Relation of Advanced Glycation End Products and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Progression

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relation between oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products in patients suffering from different stages primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and complications of glaucoma progression. Forty five patients suffering from POAG classified into three stages; mild, moderate and advanced as well as fifteen healthy "non- diabetic subjects" (age and sex matched healthy controls) were selected from the outpatient clinic in the Research Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) Giza Egypt.nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), α-tocopherol (vitamin E), catalase activity (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were estimated in all studied groups. A significant increase in MDA, NO and AGEs levels was detected in mild, moderate and advanced glaucoma compared to control, also significant decreases in vitamin C, vitamin E, GSH, and SOD activities were found in mild, moderate and advanced glaucoma compared to control. No significant change was found in catalase activity in all groups compared to control. Statistical significant positive correlations were found between intra ocular pressure (IOP) and disease severity. this study clearly demonstrated increased accumulation of AGEs, lipid peroxidation products along with impairment of the antioxidant status in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.We suggest that AGEs measurement could be used as a diagnostic marker in primary screening programs for diagnosis and prediction of the development and progression of glaucoma

Insecticide resistance in the sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi from Khartoum State, Sudan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Phlebotomus papatasi </it>the vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most widely spread sand fly in Sudan. No data has previously been collected on insecticide susceptibility and/or resistance of this vector, and a first study to establish a baseline data is reported here.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sand flies were collected from Surogia village, (Khartoum State), Rahad Game Reserve (eastern Sudan) and White Nile area (Central Sudan) using light traps. Sand flies were reared in the Tropical Medicine Research Institute laboratory. The insecticide susceptibility status of first progeny (F1) of <it>P. papatasi </it>of each population was tested using WHO insecticide kits. Also, <it>P. papatasi </it>specimens from Surogia village and Rahad Game Reserve were assayed for activities of enzyme systems involved in insecticide resistance (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), non-specific carboxylesterases (EST), glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome p450 monooxygenases (Cyt p450).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Populations of <it>P. papatasi </it>from White Nile and Rahad Game Reserve were sensitive to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), permethrin, malathion, and propoxur. However, the <it>P. papatasi </it>population from Surogia village was sensitive to DDT and permethrin but highly resistant to malathion and propoxur. Furthermore, <it>P. papatasi </it>of Surogia village had significantly higher insecticide detoxification enzyme activity than of those of Rahad Game Reserve. The sand fly population in Surogia displayed high AChE activity and only three specimens had elevated levels for EST and GST.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study provided evidence for malathion and propoxur resistance in the sand fly population of Surogia village, which probably resulted from anti-malarial control activities carried out in the area during the past 50 years.</p

Androgen-Regulated Expression of Arginase 1, Arginase 2 and Interleukin-8 in Human Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in North American men. Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) accentuates the infiltration of immune cells within the prostate. However, the immunosuppressive pathways regulated by androgens in PCa are not well characterized. Arginase 2 (ARG2) expression by PCa cells leads to a reduced activation of tumor-specific T cells. Our hypothesis was that androgens could regulate the expression of ARG2 by PCa cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this report, we demonstrate that both ARG1 and ARG2 are expressed by hormone-sensitive (HS) and hormone-refractory (HR) PCa cell lines, with the LNCaP cells having the highest arginase activity. In prostate tissue samples, ARG2 was more expressed in normal and non-malignant prostatic tissues compared to tumor tissues. Following androgen stimulation of LNCaP cells with 10 nM R1881, both ARG1 and ARG2 were overexpressed. The regulation of arginase expression following androgen stimulation was dependent on the androgen receptor (AR), as a siRNA treatment targeting the AR inhibited both ARG1 and ARG2 overexpression. This observation was correlated in vivo in patients by immunohistochemistry. Patients treated by ADT prior to surgery had lower ARG2 expression in both non-malignant and malignant tissues. Furthermore, ARG1 and ARG2 were enzymatically active and their decreased expression by siRNA resulted in reduced overall arginase activity and l-arginine metabolism. The decreased ARG1 and ARG2 expression also translated with diminished LNCaP cells cell growth and increased PBMC activation following exposure to LNCaP cells conditioned media. Finally, we found that interleukin-8 (IL-8) was also upregulated following androgen stimulation and that it directly increased the expression of ARG1 and ARG2 in the absence of androgens. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our data provides the first detailed in vitro and in vivo account of an androgen-regulated immunosuppressive pathway in human PCa through the expression of ARG1, ARG2 and IL-8

Medical prospects of cryptosporidiosis in vivo control using biofabricated nanoparticles loaded with Cinnamomum camphora extracts by Ulva fasciata

