of the medical importance of ticks. In the village with a high mycetoma prevalence rate, there were high infestation rates of ticks in domestic animals. Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus species were the most prevalent species in houses with mycetoma patients and together they constituted 83% of the total collection. Pool screening of vectors for the detection of Madurella mycetomatis recombinant RNA genes showed one positive pool from Rhipicephalus evertsi following amplification of the universal fungal primer and one positive sample from Hyalomma rufipes following the use of a specific primer.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate a possible role of ticks in the transmission of eumycetoma causative agents. However, further in-depth studies are needed to verify this.

Foliar Spray with Pepsin-and Papain-Whey Protein Hydrolysates Promotes the Productivity of Pea Plants Cultivated in Clay Loam Soil

Papain and pepsin-hydrolyzed whey protein (PAH and PEH, respectively) were prepared and characterized for its degree of hydrolysis, chemical constituents (amino acid and peptides) and antioxidant activity. A field experiment was conducted at El Salheya El Gedida City, Sharqia, Egypt, during the seasons 2019 and 2020, to investigate the biological action of the foliar spray of PAH and PEH on the growth and yield of pea plants cultivated in a clay loam soil. Foliar application of the papain and pepsin-hydrolyzed whey protein (PAH and PEH, respectively) at 1000 and 2000 mg/L was applied three times after 25, 35 and 45 days from planting. All protein foliar spray treatments had significant positive effects on the uptake of N, P and K, simultaneously increasing the contents of all the photosynthetic pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and Carotenoids) in a concentration-dependent manner. The most conspicuous increase was seen in Chlorophyll b (105% increase), followed by Carotenoids (91% increase). Generally, the favorable increases caused by the second level of application (2000 mg/L) were nearly 2-3 times that of the low level (1000 mg/L). Pod growth and formation indicators, e.g., no. of pod/plant, pod length and no. of seeds/pod, responded more evidently to the hydrolyzed than the intact form of whey protein treatments. Hydrolyzed whey protein foliar spray treatments achieved significantly higher increases in the global field yield components of Pisum sativum plants than the intact form, where peptic hydrolysates were significantly superior to papain hydrolysate. The treatment PEH (2000 mg/L) can be recommended as the most effective bio-stimulating foliar spray treatment for higher plant productivity when applied 25, 35 and 45 days after planting.

Chemical characterization of Cassia fistula polysaccharide (CFP) and its potential application as a prebiotic in synbiotic preparation

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that are selectively fermented by probiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical properties of a polysaccharide extracted from Cassia fistula mature fruit pulp and to evaluate its effects on probiotic strains: L. casei, L. rhamnosus, E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), and E. faecalis. These strains were compared for their growth behavior in culture media supplemented with different Cassia fistula polysaccharide (CFP) concentrations. The molecular weight of CFP was approximately 8.707 × 105 Da. The recovered polysaccharide contained a low percentage of crude protein (4.4%). Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and proline were the most abundant amino acids. Glucose and mannose were the predominant sugars followed by arabinose and rhamnose. L. casei grew faster at high CFP concentrations (2%) compared with the lower concentrations of CFP. The highest values for the prebiotic index and prebiotic activity score were observed for L. casei treated with 2% CFP, and it may be considered a prebiotic due to its high resistance against α-amylase and acidic conditions. CFP provides two ways to adjust nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in macrophages. Finally, the use of 1.5 and 2% CFP for cultured milk production significantly shortened the fermentation period from 210 min to 180 min and 150 min, respectively.

Melatonin Regulatory Mechanisms and Phylogenetic Analyses of Melatonin Biosynthesis Related Genes Extracted from Peanut under Salinity Stress

Melatonin improves the tolerance of plants to various environmental stresses by protecting plant cells against oxidative stress damage. The objective of the current study was to determine whether exogenous melatonin (MT) treatments could help protecting peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seedlings against salinity stress. This was achieved by investigating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems and the expression of melatonin biosynthesis related genes in response to salinity stress with or without exogenous MT. The results showed a significant increase in the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in peanut seedlings under salinity stress. The exogenous application of melatonin decreased the levels of ROS through the activation of antioxidant enzymes in peanut seedlings under salinity stress. Transcription levels of melatonin biosynthesis related genes such as N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT1, ASMT2, ASMT3), tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), and tryptamine 5-hydroxylase (T5H) were up-regulated with a 150 µM melatonin treatment under salinity stress. The results indicated that melatonin regulated the redox homeostasis by its ability to induce either enzymatic or non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of melatonin biosynthesis genes (ASMT1, ASMT2, ASMT3, TDC, T5H) were performed on a total of 56 sequences belonging to various plant species including five new sequences extracted from Arachis hypogaea (A. hypogaea). This was based on pairwise comparison among aligned nucleotides and predicted amino acids as well as on substitution rates, and phylogenetic inference. The analyzed sequences were heterogeneous and the A. hypogaea accessions were primarily closest to those of Manihot esculenta, but this needs further clarification.

