Therapeutic efficacy of geranium-thymol combination against murine eimeriosis with reference to its apoptotic activity

Eimeria is among the most harmful parasites that affect domestic animals. The development resistance in Eimeria to the majority of regularly used anticoccidials necessitates development of an effective alternative strategy. This study was therefore aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of essential oils combination, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) with thymol (PGT) against Eimeria papillata murine model. Three doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg were tested in Eimeria experimentally infected mice to determine the combination's highest effective dose. The results showed that the 150 mg/kg dose was the most effective, reducing the oocyst output by 56.92 % (P ≤ 0.001). This result has been associated with a 66.19 % (P ≤ 0.001) reduction in the jejunal developmental stages. The antioxidant effect of PGT decreased lipid peroxidation (P ≤ 0.05) and increasing reduced glutathione (GSH) (P ≤ 0.001). Moreover, PGT decreased the jejunum's apoptotic cell count (P ≤ 0.001). The in vitro results showed that PGT significantly inhibited oocysts sporulation and destructed 96.33 % of treated oocysts. In conclusion, PGT has therapeutic effect as an anticoccidial alternative to control murine eimeriosis

Toxicity and Repellency Efficacy of Benzyl Alcohol and Benzyl Benzoate as Eco-Friendly Choices to Control the Red Flour Beetle <i>Tribolium castaneum</i> (Herbst. 1797)

Tribolium castaneum is a damaging pest of stored grains, causing significant losses and secreting lethal quinones, which render the grains unfit for human consumption. Chemical insecticides are the most commonly used approach for control; however, they create insecticide resistance and affect the health of humans, animals, and the environment. As a result, it is critical to find an environmentally friendly pest-management strategy. In this study, two naturally occurring chemicals, benzyl alcohol (BA) and benzoyl benzoate (BB), were investigated for insecticidal activity against T. castaneum using different assays (impregnated-paper, contact toxicity, fumigant, and repellency assays). The results showed that BA had a significant insecticidal effect, with the LC50 achieved at a lower concentration in the direct-contact toxicity test (1.77%) than in the impregnated-paper assay (2.63%). BB showed significant effects in the direct-contact toxicity test, with an LC50 of 3.114%, and a lower toxicity in the impregnated-paper assay, with an LC50 of 11.75%. Furthermore, BA exhibited significant fumigant toxicity against T. castaneum, with an LC50 of 6.72 µL/L, whereas BB exhibited modest fumigant toxicity, with an LC50 of 464 µL/L. Additionally, at different concentrations (0.18, 0.09, 0.045, and 0.0225 µL/cm2), BA and BB both showed a notable and potent repelling effect. BA and BB significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase, reduced glutathione (GSH), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) in treated T. castaneum. This is the first report of BA insecticidal activity against the red flour beetle. Also, the outcomes of various assays demonstrated that the application of BA induces a potent bio-insecticidal effect. BA may be a promising eco-friendly alternative to control T. castaneum due to its safety and authorization by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

Evaluation of CEP55, SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes and proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in gastric carcinoma in Egyptian patients

Abstract Background Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a fatal disease. Detection of new biomarkers that can be utilized in the early diagnosis of GC is a pressing need. This present study assessed centrosomal protein-55 (CEP55)’ serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1) and sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (SMPD3) genes and proteins in gastric adenocarcinoma with different tumor progression features. Thirty surgically resected gastric tissue samples from thirty patients suffered from gastric cancers were obtained. The gastric tissue samples were divided into tumorous (with different stages and grades) and adjacent non-tumorous samples. CEP55, SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes were assessed by quantitative qRT-PCR, and their proteins were assessed by ELISA in the gastric tissue samples. Results As regards SERPINE1, CEP55 genes and proteins, results revealed significant elevations in the GC samples (p < 0.0001). On the contrary, SMPD3 gene and protein revealed significant decreases as compared to non-tumorous samples. The studied genes and proteins showed highly significant specificity and sensitivity in the early detection of GC. SERPINE1 gene and protein revealed highly significant increases and positive correlations, while SMPD3 gene and protein revealed highly significant decreases and negative correlations as the tumor progresses. Conclusion CEP55, SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes and proteins could be used as useful biomarkers for the early detection of GC. SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes and proteins might be used as risk and protective prognostic factors in GC, respectively

