Influence of gold nanoparticles on the immune response to rift valley fever vaccine and related hepatophysiological toxicity, histological, and immunohistochemical alterations

Background: Vaccination is a very effective method of stimulating the immune response against infections. Adjuvants are employed to enhance the immune response, but they must be safe, inexpensive, and easy to use. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate gold nanoparticles as immune enhancers for rift valley fever vaccine. Methods: The rats were divided into four groups (10 each): the negative control group, rats immunized with nonadjuvanted rift valley fever vaccine and the last two rat groups immunized with rift valley fever vaccine combined with 40 μM of spherical gold nanoparticles and combined with 40 μM of rod-shaped gold nanoparticles, respectively. Results: Compared with rats receiving no treatment and rats treated with nonadjuvanted vaccine, rats treated with vaccines combined with gold nanoparticles exhibited toxic biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical changes, as shown by significant elevations in liver enzymatic markers and total bilirubin. The magnitude of the biochemical changes was dependent on the shape of the gold nanoparticles: the elevations in liver enzymatic markers and total bilirubin were greater in the group treated with spherical gold nanoparticles than in the group treated with rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. Conclusion: It can be concluded that gold nanoparticles are promising vaccine cellular and humoral immune enhancers/adjuvants via different cytokine pathways

Comparative Effectiveness of Anti-Inflammatory Drug Treatments in Coronary Heart Disease Patients: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Introduction and Hypothesis. The role of inflammation is widely recognized in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. Research on animal models had shown the potential benefits of targeting specific inflammatory pathways. However, studies on human subjects are limited with small number of patients and no head-to-head comparisons. Methods. We conducted a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that studied the effects of anti-inflammatory medications on cardiovascular outcomes of coronary artery disease patients. We searched the electronic database until March 2020 for relevant studies. Results. Nineteen trials examining the efficacy of eight anti-inflammatory medications (pexelizumab, anakinra, colchicine, darapladib, varespladib, canakinumab, inclacumab, and losmapimod) were selected for analysis. Overall, there is no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, revascularization, and major cardio and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. However, we found the use of colchicine significantly reduces the odds of developing stroke by approximately 75% (OR 0.26, CI 0.10-0.63). Colchicine use was also associated with a lower risk of revascularization and MACCE compared to the other agents. Our subgroup analyses comparing the timing of medication initiation (within 7 days vs. \u3e7 days) and clinical presentation (ACS vs. non-ACS) revealed a significant reduction in the risk of recurrent MI in the group that received medication after seven days (OR 0.92, CI 0.86-0.99) and the non-ACS group (OR 0.88, CI 0.80-0.98). Conclusion. Although many anti-inflammatory medications have failed to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the CAD population, selected medications show promise among subgroups of patients without ACS or after the first week following an acute ischemic event. Future studies examining the proper timing and targetable anti-inflammatory pathways are warranted

Impact of Culture Media Composition, Nutrients Stress and Gamma Radiation on Biomass and Lipid of the Green Microalga, Dictyochloropsis splendida as a Potential Feedstock for Biodiesel Production

