Spirulina Ameliorates Oxidative Damage and Inflammation in Rotenone-Induced Neurotoxicity in Male Mice

Background: Rotenone, a chemical compound produced naturally by leguminous plants, has conventionally been used as a pesticide by blocking the uptake of oxygen by body cells. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of spirulina on oxidative damage, inflammation, and neurotoxicity in male mice treated by rotenone.Methods: The experimental animals were divided into 5 groups. Group (I) served as control that received Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO); Group (II) mice treated with rotenone (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.3 times per week); Group (III) mice received rotenone/L-dopa (25 mg/kg, P.O. daily); Group (IV) and Group (V) mice were treated with rotenone/spirulina (200 and 400 mg/kg, P.O. daily) respectively for two weeks.Results: Rotenone-treated mice indicated impaired motor coordination and activity in wire hanging, wood walking, open field, and stair tests. Furthermore, rotenone treatment caused elevation in striatal levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric Oxide (NO), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), Interleukin -1 beta (IL-1β), and caspase 3 and decrement in Bcl-2; dopamine and Glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, severe neuronal degeneration, striatal DNA fragmentation, and increased striatal 8-OHdG levels and MTH1 expression in the rotenone group. Additionally, spirulina treatment prevented rotenone-induced motor deficits striatal DNA fragmentation and demonstrated good restoration of the substantial neurons with reservation of the typical dark appearance. Besides, rotenone-induced biochemical changes were ameliorated by spirulina treatment as dopamine, Bcl-2, and GSH levels were increased, and striatal MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and caspase 3 levels were decreased.Conclusion: Natural products like spirulina could reverse rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in male mice due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

E-cadherin and CD10 expression in atypical hyperplastic and malignant endometrial lesions

Background: Loss of E-cadherin is a critical step for development and progression of malignant tumors. CD10; a marker of non-neoplastic and neoplastic endometrial stroma, is associated with aggressiveness of many epithelial malignancies. Aims: To evaluate expression and correlation of E-cadherin and CD10 in endometrial lesions and their possible role in differentiating atypical endometrial hyperplasia from endometrial carcinoma. The association of E-cadherin and CD10 expression with clinico-pathological parameters of endometrial carcinoma was also investigated. Materials and methods: Fifty four cases including 28 endometrial carcinomas; 19 endometrial hyperplasia and 7 cases of normal endometrial changes were enrolled for this study. The expression of E-cadherin and CD10 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using the streptavidin–biotin technique. Results: There was a strong association between malignant change of endometrial glands and membrano-cytoplasmic localization of E-cadherin (p < 0.001). Expression of E-cadherin but not CD10 was significantly higher in endometrial carcinomas compared to atypical endometrial hyperplasia (p < 0.01). Expression of E-cadherin was not associated with CD10 expression in different endometrial lesions. High grade tumors expressed low levels of both E-cadherin (p < 0.01) and CD10 (p < 0.05) and serous endometrial carcinoma had low E-cadherin and CD10 expression compared to endometrioid carcinoma (p < 0.01 and <0.05, respectively). Expression of both molecules showed no association with depth of tumor invasion or FIGO stage. Tumors with lower E-cadherin or CD10 expression had higher rates of vascular tumor emboli (p < 0.01 and <0.07, respectively). Conclusions: Although expression of E-cadherin and CD10 in endometrial lesions was not correlated, reduced expression of both molecules could be critical for progression of endometrial carcinoma

Nail ridging in rheumatoid arthritis patients and relation to disease activity: An integrated rheumatology-dermatology multi-centre study

Aim of the work: To evaluate the frequency of nail ridging (NR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to study its relation to disease activity. Patients and methods: 230 RA patients and 97 matched controls from Helwan, Ain Shams and Mansoura university hospitals were studied. Disease activity score (DAS28) was assessed. NR has been searched for in all patients. The number of affected fingers was recorded. NR was determined by a magnifying lens, seen by naked eye or seen and felt. Dermoscopic photography of the NR using Dermalite DL4 3Gen dermatoscope has been recorded. Results: The median age of patients was 49 years (42–58 years); they were 221 females and 19 males (F:M 11.1:1) with a disease duration 9 years (5–11 years). Their DAS28 was 3.6 (2.9–4.6). NR was significantly increased in RA cases vs. control; 73% vs 20%; p < 0.001. In patients, NR was detected by a magnifying lens in 32.6%, seen in 27% and seen and felt in 13.5%. Joint deformities were significantly higher in those with NR. DAS28 was a significant independent predictor of NR; for every one-point increase in DAS28, there was a 153 times higher odds to exhibit NR at a sensitivity of 93.5%, specificity 80.3% and at a diagnostic accuracy of 90%. Conclusion: NR is a frequent finding in RA. An integrated rheumatological- dermatological clinical evaluation may be helpful and further studies are required to prove the importance of this sign for follow up of RA patients

Basal cell hyperplasia (BCH) versus high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) in tiny prostatic needle biopsies: Unusual diagnostic dilemma

