The potential gonadoprotective effects of grape seed extract against the histopathological alterations elicited in an animal model of cadmium-induced testicular toxicity

Background: Grape seed extract (GSE) is a powerful antioxidant containing high levels of bioflavonoids, vitamin C and vitamin E. The aim of the work is to study the possible protective and ameliorative effects of grape seed extract in an animal model of cadmium (Cd)-induced testicular toxicity in rats.Materials and methods: A thirty-day oral gavage study in adult male albino rats was performed using 32 animals, randomly divided into four equal groups; negative control, Cd (5 mg/k/day), GSE (100 mg/k/day), and Cd + GSE. Testicular weights were measured. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry, as a marker for proliferation were done. Morphometric parameters were assessed and subjected to statistical analysis.Results: The H&E results showed atrophy and distortion of the seminiferous tubules (STs) with sloughing of the spermatogenic epithelium in cadmium group. The interstitial spaces were widened and showed oedema and mononuclear cell infiltrations. No remarkable changes were observed in the GSE-only group when compared to the control group. In Cd + GSE group, maintaining of the STs and their lining cells was evident. The immunohistochemical results showed marked positive PCNA immunoreactivity in both control and GSE groups, while negative immunoreaction was noticed in Cd group. Limited positive PCNA immunoreactivity was ameliorated in Cd + GSE group.Conclusions: Grape seed extract protected against cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in rats, reducing induced histopathological changes, and maintaining testicular histoarchitecture

Stem cells and metformin synergistically promote healing in experimentally induced cutaneous wound injury in diabetic rats

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious, chronic metabolic disorder commonly complicated by diabetic foot ulcers with delayed healing. Metformin was found to have a wound healing effect through several mechanisms. The current study investigated the effect of both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and metformin, considered alone or combined, on the healing of an experimentally induced cutaneous wound injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Material and methods. Forty adult male albino rats were used. Diabetes was induced by single intravenous (IV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Next, two circular full thickness skin wounds were created on the back of the animals, then randomly assigned into 4 groups, ten rats each. BM-MSCs were isolated from albino rats, 8 weeks of age and labeled by PKH26 before intradermal injection into rats of Group III and IV. Groups I (diabetic positive control), II (metformin-treated, 250 mg/kg/d), III (treated with 2×106 BM-MSCs), and IV (wounded rats treated both with metformin and BM-MSCs cells). Healing was assessed 3, 7, 14, and 21 days post wound induction through frequent measuring of wound diameters. Skin biopsies were obtained at the end of the experiment.Results. Gross evaluation of the physical healing of the wounds was done. Skin biopsies from the wound areas were processed for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining for CD31. The results showed better wound healing in the combined therapy group (IV) as compared to monotherapy groups.Conclusions. Although both metformin and BM-MSCs were effective in the healing of experimentally induced skin wounds in diabetic rats, the combination of both agents appears to be a better synergistic option for the treatment of diabetic wound injuries

EXTRACTION, FRACTIONATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA) GLOBULINS

The proteins were extracted from cowpea seeds by buffered saline solution and the globulins were separated by dialyzing the protein extract against distilled water. Fractionation of the total globulins on Sephacryl S-200 column produced two major and one minor components. The molecular weight of the major globulin components were estimated to be greater than 250000 and 178 000 for the globulin component (a) and (b) respectively and the latter component was the predominant globulin. The two major globulin components were free from contamination of other proteins as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Spectrophotometry and amino acid analyses were used as tools for characterizing the globulin components

Control of root rot and wilt disease complex of some evergreen fruit transplants by using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in the New Valley Governorate, Egypt

Root rot and wilt disease complex were detected in several guava, lemon and olive transplant nurseries and new orchards at El-Kharga, Baris, ballet, El-Dakhla and El-Farafrah districts, the New Valley Governorate, Egypt. The average percentage of root rot/wilt incidence and severity in surveying districts were 37.7, 26.5%in guava; 41.7, 34.0%;in lemon and 41.2, 29.5% in olive transplants, respectively. The most frequently isolated fungi from rotted roots of the guava, lemon and olive transplants were Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani. In pathogenicity tests, all the tested fungi were pathogenic to guava, lemon and olive transplants. The effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) individually and/or mixed when used as a soil drench treatment were varied in reducing root rot/ wilt incidence and severity under greenhouse conditions compared with control. The mixed of PGPR gave the highest protection against root rot/wilt diseases compared with the use of PGPR individually. All treatments significantly increased plant height (cm), number of leaves transplanting-1, leaf area (cm2), fresh and dry weights transplanting-1 (gm) compared with control treatment

Propositional calculus for adjointness lattices

Recently, Morsi has developed a complete syntax for the class of all adjointness algebras $\left( L,\leq ,A,K,H\right)$. There, $\left( L,\leq \right)$ is a partially ordered set with top element $1$, $K$ is a conjunction on $\left( L,\leq \right)$ for which $1$ is a left identity element, and the two implication-like binary operations $A$ and $H$ on $L$ are adjoints of $K$. In this paper, we extend that formal system to one for the class $ADJL$ of all 9-tuples $\left( L,\leq ,1,0,A,K,H,\wedge ,\vee \right)$, called \emph{% adjointness lattices}; in each of which $\left( L,\leq ,1,0,\wedge ,\vee \right)$ is a bounded lattice, and $\left( L,\leq ,A,K,H\right)$ is an adjointness algebra. We call it \emph{Propositional Calculus for Adjointness Lattices}, abbreviated $AdjLPC$. Our axiom scheme for $AdjLPC$ features four inference rules and thirteen axioms. We deduce enough theorems and inferences in $AdjLPC$ to establish its completeness for $ADJL$; by means of a quotient-algebra structure (a Lindenbaum type of algebra). We study two negation-like unary operations in an adjointness lattice, defined by means of $0$ together with $A$ and $H$. We end by developing complete syntax for all adjointness lattices whose implications are $S$-type implications

