Raspberry ketone attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity by improving metabolic homeostasis in rats

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the antiobese effect of raspberry ketone against high-fat diet fed rats. Methods: Fifty adult male rats were randomly assigned to receive a standard diet, a high fat diet, and the high-fat diet and 0.5%, 1% or 2% raspberry ketone. Body weight, biochemical parameters and gene expression of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-d, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-a), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (CPT1A) were investigated. Results: Body weight, blood glucose, insulin, total lipids, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased in high-fat diet fed rats. These high fat diet-induced changes were attenuated by treatment with raspberry ketone. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was decreased in highfat diet fed rats but increased in rats treated with raspberry ketone. Molecular investigations showed induction of gene expression of C/EBP-d , FAS, ACC, CPT1A and inhibition of gene expression of PPAR-a and HSL in high-fat diet fed rats as compared with control. Raspberry ketone treament reversed these changes except CPT1A. Conclusions: Raspberry ketone can prevent obesity induced by a high-fat diet in rats by induction of the expression of enzymes, controlling lipolysis and fatty acids b oxidation as well as inhibition of gene expressions of adipogenic factors.

relationship between helicobacter pylori virulence factors and gastric carcinoma

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium found usually in the stomach and use several mechanisms to survive in the stomach lumen. The presence of these bacteria in the stomach can lead to gastritis and reduction in stomach acid production

Aim of the work: this study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of six highly immunogenic virulence factors [Cag A, Vac A, Gro EL, gGT, Hcp C and Ure A] in patients with different gastric histology in a high-risk population of gastric cancer and explore the relationship between H. pylori virulence factors and gastric carcinoma

Methods: this study included 100 patients: 25 patients were diagnosed histopathologically as gastric cancer [Group I] and 75 patients were diagnosed endoscopically as mild gastritis [Group II]. Their samples were collected from Military Armed Hospitals. Noninvasive serologic test was performed to detect immune responses to H. pylori by stool antigen test, ELISA and by Recomoline H. pylori test

Results: on comparing results of gastric carcinoma and chronic gastritis by Recomoline H. pylori test, it was found that Cag A was detected in 88% [22/25] in group I. While, in group II it was 57.33% [43/75] of cases and Vac A was detected in 80% [20/25] in group I while, it was in group II in 44% [33/75] of cases. Gro EL was detected in 72% [18/25] in group I while; it was 49.33% [37/75] group II and Urea A was 52% [13/25] in group I while, it was 52% [39/75] in group II. Hcp c was 56% [14/25] in group I while, it was 40% [30/75] in group II and gGT was 48% [12/25] in group I while, it was 34.67% [26/75] in group II

Conclusion: in this study, a statistically significant association was found between Cag A, Vac A and Gro EL antigen in the studied groups of patients. However, no such statistically significant association was found between Urea A, Hcp c and gGT antigen. [P value > 0.05]. Thus, Cag A, Vac A and Gro EL antigen proved to be virulence markers for gastric carcinoma group

Ameliorative effect of zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles on antioxidant system in the brain of diabetic rats

Objective: To test the ability of both zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and silver nanoparticles (SNPs) to ameliorate the oxidative stress resulted from diabetes in diabetic rats. Methods: Fifty male albino rats were used; ten of them were served as control group and forty, as the experiment group, were injected with streptozotocin at the single intraperitoneal dose of 100 mg/kg. Then, the experiment group was subdivided into, diabetic, diabetic + ZnONPs, diabetic + SNPs and diabetic + insulin groups. The activities and mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were determined in brain tissues. Malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, zinc and silver concentrations were estimated in the brain tissues of all rats. Results: A significant increase in the activities and mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase was shown. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased while there was a significant increase in the zinc, silver concentrations and total antioxidant capacity in brain of ZnONPs and SNPs treated rats, compared with diabetic or diabetic + insulin group and their control group. Conclusions: ZnONPs and SNPs can be used to ameliorate the oxidative stress in brain resulted from diabetes mellitus.

Myelo-Enhancement by Astragalus Membranaceus in Male Albino Rats with Chemotherapy Myelo-Suppression. Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myelo-suppression is the most common toxicity encountered in the oncology clinic today. This study was planned to investigate the possible protective and therapeutic role of the traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb; Astragalus Membranaceus (AM), on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out on thirty six adult male albino rats. They were divided into: Group I Control Group (n=6) received a vehicle of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. Group II (n=12) were injected I.P. with cyclophosphamide (CY) for 3 days (gIIa n =6) and continued for one more week to receive AM orally (gIIb n=6). Group III (n=6) received CY I.P. together with AM orally for 3 days. Group IV (n=12) received AM orally for one week (gIVa n=6) and continued for extra three days receiving CY I.P. with AM orally (gIVb n=6). Blood samples were analysed for Total Leucocytic Count and Lymphocytic Count. Counting of CD34 +ve cells in bone marrow was performed by flowcytometry. Bone marrow sections were subjected to H&E stain as well as immunohistochemical staining for anti- CD20 antibody. The mean area % of cellular bone marrow regions occupied by developing haemopoietic cells, mean area of fat cells and mean number of CD20 immunopositive B lymphocytes in the bone marrow were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. AM proved to have a myelo-protective and myelo-therapeutic capacity, evidenced at both laboratory and morphological levels. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest myelo-potentiating effect of AM was achieved when supplied before and together with CY therapy.