Potential Activity of Aqueous Fig Leaves Extract, Olive Leaves Extract and Their Mixture as Natural Preservatives to Extend the Shelf Life of Pasteurized Buffalo Milk

The aim of this study was to evaluate fig (Ficus carica L.) leaves’ extract (FLE), olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves’ extract (OLE), and their mixture (MLE), to extend the shelf life of pasteurized milk. OLE, FLE, and their mixture MLE (1:1) were added to the pasteurized milk in different concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%). Several tests were then conducted to determine the activity of these extracts. The antioxidant activity as IC₅₀ was determined by using DPPH radical assay. FLE showed higher IC₅₀ (30.21 µg/mL) compared to the IC₅₀ of OLE (22.43 µg/mL). Phenolic compounds were identified by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The highest antimicrobial activity was obtained with 0.6% concentration. Organoleptic properties indicated that the addition of these extracts did not affect the sensory properties of pasteurized milk. Pasteurized milk treated with 0.6% of FLE, OLE, and MLE has significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) lipase and protease activity during the storage period, at 5 °C. The results indicated that extending the shelf life of pasteurized milk from 5 to 16 days was successfully achieved through using 0.6% of FLE, OLE, and MLE. The combination of the two extracts (MLE) provides an efficient and safe method to prolong the shelf life of pasteurized milk, without altering the properties of pasteurized buffalo milk.

Anti-neoplastic and immunomodulatory potency of co-treatment based on bovine lactoferrin and/or muramyl dipeptide in tumor-bearing mice

The current study investigates anti-neoplastic and immunomodulatory activities of co-treatment based on bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and/or muramyl dipeptide (MDP) with or without cisplatin (Cis) in tumor-bearing mice. In the present study, bLF (100 mg/kg; orally) and MDP (0.5 mg/kg; subcutaneously) was administered alone or together. MDP or bLF was co-treated with Cis (1 mg/kg; intraperitoneally) in mice-bearing Ehrlich solid carcinoma. Tumor size, tumor mass proliferation, apoptosis using immunohistochemistry, the alteration in spleen cell proliferation, phenotype using flow cytometry and white blood cells total and differential counts were detected. Treatment with Cis or (bLF and MDP) significantly reduced tumor size, upregulated the pro-apoptotic p53 expression and downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and proliferative marker PCNA expression compared to non-treated tumor-bearing animals. Moreover, co-treatment of MDP and Cis significantly potentiated the reduction of the tumor size, downregulated the Bcl-2 and PCNA expression and upregulated the p53 expression compared to Cis-treated animals. While bLF and Cis co-treatment positively controlled PCNA and p53 expression compared to tumor-bearing animals, it significantly potentiated the reduction of the tumor size and downregulated the Bcl-2 expression compared to Cis-treated animals. Co-treatment of (bLF and MDP), (bLF and Cis) or (MDP and Cis) increased the spleen cell proliferation and altered the immunological profile of the CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺CD69⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺CD69⁺ and CD11b⁺Ly6G⁺ cells to achieve better immune response against tumor. In conclusion, co-treatments based on bLF and/or MDP are promising therapies against cancer, through their potency to control proliferation, enhance apoptosis and improve the immune status against tumor cells.

Effect of Quinoa (<i>Chenopodium quinoa</i>) Flour on the Production and Quality of Low-Fat Camel Milk Processed Cheese Spread

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Camel milk has nutritional and therapeutic properties. Quinoa flour has been incorporated into many kinds of food because of its various nutrients and bio-actives. This study aimed to investigate the effect of using quinoa flour on the properties of low-fat camel milk processed cheese spread (LF-CMPCS) made from fermented retentate camel milk as a camel cheese base.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Quinoa flour was used to substitute 1, 3 and 5% of the camel cheese base made with Ras cheese. The resultant cheeses were analyzed for several parameters. Such as physiochemical, texture properties, antioxidant activity, fatty acids, microstructure and organoleptic properties as fresh and during storage period at 5±1°C for 3 months. The data were analyzed by ANOVA using the SPSS computer program.

RESULTS

Total solids, protein, fat/dry matter and soluble nitrogen decreased significantly while the fiber, carbohydrates and pH values increased significantly. Meltability value of LF-CMPCS significantly decreased. The results indicated that the hardness increased significantly with the increase in the addition of quinoa flour. The fatty acid profile indicated a significant increase in oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2), linolenic (18:3) and eicosenoic (20:1) with the increase of quinoa flour. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed the presence of quinoa flour in the space within the casein particle network.

CONCLUSION

It could be concluded that the addition of quinoa flour to camel cheese (up to 3%) can improve the chemical, sensory and microstructure and texture properties of LF CMPCS camel milk cheese without altering the quality of the product.

