Modulation of Gut Microbiome Community Mitigates Multiple Sclerosis in a Mouse Model: The Promising Role of Palmaria palmata Alga as a Prebiotic.

BACKGROUND: Red marine algae have shown the potential to reduce inflammation, influence microbiota, and provide neuroprotection. OBJECTIVE: To examine the prebiotic properties of Palmaria palmata aqueous extract (Palmaria p.) and its potential as a neuroprotective agent in multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: eighty-eight adult Swiss mice were divided into four male and four female groups, including a control group (distilled water), Palmaria p.-treated group (600 mg/kg b.w.), cuprizone (CPZ)-treated group (mixed chow 0.2%), and a group treated with both CPZ and Palmaria p. The experiment continued for seven weeks. CPZ treatment terminated at the end of the 5th week, with half of the mice sacrificed to assess the demyelination stage. To examine the spontaneous recovery, the rest of the mice continued until the end of week seven. Behavioral (grip strength (GS) and open field tests (OFT)), microbiome, and histological assessments for general morphology of corpus callous (CC) were all conducted at the end of week five and week 7. RESULTS: Palmaria p. can potentially protect against CPZ-induced MS with variable degrees in male and female Swiss mice. This protection was demonstrated through three key findings: (1) increased F/B ratio and expansion of the beneficial Lactobacillus, Proteobacteria, and Bactriodia communities. (2) Protection against the decline in GS induced by CPZ and prevented CPZ-induced anxiety in OFT. (3) Preservation of structural integrity. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its propensity to promote microbiota alterations, its antioxidant activity, and its content of -3 fatty acids, Palmaria p. could be a promising option for MS patients and could be beneficial as a potential probiotic for the at-risk groups as a preventive measure against MS.

The Outcome of the Online Virtual Classes During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study in the Female Campus of the Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh-King Abdulaziz University.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has affected the educational process greatly in the academic year 2019-2020. Therefore, this warranted an urgent and effective shift and intervention toward the online teaching practice. Aim: We have aimed in this study to assess the impact of the necessary shift of the educational process of the basic sciences toward the online distant learning in the female campus; Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University. Subjects and Methods: Promptly shift toward the online teaching practice through virtual classrooms for the 2nd and 3rd year students was accomplished during the second term of the academic year 2019-2020. Following that, we analyzed the efficacy of this shift qualitatively through focus group discussions with the students and the staff members. For objective assessment, we analyzed and compared the students' results of the second term of the academic years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 regarding the same modules. Results: The results of the students were not negatively affected during the pandemic hit. Conversely, the results improved in the basic science modules, and no significant difference was found in the clinically-oriented genetic module. Conclusion: The significant move toward the online virtual classrooms did not affect the teaching and learning process negatively. Contrarily, the online teaching and learning practice have proved to be a decent alternative if applied on a sound basis during emergencies and thus is promising as an adjuvant method in the educational process in the ordinary circumstances.

Optimized platelet rich plasma releasate (O-rPRP) repairs galactosemia-induced ovarian follicular loss in rats by activating mTOR signaling and inhibiting apoptosis.

Platelet rich plasma contains a collection of growth factors, and an optimal formulation, named O-rPRP, contains the highest possible concentration of growth factors. PURPOSE: Challenging the healing power of O-rPRP in a high-galactose diet-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) experimental rat model. METHODS: Rats were divided into four groups of ten rats each and treated for four week as follows; 1) the control group, fed with normal diet and received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PBS once/week; 2) the POI group, fed with galactose diet (50%) and received PBS (i.p.) once/week; 3) the POI/O-rPRP group, fed a 50% galactose diet and received O-rPRP (i.p.) once/week; 4) the O-rPRP group (negative control), fed with a normal diet and received O-rPRP (i.p.) once/week. The levels of galactose, follicle stimulating hormone, 17 ß-estradiol, anti-mullerian hormone and inhibin B were measured in serum samples. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR assays were employed to investigate the levels of miR-223, ß1 integrin, p70S6k and MCL-1 in ovarian tissues. RESULTS: After O-rPRP treatment, ß1 integrin expression was enhanced, and miR-223 expression was decreased. Unlike the untreated galactose group, in the group treated with O-rPRP, p70S6k and MCL-1 expression levels were increased, indicating that the mTOR growth signaling pathway was active and that apoptosis was inactive. After the introduction of O-rPRP, the number of follicles and the follicular maturation improved, which was consistent with the improvement of inhibin B levels and subsequent inhibition of FSH. CONCLUSION: O-rPRP inhibited galactose-induced excessive atresia and provided an overall protective effect on the ovarian follicles.

