Brain-derived Neurotropic factor (BDNF) mediates the protective effect of Cucurbita pepo L. on salivary glands of rats exposed to chronic stress evident by structural, biochemical and molecular study

Acute and chronic stresses affect the salivary glands, representing the source of plasma BDNF during stressful conditions. Pumpkin is a medicinal plant with an evident antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential antidepressant effects. Objective: To assess the structural and biochemical effects induced by exposure to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on salivary glands of albino rats, and to evaluate the role of pumpkin extract (Pump) in ameliorating this effect. Methodology: Four groups (n=10 each) of male albino rats were included in this study: the control, CUMS, Fluoxetine-treated and Pump-treated. The corticosterone, the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the oxidant/antioxidant profile were all assessed in the serum. The level of BDNF mRNA was measured in the salivary glands using qRT-PCR. Histopathological changes of the salivary glands were also assessed. Results: The depressive-like status was confirmed behaviorally and biochemically. Exposure to CUMS significantly up-regulated (p<0.001) the level of serum corticosterone. CUMS induced degenerative changes in the secretory and ductal elements of the salivary glands evident by increased apoptosis. Both Fluoxetine and Pumpkin significantly up-regulated (p<0.001) BDNF expression in the salivary glands and ameliorated the CUMS-induced histopathological and biochemical alterations in the salivary glands. Pumpkin significantly (p<0.001) increased the serum levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX and CAT, and reduced the serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6. Conclusion: Pumpkin ameliorates the depressive-like status induced in rats following exposure to chronic stress through exerting a promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-depressant-like effects. The pumpkin, subsequently, improved stress-induced structural changes in the salivary glands that might be due to up-regulation of BDNF expression in the glands

The Association Between Skeletal Facial Types and Third Molars Impaction in a Saudi Arabian Subpopulation: A CBCT Study

Muslat A Bin Rubaia’an,1 Aymen Neyaz,1 Faisal Talic,1 Ali Alkhamis,1 Abdulmalek Alghabban,1 Ahmad Assari2 1College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences Department, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Muslat A Bin Rubaia’an, Tel +966 557020222, Email [email protected]: To assess the state of mandibular and maxillary third molars in relation to different facial types in a Saudi population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) records.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was performed on CBCTs. Statistical analysis determined the relationship between impacted maxillary and mandibular third molars and different skeletal facial types. The degree of third molar impaction was evaluated.Results: A total of 198 CBCTs from subjects were evaluated, with a mean age of 34.2 years. Archer II classification was found to be significantly associated with all skeletal profiles. The incidence of mesioangular impactions in lower third molar showed a notable increase in the brachyfacial group, which was statistically significant.Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that different facial types are associated with the angulation of third molar impactions.Keywords: impacted, wisdom tooth, brachyfacial, dolichofacial, mesiofacial, retrospectiv

Effects of Lactobacilli acidophilus and/or spiramycin as an adjunct in toxoplasmosis infection challenged with diabetes

The current study assessed the anti-parasitic impact of probiotics on Toxoplasma gondii infection either solely or challenged with diabetes in Swiss albino mice. The study design encompassed group-A (diabetic), group-B (non-diabetic), and healthy controls (C). Each group was divided into infected-untreated (subgroup-1); infected and spiramycin-treated (subgroup-2); infected and probiotic-treated (subgroup-3); infected and spiramycin+ probiotic-treated (subgroup-4). Diabetic-untreated animals exhibited acute toxoplasmosis and higher cerebral parasite load. Overall, various treatments reduced intestinal pathology, improved body weight, and decreased mortalities; nevertheless, probiotic + spiramycin exhibited significant differences. On day 7 post-infection both PD-1 and IL-17A demonstrated higher scores in the intestine of diabetic-untreated mice compared with non-diabetics and healthy control; whereas, claudin-1 revealed worsening expression. Likewise, on day 104 post-infection cerebral PD-1 and IL-17A showed increased expressions in diabetic animals. Overall, treatment modalities revealed lower scores of PD-1 and IL-17A in non-diabetic subgroups compared with diabetics. Intestinal and cerebral expressions of IL-17A and PD-1 demonstrated positive correlations with cerebral parasite load. In conclusion, toxoplasmosis when challenged with diabetes showed massive pathological features and higher parasite load in the cerebral tissues. Probiotics are a promising adjunct to spiramycin by ameliorating IL-17A and PD-1 in the intestinal and cerebral tissues, improving the intestinal expression of claudin-1, and efficiently reducing the cerebral parasite load