The Impact of Drought Stress on Antioxidant Responses and Accumulation of Flavonolignans in Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn)

Biosynthesis and accumulation of flavonolignans in plants are influenced by different environmental conditions. Biosynthesis and accumulation of silymarin in milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) were studied under drought stress with respect to the antioxidant defense system at the physiological and gene expression level. The results revealed a reduction in leaf chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, and glutathione contents. In contrast, H2O2, proline, and antioxidative enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR), were increased. These results confirmed that milk thistle undergoes oxidative stress under drought stress. Furthermore, transcription levels of APX, SOD, CAT, 1-Cys-Prx, and PrxQ were significantly increased in milk thistle under drought stress. Overall this suggests that protection against reactive oxygen species and peroxidation reactions in milk thistle are provided by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Flavonolignans from milk thistle seeds after different drought treatments were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and showed that severe drought stress enhanced the accumulation of silymarin and its components compared with seeds from the control (100% water capacity). Silybin is the major silymarin component and the most bioactive ingredient of the milk thistle extract. Silybin accumulation was the highest among all silymarin components in seeds obtained from drought-stressed plants. The expression of the chalcone synthase (CHS) genes (CHS1, CHS2, and CHS3), which are associated with the silybin biosynthetic pathway, was also increased during drought stress. These results indicated that milk thistle exhibits tolerance to drought stress and that seed derived from severe drought-stressed plants had higher levels of silymarin.

Rhus and Safflower Extracts as Potential Novel Food Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Antimicrobial Agents Using Nanotechnology

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts offers a safe and attractive alternate to the chemical methods. The present work aims at preparing metal nanoparticles of rhus (Rhus coriaria L.) and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) extracts using Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ag⁺ ions. The water extracts were prepared, and the total polyphenols and flavonoids contents were determined. The safflower extract contained the highest number of total polyphenols and total flavonoids (87.20 mg GAE/g and 36.32 mg QE/g), respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The studied extracts and their nanoparticles were evaluated as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. The plant extracts and their nanoparticles showed significant antioxidant activity using (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS^•+) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Safflower silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were the most powerful antimicrobial agent compared to the other nanoparticles. The Sulforhodamine B (SRB) cytotoxic activity was evaluated against three cancer cell lines. The results revealed that CuNP safflower nanoparticles displayed the highest activity as anticancer agent with values (98.94% with T47D, 97.68% with HEPG2, and 89.33% against Caco-2). The data revealed that rhus and safflower extracts and their nanoparticles possess high potential activity as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer agents.

Toxoplasma gondii: Prevalence of natural infection in pigeons and ducks from middle and upper Egypt using serological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical diagnostic methods

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most serious coccidian parasites, which infect human and nearly all warm-blooded animals. Domestic farm birds, which represent a good source of animal protein for humans, are subjected to such infection. Because pigeons and ducks get their feed from the soil, they are susceptible to being infected orally with Toxoplasma oocysts. Consequently, these birds may represent a public health problem for humans. Lack of information on T. gondii infection in pigeons and the insufficient data on its epidemiology in ducks were the main reasons to perform the present study. In the current study, four hundred and fifty-two blood and tissue samples were collected from 310 pigeons and 142 ducks from Asyut, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, and Giza provinces, Egypt. Specific antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii were determined using recombinant TgSAG2t specific surface antigen based ELISA. Histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations were also performed. Overall Toxoplasma positivity was 13.55%, 1.61%, and 1.61% in pigeons and 10.56%, 2.11%, and 2.11% in ducks using ELISA, histopathology, and IHC, respectively. Statistically significant difference in the T. gondii prevalence was observed in relation to period of the year. No significant changes were recorded regarding the gender or age. The current study indicated soil contamination and observable Toxoplasma infection in pigeons and ducks, which could represent a major danger for human infection.

Assessment of sucrose transporters, metabolites and sucrose phosphate synthase in different sugarcane tissues

The expression of sucrose-phosphate synthase II (SPSII) and sucrose transporters ShSUT1A and ShSUT4 were determined by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR in the sink and source leaves and in rind and pith of mature internodes of four high-yielding Hawaiian sugarcane cultivars. Expression of SPSII, ShSUT1A, and ShSUT4 was lower in pith than in rind, except in one cultivar, but else quite similar in the cultivars. The strong expression of transporter ShSUT4 in the rind of the internodes may hint to a special role of ShSUT4 in the rind. ShSUT4-expression in the sink and source leaves was similar in all four cultivars, whereas large differences were found for the expression of ShSUT1A and SPSII between the source and sink leaves and between the cultivars. The levels of sucrose precursors were doubled in source leaves compared to sink leaves, whereas they were higher in immature internode compared to mature internode. The role of sucrose transporters and SPSII in leaves and internodes is discussed, but the large differences, which were observed in the transcript levels of SPSII and sucrose transporters between some cultivars, although all the cultivars were similarly high-yielding cultivars, show that SPSII and SUT transcript levels cannot be used as indicators of high-yield cultivars.

SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION AND. ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC PREGNANT FEMALES IN EGYPT

Protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is considered as one of the most critical risk factor for recurrent abortion in pregnant females and resulted in multi congenital malformation in fetus world-wide. The present study was carried out on 693 pregnant females from Alexandria, Beheira, Gharbia, Menoufia, Qalyoubia and Fayoum provinces,"The study determined the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant females during pregnancy trimesters and shed the lights on the main risk factors and possible contamination routes. Detection for the presence of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were done by enzyme linked fluorescence assay (ELFA). It was found that the overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 30.16%.The seroprevalence increased with age. Significant relations were observed between Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and abortion history, maternity trimester and consumption of under-cooked meat. No significant differences were reported due to parity, occupation, abortion trimester, contact with cats and/or other animals and exposure to soil.

Biomphalaria alexandrina as a bioindicator of metal toxicity

Heavy metals are common environmental pollutants to the aquatic ecosystems. Several aquatic species have been used as bioindicators and biomonitoring subjects for heavy metals pollution. In the present study, the effects of cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) on the survival, attachment, locomotion, and feeding behaviours of the gastropod snail Biomphalaria alexandrina were determined. The short-term (96 h) LC50 for Cd and Mn were found to be 0.219 and 154.2 mg/l, respectively. Long-term exposures (16-20 days) to ascending concentrations of Cd (0.01-1 mg/l) and Mn (50-500 mg/l) also caused gradual decreases in the survival rate of B. alexandrina in a dose-dependent manner. Attachment, locomotion and feeding behaviours of snails exposed to lethal and sublethal concentrations of Cd and Mn at acute (96 h) and chronic exposure (24 days) intervals, respectively, were also recorded. Compared to controls, a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) was recorded in the different behaviours of exposed snails. These changes in behaviour would potentially impact the snail's ability to survive in the wild. Although Cd caused a more severe decline in snail survivorship than Mn, the behavioural effects of Mn were much more severe than Cd when the metals were roughly matched for lethality. In sum, the present study demonstrates B. alexandrina to be a sensitive bioindicator and model organism to assess heavy metals risk factors for severe toxicity in freshwater ecosystems.

Effect of bee venom or proplis on molecular and parasitological aspects of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

The present study was performed to elucidate the efficacy of Apis mellifera L bee venom (BV) or proplis (200 mg/kg orally for three consecutive days) on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. The results recorded reduction in the total worm burden, numbers of immature eggs and the ova count in hepatic tissue in BV (sting or injection) or proplis treated groups as compared to the infected group. Histological examination illustrated a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the diameter of hepatic granuloma in BV treated groups (272.78 and 266.9, respectively) and a significant decrease in proplis treated mice (229.35) compared with the infected group (260.67). Electrophoretic pattern of RNA showed a decrease in mean of maximal optical density in liver and intestine of S. mansoni infected mice treated with bee venom (sting or injection) as compared with infected group. Flow cytometry analyses of RNA or apoptotic percentage of worms recovered from BV sting (19 and 49 % respectively); BV injected (20.5 and 51.17 %, respectively) and proplis (35 and 23.93 %, respectively) groups were compared with S. mansoni infected group (37.87 and 39.21 %, respectively). It can be concluded that administration of bee venom or proplis are effective in case of S. mansoni infection. Although bee venom cause increase of granuloma diameter and this might be due to venom concentration and further studies are required to avoid such harmful effect.

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of prosopis chilenses in rats

BACKGROUND

Prosopis chilensis is used locally in Sudan for inflammatory conditions of joints; however, literature lacks scientific evidence for anti-inflammatory effect of this plant.

AIMS

To evaluate anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of prosopis chilenses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Edema inhibition percent (EI %) and hot plate method were used to evaluate anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Prosopis chilenses in Wistar albino rats. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Prosopis chilenses were compared to indomethacin and acetylsalicylic acid respectively.

RESULTS

Ethanolic extract of prosopis chilensis at a dose of 200 and 100mg/kg body weight achieved peak EI% (EI% = 96.1%) and (EI% = 94.4%) three and four hours after oral dosing respectively. The maximum EI% for indomethacin was 97.0% and was recorded after 4 hours following oral administration of the drug at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. Prosopis chilensis extracts at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly increased the rats' response time to hot plate compared to acetylsalicylic acid at a dose rate of 100mg/kg body weight (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The current results suggest potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of prosopis chilenses. Relevance of these effects to prosopis chilenses phy-to-constituents was discussed.

IgG against dengue virus in healthy blood donors, Zanzibar, Tanzania

We conducted a seroprevalence survey among 500 healthy adult donors at Zanzibar National Blood Transfusion Services. Dengue virus IgG seroprevalence was 50.6% and independently associated with age and urban residence. These data will aid in building a surveillance, preparedness, and response plan for dengue virus infections in the Zanzibar Archipelago.

