Using of Hyperbranched Poly(amidoamine) as Pretanning Agent for Leather

Although chrome is considered as the major tanning agent in the production of all types of hides and leather worldwide, it represents a serious source of environmental pollution. Therefore, polyamidoamine hyperbranched polymer (HPAM) was involved in pretanning of the depickled hides to enhance the chromium uptake during the tanning process. The key parameters which affect the exhaustion and fixation of chrome tan including shrinkage temperature of the tanned leather were studied. The results showed a significant improvement in the chrome exhaustion, the shrinkage temperature, and the texture and softness of the leather treated by HPAM

Using of Hyperbranched Poly(amidoamine) as Pretanning Agent for Leather

Although chrome is considered as the major tanning agent in the production of all types of hides and leather worldwide, it represents a serious source of environmental pollution. Therefore, polyamidoamine hyperbranched polymer (HPAM) was involved in pretanning of the depickled hides to enhance the chromium uptake during the tanning process. The key parameters which affect the exhaustion and fixation of chrome tan including shrinkage temperature of the tanned leather were studied. The results showed a significant improvement in the chrome exhaustion, the shrinkage temperature, and the texture and softness of the leather treated by HPAM

Protective role of T regulatory (Treg) cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with nephritis

Aim: To assess the role of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells and the fork head family transcription factor (Foxp3) gene polymorphism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) patients. Patients and methods: The study comprised 40 SLE patients (including 38 females and 2 males) and 30 matched controls. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was assessed. The percentage of expression of CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 on T cells was measured by flow cytometry. Foxp3 gene was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The patients were 38 females and 2 males with a mean age of 30.3±8.9 years and disease duration of 7.4±5.7 years. Their mean SLEDAI was 7.5±6.7. Flow cytometry revealed 3 types of T cells; CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3-. No significant differences were found in the percentage of expression and absolute counts of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells in patients and controls (p=0.26, p=0.22, p=0.32 respectively). CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells were significantly lower in patients with LN compared to those without (p<0.001). CD4+CD25- Foxp3+ T cells and Foxp3 (G/G) genotype were significantly associated with the grades of LN (p<0.001, p=0.003 respectively). The relationship between SLEDAI and the absolute counts of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells was insignificant (r=−0.04, p=0.78; r=0.05, p=0.76 and r=0.05, p=0.77 respectively). A significant difference in SLEDAI between patients expressing Foxp3 A/A genotype and those not was observed (p<0.01). Conclusion: CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25- Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells are important regarding the pathogenesis of LN and could help assess the severity of renal involvement

Assessment of vascular endothelial growth factor in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with anti-phospholipid syndrome

Aim of the work: The aim of the present study was to assess the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Relation of the VEGF to the clinical characteristics and laboratory investigations were well thought out. Patients and methods: The study included 84 female SLE patients; 37 with APS and 47 without as well as 33 matched control. Disease activity was estimated using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and damage index evaluated. Serum VEGF level was quantified using ELISA. Results: The mean age of the SLE patients was 29.03 ± 5.4 years with disease duration of 5.2 ± 3.1 years. The VEGF was signficantly higher in the SLE patients (417.1 ± 410.4 pg/ml) compared to the control (76.5 ± 33.01 pg/ml) (p < 0.0001) and was comparable between those with and without APS. VEGF was signficantly higher in those with a positive anti-ds DNA (n = 53) (471.8 ± 431.7 pg/ml) compared to those with a negative test (223.9 ± 234.8 pg/ml) (p = 0.005). The serum VEGF level signficantly correlatied with the SLEDAI (r = 0.34, p = 0.001) and steroid dose (r = 0.27, p = 0.02). On regression analysis, VEGF was not a signficant predictor of disease activity (p = 0.46). A cut off value of 126 pg/ml showed a good sensitivity (72%) and specificity (60%) predicting anti-dsDNA positivity (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Serum VEGF was remarkably increased in SLE patients with no special relation to APS and may be considered a potential marker of disease activity. Further insights on its relation with anti-ds DNA and genotypic expression in SLE are warranted. Keywords: Vascular endothelial growth factor, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Anti-phospholipid syndrome, SLEDAI, SLICC DI, Anti-ds DN

Relation of anti-annexin V antibodies to disease manifestations and activity in Behҫet’s disease patients

