Tissue p53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) is associated with oxidative stress in benign and malignant colorectal lesions

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-mortality worldwide. Tissue p53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator gene (TIGAR) has an important role in cellular glycolysis and acts as an oncogene.Objectives: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic utility of TIGAR in both CRC and benign bowel deceases.Methods: One-hundred-eighty tissue samples were recruited and classified into 3 groups: group (1) 60 CRC samples from the tumor mass of colorectal cancer patients, group (2), 60 non-neoplastic colorectal tissue samples and group (3), 60 benign bowel lesions samples (ulcerative-colitis, Chron’s disease, adenoma, and familial adenomatous polyposis). The expressions of tissue mRNA and protein levels of TIGAR were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione were also measured.Results: Our results showed upregulated expressions of TIGAR gene and protein levels in CRC tissues and benign colonic lesions compared to non-tumor tissues (p < 0.0001). Their levels were higher in inflammatory bowel diseases compared to non-inflammatory benign lesions. There were significant relations among TIGAR expression, protein levels, TNM staging, and the presence of metastasis (p<0.0001). ROC curve analysis showed that TIGAR mRNA expression and its protein can discriminate between CRC and benign lesions and between benign bowel disease and controls.Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to assess the level of TIGAR in different benign bowel diseases. TIGAR might be involved in the pathogenesis of benign and malignant bowel diseases and could be a potential biomarker for diagnosis

Global impacts of Covid-19 on lifestyles and health and preparation preferences: an international survey of 30 countries

Background: The health area being greatest impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and residents' perspective to better prepare for future pandemic remain unknown. We aimed to assess and make cross-country and cross-region comparisons of the global impacts of COVID-19 and preparation preferences of pandemic. Methods: We recruited adults in 30 countries covering all World Health Organization (WHO) regions from July 2020 to August 2021. 5 Likert-point scales were used to measure their perceived change in 32 aspects due to COVID-19 (-2 = substantially reduced to 2 = substantially increased) and perceived importance of 13 preparations (1 = not important to 5 = extremely important). Samples were stratified by age and gender in the corresponding countries. Multidimensional preference analysis displays disparities between 30 countries, WHO regions, economic development levels, and COVID-19 severity levels. Results: 16 512 adults participated, with 10 351 females. Among 32 aspects of impact, the most affected were having a meal at home (mean (m) = 0.84, standard error (SE) = 0.01), cooking at home (m = 0.78, SE = 0.01), social activities (m = -0.68, SE = 0.01), duration of screen time (m = 0.67, SE = 0.01), and duration of sitting (m = 0.59, SE = 0.01). Alcohol (m = -0.36, SE = 0.01) and tobacco (m = -0.38, SE = 0.01) consumption declined moderately. Among 13 preparations, respondents rated medicine delivery (m = 3.50, SE = 0.01), getting prescribed medicine in a hospital visit / follow-up in a community pharmacy (m = 3.37, SE = 0.01), and online shopping (m = 3.33, SE = 0.02) as the most important. The multidimensional preference analysis showed the European Region, Region of the Americas, Western Pacific Region and countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity were more adversely impacted on sitting and screen time duration and social activities, whereas other regions and countries experienced more cooking and eating at home. Countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity reported higher perceived mental burden and emotional distress. Except for low- and lower-middle-income countries, medicine delivery was always prioritised. Conclusions: Global increasing sitting and screen time and limiting social activities deserve as much attention as mental health. Besides, the pandemic has ushered in a notable enhancement in lifestyle of home cooking and eating, while simultaneously reducing the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. A health care system and technological infrastructure that facilitate medicine delivery, medicine prescription, and online shopping are priorities for coping with future pandemics

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Basal-like Breast Cancer (BLBC): a Comparative Study between Egyptian and British Patients

