Genipin-Crosslinked Gelatin Scaffold in Tissue Engineering: A Systematic Review

@#Gelatin sering digunakan dalam pembuatan kerangka kejuruteraan tisu kerana ia mempunyai ciri-ciri biologi yang baik, termasuk mempercepatkan penyembuhan luka. Genipin, bahan semula jadi yang diperolehi dari tumbuhan Gardenia, terbukti berkesan dalam memperkukuhkan ciri-ciri fizikokimia gelatin. Ulasan sistematik ini melaporkan pengetahuan terkini mengenai pengunaan genipin sebagai agen penyilangan gelatin. Dua pangkalan data elektronik telah digunakan, iaitu Scopus dan MEDLINE melalui Ebscohost. Carian dilakukan untuk penerbitan antara Januari 1999 hingga Disember 2018 menggunakan kata kunci ‘gelatin’ dan ‘genipin’. Makalah berbahasa Inggeris, yang melaporkan kegunaan genipin untuk pembuatan span gelatin telah dipilih. Terdapat 830 makalah dijumpai melalui carian kata kunci di mana 14 makalah telah dipilih dan dibincangkan dalam ulasan sistematik ini. Dapatan kajian termasuk kepekatan, suhu penyilangan, dan cara pembuatan yang optima untuk genipin. Kepekatan genipin yang optima adalah 0.5% dan suhu penyilangan yang optima adalah 25˚C. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan jurang pengetahuan dalam pengunaan genipin sebagai agen penyilangan gelatin dan lebih kajian diperlukan untuk mengisi jurang ini. Kajian ini menyediakan tinjauan meluas berkenaan pengetahuan terkini mengenai penggunaan genipin sebagai agen penyilangan gelatin.

The Effectiveness of Tocotrienol Rich Fraction and Αlpha Tocoferol with Combination of Vitamin C in The Management of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)

The pathophysiology of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) had been described to involve various strong oxidative reactions affecting the status and progress of the patients. Antioxidant therapy had been suggested in many studies involving SIRS management. The objective of this study was to compare the role of vitamin E Tocotrienol and vitamin E Tocopherol combined with vitamin C as antioxidant therapy in the management of critically ill patients diagnosed with SIRS, admitted to the intensive care unit and high dependency wards of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). It was a single blind randomized clinical trial with a total of 72 patients in which 44.4% Malays, 34.7% Chinese, 19.4% Indians and 1.4% others with 59.7% males and 40.3% females were recruited. Patients in TRI E group received Tocotrienol with Vitamin C while TOCO group received Tocopherol with Vitamin C and a control group did not receive any antioxidant. The clinical parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure) showed improvements with significant difference at the end of study (post-intervention) as compared to admission (pre-intervention).Whereas, the sepsis (temperature, PCT, CRP and WBC) and oxidative stress (8-OHdG/Creatinine) parameters showed improvements with significant difference at the end of study (post-intervention) as compared to admission (pre-intervention). The TRI E group showed obvious improvement in clinical, sepsis and oxidative stress parameters, as compared to TOCO and control groups. This study showed that Vitamin E Tocotrienol and Vitamin E Tocopherol in combination with Vitamin C demonstrated significant improvement in the clinical and laboratory parameters during the management of SIRS. Therefore, Vitamin E in combination with Vitamin C had therapeutic benefits in the treatment of critically ill patients with SIRS.

