Hepato- and nephroprotective effects of bradykinin potentiating factor from scorpion (Buthus occitanus) venom on mercuric chloride-treated rats

Bioactive peptides such as bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF), have, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and ameliorative effects in chronic diseases and play a potential role in cancer prevention. It is known that the liver and kidney accumulate inorganic mercury upon exposure, which often leads to mercury intoxication in these organs. In this study, we investigated the effect of bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF), a scorpion venom peptide, on mercuric chloride-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. We used 20 adult male Albino rats divided into four equal groups: the first group was injected with saline (control); the second group was administered daily with mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for 2 weeks; the third group was administered with BPF twice weekly for 2 successive weeks, while the fourth group was exposed to BPF followed by HgCl2. We observed that HgCl2 treated rats had a significant increase in serum ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine and urea levels compared to control. Furthermore, HgCl2 treated rats showed a marked decrease in total proteins, albumin and uric acids compared to control. The previously studied parameters were not significantly changed in BPF pretreated rats compared to control. Moreover, a significant decrease in the activities of glutathione perioxidase (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), in addition to a significant increase in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in hepatic and renal tissues of rats after HgCl2 treatment. In contrast, the HgCl2/BPF treated rats showed a significant elevation in the activity of GSH, SOD, and CAT accompanied with a significant regression in the level of MDA compared to the HgCl2 exposed rats. We conclude that treatment with BPF is a promising prophylactic approach for the management of mercuric chloride-induced hepato- and nephro-toxicities

An Analysis of Household Demand for Food Away from Home (FAFH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Right-Left Truncated Generalized Poisson Regression Model

This study analyzed the determinants of household demand for food away from home (FAFH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Truncated generalized Poisson regression (TGPR) and truncated standard Poisson regression (TSPR) was applied to data from a random sample of 101 families. Maximum likelihood was used to obtain parameter estimates for these two models. TGPR was found to be optimal and appropriate for the analysis of demand data. Both income and number of household members had a significant positive effect, which is consistent with economic logic and reality in Saudi society. Price and taste also had positive effects on FAFH demand. Household income as an economic variable has a significant positive effect on the number of times that a household dines out during the month. When income increases by one thousand Saudi riyals, the demand will increase by 11%, which is consistent with economic logic. Household income as a quantitative economic variable and the number of household members as a quantitative demographic variable are the most important variables in household demand for FAFH. However, the effect of income is more significant than that of the number of household members. As this study investigated the impact of socio-economic and demographic factors on food away from home (FAFH) demand in Riyadh such as household income, number of household members, education level, prices and cleanness of restaurant, and taste of food. Still there are other variables could be used as potential variables could affect FAFH demand in Saudi Arabia in future research such as the change in number of working women which there is shift in the number of female workers recently. The future studies could look at the differences in socio-economic between consumers for different types of restaurants such as traditional, fast food, fish, and luxury restaurants. Due to the high demand for restaurant meals, officials should tighten the health control and close restaurants that do not comply with health requirements as well security and safety requirements. Restaurants should pay attention to improving the quality of meals and offering them at affordable prices to consumers

Capability of the Invasive Tree Prosopis glandulosa Torr. to Remediate Soil Treated with Sewage Sludge

Sewage sludge improves agricultural soil and plant growth, but there are hazards associated with its use, including high metal(loid) contents. An experimental study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to examine the effects of sewage sludge on growth of the invasive tree Prosopis glandulosa, as well as to determine its phytoremediation capacity. Plants were established and grown for seven months along a gradient of sewage sludge content. Plant traits, soil properties, and plant and soil concentrations of N, P, K, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, As, and Fe were recorded. The addition of sewage sludge led to a significant decrease in soil pH, and Ni, Co, and As concentrations, as well as an increase in soil organic matter and the concentrations of N, P, Cu, Zn, and Cr. Increasing sewage sludge content in the growth medium raised the total uptake of most metals by P. glandulosa plants due to higher biomass accumulation (taller plants with more leaves) and higher metal concentrations in the plant tissues. P. glandulosa concentrated more Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe in its below-ground biomass (BGB) than in its above-ground biomass (AGB). P. glandulosa concentrated Ni, Co, and As in both BGB and AGB. P. glandulosa has potential as a biotool for the phytoremediation of sewage sludges and sewage-amended soils in arid and semi-arid environments, with a potential accumulation capability for As in plant leaves