Increment of Lysosomal Biogenesis by Combined Extracts of Gum Arabic, Parsley, and Corn Silk: A Reparative Mechanism in Mice Renal Cells.

Gum Arabic (GA), parsley, and corn silk have been traditionally used for renal failure patients worldwide. This study aimed at probing the mechanism of the combined extracts, namely, GA (3 g/kg/day), parsley (1 g/kg/day), and corn silk (200 mg/kg/day), as nephroprotective agents in mice after amikacin (1.2 g/kg) single dose through exploration of their action on G-protein coupled receptors (GPR) 41 and 43 and the ensuing lysosomal biogenesis. Western blotting was employed for renal levels of bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and cytosolic cathepsin D; cell death markers, nuclear transcription factor EB (TFEB), and lysosomal associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1); and lysosomal biogenesis indicators. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and docking were also employed. After amikacin treatment, BAX and cathepsin D levels were upregulated while LAMP-1 and nuclear TFEB levels were inhibited. The combined extracts inhibited BAX and cytosolic cathepsin D but upregulated LAMP-1 and nuclear TFEB levels. Docking confirmed GPR modulatory signaling. The combined extracts showed GPR signal modulatory properties that triggered lysosome synthesis and contributed to reversing the adverse effects of amikacin on renal tissues.

Fluoxetine coupled with zinc in a chronic mild stress model of depression: Providing a reservoir for optimum zinc signaling and neuronal remodeling.

BACKGROUND: Recently, depression has been envisioned as more than an alteration in neurotransmitters centered around receptor signaling pathways. Consequently, the precise mechanisms of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs such as fluoxetine are being revisited. Zinc is a trace element that has been long implicated in the psychopathology and therapy of depression. Zinc has been found to be sequestered and dispensed during stress and inflammation through a family of proteins called metallothioneins (MTs). In addition, MTs are well known for their antioxidant and therefore cytoprotective action. Changes in MTs, their upstream regulators and downstream effectors in response to fluoxetine have not been yet studied. The aim of the present study is to examine whether depression-induced changes in protein levels and mRNA levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), MTs, antioxidant defensive enzyme heme oxygenase (HO-1), zinc-specific receptor GPR39 and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus can be reversed by fluoxetine treatment, zinc supplementation or a combination of the two. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study investigated the effect of chronic (4weeks) combined treatment with zinc hydroaspartate (15mg/kg) and fluoxetine (10mg/kg) on a chronic mild stress model (CMS) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: Hippocampal mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1, MTs, GPR39 (protein level only) and BDNF were significantly higher in response to a combined therapy of fluoxetine and zinc than to either monotherapy. Additionally, HO-1 and MTs gene expression was correlated with that of Nrf2 in the FLX-only group. CONCLUSION: Fluoxetine therapy activated the expression of MTs and HO-1 through an Nrf2-dependent pathway. When FLX was escorted by zinc, activated MTs had a positive impact on BDNF through the zinc signaling receptor GPR39, resulting in general improvement in neuronal plasticity as well as reduction of neuronal atrophy and neuronal cell loss.

Breaking the ritual metabolic cycle in order to save acetyl CoA: A potential role for mitochondrial humanin in T2 bladder cancer aggressiveness.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer cells may exhibit outsourcing of their high energy need in order to avoid the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis. Reduced mitochondrial respiration and accumulation of mitochondrial genome mutations are among metabolic transformations in this regard. Mitochondrial humanin (MT-RNR2) is a small peptide with anti-apoptotic activities attributed to binding some pro-apoptotic proteins. AIM OF THE WORK: The current study aims at investigating the expression of mitochondrial humanin in bladder tumor cells and the possible casting of humanin anti-apoptotic action through orchestrating some of the mitochondrial metabolic enzymes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here messenger RNA of humanin, succinate dehydrogenase, glutaminase, isocitrate dehydrogenase were compared in tissues from patients with T2 bladder carcinoma in comparison to tumor associated normal tissues from the same patients. Levels of lactate and mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC1) mRNA were determined to scrutinize the prevalence of aerobic glycolysis. RESULTS: The present study found that tumor cells had suppressed aerobic glycolysis, augmented mitochondrial respiration and interrupted tricarboxylic acid cycle, all of which were suggested to serve tumor aggressiveness. MT-RNR2 was found closely related to the alterations in mitochondrial activity. CONCLUSION: MT-RNR2 plays its anti-apoptotic role partly by avoiding deploying energy from complete oxidation of organic compounds to inorganic wastes. Thus MT-RNR2 can potentially serve as a new biomarker in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma especially that it is present in blood circulation.