Background and aims: Clinicopathological features of Basal-like Breast Cancer (BLBC) in African American women have been extensively studied. Comparatively, less is known about these tumors in patients from countries in the North African region. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and clinicopathological characteristics of BLBC in Egyptian patients with comparison to British patients. Material and methods: Tissue microarray blocks were constructed from primary invasive breast cancer from 321 Egyptian and 527 British BC patients. Sections were stained immunohistochemically with oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2, CK19, CK14, EGFR, CK5/6, P53 and Ki67. BLBC phenotype was identified by lacking of staining of ER, PR, HER2 and positive staining for any of the CK14, CK5/6 and/or EGFR. Results: The rate of BLBC phenotype was higher in Egyptian cohort (21%) than the British cohort (13%). BLBC tumors from both Egyptian and British patients were significantly associated with tumors of higher histopathological grade (

Effect of different dietary levels of mangrove (Langucularia racemosa) leaves and spice supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, lipid metabolism and metabolic profiles in laying hens

In order to study the influence of white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) leaves on productive performance, egg quality, lipids metabolism and metabolic profiles, 180 Hy-line laying hens were randomly distributed to 6 dietary treatments each contained 6 replicates of 5 individually caged hens during the period from 50 to 60 weeks of age. 2. Three isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated to contain 0, 50 and 100 g/kg of sundried mangrove leaves. Each diet was fed with or without supplementation of 2 g of cardamom, cumin, hot and black pepper mixture (1:1:1:1)/kg diet. 3. Mangrove leaves at either 50 or 100 g/kg adversely affect laying rate, egg mass and FCR, whilst increasing water intake and water to feed ratio. Mangrove leaves had no significant effect on dry matter, protein, lipid, cholesterol and ash content of liver, or on dry matter, protein and ash of yolk. 4. Plasma total protein, total lipids; liver enzymes AST and ALT and mortality rate were not significantly affected by mangrove leaves. On the other hand, yolk lipid, yolk cholesterol and plasma cholesterol significantly decreased, while yolk colour significantly increased with inclusion of 50 or 100 g/kg mangrove leaves, and Haugh unit score significantly increased with 100 g/kg mangrove leaves. 5. Spice mixture significantly increased egg weight by 2.2%. Yolk lipid content significantly decreased by 2.6%, while yolk colour and Haugh unit significantly increased with inclusion of spice mixtures. 6. In conclusion, mangrove leaves at 50 g/kg may be included in the laying hen diets as a means of decreasing lipid and cholesterol in yolk and plasma cholesterol and increasing yolk colour. Spice mixture at 2 g of cardamom, cumin, hot and black pepper mixture (1:1:1:1)/kg diet increased laying rate, egg mass, Haugh unit score and yolk colour while decreasing yolk lipids

The Nutritive Value of Date Waste Meal as a Feedstuff for Lohmann Brown Pullets and Layers

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of date waste meal (DWM) inclusion in pullet's diet at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20% and its effect on subsequence performance during laying period. Two hundred and sixteen (16 weeks old) Lohmann Brown pullets were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (3 replicates of 12 pullets/replicate). Pullets were fed a diet containing 16% protein then switched to a 19% protein laying diet until 40 weeks of age.Results showed that pullets given 20% DWM had earlier sexual maturity by 8 days (P≤0.05) and higher survival rate (95.6%) than the control group. Egg weight was similar among all experimental groups from 20 to 40wks of age. However, higher egg production and better feed conversion ratio were obtained (P≤0.05) at 4% DWM inclusion. Some nutrients digestibility coefficients were significantly improved by feeding 20% DWM. Also, E. coli and fungi counts were reduced (P≤0.05) by about 30.2% and 31.1% as hens received 16 or 20% DWM, respectively as compared to the control group. Total plasma lipids, fresh and stored yolk total lipid concentrations were decreased (P≤0.05) with increasing dietary DWM in diets. A significant increase in egg shell thickness (P≤0.05), yolk index and yolk color was noted as dietary DWM increased to 20%. Haugh units, ovary and oviduct weights percent were not adversely affected by DWM inclusion levels.In conclusion, DWM could be considered as alternative ingredient for pullet and layer feed. However, more research is needed to determine the optimal DWM inclusion rate

Eixo hormônio de crescimento/fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina-1: um possível fator não nutricional para o retardo de crescimento em crianças com paralisia cerebral