يعتمد إنتاج الديزل الحيوي من الطحالب الدقيقة على إنتاج الكتلة الحيوية ومحتوى الدهون. يتم التحكم في زياده انتاج الكتلة الحيوية و تراكم الدهون بواسطة عدة عوامل.فى هذا العمل تم دراسة تأثيرات ثلاث اوساط غذائيه خاصة بزراعة الطحالب ( BG11, BBM, Urea media) وايضا بعض المغذيات)النيتروجين والفوسفورو المغنيسيوم والكربون) واشعة جاما على نمو وانتاج الدهون لطحالب Dictyochloropsis splendida. تم الحصول علي أعلي انتاج للكتله الحيويه والدهون لطحلب Dictyochloropsis splendida  عندما تم زراعة الطحلب على الوسط الغذائي BG11 . علاوة على ذلك كان اعلى انتاجية للكتله الحيويه عند 3000 مليجرام / لتر نيتروجين او 160 مليجرام / لتر فوسفور او 113 مليجرام/لتر مغنسيوم او 20 مليجرام/ لتر كربونات.  بينما عند غياب المغذيات فان تراكم الدهون زاد. من ناحية اخرى فان المحتوى الدهنى للطحلب وصل الى 18.26% عندما تعرضت خلايا الطحلب لجرعة 25 جراى من اشعة جاما. وكانت  الدهون المستخلصة من الطحلب تتكون من نسبة عالية من الاحماض الدهنية المشبعة (SFAs, 63.33% ) والاحماض الدهنية الغيرمشبعة (UFAs, 37.02%) وكانت السيادة لحمض البالمتيك (C16:0) ثم حمض اللينوليك (C18:2) فحمض بنتاديكانويك (C15:0) وحمض بالميتوليك (C16:1). و تمثل الاحماض الدهنية المستخلصه من طحلب Dictyochloropsis splendida بهذا التركيب مواد خام واعدة لانتاج الديزل الحيوي.Biodiesel production from microalgae depends on the biomass and lipid production. Both biomass and lipid accumulation is controlled by several factors. The effect of various culture media (BG11, BBM, and Urea), nutrients stress [nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg) and carbonate (CO3)] and gamma (γ) radiation on the growth and lipid accumulation of   Dictyochloropsis splendida were investigated. The highest biomass and lipid yield of D. splendida were achieved on BG11 medium. Cultivation of D. splendida in a medium containing 3000 mg L−1 N, or 160 mg L−1 P, or 113 mg L−1 Mg, or 20 mg L-1 CO3, led to enhanced growth rate. While under the low concentrations of nutrients caused a marked increase in the lipid content. Cultures exposure to 25 Gy of γ-rays, led to an increase in lipid content up to 18.26 ± 0.81 %. Lipid profile showed the maximum presence of saturated fatty acids (SFAs, 63.33%), and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs, 37.02%). Fatty acids (FAs) recorded the predominance of C16:0, C18:2, C15:0 and C16:1, which strongly proved D. splendida is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production.        

Role of Natural Products in Ameliorating Drugs and Chemicals Toxicity

Herbal medicines have a long history over than 7000 years in traditional treatment, therapeutic experiences, and clinical trials including Egypt, China, and Korea. This practice is still the mainstay of about 75–80% of the world population, mainly in the developing countries, for primary health care and promotion because of better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body, and lesser side effects. However, the last few years have seen a major increase in their use in the developed world. Nowadays, we can find a bipolarised market for the active ingredients: those chemically produced and mainly supported by the pharmaceutical companies and those natural constituents that are demanded by an increased number of patients. Although natural products have not been always active as supposed, some of them are scientifically recognised as therapeutically active. Indeed, it has to be noted that some drugs, still used in the current therapies, are extracted from plants. Some of these can have additive action if coadministered with synthesized drugs or ameliorate the drug toxicity

Prognostic Role of Elevated Myeloperoxidase in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Myocardial inflammation following acute ischemic injury has been linked to poor cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Many studies have linked myeloperoxidase (MPO), a neutrophil and inflammatory marker, to cardiac inflammation in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the prognostic role of MPO for adverse clinical outcomes in ACS patients has not been well established. Methods. MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched for studies from 1975 to March 2018 that investigated the prognostic value of serum MPO in ACS patients. Studies which have dichotomized patients into a high MPO group and a low MPO group reported clinical outcomes accordingly and followed up patients for at least 30 days to be eligible for enrollment. Data were analyzed using random-effects model. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for quality control. Results. Our meta-analysis included 13 studies with 9090 subjects and a median follow-up of 11.4 months. High MPO level significantly predicted mortality (odds ratio (OR) 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-2.94; ), whereas it was not significantly predictive of major adverse cardiac events and recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) (OR 1.28; CI: 0.92-1.77, and OR 1.23; CI: 0.96-1.58, , respectively). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and age did not affect the prognostic value of MPO for clinical outcomes, whereas female gender and smoking status have a strong influence on the prognostic value of MPO in terms of mortality and recurrent MI (metaregression coefficient -8.616: 95% CI -14.59 to -2.633, and 4.88: 95% CI 0.756 to 9.0133, , respectively). Conclusions. Our meta-analysis suggests that high MPO levels are associated with the risk of mortality and that MPO can be incorporated in risk stratification models that guide therapy of high-risk ACS patients

