A study on oxidative stress biomarkers and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides in pesticide-sprayers

AbstractThis work was conducted on 95 adult males from Al-Salheya Algadeeda-Sharkeya governorate. They were classified according to pesticides residues into control group (30 unexposed healthy adult males living in the same area), insecticides exposed workers group (55 adult males exposed to organophosphate and carbamates) and fungicides exposed workers group (10 adult males exposed to fungicides). The study was designed to investigate and compare the oxidative stress and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides exposure among agricultural workers according the level of pesticide residues in their blood which was measured by HPLC. The oxidative stress status has been evaluated by assessment of (SH-protein), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was measured as a biomarker of toxicity. We used IgG, IgM, as immunological biomarkers to test the humoral immune function as well as TNFα as a biomarker of cellular immune function. Our result revealed statistically significant reduction of the activity of (AchE), antioxidant defense enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, IgM and IgG while, MDA and TNF levels showed significant elevations in insecticides-exposed workers versus control. Results of fungicides exposed workers revealed non-significant reduction of the activity of (AchE), antioxidant defense enzymes, IgM, IgG and TNFα levels while there was significant elevation of MDA level and significant reduction of total antioxidant capacity level

RELATIONSHIP OF SERUM DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE-IV ACTIVITY AND ANTI-CASEIN ANTIBODIES TO GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AMONG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: AN EGYPTIAN STUDY

 Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess serum dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity in autistic children suffering from severe gastrointestinal (GI) disorder and to examine the hypothesis that there is a link between DPP-IV activity in serum and GI disorder in a subgroup of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Subjects and Methods: Serum levels of casein antibodies and DPP-IV enzyme activity from 40 autistic children with chronic GI symptoms, and 40 of age-matched children without autism or gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.Results: In comparison with controls, developmental milestones were delayed among autistic children. The serum DPP-IV activity was significantly lower in the studied patients (p<0.05), while the mean serum levels of casein antibodies were statistically significantly higher in the studied patients (p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis recorded significant association between the high serum level of antibodies to casein, food selectivity and recurrent attacks of abdominal pain (p<0.05), while the low serum DPP-IV enzyme activity was associated with recurrent attacks of abdominal pain in the studied patients with a prediction of 95% (p<0.05).Conclusions: Serum levels of casein antibodies were higher in children with ASD, and maybe contributes to their abdominal pain, and food selectivity. Serum DPP-IV enzyme activity was lower and associated with recurrent attacks of abdominal pain in the studied patients. They may benefit from a supplemental digestive enzyme formula

Heavy Metals Can either Aid or Oppose the Protective Function of the Placental Barrier

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, toxic heavy metals are a threatening catastrophe to human health, particularly in the vulnerable group of pregnant mothers and their fetuses. Fortunately, the placenta can be a protective barrier to the fetuses. AIM: To explore the relationship between serum lead, cadmium and arsenic levels in pregnant mothers and their newborns, to address the placental barrier in this situation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 pregnant mothers at the time of labour and their newborns. Serum cadmium, lead, and arsenic levels were measured using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. RESULTS: All the studied heavy metals concentrations showed a significant elevation in the maternal blood relative to the cord blood. There was a significant association between the maternal lead and both fetal lead and arsenic. Meanwhile, a negative but insignificant correlation was recorded between the maternal cadmium and each of the fetal cadmium, lead, and arsenic. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicated a weak relation between maternal and fetal blood heavy metals, except for the influence of maternal lead, so it can be assumed that the placental barriers are partially protective against those toxic pollutants, putting into consideration the influence of their different natures

Land-Use Land-Cover Change Detection Using Geospatial Techniques in Zalingei, Central Darfur, Sudan

Using remote sensing for land use and land cover (LULC) is essential for systems that help people make decisions because it gives valuable information about space and time. A study was conducted in Zalingei, Sudan, to analyze the changes in LULC over 30 years from 1991 to 2021 using multi-temporal Landsat images. Thematic Mapper (TM) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) were classified using the supervised classification method. The pictures were divided into four groups based on how the land was used: residential areas, bodies of water, vegetation cover, and bare land. Results showed that the residential area increased by 20.74% while the water body increased by 2.32%. However, the vegetation cover decreased by 0.7%, and bare land decreased by 22.37%. The changes were caused by people, which shows how vital good land management practices and involvement from the local community are for reducing LULC change. So, to reduce LULC change in the study area, proper land management practices and active participation from the local community are needed. The study concluded that remote sensing technology is an effective tool for assessing and mapping land use and land cover changes and providing valuable information for decision support systems

