Quercetin attenuates, indomethacin-induced acute gastric ulcer in rats

Background: Peptic ulcer diseases are common and are induced by many factors, including stress, smoking, and ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Quercetin is considered to be an anti-oxidant with healing effects on many experimental toxic injuries. The present study aimed to explore the possible effect of quercetin on acute gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin in rats. Materials and methods: Three groups received indomethacin (30 mg/kg body weight) orally by orogastric gavage on two consecutive days. The rats received famotidine (50 mg/kg body weight), quercetin (50 mg/kg body weight), or vehicle alone for 15 consecutive days by oral gavage. The control group received no indomethacin but received vehicle for 15 days by oral gavage. The ulcer index, volume, and pH of gastric juice were measured, and the stomachs were examined by routine light microscopy. Results: Compared with the control group, the indomethacin-treated rats showed a marked damage of the gastric mucosal surface and a high ulcer index. In the famotidine- and quercetin-treated groups, significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities were observed. The congestion, erosions, and necrosis were reduced with mild inflammatory cell infiltration while no major damage of endothelial cells was observed in the treated rats. Conclusions: The findings of the study show that quercetin had antioxidant effect and can protect gastric mucosa against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration than famotidine.

Dynamical implications of Viral Tiling Theory

The Caspar–Klug classification of viruses whose protein shell, called viral capsid, exhibits icosahedral symmetry, has recently been extended to incorporate viruses whose capsid proteins are exclusively organised in pentamers. The approach, named ‘Viral Tiling Theory’, is inspired by the theory of quasicrystals, where aperiodic Penrose tilings enjoy 5-fold and 10-fold local symmetries. This paper analyses the extent to which this classification approach informs dynamical properties of the viral capsids, in particular the pattern of Raman active modes of vibrations, which can be observed experimentally

Osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells promotes mineralization within a biodegradable peptide hydrogel

An attractive strategy for the regeneration of tissues has been the use of extracellular matrix analogous biomaterials. Peptide-based fibrillar hydrogels have been shown to mimic the structure of extracellular matrix offering cells a niche to undertake their physiological functions. In this study, the capability of an ionic-complementary peptide FEFEFKFK (F, E, and K are phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and lysine, respectively) hydrogel to host human mesenchymal stem cells in three dimensions and induce their osteogenic differentiation is demonstrated. Assays showed sustained cell viability and proliferation throughout the hydrogel over 12 days of culture and these human mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into osteoblasts simply upon addition of osteogenic stimulation. Differentiated osteoblasts synthesized key bone proteins, including collagen-1 (Col-1), osteocalcin, and alkaline phosphatase. Moreover, mineralization occurred within the hydrogel. The peptide hydrogel is a naturally biodegradable material as shown by oscillatory rheology and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, where both viscoelastic properties and the degradation of the hydrogel were monitored over time, respectively. These findings demonstrate that a biodegradable octapeptide hydrogel can host and induce the differentiation of stem cells and has the potential for the regeneration of hard tissues such as alveolar bon

Enhancing the Performance of Power System under Abnormal Conditions Using Three Different FACTS Devices

In this paper, a comparison between Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices including Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) and Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) for providing a better adaptation to changing operating conditions and improving the usage of current systems. The power system using FACTS devices is presented under different conditions such as single phase fault and three phase fault. A digital simulation using Matlab/Simulink software package is carried out to demonstrate the better performance including the voltage and the current of the presented system using FACTS that located between buses B1 and B2 under different faults types. The results obtained investigate that the presented system gives better response with FACTS as compared to not using them under abnormal conditions besides, the UPFC gives better performance of power system under several faults as compared to STATCOM or SSSC as It can absorb reactive power in a manner which significantly reduced the fault current. It is demonstrated that UPFC can reduce the peak fault current at bus B1 ‎to 63.85% of its value without ‎using FACTS devices under line to ground fault and 79.18% under three line to ‎ground fault whereas STATCOM and SSSC reduce it ‎to (75.21, 94.35%) and (75.40, 94.68%), respectively

Impact of Hydroxychloroquine on Fructose-induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats: Promising Protective Effect

BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is used in the treatment of malaria and rheumatoid arthritis for a long time. Its effects on inflammation and immune modulation were noted. AIM: This study aims to investigate the effects of HCQ in fructose-induced metabolic syndrome and to explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into Group I (negative control), Group II fed on high-fructose diet, and Group III fed on high fructose and subdivided into Group III-a (HCQ 50 mg/kg), Group III-b (HCQ 100 mg/kg), Group III-c (HCQ 200 mg/kg), and Group III-d (metformin 100 mg/kg). Body weight, blood glucose, liver enzymes, and lipid profile were measured. Insulin level, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), soluble-intercellular adhesion molecule, and vascular cell adhesion molecule were assayed. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, adipokines (leptin, resistin, and adiponectin), and histological examination of pancreas were assessed. RESULTS: HCQ induces good effects on lipid profile and improves significantly HOMA, endothelial stress markers, and adiponectin, and reduces leptin and TNF-α levels. In addition, significant improvement in structural changes was noted in pancreas with different doses of HCQ. CONCLUSION: Favorable effects of HCQ in fructose-induced metabolic syndrome are promising and can be used early in those at risk of diabetes

