The high impact of zinc chromium oxide nanocombs on development of larvicidal and antimicrobial performance.

Zinc chromium oxide (Cr/ZnO, 5wt.%) was prepared by a facile chemical co-precipitation route. The structure, composition, and chemical bonding were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicating that chromium ions were integrated the host framework to form Cr/ZnO nanocomposite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs showed comb-shaped nanoparticles with an average size 20 nm and large surface area. The energy gap of the thin films was estimated from T% and R% measurements which exhibit a strong optical absorption edge close to the visible spectrum. The insecticidal activity of the synthesized nanocombs against C. pipiens larvae was evaluated with LC50 (30.15 ppm) and LC90 (100.22 ppm). Besides, the nanocomposite showed high antibacterial performance against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative bacteria (Proteus vulgaris) with inhibition zones 21.9 and 19 mm, respectively.

The Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on the Gut-Brain Axis in Psychiatric Patients.

The pathophysiology of several psychiatric diseases may entail disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and metabolic pathways. Variations in how these effects present themselves may be connected to individual variances in clinical symptoms and treatment responses, such as the observation that a significant fraction of participants do not respond to current antipsychotic drugs. A bidirectional signaling pathway between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The large and small intestines contain more than 100 trillion microbial cells, contributing to the intestinal ecosystem's incredible complexity. Interactions between the microbiota and intestinal epithelium can alter brain physiology and affect mood and behavior. There has recently been a focus on how these relationships impact mental health. According to evidence, intestinal microbiota may play a role in neurological and mental illnesses. Intestinal metabolites of microbial origin, such as short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolites, and bacterial components that might stimulate the host's immune system, are mentioned in this review. We aim to shed some on the growing role of gut microbiota in inducing/manipulating several psychiatric disorders, which may pave the way for novel microbiota-based therapies.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, Cilostazol, improved memory impairment in aluminum chloride-treated rats: modulation of cAMP/CREB pathway.

The most prevalent type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is currently incurable. Existing treatments for Alzheimer's disease, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, are only effective for symptom relief. Disease-modifying medications for Alzheimer's disease are desperately required, given the enormous burdens that the disease places on individuals and communities. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors are gaining a lot of attention in the research community because of their potential in treating age-related cognitive decline. Cilostazol is a selective PDE III inhibitor used as antiplatelet agent through cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein phosphorylation pathway (cAMP/CREB). The neuroprotective effect of cilostazol in AD-like cognitive decline in rats was investigated in this study. After 2 months of intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg aluminum chloride, Morris water maze and Y-maze (behavioral tests) were performed. After that, histological and biochemical examinations of the hippocampal region were carried out. Aluminum chloride-treated rats showed histological, biochemical, and behavioral changes similar to Alzheimer's disease. Cilostazol improved rats' behavioral and histological conditions, raised neprilysin level while reduced levels of amyloid-beta protein and phosphorylated tau protein. It also decreased the hippocampal levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nuclear factor-kappa B, FAS ligand, acetylcholinesterase content, and malondialdehyde. These outcomes demonstrate the protective activity of cilostazol versus aluminum-induced memory impairment.

Telmisartan Protects Against Aluminum-Induced Alzheimer-like Pathological Changes in Rats.

Currently, there is no effective mean for treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Commonly used AD drugs have a moderate effect and treat only the associated symptoms, therefore there is a strong need to search for more effective agents. Our goal is to examine telmisartan neuroprotective effect in aluminum-induced cognitive impairment in rats. Aluminum chloride (10 mg/kg, i.p) was administered for 2 months then behavioral tests (Y-maze and Morris water maze) were done. Hippocampal biochemical and histological analysis were then carried out. AD-like histological, biochemical, and behavioral alterations appeared in aluminum-treated rats. Telmisartan improved rats' condition on behavioral and histological levels. It reversed the increase in hippocampal amyloid beta protein, phosphorylated tau protein contents together with augmentation of neprilysin level, it also diminished levels of nuclear factor kappa-B, FAS ligand, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, malondialdehyde, and acetylcholinesterase content.These findings show the protective action of telmisartan against AD-like pathological alterations.

The recent increase in contraceptive discontinuation in Egypt.

This study sought to establish whether recent changes in discontinuation of contractive use and switching in Egypt can be considered an important cause of the unexpected increase in overall fertility and slight fall in contraceptive prevalence in the country. The analysis was based on calendar data from the 2008 and 2014 Egyptian DHS. Single/multiple decrement life tables were built to calculate contraceptive discontinuation rates and examine these by reasons for discontinuation focusing on three methods: IUDs, pills and injectables. The unit of the analysis was 'segment of use', defined as a continuous period of use/non-use of a contraceptive method (in months). It was found that over the period 2008-2014 the rise in the 'all method' discontinuation rate was mainly due to the shift away from IUDs to hormonal methods, which have higher discontinuation rates. Segments of use were more likely to be discontinued for 'method/service-related' reasons than for 'reduced need' reasons. This was due to an increase in contraceptive failure and side-effect/health concerns. Also, 'the desire to get pregnant' increased to become the second highest reason-specific discontinuation rate. This has coincided with a recent increase in ideal family size in Egypt. About half of the women who reported discontinuing for reasons related to method/services switched to another method, while the rest became subject to the risk of an unintended pregnancy. The rate of switching, rather than stopping use, increased for IUDs, remained the same for pills and increased slightly for injectables, indicating an improvement in switching behaviour. However, a marked high percentage of switchers moved to less-effective methods. If these issues are not addressed, many women in Egypt have an unmet need for contraception, leading to an increase in unintended pregnancies. Specific interventions that would greatly benefit the family planning programme in Egypt include improvement in counselling at the time of IUD insertion and removal and the reduction in failure rates for hormonal methods.

Evaluation of Osteopontin and Pokémon genes expression in hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Osteopontin and Pokémon genes may have an important role in the pathogenesis of different malignancies. Osteopontin is a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix, and Pokémon is a regulator of transcription. Both have been hypothesized to be useful as therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers. We aim to assess the role of both in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver fibrosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted our study on 50 patients and classified them into three groups-Group I: Patients with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 30); Group II: Patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis (n = 10); and Group III: Patients with hepatitis C fibrosis (n = 10). We found high levels of Osteopontin and Pokémon gene expression in group I. Osteopontin levels were higher also in patients with liver fibrosis was correlated to high levels of parameters such as alpha fetoprotein and caspase. We conclude that HCC is associated with overexpression of both Osteopontin and Pokémon and that Osteopontin plays a significant role in liver fibrosis due to hepatitis C infection.