THE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF IL-22 VERSUS PRAZIQUANTEL TREATMENT AGAINST S.MANSONI –INDUCED LIVER FIBROSIS IN MICE

Background/Aim:Praziquantel (PZQ), the primary medication for schistosomiasis treatment, exhibits a potential resistance by the parasite. Therefore, the development of a new effective treatment is obligated. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) has been reported to have a hepatoprotective effect. The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of IL-22 treatment versus PZQ against S. mansoni - induced liver fibrosis in mice. Materials and Methods: Forty male albino mice were divided into control, infected, IL-22 (0.36 µg/kg),  and PZQ (a single dose of 600 mg/kg) groups. PZQ was administered alone or in combination with IL-22. Inflammatory indicators [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-22, and immunoglobulin E (IgE)], hepatic expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), β-catenin, and miR let-7a gene expressions, and liver granuloma index (GI) were estimated. Results:The present result revealed a significant (P <0.05) reduction in liver GI and the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, after the treatment with IL-22. Moreover, the treatment enhanced significantly (P <0.05) let-7a miRNA and STAT3 gene expressions as well as downregulated (P <0.05) β-catenin mRNA, which in turn could reduce fibrosis resulting from S. mansoni infection. On the other hand, PZQ treatment alone or in combination with IL-22 reduced significantly (P <0.05) proinflammatory cytokines and IgE but failed to decrease GI or β-catenin gene expression, which might cause a negative impact on liver fibrosis.  Conclusion:IL-22 could be a potential immunotherapeutic agent for S.mansoni-induced liver fibrosis, compared to PZQ, through activating STAT3 and let-7a downstream signalling pathways and inhibiting β-catenin pathway

Developing a dynamic approach to water budgeting for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi: final report

Water demand in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has increased significantly over the last decades. The largest demand sectors are agriculture, forests and parks followed by the residential and government sectors. According to previous studies, the main driving forces are population growth, economic development and changes in lifestyle that have increased the water demand for irrigation, human consumption and industrial processes. Several public policies intensified this water demand. Some of these are the expansion of agriculture with a view to protecting the rural heritage and making Abu Dhabi less dependent on imported food; desert greening policies with a view to providing a habitat for wild animals and stabilizing the sand around roads; development of public parks to enhance the aesthetic value of outdoor spaces; residential and commercial megaprojects with a view to catering for the local population and a growing tourism industry; and industrialization driven by the government’s diversification effort into non-oil industries. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of water sources and demands in Emirate of Abu Dhabi prepared through a rigorous analysis of the data gained from a literature review of published research articles, reports and through discussions during stakeholders’ workshops. Brief description of the developed model and its sensitivity to different inputs and calibration of demands drivers are then presented. The ultimate aim of the developed model is to help inform better management of the scarce water resources by identifying potential reductions in demands from various interventions assuming constant supply for a series of scenarios for the Emirate until 2050. The work reported here involves three stages. First stage involves development of the static baseline for supply and demand of the Abu Dhabi water budget. The second stage involves development of the dynamic water budget including the identification and engagement of data sources and dissemination of the model. The third stage considers the development of scenarios framework and assessment of future needs as per the projected conditions of demands and supply

Optimization methodology for high COD nutrient-limited wastewaters treatment using BAS process

Optimization of biofilm activated sludge (BAS) process via mathematical modelling is an entangle activity since economic, environmental objective and technical decision must be considered. This paper presents a methodology to optimize the operational conditions of BAS process in four steps by combining dynamic simulation techniques with non-linear optimization methods and with operative decision-making criteria. Two set of variables are separately prioritized in the methodology: essential variables related to physical operation to enforce established process performance, and refinement variables related to biological processes that can generate risks of bulking, pin-point floc and rising sludge. The proposed optimization strategy is applied for the treatment of high COD wastewater under nutrient limitation using an integrated mathematical model for COD removal that include predation, hydrolysis and a simplified approach to the limiting solids flux theory in the secondary clarifier in order to facilitate the convergence of the optimization solver. The methodology is implemented in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant for a cellulose and viscose fibre mill obtaining (i) improvement of the effluent quality index (Kg pollution/m3) up to 62% and, (ii) decrease the operating cost index (€/m3) of the process up to 30% respect the regular working operational conditions of the plant. The proposed procedure can be also applied to other biological treatments treating high COD nutrient-limited industrial wastewater such as from textile and winery production among others

