Effect of quercetin on steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis in ovary of mice with experimentally-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome

IntroductionPolycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects the health of many women around the world. Apart from fundamental metabolic problems connected to PCOS, focus of our study is on the role of quercetin on genes relevant to steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis.MethodsEighteen mature parkes strain mice (4-5 weeks old) weighing 18–21 g were randomly divided into three groups of six each as follows: Group I serves as the control and was given water and a regular chow diet ad lib for 66 days; group II was given oral gavage administration of letrozole (LETZ) (6 mg/kg bw) for 21 days to induce PCOS and was left untreated for 45 days; For three weeks, Group III received oral gavage dose of LETZ (6 mg/kg), after which it received Quercetin (QUER) (125 mg/kg bw orally daily) for 45 days.ResultsIn our study we observed that mice with PCOS had irregular estrous cycle with increased LH/FSH ratio, decreased estrogen level and decline in expression of Kitl, Bmp1, Cyp11a1, Cyp19a1, Ar, lhr, Fshr and Esr1 in ovary. Moreover, we observed increase in the expression of CYP17a1, as well as increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, testosterone, vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF and insulin levels. All these changes were reversed after the administration of quercetin in PCOS mice.DiscussionQuercetin treatment reversed the molecular, functional and morphological abnormalities brought on due to letrozole in pathological and physiological setting, particularly the issues of reproduction connected to PCOS. Quercetin doesn’t act locally only but it acts systematically as it works on Pituitary (LH/FSH)- Ovary (gonad hormones) axis. the Side effects of Quercetin have to be targeted in future researches. Quercetin may act as a promising candidate for medical management of human PCOS

Participative Leadership and Organizational Identification in SMEs in the MENA Region: Testing the Roles of CSR Perceptions and Pride in Membership

The aim of this research is to explore the process linking participative leadership to organizational identification. The study examines the relationship between participative leadership and internal CSR perceptions of employees and also investigates the role that pride in membership plays in the affiliation of CSR perceptions with organizational identification. By studying these relationships, the paper aspires to contemplate new presumed mediators in the association of participative leadership with organizational identification as well as determine a possible novel antecedent of employee CSR perceptions. Empirical evidence is provided from data that was collected through a survey distributed to employees working for small- and medium-sized enterprises in three countries in the Middle East and North Africa regions, particularly the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Tunisia. Findings show that participative leadership leads to positive internal CSR perceptions of employees and that these CSR perceptions lead to pride in membership which, in turn, results in organizational identification. Implications of these findings are also discussed

An Exploratory Study of Managerial Practices in the Arabian Gulf Region

This study determined the management system [Likert and Likert 1976] operating in 10 organizations in the Arabian Gulf region and correlated the system with the resultant effectiveness of these organizations. Managers in the region operated in a Management System 3 mode, but at a lower participatory level than desired by managers and at a lower level than their American counterparts. Effectiveness was found to be related to the operative management system; organization climate was the most potent determinant of effectiveness.© 1983 JIBS. Journal of International Business Studies (1983) 14, 143–152

Simultaneous organics, sulphate and salt removal in a microbial desalination cell with an insight into microbial communities

Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) are known among the bioelectrochemical systems for their green and cost-effective application in salt removal. However, the low efficiency of desalination compared to other chemical and membrane-based methods still holding this technology in laboratory and requiring further research and development (R&D) to establish actual plants. This study focused on integrating different applicable functions in one setup to promote applying MDCs in actual scale. In this research, the behavior of the MDC upon applying different salt concentrations in the desalination chamber was studied. Moreover, salt, sulphate and organic matter removal in acetate and sulphate-fed MDCs (A.MDC and S.MDC) were investigated. 10, 20 and 35 g/l of salt were successfully removed by using MDC technology. Sulphate removal of 72% was achieved within the S.MDC setup while similar current productions were observed in both A.MDC and S.MDC. Higher COD removal (88%) was recorded in S.MDC compared to 65% in A.MDC. Furthermore, the microbial communities were characterized and Rubrivivax was identified as the dominant genus in A.MDC while Desulfobulbus, Geobacter and Desulfovibrio were the most abundant genera in S.MDC setup