Protective effects of curcumin against gamma radiation-induced ileal mucosal damage

The major objective of this study was to test curcumin as a potential radioprotectant for the ileum goblet cells of the rat. Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Group A was the control group and group B was the single dose radiation group. Group C was the two dose radiation group (4 days interval). The rats in groups D and E were given a daily dose of 100 mg/kg of curcumin for 14 and 18 days, respectively. During the curcumin administration period, the rats in group D were exposed to abdominal area gamma (γ)-ray dose of 5 Gy on the 10th day and group E was exposed to same dose radiation on the 10th and 14th day. Irradiation and treatment groups were decapitated on the 4th day after exposure to single or two-dose irradiation and ileum tissues were removed for light and electron microscopic investigation. Single or two dose 5 Gy γ-irradiation caused a marked intestinal mucosal injury in rats on the 4th day. Radiation produced increases in the number of goblet cells. Curcumin appears to have protective effects against radiation-induced damage, suggesting that clinical transfer is feasible

Whole-Genome Sequencing in Relation to Resistance of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, represents one of the deadliest infections worldwide. The incidence of resistant forms is increasing year by year; therefore, it is necessary to involve new methods for rapid diagnostics and treatment. One of the possible solutions is the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS)

Benefits of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of First Line Antituberculosis Drugs

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that remains a huge global health-related issue nowadays. Despite constant approvals of newly developed drugs, the use of first-line antituberculosis medicines seems reasonable in drug-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Therapeutic drug monitoring presents a useful technique for the determination of plasma drug concentration to adjust appropriate dose regimes. In tuberculosis treatment, therapeutic drug monitoring is aiding clinicians in selecting an optimal therapeutic level, which is essential for the personalisation of therapy. This review is aimed at clarifying the use of therapeutic drug monitoring of the first-line antituberculosis drugs in routine clinical practice

Ultrastructure Localization of Tri-n-Butyltin in Human Erythrocyte Membranes during Shape Transformation Leading to Hemolysis

Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, freeze-fracture and x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry were used to localize tri-n-butyltin (TBT) in human erythrocytes (RBC\u27s). TBT induced a rapid shape transformation of the RBC discocyte to an echinocyte, which led to hemolysis at concentrations at or above 10 micrometers TBT. Electron dense spheres or ellipsoids were observed in association with blood cell membranes at or above 10 micrometers TBT. These structures were visualized initially in thin sections when postfixed with osmium tetroxide. Control cell preparations without TBT did not exhibit these structural densities when fixed with osmium. Freeze-fracture replicas confirmed the presence of TBT aggregates associated with cell membranes as intercalations in the lipid bilayer. In this sections, these structures measured 71.5 + or - 18.2 nm in diameter. In freeze-fraction replicas of TBT-treated RBC\u27s, particulate structure measuring 60+ or -18.5 nm in diameter were present on membrane exoplasmic fracture faces and 59.6+ or - 10.8-nm depressions on membrane protoplasmic fracture faces. Qualitative x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry analysis of ultrathin sections of glutaraldehyde-carbohydrazide-embedded samples revealed that the membrane-associated aggregates contained tin. TBT-treated RBC\u27s that were washed with normal saline resulted in a paucity of TBT aggregates associated with the membranes and a reduction in the RBC hemolysis rate. RBC shape transformation occured at each concentration examined from 0.1 to 100 micrometers TBT, but was reversible below 1 micrometer TBT

Ultrastructure Localization of Tri-n-Butyltin in Human Erythrocyte Membranes during Shape Transformation Leading to Hemolysis

Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, freeze-fracture and x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry were used to localize tri-n-butyltin (TBT) in human erythrocytes (RBC\u27s). TBT induced a rapid shape transformation of the RBC discocyte to an echinocyte, which led to hemolysis at concentrations at or above 10 micrometers TBT. Electron dense spheres or ellipsoids were observed in association with blood cell membranes at or above 10 micrometers TBT. These structures were visualized initially in thin sections when postfixed with osmium tetroxide. Control cell preparations without TBT did not exhibit these structural densities when fixed with osmium. Freeze-fracture replicas confirmed the presence of TBT aggregates associated with cell membranes as intercalations in the lipid bilayer. In this sections, these structures measured 71.5 + or - 18.2 nm in diameter. In freeze-fraction replicas of TBT-treated RBC\u27s, particulate structure measuring 60+ or -18.5 nm in diameter were present on membrane exoplasmic fracture faces and 59.6+ or - 10.8-nm depressions on membrane protoplasmic fracture faces. Qualitative x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry analysis of ultrathin sections of glutaraldehyde-carbohydrazide-embedded samples revealed that the membrane-associated aggregates contained tin. TBT-treated RBC\u27s that were washed with normal saline resulted in a paucity of TBT aggregates associated with the membranes and a reduction in the RBC hemolysis rate. RBC shape transformation occured at each concentration examined from 0.1 to 100 micrometers TBT, but was reversible below 1 micrometer TBT