Background and Aim: Global efforts are continuing to develop preparations against cryptosporidiosis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of biosynthesized Ulva fasciata loading Cinnamomum camphora oil extract on new zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs shorten to ZnNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as alternative treatments for Cryptosporidium parvum experimental infection in rats. Materials and Methods: Oil extract was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, loaded by U. fasciata on ionic-based ZnO and NPs, and then characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Biosafety and toxicity were investigated by skin tests. A total of 105 C. parvum oocysts/rat were used (n = 81, 2–3 W, 80–120 g, 9 male rats/group). Oocysts shedding was counted for 21 d. Doses of each preparation in addition to reference drug were administered daily for 7 d, starting on post-infection (PI) day (3). Nitazoxanide (100 mg) was used as the reference drug. After 3 weeks, the rats were sacrificed for postmortem examination and histopathological examination. Two blood samples/rat/group were collected on the 21st day. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples were also used for analysis of biochemistry, hematology, immunology, micronucleus prevalence, and chromosomal abnormalities. Results: C. camphora leaves yielded 28.5 ± 0.3 g/kg oil and 20 phycocompounds were identified. Spherical and rod-shaped particles were detected at 10.47–30.98 nm and 18.83–38.39 nm, respectively. ZnNPs showed the earliest anti-cryptosporidiosis effect during 7–17 d PI. Other hematological, biochemical, immunological, histological, and genotoxicity parameters were significantly fruitful; hence, normalized pathological changes induced by infestation were observed in the NPs treatments groups against the infestation-free and Nitazoxanide treated group. Conclusion: C. camphora, U. fasciata, ZnNPs, and AgNPs have refluxed the pathological effects of infection as well as positively improved host physiological condition by its anticryptosporidial immunostimulant regenerative effects with sufficient ecofriendly properties to be proposed as an alternative to traditional drugs, especially in individuals with medical reactions against chemical commercial drugs

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

THE DETERMINANTS OF EXTERNAL DEMAND FOR EXPORTS OF EGYPTIAN FROZEN VEGETABLE

The problem of research is facing Egyptian exports of frozen vegetables in general, and the mixture of frozen vegetables in particular, with intense competition in foreign markets, which requires studying this problem and proposing appropriate solutions to it. Therefore, the research aimed to study means of developing and increasing agricultural exports of Egyptian frozen vegetables. The research focused on the exports of the Egyptian frozen vegetable mixture, as it was found that it ranked first among the total Egyptian exports of frozen vegetables during the period (2014-2018), where it represented about 70.1% of the total quantities. The research has reached some conclusions, including: The time trend equations for the quantity, value and price of Egyptian exports for both frozen vegetables and frozen vegetable mixtures were estimated during the period (2004-2018). It turned out that the ratio of the increase to the average in both the quantity and value of exports of frozen vegetables mixture is greater than that in the total frozen vegetables. By studying the geographical distribution, the most important importing countries for the Egyptian frozen vegetable mixture were identified during the period (2014-2018), namely Saudi Arabia, America, France. By studying the market share index of the most important importing markets for frozen vegetables mixture shows that Egypt occupies the first position in the list of countries exporting frozen vegetables mixtures in the Saudi market during the period (2010-2012) with an amount of exports estimated at about 4.9 thousand tons and a market share of about 72.2%. By studying The External of individual demand for the Egyptian frozen vegetable mixture in the Saudi market shows that an increase in the price of Egypt by 1% leads to a decrease in Egypt's exports to Saudi Arabia by 0.89%. A 1% decrease in India’s price leads to a decrease in Egypt’s exports by 0.89, meaning that there is a significant impact of price changes and that India is a competitor to Egypt within the Saudi market. The research recommended 1. Study the non-price competitive reasons, as Egypt has a competitive price advantage, yet its market share in the Saudi market is decreasing (it may be due to taste, packaging, export facilities, etc.). 2. The competitive advantage between Egypt and India is decreasing more than the other two competing countries (Spain, Belgium). 3. Focus on studying the reasons for India's increasing competitiveness of Egyptian exports. 4. There is an effect of price competition, especially with Mexican and Chinese exports, and it is recommended that this price competitive advantage be improved in favor of Egypt. 5. Italy is the largest competitor in the French market (it has a significant price impact on Egypt's exports, followed by Spain)

Novel Antimicrobial Organic Thermal Stabilizer and Co-Stabilizer for Rigid PVC

Biologically active &lt;em&gt;N&lt;/em&gt;-benzoyl-4-(&lt;em&gt;N&lt;/em&gt;-maleimido)-phenylhydrazide (BMPH) was synthesized and its structure was confirmed by elemental analysis and various spectral tools. It was examined as a thermal stabilizer and co-stabilizer for rigid poly (vinyl chloride) at 180 °C in air. Blending BMPH with reference samples in different ratios greatly lengthens the thermal stability value and improves the extent of discoloration of PVC. TGA confirmed the improved stability of PVC in presence of the investigated organic stabilizer. GPC measurements were done to investigate the changes occurred in the molecular masses of the degraded samples of blank PVC and PVC in presence of the novel stabilizer. BMPH showed good antimicrobial activity towards two kinds of bacteria and two kinds of fungi

Quercetin protects against diabetes-induced exaggerated vasoconstriction in rats: effect on low grade inflammation.

Vascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Quercetin is an important flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Here, the effect of quercetin on diabetes-induced exaggerated vasoconstriction in insulin deficient and insulin resistant rat models was investigated. Insulin deficiency was induced by streptozotocin while, insulin resistance by fructose. Rats were left 8 weeks or 12 weeks after STZ or fructose administration respectively. Quercetin was daily administered in the last 6 weeks. Then, tail blood pressure (BP) was recorded in conscious animals; concentration-response curves for phenylephrine (PE) and KCl were studied in thoracic aorta rings. Non-fasting blood glucose level, serum insulin level, insulin resistance index, serum tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. Nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) was assessed by immunofluorescence technique. Histopathological examination was also performed. The results showed that quercetin protected against diabetes-induced exaggerated vasoconstriction and reduced the elevated blood pressure. In addition, quercetin inhibited diabetes associated adventitial leukocyte infiltration, endothelial pyknosis and increased collagen deposition. These effects were accompanied with reduction in serum level of both TNF-α and CRP and inhibition of aortic NF-κB by quercetin in both models of diabetes. On the other hand, quercetin did not affect glucose level in any of the used diabetic models. This suggests that the protective effect of quercetin is mediated by its anti-inflammatory effect rather than its metabolic effects. In summary, quercetin is potential candidate to prevent diabetic vascular complications in both insulin deficiency and resistance via its inhibitory effect on inflammatory pathways especially NF-κB signaling

The effect of cholinesterase inhibition on liver dysfunction in experimental acute liver failure

Introduction: Acute liver failure (ALF), like sepsis, is associated with an overwhelming activation of the immune response in which hepatic and circulating inflammatory cytokines play a pivotal role. Cholinesterase inhibition has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in experimental sepsis. We investigated the role of neostigmine in attenuating d-galactosamine (d-GalN)-induced ALF. Methods: Thirty-six female wistar rats were randomly allocated to three groups: a control group, a d-GalN group receiving a single i.p. injection of d-galactosamine (400 mg kg−1 BW) and a neostigmine-treated d-GalN group receiving a single i.p. injection of d-galactosamine followed 24 h later by i.p. injection of neostigmine methylsulfate 0.25% (80 μg kg−1 BW) three times daily for 3 successive days. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection. Plasma levels of liver transaminases, total proteins, albumin, prothrombin, total bilirubin and hepatic levels of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde were measured. Liver expression of cytokines (HMGB-1, TNF-α and IL-10) and histopathology were evaluated. Results: Neostigmine attenuated liver dysfunction and improved liver synthetic and excretory functions, reduced proinflammatory cytokine HMGB1 (95% CI 0.33–1.09) and TNF-α (95% CI 1.26–2.06) expression compared to d-GalN group (95% CI 2.67–4.73 and 7.33–14.53, respectively, P < 0.001) and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in liver tissue (95% CI 2.49–4.17 vs 0.04–0.21 in d-GalN group, P < 0.001). Neostigmine also significantly increased antioxidant level, and decreased oxidative burden caused by d-GaIN. Conclusion: Neostigmine improved liver function in a rat ALF model through an anti-inflammatory activity

Documentation and Evaluation of an Ancient Paper Manuscript with Leather Binding Using Spectrometric Methods

The present study presented an integrated analytical approach to the Qur’anic manuscript with leather binding; the multianalyses revealed the degree of degradation for paper and leather in the current manuscript under the study, causing the mapping of treatment. The visual assessment detected yellowness in the internal papers, dark black spots, and advanced erosion in the leather bind. The result detected that this manuscript leads to yellowing and weakness in the properties of paper under the attack of acidity where the pH of paper reached 5.5. XRD and FTIR analyses of paper illustrated a dramatic decrease of crystallinity index with a notable increase of C=O stretching, respectively. The sharp increase of carbonyl group can be used as evidence of oxidation. The microscopic examination also showed that cotton was used in the manufacturing of the paper of the current manuscript, while the leather bind was made from goatskin. In addition, the cellulose and protein bundles were both destructive and disintegrated