The hepatoprotective activity of blue green algae in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

This study aims to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of a natural product, blue green algae (BGA) (100 mg/kg BW), alone or combined with praziquantel PZQ (250 mg/kg BW) on granulomatous inflammation, liver histopathology, some biochemical and immunological parameters in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Results showed that the diameter and number of egg granuloma were significantly reduced after treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with BGA, PZQ and their combination. The histopathological alterations observed in the liver of S. mansoni-infected mice were remarkably inhibited after BGA treatments. BGA decreased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as the level of total protein (TP) while the level of albumin was increased. Treatment of infected mice with BGA, PZQ as well as their combination led to significant elevation in the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as compared with control group. Combination of BGA and PZQ resulted in significant reduction in the level of intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) when compared to those of the S. mansoni-infected group. Overall, BGA significantly inhibited the liver damage accompanied with schistosomiasis, exhibited a potent antioxidant and immunoprotective activities. This study suggests that BGA can be considered as promising for development a complementary and/or alternative medicine against schistosomiasis.

The role of Ser-(Arg-Ser-Arg-Ser-GlucNAc)19-GlucNAc Fasciola gigantica glycoprotein in the diagnosis of prepatent fasciolosis in rabbits

In the present study, the carbohydrate structures associated with Fasciola gigantica adult worm were identified by indirect hemagglutination inhibition test. Glucose was found to be the main monosaccharide associated with the fluke. According to indirect hemagglutination inhibition results, purification of glycoprotein fractions from worm crude extract was carried out by affinity chromatography immobilized glucose agarose gel and Con-A lectin columns. The isolated glycoprotein fractions, FI and FII, were characterized by SDS-PAGE which revealed one band in FI of 26 kDa and another one band of 19.5 kDa in FII compared with 12 bands associated with whole worm extract. Both fractions were also characterized by isoelectric focusing technique which proved that both bands were acidic in nature with pIs 6.4 and 6.5 respectively. The comparative diagnostic evaluation of the two isolated glycoprotein fractions and crude extract of experimental fasciolosis in rabbits by ELISA revealed that FII was more potent in the diagnosis during prepatent (first week post infection) and patent periods (10 weeks post infection) than FI and crude extract. Moreover, infected rabbit sera at ten weeks post infection identified both bands; 26 and 19.5 kDa in western blot analysis confirming its immunodiagnostic activities which was proved previously by ELISA. FII proved potency in diagnosis of fasciolosis in 200 buffalo serum samples of different ages and sexes using ELISA which recorded 95 % positive and 5 % negative samples. Moreover, the detailed structural analyses of the most potent fraction, F11, using mass spectrum was made and elucidated chemical structure; O-glycan [Ser-(Arg-Ser-Arg-Ser-GlucNAc)19-GlucNAc]. The present result introduces GlucNAc rich fraction of F .gigantica that can be used successfully in the diagnosis of acute and chronic fasciolosis.

The relationship between genetic variability and the susceptibility of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails to Schistosoma mansoni infection

In the present study, Biomphalaria snails collected from five Egyptian governorates (Giza, Fayoum, Kafr El-Sheikh, Ismailia and Damietta), as well as reference control Biomphalaria alexandrina snails from the Schistosome Biological Supply Center (SBSC) (Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Egypt), were subjected to species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to identify the collected species. All of the collected snails were found to be B. alexandrina and there was no evidence of the presence of Biomphalaria glabrata. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR assays showed different fingerprints with varying numbers of bands for the first generation (F₁) of B. alexandrina snail populations (SBSC, Giza, Fayoum, Kafr El-Sheikh, Ismailia and Damietta). The primer OPA-1 produced the highest level of polymorphism and amplified the greatest number of specific bands. The estimated similarity coefficients among the B. alexandrina populations based on the RAPD-PCR profiles ranged from 0.56 (between SBSC and Ismailia snails) to 0.72 (between Ismailia and Kafr El-Sheikh snails). Experimental infection of the F₁ of progeny from the collected snails with Schistosoma mansoni (SBSC strain) showed variable susceptibility rates ranging from 15% in the Fayoum snail group to 50.3% in SBSC snails. A negative correlation was observed between the infection rates in the different snail groups and the distances separating their corresponding governorates from the parasite source. The infection rates of the snail groups and their similarity coefficients with SBSC B. alexandrina snails were positively correlated. The variations in the rates of infection of different B. alexandrina groups with S. mansoni, as well as the differences in the similarity coefficients among these snails, are dependent not only on the geographical distribution of the snails and the parasite, but also on the genetic variability of the snails. Introduction of this variability into endemic areas may reduce the ability of the parasite to infect local hosts and consequently reduce schistosomiasis epidemiology.

Sublethal toxicity of Roundup to immunological and molecular aspects of Biomphalaria alexandrina to Schistosoma mansoni infection

The present study was performed to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails hemocytes against sublethal concentration (10 mg/L) of herbicide Roundup (48% Glyphosate) and/or Schistosoma mansoni infection during 7 days of exposure. Obtained results indicated that herbicide treatment and/or infection led to significant increase (P<0.05) in total hemocytes count during exposure period. Examination of hemocytes monolayers resulted in observation of 3 morphologically different cell types, round small, hyalinocytes and spreading hemocytes. Spreading hemocytes are the dominant, more responsive and highly phagocytic cell type in all experimental groups. Moreover, the exposure to herbicide, infection or both together led to a significant increase (P<0.05) of in vitro phagocytic activity against yeast cells during 7 days of exposure. In addition, flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle and comet assay, resulted in DNA damage in B. alexandrina hemocytes exposed to herbicide and/or S. mansoni infection when compared to control group. The immunological responses as well as molecular aspects in B. alexandrina snails have been proposed as biomarkers of exposure to environmental pollutants.