Development of novel adsorbent for industrial wastewater treatment

The main objective of this research project is to perform some experimental procedures to inform the ability of the novel adsorbent used in this project. The chemical modification of the adsorbent is the chemical oxidation of pure powder chitosan using some specific redox pairs which are potassium dichromate and sodium bisulphite. After preparing the modified chitosan, there are some parameters that must be discussed during the adsorption process. The first parameter is the time parameter, showing experimentally the optimum time for adsorption under certain conditions by collecting values of absorbance and concentration of thymol blue adsorbed after the process from the spectrophotometer showing that the optimum time is 120 minutes. While for the optimum pH experiment, it is shown that optimum pH is 4, 0.5% v/v is optimum concentration, and 0.05 grams is the optimum dose for the adsorbent. Then after computing these conditions and values of absorbance, some calculations and classifications are done to show the reaction kinetics and isotherm classification of the process. By performing some equations using mathematical rules it is provided that the reaction is not a first order reaction, showing by calculations and graphs that the reaction is a second order reaction. Also, to know the classification of the process other mathematical relations are done calculating slope and R2 to show whether the process reaction is a Langumir or Frendulish, showing that the reaction process is a Frendulish process having a greater value of R2

Novel Adsorbent For Industrial Wastewater Treatment Applications

In this study, the hydroxyapatite powder is investigated for both of methylene blue and thymol blue in aqueous solution. The physical and chemical properties of the adsorbent were evaluated systematically using the different techniques including Microsoft Excel programming, linear regression model and also the coefficient of determination. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the effect of contact time, solution pH, initial dye concentrations, and also the adsorbent dosage on adsorption. The adsorption kinetic parameters confirmed the better fitting of pseudo-second order kinetic model for both of methylene blue and thymol blue. The isotherm data of methylene blue and thymol blue could be well described by the Freundlich isotherm model which means the adsorption is multilayer adsorption with non-uniform distribution of adsorption heat and affinities over the heterogeneous surface. The maximum adsorption capacity (KF) of methylene blue and thymol blue is found to be 0.2736 (L/mg) and 11.18407 (L/mg) respectively. The high specific surface area and the porous structure with some acidic functional groups on the surface were obviously responsible for high dyes adsorption onto hydroxyapatite (HA). Adsorption kinetics data were modeled with the application of Pseudo first order, Pseudo second order and Intraparticle diffusion models. The results revealed that the Pseudo second order model was the best fitting model. Which means that, the adsorption mechanism followed two stages in which the first one was fast and the other was slower step. Which means the adsorption of dye molecules was limited by intra particle diffusion and film diffusion, as well as the adsorption rate in both of adsorption system are depends only on the slower step. The Boyd plot exposed that the intra-particle diffusion was the rate controlling step of the adsorption process of both of methylene blue and thymol blue molecules by HA powder. However, the adsorption of methylene blue molecules (basic solution) using of HA as adsorbent particles is found to be extremely preferable than thymol blue molecules

Effect of Vermicompost Supplemented by Foliar Application of Silicate on Marjoram Plants Grown in Saline Soil

This study aimed to reduce the negative effects of soil salinity on marjoram plants by adding vermicompost to the saline soil complemented by foliar application of silicate (Si+2) to their leaves. To achieve this purpose in field, the experiment was arranged as a factorial experiment. (Two way) Based on randomized complete block design with four replications. The first factor was vermicompost which was added at four rates (0, 3, 4 and 5 ton fed-1). The second factor was silicon which was used at four rates (0, 2.5, 3.75 and 5 mM). Results revealed that the single application of either vermicompost or silicon reduced Na and proline concentration in plant shoot and enhanced plant growth, nutrient content, carbohydrate percentage and essential oil yield in plant shoots. This increase remained constant and not correlated with the rates of application. The combined application of vermicompost and foliar spraying of silicon resulted in noticeable increase in plant growth, nutrient content (N, P, K and Ca), carbohydrate percentage and essential oil yield in marjoram plants; the highest values of all parameters were recorded by using vermicompost at rate 3 or 4-ton fed-1 coupled with spraying 3.75 mM of silicon solution on plant leaves. These results proved that amendment of saline soil by adding vermicompost and spraying silicon solution on plant leaves directly is a good strategy for the reclamation of saline soil and mitigation of salt stress within plant tissues.