Background: Histopathological differentiation between BCH and HGPIN in prostatic needle biopsies is a diagnostic challenge. The gold standard for detection of HGPIN and BCH is histopathological examination; however subjectivity in interpretation and tiny volume of obtained tissue hamper reliable diagnosis. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess usefulness of using the p63 and p504s to solve this problem. Although the use of p63 and p504s is now well established in differentiation between preneoplastic and neoplastic prostatic lesions, their usefulness in tiny tissue material is, however, not fully studied. Methods: The study included a spectrum of 30 prostatic needle biopsies (5 BCH, 10 HGPIN, 10 indefinite luminal proliferations where BCH and HGPIN could not be distinguished from each other and 5 adenocarcinomas). H&E stained sections were examined for histopathological features. Other sections were stained immunohistochemically with p63 and p504s. Results: The mean age of patients was 69 (SD = 7.6) years. PSA range was 1.3–2.7 ng/ml. Ultrasongraphic findings were unremarkable. All BCH showed p504s−/p63+ pattern, All HGPIN had p504s+/p63+ pattern while carcinomas were p504s+/p63−. After immunostaining combined with histopathological features; the 10 indefinite specimens could be diagnosed as 4 BCH and 6 HGPIN. The article explains how applying this staining pattern on the challenging specimens, combined with histopathological features, can be helpful in proper identification of prostatic proliferations

Parathyroid hormone in pediatric patients with β-thalassemia major and its relation to bone mineral density; a case control study

Background: Thalassemia syndromes are heterogeneous groups of inherited anemias. Its treatment depends on recurrent blood transfusion with a problem of iron overload, which leads to multiple endocrinopathies including hypoparathyroid. The aim of the study is to estimate the level of serum parathyroid hormone and its relation to bone mineral density in transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia major children. Subjects and methods: We measured serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone in a sample of pediatric patients with thalassemia, compared them with age and sex matched healthy control. Measurement of bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was done in 2 sites: lumbar spine (L2–L4) in the anteroposterior position and left femur neck using Lunar Densitometry in osteoporosis Unit Ain Shams University Hospital for thalassemia patients. Results: Thalassemic patients had significantly higher alkaline phosphatase and lower bone mineral density. Conclusion: Osteopenia in β-thalassemia major patients is multifactorial and is mainly predisposed by defective function of the parathyroid gland and excessive iron deposition

Efficacy of a locally prepared live clone vaccine against Newcastle disease virus genotype IV and genotype VIId in Egypt

Vaccines against the virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) are broadly existing and can provide protection; nevertheless, better immunization practices are required to avoid clinical disease and limit virus circulation. This study evaluating the immunogenicity and protective efficiency of locally prepared clone 30 live-attenuated vaccine against the challenge impact of virulent NDV genotype IV and genotype VIId prevalent in Egypt in comparison with the commercially prepared live Lasota vaccine as a positive control group. The efficacy of the vaccine was evaluated based on the antibody titer, protection rate, oropharyngeal, and cloacal shedding. Therefore, 150 one day old specific pathogen free chicks (SPF) were divided in to three groups 50 bird per group (G).G1and G2 received 100 µl containing 6 log 10 EID50 via the oculo-nasal route of clone 30 vaccine and lasota vaccine in order, while G3 (un vaccinated) received sterile saline at the same route and dose. On day 21 post vaccination (pv) 40 bird from each group were challenged with a dose of 6.5 log10/ml EID50 intramuscular per bird for both genotype IV and genotype VIId (20 bird /genotype virus),the other 10 birds left from each group were kept separate for antibody level monitoring for the 6th  week pv. Results revealed that, during vaccine preparation, the clone 30 virus showed a high virus titer when propagated in SPF embryonating chicken eggs (SPF-ECEs), which reached 1012/EID50/ml. The protection rate due to the clone 30 vaccine and the lasota vaccine was alike and showed 75% and 70% against challenge with genotype IV and genotype VIId, respectively, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the antibody titer produced by the clone 30 vaccinated group and lasota group. Both the clone 30 and lasota vaccines showed nearly similar levels of oropharyngeal and cloacal shedding. The results clarify that, although there were no detected differences between the immune response and the protective efficacy of clone 30 vaccine and lasota vaccine but, the use of clone 30 vaccine is still advantageous for its superior immunogenicity and low post-vaccinal reaction, which will make the clone 30 vaccine suggestive for primary immunization, especially in immunologically naive birds. In conclusion, the prepared Clone 30 vaccine in the current study is safe for chicks and can be used as an effective vaccine against the circulating NDV

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)’s multidimensional approach on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units in 22 hospitals of 14 cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

To analyze the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Approach (IMA) and use of INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS) on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in Saudi Arabia from September 2013 to February 2017. A multicenter, prospective, before–after surveillance study on 14,961 patients in 37 intensive care units (ICUs) of 22 hospitals. During baseline, we performed outcome surveillance of VAP applying the definitions of the CDC/NHSN. During intervention, we implemented the IMA and the ISOS, which included: (1) a bundle of infection prevention practice interventions, (2) education, (3) outcome surveillance, (4) process surveillance, (5) feedback on VAP rates and consequences and (6) performance feedback of process surveillance. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using generalized linear mixed models to estimate the effect of intervention. The baseline rate of 7.84 VAPs per 1000 mechanical-ventilator (MV)-days―with 20,927 MV-days and 164 VAPs―, was reduced to 4.74 VAPs per 1000 MV-days―with 118,929 MV-days and 771 VAPs―, accounting for a 39% rate reduction (IDR 0.61; 95% CI 0.5–0.7; P 0.001). Implementing the IMA was associated with significant reductions in VAP rates in ICUs of Saudi Arabia