The Effect of Thymoquinone, α7 Receptor Agonist and α7 Receptor Allosteric Modulator on the Cerebral Cortex in Experimentally Induced Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to MSCs Activation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older persons. Thymoquinone (TQ) has anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity. A novel α7 nicotinic acetyl choline receptor (α7 nAChR ) agonist (PNU- 282987) have been identified to enhance the cognitive performance. An alternative treatment strategy via compounds known as nicotinic “positive allosteric modulators” (PAMs) has been reported. This study was designed to investigate the combination of PAM of α7 nAChRs with PNU- 282987 or with TQ as a possible treatment for AD in rat. METHODS: 48 male albino rats were divided into 4 groups. Group I (Control), Group II received lipopolysaccharide, 0.8 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection (IPI) once, Group III received TQ 10 mg/kg by IPI, Group IV received PNU-120596 1 mg/kg by IPI, in addition to PNU-282987 1 mg/kg by IPI in subgroup IVa and TQ in subgroup b. All treatment drugs were given for 5 days. RESULTS: Acidophilic masses, deformed neurons, Congo red +ve masses and reduced Phospho-CREB immunoexpression were seen in group II. All changes regressed by treatment. Some CD44 +ve cells were noticed in group II and few +ve cells in subgroup IVa, that became multiple in group III and subgroup IVb. The histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical changes were confirmed statistically and significant differences were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: TQ or α7 nAChR agonist combined with PAM can have an important role in treatment of AD that is superior to thymoquinone alone. Exceptionally, TQ single or combined with PAM proved activation of MSC.

Expression of mesenchymal stem cell phenotype in human nasal respiratory epithelial cells / Expresión del fenotipo de células troncales mesenquimales en células epiteliales nasales humanas

The respiratory epithelium is the first line of contact with the external hazards. Thus it can be damaged and need to be replaced to avoid healing by fibrosis. Tracheal tissue engineering is an alternative promising treatment modality. Mesenchymal stem cell markers are surface proteins, which are responsible for some of these cells unique properties. The objective of this study was to detect the mesenchymal stem cell phenotype among the human nasal respiratory epithelial cells via two immunophenotyping techniques. Respiratory epithelial cells were cultured using co-culture technique, fibroblasts was removed at confluence leaving respiratory epithelial cells, which were passage further to passage 4. Cells were evaluated for mesenchymal stem cell markers that were CD73, CD90, CD105 and the hematopoietic stem cell marker CD45 at passage 1 (P1) and passage 4 (P4) using Flow cytometry and Immunocytochemistry techniques. Respiratory epithelial cells expressed the mesenchymal stem cell markers at P1 and maintain the expression these markers until P4. Using both techniques, to compare the values of mesenchymal stem cell markers expression at P1 to P4 there was no significant difference. This study indicates that respiratory epithelial cells derived from nasal turbinate retain some of mesenchymal stem cells properties even after serial passages. Both methods of Immunophenotyping are comparable.

El epitelio respiratorio es la primera línea de contacto con los peligros externos. Por lo tanto, puede ser dañado y necesita ser reemplazado para evitar uan cicatrización por fibrosis. La ingeniería de tejidos traqueales es una modalidad de tratamiento alternativo prometedora. Los marcadores de células troncales mesenquimales son proteínas de superficie, que son responsables de algunas propiedades únicas de estas células. El objetivo fue detectar el fenotipo de células troncales mesenquimales entre las células epiteliales respiratorias nasales humanas a través de dos técnicas de inmunofenotipaje. Fueron cultivadas las células epiteliales respiratorias utilizando la técnica de co-cultivo; los fibroblastos se eliminaron en la confluencia dejando solo células epiteliales respiratorias, resultantes de los 4 pasajes. Las células fueron evaluadas para encontrar marcadores de células troncales mesenquimales mediante CD73, CD90, CD105 y el marcador de células troncales hematopoyéticas CD45 en el paso 1 (P1) y el paso 4 (P4), usando citometría de flujo y técnicas de inmunocitoquímica. Las células epiteliales respiratorias expresaron los marcadores de células troncales mesenquimales en P1 y mantuvieron la expresión de estos marcadores hasta P4. No hubo diferencias significativas en el uso de ambas técnicas al comparar los valores de los marcadores de células troncales mesenquimales expresadas desde P1 a P4. Este estudio indica que las células epiteliales respiratorias derivadas de la concha nasal retienen algunas de las propiedades de células troncales mesenquimales, incluso después de pases seriados. Ambos métodos de inmunofenotipificación son comparables.

