Time course of oxidative damage in different brain regions following transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils

The time course of oxidative damage in different brain regions was investigated in the gerbil model of transient cerebral ischemia. Animals were subjected to both common carotid arteries occlusion for 5 min. After the end of ischemia and at different reperfusion times (2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 h and 7 days), markers of lipid peroxidation, reduced and oxidized glutathione levels, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and copper/zinc containing SOD (Cu/ZnSOD) activities were measured in hippocampus, cortex and striatum. Oxidative damage in hippocampus was maximal at late stages after ischemia (48-96 h) coincident with a significant impairment in glutathione homeostasis. MnSOD increased in hippocampus at 24, 48 and 72 h after ischemia, coincident with the marked reduction in the activity of glutathione-related enzymes. The late disturbance in oxidant-antioxidant balance corresponds with the time course of delayed neuronal loss in the hippocampal CA1 sector. Cerebral cortex showed early changes in oxidative damage with no significant impairment in antioxidant capacity. Striatal lipid peroxidation significantly increased as early as 2 h after ischemia and persisted until 48 h with respect to the sham-operated group. These results contribute significant information on the timing and factors that influence free radical formation following ischemic brain injury, an essential step in determining effective antioxidant intervention

Improvement of renal oxidative stress markers after ozone administration in diabetic nephropathy in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) e.g. nephropathy (DN) have been linked to oxidative stress. Ozone, by means of oxidative preconditioning, may exert its protective effects on DN.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The aim of the present work is to study the possible role of ozone therapy in ameliorating oxidative stress and inducing renal antioxidant defence in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Six groups (n = 10) of male Sprague Dawley rats were used as follows: Group C: Control group. Group O: Ozone group, in which animals received ozone intraperitoneally (i.p.) (1.1 mg/kg). Group D: Diabetic group, in which DM was induced by single i.p. injections of streptozotocin (STZ). Group DI: Similar to group D but animals also received subcutaneous (SC) insulin (0.75 IU/100 gm BW.). Group DO: In which diabetic rats received the same dose of ozone, 48 h after induction of diabetes. Group DIO, in which diabetic rats received the same doses of insulin and ozone, respectively. All animals received daily treatment for six weeks. At the end of the study period (6 weeks), blood pressure, blood glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), kidney tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GPx), aldose reductase (AR) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Induction of DM in rats significantly elevated blood pressure, HbA_1c, BUN, creatinine and renal tissue levels of MDA and AR while significantly reducing SOD, CAT and GPx activities. Either Insulin or ozone therapy significantly reversed the effects of DM on all parameters; in combination (DIO group), they caused significant improvements in all parameters in comparison to each alone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ozone administration in conjunction with insulin in DM rats reduces oxidative stress markers and improves renal antioxidant enzyme activity which highlights its potential uses in the regimen for treatment of diabetic patients.</p

The interaction impact of compost and biostimulants on growth, yield and oil content of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) plants

Abstract This study was conducted during the seasons 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 to investigate the effect of the interaction between compost and biostimulants on growth measurements, seed yield, and oil production of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). Four levels of fertilizer (0.6, 12, 18 tons/ha) were used. While the biostimulants were ascorbic acid (AS) at 100 ppm, yeast extract (YE) at 8 g/L, and AS at 100 ppm + 8 g/L YE. The plants were treated with these stimuli as follows: control (without addition), 100 ppm, YE at 8 g/L, and the results showed that fertilization at all levels, as well as foliar spraying with the used stimuli, led to a significant increase. Growth parameters, number of capsules, seed production, as well as fixed and volatile oil production, and plant treatment with organic fertilizers at a high level (18 tons). /ha) recorded the highest values for the trait under study. It was also shown that the foliar treatment at a concentration of 8 g/l YE was more effective in increasing the previously studied variables. All interactions were great. Most of the composite coefficients increased significantly for all the traits studied. Moreover, the application of manure at a high rate (18 t/ha) at a rate of 8 g/l YE was the best treatment. GC-MS analysis of the volatile and persistent oil showed that the main constituents of both species were also affected by the use of organic fertilizers and biotreatments. The combination of high-rate fertilizer (18 t/ha) plus AS at 100 ppm + 8 g/L YE improved main oil components compared to untreated plants