Conversion of boreal lake sedimented pulp mill fibre into biogas: a two-stage hydrogen and methane production

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STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS WHICH RESULT FROM THE BIO-DIAGNOSIS AND BIO-TREATMENT OF INJURED RATS WITH THE HYPERLIPIDEMIA AND HYPERGLYCEMIA DISEASES

ABSTRACTObjective: This study in bioinformatics aims to investigate the potential effect of Ipomoea tricolor and Sophora tomentosa on liver function enzymesactivity, serum lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarkers, and on blood glucose in high fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia (HC) and STZ-inducedhyperglycemia (HG) in rats.Methods: Blood glucose level, liver function enzymes, alanine aminotransferases and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and lactatedehydrogenase (LDH) were determined. Besides, lipid profile including total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), total lipid, and high-densitylipoprotein-cholesterol was investigated. Moreover, oxidative stress biomarkers, lipid peroxide, and nitric oxide as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant,glutathione (GSH) were also examined in different therapeutic groups.Results: A significant increase in blood glucose level, liver function enzyme activities, LDH, lipid profile and oxidative stress markers, while significantdecrease in LDH-C and GSH level in HC-HG induced rats compared to control one. A marked amelioration in all biochemical parameters underinvestigation on treatment of HC-HG rats with I. tricolor and S. tomentosa with different fluctuating percentages of improvement. Histopathologicalexamination of liver and pancreas was also performed and declared HC-HG showed congestion in portal vessels and sinusoids with mild centrilobularhepatocyte degeneration, marked hepatocyte ballooning and hydropic degeneration, while HC-HG treated rats with I. tricolor and S. tomentosa showednormal lobular hepatic architecture with mild sinusoidal dilatation and congestion. On the other hand, a histological organization of pancreas of HC-HGrats showing disarrangement changes in pancreatic blood vessels and interlobular duct as well as disordered in acini. The treatment of HC-HG rats withI. tricolor and S. tomentosa showed enhancement in Langerhans cells and restore of most pancreatic tissue in comparison with standard drugs.Conclusion: The statistical results showed that each extract ameliorated high blood glucose level liver injury, HC and oxidative stress indicatingrelieving of oxidative damage associated with the complexity of HG and HC. These results demonstrated that these two plants extracts may be acandidate intelligent antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective nutraceuticals which need further clinical investigation to beapplied effectively to reduce perturbation in HC associated diabetes.Keywords: Ipomoea tricolor, Sophora tomentosa, Lipid profile and liver function enzymes, Endothelial dysfunction markers, Statistics and imagerecognition, Histopathological analysis

Single Step Electrodeposited Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films at low annealing temperatures