MDM2 prevents spontaneous tubular epithelial cell death and acute kidney injury

Murine double minute-2 (MDM2) is an E3-ubiquitin ligase and the main negative regulator of tumor suppressor gene p53. MDM2 has also a non-redundant function as a modulator of NF-kB signaling. As such it promotes proliferation and inflammation. MDM2 is highly expressed in the unchallenged tubular epithelial cells and we hypothesized that MDM2 is necessary for their survival and homeostasis. MDM2 knockdown by siRNA or by genetic depletion resulted in demise of tubular cells in vitro. This phenotype was completely rescued by concomitant knockdown of p53, thus suggesting p53 dependency. In vivo experiments in the zebrafish model demonstrated that the tubulus cells of the larvae undergo cell death after the knockdown of mdm2. Doxycycline-induced deletion of MDM2 in tubular cell-specific MDM2-knockout mice Pax8rtTa-cre; MDM2f/f caused acute kidney injury with increased plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and sharp decline of glomerular filtration rate. Histological analysis showed massive swelling of renal tubular cells and later their loss and extensive tubular dilation, markedly in proximal tubules. Ultrastructural changes of tubular epithelial cells included swelling of the cytoplasm and mitochondria with the loss of cristae and their transformation in the vacuoles. The pathological phenotype of the tubular cell-specific MDM2-knockout mouse model was completely rescued by co-deletion of p53. Tubular epithelium compensates only partially for the cell loss caused by MDM2 depletion by proliferation of surviving tubular cells, with incomplete MDM2 deletion, but rather mesenchymal healing occurs. We conclude that MDM2 is a non-redundant survival factor for proximal tubular cells by protecting them from spontaneous p53 overexpression-related cell death

Prevalence of unmet contraceptive need among Egyptian women: a community-based study

Introduction. An estimated 17% of married women in the devel- oping world still have an unmet need for contraception. This study aimed to measure the prevalence and reasons for unmet contraceptive need among married women in the childbearing period in an underprivileged district in Eastern Cairo. Methods. A cluster survey of 2340 women in the Marg district of Eastern Cairo was performed. Socio-demographic data and data on both past and present contraceptive use were obtained by interview questionnaire. Results. The prevalence of unmet need was 7.4%; 53.4% for limiting and 46.6% for spacing. Experience of side effects from contraceptive use, and fear of side effects, was highly prevalent among women with unmet need. In addition, a large proportion of women with unmet need perceived themselves not to be at risk for conceiving. Conclusions. A substantial proportion of women in Cairo have unmet contraceptive need. Efficient counseling of women about contraception may help reduce this high prevalence