Immunization efficacy of ozone-exposed cercariae against subsequent Schistosoma mansoni challenge infection

Abstract

CD1 mice were immunized subcutaneously with 20 ozone-exposed (70μg/ml, 1 minute exposure) Schistosoma mansoni cercariae weekly/three weeks. The efficacy of immunization was assessed 10 weeks post challenge infection by the determination of the worm burden, ova count, oogram, granuloma diameter, IgG reactions against soluble egg antigen (SEA) and tegument structural changes of recovered worms that are immunized. A reduced worm length and a reduction in worm burden were observed in the immunized group as compared to the infected not immunized group. Moreover, no ova were found in liver and intestine from the immunized mice as compared with infected control mice. Also, immunization with ozonated cercariae showed a decrement in the mean relative weight of liver and spleen. Total leukocyte count was increased in the immunized animal as compared to the infected control. The level of total IgG antibody against SEA decreased in immunized mice as compared with the infected control mice. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of worms recovered 10 weeks post challenge from the immunized group revealed extensive tegumental destruction. This study underlines the significant role of ozone attenuated cercariae vaccine against S. mansoni infection, which generated specific immunity with a significant level of protection.

Characterization of surface lectins binding and SDS-PAGE protein patterns of Biomphalaria alexandrina haemocytes infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Seven biotinylated lectins were tested with fluorescein labeled Avidin D for binding to haemocyte surfaces of non-inflected and infected Biomphalaria alexandrina snails with Schistosoma mansoi at 24 to 72 hours post infection (PI). Five lectins (Con A, DBA, SBA, RCA120 and WGA) yielded positive results. Two lectins (PNA and UEA-I) were negative. For the five positive lectins, the use of specific inhibition sugar indicated presence of glucose/mannose, galactose, N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc). The UEA-I lectin was negative and this indicates the absence of L-Fucose. There were no changes in the carbohydrates of haemocyte surfaces during the short periods (0 hr to 72 hrs) PI with S. mansoni. Electrophoresis of haemocyte homogenates of both non-infected and infected snails with S. mansoni yielded a complex pattern of polypeptides. The separated profiles demonstrate the occasional appearance or absence of certain bands in infected snails through four weeks PI. Post S. mansoni infection, dominant proteins appeared only through four weeks PI which were of average molecular masses 36, 9.3 and 5.3 kDa. At fourth week PI a remarkable decrease in the number of haemocyte protein fractions as well as the protein densities were reduced in compared to control snails. The results showed that qualitative and quantitative differences were detectable in the haemocyte proteins between non-infected and infected snails during four weeks of infection.

Using the job characteristics model to compare patient care assignment methods of nurses

The aim of this study was to use Hackman and Oldman's job characteristics model to compare 2 methods of patient care assignment as perceived by nurses in 12 inpatient units of Alexandria Main University Hospital. The job diagnostic survey was used to determine nurses' perceptions toward the components of the model in relation to their performance in utilizing the case and functional methods of patient care assignment. The jobs of intensive care unit nurses who utilized the case method were more enriched than those who utilized the functional method of assignment in the general care units, in terms of their perception scores towards all parts of the model (core job characteristics, critical psychological states, affective and personal outcomes, context satisfaction and individual growth-need strength).

Parvalbumin overexpression alters immune-mediated increases in intracellular calcium, and delays disease onset in a transgenic model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Intracellular calcium is increased in vulnerable spinal motoneurons in immune-mediated as well as transgenic models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To determine whether intracellular calcium levels are influenced by the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin, we developed transgenic mice overexpressing parvalbumin in spinal motoneurons. ALS immunoglobulins increased intracellular calcium and spontaneous transmitter release at motoneuron terminals in control animals, but not in parvalbumin overexpressing transgenic mice. Parvalbumin transgenic mice interbred with mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) transgenic mice, an animal model of familial ALS, had significantly reduced motoneuron loss, and had delayed disease onset (17%) and prolonged survival (11%) when compared with mice with only the mSOD1 transgene. These results affirm the importance of the calcium binding protein parvalbumin in altering calcium homeostasis in motoneurons. The increased motoneuron parvalbumin can significantly attenuate the immune-mediated increases in calcium and to a lesser extent compensate for the mSOD1-mediated 'toxic-gain-of-function' in transgenic mice.

Some pharmacological and toxicological studies on Balanites aegyptiaca bark

The aqueous extract of Balanites aegyptiaca bark, which is used in Sudanese folk medicine in the treatment of jaundice, was without effect when studied on rabbit intestine, rabbit aortic strip, rat stomach strip, rat uterus and rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm in a dose up to 10 mg/mL gut bath. In a larger dose (25 mg) the extract decreased significantly the contractility and the rate of the isolated perfused rabbit heart. Administration of the aqueous extract to biliary duct-ligated rats, showed a dose-dependent significant decrease in serum bilirubin level. The chronic and subchronic toxicity investigations indicate the safety of the aqueous extract at a dose level which showed a significant decrease in serum bilirubin level in experimental obstructive jaundice in rats.

