Impact of UV-B radiation on some biochemical changes and growth parameters in Echinacea purpurea callus and suspension culture

The effects of UV-B light force, exposure time and incubation period on producing caffeic acid derivatives and growth parameters in Echinacea purpurea callus and suspension culture were assessed. UV-B led to an increment of all growth parameters and antioxidant activity in callus and cell suspension and caffeic acid derivatives in cell suspension by increasing incubation period. The reverse was true for G-POD activity in cell suspension and PAL activity in both types of cultures. Incubation period 2 weeks was more effective in caffeic acid, total phenols and G-POD activity in callus cells and incubation period one week only for total phenols in cell suspension. The two exposure times 2 and 4 h increased antioxidant activity in the two types of cultures. Exposure time 2 h led to increase caffeic acid and total phenols in callus cells. The maximum increase in caffeic acid, total phenols and PAL activity in cell suspension was achieved by 4 h exposure time. Likewise, using 2 UV-B lamps for 2 h was the most effective in creating more biochemical components than the other treatments

Protective effect of gallic acid against thioacetamide-induced metabolic dysfunction of lipids in hepatic and renal toxicity

Background: Gallic acid (GA) has significant antioxidant bioactivity and can prevent diet-induced hypertriglyceridemia by reducing adipocytes. GA was also observed to enhance cell glucose uptake. Methods: The current study looked at the effect of gallic acid (GA) (100 mg, 200 mg/kg orally) on liver and kidney damage caused by thioacetamide (TAA; 100 mg/Kg via intraperitoneal route). TAA was treated thrice weekly for eight weeks, whereas gallic acid was administered daily. Results: GA alleviated the thioacetamide-induced decreases in hepatic or renal reduced glutathione (GSH) or increases in malondialdehyde (MDA, an indication of lipid peroxidation). TAA treatment significantly increased plasma inflammatory markers, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP), liver enzymes, Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and kidney function parameters (creatinine and urea) and uric acid. However, these values decreased after GA treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GA mitigated the considerable decrease in plasma protein caused by TAA. GA also reduced hepatic fibrosis or histological abnormalities in the liver and kidney. Conclusion: Our results suggest that GA may attenuate TAA-induced liver and kidney toxicity via suppression of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. Moreover, the hypolipidemic effect of GA may be considered another route for protection

The role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in T staging and grading of urinary bladder cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in T staging of urinary bladder cancer and the correlation between the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and tumor grading. Patients and methods: This study included 40 patients with bladder mass diagnosed by ultrasonography. MR imaging sequences included, T2WI, DWI, ADC and T1 postcontrast MRI were done. The correlation between magnetic resonance findings and histopathological results was done. Results: Of all forty patients, 14 patients (35%) were T1, 18 (45%) patients were T2, and 8 (20%) patients were T3. The overall accuracy of T2WI, DWI and postcontrast imaging sequences in differentiating superficial from invasive tumor was 60%, 85% and 75% respectively. The overall accuracy of T2WI, DWI and postcontrast imaging sequences in differentiating organ confined from non-organ confined tumor was 80%, 90% and 70% respectively. The mean ADC value was 0.95 ± 0.13 × 10–3 mm2/s in low grade tumors and 0.69 ± 0.12 × 10–3 mm2/s in high grade tumors. Conclusion: DWI has a higher overall accuracy compared to both T2WI and postcontrast T1WI in T staging of bladder cancer, and also ADC value can predict the tumor grade. So, DWI can be recommended as promising MRI sequence in urinary bladder T staging and grading