Biosorption of heavy metals from waste water using Pseudomonas sp.

Biosorption experiments for Cr(VI), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Ni(II) were investigated in this study using nonliving biomass of different Pseudomonas species. The applicability of the Langmuir and Freundlich models for the different biosorbent was tested. The coefficient of determination (R2) of both models were mostly greater than 0.9. In case of Ni(II) and Cu(II), their coefficients were found to be close to one. This indicates that both models adequately describe the experimental data of the biosorption of these metals. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be the highest for Ni followed by Cd(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI). Whereas the Freundlich constant k in case of Cd(II) was found to be greater than the other metals. Maximum Cr(VI) removal reached around 38% and its removal increased with the increase of Cr(VI) influent. Cu(II) removal was at its maximum value in presence of Cr(VI) as a binary metal, which reached 93% of its influent concentration. Concerning to Cd(II) and Ni(II) similar removal ratios were obtained, since it was ranged between 35 to 88% and their maximum removal were obtained in the case of individual Cd(II) and Ni(II)

Cut-Off Values of Anthropometric Indices for the Prediction of Hypertension in a Sample of Egyptian Adults

Background: Obesity, particularly abdominal adiposity, is closely associated with premature atherosclerosis and many metabolic modifications including insulin resistance dyslipidemia hypertension and diabetes. Cut-off values for abdominal obesity predicting future cardiovascular disease are known to be population specific.Objective: To identify cut-off points of some anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR) that associated with hypertension in a sample of Egyptian adults.Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis. The blood pressure of 5550 Egyptian adults was measured (2670 females – 2880 males).The subjects represented different geographic localities and different social classes. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist circumferences, and hip circumferences were also measured by practitioners.Results: The cut-off values to detect hypertension in females were 30.08 for BMI, 87.75 for WC , 0.81 for WHR and 0.65 for WHtR, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 69.1; 60.7- 80.9; 48.6 -65.3; 53.4 and 61.4; 58.9, respectively. The cut-off values to detect hypertension in males were 27.98 for BMI, 95.75 for WC, 0.92 for WHR, and 0.57 for WHtR and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 62.8; 59.9 -71.9; 51.9 -64.6; 55.8 and 59.7; 55.8, respectively.Conclusion: The BMI, Waist circumference, WHR and WHtR values can predict the presence of hypertension risk in adult Egyptians

LPS-induced oxidative inflammation and hyperlipidemia in male rats: The protective role of Origanum majorana extract

The antimicrobicidal activity of the phenolic compounds in the methanolic extract of Origanum majorana was recommended. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Origanum majorana against LPS-induced toxicity in rats. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups, with 12 rats each group. Group C was used as control, while group E was treated with plant extract orally for 10 days (0.5 mg/kg/day). Group I was given LPS at a single i.p. dose (10 mg/kg BW) and group E + I was treated with plant extract (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 10 days, followed by a single i.p. dose of LPS (10 mg/kg BW). The WBC count and the number of macrophages in addition to the nitric oxide level in the peritoneal fluid were determined. Also, the lipids profile and the levels of urea and creatinine were detected. In addition, the MDA, glutathione and total proteins, as well as AST and ALT activities, were measured in all groups. The results indicated that the LPS injection caused significant decrease in the WBC count, hepatic glutathione and the total proteins, as well as serum HDL-c. On the other hand, LPS injection showed significant increase in the number of peritoneal macrophages, the levels of nitric oxide and MDA. Moreover, the total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, and creatinine concentrations, as well as AST and ALT activities, were significantly elevated. The pretreatment with Origanum majorana extract prior to LPS antagonized and alleviated its toxic effects in the treated animals. The results indicated that the treatment with Origanum majorana extract alone did not affect the tested parameters, except the number of peritoneal macrophages, which were significantly decreased

Alteration of AP-endonuclease1 expression in curcumin-treated fibrotic rats

Background. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease1/ redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a multifunctional protein involved in DNA base excision repair and redox regulation of many transcription factors. It is an important pro-survival protein activated in response to oxidative stress. Increased level of this essential redox sensi¬tive protein correlates closely with cellular survival against oxidative insults. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) a naturally occurring compound derived from turmeric has attracted interest because of its anti-inflamma¬tory, anti-oxidative, and chemopreventive activities.Material and methods. The current study evaluates the in vivo role of curcumin in protecting and treating liver injury and fibrogenesis caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. It also addresses the possible involvement of the multifunctional protein APE1 in hepatoprotection. Analysis of APE1 expression was performed at mRNA and protein levels by reverse trans¬criptase (RT)-PCR and western blotting respectively. Profile of HSCs-activation related genes were assayed by RT-PCR and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were determined by enzyme-linked immune assays.Results. Here we show that oral administration of curcumin was accompanied by a robust increase in APE1 protein and mRNA levels, and improved the histological architecture of rat liver. In addition, curcumin attenuated oxidative stress by increasing the content of hepatic glutathione within normal values, leading to the re¬duction in the level of lipid hydroperoxide. Curcumin remarkably suppressed inflammation by reducing le¬vels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). It also inhibited hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation by elevating the level of PPARγ and reducing the abundance of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). We found that oral adminis¬tration of curcumin at 200 mg/kg dose not only protected against CCl4-induced hepatic injury, but also re¬sulted in more than two-fold induction of APE1 protein expression in CCl4-induced rat group.Conclusions. It can be concluded that curcumin reduced markers of liver damage in rats treated with CCl4, with conco¬mitant elevation in APE1 protein level indicating a possible protective effect with unknown mechanism. The induction of DNA repair enzymes may be an important and novel strategy for hepatic protection against oxidative injury

Prevalence of Pre-hypertension and Hypertension in a sample of Egyptian Adults and its Relation to Obesity

Abstract: Objective: to study the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in Egyptian adults and its relation to obesity. Subjects and Methods: The blood pressure of 5534 Egyptian subjects was measured (2663 females -2871 males) aged 20 to 75 years old. They represented different geographic localities and different social classes. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist circumferences, and hip circumferences were also measured. Waist to hip ratio and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Fasting blood sugar was tested. Results: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 49.22 % (54.4 and 43.1 for males and females) and 16.84 %( 18.5% and 15.1% for males and females) respectively. There was a tendency to increase of both prehypertension and hypertension in males as compared to females. The percentages of the hypertensive individuals were increased with age and degree of obesity. Prehypertension was higher in the cases having glucose intolerance, while hypertension was increased mainly in those suffering from diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: High rates of prehypertension and hypertension were observed in the studied Egyptian adults. Overweight/obesity and diabetes are important risk factors for hypertension. Strategies that can enhance public awareness of hypertension and increase access to affordable medications are urgently needed

Reactions of 5-Aroylmethylene-3-benzyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidines with Nitrile Oxides

E,Z-5-Aroylmethylene-3-benzyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidines (3a-c) react with 4-methoxy and 4-chlorophenylnitrile oxides (4a and b) in pyridine solution to afford one or more of the following compounds: Z-3, Z-2,4-dioxo analogues 5 and 3,6-diaryl-1,4,2,5-dioxadiazines (6a-b). The interconversion route is discussed and the structures of all of the synthesised compounds are proven by microanalytical and spectral data