Expression of calbindin-D28K in motoneuron hybrid cells after retroviral infection with calbindin-D28K cDNA prevents amyotrophic lateral sclerosis IgG-mediated cytotoxicity

Calbindin-D28K and/or parvalbumin appear to influence the selective vulnerability of motoneurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Their immunoreactivity is undetectable in motoneurons readily damaged in human ALS, and in differentiated motoneuron hybrid cells [ventral spinal cord (VSC 4.1 cells)] that undergo calcium-dependent apoptotic cell death in the presence of ALS immunoglobulins. To provide additional evidence for the role of calcium-binding proteins in motoneuron vulnerability, VSC 4.1 cells were infected with a retrovirus carrying calbindin-D28K cDNA under the control of the promoter of the phosphoglycerate kinase gene. Differentiated calbindin-D28K cDNA-infected cells expressed high calbindin-D28K and demonstrated increased resistance to ALS IgG-mediated toxicity. Treatment with calbindin-D28K antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, which significantly decreased calbindin-D28K expression, rendered these cells vulnerable again to ALS IgG toxicity.

Apoptosis induced by beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine on a motoneuron hybrid cell line

It has been suggested that beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine, a non-protein amino acid present in the Lathyrus Sativus seeds, may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of neurolathyrism, a toxic form of motor neuron disease clinically characterized by a severe spastic paraparesis. In order to investigate the mechanisms of beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine-mediated cell death, we studied the effect of this neurotoxin as well as other excitatory amino acids agonists on the growth and survival of motoneuron hybrid ventral spinal cord 4.1 cells. beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine was toxic to ventral spinal cord 4.1 cells in a concentration-dependent fashion (0.5-10 mM). Among the excitatory amino acids tested, only glutamate (1-10 mM), quisqualate (1 mM) and, with less extent, beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (10 mM) induced a significant reduction of cell survival. The effect of Lathyrus Sativus neurotoxin was a slow process, becoming apparent only after 24-48 h of incubation. Interestingly, a mathematical analysis applied to the time course and dose curve of beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine toxicity suggested that even for very low concentrations of the amino acid it is theoretically possible to predict a time-dependent effect. The cell death was not blocked by antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate or non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors; aurintricarboxylic acid and alpha-tocopherol gave a partial protection; cysteine (1 mM) prevented the toxic effect of both Lathyrus Sativus neurotoxin and glutamate as well as quisqualate. Morphologically, in the presence of either beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine, glutamate or quisqualate, ventral spinal cord 4.1 cells showed apoptotic features also confirmed by ISEL technique and agarose gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA. Thus, our results suggest that in ventral spinal cord 4.1 motoneuron hybrid cells, in the absence of functional synaptic excitatory amino acid receptors, beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine induces cell degeneration through an apoptotic mechanism, possibly mediated by a block of cystine/glutamate Xc antiporter.

Cost-effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication for the long-term management of duodenal ulcer in Canada

BACKGROUND

A 1994 National Institutes of Health consensus panel recommended that eradication of Helicobacter pylori should be first-line therapy for persons with duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the cost-effectiveness of H pylori eradication relative to alternative pharmacologic strategies in the long-term management of persons with confirmed duodenal ulcer.

METHODS

Decision analysis model to estimate expected costs and symptomatic ulcer recurrences during a 12-month period for three general treatment strategies: (1) immediate H pylori eradication; (2) H pylori eradication at first ulcer recurrence; and (3) continuous maintenance therapy with a histamine2 receptor antagonist (ranitidine hydrochloride). Two H pylori eradication therapies were compared: classic triple therapy and omeprazole plus amoxicillin. Probabilities for ulcer recurrence are by meta-analysis of published randomized trials. Health care resources used in the management of duodenal ulcer recurrence were by expert physician panel. All costs are in 1993 Canadian dollars.

RESULTS

Duodenal ulcer recurrence at 6 months (symptomatic and asymptomatic) with placebo was 65.4% and 12.8% with maintenance ranitidine therapy. Where eradication of H pylori was successful (85% of patients), the ulcer recurrence rate to 12 months was 3.7%. Treatment with ranitidine and triple therapy to eradicate H pylori on first presentation has an expected 1-year cost of $253 with 15 symptomatic recurrences per 100 patients; H pylori eradication by omeprazole plus amoxicillin had similar expected costs ($272) and outcomes (15 recurrences per 100 patients). Both of these early H pylori eradication strategies were dominant (less costly with same or better outcomes) over intermittent or continuous maintenance ranitidine therapy or delayed (after first recurrence) H pylori eradication.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis provides economic evidence in support of the recent guidance that for persons with duodenal ulcer, early attempts to eradicate H pylori are recommended.