Available Technologies, Applications and Benefits of Teleorthodontics. A Literature Review and Possible Applications during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-2019 spread rapidly throughout the world from China. This infection is highly contagiousness, has a high morbidity, and is capable of evolving into a potentially lethal form of interstitial pneumonia. Numerous countries shut-down various activities that were considered "not essential." Dental treatment was in this category and, at the time of writing, only non-deferrable emergencies are still allowed in many countries. Therefore, follow-up visits of ongoing active therapies (e.g., orthodontic treatment) must be handled taking special precautions. This literature review aims at reducing in-office appointments by providing an overview of the technologies available and their reliability in the long-distance monitoring of patients, i.e., teledentistry. Methods: A literature review was made according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Randomized clinical trials, cross sectional, observational, and case-control studies were evaluated with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool for quality assessment and study limitations. Results: A primary search found 80 articles, 69/80 were excluded as non-relevant on the basis of: the abstract, title, study design, bias, and/or lack of relevance. Twelve articles were included in the qualitative analysis. Conclusions: Teleorthodontics can manage most emergencies, reassuring and following patients remotely. The aim set by dental teleassistance was met as it reduced patients' office visits whilst maintaining regular monitoring, without compromising the results. Although our preliminary findings should be further investigated to objectively evaluate the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and long-term results, we are confident that teleassistance in orthodontics will have a role to play in the near future

Management of root rot and wilt diseases of date palm offshoots using certain biological control agents and its effect on growth parameters in the New Valley Governorate, Egypt

Root Rot and wilt diseases were observed on different date palm offshoots in nurseries and new orchards in New Valley Governorate, Egypt. Pathogenicity tests showed that Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and F. moniliforme were the causal agents of root rot and wilt diseases on date palm offshoots (cv. Saidy). In addition, the isolates of the three Fusarium spp. differed in their pathogenic capabilities. The effect of Bacillus subtilis (BSM1), B. megaterium (BMM5), B. cereus (BCM8), Trichoderma viride (TVM2), T. harzianum (THM4) as bioagents against root rot/wilt disease complex of date palm offshoots under natural infection in nursery cultivated in two location (Al-Kharga and El-Dakhla) and also, on growth of the tested pathogenic fungi under laboratory were evaluated. Under laboratory conditions, all the tested bioagents inhibited the growth of the pathogenic fungi with different percentages. Bacillus megaterium and B. subtilis showed the highest percentage of fungal growth inhibition, while T. harzianum gave the lowest ones. At the field level, the application of bioagents significantly reduced the disease severity compared with untreated offshoots (control) in both locations. Bacillus megaterium and T. viride showed the highest protection against fungal causal agents, while B. cereus and T. harzianum gave the lowest ones in this respect. Moreover, the bioagents significantly improved the growth parameters of offshoots viz. plant height, number of leaves plant-1, leaflet number leaf-1, and leaf thickness. Bacillus megaterium and T. viride recorded the highest values of all growth parameters in El-Kharga and El-Dakhla locations, while B. cereus and T. harzianum gave the lowest ones.

Actividades antioxidantes, antiinflamatorias y citotóxicas de la fracción insaponificable de aceite de oliva virgen extra

The health benefits of olive oil are well-known. In this study, the unsaponifiable fraction of extra virgin olive oil (Unsap) was investigated for reducing power capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, fer-rous chelating activity and nitric oxide inhibition. The present study was also designed to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effect of the Unsap against human carcinoma cells. The anti-inflammatory potential of Unsap has been determined via the inhibition of Human Cyclooxygenases. The results showed that Unsap is efficient for ferric reducing antioxidant power and nitric oxide inhibition. Unsap has a selective effect as anti-inflammatory agent. The results showed moderate to good in vitro antitumor activities of Unsap against human liver, lung and pancreas cancer cells with IC50 ranging from 19.6 to 30.4 μg/mL and good selectivity index (≥ 2). In conclusion, Unsap represents a promising and safe antitumor and antioxidant material that supports the need for further investigation.Los beneficios para la salud del aceite de oliva son bien conocidos. En este estudio, se investigó la fracción insaponificable del aceite de oliva virgen extra (Insap) para reducir el poder antioxidante férrico, la actividad quelante ferrosa y la inhibición del óxido nítrico. El presente estudio también fue diseñado para evaluar el efecto citotóxico in vitro del Insap contra las células de carcinoma humano. La potencialidad antiinflamatoria del Insap se ha determinado mediante la inhibición de las ciclooxigenasas humanas. Los resultados mostraron que el Insap es eficiente para reducir el poder antioxidante férrico y la inhibición del óxido nítrico. El Insap tiene un efecto selectivo como agente antiinflamatorio. Los resultados mostraron actividades antitumorales in vitro del Insap de moderadas a buenas contra células de cáncer de hígado, pulmón y páncreas humano con una CI50 que varía de 19,6 a 30,4 μg/ml y por su buen índice de selectividad ( ≥ 2). En conclusión, el Insap contiene material antitumoral y antioxidante prometedor y seguro que será respaldado por investiga-ciones adicionales