Aim of the work: To assess the role of serum anti-annexin V antibodies in Behҫet’s disease (BD) patients in relation to disease manifestations and activity. Patients and methods 65 BD patients and 30 matching controls were included. Disease activity was estimated by the Behçet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Serum IgG anti-annexin V antibodies titre was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The patients’ age was 36.1 ± 8.5 years and disease duration 7.2 ± 5.2 years; 56 males and 9 females. The serum anti-annexin V antibodies level was significantly increased in the BD patients (50.9 ± 12.9 AU/ml) compared to the control (7.3 ± 3.1 AU/ml) (p < 0.0001). Serum anti-annexin V antibodies were significantly increased in BD patients with ocular involvement, skin lesions and neuro-Behcet’s compared to those without (p = 0.02, p = 0.004 and p = 0.002 respectively). Levels were comparable between those with uveitis, vitrous cells, retinal vasculitis, conjunctivitis and hypopyon and those without (p = 0.12, p = 0.22, p = 0.9, p = 0.67, p = 0.79 and p = 0.46 respectively). While those with xerophthalmia had a significantly higher level of anti-annexin V antibodies (60.6 ± 5.7 AU/ml) compared to those without (50.2 ± 13.1 AU/ml) (p = 0.02). The anti-annexin V antibodies significantly correlated with the BDCAF (r = 0.41, p = 0.001) and age (r = 0.43, p < 0.0001) but not with the disease duration (r = 0.22, p = 0.08), steroid dose (r = −0.21, p = 0.09) or laboratory investigations. On regression analysis, only the age would predict the anti-annexin V antibodies level (p = 0.02) while the BDCAF would not (p = 0.33). Conclusion There is a role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of BD with special relation to the ocular, cutaneous and neurological manifestations and a possible link to the disease activity

Intranasal Delivery of Granisetron to the Brain via Nanostructured Cubosomes-Based In Situ Gel for Improved Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Emesis

This research aimed to boost granisetron (GS) delivery to the brain via the intranasal route to better manage chemotherapy-induced emesis. Glycerol monooleate (GMO), Poloxamer 407 (P 407) and Tween 80 (T 80) were used to formulate GS-loaded cubosomes (GS-CBS) utilizing a melt dispersion-emulsification technique. GS-CBS were characterized by testing particle diameter, surface charge and entrapment efficiency. The formulations were optimized using a Box–Behnken statistical design, and the optimum formula (including GMO with a concentration of 4.9%, P 407 with a concentration of 10%, and T 80 with a concentration of 1%) was investigated for morphology, release behavior, ex vivo permeation through the nasal mucosa, and physical stability. Moreover, the optimal formula was incorporated into a thermosensitive gel and subjected to histopathological and in vivo biodistribution experiments. It demonstrated sustained release characteristics, increased ex vivo permeability and improved physical stability. Moreover, the cubosomal in situ gel was safe and biocompatible when applied to the nasal mucosa. Furthermore, compared to a drug solution, the nose-to-brain pathway enhanced bioavailability and brain distribution. Finally, the cubosomal in situ gel may be a potential nanocarrier for GS delivery to the brain through nose-to-brain pathway

Potential Symbiotic Effects of β-1,3 Glucan, and Fructooligosaccharides on the Growth Performance, Immune Response, Redox Status, and Resistance of Pacific White Shrimp, <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> to <i>Fusarium solani</i> Infection

The potential effects of dietary supplementation with β-1,3 glucan and fructooligosaccharides (β-1,3 GF) on antioxidant activities, immunological response, and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was investigated. Four diets (iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous) with different levels of β-1,3 GF (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g kg−1) were fed to healthy shrimp juveniles weighing 3 ± 0.5 g for 75 days. Shrimps were randomly distributed into 12 net enclosures at a density of 30 shrimp/net, and the experiment was performed in triplicate. The results revealed that long-term supplementation with 1.5 g kg−1 β-1,3 GF significantly improved shrimp weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and digestive enzyme profiles compared to the control diet group. However, there were no substantial variations in the contents of moisture, crude protein, total lipids, and ash in the muscles of shrimp fed on different diets. Surprisingly, all antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and immune biomarkers (lysozyme, total hemocyte count, phenol oxidase, and respiratory burst) activities were significantly elevated with increasing levels of β-1,3 GF in the shrimp diet, and the highest values were recorded in the 1.5 g kg−1 diet groups. Challenge test results revealed that F. solani could cause a high mortality rate (86.7%) in a group fed a normal basal diet within 14 days at a dose of 5 × 104 conidia mL−1. Surprisingly, all dietary treated groups with different doses of β-1,3 GF showed high resistance against F. solani, represented by lower cumulative mortality rates (20–43.3%) compared to the control group. Moreover, most of the infected shrimp showed a typical black to brown gill lesion similar to that observed in the natural infection, where an identical fungus was successfully re-isolated from infected gills and muscles. Overall, this study recommends an appropriate incorporation level of β-1,3 GF that could enhance growth performance and improve the antioxidant activities, non-specific immunity, and disease resistance of L. vannamei, with an optimal level of 1.5 g kg−1