Apoptotic cell death of a hybrid motoneuron cell line induced by immunoglobulins from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Apoptotic cell death has recently been implicated in diseases involving nonproliferating, terminally differentiated cells such as neurons. Previous experiments have documented that immunoglobulins from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can kill motoneuron-neuroblastoma hybrid cells [ventral spinal cord 4.1 (VSC 4.1)] by a calcium-dependent process. Here, we studied the mechanism of ALS IgG-induced cell death. In the presence of ALS IgG the VSC 4.1 cells undergo cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing, which are morphological features of apoptotic cell death. The damaged cells can be identified by in situ end labeling of nicked DNA and biochemically show laddering on agarose gel electrophoresis. This ALS IgG-triggered process is prevented by cycloheximide, aurintricarboxylic acid, and zinc sulfate. These data demonstrate that immunoglobulins from patients with ALS are able to induce apoptosis in motoneuron hybrid cells and provide a potential mechanism for motoneuron degeneration in human ALS.

The role of calcium-binding proteins in selective motoneuron vulnerability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The factors contributing to selective motoneuron loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remain undefined. To investigate whether calcium-binding proteins contribute to selective motoneuron vulnerability in ALS, we compared calbindin-D28K and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in motoneuron populations in human ALS, and in a ventral spinal cord hybrid cell line selectively vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of ALS IgG. In human autopsy specimens, immunoreactive calbindin-D28k and parvalbumin were absent in motoneuron populations lost early in ALS (i.e., cortical and spinal motoneurons, lower cranial nerve motoneurons), while motoneurons damaged late or infrequently in the disease (i.e., Onuf's nucleus motoneurons, oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerve neurons) expressed markedly higher levels of immunoreactive calbindin-D28K and/or parvalbumin. Motoneuron-neuroblastoma VSC 4.1 hybrid cells lost immunoreactive calbindin-D28k and parvalbumin following dibutyryl-cyclic AMP-induced differentiation and were killed by IgG from ALS patients. Undifferentiated calbindin/parvalbumin-reactive VSC 4.1 cells were not killed, nor were other cell lines expressing high levels of calbindin-D28K and parvalbumin immunoreactivity (substantia nigra-neuroblastoma hybrid cells and N18TG2 neuroblastoma parent cells). These studies suggest that decreased calbindin-D28K and parvalbumin immunoreactivity may help explain the selective vulnerability of motoneurons in ALS.

Cytogenetic studies of sodium fluoride in mice

The cytogenetic effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) were measured in mice following administration in the drinking water for 6 weeks. Bone fluoride levels were determined and showed a dose-related incorporation of fluoride. Micronuclei were measured in peripheral blood erythrocytes following 1 and 6 weeks of NaF administration. Bone marrow cell preparations were examined for the presence of chromosome aberrations following 6 weeks of treatment; metaphase and anaphase cells were examined. Anaphase cells were scored in three independent laboratories, two of which also scored metaphase cells from the same slides. No increases in micronuclei were seen in peripheral erythrocytes at either time point, and no increases in chromosome aberrations were seen in bone marrow cells when metaphase or anaphase cells were examined. A concurrent positive control, cyclophosphamide, produced significant increases in peripheral blood cell micronuclei and in chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells in metaphase. No increases in aberrations were seen in the same cyclophosphamide-treated mice when anaphase cells were examined.

NSAID--induced gastroduodenal ulcers: exploring the silent dilemma

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective medications and are very commonly prescribed. They are used by a large proportion of elderly persons who are most prone to adverse events. NSAID gastropathy is the commonest side effect. The relative risk of adverse events is high, but the absolute risk for any individual patient is low. Individualizing the risk/benefit ratio would lead to cost effective care.

Isolation and characterization of a novel acetyl-CoA carboxylase kinase from rat liver

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is regulated allosterically by citrate and covalently by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. We have isolated and purified from rat livers a novel kinase that phosphorylates and inactivates the carboxylase. This kinase is bound to the carboxylase and can be eluted in salt-rich solution. The native kinase exists as high molecular weight aggregates of a subunit that has a molecular weight of 40,000. The phosphorylation sites of the carboxylase were determined after tryptic and cyanogen bromide digestions of 32P-labeled carboxylase and separation of the peptides by various chromatographic procedures. Amino acid analyses of the phosphopeptides showed that the Ser77 and Ser1200 residues were the sites of phosphorylation. Treating the phosphorylated carboxylase with the Mn(2+)-dependent acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphatase 2 removed the phosphate and reactivated the carboxylase. These results suggest that both this kinase and the acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphatase 2 act at the same site(s) in the acetyl-CoA carboxylase molecule. Citrate dramatically inhibits the kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the carboxylase, suggesting that the allosteric modification and activation by citrate render the phosphorylation sites inaccessible to the kinase and therefore maintain high carboxylase activity. This observation indicates that there is a close interplay between the citrate effect on and phosphorylation of the carboxylase in regulating its activity.