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o eixo hormônio de crescimento (GH)/fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina 1 (IGF-1) como possível fator não nutricional para o retardo de crescimento em crianças com paralisia cerebral (PC). MÉTODOS: Um estudo caso-controle foi realizado em um hospital universitário terciário. Trinta crianças com PC [sete crianças com crescimento normal (PC-N) e 23 com retardo de crescimento (PC-R)], 30 crianças com desnutrição proteico-energética (DPE), e 30 crianças sadias (grupo REF) tiveram avaliados seus parâmetros de crescimento, IGF-1 sérico, GH basal, e pico de GH após estímulo com insulina. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com DPE apresentaram níveis basais mais elevados de GH do que os grupos PC-N, PC-R e REF (p = 0,026, p < 0,001 e p = 0,001, respectivamente). Após estímulo com insulina, os grupos PC-N, PC-R e DPE apresentaram níveis menores de GH se comparados ao grupo REF (p = 0,04, p = 0,007, p = 0,036, respectivamente). O nível de IGF-1 foi menor no grupo PC-R se comparado aos grupos PC-N e REF (p = 0,037 e p < 0,001, respectivamente), e no grupo DPE se comparado aos grupos PC-N e REF (p < 0,001 e p < 0,001, respectivamente). CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes com PC-R não demonstraram a mesma resposta basal elevada do GH apresentada pelos pacientes com DPE, e responderam de forma inadequada ao estímulo com insulina, mas apresentaram níveis de IGF-1 comparáveis aos dos pacientes com DPE. Por outro lado, os pacientes com PC-N tiveram comportamento semelhante ao dos controles com relação aos níveis basais de GH e IGF-1, mas não responderam adequadamente ao estímulo com insulina. O grupo DPE apresentou GH basal elevado e IGF-1 baixo. Esses achados sugerem que fatores não nutricionais contribuem para o retardo de crescimento em crianças com PC

Obesity Risk Prediction among Women of Upper Egypt: The impact of FTO rs17817449 gene polymorphism, serum ghrelin and high sensitivity C- reactive protein

Obesity is one of the main threats to the human health. It is a major risk factor for hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type II diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. FTO gene variants have been associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus in different populations, but its role in the susceptibility of these diseases remains unknown. The present study is undertaken to assess the contribution of the FTO rs17817449 gene variants towards obesity and diabetes development and to evaluate the role of ghrelin and hs- CRP on the outcome of obesity in the Upper Egyptian women. A total of 229 subjects, 115 obese (65 non diabetics, 50 diabetics) and 114 non obese non diabetic controls were included in this case control study. Genotyping of FTO gene rs17817449 (T&gt;G) polymorphism was performed by mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR) method. Estimation of serum gherlin, hs-CRP levels, related anthropometric and metabolic parameters were performed. The results revealed higher frequency of FTO rs17817449 G allele among obese subjects (46.5%) and obese diabetics (45%) compared to the controls (33.3%) which comprise about 1.75 times increase in the risk for obesity (p&lt;0.01). The distribution of the GG and TG genotypes of FTO were 25.2%, and 42.6% among obese non diabetic, 24% and 42% among obese diabetic and 14.9% and 36.8% among controls respectively. FTO-GG genotype variant was significantly associated with weight, BMI and waist and hip circumference (p&lt;0.05 for each). FTO GG carriers had 2.54 times the possibility to have obesity more than TT carriers. Ghrelin levels were significantly decreased and hs-CRP levels were significantly increased in obese subjects compared to the controls (P&lt;0.001 for each). There was a significant negative correlation between serum ghrelin and hs-CRP (p&lt;0.05). No significant association was detected between FTO genotypes and each of ghrelin, hs-CRP, lipid profile, fasting glucose or insulin levels. In conclusion, the G allele of FTO rs17817449 genotyping is associated with increased obesity risk but there is a lack of association with diabetes. It is also associated with some obesity indices as BMI, hip and waist circumference in the Upper Egyptian women. Both Ghrelin and hs- CRP could play a role in developing obesity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of FTO SNP in Upper Egyptian women. Switching off this FTO faulty gene variant by the recent therapies (as certain foods or gene therapy) will prevent the percentage of women who is affected by this risk allele to get obese via burning rather than storing energy.Key words: FTO gene polymorphism, ghrelin, hs-CRP, Obesit