Blocking Toll-like receptor 9 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury

Background@#Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the most common complications in coronavirus disease 2019 patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI). In ARDS, marked distortion of pulmonary architecture has been reported. The pulmonary lesions in ARDS include hemodynamic derangements (such as alveolar edema and hemorrhage), vascular and bronchiolar damage, interstitial inflammatory cellular aggregations, and eventually fibrosis. Bleomycin induces ARDS-representative pulmonary damage in mice and rats; therefore, we used bleomycin model mice in our study. Recently, Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) was implicated in the development of ARDS and ALI. @*Methods@#In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of a TLR9 blocker (ODN2088) on bleomycin-induced pulmonary damage. We measured the apoptosis rate, inflammatory reaction, and fibroplasia in bleomycin- and bleomycin + ODN2088-treated mice. @*Results@#Our results showed a significant amelioration in bleomycin-induced damage to pulmonary architecture following ODN2088 treatment. A marked decrease in pulmonary epithelial and endothelial apoptosis rate as measured by cleaved caspase-3 expression, inflammatory reaction as indicated by tumor necrosis factor α expression, and pulmonary fibrosis as demonstrated by Van Gieson staining and α-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry were observed following ODN2088 treatment. @*Conclusions@#All these findings indicate that blocking downstream TLR9 signaling could be beneficial in prevention or mitigation of ARDS through hemodynamic derangements, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of antifibrogenic effect of grape seed extract on CCl4-induced model of hepatic fibrosis

Introduction: Liver fibrosis represent a worldwide challenge of clinical importance, results from chronic damage of liver, and evidenced by build up of excessive extracellular matrix proteins.. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antifibrogenic effect of grape seed extract [GSE] against hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice

Experimental Design: forty adult male albino mice were divided into four equal groups; first [control] in which mice were injected IP with olive oil as vehicle. In the second group [GSE] mice were received GSE orally at a dose of 200mg/kg/day for 8 weeks while in the third group [CCl4] mice were injected IP with CCl4 [0.4ml/kg / twice weekly] for 8 weeks . In the fourth [GSE+ CCl4] group mice were injected IP with CCl4 and co-treated with GSE orally as in previous treated-groups. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and blood samples and liver tissue specimens were collected

Results: the examined liver of CCl4-intoxicated group revealed marked hepatic fibrotic lesions confirmed by Masson's trichrome stain and associated with the presence of intensely stained alpha -SMA-positive hepatic stellate cells [HSCs] in entire of the hepatic lobules and in the vicinity of bridging fibrotic septa. Hepatic degeneration and necrosis were also seen. This hepatic damage was associated with significant increases in AST and ALT activities with low albumin levels and hypoproteinemia. Co-administration of GSE with CCl4 improved the microscopic picture of liver where scanty fibrotic lesions and mild degeneration of some hepatic cells were recorded. Less intensely stained alpha -SMA-immunopositive cells were observed. Serum AST, ALT, albumin and total protein values were more or less within the ranges of these parameters in the control non-intoxicated group

Conclusion: GSE has potent antifibrogenic effect on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting HSCs activation, decreasing collagen synthesis and improving hepatic regenerative capability through its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Chemical and biological assessment for Egyptian surface freshwater environment with reference to human activities

The Egyptian freshwater was assessed in the River Nile, branches, main canals and certain drainages in eight Governorates, over eight successive seasons starting from spring 2008. Chemical assessment was made through ten parameters and the biological one was made through macro-invertebrates information. Results showed that means of Cd, Pb, Cu, Hg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Na, K and Ca varied in watercourses seasonally within somewhat narrow ranges, which may exceed the level of concern but with some elevations in branches, Rayahs and canals during certain seasons. Sites showed chemical levels over the permissible one or those gain total points

Alterations of certain biological parameters of biomphalaria Alexandrina snails exposed to the plants pittosporum tobira, abutilon pictum and thevetia peruviana.

The molluscicidal effect of Pittosporum tobira, Abutilon pictum and Thevetia peruviana leaves and seeds powder and ethanol extract against adult Biomphalaria alexandrina snails after 24 hrs of exposure under laboratory conditions showed that T peruviana is the most toxic ones since its LC[90] values were the least among the other tested plants, being 98.8 and 18.5 ppm for the dry powder water suspension and ethanol extract, respectively. Bioinphalaria snails continuously exposed to sublethal concentration [LC[0]=1.2ppm] of the ethanolic extract of T. peruviana exhibited a great reduction in survival rate, being 24% and 2% after 4 and 8 weeks post exposure compared to 76% and 56% for control group, respectively. The egg production of treated snails was significantly reduced from the first week of exposure. Thus, the mean number of eggs/snail/week at the 41h week was 42.2 and 223.3 eggs/snail for treated and control snails, respectively. The exposure of B. alexandrina to sublethal concentration of the ethanolic extract of T. peruviana for 4 weeks led to disturbance in some biochemical parameters. The protein content in the hemolymph and glycogen content in tissues of treated snails were significantly reduced compared to control groups. The ratios of reduction of protein content were 46.7% and 65% respectively. Meanwhile, the alkaline phosphatase activity and the glucose content were increased in the hemolymph of treated snails, than of control ones. The elevation ratios were 72.7% and 88.2%, respectively. The LC[0] of T. peruviana ethanol extract killed 65% of miracidia and 55% of cercariae after one hour of exposure and they were killed after 4 hrs and 5 his after exposure respectively

