Preventive effect of the flavonoid, quercetin, on hepatic cancer in rats via oxidant/antioxidant activity: molecular and histological evidences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is increasing in many countries. The estimated number of new cases annually is over 500,000, and the yearly incidence comprises between 2.5 and 7% of patients with liver cirrhosis. The incidence varies between different geographic areas, being higher in developing areas; males are predominantly affected, with a 2:3 male/female ratio</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Experiments were designed to examine the effect of <it>N</it>-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) as cancer-inducer compound and to confirm the preventive effect of the flavonoid quercetin on hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. Briefly, thirty six male albino rats of Wistar strain were divided into 3 groups: the 1^stgroup was administered NDEA alone (NDEA-treated), the 2^ndgroup was treated simultaneously with NDEA and quercetin (NDEA+Q) and the 3^rdgroup was used as control (CON). Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) as well as <it>p53</it>-specifi PCR assays were employed to determine genomic difference between treated, and control animals. Histological confirmation as well as oxidant/antioxidant status of the liver tissue was done.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RAPD analysis of liver samples generated 8 monomorphic bands and 22 polymorphic bands in a total of 30-banded RAPD patterns. Cluster analysis and statistical analyses of RAPD data resulted in grouping control and NDEA+Q samples in the same group with 80% similarity cut-off value. NDEA-treated samples were clustered in a separate group. Specific PCR assay for polymorphism of <it>P</it>⁵³gene revealed a uniform pattern of allele separation in both control and NDEA+Q samples. Quercetin anticancer effect was exhibited in significant decrease of oxidative stress and significant decrease of antioxidant activity. Histopathological studies showed normal liver histology of the NDEA+Q samples. Meanwhile, several cancer-induced features were clearly observable in NDEA-treated samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This paper demonstrated that preventive effect of quercetin on hepatocarcinoma in rats by RAPD-PCR, tracing the effect on <it>p53 </it>gene and by histopathological evidence. Hereby, it was proved that quercetin exerted its preventive effect via decreased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant activity.</p

Effect of Salicylic Acid, Calcium Chloride and Calcium Lactate Applications on Quality Attributes of Minimally-Processed 'Wonderful' Pomegranate Arils

'Wonderful' pomegranate arils were treated with 0.5% and 1% of calcium chloride, 0.5% and 1% of calcium lactate, and salicylic acid (1 and 2 mM), then treated and untreated (control) arils packaged in clean (sterilized) plastic containers. Fresh produce was then stored at stored at 5±1°C. Assessment of arils quality was carried out at 3-day intervals by evaluating the following quality parameters: appearance, decay, off odor, flavor, total soluble solids, acidity, anthocyanin and vitamin C content, firmness, colour development (L* value and hue angle), and microbial load. Pomegranate arils treated with salicylic acid, calcium chloride, and calcium lactate maintained a general good quality and appearance up to 12 days of storage at at 5±1°C, with no visible decay and off odor development. The total microbial population was lower in arils treated with salicylic acid, in comparison to treatments with calcium chloride, calcium lactate and control arils. All treatments scored above the limit of marketability, maintaining good quality of fresh-cut produce during storage. However, the use of salicylic acid and calcium chloride helped to keep a better overall quality of arils at the end of the 12-day storage at at 5±1°C

Unusual Multiple Primary Hepatic Tumors in Dromedary Camels: Pathological and Immunohistochemical Studies

Tumors have been rarely documented in the Arabian dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Importantly, the current study investigated multiple primary tumors in the liver of Dromedary camels, slaughtered at different abattoirs in Egypt during the period from January 2019 to February 2022. The study focused on the existence of two or more separate primary neoplasms, or a single one involving multiple sites in the same liver. The study conducted a comprehensive and accurate gross and histopathological description of the neoplastic cases. The use of special stains and diverse types of immunohistochemical-specific antibodies contributed significantly to the confirmed diagnosis of neoplastic cells. Interestingly, our results diagnosed unusual multiple primary hepatic tumors (prevalence 7/988, 0.7%), including one case each of cholangiocarcinoma-leiomyosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma-cholangiocarcinoma-leiomyoma, myelolipoma-osseous metaplasia, lymphosarcoma and three cases of leiomyomas. Detecting multiple primary hepatic tumors for the first time in the veterinary research area is a major challenge in the diagnosis and treatment strategies of tumors. Additionally, liver cirrhosis, amyloidosis, parasitic infection, and mycotic granuloma may be predisposing factors associated with increased overgrowth of primary mesenchymal hepatic tumors in camels

Vertebral body reconstruction by titanium mesh or PEEK after anterior cervical vertebroplasty, applications and difficulties

Cervical vertebroplasty is a successful operation for decompression of the spinal cord and optimum restoration of cervical lordosis in individuals with severe canal stenosis. In this research, we demonstrate our method of reconstruction and replacement to the cervical vertebral body disorders with an expandable titanium cage or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Neurologic status, morbidity, and mortality were evaluated before and after the surgery. We conducted a single-center, prospective study for all patients with cervical vertebral body lesions, who underwent single-stage vertebrectomy with an expandable titanium cage or PEEK, plate and screws reconstruction of the vertebral body. The study period between January 2014 and June 2020 in Al- Azhar university hospitals. The study included 25 patients who underwent single-stage, anterior-approach surgery. We used an expandable titanium mesh cage in five of them, and the other 20 were reconstructed using PEEK, plate, and screws. All patients had neurological symptoms before surgery, including brachialgia, motor deficit, or sphincter problems. The mean follow-up was 45.7 months (1-65 months). Neurological improvement was recorded in 20 patients at the last follow-up time, and five patients were not improved.&nbsp

Pectin Methylesterase Is Induced in Arabidopsis upon Infection and Is Necessary for a Successful Colonization by Necrotrophic Pathogens

The ability of bacterial or fungal necrotrophs to produce enzymes capable of degrading pectin is often related to a successful initiation of the infective process. Pectin is synthesized in a highly methylesterified form and is subsequently de-esterified in muro by pectin methylesterase. De-esterification makes pectin more susceptible to the degradation by pectic enzymes such as endopolygalacturonases (endoPG) and pectate lyases secreted by necrotrophic pathogens during the first stages of infection. We show that, upon infection, Pectobacterium carotovorum and Botrytis cinerea induce in Arabidopsis a rapid expression of AtPME3 that acts as a susceptibility factor and is required for the initial colonization of the host tissue

Targeted Amino Acid Substitutions in a Trichoderma Peptaibol Confer Activity against Fungal Plant Pathogens and Protect Host Tissues from Botrytis cinerea Infection

Fungal species belonging to the Trichoderma genus are commonly used as biocontrol agents against several crop pathogens. Among their secondary metabolites, peptaibols are helical, antimicrobial peptides, which are structurally stable even under extreme pH and temperature conditions. The promise of peptaibols as agrochemicals is, however, hampered by poor water solubility, which inhibits efficient delivery for practical use in crop protection. Using a versatile synthetic strategy, based on green chemistry procedures, we produced water-soluble analogs of the short-length peptaibol trichogin. Although natural trichogin was inactive against the tested fungal plant pathogens (Botrytis cinerea, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Fusarium graminearum, and Penicillium expansum), three analogs completely inhibited fungal growth at low micromolar concentrations. The most effective peptides significantly reduced disease symptoms by B. cinerea on common bean and grapevine leaves and ripe grape berries without visible phytotoxic effects. An in-depth conformational analysis featuring a 3D-structure&ndash;activity relationship study indicated that the relative spatial position of cationic residues is crucial for increasing peptide fungicidal activity