Osteoarthritic Synovial Derived Stem Cells Augmented with Subchondral Drilling for Repair of Large Osteochondral Defects in Rabbit Model

This study showed the effectiveness of combination therapy of osteoarthritic synovial derived stem cells (OA-SDSCs) with subchondral drilling for large osteochondral defects repair in mature rabbit model. The defect was created at load-bearing area of the medial femoral condyle of both knees (6 mm length × 3 mm width). Then, mature rabbits were separated randomly into 2 groups: 3 subchondral holes were penetrated the subchondral bone in the defect site (drilled group), and then an intra-articular injection of one million OA-SDSCs into the knee joint was performed (combined group). After two months, rabbits were euthanized to perform histological assessment of the repaired tissue using safranin O stain. Repaired tissue was visually more whitish in the drilled group than in the combined group. Histologically, repaired tissue almost revealed fibrocartilage with subchondral repair in the combined group. However, fibrous tissue was represented in the drilled group. On Pineda score, the combined group was significantly better than of the drilled group (P = 0.001). Finally, using of OA-SDSCs with subchondral drilling promotes better cartilage repair than using subchondral drilling alone

Prevalence of food addiction and its relationship to body mass index

Background: Food addiction (FA) is a new terminology that simulates craving for food to drug addiction. It is recently measured by the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). It was speculated that FA is incriminated in the current obesity epidemic. Egypt is one of the highest African countries in the prevalence of obesity.Aim: Estimation of the prevalence of FA in Egyptian adolescents and exploration of its relationship to the body mass index (BMI). Subjects and methods This study included 801 adolescents aged 11–18 years recruited by a multistage cluster sampling technique from preparatory and secondary school students distributed in Cairo. All the included subjects had their weight and height measured followed by calculation of the BMI then they were interviewed by the YFAS. The diagnosis of FA was made if there wereP3 symptoms with clinically significant impairment.Results: FA prevalence was 15.7% in the studied sample. The most prevalent FA symptom was tolerance which was present in 52.1% of the sample. FA diagnosis didn’t differ across the different BMI categories; however, all of the FA symptoms showed significant differences in relation to the BMI when classified as normal, overweight and obese except for the symptom of tolerance.Conclusion: FA exists in one sixth of Egyptian adolescents. FA symptoms rather than FA diagnosis differed in the different BMI categories

Treatment results and prognostic factors of pediatric neuroblastoma: a retrospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective analysis to investigate treatment results and prognostic factors of pediatric neuroblastoma patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This retrospective study was carried out analyzing the medical records of patients with the pathological diagnosis of neuroblastoma seen at South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University during the period from January 2001 and January 2010. After induction chemotherapy, response according to international neuoblastoma response criteria was assessed. Radiotherapy to patients with residual primary tumor was applied. Overall and event free survival (OAS and EFS) rates were estimated using Graphed prism program. The Log-rank test was used to examine differences in OAS and EFS rates. Cox-regression multivariate analysis was done to determine the independent prognostic factors affecting survival rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty three cases were analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 32 months and ranged from 2 to 84 months. The 3-year OAS and EFS rates were 39.4% and 29.3% respectively. Poor prognostic factors included age >1 year of age, N-MYC amplification, and high risk group. The majority of patients (68%) presented in high risk group, where treatment outcome was poor, as only 21% of patients survived for 3 year.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Multivariate analysis confirmed only the association between survival and risk group. However, in univariate analysis, local radiation therapy resulted in significant survival improvement. Therefore, radiotherapy should be given to patients with residual tumor evident after induction chemotherapy and surgery. Future attempts to improve OAS in high risk group patients with aggressive chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation should be considered.</p

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity among Elderly attending Geriatric Outpatient Clinics in Mansoura City

Obesity is a major public health problem affecting all ages in both developed and developing countries. It is considered the fifth leading risk factor for deaths all over the world as about 2.8 million people die due to obesity each year directly or indirectly.  Obesity in elderly is considered one of the most serious public health challenges for all over the world. It is a complex; multifactorial disease arises from the interactions between genetic, environmental and behavioral factors together with other factors results in energy imbalance and promotes excessive fat deposition. Aim: to Determine Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity among Elderly attending Geriatric Outpatient Clinics in Mansoura City. Method: Descriptive, analytical, cross sectional hospital based research design was used. The study carried out on 126 elderly attending Geriatric outpatient clinics in the specialized medical hospital and general hospital in Mansoura City. Data was collected using 3 tools, socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview sheet, Health promoting Lifestyle profile II (HPLPII), Body Mass Index. Results: The results indicate that the prevalence of obesity among elderly attending Geriatric Outpatient Clinics in Mansoura City was 33.3% and there was significant relation between positive family history of obesity, unhealthy lifestyle as poor nutritional habits, and lack of physical activity, poor stress management and obesity. Conclusion: Increase awareness about obesity and healthy lifestyle is essential for elderly to prevent obesity and its complications. Keywords: Obesity, Elderly, Risk Factors, prevalence, Lifestyl