Histological Study on Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy on Experimental Renal Injury Induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion in Male Albino Rat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a major clinical problem with high mortality and limited treatment protocols. This study was planned to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) AKI. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out on thirty adult male albino rats. Animals were divided equally into three groups. Group I (control sham-operated group) (n=10), were subdivided equally into two subgroups; Ia and Ib. The experimental group (n=20) were all subjected to I/R injury by clamping both renal pedicles for 40 minutes. Half of the I/R animals did not receive MSC therapy (group II) [non-MSC treated group]. The other half of the I/R animals received single intravenous injection of PKH26 labelled BM-MSCs immediately after removal of the clamps and visual confirmation of reflow (group III) [MSC treated group]. Animals were sacrificed 24 hrs (subgroups IIa & IIIa) and 72 hrs (subgroups IIb & IIIb) after intervention. Serological measurements included serum urea and creatinine. Kidney specimens were processed for H&E, PAS and PCNA. Mean % of renal corpuscles with affected glomeruli, mean % of affected tubules, mean area % of PAS-positive reaction and mean area % of PCNA immunoreactivity were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. MSCs-treated group exhibited protection against renal injury serologically and histologically. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study suggest a potential reno-protective capacity of MSCs which could be of considerable therapeutic promise for cell-based management of clinical AKI.

Macro and micromorphology of schinus terebinthifolius radd. growing in egypt part 1: leaves and stems

The macro- and microscopical characters of the leaves and stems of Schinus terebinthefolius Radd. [Family: Anacardiaceae] are presented

Correlation of serum leptin levels with metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Aim: To determine serum leptin levels and investigate their correlations with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection and their potential clinical implications

Methods: Forty-two chronic HCV-infected patients without anti-viral treatment were enrolled in this study, 30 patients had chronic hepatitis C, 10 had cirrhosis, and 2 had hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy individuals served as controls. Serum leptin levels were determined by ELISA. The biochemical liver function and serum lipids were determined at the same time. The height and body weight of patients and controls were measured, and body mass index [BMI] and body fat were calculated simultaneously. The correlations of serum leptin levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function were assessed statistically

Results: The mean of serum leptin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C, HGV-associated cirrhosis, HCV-associated HCC and control groups was [6.13+/-3.94], [5.25+/-4.21], [4.17+/-0.28], and [3.59+/-3.44] ng/mL, respectively. The serum leptin level in patients with chronic hepatitis C was significantly higher than that in controls. The serum leptin levels between cirrhotic patients and controls and between male and female cirrhotic patients had no significant difference. Serum leptin levels were positively-correlated with body fat, BMI, and apolipoprotein B [Apo B] in patients with chronic HCV infection. The serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels were closely-correlated with BMI in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Conclusion: HCV infection interferes with fat and lipid metabolism in patients with chronic HCV infection and leptin may play a role in hepatosteatosis

toxicity of the insecticide propetamphos in mice

The toxicity of the organophosphorus insecticide propetampos-labelled with C[14] [PTP] was studied in swiss mice. The toxicological studies carried out included the effect of [PTP] on three enzymes namely: Choilnesterase SGOT and SGPT. The three doses were 4,8,12 mg/kg used. Samples of RBC and brain, tissue were taken at different time intervals, following intraperitonial [ip] injection of the insecticide. Effect on plasma enzymes was noticed with the highest dose [12 mg/kg], while in RBC an inhibition of the cholinesterase activity was found to increase with increase of dose reaching its maximum the highest dose. On brain cholinesterase the three doses showed a continuous increase in the relative inhibition with the increase of time reaching its maximum value after 48 h. The effect of the three different doses of [PTP] on SGOT and SGPT activities, at different time intervals, was recorded at 24 h intervals, using 8 and 12 mg/kg [PTP] concentration, insignificant effect when applying 4 mg/kg PTP doses

Comparative study of Aswad operation for entropion trichiasis

A comparative study off Aswad operation and other operations for entropion trichiasis was done in 240 cases. The results with Aswad operation were excellent in cicatricial entropion trichiasis of both upper and lower lid either primary or recurrent compared with other operations. Many cosmotic advantages were recorded especially in the lower lid