Curcumin and cinnamon mitigates lead acetate-induced oxidative damage in the spleen of rats

Lead toxicity is a common occupational and environmental health hazard that exerts many toxic effects on animals and humans, including immunotoxicity. Curcumin (CUR) and cinnamon (CIN) are common medicinal herbs with immunostimulatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study investigated the protective effect of curcumin and cinnamon against lead acetate (LA)-induced splenotoxicity in rats via hemato-biochemical, immunological, oxidative stress marker, CYP-2E1 expression, histological, and immunohistological evaluations. Four groups of seven rats each were used: the control group received corn oil as a vehicle; the lead acetate group received (100 mg/kg), the CUR + LA group received curcumin (400 mg/kg) plus lead acetate, and the CIN + LA group received cinnamon (200 mg/kg) plus lead acetate orally for 1 month. LA exposure induced macrocytic hypochromic anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis, and lymphopenia. Additionally, significant elevations in serum iron, ferritin levels, and transferrin saturation percentage with significant decline of total and unsaturated iron binding capacities (TIBC and UIBC), transferrin, and immunoglobulin G and M levels were recorded. In addition, lead acetate significantly upregulated splenic CYP-2E1 expression, that was evident by significant depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) activity and elevation of malondihyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and protein carbonyl (PC) concentrations in the spleen. Histologically, hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles, hemosiderin deposition, and disturbance of CD3 and CD68 immuno-expressions were evident in the spleen from the lead acetate group. However, curcumin and cinnamon administration restored the hemato-biochemical, immunological, and oxidative stress parameters as well as histological and immunohistological pictures toward normalcy. In conclusion, curcumin and cinnamon can partially ameliorate LA-induced oxidative damage in the spleen, possibly through their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and gene-regulating activities

Maxillary neoplasms in four dromedary camels

Four camels (Camelus dromedarius) presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at King Faisal University with maxillary masses. On radiographs, the masses were multicystic and expanded the maxillary bone. The tumors were diagnosed by histopathologic examination as conventional ameloblastoma, two cases as intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma, and central odontogenic fibroma with ossification. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of ameloblastoma in a camel, the first detailed description of maxillary squamous cell carcinoma in camels, and the first report of central odontogenic fibroma in any animal species

Stable sulforaphane protects against gait anomalies and modifies bone microarchitecture in the spontaneous STR/Ort model of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), affecting joints and bone, causes physical gait disability with huge socio-economic burden; treatment remains palliative. Roles for antioxidants in protecting against such chronic disorders have been examined previously. Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring antioxidant. Herein, we explore whether SFX-01®, a stable synthetic form of sulforaphane, modifies gait, bone architecture and slows/reverses articular cartilage destruction in a spontaneous OA model in STR/Ort mice. Sixteen mice (n = 8/group) were orally treated for 3 months with either 100 mg/kg SFX-01® or vehicle. Gait was recorded, tibiae were microCT scanned and analysed. OA lesion severity was graded histologically. The effect of SFX-01® on bone turnover markers in vivo was complemented by in vitro bone formation and resorption assays. Analysis revealed development of OA-related gait asymmetry in vehicle-treated STR/Ort mice, which did not emerge in SFX-01®-treated mice. We found significant improvements in trabecular and cortical bone. Despite these marked improvements, we found that histologically-graded OA severity in articular cartilage was unmodified in treated mice. These changes are also reflected in anabolic and anti-catabolic actions of SFX-01® treatment as reflected by alteration in serum markers as well as changes in primary osteoblast and osteoclast-like cells in vitro. We report that SFX-01® improves bone microarchitecture in vivo, produces corresponding changes in bone cell behaviour in vitro and leads to greater symmetry in gait, without marked effects on cartilage lesion severity in STR/Ort osteoarthritic mice. Our findings support both osteotrophic roles and novel beneficial gait effects for SFX-01® in this model of spontaneous OA