[EN] This paper reports onthe growth of quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films by a single step electrochemicaldeposition followed by annealing at low temperature.The influence of different annealing atmospheres at constant annealingtimes (t = 45min) and fixed preparation controlling parameters; i.e., starting materials (precursor metal salts) solution concentration, time of deposition and electrodeposition potential. Structural, compositional, morphological, andoptical properties, as well as photoelectrochemical properties were studied. The films, sulfurized during 2 hours, showeda prominent kesterite phase with a nearly stoichiometric composition. Samples were characterizedby X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS and UV-VIS-NIR spectrometry. X-ray diffraction and confirmed the formation of pure kesterite CZTS films. SEM shows that films are compact with densemorphology and homogeneous distribution. EDS analyzed the elemental constituents of the quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 with an apparent Cu deficiency and S rich for the sulfurized samples. From optical study, the energy gap was indexed for the sulfurized samples,Eg=1.52 eV. Under illumination sulfurized CZTS films exhibits negative photocurrent and positive photovoltagevalues confirming the p-type character of the films.This work was supported by the Culture, Affairs and Missions Sector, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Egypt) and Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) (ENE2016-77798-C4-2-R) and Generalitat valenciana (Prometeus 2014/044).Marí, B.; Mollar García, MA.; El Nahrawy, A.; Saber, S.; Khattab, N.; Eid, A.; Abo-Aly, M.... (2018). Single Step Electrodeposited Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films at low annealing temperatures. Insights in Analytical Electrochemistry. 4(1:8):1-6. https://doi.org/10.21767/2470-9867.100028S1641:

Structural and Electrochemical Analysis of CIGS: Cr Crystalline Nanopowders and Thin Films Deposited onto ITO Substrates

A new approach for the synthesis of nanopowders and thin films of CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) chalcopyrite material doped with different amounts of Cr is presented. The chalcopyrite material CuInxGa1 − xSe2 was doped using Cr to form a new doped chalcopyrite with the structure CuInxCryGa1 − x − ySe2, where x = 0.4 and y = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3. The electrical properties of CuInx CryGa1 − x − ySe2 are highly dependent on the Cr content and results show these materials as promising dopants for the fabrication thin film solar cells. The CIGS nano-precursor powder was initially synthesized via an autoclave method, and then converted into thin films over transparent substrates. Both crystalline precursor powders and thin films deposited onto ITO substrates following a spin-coating process were subsequently characterized using XRD, SEM, HR-TEM, UV-visible and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS measurement was performed to evaluate the dc-conductivity of these novel materials as conductive films to be applied in solar cells

Acetylsalicylic Acid Suppresses Alcoholism-Induced Cognitive Impairment Associated with Atorvastatin Intake by Targeting Cerebral miRNA155 and NLRP3: In Vivo, and In Silico Study

Alcoholism is one of the most common diseases that can lead to the development of several chronic diseases including steatosis, and cognitive dysfunction. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs that are commonly prescribed for patients with fatty liver diseases; however, the exact effect of statins on cognitive function is still not fully understood. In the present study, we have investigated the molecular and microscopic basis of cognitive impairment induced by alcohol and/or Atorvastatin (ATOR) administration to male Wistar albino rats and explored the possible protective effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The biochemical analysis indicated that either alcohol or ATOR or together in combination produced a significant increase in the nucleotide-binding domain–like receptor 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) miRNA155 expression levels in the frontal cortex of the brain tissue. The histological and morphometric analysis showed signs of degeneration in the neurons and the glial cells with aggregations of inflammatory cells and a decrease in the mean thickness of the frontal cortex. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the caspase-8 immunoreaction in the neurons and glial cells of the frontal cortex. Interestingly, administration of ASA reversed the deleterious effect of the alcohol and ATOR intake and improved the cognitive function as indicated by biochemical and histological analysis. ASA significantly decreased the expression levels of miRNA155, NLRP3, and IL1B, and produced a significant decrease in caspase-8 immunoreaction in the neurons and glial cells of the frontal cortex with a reduction in the process of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. To further investigate these findings, we have performed an extensive molecular docking study to investigate the binding affinity of ASA to the binding pockets of the NLRP3 protein. Our results indicated that ASA has high binding scores toward the active sites of the NLRP3 NACHT domain with the ability to bind to the NLRP3 pockets by a set of hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. Taken together, the present study highlights the protective pharmacological effect of ASA to attenuate the deleterious effect of alcohol intake and long term ATOR therapy on the cognitive function via targeting miRNA155 and NLRP3 proteins.Peer Reviewe