Plant-soil-nutrient status of vegetables and wheat grown on calcareous soil

Calcareous soil is extremely important in determining nutrient status and availability when applying different fertilizers to different crops associated with or without irrigation. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional status (nutrient availability) of different plants grown in two different ecosystems dominated with calcareous soil : Ghor Alsafi (eggplants, tomato and beans) as an example of irrigated area and the Karak Mountain Area (wheat) as an example for non-irrigated area. Physiochemical properties in soils and nutrients concentrations (C, Fe, Mn, Zn, available P, available and non-available K) in soil and plant leaves were analyzed. This study showed that N concentration in soil from both Ghor Alsafi (ranged from 4.4-5.1 mg/g) and the Karak Mountain Area (1.9-3.2 mg/g) was relatively low. This study showed that Fe content in vegetables grown in Ghor Alsafi was about 3 to 5 fold higher than the recommended maximum Fe concentration. The concentration of other nutrients (N, K, Zn and Mn) in investigated vegetables fell within the recommended concentrations range (38.3-39.7 mg/g, 36.6-39.5 mg/g, 21.7-27.3 ppm and 49.2-102.6 ppm, respectively). Phosphorus content in vegetables grown in Ghor Alsafi and in wheat grown in different locations in the Karak Mountain Area was about 5?6 fold higher than the recommended P concentration. Our results indicated that the high levels of P (ranged from 3.28-3.43 mg/g) and Fe (ranged from 340.4-551.3 ppm) in vegetables grown in Ghor Alsafi and high levels of P (ranged from 2.2-2.52 mg/g) in wheat in the Karak Mountain Area can be attributed to high levels of fertilizer application

Therapeutic efficacy of ozone in patients with diabetic foot

Oxidative stress is suggested to have an important role in the development of complications in diabetes. Because ozone therapy can activate the antioxidant system, influencing the level of glycemia and some markers of endothelial cell damage, the aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of ozone in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic feet and to compare ozone with antibiotic therapy. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed with 101 patients divided into two groups: one (n=52) treated with ozone (local and rectal insufflation of the gas) and the other (n=49) treated with topical and systemic antibiotics. The efficacy of the treatments was evaluated by comparing the glycemic index, the area and perimeter of the lesions and biochemical markers of oxidative stress and endothelial damage in both groups after 20 days of treatment. Ozone treatment improved glycemic control, prevented oxidative stress, normalized levels of organic peroxides, and activated superoxide dismutase. The pharmacodynamic effect of ozone in the treatment of patients with neuroinfectious diabetic foot can be ascribed to the possibility of it being a superoxide scavenger. Superoxide is considered a link between the four metabolic routes associated with diabetes pathology and its complications. Furthermore, the healing of the lesions improved, resulting in fewer amputations than in control group. There were no side effects. These results show that medical ozone treatment could be an alternative therapy in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Cytochrome 4Z1 Expression Connotes Unfavorable Prognosis in Ovarian Cancers

Background and Objective: Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death in females. Since its treatment is challenging and causes severe side effects, novel therapies are urgently needed. One of the potential enzymes implicated in the progression of cancers is Cytochrome 4Z1 (CYP4Z1). Its expression in ovarian cancer remains unknown. Therefore, the current study aims to assess CYP4Z1 expression in different subtypes of ovarian cancers. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to characterize CYP4Z1 expression in 192 cases of ovarian cancers along with eight normal ovarian tissues. The enzyme&rsquo;s association with various clinicopathological characteristics and survival was determined. Results: CYP4Z1 was strongly expressed in 79% of ovarian cancers, compared to negative expression in normal ovarian samples. Importantly, significantly high CYP4Z1 expres-sion was determined in patients with advanced-stage cancer and a high depth of invasion (p &lt; 0.05). Surprisingly, CYP4Z1 expression was significantly associated with a low patient survival rate. Univariate analysis revealed that patient survival was strongly associated with CYP4Z1 expression, tumor stage, depth of invasion, and lymph node metastasis (p &lt; 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that only CYP4Z1 expression was significantly associated with patient survival (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: CYP4Z1 expression is correlated with shorter patient survival and has been identified as an independent indicator of a poor prognosis for ovarian cancer patients