ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF JUSTICIA SPICIGERA ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS ANTHOCYANIN CONTENT

Objective: The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera were evaluated and the characterization of its anthocyanin content was done. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The ethyl acetate fraction was obtained by successive liquid/liquid fractionation of the crude cold ethanolic extract and the pigments were characterized by HPLC technique. The in vitro studies were carried out through evaluation of the EA fraction on the attenuation of 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. The in vivo biological evaluation was done in CCl4 injured rats through determination of liver function indices, oxidative stress markers and the histopathological picture of the treated liver.Results: The phenolic content in the EA fraction was 42.94 mg/g. Twelve anthocyanins were identified, the major of which are peonidin 3, 5-diglucoside (64.30%), malvidin 3, 5-diglucoside (10.59%) and petunidin 3,5-diglucoside (4.71%). Treatment of CCl4 intoxicated rats with EA fraction recorded improvement in the liver function indices and oxidative stress markers. The histopathological observations confirmed our results.Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera recorded antioxidant and hepato protective activities.Â

Anti-Obesity Evaluation of Averrhoa carambola L. Leaves and Assessment of Its Polyphenols as Potential α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

Averrhoa carambola L. is reported for its anti-obese and anti-diabetic activities. The present study aimed to investigate its aqueous methanol leaf extract (CLL) in vivo anti-obese activity along with the isolation and identification of bioactive compounds and their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assessment. CLL improved all obesity complications and exhibited significant activity in an obese rat model. Fourteen compounds, including four flavone glycosides (1–4) and ten dihydrochalcone glycosides (5–12), were isolated and identified using spectroscopic techniques. New compounds identified in planta included (1) apigenin 6-C-(2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranoside)-7-O-β-D-quinovopyranoside, (8) phloretin 3′-C-(2-O-(E)-cinnamoyl-3-O-β-D-fucopyranosyl-4-O-acetyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-6′-O-β-D fucopyranosyl-(1/2)-α-L arabinofuranoside, (11a) phloretin3′-C-(2-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl-3-O-β-D-fucosyl-4-O-acetyl)-β-D-fucosyl-6′-O-(2-O-β-D-fucosyl)-α-L-arabinofuranoside, (11b) phloretin3′-C-(2-O-(Z)-p-coumaroyl-3-O-β-D-fucosyl-4-O-acetyl)-β-D-fucosyl-6′-O-(2-O-β-D-fucosyl)-α-L-arabinofuranoside. Carambolaside M (5), carambolaside Ia (6), carambolaside J (7), carambolaside I (9), carambolaside P (10a), carambolaside O (10b), and carambolaside Q (12), which are reported for the first time from A. carambola L. leaves, whereas luteolin 6-C-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-D-fucopyranoside (2), apigenin 6-C-β-D-galactopyranoside (3), and apigenin 6-C-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-L-fucopyranoside (4) are isolated for the first time from Family. Oxalidaceae. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity revealed the potential efficacy of flavone glycosides, viz., 1, 2, 3, and 4 as antidiabetic agents. In contrast, dihydrochalcone glycosides (5–11) showed weak activity, except for compound 12, which showed relatively strong activity

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Effect of Maturity Stage on Cereal and Leguminous Seeds’ Metabolome as Analyzed Using Gas Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Chemometric Tools

Cereal and leguminous seeds are considered as major generic dietary source of energy, carbohydrates as well as proteins in the Mediterranean diet and are frequently consumed in their immature form in several regions including the Middle East. Hence, the current study aimed to assess metabolites’ heterogeneity amongst five major cereal and leguminous seeds of different species, and cultivars, i.e., Triticum aestivum L. (two cultivars), Hordeum vulgare L., Vicia faba L. and Cicer arietinum L., at different maturity stages. Gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis using multivariate data analyses was employed for nutrient profiling and sample segregation assessed using chemometric tools, respectively. A total of 70 peaks belonging to sugars, fatty acids/esters, steroids, amino acids and organic acids were identified including sucrose, melibiose, glucose and fructose as major sugars, with butyl caprylate, hydroxybutanoic acid and malic acid contributing to the discrimination between seed species at different maturity stages. The investigation of total protein content revealed comparable protein levels amongst all examined seeds with the highest level detected at 20.1% w/w in mature fava bean. Results of this study provide a novel insight on cereal and leguminous seeds’ metabolomics in the context of their maturity stages for the first time in literature

Egyptian_familial_breast_cancer_exome_variants

Exome variants from five breast cancer families collected in Gharbiah disctrict, Egypt. DNA was extracted from blood cells using a FlexiGene DNA kit. Exome sequencing was done with TrueSeq Exome Enrichment Kit and on HiSeq2500, paired-end 2x150 at 100X coverage. Exome sequences were mapped to hg19 using Burrows-Wheeler Aligner and pre-processed with Picard Toolkit. Variants were called using Freebayes and annotated with ANNOVAR

