Comparative study between the effects of human CD34 and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on amelioration of CCl[4] induced liver fibrosis

Human umbilical cord blood [UCB] cells and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [BM-MSCs] have many advantages as grafts for cell transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of UCB cells and BM-MSCs on reversal of hepatic injury and revival of hepatic function in a rat model of carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]]-induced liver fibrosis

Pathophysiology of liver diseases: impact of tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 and hexosaminidase

Liver disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The spectrum of the disease ranged from fatty liver to hepatic inflammation; necrosis, progressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We evaluated the serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes Hex A and B activities and nitric oxide in patients with liver diseases and their association with aminotransferase level. Seventy patients and 12 healthy subjects were recruited. Patients were divided into 3 groups; chronic hepatitis group [20 patients], liver cirrhosis group [30 patients] and malignant liver group [20 patients]. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes Hex A and B activities and nitric oxide were measured. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase activity and nitric oxide were significantly higher in the liver disease patients. Serum levels of isoenzvmes Hex A and B were significantly higher in malignant liver patients. Total Bhexosaminidase and its isoenzyme Hex A activity levels were significantly higher in +ve HBsAg and +ve Anti-HCV patients. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 were positively correlated with aminotransferase level. Taken together, these findings suggested that these biochemical indices might reflect ongoing disease activity and played an important role in the pathophysiology of liver diseases

effect of melatonin on pentraxin-3 level and nuclear factor-kappa beta immunohistochemical expression on acetic acid-induced colitis and their relationship to pathophysiology of the disease

Taking into consideration the presence of melatonin [MEL] in gastrointestinal [GI] tissue and its role in gastrointestinal tract [GIT] physiology, it is practical to speculate that melatonin could influence inflammation-related GI disorders, including ulcerative colitis [UC]. We hypothesized the preventive, short and long term effects of melatonin administration on acetic acid [AA] induced colitis in rats and its potential underlying mechanism. We evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor NF-kappa beta [NF-kappa beta]. We also estimated the relation between AA-induced colitis and pentraxin-3 [PTX-3] serum level. The animals were divided into 5 groups. Control group, AA-induced-colitis group, Pre-treated group, Short-term treated group, and Long-term treated group. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken for measurement of PTX-3, lipid peroxide [LP] and total thiols [TT]. Colon was taken for histopathological examination and immunohistochemical study for detection of NF- kappa beta expression. MEL is effective in prevention and short-term treatment of AA-induced colitis as indicated by attenuating the colitis symptoms such as rectal bleeding, reduction of the body weight, the increase in the colonic weight and reduction of the severity of mucosal damage dramatically. MEL administration, also decreased NF- kappa beta immunohistochemical expression, decreased serum level of LP and PTX-3 and increased serum level of TT. However, in long-term treatment MEL has negative effect on AA-induced colitis. MEL is effective in prevention and short-term treatment of colonic inflammatory process while long-term treatment exacerbate the colitis. The outcome also indicated that melatonin contributes in a variety of guard mechanisms against colonic inflammatory processes by inhibiting the NF- kappa beta and conserving the vital endogenous antioxidant reserve of TT, thus dipping the level of colonic damage, mainly in the early phase of colitis

Effect of vagus nerve stimulation on serum level of pentraxin-3 at focal transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in adult male new zealand rabbits

