Exploring the multimodal role of yucca schidigera extract in protection against chronic ammonia exposure targeting: Growth, metabolic, stress and inflammatory responses in nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus l.)

Ammonia is a critical hazardous nitrogen metabolic product in aquaculture. Despite trials for its control, ammonia intoxication remains one of the most critical issues to overcome. In this study, we explored the modulatory effect and potential mechanism by which Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) can ameliorate ammonia intoxication-induced adverse effects on tilapia health and metabolism. A total number of 120 Nile tilapia were evenly assigned into four groups with three replicates each. The first group served as normal control group; the second group was exposed to ammonia alone from the beginning of the experiment and for four weeks. The third group was supplied with YSE in water at a dose of 8 mg/L and exposed to ammonia. The fourth group was supplied with YSE only in water at a dose of 8 mg/L. YSE supplementation succeeded in improving water quality by reducing pH and ammonia levels. Moreover, YSE supplementation markedly alleviated chronic ammonia-induced adverse impacts on fish growth by increasing the final body weight (FBW), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake and protein efficiency ratio (PER) while reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) via improvements in food intake, elevation of hepatic insulin-like growth factor (ILGF-1) and suppression of myostatin (MSTN) expression levels with the restoration of lipid reserves and the activation of lipogenic potential in adipose tissue as demonstrated by changes in the circulating metabolite levels. In addition, the levels of hepato-renal injury biomarkers were restored, hepatic lipid peroxidation was inhibited and the levels of hepatic antioxidant biomarkers were enhanced. Therefore, the current study suggests that YSE supplementation exerted an ameliorative role against chronic ammonia-induced oxidative stress and toxic effects due to its free radical-scavenging potential, potent antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects

BI-LAMINATED ORAL DISINTEGRATING FILM FOR SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT OF VIRAL NASOPHARYNGITIS: FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION, TASTE MASKING, AND STABILITY STUDIES

Objective: Nasopharyngitis (NP) is one of the most common upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) brought on by viral infections and requires symptomatic treatment. In this study, a new approach to delivering drugs was developed, which is a bi-laminated oral disintegrating film (ODF) containing dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DEX), phenylephrine hydrochloride (PE), and methylcobalamin (MeCbl) to support the symptomatic treatment of NP. Yet, the extreme bitterness of DEX and PE required a taste-masking technique before ODF formulation to enhance patient compliance. Methods: Various complexing agents were tried at different ratios to mask the bitter taste of the drug(s). DEX-PE ODFs were formulated using the solvent casting procedure. A 31.21 full factorial design was performed to characterize DEX-PE ODFs, where the effects of polymer grade and plasticizer type were evaluated on the disintegration time (DT) and the percentage of drugs released after 10 min (Q10). Results: Complexation with maltodextrin (MD) and ion exchange resin (Kyron T-314) could successfully mask the bitter taste at a ratio of 1:2:2 of drugs, MD, and Kyron T-314, respectively. The ODF optimized formula (F4) recorded the least DT (5±0.5 s) and highest Q10 (96.7±2.1%) and (97.4±1.9%) for DEX and PE, respectively. F4 was then combined with the second film layer containing MeCbl to develop the bi-laminated ODF (B1), which was later evaluated and subjected to stability studies. Conclusion: In conclusion, a taste-masked, bi-laminated ODF could be successfully developed for the symptomatic treatment of NP

Data_Sheet_1_Cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral stress-related symptoms and coping strategies among university students during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.docx

BackgroundStress is manifested by different physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral stress-related symptoms, and everyone experiences it uniquely. The COVID-19 Pandemic has tremendously affected university students' lives. So, we conducted this study to determine the stress frequency, causes, determinants, and related symptoms involving physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral traits and coping strategies among university students in Egypt during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021.MethodsCross-sectional study targeted 1,467 randomly selected undergraduate university students, representing all colleges from 30 universities in Egypt, through a validated self-administrated questionnaire.ResultsThe total stress-related symptom score was statistically significant (p ConclusionStress and its related physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms are prevalent among university students. Most of the university students who were recruited reported that the COVID-19 pandemic badly affected their lives and used negative ways to deal with stress, like staying alone and sleeping too much. Positive ways to deal with stress, like seeing a therapist or meditating, were less common.</p