Data from: Unique features of germline variation in five Egyptian familial breast cancer families revealed by exome sequencing

Genetic predisposition increases the risk of familial breast cancer. Recent studies indicate that genetic predisposition for familial breast cancer can be ethnic-specific. However, current knowledge of genetic predisposition for the disease is predominantly derived from Western populations. Using this existing information as the sole reference to judge the predisposition in non-Western populations is not adequate and can potentially lead to misdiagnosis. Efforts are required to collect genetic predisposition from non-Western populations. The Egyptian population has high genetic variations in reflecting its divergent ethnic origins, and incident rate of familial breast cancer in Egypt is also higher than the rate in many other populations. Using whole exome sequencing, we investigated genetic predisposition in five Egyptian familial breast cancer families. No pathogenic variants in BRCA1, BRCA2 and other classical breast cancer-predisposition genes were present in these five families. Comparison of the genetic variants with those in Caucasian familial breast cancer showed that variants in the Egyptian families were more variable and heterogeneous than the variants in Caucasian families. Multiple damaging variants in genes of different functional categories were identified either in a single family or shared between families. Our study demonstrates that genetic predisposition in Egyptian breast cancer families may differ from those in other disease populations, and supports a comprehensive screening of local disease families to determine the genetic predisposition in Egyptian familial breast cancer

Nutrient and Sensory Metabolites Profiling of Averrhoa Carambola L. (Starfruit) in the Context of Its Origin and Ripening Stage by GC/MS and Chemometric Analysis

Averrhoa carambola L. is a tropical tree with edible fruit that grows at different climatic conditions. Despite its nutritive value and reported health benefits, it is a controversial fruit owing to its rich oxalate content. The present study aimed at investigating aroma and nutrient primary metabolites distribution in A. carambola fruits grown in Indonesia, Malaysia (its endemic origin) versus Egypt, and at different ripening stages. Two techniques were employed to assess volatile and non-volatile metabolites including headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) joined with gas chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-MS post silylation, respectively. Twenty-four volatiles were detected, with esters amounting for the major class of volatiles in Egyptian fruit at ca. 66%, with methyl caproate as the major component, distinguishing it from other origins. In contrast, aldehydes predominated tropically grown fruits with the ether myristicin found exclusively in these. Primary metabolites profiling led to the identification of 117 metabolites viz. sugars, polyols and organic acids. Fructose (38–48%) and glucose (21–25%) predominated sugar compositions in ripe fruits, whereas sorbitol was the major sugar alcohol (2.4–10.5%) in ripe fruits as well. Oxalic acid, an anti-nutrient with potential health risks, was the major organic acid detected in all the studied fruits (1.7–2.7%), except the Malaysian one (0.07%). It increases upon fruit ripening, including considerable amounts of volatile oxalate esters detected via SPME, and which must not be omitted in total oxalate determinations for safety assessments

Unique Features of Germline Variation in Five Egyptian Familial Breast Cancer Families Revealed by Exome Sequencing

<div><p>Genetic predisposition increases the risk of familial breast cancer. Recent studies indicate that genetic predisposition for familial breast cancer can be ethnic-specific. However, current knowledge of genetic predisposition for the disease is predominantly derived from Western populations. Using this existing information as the sole reference to judge the predisposition in non-Western populations is not adequate and can potentially lead to misdiagnosis. Efforts are required to collect genetic predisposition from non-Western populations. The Egyptian population has high genetic variations in reflecting its divergent ethnic origins, and incident rate of familial breast cancer in Egypt is also higher than the rate in many other populations. Using whole exome sequencing, we investigated genetic predisposition in five Egyptian familial breast cancer families. No pathogenic variants in <i>BRCA1</i>, <i>BRCA2</i> and other classical breast cancer-predisposition genes were present in these five families. Comparison of the genetic variants with those in Caucasian familial breast cancer showed that variants in the Egyptian families were more variable and heterogeneous than the variants in Caucasian families. Multiple damaging variants in genes of different functional categories were identified either in a single family or shared between families. Our study demonstrates that genetic predisposition in Egyptian breast cancer families may differ from those in other disease populations, and supports a comprehensive screening of local disease families to determine the genetic predisposition in Egyptian familial breast cancer.</p></div

Removal of Egyptian-specific polymorphism.

<p>The variants called from exome data and filtered from 1000 Genomes and ESP6500 databases were further filtered through the Egyptian-specific normal variants from Egyptian population. This step eliminated 307 Egyptian-specific normal variants, of which 13 were coding-change variants, from the variants called from the disease families.</p

Damaging mutations identified in five Egyptian familial breast cancer families^*.

<p>Damaging mutations identified in five Egyptian familial breast cancer families^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0167581#t004fn001" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p