Identification of rhizobial strains nodulating Egyptian grain legumes

The presence of apothecia in mixed species (vegetatively reproducing lichens, occasionally producing ascomata) has been interpreted as a mechanism to increase genetic variability in mostly clonal populations. However, spore viability from these apothecia has not been studied. We asked whether ascospores of the mixed species Physconia grisea are viable and thereby contribute to increasing the genetic diversity within populations of this species. An ontogenetic study of spores in cultures of P. grisea and a related sexual species (P. distorta), showed that although mature apothecia from both species produced and discharged meiospores capable of germination, spores from P. grisea were only rarely (0.43 %) able to continue development whereas those from P. distorta germinated and developed successfully. The strongly reduced viability of P. grisea spores suggested that they do not have a strong reproductive function, at least in the two local populations analyzed. Additionally, we show that the segregation of Physconia grisea ssp. lilacina does not have molecular support. [Int Microbiol 2013; 16(3):145-155]Keywords: Physconia spp. · apothecia · sexual reproduction · germination · ontogenetic development · mixed specie

Fundamental Role of Neurochemicals Aberration in the Pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorders

AIM: The aim of this research was to establish the perturbation of reliable biomarkers implicated in the pathophysiology of autism to help in the early diagnosis and to be as targets in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children and to spotlight into the complex crosstalk between these biomarkers. PATIENS AND METHODS: This study included 90 autistic children aged from 2 to 7 years old, who were classified into two groups, the atypical autism of 30 children and the childhood autism. The childhood autism group was further divided into mild-moderate autism group and severe autism group each of 30 children. The control group included 30 matched healthy children. All the participants were subjected to full psychiatric examinations, psychological investigations, and biochemical measurements, including gamma-aminobutaric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine (DA) in plasma, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in serum. RESULTS: The autistic groups showed a highly significant increase in GABA, serotonin, DA, and BDNF levels compared to the control. Of note, the levels of GABA, DA, and BDNF were significantly increased with the increased disease severity. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between BDNF levels and both GABA and DA levels in the childhood autism group has been recorded. CONCLUSION: The present clinical setting provides new insight into the fundamental role of BDNF in the brain of autistic children as any alterations of its level due to GABA increment cause change in serotonin and DA levels which have empirical evidence in the pathophysiology of ASD. The results received in this research, create a fertile base for the setup of particular targets in the intervention of this ailment

ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF JUSTICIA SPICIGERA ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS ANTHOCYANIN CONTENT

Objective: The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera were evaluated and the characterization of its anthocyanin content was done. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The ethyl acetate fraction was obtained by successive liquid/liquid fractionation of the crude cold ethanolic extract and the pigments were characterized by HPLC technique. The in vitro studies were carried out through evaluation of the EA fraction on the attenuation of 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. The in vivo biological evaluation was done in CCl4 injured rats through determination of liver function indices, oxidative stress markers and the histopathological picture of the treated liver.Results: The phenolic content in the EA fraction was 42.94 mg/g. Twelve anthocyanins were identified, the major of which are peonidin 3, 5-diglucoside (64.30%), malvidin 3, 5-diglucoside (10.59%) and petunidin 3,5-diglucoside (4.71%). Treatment of CCl4 intoxicated rats with EA fraction recorded improvement in the liver function indices and oxidative stress markers. The histopathological observations confirmed our results.Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera recorded antioxidant and hepato protective activities.Â

Design and Simulation of a Second-Order Universal Switched- Capacitor Filter as a 10-Pin Dual-In-Line Package Integrated Circuit

This paper explains the design of a Universal (Low, High, Band and Notch) Second-Order Filter using switched capacitor (SC) technique. The design depends on the crystal oscillator circuit that generates two non-overlapping clocks by making full use of the two independent comparators of the LM741. The oscillator circuit is used to drive a switched-capacitor integrator which is used in the design of the universal second order filter. The circuit is performed as a single IC (Integrated circuit) which can be used for different standard applications. The proposed IC design differs than other IC's such as MF10 by adding the notch filter to this design for used in wide band of applications. The design is simulated using MultiSim 9 program

Mechanism of Nickel and Chromium-Induced Immunotoxicity and Oxidative Stress: A Comparative Study

Abstract Introduction: Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni) are examples of commonly used industrial substances with negative long time exposure on human health. One mechanism whereby metals can alter health is through modulation of immune homeostasis. They are capable of producing oxidative stress and it is possible that this oxidative stress contributes to the carcinogenic response of these metals

The Micro-Elimination Approach to Eliminating Hepatitis C:Strategic and Operational Considerations

The introduction of efficacious new hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments galvanized the World Health Organization to define ambitious targets for eliminating HCV as a public health threat by 2030. Formidable obstacles to reaching this goal can best be overcome through a micro-elimination approach, which entails pursuing elimination goals in discrete populations through multi-stakeholder initiatives that tailor interventions to the needs of these populations. Micro-elimination is less daunting, less complex, and less costly than full-scale, country-level initiatives to eliminate HCV, and it can build momentum by producing small victories that inspire more ambitious efforts. The micro-elimination approach encourages stakeholders who are most knowledgeable about specific populations to engage with each other and also promotes the uptake of new models of care. Examples of micro-elimination target populations include medical patients, people who inject drugs, migrants, and prisoners, although candidate populations can be expected to vary greatly in different countries and subnational areas