Abu Dhabi water budget model: technical documentation and user guide

This document provides a user guide for the Abu Dhabi Water Budget Model (ADWBM). ADWBM is an easy-to-use model that has been developed using Microsoft Excel and not front end programming, such as visual basic. The Excel-based model was selected to ensure transparency by allowing users to observe/change input data under different scenarios. ADWBM is developed based on system dynamics methodology and comprises four supply sources (groundwater, desalination, treated wastewater and surface water), seven demand sectors (agriculture, forestry, amenities, residential, municipal, commercial and industrial), and three transfer components held as separate worksheets. Several additional worksheets are included to facilitate data entry, data review, and outputs retention for later comparison. ADWBM allows interactions and feedbacks between different water budget components. Details of all model modules along with list of all assumptions used are also included in this document. A conceptual water budget model was first designed and used to develop a static water budget in Abu Dhabi by achieving mass balance among demand sectors, resources and main transfer components for the period from 2008 to 2014. The static model is then expanded into a dynamic water budget model. The model has been calibrated against the best available data. Then, it was used to evaluate the impact of conservation policies on water demand and water vailability in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The model can be used to examine the effects of various interventions on the seven water demand sectors and to estimate the supply-demand imbalances over time. This manual also includes step-by-step guide on how to use the model. The model can be easily used by any individual with basic background of water resources. The ADWBM model can be updated consequently upon receiving more consistent and reliable datasets from different stakeholders. Apart from the model ability to present different water budget scenarios, ADWBM can also handle options for allocating water to different demand sectors. Additionally, the model can accommodate future population growth in Abu Dhabi Emirate into new water budget scenarios. ADWBM can be used as a robust tool to assist developing efficient management and conservation future plans of water resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It could allow regulators to carry out independent assessments of the water budget until the year 2050 with the available water resources and growing water demands. This tool will also allow water policy makers to identify sustainable future scenarios. The key features of ADWBM are: 1. Establish an accurate understanding of the current water supply and demand in Abu Dhabi Emirate. 2. Project water demand until 2050 through different built-in scenarios. 3. Ensure scenarios reflect future likely policies and conservation plans reported in AD 2030 vision. 4. Recommend the most feasible and future practical water plans through user-defined scenarios. 5. Identify interventions that could lead to most effective demand reductions. 6. Allocate available water resources to different demand sectors

Targeting Autophagy, Apoptosis, and SIRT1/Nrf2 Axis with Topiramate Underlies Its Neuroprotective Effect against Cadmium-Evoked Cognitive Deficits in Rats

Cadmium is an environmental toxicant that instigates cognitive deficits with excessive glutamate excitatory neuroactivity in the brain. Topiramate, a glutamate receptor antagonist, has displayed favorable neuroprotection against epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, and Huntington’s disease; however, its effect on cadmium neurotoxicity remains to be investigated. In this study, topiramate was tested for its potential to combat the cognitive deficits induced by cadmium in rats with an emphasis on hippocampal oxidative insult, apoptosis, and autophagy. After topiramate intake (50 mg/kg/day; p.o.) for 8 weeks, behavioral disturbances and molecular changes in the hippocampal area were explored. Herein, Morris water maze, Y-maze, and novel object recognition test revealed that topiramate rescued cadmium-induced memory/learning deficits. Moreover, topiramate significantly lowered hippocampal histopathological damage scores. Mechanistically, topiramate significantly replenished hippocampal GLP-1 and dampened Aβ42 and p-tau neurotoxic cues. Notably, it significantly diminished hippocampal glutamate content and enhanced acetylcholine and GABA neurotransmitters. The behavioral recovery was prompted by hippocampal suppression of the pro-oxidant events with notable activation of SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis. Moreover, topiramate inactivated GSK-3β and dampened the hippocampal apoptotic changes. In tandem, stimulation of hippocampal pro-autophagy events, including Beclin 1 upregulation, was triggered by topiramate that also activated AMPK/mTOR pathway. Together, the pro-autophagic, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic features of topiramate contributed to its neuroprotective properties in rats intoxicated with cadmium. Therefore, it may be useful to mitigate cadmium-induced cognitive deficits