Molluscicidal effect of fenitrothion and anilofos on Lymnaea natalensis and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and on the free larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni

Pesticides; fenitrothion and anilofos [aniloguard] were tested as molluscicides against Lymnaea natalensis and Biomphalaria alexandrina. The LC 50 and LC 90 of fenitrothion was 0.12 and 0.21 ppm for L. natalensis and 0.l7 and.26 ppm for B. alexandrina, respectively. The LC 50 and LC 90 anilofos was 2.61 and 6.47 ppm for Lymnaea and 3.07 and 8.6 ppm for Biomphalaria. The effect of sublethal concentrations [LC 0, LC 5 and C 10] of Feni-rothion on B. alexandrina growth rate, eggs hatchability and on free larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni [miracidia and cercariae] were studied. The results obtained showed that sublethal concentrations of fenitrothion caused reduction in growth rate of B. alexandrina and reduction in the hatchibility of snails eggs. The mortality rates of miracidia and cercariae were elevated by increasing both the concentrations of fenitrothion and the time of exposure. The results showed that fenitrothion was more toxic to the free larval stages of S. mansoni than to their snails. The results showed a significant reduction in total protein of treated snails when compared with controls in haemolymph while there was an increase of protein contents of the tissue. The AlkP enzyme activity was slightly increased in the haemolymph of experimental groups than the control and in the tissues the values were significantly higher when compared with control. ALT enzyme activity in haemolymph of experimental groups was higher than controls while its activity in tissue was lower. AST enzyme activity was higher in haemolymph and tissue of experimental groups than in controls

Partial laser arytenoidectomy in the management of bilateral vocal fold immobility. A modification nased on functional anatomical study of the cricoarytenoid joint

To establish the anatomical relationships of the arytenoid and cricoid cartilages and apply these findings to design an arytenoidectomy based on a sound anatomical basis. We prospectively conducted this study between 1996 and 2002 at the Main University Hospital of Alexandria, Egypt. In 50 patients, we endoscopically measured the length of the vocal process and the distance between the vocal process tip and upper border of the cricoid cartilage. We sagittally and axially sectioned 25 total laryngectomy specimens to verify the position of the arytenoids and their relation to the cricoid. The anatomical findings led to the design of a laser partial arytenoidectomy and cordotomy [L-PAC], which we used in 45 patients with bilateral cord paralysis in adduction. The anatomical findings showed that the cricoarytenoid joint did not contribute to the airway in any of the measured specimens. Using L-PAC, we decannulated 100% of the patients and no patient needed postoperative tracheostomy at any time. Only 3 patients experienced minimal postoperative aspiration to liquids [6.7%]. We achieved reasonable phonation as assessed by a speech analysis battery. However, 3 patients [6.7%] needed contralateral L-PAC. The present extra-articular technique, L-PAC, showed its superiority to previous endoscopic or transcervical complete arytenoidectomy techniques in providing an effective balance between the protective, respiratory, and to a lesser extent the phonatory functions

Effect of sublethal concentration of atriplex halimus [chenopediaceae] on Biomphalaria alexandrina, the snail-vector of Schistosoma mansoni in Egypt

The effect of sublethal concentrations of Atriplex halimus on the mortality rate, longevity, egg production of Biomphalaria alexandrina and hatchability of their eggs was studied. The sublethal concentrations of Atriplex caused a reduction in the survival rates, longevity and egg production of B. alexandrina. The hatchability of snail eggs exposed to the tested plant was decreased by increasing its concentrations

Effect of two herbicides on some biological and biochemical parameters of Biomphalaria alexandrina

The herbicides, Butachlor and Fluazifop-p-butyl, were evaluated against B. Alexandrina and their infection with S. mansoni as well as against the miracidia and cercariae. The tested herbicides reduced the survival and infection rates of B. alexandrina by 28% and 35.71% for Butachlor and 50% and 64% for Fluazifop-p-butyl, respectively. These herbicides significantly reduced the production and duration of cercairal shedding per infected snails. The mortality rates of miracidia and cercariae were elevated gradually by increasing the sublethal concentrations of herbicides being 63% and 62%, respectively, after six hours of exposure to 6.5 ppm of Butachlor. The protein, glycogen and lipid contents in the snail soft tissues were significantly reduced. There was a significant elevation in the levels of acid and alkaline phosphatases in hemolymph of snail exposed to Butachlor [0.05 and 0.48 u/mg protein, respectively]