Protective effect of propolis on manganese chloride neurotoxicity of olfactory bulb in adult male albino rat

Background: Manganese (Mn) is widely used for industrial purposes and exposure to high levels of Mn may cause an irreversible brain disease. Propolis is a natural plant product; it acts as a powerful reactive oxygen species scavenger and improves the neurodegeneration process. Materials and methods: In this study 40 adult male albino rats were divided randomly into four groups 10 rats each: group I (control group), group II manganese chloride (MnCl2) received 10 mg/kg/day/orally for 4 weeks by intra-gastric tube, group III (propolis group) received 50 mg/kg/day/orally for 4 weeks by intra-gastric tube, and group IV (MnCl2 + propolis group) received the same doses with the same duration and route as in groups II and III. Rats were sacrificed after 24 h of last dose. The olfactory bulbs removed, the right bulb cut to be processed for haematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemical staining and the left cut for electron microscopic studies. Results: Results revealed that rat olfactory bulb from MnCl2 group showed darkly stained mitral cells with dark pyknotic nuclei, some show pericellular spaces and vacuolation, dark apoptotic cells in granular cells, neuropil vacuolation and pyknotic astrocyte. Electron microscopic examination showed abnormal granular cell with irregular damaged nuclear membrane, rupture of myelin fibre. Mitral nerve cell with destructed nucleus, many cytoplasmic vacuoles, swollen rough endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolated mitochondria and neuropil were observed. Manganese chloride + propolis group showed improvement compared to MnCl2 group. Conclusions: It was concluded that propolis can ameliorate the toxic changes of manganese chloride on rat olfactory bulb

Modulation of endoglin expression in islets of langerhans by VEGF reveals a novel regulator of islet endothelial cell function

BACKGROUND: Endoglin/CD105 is an auxiliary receptor for transforming growth factor-β with established roles in vascular remodelling. It has recently been shown that heterozygous endoglin deficiency in mice decreases insulin secretion in an animal model of obesity, highlighting a potential role for endoglin in the regulation of islet function. We have previously identified two different populations of endoglin expressing cells in human and mouse islets which are: (i) endothelial cells (ECs) and (ii) islet mesenchymal stromal cells. The contribution of islet EC endoglin expression to islet development and sensitivity to VEGF is unknown and is the focus of this study. RESULTS: In vitro culture of mouse islets with VEGF164 for 48 h increased endoglin mRNA levels above untreated controls but VEGF did not modulate VEGFR2, CD31 or CD34 mRNA expression or islet viability. Removal of EC-endoglin expression in vivo reduced islet EC area but had no apparent effect on islet size or architecture. CONCLUSION: EC-specific endoglin expression in islets is sensitive to VEGF and plays partial roles in driving islet vascular development, however such regulation appears to be distinct to mechanisms required to modulate islet viability and size

Validity of Finite Element Method: Analysis of Laminated Composite Decks Plates Subjected to in Plane Loading

To verify the accuracy of the present technique, buckling loads are evaluated and validated with other works available in the literature. Further comparisons were carried out and compared with the results obtained by the ANSYS package and experimental results. The good agreement with available data demonstrates the reliability of the finite element method used

Stability of Thin Laminated Decks Plates Under Plane Compressive Loading

It was found that symmetric laminates are stiffer than the anti – symmetric one due to coupling between bending and stretching which decreases the buckling loads of symmetric laminates. The buckling load increases with increasing aspect ratio, and decreases with increase in modulus ratio. The buckling load will remain the same even when the lamination order is reversed. The buckling load increases with the mode number but at different rates depending on the type of end support. It is also observed that as the mode number increases, the plate needs additional support

Optimizing the rheological properties of silica nano-modified bentonite mud using overlaid contour plot and estimation of maximum or upper shear stress limit.

An optimization based statistical (response surface) approach was used to evaluate the rheological properties of bentonite mud treated with silica nanoparticles. The overlaid contour plot established the feasible region for the various factor settings from multiple regression equations. The steepest method was used to further determine the optimal factor settings for minimum rheological properties and this was established at 6.3 wt.% bentonite content and 0.94 wt.% silica nanoparticles. The rheological properties of the bentonite mud containing and without silica nanoparticles was evaluated using a Hyperbolic (new) model and related with other oil industry based models: Herschel Bulkley, Sisko, Casson. The hyperbolic rheological model estimated the rheological behaviour of the nano-modified mud satisfactorily while also predicting a shear stress limit for the nano-modified mud. The maximum shear stress limit values for 6.3, 13 and 15 wt.% mud were 14.59, 61.74 and 107.4 Pa respectively. Upper shear stress values obtained from a 1.5 wt.% silica nanoparticle modified 6.3, 13 and 15 wt.% bentonite mud were 22.27, 72.62 and 171.3 Pa respectively, which represents an increment of 34.5 to 37.4% in the upper limit of shear stress. The effect of silica nanoparticles on the upper shear stress limit was quantified using a response surface design

Role of Nigella sativa seed oil on corneal injury induced by formaldehyde in adult male albino rats

Formaldehyde is frequently used in occupational environments, its toxicity concerns to all who work closely with it such as anatomists. Nigella sativa is an amazing herb with a rich historical and religious background; its seeds are the source of its active ingredients. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of Nigella sativa oil on corneal injury induced by formaldehyde in adult male albino rats. Forty adult male albino rats were divided randomly to four groups 10 rats each: I — Control group, II — Formaldehyde exposed group, III — Nigella sativa oil group (40 mg/kg/day) via intragastric tube daily for 2 weeks and IV — Formaldehyde and Nigella sativa group. Rats were sacrificed with ether, the corneas were extracted, one processed for haematoxylin and eosin stain and the other was used for transmission electron microscopic examination. Our results in group II revealed marked disorganisation, erosion, vacuolation and necrosis of epithelial cells with loss of parts of epithelial layer. Large congested invasion of blood vessels with separation and disorganisation of stromal fibrils. The corneas of group IV showed intact layers of epithelial cells with appearance close to control group. Star shaped cells (limbal stem cells) were obviously noticed in basal and intermediate layer with intact Bowman’s membrane. Stroma showed regular parallel collagen, limbal stem cells were also noticed in group III. We concluded that Nigella sativa oil can ameliorate the toxic changes of formaldehyde on rat corneas.