Effect of different blood sources on the feeding time of sand fly, Phlebotomus Papatasi

The feeding time for sand fly females was determined experimentally by feeding of thirty females [3-5 days-old] sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi on different blood sources [human, pigeon, hamster and blab C mice]. Mean feeding time was longest on blab C mice, 8.55 minutes, followed by hamster, 7.05 minutes, then pigeon, 4.84minutes, and finally human, 4.69 minutes. Significant difference was observed in the feeding time between females fed on hamster and balb c mice but there is no significant difference between females fed on human and pigeon

Lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes induced by aspirin and diazinon:the protective role of selenium

Objective:To investigate the adverse effect of exposure to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), diazinon (DIA) and their combination on oxidant/antioxidant status in rat erythrocytes and the ameliorating role of selenium (Se). Methods: Rats were oral administered ASA at the maximum administration dose (1 350 mg/personal/d=2.5 mg/kg body weight/d), DIA at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight/d and Se at a dose of 200 μg/kg body weight/d and their combinations for 28 consecutive d. Results: Administration of DIA, ASA and ASA+DIA lead to a significant increment (P≤0.05) in lipid peroxidation as evidenced by the increase in erythrocytes MDA levels by 61.8%, 20.79%and 105.62%, respectively. Co-administration of Se to treated rats modulated the augmentation of MDA levels. Administration of DIA, ASA and ASA+DIA lead to significant decreases (P≤0.05) in the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes when compared to the control group. The most influence and decreases in the activities of the aforementioned enzymes were observed in the treatments of ASA+DIA by 30.53%, 43.42%and 48.31%, respectively. However, co-administration of Se mitigated the significant decreases of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities to by 14.47%, 15, 36%and 12.29%. Conclusions: It can be concluded that DIA and ASA induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in rat erythrocytes. The results reveal the pronounced ameliorating effect of Se in DIA and ASA intoxicated rats. It is supposed that antioxidant supplementation may be beneficial for the people using ASA for longer periods and exposure to pesticides.

Polymorphism of bone morphogenetic protein receptor-IB [BMPR-IB] gene with litter size and kids growth of some goat breeds in Egypt

Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms [PCR-RFLP] and Single Nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] techniques were used to study the association between bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB [BMPR IB] gene polymorphism with litter size trait and kids growth. Forty four Female goats were precisely selected according to their litter size and kids growth. PCR amplification of 190 bp of the BMPR-IB gene was genotyped in all goats and sequenced only in those produced the highest and lowest litter size and kids growth. Restriction analysis of PCR-RFLP using Ava II and Hind III of the BMPRIB gene [190-bp] do not produce restriction fragments. By DNA sequencing, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNP's] at seven different positions were obtained. Furthermore, with translation of SNPs to corresponding amino acids, change of six amino acids in three female goats were obtained as the following, Baladi goat with high litter size, glutamic acid [E] changed to aspartic acid [P] and isoleucine [I] changed to valine [V]. In high litter size, Zaraibi goat, valine [V] changed to leucine acid [L] and glutamine [Q] changed to histidine [H] and threonine [T] changed to proline [P]. These findings can be used in a marker-assisted selection [MAS] for selection for high litter size trait in goats. There are negative relationships in most goats between SNPs in BMPR IB gene and relative growth gain [RGG]

Valve with variable inherent characteristics

Pipe line valves have been studied extensively to determine their inherent performance characteristics. However; some researches introduced different internal design for such valves to achieve a variety of inherent characteristics. Consequently, this is an obsolete way to achieve the required characteristic. The present paper introduces a new valve concept that consists of two parallel portions of globe type valves with different characteristics. The integration between the two valve portions, makes it possible to have an inherent flow coefficient range instead one performance curve according to the opening of the two valve portions. Experimental investigation is herein performed while studying the two valve portions individually and operating together while considering the variation of upstream pressure, Reynolds number, and valve direction. The results put guidelines for valve installation and performance on the basis of throttling and cavitation avoidance. The present work may be the first step for the new concept of valve type used for engineering systems

Aedes aegypti re-emerging in Egypt: a review and what should be done?