MUC4 immunohistochemistry is useful in distinguishing epithelioid mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

The differential diagnosis of epithelioid mesothelioma from lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma requires the positive and negative immunohistochemical markers of mesothelioma. The IMIG guideline has suggested the use of Calretinin, D2–40, WT1, and CK5/6 as mesothelial markers, TTF-1, Napsin-A, Claudin 4, CEA as lung adenocarcinoma markers p40, p63, CK5/6, MOC-31 as squamous cell markers. However, use of other immunohistochemical markers is still necessary. We evaluated 65 epithelioid mesotheliomas, 60 adenocarcinomas, and 57 squamous cell carcinomas of the lung for MUC4 expression by immunohistochemistry and compared with the previously known immunohistochemical markers. MUC4 expression was not found in any of 65 cases of epithelioid mesothelioma. In contrast, MUC4 expression was observed in 50/60(83.3%) cases of lung adenocarcinoma and 50/56(89.3%) cases of lung squamous cell carcinoma. The negative MUC4 expression showed 100% sensitivity, 86.2% specificity and accuracy rate of 91.2% to differentiate epithelioid mesothelioma from lung carcinoma. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MUC4 are comparable to that of previously known markers of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, namely CEA, Claudin 4 and better than that of MOC-31. In conclusion, MUC4 immunohistochemistry is useful for differentiation of epithelioid mesothelioma from lung carcinoma, either adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.The authors thank Ms. Yukari Go of the Technical Center in Hiroshima University for excellent technical assistance and Ms. Naomi Fukuhara for administrative assistance. This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 17K08742

Protective effect of zinc against cadmium toxicity on pregnant rats and their fetuses at morphological, physiological and molecular level

Cadmium is a potent teratogen in laboratory animals, causing exencephaly when administered at early stages of development. Due to its heterogenicity with respect to molecular targets, the mechanisms behind cadmium toxicity are not well understood. In the present study, 40 pregnant rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups (10 each); first group served as the control (G1), the second group (G2) received 61.3 mg/kg cadmium chloride daily from 7th to 16th day of gestation (organogenesis period) by oral tube. Group 3 (G3) was administrated a solution of 25 mg/kg zinc chloride orally from the 1st day to 20th day of pregnancy. Group 4 were administrated a solution of cadmium chloride (61.3 mg/kg) and zinc chloride (25 mg /kg) daily from the 7th to16th day of gestation. Maternal body weights were measured on gestational day 0, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 20. At the 20th day of gestation, blood samples were collected from the eye, using orbital sinus technique. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined calorimetrically and serum, urea and creatinine were determined. All of the pregnant rats were sacrificed by ether anaesthesia at the 20th day of gestation and foetuses were removed from the uterus. The implantation sites, corpora lutea, living, dead and reabsorbed foetuses were counted and recorded. Liver of pregnant rats and their fetuses were used to isolate a total RNA for quantification of Msx1, Cx43, Bcl2 and Bax genes. The results show the toxic effect of Cd on the pregnant rats and their fetuses, at morphological, physiological and molecular level but, zinc has a very effective protection against cadmium-induced developmental toxicity.Keywords: Cadmium, zinc, rat, organogenesis, gene expressionAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(16), pp. 2110-211

PERFORMANCE AND COMBINING ABILITY FOR STRAW YIELD AND RELATED CHARACTERS IN A DIALLEL CROSS OF FLAX (Linum usitatissmum, L.) UNDER DIFFERENT SOWING DATES

Thirty six entries of flax (Linum usitatissmum, L.) involving eight parental genotypes and their twenty eight hybrids were evaluated for straw yield and its related traits in the F1 during (2015/2016) and F2 populations during (2016/2017) under early (F2D1) and late (F2D2) sowing dates (two environments) in the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams Univ., Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate. Mean squares due to genotypes, parents and crosses were highly significant for straw yield, plant height, technical stem length, fiber yield/plant, fiber percentage, fiber length and fiber fineness in the F1 and F2 generations (at early and late sowing dates), indicating that parental genotypes as well as their F1 and F2 generations exhibited reasonable degree of variability for all studied traits. Highly significant variations mean performance were found for parental genotypes and hybrids for straw yield/plant and its related traits in the F1, F2D1and F2D2, indicating presence of wide genetic variability among studied genotypes. The highest mean values were recorded under all studied environments, for straw yield/plant, fiber yield/plant and fiber fineness were found by S. 402/1 genotype, while Sakha 5 gave the highest mean values for plant height, technical stem length and fiber length.  General and specific combining ability mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits in F1, F2D1 and F2D2 with the exception of a few cases, indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the expression of  straw yield and its components. The additive effects were more important than non-additive effects under all studied environments for straw yield/plant (except at F2D2), plant height (except at F1), fiber percentage and fineness. On the other hand, the non- additive effects were more effective than additive effects for technical stem length, fiber yield/plant and fiber length. Results showed that the parents; Giza 11and Giza 12 for straw yield/plant, Sakha 5 for plant height and fiber length, Sakha 6 for fiber yield/plant, Jowhar  for fiber percentage and S. 402/1, Sakha 2, Giza 12 and Sakha 5 for fiber fineness, these parents appeared to be the best general combiners for these traits. Some of the crosses exhibited highly significant and positive SCA effects included high x high and high x low general combiner parents, suggesting that the breeding procedure which utilize both additive and non-additive genetic variances would be more useful for improvement of straw yield and its components of flax