The prevalence of osteoarthritis in rural Egypt: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD study

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the commonest form of arthritis affecting every population and ethnic group. The prevalence of OA and its types however varies in different studies according to the population studied, the denominator age of the population and the criteria used to define OA, whether clinical or radiological or both. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of OA and its types in a rural area of Egypt as part of a large study examining the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Egypt. Methods: The study was conducted in Makosa village of Al-Minia governorate in Southern Egypt in 4 phases. Of the whole adult population (15 years and above) comprising 5208 individuals, 88 (1.7%) declined to participate in the study and 5120 subjects (98.7%, 2562 female and 2558 male) were screened by a preliminary WHO-ILAR-COPCORD questionnaire inquiring about joint and bone pain, swelling, stiffness or tenderness in the last 7 days. Those who answered positively were administered a more detailed questionnaire and invited for examination and laboratory and radiological investigations as required. A rheumatologist administered the 2 questionnaires face-to-face and carried out examinations to ensure reliability and validity of data collection. Consequently, OA cases were diagnosed according to validated criteria (1986 clinical ACR criteria for OA of the knee, 1986 ACR criteria for OA of the hand and 1991 ACR criteria for OA of the hip). Results: OA was the commonest rheumatic disease in the population, with OA cases constituting more than half of patients with rheumatic diseases, whether female (53.2%), male (50.8%) or total (52.4%). Osteoarthritis was diagnosed in 434 individuals, with a prevalence of 8.5% in the total adult population (95% CI: 7.7–9.1%). The prevalence of OA was significantly higher in females (10.9%) than males (6.1%) (p < 0.001). Local OA was the commonest type of OA diagnosed (6.3%), while the prevalence of primary generalized OA (nodal and non-nodal) was 1.5%, and secondary OA was found in 0.6% of the population. Regardless of type, the knee was afflicted in the majority of cases, with knee OA diagnosed in 8.1% of the population, while the prevalence of hand OA was 1.5%. Hip OA was rare, being diagnosed in only 3 cases (0.06%). Conclusion: OA is the commonest rheumatic disease in Egypt, with a prevalence of 8.5%. The disease is more common in females than males and predominantly affects the knees, while hip OA is extremely rare

Probiotic potentials of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Egyptian fermented food

Abstract Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are of major concern due to their health benefits. Fermented food products comprise variable LAB demonstrating probiotic properties. Discovering and evaluating new probiotics in fermented food products poses a global economic and health importance. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate and evaluate the probiotic potentials of LAB strains isolated from Egyptian fermented food. In this study, we isolated and functionally characterized 100 bacterial strains isolated from different Egyptian fermented food sources as probiotics. Only four LAB strains amongst the isolated LAB showed probiotic attributes and are considered to be safe for their implementation as feed or dietary supplements. Additionally, they were shown to exert antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacteria and anticancer effects against the colon cancer cell line Caco-2. The Enterococcus massiliensis IS06 strain was exclusively reported in this study as a probiotic strain with high antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-colon cancer activity. Hitherto, few studies have focused on elucidating the impact of probiotic supplementation in vivo. Therefore, in the current study, the safety of the four strains was tested in vivo through the supplementation of rats with potential probiotic strains for 21 days. The results revealed that probiotic bacterial supplementation in rats did not adversely affect the general health of rats. The Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IS07 strain significantly increased the growth performance of rats. Furthermore, the four strains exhibited increased levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione in vivo. Consistently, all strains also showed high antioxidant activity of the superoxide dismutase enzyme in vitro. Overall, these findings demonstrated that these isolated potential probiotics harbor desirable characteristics and can be applied widely as feed additives for animals or as dietary supplements for humans to exert their health benefits and combat serious diseases