Strategische Ausrichtung eines bedarfsgerechten Gesundheitssystems : "Das Gesundheitswesen im Gazastreifen. Die Einflussgrößen und Ansätze zur Reorganisation für eine bessere Verteilungsstruktur"

Aljazzar A. Strategische Ausrichtung eines bedarfsgerechten Gesundheitssystems : "Das Gesundheitswesen im Gazastreifen. Die Einflussgrößen und Ansätze zur Reorganisation für eine bessere Verteilungsstruktur". Bielefeld (Germany): Bielefeld University; 2011.The war and its consequences create a life threatening situation which has a negative impact on the health care system in Gaza Strip. This study aimed to evaluate the health care system in Gaza Strip and identify the efficient and effective actions that can be taken by using special health indicators. In this study, the data were collected by using quantitative and qualitative methods. The researcher proposed two main points to improve the health care system in Gaza Strip. These points are, to achieve balance of resources and utilization and to use the full capacity of the resources and implement them towards achieving optimal health care. To apply the above three main points, a comprehensive project should be taken to ensure the updating and efficiency of actionsStudium des Gesundheitsversorgungssystems im Gazastreifen im Zuständigkeitsbereich der staatlichen Gesundheitsbehörde (MOH) mit dem Ziel der Identifizierung von effizienten und effektiven Optimierungsmaßnahmen unter Bildung und Verwendung von geeigneten Beurteilungsgrößen und deren Auswertung. Die Kriegshandlungen und deren Folgen schaffen in diesem Gebiet eine bedrohliche Lebenssituation, die sich auch im Gesundheitsversorgungssystem negativ auswirkt. Dieser anomalen Situation musste während der Forschungsarbeiten zu dieser Dissertation Rechnung getragen werden, insbesondere was Umfang und Qualität der Daten, geeignete Ansprechpartner und Laufzeit der Studie anbelangt. Trotzt dieser Widrigkeiten konnten zwei angemessene, funktionierende und rasch wirksame Reformvorschläge zu Organisations- und Orientierungsoptimierung herausgearbeitet werden. Schwerpunkt dieser problemorientierten Forschungsarbeit ist der Ausgleich von Ressourcen, da sich die vermuteten Auslastungsunterschiede zwischen den Krankenhäusern bestätigt haben. Durch Implementierung einer Koordinationsstelle (Gatekeeper und Lotse) soll eine bessere Kapazitätsauslastung und optimale Patientenorientierung erreicht werden. Für die alltagsgerechte Umsetzung dieser Vorschläge werden geeignete Instrumentarien zur Verfügung gestellt bzw. vorgeschlagen, die im Rahmen einer anschließenden Projektarbeit eingesetzt werden können. Dabei sollte auf die Aktualisierung und Qualitätsverbesserung des Datenmaterials besonderer Wert gelegt werden

Cytoprotective Effects of Nigella sativa Seeds on Monosodium Glutamate Induced Seminal Vesicle Damages: Histological and Immunohistochemical Studies

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a worldwide food flavour enhancer commonly used by the food industry. This feed additive may cause male infertility. Nigella sativa seeds (NSS) is a widely used in herbal medicine as it has many biological benefits and could provide a solution. This work was designed to investigate the histological effects of NSS on rats ingesting MSG. To achieve this aim, adult male albino rats (2- 3 months old) were randomly and equally assigned into three experimental groups. For a period of 21 days, control group received no treatment, MSG group received MSG as 30 g/kg feed, and MSG + NSS group received MSG as 30 g/kg feed and NSS as 30 g/kg feed. Seminal vesicle histopathology in MSG group showed mild seminal vesiculitis with degeneration of smooth muscle fibers in tunica muscularis. In addition, there was an increase in the amount of connective tissue and apoptotic cells count. Periodic Acid Schiff stain indicated irregular and interrupted epithelial basement membranes. Glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and caspase-3 immuno-expressions increased in MSG group. It was found that there was an increase in the number of apoptotic cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes and dendritic cells in MSG group. However, treatment with NSS ameliorated these disturbances. NSS mitigated MSG-induced seminal vesicle damage by its histoprotective, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic activities

