Heavy Metals Biosorption from Aqueous Solution by Endophytic Drechslera hawaiiensis of Morus alba L. Derived from Heavy Metals Habitats

The ability of dead cells of endophytic Drechslera hawaiiensis of Morus alba L. grown in heavy metals habitats for bioremoval of cadmium (Cd²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺), and lead (Pb²⁺) in aqueous solution was evaluated under different conditions. Whereas the highest extent of Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ removal and uptake occurred at pH 8 as well as Pb²⁺ occurred at neutral pH (6–7) after equilibrium time 10 min. Initial concentration 30 mg/L of Cd²⁺ for 10 min contact time and 50 to 90 mg/L of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ supported the highest biosorption after optimal contact time of 30 min achieved with biomass dose equal to 5 mg of dried died biomass of D. hawaiiensis. The maximum removal of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺ equal to 100%, 100%, and 99.6% with uptake capacity estimated to be 0.28, 2.33, and 9.63 mg/g from real industrial wastewater, respectively were achieved within 3 hr contact time at pH 7.0, 7.0, and 6.0, respectively by using the dead biomass of D. hawaiiensis compared to 94.7%, 98%, and 99.26% removal with uptake equal to 0.264, 2.3, and 9.58 mg/g of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺, respectively with the living cells of the strain under the same conditions. The biosorbent was analyzed by Fourier Transformer Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis to identify the various functional groups contributing in the sorption process. From FT-IR spectra analysis, hydroxyl and amides were the major functional groups contributed in biosorption process. It was concluded that endophytic D. hawaiiensis biomass can be used potentially as biosorbent for removing Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺ in aqueous solutions.

Genome Shuffling of Mangrove Endophytic Aspergillus luchuensis MERV10 for Improving the Cholesterol-Lowering Agent Lovastatin under Solid State Fermentation

In the screening of marine mangrove derived fungi for lovastatin productivity, endophytic Aspergillus luchuensis MERV10 exhibited the highest lovastatin productivity (9.5 mg/gds) in solid state fermentation (SSF) using rice bran. Aspergillus luchuensis MERV10 was used as the parental strain in which to induce genetic variabilities after application of different mixtures as well as doses of mutagens followed by three successive rounds of genome shuffling. Four potent mutants, UN6, UN28, NE11, and NE23, with lovastatin productivity equal to 2.0-, 2.11-, 1.95-, and 2.11-fold higher than the parental strain, respectively, were applied for three rounds of genome shuffling as the initial mutants. Four hereditarily stable recombinants (F3/3, F3/7, F3/9, and F3/13) were obtained with lovastatin productivity equal to 50.8, 57.0, 49.7, and 51.0 mg/gds, respectively. Recombinant strain F3/7 yielded 57.0 mg/gds of lovastatin, which is 6-fold and 2.85-fold higher, respectively, than the initial parental strain and the highest mutants UN28 and NE23. It was therefore selected for the optimization of lovastatin production through improvement of SSF parameters. Lovastatin productivity was increased 32-fold through strain improvement methods, including mutations and three successive rounds of genome shuffling followed by optimizing SSF factors.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and apoptosis in breast cancer

Reactive oxygen species are important in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including breast cancers. In this study, we aimed to evaluate oxidative stress in patients with breast cancer and to investigate its relationship with apoptosis. Our results showed that, the median levels and positivity rates of Malondialdehyde [MDA], Nitric Oxide [NO], Total Antioxidant [TAO], caspase-3,%DNA fragmentation and MDA/TAO ratio measured in breast cancer tissues by colorimetric methods were higher in the malignant group as compared to benign control group. Moreover, MDA, NO and%DNA fragmentations were over produced in advanced grade and stage P<0.05. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between MDA/TAO ratio and positive lymph node metastasis. Also, there were significant positive correlations of caspase-3 and%DNA fragmentation with positive estrogen receptor and NO. Moreover, the total antioxidants were positively correlated with positive progesterone receptor. In Conclusion; oxidative stress, NO and apoptosis are highly detected in breast cancer tissues especially with advanced grade and stage

