Influence of Interleukin-6 (174G/C) Gene Polymorphism on Obesity in Egyptian Children

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a multi-factorial chronic disorder. A considerable number of studies have been performed to figure out whether there is an association between obesity and polymorphisms of gene IL-6 (174G/C), but the results are equivocal.AIM: This study aimed to find out whether the IL-6 (174G/C) gene was associated with the risk of developing obesity in Egyptian children.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 149 children and adolescents with age ranged between 9.5 – 18 years. Eighty-five of them were obese which BMIZ-score is > 2, and sixty-four children with BMIZ-score ≤ 2 served as control group. Serum level of IL-6 and genetic analysis for IL-6 (174G/C) gene polymorphism were done.RESULTS: Obese children had significantly higher serum levels of IL-6 as compared to those of control children (P = 0.003). A high percentage of IL-6 polymorphism GC was found in obese subjects (93.7%), while the control group had a higher percentage of IL-6 polymorphism GG (70.6 %).CONCLUSION: Our study showed that carriers of the C allele for the IL-6 (174G/C) polymorphism have higher BMI. As the G174C polymorphism is likely to affect IL-6 expression and its physiological regulation; consequently this polymorphism may affect adiposity

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 < 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 Prophylactic Role of Chrysin against Clonazepam Induced Brain Toxicity in Male Albino Rats

Background: The bioactive substance chyrus is found in bee propolis and all plants of the species Passiflora. It is well recognized to have neuroprotective properties and a wide range of pharmacological activity. Purpose: In this work, the consequence of Chrysin administration (50 mg/kg b.wt/day) on brain toxicity caused by Clonazepam (CZP, 2mg/kg b.wt/day) were investigated by measuring NaK ATPase, neuronal oxidative stress, neuro- inflammation, and DNA fragmentation. Study Design: In our investigation, we used male albino rats 4 weeks old and weighing 60 ± 5 g. There were four groups of ten rats apiece: Group 1: the control group which treated a vehicle with 1% w/v Tween 80. Group 2: given 1% w/v Tween 80-suspended Clonazepam (CZP) at a dose of 2 mg/kg b.wt./day. In Group 3: Chrysin suspended in 1% w/v Tween 80 was given at a rate of 50 mg/kg b.wt/day. Group 4: Clonazepam (CZP) and Chrysin were given at the same prior dosages as before (2 mg/kg b.wt/day for Clonazepam (CZP) and 50 mg/kg b.wt/day for Chrysin). Methods: Malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, DNA fragmentation, sodium oxide dismutase, catalase, and Na-K ATPase contents were estimated. Results: According to the biochemical analysis, after the Clonazepam therapy, the brain's contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and DNA fragmentation increased, while those of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and NaK ATPase activities declined. Conversely, the biochemical screening of animal brain tissue administered with CZP+ Chyrsin revealed an improvement in the brain tissue's ability to withstand the damage caused by CZP

Enhancement of Antimicrobial and Dyeing Properties of Cellulosic Fabrics via Chitosan Nanoparticles

The primary goal of this study is to prepare chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) by the ionic gelation method via the treatment of chitosan (0.2 wt.%) with tripolyphosphate (0.2 wt.%) ultrasonically for 45 min. FT-IR spectroscopy and TEM images were used to characterize and validate CSNP production. Cellulosic materials with different concentrations of CSNPs have better antibacterial and colouring characteristics. The treated cellulosic fabrics were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, and thermogravimetric analysis. Colourimetric data measurements expressed in K/S values were used to evaluate the impact of CSNPs on the dyeing affinity of cellulosic materials. In addition, antibacterial activity against bacteria and fungi was tested on the treated cellulosic fabrics. According to the K/S values, cellulosic textiles treated with CSNPs (0.3 wt.%) had a better affinity for acid dyeing. These textiles also offer better antibacterial properties and are more resistant to washing, light, and rubbing. A cytotoxicity study found that CSNPs give cellulosic materials antibacterial and acid dyeing properties, which is good for the environment

Genomic alterations in the F8 gene correlating with severe hemophilia A in Egyptian patients