Mosquitoes are main vectors of varieties of pathogenic agents affecting man and animals. There-emergencein Aswan and approach of Aedesaegypti, the vector of the Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Yellow fever and Chikungunya fever, which are encountered in Africa, needs to alert for this public health threat. The presence of Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever in Saudi Arabia is another issue

Toxicokinetics versus pi-tarmacokinetics of oral anabolic steroids abused in doping practice

Despite the high prevalence of toxicological profile of oral anabolic steroids, laboratory investigations on toxicokinetic profile of anabolic steroids overdoses have been largely unknown and underestimated. In the present study toxicokinetics of methyltestosterone and testosterone undecanoate were studied in male adult rats after oral administration of single toxic dose to explore possible alteratiolls in their pharmacokinetic behavior in comparison to their corresponding parameters at therapeutic doses. The extraction methods adapted for plasma samples showed mean recoveries of 87.4+0.19% and 103.5 +/- 0.1% for methyltestosterone and testosterone undecanoate respectively. Inter- and intra-day precision were 2.4 -8.7% coefficient of variance [CV.], and 4.3 -2.8% [CV.] for methyltestosterone and testosterone undecanoate respectively. Plasma concentrations measured by high performance liquid chromatography method was applied for the analysis of both methyltestosterone and testosterone undecanoate with high sensitivity and low detection limit of 1ng/ml. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-compartmental method. Both drugs showed non-linear pharmacokinetic behavior represented in disproportional increase in C[max], AUC[0-infinity] and increase in V, CI, t1/2 and lambda. The present data indicate accumulation of steroids in tissues leading to severe toxicological consequences

A scanning electron microscopic study of in vivo tissue engineered respiratory epithelium in sheep

Normal tracheal mucociliary clearance is the key to maintaining the health and defense of respiratory airway. Therefore the present of cilia and mucous blanket are important for tracheal epithelium to function effectively. In the present study, we prepared a tissue engineered respiratory epithelium construct (TEREC) made of autologous respiratory epithelium cells, fibroblast and fibrin from sheep owns blood which replaced a created tracheal mucosal defect. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed encouraging result where immature cilia were present on the surface of TEREC. This result indicates that engineered respiratory epithelium was able to function as normal tissue.

Detection of some toxic heavy metals in meat and offal of slaughtered cattle in Tanta abattoir, Gharbia governorate

A lot of one hundred and twenty random samples of meat, liver and kidney were collected from young and old slaughtered cattle [20 of each] at Tanta slaughter house, Gharbia governorate, Egypt, for detection of some heavy metal residues as Lead, cadmium and mercury by using Atomic absorption spectrometer. The results revealed that the highest mean value of lead concentration was recorded as 0.606 +/- 0.190 mg/kg wet weight in weight in old slaughtered cattle liver, while the lowest mean value of lead concentration was 0.036 +/- 0.016 mg/ kg wet weight in meat samples of young slaughtered cattle. More over, the highest mean value of cadmium concentration was recorded in as slaughtered cattle 1.752 +/- 0.469 mg/kg wet weight in kidney sample, while the lowest value of cadmium level in young slaughtered cattle was 0.858 +/- 0.133 mg/kg wet weight in meat samples. Regarding the mercury concentration in slaughtered cattle the highest level was recorded in liver of old aged cattle 0.499 +/- 0.171 mg/kg wet weight, whilemean the lowest results were recorded in meat sample of young aged slaughtered cattle as 0.218 + 0.041, All the obtained results of lead cadmium and mercury were compared with the permissible limsts of FAO/WHQ [1992] and ES [1993] and public health hazards of such toxic heavy metals were discussed. Hygienic measures and awareness programs were implemented to avoid contamination of meat and offal with such toxic heavy meals