PROSPECTIVE EFFECT OF RED ALGAE, ACTINOTRICHIA FRAGILIS, AGAINST SOME OSTEOARTHRITIS AETIOLOGY

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease characterized by joints pain and articular cartilage destruction. Most of the current treatment strategies for OA are effective for symptoms relief but are accompanied with adverse side effect. Thus, the present investigation aims to evaluate the potential influence of red algae, Actinotrichia fragilis, in the dry powder form (AFP) or gel form (AFG) on some relevant factors of OA progression as well as assess its safety through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Materials and Methods: In vitro, AFP was analyzed for its chemical constituents screening, amino acid, proteinase inhibitory activity, HRBC membrane stabilization activity, free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant potency, nitric oxide radical scavenging power. In vivo, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) toxicity test was performed to test the safety of AFP on rats. Results: The present findings revealed that AFP and AFG can be considered as inflammatory-proteinase-oxidant inhibitor and considered to be safe according to the OECD guideline. Conclusion: AFP and AFG may have the potency to become the therapeutic candidate for OA disease as it prevents the key causes of OA initiation

Open-array analysis of genetic variants in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity

Background: Diabetes mellitus is considered a major public health problem worldwide. Susceptibility to diabetes is influenced by both genetic and environmental determinants.Aims/hypothesis: The aim of the present study was to test for 16 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in established Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity susceptibility loci by GWAS in a sample of Egyptian patients to find out if there is shared genetic background underlying both disease entities.Methods: Genotyping was performed using OpenArray protocol on the QuantStudioTM 12K Flex Real- Time PCR System. In the present case control study a custom array was designed to facilitate costeffective analysis of selected SNPs related to glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, inflammation, insulin signalling, and immune function.Results: Seven gene variants showed significant association with the risk of T2D patients including FCGRA2, STAT4, CELSR2, PPARG, EXT2 rs3740878, GCKR, PTGS1. Factors that significantly affect T2D were obesity (p &lt; 0.001) and GCKR (p = 0.001) and PTGS1 (p = 0.001) gene variants. Gene variants that showed significant or borderline effect on obesity were MTHFD1, EXT2 rs3740878, GCKR and PTGS1 (p = 0.03, 0.017, 0.059, 0.006) respectively.Conclusions/interpretation: Overlapping genetic aspects should be considered and the presence of risk alleles of different genes together could contribute to the risk of T2D or obesity or both. The MTHFD1 and EXT2rs3740878 gene variants significantly affect obesity and not shared with T2D. Gene variants that showed combined effect on both disease entities were GCKR and PTGS1. These findings provide a basis for future studies on a larger scale. More stress on the risk gene variants that have a combined impact on both diabetes and obesity is recommended to improve risk prediction and preventive strategies

''Neurodegeneration and Oxidative Stress in Brain Tissues Induced by Tramadol with the Protective Effects of Royal Jelly in Rats''.

Tramadol hydrochloride (TH) is an opioid centrally acting analgesic used to treat moderate to severe acute and chronic pains. Therefore, it became the most prescribed opioid worldwide.In this study, we investigated the neurodegenerative disorders of tramadol in brain tissues and the protective role of royal jelly. Twenty male albino rats allocated into four groups: Group 1,served as a control group, and Group 2, administrated with tramadol at a dose of 20 mg/kg/b. W for 60 days. Group 3: rats administrated with tramadol at a dose of 20 mg/kg/b. W for 60 days and treated with royal jelly (RJ) in a 100 mg/kg dose. b.w. Group 4: Rats inoculated with royal jelly (RJ) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. b.w. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Brain tissues were harvested for neurodegeneration biomarkers detection and histopathological examinations. Administration of tramadol revealed a significant decrease in Hb concentration, RBCs count, PCV %, Lymphocytes %, and platelets number, while WBCS count, Neutrophiles, and monocytes % increased. Also, Tramadol induced a decrease in glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) while creatine kinase -BB (CK-BB) and neuron-specific enolase enzymes (NSE) were decreased.Tramadol increased the lipid peroxidation MDA, while total antioxidants capacity (TAC) and glutathione reductase (GSH) concentrations were decreased. Histopathologically, tramadol-induced neurodegenerative changes in brain neurons manifested by acute necrosed neurons with gliosis and vascular congestions. The administration of royal jelly improved the previous deleterious effects by decreasing brain tissue oxidative stress. Tramadol misuse caused neurodegenerative effects and was relieved by RJ administration