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Campylobacter Species with Particular Focus on the Growth Promoting, Immunostimulant and Anti-Campylobacter jejuni Activities of Eugenol and Trans-Cinnamaldehyde Mixture in Broiler Chickens

Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis in foods of animal origin. Recently, with the spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Campylobacter spp., natural alternative therapeutic methods are urgently required. Phytogenic active principles have gained considerable attention due to their proficiency to enhance gut health and, thereby, performance of broiler chickens. Thus, the current study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. of different chicken sources in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, and to assess the growth-promoting, immunostimulant and antimicrobial effects of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in an in vivo approach. A total of 101 (67.3%) campylobacter isolates was identified, according to both phenotypic and genotypic techniques. Moreover, all of the campylobacter isolates were resistant to erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin (100% each). Of note, a dietary supplementation of the mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde led to a significant improvement of the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain and a decrease in the cecal C. jejuni loads in the broilers challenged with XDR C. jejuni. Additionally, eugenol and the trans-cinnamaldehyde mixture had protective activities via the down-regulation of XDR C. jejuni (flaA, virB11 and wlaN) virulence genes and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8), and the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Thus, we recommend the usage of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde as an alternative to antimicrobials for the control and treatment of campylobacter infections

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of <i>Campylobacter</i> Species with Particular Focus on the Growth Promoting, Immunostimulant and Anti-<i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> Activities of Eugenol and Trans-Cinnamaldehyde Mixture in Broiler Chickens

Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis in foods of animal origin. Recently, with the spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Campylobacter spp., natural alternative therapeutic methods are urgently required. Phytogenic active principles have gained considerable attention due to their proficiency to enhance gut health and, thereby, performance of broiler chickens. Thus, the current study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. of different chicken sources in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, and to assess the growth-promoting, immunostimulant and antimicrobial effects of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in an in vivo approach. A total of 101 (67.3%) campylobacter isolates was identified, according to both phenotypic and genotypic techniques. Moreover, all of the campylobacter isolates were resistant to erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin (100% each). Of note, a dietary supplementation of the mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde led to a significant improvement of the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain and a decrease in the cecal C. jejuni loads in the broilers challenged with XDR C. jejuni. Additionally, eugenol and the trans-cinnamaldehyde mixture had protective activities via the down-regulation of XDR C. jejuni (flaA, virB11 and wlaN) virulence genes and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8), and the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Thus, we recommend the usage of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde as an alternative to antimicrobials for the control and treatment of campylobacter infections

Validation of a Cost-Effective RP-HPLC Method for Quantitative Investigation of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Formulations

A well-known direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug called daclatasvir may be used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Herein, we reported a selective, precise, and a cost-effective analytical method for the measurement of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of daclatasvir dihydrochloride in drug substances as well as drug products via the reversed-phase RP-HPLC technique. To obtain greater separation, the majority of the chromatographic conditions were improved. Best separation findings were achieved under chromatographic conditions with an HPLC column of USP L1 (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) by utilizing a combination of acetonitrile and buffer solution of KH2PO4 (30: 70, v/v) as a mobile phase at a stream rate of 1 mL.min-1 with a finding at 300 nm and a column temperature of 40°C. Linearity was examined in the range of 90-210 ppm (R2 = 0.999) for daclatasvir dihydrochloride. The new technique has been verified using industry-recognized criteria, including applicability, system precision, accuracy, robustness, specificity, range, linearity, quantification limit, reagent stability, and detection limit. All the measured metrics were determined to be within acceptable limits using the criteria of the Worldwide Council for Harmonisation (ICH). In pharmaceutical labs, daclatasvir dihydrochloride may be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using the well-established RP-HPLC technique. Our study also highlights the need to evaluate the greenness of the method developed using a recognized tool,i.e., Analytical Greenness Metrics (AGREE)