Author Correction: Novel diagnostic and therapeutic techniques reveal changed metabolic profiles in recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Idiopathic forms of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are caused by circulating permeability factors, which can lead to early recurrence of FSGS and kidney failure after kidney transplantation. In the past three decades, many research endeavors were undertaken to identify these unknown factors. Even though some potential candidates have been recently discussed in the literature, “the” actual factor remains elusive. Therefore, there is an increased demand in FSGS research for the use of novel technologies that allow us to study FSGS from a yet unexplored angle. Here, we report the successful treatment of recurrent FSGS in a patient after living-related kidney transplantation by removal of circulating factors with CytoSorb apheresis. Interestingly, the classical published circulating factors were all in normal range in this patient but early disease recurrence in the transplant kidney and immediate response to CytoSorb apheresis were still suggestive for pathogenic circulating factors. To proof the functional effects of the patient’s serum on podocytes and the glomerular filtration barrier we used a podocyte cell culture model and a proteinuria model in zebrafish to detect pathogenic effects on the podocytes actin cytoskeleton inducing a functional phenotype and podocyte effacement. We then performed Raman spectroscopy in the < 50 kDa serum fraction, on cultured podocytes treated with the FSGS serum and in kidney biopsies of the same patient at the time of transplantation and at the time of disease recurrence. The analysis revealed changes in podocyte metabolome induced by the FSGS serum as well as in focal glomerular and parietal epithelial cell regions in the FSGS biopsy. Several altered Raman spectra were identified in the fractionated serum and metabolome analysis by mass spectrometry detected lipid profiles in the FSGS serum, which were supported by disturbances in the Raman spectra. Our novel innovative analysis reveals changed lipid metabolome profiles associated with idiopathic FSGS that might reflect a new subtype of the disease

Novel diagnostic and therapeutic techniques reveal changed metabolic profiles in recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Idiopathic forms of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are caused by circulating permeability factors, which can lead to early recurrence of FSGS and kidney failure after kidney transplantation. In the past three decades, many research endeavors were undertaken to identify these unknown factors. Even though some potential candidates have been recently discussed in the literature, “the” actual factor remains elusive. Therefore, there is an increased demand in FSGS research for the use of novel technologies that allow us to study FSGS from a yet unexplored angle. Here, we report the successful treatment of recurrent FSGS in a patient after living-related kidney transplantation by removal of circulating factors with CytoSorb apheresis. Interestingly, the classical published circulating factors were all in normal range in this patient but early disease recurrence in the transplant kidney and immediate response to CytoSorb apheresis were still suggestive for pathogenic circulating factors. To proof the functional effects of the patient’s serum on podocytes and the glomerular filtration barrier we used a podocyte cell culture model and a proteinuria model in zebrafish to detect pathogenic effects on the podocytes actin cytoskeleton inducing a functional phenotype and podocyte effacement. We then performed Raman spectroscopy in the < 50 kDa serum fraction, on cultured podocytes treated with the FSGS serum and in kidney biopsies of the same patient at the time of transplantation and at the time of disease recurrence. The analysis revealed changes in podocyte metabolome induced by the FSGS serum as well as in focal glomerular and parietal epithelial cell regions in the FSGS biopsy. Several altered Raman spectra were identified in the fractionated serum and metabolome analysis by mass spectrometry detected lipid profiles in the FSGS serum, which were supported by disturbances in the Raman spectra. Our novel innovative analysis reveals changed lipid metabolome profiles associated with idiopathic FSGS that might reflect a new subtype of the disease

A novel ultra local based-fuzzy PIDF controller for frequency regulation of a hybrid microgrid system with high renewable energy penetration and storage devices

A new ultra-local control (ULC) model and two marine predator algorithm (MPA)-based controllers; MPA-based proportional-integral-derivative with filter (PIDF) and MPA-based Fuzzy PIDF (FPIDF) controllers; are combined to enhance the frequency response of a hybrid microgrid system. The input scaling factors, boundaries of membership functions, and gains of the FPIDF con-troller are all optimized using the MPA. In order to further enhance the frequency response, the alpha parameter of the proposed ULC model is optimized using MPA. The performance of the pro-posed controller is evaluated in the microgrid system with different renewable energy sources and energy storage devices. Furthermore, a comparison of the proposed MPA-based ULC-PIDF and ULC-FPIDF controllers against the previously designed controllers is presented. Moreover, a vari-ety of scenarios are studied to determine the proposed controller’s sensitivity and robustness to changes in wind speed, step loads, solar irradiance, and system parameter changes. The results of time-domain simulations performed in MATLAB/SIMULINK are shown. Finally, the results demonstrate that under all examined conditions, the new ULC-based controllers tend to further enhance the hybrid microgrid system’s frequency time response