Abstract Background Hemophilia A (HA) is an inherited X‐linked recessive coagulation disorder caused by factor VIII (F8) deficiency. F8 rearrangements involving intron 22 (int22) and intron 1 (int1) account for almost half of severe HA phenotype also a hotspot exon 14 provides numerous mutational patterns. This study aims to identify F8 gene mutations among Egyptian HA patients. Methods DNA samples from 60 HA patients were screened for int22 and int1 rearrangements using simplified inverse shifting PCR (IS‐PCR) followed by exon 14 sequencing. Also, four uncharacterized patients were studied by targeted exome sequencing. Results In 33.3% of the studied patients, we identified three int22 rearrangements, three exon 14 mutations (two frameshift; one novel (NM_000132.3:c.2734_2735delAA, p.(N912Ffs*6)), a second reported mutation (NM_000132.3:c.3091_3094delAGAA, p.(K1031Lfs*9)), and one nonsense mutation (NM_000132.3:c.2440C>T, p.(R814*)). All identified mutations were detected in patients with severe HA phenotype. Targeted exome sequencing could not detect any known pathogenic variants. Conclusion Intron 22 rearrangement and exon 14 mutations correlate with most severe hemophilia A Egyptian patients

Urtica dioica extracts abolish scopolamine-induced neuropathies in rats

International audienceAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by alterations in monoamines, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunctions. We aim toassess the therapeutic impacts of roots or leaf extract from Urtica dioica (UD; stinging nettle) against scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory dysfunction, amnesia, and oxidative stress in rats. Spatial memory was assessed by Y maze test. Tissue analysesof norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH,GSSG), AMP, ADP, and ATP were assessed by HPLC. mRNA levels of Tau and Hsp70 were estimated by PCR. UD extractsparticularly nettle root (NR) significantly normalized the SCOP-induced memory deficits even more potent than sermion (SR)and donepezil (DON). Similarly, NR had potent therapeutic impacts on the levels of cortical and hippocampal monoamines e.g.DA, NE, and 5-HT. SCOP induced a dramatic oxidative stress as measured by MDA, NO, and GSSG levels; however, UDextracts showed significant anti-oxidative stress impacts. Additionally, UD extracts restored ATP levels and reduced the levels ofAMP and ADP compared to SCOP-treated rats. Furthermore, cortical Tau and hippocampal Hsp70 were modulated by UDextracts particularly NR compared to the SCOP group. In conclusion, UD extracts particularly roots have potential therapeuticimpacts against SCOP-induced neuroinflammatory and/or Alzheimer-like phenotype in rats

Anti-Alzheimer Activity of Combinations of Cocoa with Vinpocetine or Other Nutraceuticals in Rat Model: Modulation of Wnt3/β-Catenin/GSK-3β/Nrf2/HO-1 and PERK/CHOP/Bcl-2 Pathways

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating illness with limited therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study is to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD and explore the potential neuroprotective effects of cocoa, either alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, in an animal model of aluminum-induced AD. Rats were divided into nine groups: control, aluminum chloride (AlCl3) alone, AlCl3 with cocoa alone, AlCl3 with vinpocetine (VIN), AlCl3 with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), AlCl3 with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), AlCl3 with wheatgrass (WG), AlCl3 with vitamin (Vit) B complex, and AlCl3 with a combination of Vit C, Vit E, and selenium (Se). The animals were treated for five weeks, and we assessed behavioral, histopathological, and biochemical changes, focusing on oxidative stress, inflammation, Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis. AlCl3 administration induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and downregulation of cellular antioxidants (Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, and TAC). AlCl3 also upregulated inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α and IL-1β) and GSK-3β, leading to increased tau phosphorylation, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, AlCl3 intensified C/EBP, p-PERK, GRP-78, and CHOP, indicating sustained ER stress, and decreased Beclin-1 and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions. These alterations contributed to the observed behavioral and histological changes in the AlCl3-induced AD model. Administration of cocoa, either alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, particularly VIN or EGCG, demonstrated remarkable amelioration of all assessed parameters. The combination of cocoa with nutraceuticals attenuated the AD-mediated deterioration by modulating interrelated pathophysiological pathways, including inflammation, antioxidant responses, GSK-3β-Wnt/β-catenin signaling, ER stress, and apoptosis. These findings provide insights into the intricate pathogenesis of AD and highlight the neuroprotective effects of nutraceuticals through multiple signaling pathways