Toxic effects of five insecticides and their mixture on male albino rats

Five insecticides namely; abamectin, carbosulfan, fenpropathrin, methomyl and profenofos were given by gavages to male albino rats. These insecticides were administered daily for 28 days with doses equaled 1/20 LD 50 either singly or in a mixture of all the insecticides together. The study revealed significant decreases in body and kidneys weights, while increases in liver weights in all the treatments. Most of the treatments induced significant elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], while caused decreases in acetylcholinesterase [AChE] activities. Fenpropathrin and the mixture induced significant increase in total protein content of the serum, while the other treatments induced significant decreases. Creatinine concentrations recorded significant elevations in fenpropathrin and methomyl treatments, while significant decrease in case of Profenofos. Degenerative changes and granularity of hepatocytes with Kupffer cells activation were observed in the treatments with the mixture or and methomyl. Shrinking in Bowman's capsule and degenerative changes of epithelium lining renal tubules were observed in rats treated with the mixture. Moreover, necrotic changes associated with desquamation of epithelium lining tubules were shown in rats treated with the mixture, fenpropathrin and methomyl. From the biochemical data, the joint action was estimated for the mixture composed of the five insecticides. The mixture interacts antagonistically with most of the measured biochemical parameters

Tfg-Mi, a root-knot nematode resistance gene from fenugreek [Trigonella foenum-graecum] confers nematode resistance in tomato

Several root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne spp.] resistance genes have been discovered in different plants. For the first time, the Mi gene from fenugreek [Trigonella foenum-graecum] was detected in this study. A candidate root-knot nematode resistance gene [designated as Tfg-Mi] was isolated from the resistant fenugreek line Giza 3 by degenerate PCR amplification combined with the RACE technique. Also, another two candidate root-knot nematode resistance genes [designated as To-Mi11 and To-Mi12] were isolated from the resistant tomato [Lycopersicon esculentum] line Nemagard. Expression profiling analysis revealed that both genes were highly expressed in roots, leaves and flowers and expressed at a lower level in stems, but are not detectable in fruits. To verify the function of Tfg-Mi, a sense vector containing the genomic DNA spanning the full coding region of Tfg-Mi was constructed and transferred into root-knot nematode susceptible tomato plants. Sixteen transgenic plants carrying one to five copies of T-DNA inserts were generated from two nematode susceptible tomato cultivars. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of Tfg- Mi gene varied in different transgenic plants. PCR assays showed that the resistance to root-knot nematodes was significantly improved in some transgenic lines compared to untransformed susceptible plants, and that the resistance was heritable

Hyperhomocysteinemia and cardiovascular diseases in Algeria people

Epidemiological research has shown that elevated total homocysteine [thcy] is a risk factor for atherosclerosis disease. This study was carried in symptomatic patients with cardiovascular disease n= 63 and asymptomatic n= 27. There was a significant decrease in Total-cholesterol [3.65mmol/l +/- 1.25] and HDL-cholesterol [0.84mmol/l +/- 0.48] in symptomatic patients and compared with asymptomatic the concentration of Total-cholesterol was [4.12mmol/l +/- 0.84] and HDL-cholesterol was [1.17mmol/l +/- 0.54]. The concentration of enzymes LDH, CK and ALP [271.47units/l +/- 129.18, 121.34units/l +/- 142.50 and 232.57units/l +/- 95.72], respectively in symptomatic patient and in asymptomatic control group were [170units/l +/- 46.3, 74.3units/l +/- 38.5 and 50 and 132.73units/l +/- 59.81], respectively, these values are increased significantly between two groups. The main values of thiols [homocysteine; cysteinylglycine, glutathione oxidized and reduced] were higher in patients with cardiovasculardisease [10.21micro mol/l +/- 5.59, 32.38 micro mol/l +/- 22.34, 17.91 micro mol/l +/- 8.83 and 32.96 micro mol/l +/- 17.34], respectively than in asymptomatic subjects where the concentration of thiols were [7.67 micro mol/l +/- 2.66, 25.48 micro mol/l +/- 11.11, 6.66 micro mol/l +/- 2.79 and 12.09 micro mol/l +/- 5.18]. The main value of homocysteine [12.89 micro mol/l +/- 4.59] was increased highly and significantly in symptomatic postmenopausal women in contrast to homocysteine concentration [8.45 micro mol/l +/- 4.94] in male patients. Our study suggests that plasma level total homocysteine is an independent risk factor in atherogenic process