potential therapeutic effect of melatonin in reflux esophagitis

Melatonin is synthesized not only in the pineal gland, but also in different organs, the special attention has been directed to the digestive tract where total quantity of melatonin is considerably greater than in the pineal gland. Many drugs were used for the treatment of reflux esophagitis such as omeprazote [a proton pump inhibitor] which is widely used antiulcer drug and has been demonstrated to protect against esophageal mucosal injury. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of exogenous melatonin in the treatment of reflux esophagitis in human either alone and in combination with omeprazole therapy. 36 persons were divided into 4 groups [control patients with reflux esophagitis treated by melatonin for 4, 6 and 8 weeks, patients with reflux esophagitis treated with omeprazole for same periods, and patients with reflux esophagitis treated with combination of melatonin and omeprazole for same periods]. Each group consisted of 9 persons. Persons were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, investigations [laboratory, encioscopic, record of esophageal motility, pH-metry]. Melatonin has a role in improvement of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease [GERD] either used alone or in combination with omeprazole. Meanwhile, omeprazole [a proton pump inhibitor] alone is better used in treatment of GERD than melatonin alone. The present study showed that oral melatonin is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of GERD. It is an effective line of treatment in relieving epigastric pain and heart burn. However, further studies are required to confirm the efficacy and long-term safety of melatonin before it can be recommended for routine clinical use

Hepatic dysfunction is a preliminary determinant for manganese overload

Similarities in clinical picture between manganese toxicity and chronic hepatic encephalopathy suggest that this metal may have a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatic encephalopathy. As, dietary manganese is normally cleared by liver, we hypothesized that hepatic dysfunction could lead to manganese overload with its abnormal deposition in brain tissues that account for magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] signal hyperintenisity seen in these patients. To examine the phenomenon of manganese overload in an experimental model of cirrhotic rats and to determine the importance of a normal liver function as a natural barrier agairst the development of manganese overload with its hazardous neuropsychatric sequels in chronic hepatic disease We induced liver cirrhosis in a group of rats to examine the phenomenon of manganese overload in experimental models of cirrhotic rats. We made use also of a healthy group of rats that was fed a manganese enriched food for 4 weeks. The !eve of manganese in blood and brain tissues was assayed by atomic absorption spectrometry. There was a significant increase in both blood and brain manganese level in cirrhotic rats when compared to normal control group. The blood and brain level of manganese did not change significantly in healthy rats that fed high manganese enriched food when compared to control rats. These findings support the hypothesis that normal liver function is of utmost importance as a barrier against the development of manganese overload. Chronic hepatobiliary dysfunction might lead to manganese overload. Further studies in cirrhotic rats could be useful because the use of chelating agent and! or treatment of dopaminergic deficit could prove to be a new therapeutic option to prevent or reverse this neuropsychatric syndrome in chronic liver disease

Changes in heart rate variability during short-term isometric skeletal muscle contraction

This work aims to investigate cardiac autonomic nervous system modulation during short term isometric skeletal muscle contraction. The study was done on thirty male nonsmoker volunteers, aged 19-23 years [mean=20.46 +/- 1.27], body mass index [BMI] ranged 15.7-29.05 [mean=22.84 +/- 3.84], with history of no medical problems, normal physical examination and laboratory tests, including complete blood count, blood chemistry, chest X-ray and electrocardiography, were selected from among the medical students of King Abdul-Aziz University [KAAU] in Saudi Arabia Kingdom. The standardization of conditions including the temperature the laboratory and the food and beverages containing caffeine intake must be avoided after 8:00 PM the day preceding the test. After a 30-min rest in the sifting position in an air-conditioned room [temperature range, 23°C to 24°C], the test was performed between 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM. At rest, blood pressure was measured by digital sphygmomanometer and parameters of heart rate variability [time and frequency domains] were recorded by Power Lab instrument. A two-minutes sustained isometric contraction was done by both hands simultaneously lifting 2 fire extinguishers [each weighing about 7 kg], and then the previous parameters were also recorded. Results revealed increased sympathetic activity and decreased vagal activity during short-term sustained isometric skeletal muscle contraction

Modulation of cardiovascular autonomic functions in obese persons in response to short-term isometric skeletal muscle contraction

This study was designed to investigate the modulation of cardiovascular autonomic functions in obese persons in response to short-term isometric skeletal muscle contraction by monitoring heart rate variability [HRV]. Fifty male non-smoker medical students were divided into two groups: control and obese according to body mass index [BMI] and the waist measurement. Parameters of heart rate variability were recorded by Power Lab instrument at rest and after two-minute sustained isometric contraction. Our results revealed signifi cant relations between HRV and obesity indices [BMI and waist circumference]. Higher values of obesity indices were signifi cantly associated with autonomic alteration i.e. lower sympathetic and parasympathetic activities