Assessment of left ventricular recovery in Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy using 2D strain echocardiography

Contre la désertification De la convention internationale à l'élaboration participative des programmes d'action nationaux Comme toutes les conventions internationales, la convention sur la désertification est un texte consensuel qui n'indique pas de façon explicite comment mettre en oeuvre toutes ses dispositions. Pourtant, chaque pays affecté est tenu d'élaborer et d'appliquer des programmes d'action nationaux qui doivent être appliqués par les acteurs les plus concernés, les communautés locales. Cet ouvrage propose une démarche pour l'élaboration participative de ces programmes d'action. Il est la synthèse des résultats et des recommandations de la Conférence sous-régionale de vulgarisation de la Convention de lutte contre la désertification et de mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action du RIOD (Réseau international des ONG sur la désertification) en mai 1996. Cette conférence s'inscrivait dans une série de quatre rencontres sous-régionales préconisées afin de faire connaître la convention à un plus grand nombre d'acteurs. Masse Lo - Yacine Diagne - Emmanuel Seck - Série Etudes et recherches n° 190-191 ISBN : 92-9130-0187 - Enda-Editions - Boîte Postale 3370 - Dakar - SENEGAL Tél.: (221) 22-42-29 Télécopie : (221) 23-51-57 E-mail : [email protected]. Prix : 100 FF frais de port inclus pour les pays du Nord - 2 000 FCFA (frais de port : 800 FCFA) pour les pays du SudDe la convention international

Prevalence of Giardia Assemblages Among Equines in Jordan

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 equine holding (326 horses and 74 donkeys) samples to determine the prevalence of Giardia assemblages A, B, and E in Jordan. Identifying the Giardia assemblages was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening test and PCR-RFLP targeting β-giardin loci. In addition, polymerase chain reaction targeting triose phosphate isomerase gene specific for assemblages A and B were used as confirmatory. Thirty-four samples tested positive by ELISA for Giardia with an apparent prevalence of 8.5%. The PCR-RFLP test confirmed Giardia assemblages in 30 of the 34 ELISA-positive samples giving a true prevalence of 7.7% (95% confidence interval: 4.8–10.1). Of the 30 positive animals/holdings, 18, 4, and 8 had assemblages A, B, and E. Assemblage A was significantly (P < .05) more prevalent when compared to assemblages B and E. The total infection rates of Giardia, assemblages B and E were significantly (P < .05, chi-square) higher in donkeys 14.8%, 2.7%, and 5.5% compared to horses 5.8%, 0.6%, and 1.2%, respectively. Analysis of risk factors revealed that only season was significantly associated with the different Giardia assemblages. Autumn (odds ratio [OR] = 0.09) was associated with Giardia infection regardless of the assemblage type as reducing factor. The odds of infection of assemblages A and E increased in winter (OR = 6.8) and spring (OR = 4.5), respectively. Giardia assemblages A, B, and E infect both horses and donkeys in Jordan with potential impact on human and animal health, and the odds of infections is significantly associated with season

High-pressure behavior of superconducting boron-doped diamond

This work investigates the high-pressure structure of freestanding superconducting ($T_{c}$ = 4.3\,K) boron doped diamond (BDD) and how it affects the electronic and vibrational properties using Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction in the 0-30\,GPa range. High-pressure Raman scattering experiments revealed an abrupt change in the linear pressure coefficients and the grain boundary components undergo an irreversible phase change at 14\,GPa. We show that the blue shift in the pressure-dependent vibrational modes correlates with the negative pressure coefficient of $T_{c}$ in BDD. The analysis of x-ray diffraction data determines the equation of state of the BDD film, revealing a high bulk modulus of $B_{0}$=510$\pm$28\,GPa. The comparative analysis of high-pressure data clarified that the sp$^{2}$ carbons in the grain boundaries transform into hexagonal diamond.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Doctor-Patient Communication A Requisite for Better Medication History Taking: Insight from Sudan

Despite the awareness of doctors about the significance of obtaining a comprehensive medication history for patients, they often neglect this in their practice, resulting in an incomplete patient medication list. The study aimed to investigate the role of communication skills as a crucial part of optimal pharmacotherapy. An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out at internal medicine department in a tertiary hospital, Wad Medani, Sudan.  The research instrument was a form involved a checklist rating a doctor’s performance during the medical encounters. Among 94 medical doctors, 51% were males and 6.15 (SE) was the average years of experience. About 13% of participants received under-graduation training in communication skills, while 21% had it after post-graduation. Concerning communication skills evaluation, 61% of specialists, 29% of registrars, and 7% of house officers reported an excellent performance. Gender and doctors’ ranking in a medical team had a significant role in communication skills (P-value <0.05) with an overall adjusted R2 of 0.339. Specialists were the most knowledgeable and skillful in obtaining structured medication history; 67% reported an excellent performance. Communication skills had a remarkable impact in getting patient medication history (P-value: <0.05) with an overall adjusted R2 of 0. 763.The study concluded that; gender and doctors’ ranking in the medical team were the main predictors for doctors to be a good communicator. Communication skills have a significant role in medication history taking. There was a gap in knowledge and training in communication skills among internal medicine doctors specifically, “house officers.” This gap negatively contributed to obtaining a comprehensive patient medication history