Effect of some insecticides and their binary combinations, with and without antioxidant, on maternal and histopathological aspects in pregnant rats

The hazard effects of 3 insecticides [Avermectin [Av], Imidacloprid [Im], and Fenvalerate [Fn]] belonging to different chemical groups were tested on albino rats. Pregnant rats were orally administered these insecticides either individually or in paired combinations from days 7-21 of gestation in the absence and presence of vitamin C. Generally, the signs of toxicity in dams were tremors, convulsion, diarrhea, general emaciation and a loss in body weight gain. However, the internal organs of liver showed an increase in weight, while that of kidney revealed insignificant changes. The maternal and fetal toxicity were considered by average litter weight, average fetus weight and number of live fetuses/dam. All these parameters were significantly decreased as a result of insecticide applications. The ameliorating effect of vitamin C supplementation was clearly observed in treatment of Im+Fn; where the number of live fetuses/dam improved from 7 to 9, which nearly equals the number of control [10/dam]. Moreover, Kupffer cell activation, granular degradation, pyknosis and cloudy swelling were the major manifestation of liver toxicity, while the histopathological changes in kidney sections were glomerular tuft atrophy and degenerated epithelium lining renal tubules. The sections of ovary revealed stages of necrosis in the luteal cells and hemorrhages between the luteal cells as well. In addition, the brain also revealed signs of focal gliosis and mononuclear infiltration. Normal appearance was regarded in the liver of Av and Av+Im groups following the administration of the antioxidant. The overall results obtained highlight the importance of vitamin C supplementation for ameliorating some hazards of exposure to the studied insecticides

Xenobiotics interaction 5 : further study on the growth rate of albino rats exposed to single and binary combinations of pesticides

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of certain insecticides [viz.; avermectin, imidacloprid, methomyl, triazophos] and their binary combinations on the growth rate and weights of internal organs in albino rats, as well as to analyze the joint action of the tested mixtures against the rate of growth. The treatment with avermectin [at 1/10 LD[50]] caused weekly body weight gain in male and female rats very higher than those recorded for the control rats, while the treatment with imidacloprid [at 1/5 LD[50]] induced an opposite result. Also, most of the other tested treatments reduced the rate of growth. Relative to the body weights, a number of treatments [e.g. triazophos; avermectin + imidacloprid] were found to produce increases in the weights of heart, liver and spleen. Other treatments, such as methomyl [at 1/10 and 1/5 LD[50s]], caused obvious decreases in the relative weight of kidneys, testes, and ovaries, while the relative weight of lungs did not change significantly by the tested insecticides; either given singly or in paired combinations. The results of joint action analysis revealed that the most effective mixture inducing potentiation against the growth rate of male and female rats was entitled to the combination of avermectin + methomyl [Relative Interaction Index ; RII = 0.10 and 0.32 respectively]. Antagonistic effect was obtained with the mixture imidacloprid + triazophos against female rats [RII=1.15]

Contribution to the petrogenesis and the temporal varation in arc magmatism yielding the dokhan volcanic rocks in the eastern desert of Egypt

The present paper deals with the overall geochemical characteristics of the Dokhan volcanics in ten selected localities in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and the maturity of the arc magmatism. Dokhan volcanics Comprise mainly basalts, basaltic andesites, andesites, dacites and rhyolites, in addition to their pyroclastic equivalents. The Dokhan volcanics were derived from a Calc-alkaline magma erupted along an active continental margin, the calc-alkaline nature of these rocks is the most pronounced feature of the parent basaltic magma. The resulted volcanic arcs are compared with some modern arcs, e.g. Tonga-South Sandwich, New Zealand and New Guinea. The Dokhan volcanics have active similarity of the mature arcs active continental margin of Chili.,whereas the arc maturity increases towards Esh El-Mellaha range as well as, highly mature volcanic arc similar to that of New Guinea