BM-MSCs alleviate diabetic nephropathy in male rats by regulating ER stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic pathways

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a chronic kidney disease, is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising option to mitigate several diabetic complications.Methods: In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in a rat model of STZ-induced DN. After the confirmation of diabetes, rats were treated with BM-MSCs and sacrificed at week 12 after treatment.Results: Our results showed that STZ-induced DN rats had extensive histopathological changes, significant upregulation in mRNA expression of renal apoptotic markers, ER stress markers, inflammatory markers, fibronectin, and intermediate filament proteins, and reduction of positive immunostaining of PCNA and elevated P53 in kidney tissue compared to the control group. BM-MSC therapy significantly improved renal histopathological changes, reduced renal apoptosis, ER stress, inflammation, and intermediate filament proteins, as well as increased positive immunostaining of PCNA and reduced P53 in renal tissue compared to the STZ-induced DN group.Conclusion: In conclusion, our study indicates that BM-MSCs may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of DN and provide important insights into their potential use as a novel therapeutic approach for DN

Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Funding: F Carvalho and E Fernandes acknowledge support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy i4HB; FCT/MCTES through the project UIDB/50006/2020. J Conde acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). V M Costa acknowledges the grant SFRH/BHD/110001/2015, received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006.proofepub_ahead_of_prin

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Mechanism of Phytoremediation Potential of Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) to Pb, Cd and Zn

International audienc

Investigation of the effect of chitosan and silver nanoparticles on the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from some milk products and diarrheal patients in Sohag city, Egypt

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes serious diseases in humans, especially when circulated in their food. This study was designed to detect the presence of E. coli O157:H7 using the fliC H7 gene in some milk products as kareish cheese, labena, and yoghurt sold in Sohag city, Egypt, and among diarrheal patients admitted to governmental hospitals in Sohag and also to highlight the risk factors associated with their infection. In addition, the antimicrobial resistance and the effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) and silver nanoparticles (SNP) on E. coli O157:H7 isolates obtained from both milk products and patients were investigated. Materials and Methods: Microbiological culture methods and polymerase chain reaction were used for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in 150 milk products and 150 stool samples. Resistance against some antimicrobials that were used in the treatment of animals and humans was investigated using the disk diffusion technique. CNP and SNP at two concentrations (30 and 60 μg/mL) and average sizes of 25.1 and 26.5 nm, respectively, were identified by transmission electron microscopy. Their effect on E. coli O157:H7 isolates was examined using the well diffusion method. Risk factors for infection were investigated using statistical analysis. Results: There were 11.3% and 14.7% of milk products and stool samples positive for E. coli O157:H7, respectively. These isolates exhibited high antimicrobial resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, and gentamycin. CNP and SNP demonstrated inhibitory effects on E. coli O157:H7 growth, which significantly increased at high concentrations (60 μg/mL), with mean inhibition zones of 31.941±3.749 and 30.681±3.871 mm for CNP in milk products and patient isolates, respectively. The respective values for SNP were 33.588±3.675 mm and 32.500±2.444 mm, indicating a higher bactericidal effect than that of CNP. Regarding risk factors for infection, both young and elderly subjects and those in contact with infected persons and/or having chronic diseases were infected. Conclusion: CNP and SNP are suitable for both medical and agricultural applications for disease control and enhancement of food quality

Relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and serum osteoprotegerin level in type 2 diabetic patients

Background Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is unknown whether diabetic patients with SCH have elevated OPG compared with those with euthyroid and, if so, whether SCH independently associated with OPG level. Objective The objective was to study the association between SCH and serum OPG level among Egyptian adults with newly diagnosed T2DM. Patients and methods One hundred and fifty patients with newly diagnosed T2DM and 150 healthy controls matched for sex and age were included in the study. Serum OPG, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, blood glucose, lipid profile, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and anthropometric measurements were assessed for all participants. Results The prevalence of SCH and elevated level of OPG in the diabetic patients were higher than healthy controls (17.3 vs. 4%, P<0.001; and 14 vs. 4.7%, P=0.02; respectively). Diabetics with SCH demonstrated significantly higher HOMA-IR, serum TSH, and OPG compared with diabetics without SCH. Serum TSH was significantly correlated with total cholesterol (P=0.05), fasting insulin (P=0.01), HOMA-IR (P=0.01), and OPG (P=0.005). Moreover, serum OPG was correlated with waist circumference (P=0.01), fasting insulin (P=0.05), and HOMA-IR (P=0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that SCH was associated with serum level of OPG independently of the other significant variables (β=2.49, P=0.01). Conclusion T2DM patients with SCH demonstrate higher level and independent association with serum OPG than those with euthyroid. This result might add new information about the causal relationship between SCH and cardiovascular disorders in such a population