Coexistence of Standard Modifiable, Other Classical, and Novel and Classical Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Middle Eastern Young Women

Abdel-Ellah Al-Shudifat,1 Ayman J Hammoudeh,2 Wesam Al Saud,3 Rashid Ibdah,4 Mohammad Araydah,5 Ayah Zaqqa,6 Zainab Raed Fakhri,7 Lubna Haikal Fawaz Haikal,8 Lina Jamal Abuhalimeh,8 Zahraa Alghabban,8 Daria Ja’arah,9 Abdalluh Nabil Al-Mashayikh,10 Imad Alhaddad11 1Department of Internal and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan; 2Department of Cardiology, Istishari Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Princess Salma Hospital, Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan; 4Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Istishari Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 6Department of Clinical Research, Istishari Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 7Medical Education department, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan; 8Medical Education department, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 9Medical education, Istishari Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 10Internal Medicine Department, Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 11Director of Cardiovascular Department, Jordan Hospital, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Wesam Al Saud, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Princess Salma Hospital, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box 86, Amman, 11118, Jordan, Tel +962780817273, Email [email protected]: The coexistence of multiple standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs),classical and novel risk factors (RFs) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is common in the Middle East (ME). There is a paucity of data on the coexistence of these RFs in ME young women.Aim: Comparing the prevalence and the statistical patterns of the SMuRFs, classical and novel RFs in target population.Methods: In this case-control (1:2) study, consecutive young women aged 18– 50 years were enrolled in 12 centers (July 2021 to October 2023). Prevalence and coexistence of 19 RFs were compared between cases with ASCVD and their controls. The RFs included SMuRFs (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cigarette smoking), other classical RF (obesity, family history of premature ASCVD, and physical inactivity), novel RFs and social determinants of health (health insurance, place of residence, depression, and level of education).Results: The study included 627 subjects; 209 had ASCVD (median age 46 years, IQR 49– 42 years) and 418 controls (median age 45 years, IQR 48– 41 years). The presence of 1– 2 RFs; (ASCVD: 63.2%, Control: 54.1%, p=0.037) and 3– 4 RFs; (ASCVD: 27.8%, Control: 3.3%, p < 0.001) SMuRFs was more prevalent in women with ASCVD. Similarly, the presence of 4– 5 RFs; (ASCVD: 40.7%, Control: 14.6%, p< 0.001), and 6– 7 (ASCVD: 10.5%, Control: 1%, p < 0.001). The classical RF were also significantly common in these women. The distribution of multiple novel RF was not statistically significant across both groups. Finally, regarding the socioeconomic RFs in women with ASCVDs, the presence of 1– 2 RFs (ASCVD: 59.8%, Control: 76.1%, p < 0.001) was significantly less common while the presence of 3– 4 RFs (ASCVD: 39.2%, Control: 21.8%, p < 0.001) was vastly more common.Conclusion: An elevated rate of coexistence of classical RF in the case group, mainly socioeconomic and SMuRFs. By managing them primary and secondary ASCVDs prevention attained.Keywords: atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, multiple standard modifiable risk factors, classical cardiovascular disease, novel risk factor

Literacy toy for enhancement phonological awareness: A longitudinal study

In this report it is presented the results of a longitudinal pre-experimental study, it was realized a technological intervention to stimulate the phonological awareness through a tangible reading toy based on the RFID technology, consisting of a teddy bear and 30 letters in 3D from the Spanish alphabet. This study started with a sample of 200 children, from them, there were selected 17 children aged between 6 and 7 years (M age = 6.47, SD =.51) with a phonological disorder from an educative institution. The procedure consisted of obtaining pre-test and post-test values with the Evaluation of Phonological Awareness (PECFO). Sampling inclusion criteria considered children presenting problems of phonemes’ recognition and its relationship with graphemes. During 30 weeks it was realized an intervention with the technological toy and at the end of the sessions, it was applied the post-test. Results of phonological awareness showed statically significant differences among the pre (M = 12.88, SD = 3.53) and post-test (M = 17.17, SD = 2.96) this contributes to the empirical evidence of the intervened group improvement in this cognitive function t(16) = −3.67, p =.002. From this research it is projected proposing technological innovations contributing in the treatment of children’s cognitive difficulties. © 2020, The Author(s)