Regarding that oxidative stress, distinguished by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species [ROS], has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Pentraxin-3 [PTX-3] plays an important role in innate immune responses and in inflammatory disease. However, no study has evaluated PTX3 in animal models with cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Aim of the work: is to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect of vagus nerve stimulation [VNS] on focal model of transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Focal transient cerebral I/R was induced by occlusion of right common carotid artery [CCA] for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for one hour. Stimulating electrodes were implanted on the cervical part of the right vagus nerve. VNS started 15 min after right CCA ligation and lasted 15 min after reperfusion and delivered for 30 s at every 5 min. All the procedures were duplicated but no stimulus was delivered in the control group. Serum level of pentraxin-3, lipid peroxide and total thiols were determined at baseline, at end of ischemia and at end of reperfusion and the animal decapitated and neuronal damage was evaluated. VNS causes reduction of the ischemic features with revival of the cell shape and size, increased serum levels of pentraxin-3 and total thiols whereas the level of lipid peroxide was diminished. The observed diversity in pentraxin-3, lipid peroxide and total thiols levels in cerebral I/R, which may reflect relative roles in the bioactivity of the animal. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant role of vagus nerve stimulation in cerebral I/R in rabbits, may represent a marker of altered cerebral function, that provide potential therapeutic applications

Effect of 3,5,3-triiodo-L thyronine supplementation on the cerebral neurotransmitters in hypothyroid rat offspring

Nervous system growth and differentiation are intimately interrelated with the presence of thyroid hormones [THs] in early development stages. Hypothyroidism during the fetal and postnatal life results in an irretrievable mental retardation syndrome. Assessment of the effect of 3,5,3- triiodo-L-thyronine [T[3]] on changes in the cerebral neurotransmitters level and its possible mechanism in hypothyroid rat male offspring. Hypothyroidism during pregnancy and lactation in one group [hypothyroid group] was performed by antithyroid drug, methimazole [MMI] that was added in drinking water at concentration 0.02%. Another group [T[3]-treated hypothyroid group] MMI was stopped and animal's offspring were received T[3] [20 micro g/100 g body weight in 0.01 N NaOH, i.p.] for one week. The third group is control group. The hypothyroid state in mothers during pregnancy was confirmed by measuring total thyroxine [TT[4]] and total triiodothyronine [TT[3]] at gestational day 10. At the end of experiment, the offsprings were sacrificed and free thyroxine [FT[4]] and free triiodothyronine [FT[3]] in sera and neurotransmitters [dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin] and Na, K-ATPase activity were measured in the cerebral homogenate. Maternal hypothyroidism induced a significant decrease in the cerebral level of dopamine [0.10 +/- 0.01 mg/g vs 1.00 +/- 0.11 mg/g, p<0.001], morepinephrine [0.01 +/- 0.001 mg/g vs 0.53 +/- 0.49 mg/g, p<0.001], serotonin [1.32 +/- 0.12 mg/g vs 1.94 +/- 0.08 mg/g, p<0.001] and Na, K- ATPase activity [3.11 +/- 0.27 umol pi/ mg protein vs 4.90 +/- 0.64 umol pi/mg protein, p< 0.001] as compared with euthyroid group. Treatment with T[3] significantly increased the cerebral level of neurotransmitters [0.53 +/- 0.10, p<0.05, 0.43 +/- 0.19, p<0.05 and 1.77 +/- 0.11, p<0.01 respectively] and Na, K -ATPase activity [3.87 +/- 0.48 umol pi/ mg protein] as compared with the hypothyroid group. T[3] supplementation during the postnatal period through its effect on the cerebral Na, K -ATPase effectively reversed the effect of maternal methimazole-induced hypothyroidism on the cerebral level of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin

Prediction equation for spirometric parameters in Egyptian adult population

Many factors affecting the lung functions, directly or indirectly, including anthropometric values, nutritional state, and body mass index. The aim of this study [First study in middle Egypt, Assiut governorate.] was depending on estimation of predication equation reference; establish normal spirometric values with age from 20-45 years in both genders. Furthermore, comparing our result with previous studies in our Arabic area as well as US population. The prediction equation in Assiut area governorate is including the height besides, age and weight. From results, it was found that the spirometric values and the prediction equation in males are better than females. It is in agreement with Jordanian male but less in females. While our results in both males and females is less than US' population. It is concluded that prediction equation in our area in Egypt is including weight and the spirometric values in females is less than males. These results are in agreement with other Arabic studies [Jordanian rather than Omani,] and are less than US' population which may be due to differences in anthropometric features, genetics as well as dietary habits