Formulation and In Vivo Evaluation of Biofilm Loaded with Silver Sulfadiazine for Burn Healing.

Infected burned skin is a life-threatening condition, which may lead to sepsis. The aims of this work are to formulate a biofilm composed of silver sulfadiazine (SSD), chitosan (CS), and sodium alginate (SA), and to evaluate its wound-healing effectiveness. A full factorial design was used to formulate different matrix formulations. The prepared biofilm was tested for physicochemical, and in vitro release. The optimized formulation is composed of 0.833% of CS and 0.75% of SA. The release of SSD almost reached 100% after 6 h. The mechanical properties of the optimized formula were reasonable. The antibacterial activity for the optimized biofilm was significantly higher than that of blank biofilm, which is composed of CS and SA, p = 1.53922 × 10-12. Moreover, the in vivo study showed a 75% reduction in wound width when using the formulated SSD biofilm compared to standard marketed cream (57%) and the untreated group (0%).

The beneficial effects of antioxidants combination on cardiac injury induced by tetrachloromethane.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of carsil (CAR) either alone or in combination with α-tocopherol (α-TOCO) and/or turmeric (TUMR) against tetrachloromethane (TCM)-induced cardiomyocyte injury in rats. Administration of CAR either alone or in combination with α-TOCO and/or TUMR post-TCM injection, significantly mitigated the increases in serum troponin T, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP). They also decline the elevation of caspase-3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression as well as DNA damage in cardiac tissues induced by TCM. The biochemical results were confirmed by histopathological investigation. Conclusion: The combination of the three antioxidants showed greater cardioprotective potential, compared to individual drugs. Therefore, this combination may be recommended as a complementary therapy to antagonize cardiac injury induced by different insults.

Fenofibrate attenuates diabetic nephropathy in experimental diabetic rat's model via suppression of augmented TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

CONTEXT: Fibrates, the ligands of peroxisome profileferator-activated receptor-α have been shown to have a renal protective action in diabetic nephropathy (DN). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of fenofibrate on renal transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and Smad3 in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Diabetic rats were given fenofibrate (100 mg/kg, p.o.). After 12 weeks, diabetic nephropathy biomarkers were assessed. The mRNA expression of collage I and III, TGF-ß1 and Smad3 and were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Fenofibrate reduced significantly serum creatinine, kidney/body weight ratio, serum albumin excretion Collage I & III, TGF-ß1 and Smad3 mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results give further insights into the mechanisms underlying the protective role of fenofibrate in DN, suggesting that interference with TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be a useful therapeutic approach to prevent DN.

Effect of aliskiren and carvedilol on expression of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II δ-subunit isoforms in cardiac hypertrophy rat model.

CONTEXT: The critical role of CaMKIIδ isoforms in cardiac hypertrophy is well documented. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to investigate the possible inhibitory effects of aliskiren (ALS) and/or carvedilol (CAV) on CaMKIIδ isoforms expression in experimental cardiac hypertrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (ISO) (5 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks to induce cardiac hypertrophy. Hypertrophied rats were daily treated with either ALS (10 mg/kg) and/or CAV (10 mg/kg). At the end of the treatment, rats were killed; blood and hearts were collected for assessing different biochemical parameters. RESULTS: ISO treatment significantly increased heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) ratio, serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin T (Tn-T) levels, and plasma renin activity (PRA) as compared to control rats. Additionally, ISO treatment produced a significant increase in the expression of myocardial CaMKIIδ2 and CaMKIIδ3 that were associated with significant elevation in myocardial caspase-3 protein expression. Histopathological examination of rats exposed to ISO treatment showed severe myocardial cell degeneration. ALS and/or CAV treatment significantly reduced the altered HW/BW ratio, serum CK-MB and Tn-T levels, PRA, and caspase-3 protein expression in hypertrophied rats, with maximal improvement in the combination group. These biochemical findings were supported by the histopathological examination of the heart tissue. Additionally, treatment with ALS and CAV significantly inhibited ISO-induced increase in CaMKIIδ2 and CaMKIIδ3 expression levels. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that ALS and CAV treatment ameliorated ISO-induced hypertrophy via inhibiting the expression and the activity of CaMKIIδ isoforms and the associated myocardial apoptosis.

Potential impact of silymarin in combination with chlorogenic acid and/or melatonin in combating cardiomyopathy induced by carbon tetrachloride.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effective role of silymarin either alone or in combination with chlorogenic acid and/or melatonin against the toxic impact of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced cardiac infarction. CCl4 (l.2 ml/kg body weight) was administered as a single dose intraperitoneally. The results revealed that the administration of silymarin alone or in combination with chlorogenic acid (CGA) and/or melatonin for 21 consecutive days, 24 h after CCl4 injection to rats, markedly ameliorated the increases in serum markers of cardiac infarction, including troponin T and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), as well as increases in the pro-inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in serum and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein in cardiac tissue compared to CCl4 intoxicated rats. The used agents also successfully modulated the alteration in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and the oxidative DNA damage and the increase in the apoptosis marker caspase 3 in cardiac tissue in response to CCl4 toxicity. The present biochemical results are supported by histo-pathological examination. The current results proved that treatment with silymarin in combination with CGA and melatonin was the most effective one in ameliorating the toxicity of CCl4 induced cardiac damage and this may support the use of this combination as an effective drug to treat cardiac damage induced by toxic agents.

Potential impact of quercetin and idebenone against immuno- inflammatory and oxidative renal damage induced in rats by titanium dioxide nanoparticles toxicity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic impacts of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) on rat kidneys and the possible prophylactic role of either quercetin or idebenone. TiO2-NPs were administered orally at either 600 mg or 1 g/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days to evaluate dose-dependent toxicity referred to the OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals. The results showed that administration of either low or high repeated doses of TiO2-NPs to rats significantly increases serum kideney function biomarkers (urea, creatinine and uric acid) as well as increases in serum glucose and serum immuno- inflammatory biomarkers including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobin g (IGg), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, angiogenic factor) and nitric oxide (NO) with a concomitant decrease in renal GSH content versus normal control values. The increase in these biomarkers was more evident in rats intoxicated with high TiO2-NPs repeated doses. Oral co- administration of either quercetin or idebenone (each 200mg/Kg body weight) daily for three weeks to rats intoxicated by either of the two doses markedly ameliorated TiO2-NPs induced alteration in the above biomarkers. The prophylactic impacts of both agents on biochemical markers were more pronounced in rats received low TiO2-NPs repeated doses. The biochemical investigation was supported by histological examination. In conclusion, The data showed the severity in renotoxicity of TiO2-NPs was dose-dependent and the protective effect of quercetin and idebenone may be related to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.