Novel Panel of Early Diagnostic Markers for Experimental Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 80% to 90% of primary liver cancer and it is a major health problem worldwide, ranking the fifth most common cancer in the world. In the present study we aimed to explore new or highly pertinent rapid and sensitive markers for early diagnosis of hepatocellular malignant changes. Two groups of rats were used in this study, one served as control, the second as trichloroacetic acid (TCA) challenged group (0.5 g/kg/d for 5 days, sacrificed after 4 weeks). The results showed that TCA group had a significant increase in blood alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase ( ALP), and acetyl CoA synthase (ACAS) activities, total bilirubin, triglycerides, total glycosaminoglycans (TGAGs), parallel with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). On the other hand, it induced a significant reduction in serum total lipoprotein lipase (TLPL) activity. The histopathological investigations of hepatic tissue confirmed these neoplastic changes induced by TCA. The three parameters (TGAGs level, TLPL and ACAS activities) can be added as new markers for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and elevation of the sensitivity and specificity of AFP

Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007). Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of “total Al”assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2•−, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2•)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2• radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 • − and OH•. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances

Harmful Elements in Estuarine and Coastal Systems

Estuaries and coastal zones are dynamic transitional systems which provide many economic and ecological benefits to humans, but also are an ideal habitat for other organisms as well. These areas are becoming contaminated by various anthropogenic activities due to a quick economic growth and urbanization. This chapter explores the sources, chemical speciation, sediment accumulation and removal mechanisms of the harmful elements in estuarine and coastal seawaters. It also describes the effects of toxic elements on aquatic flora and fauna. Finally, the toxic element pollution of the Venice Lagoon, a transitional water body located in the northeastern part of Italy, is discussed as a case study, by presenting the procedures adopted to measure the extent of the pollution, the impacts on organisms and the restoration activities

Pumpkin Oil–Based Nanostructured Lipid Carrier System for Antiulcer Effect in NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer Model in Rats [Retraction]

Ahmed OAA, Fahmy UA, Bakhaidar R, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2020;15:2529–2539. The Editor and Publisher of International Journal of Nanomedicine are retracting the above published article. An investigation by the Publisher found overlap in images from other articles and the images were used to describe results from other studies. Specifically, From the published article above, Figures 7A, control stomach section; 7B, indomethacin-treated stomach section; 7C, PSO + indomethacin stomach section and 7D, PSO-NLCs formula + indomethacin stomach section are the same images as Figures 4A, control stomach section; 4B, indomethacin-treated stomach section; 4C, omega-3 oil + indomethacin stomach section and 4D, omega-3 oil SNEDDS formula + indomethacin stomach section, published in: Ahmed OAA, Fahmy UA, Bakhaidar R, et al. Omega-3 Self-Nanoemulsion Role in Gastroprotection against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats. Pharmaceutics. 2020;12(2):140. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12020140. From the published article above, Figure 7B, indomethacin-treated stomach section, is derived from Figure 10B, indomethacin-treated stomach section, published in: Alhakamy NA, Badr-Eldin SM, Ahmed OAA, et al. Optimized Ellagic Acid–Ca Pectinate Floating Beads for Gastroprotection against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats. Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1006. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10071006. The authors cooperated with the investigation and provided data and associated documents concerning the histopathological experiments from the reported study. However, the Editor and Publisher determined that the evidence provided did not establish sufficient justification for the duplication. Therefore, the Editor and Publisher are retracting the article. The authors do not agree with the retraction. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”

Door-to-door survey of major neurological disorders (project) in Al Quseir City, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt

Hamdy NA El Tallawy,1 Wafaa MA Farghaly,1 Tarek A Rageh,1 Ghaydaa A Shehata,1 Reda Badry,1 Nabil A Metwally,2 Esam A El Moselhy,2 Mahmoud Hassan,2 Mohamed A Sayed,3 Ahmed A Waris,1 Yaser Hamed,2 Islam Shaaban,2 Mohamed A Hamed,1 Mahmoud Raafat Kandil11Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 2Department of Neurology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University (Assiut branch), Assiut, Egypt; 3Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, EgyptAbstract: A door-to-door survey, including every household, was conducted for all inhabitants of Al Quseir City (33,283), Red Sea Governorate, Egypt by three specialists of neurology as well as nine senior staff members of neurology and 15 female social workers to assess the epidemiology of major neurological disorders. Over six phases, from July 1, 2009 to January 31, 2012, screening of all eligible people in the population was carried out, by which case ascertainment of all major neurological disorders included in the study was done according to the accepted definitions and diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization. The order of frequency of prevalence of the studied neurological disorders was dementia (3.83% for those aged > 60 years), migraine (2.8% for those aged > 8 years), stroke (6.2/1000 for those aged > 20 years), epilepsy (5.5/1000), Parkinson’s disease (452.1/100,000 for those aged > 40 years), cerebral palsy (3.6/1000 among children 37 years), chorea (21.03/100,000), athetosis (15/100,000), and multiple sclerosis (13.74/100,000). The incidence rates of stroke, epilepsy, and Bell’s palsy were 181/100,000, 48/100,000, and 98.9/100,000 per year, respectively.Keywords: prevalence, incidence, neurological disorder