Antidotal impact of extra virgin olive oil against genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity induced by hexavalent chromium in rat

AbstractAn in vivo study was carried out to verify whether extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) has the potential to modulate alterations resulted from exposure to hexavalent chromium (CrVI) as potassium dichromate in rats. For this purpose, CrVI was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at a dose of 0.4mg/kg bw/day, EVOO was given orally at a dose of 300μl daily either a lone or co-treated with CrVI at the same doses, routes and duration (26days). At the end of the experiment, blood and spleen samples were collected. Genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity biomarkers induced by CrVI were evaluated. Also, histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations of spleen tissue were conducted. A significant increase in genotoxicity and cytotoxicity biomarkers (micronucleus frequency, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine level and lactate dehydrogenase activity) were recorded in CrVI treated rats. In addition, the immunotoxicity biomarkers showed a significant decrease in phagocytic%, stimulated nitric oxide production and decrease in the serum lysozyme activity. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies support the cytotoxicity study. Oral administration of EVOO can ameliorate those effects but not restored to control level. Thus, authors recommend that regular consumption of this oil in the diet provides a constant supply of potential antioxidants that could reduce these alterations

Effect of Active and Passive Smoking on Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer and Ganglion Cell Complex

Aim. To evaluate the possible structural and functional changes in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell complex (GCC) of chronic smokers and compare them with those of passive healthy smokers using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and pattern electroretinogram (PERG). Materials and Methods. We include 80 active chronic smokers and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy passive smokers. After a full ophthalmological examination, SD-OCT and PERG were tested for all participants. Urinary levels of cotinine and creatinine with subsequent calculation of the cotinine creatinine ratio (CCR). Results. Inferior and superior quadrants of RNFL were thinner in group I, but nasal and temporal quadrants did not show significant difference between the groups. There were no significant differences of GCC values between the two groups. There was no significant difference of PERG-P50 amplitude and latency; however, PERG-N95 showed significant difference between the two groups. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the number of cigarettes/day, urinary cotinine, and PERG-N95 amplitude are the most important determinants for both superior and inferior RNFL thicknesses. Conclusion. RNFL thickness decreases in chronic, healthy, heavy cigarette smokers, and this thinning is related to the number of cigarettes/day, urinary cotinine, and PERG-N95 latency and amplitude

Corneal endothelial cell count following femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification

Purpose The aim of this work was to study and compare the safety and efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification cataract extraction on the corneal endothelial cell count. Design The study design was a prospective, comparative one. Participants and methods Fifty eyes underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and 50 eyes underwent conventional phacoemulsification between March 2014 and December 2014 at Ain-Shams University Hospitals and Magrabi Eye Institutes. In each group, 50 eyes (50 patients) underwent cataract surgery using either femtosecond laser-assisted (Alcon LenSx Laser) (the femtolaser group) or conventional phacoemulsification (the phaco group). Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery involved anterior capsulotomy and lens fragmentation based on optical coherence tomography-guided treatment mapping. Conventional procedure involved manual continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis. Both procedures were completed by means of standard phacoemulsification and insertion of an intraocular lens. Endothelial cell count was measured with a NIDEK Specular Microscopy (CEM-530) preoperatively, and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively. Main outcome measures included effective phacoemulsification time, intraoperative complication rates, and corneal endothelial cell count. Results Effective phacoemulsification time was reduced by 38% in the femtolaser group (P < 0.0001). All cases treated with the femtosecond laser achieved complete capsulotomy. There was one posterior capsule rupture in the femto group and two in the phaco group (0.5%; not significant). There was no statistically significant difference as regards intraoperative complications between the two groups. Postoperatively, there was a significant decrease in central corneal endothelial cell count in both groups compared with preoperative values. The endothelial cell count was significantly higher in the femtolaser group at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month follow-up. Conclusion Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery appears to be as safe as conventional cataract surgery, with lower effective phacoemulsification time and hence less corneal endothelial cell loss

The potential ameliorative impacts of cerium oxide nanoparticles against fipronil-induced hepatic steatosis

Abstract Fipronil (FIP) is a phenylpyrazole insecticide that is commonly used in agricultural and veterinary fields for controlling a wide range of insects, but it is a strong environmentally toxic substance. Exposure to FIP has been reported to increase the hepatic fat accumulation through altered lipid metabolism, which ultimately can contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. The present study aimed to examine the function of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) in protecting against hepatotoxicity and lipogenesis induced by FIP. Twenty-eight male albino rats were classified into four groups: FIP (5 mg/kg/day per os), CTR, CeNPs (35 mg/kg/day p.o.), and FIP + CeNPs (5 (FIP) + 35 (CeNPs) mg/kg/day p.o.) for 28 consecutive days. Serum lipid profiles, hepatic antioxidant parameters and pathology, and mRNA expression of adipocytokines were assessed. The results revealed that FIP increased cholesterol, height-density lipoprotein, triacylglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-c) concentrations. It also increased nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) hepatic levels and reduced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities. Additionally, FIP up-regulated the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP), acetyl Co-A carboxylase (ACC1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α). Immunohistochemically, a strong proliferation of cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) reactions in the endothelial cells of the hepatic sinusoids, and increased expression of caspase3 were observed following FIP intoxication. FIP also caused histological changes in hepatic tissue. The CeNPs counteracted the hepatotoxic effect of FIP exposure. So, this study recorded an ameliorative effect of CeNPs against FIP-induced hepatotoxicity

Chemo-Protective Potential of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles against Fipronil-Induced Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, Inflammation and Reproductive Dysfunction in Male White Albino Rats

Fipronil (FIP) is an insecticide commonly used in many fields, such as agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public health, and recently it has been proposed as a potential endocrine disrupter. The purpose of this study was to inspect the reproductive impacts of FIP and the possible protective effects of cerium nanoparticles (CeNPs) on male albino rats. Rats received FIP (5 mg/kg bwt; 1/20 LD50), CeNPs (35 mg/kg bwt) and FIP+CeNPs per os daily for 28 days. Serum testosterone levels, testicular oxidative damage, histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were evaluated. FIP provoked testicular oxidative damage as indicated by decreased serum testosterone (&asymp;60%) and superoxide dismutase (&asymp;50%), glutathione peroxidase activity (&asymp;46.67%) and increased malondialdehyde (&asymp;116.67%) and nitric oxide (&asymp;87.5%) levels in testicular tissues. Furthermore, FIP induced edematous changes and degeneration within the seminiferous tubules, hyperplasia, vacuolations, and apoptosis in the epididymides. In addition, FIP exposure upregulated interleukin-1&beta; (IL-1&beta;), nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS), caspase-3 (Casp3) and downregulated the Burkitt-cell lymphomas (BCL-2), inhibin B proteins (IBP), and androgen receptor (Ar) mRNA expressions Casp3, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA1), and IL-1&beta; immunoreactions were increased. Also, reduction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), mouse vasa homologue (MVH), and SOX9 protein reactions were reported. Interestingly, CeNPs diminished the harmful impacts of FIP on testicular tissue by decreasing lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and inflammation and increasing the antioxidant activities. The findings reported herein showed that the CeNPs might serve as a supposedly new and efficient protective agent toward reproductive toxicity caused by the FIP insecticide in white male rats