Effects of high-mobility group a protein application on canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Multipotency and self-renewal are considered as most important features of stem cells to persist throughout life in tissues. In this context, the role of HMGA proteins to influence proliferation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASCs) while maintaining their multipotent and self-renewal capacities has not yet been investigated. Therefore, extracellular HMGA1 and HMGA2 application alone (10-200 ng/mL) and in combination with each other (100, 200 ng/mL each) was investigated with regard to proliferative effects on canine ASCs (cASCs) after 48 hours of cultivation. Furthermore, mRNA expression of multipotency marker genes in unstimulated and HMGA2-stimulated cASCs (50, 100 ng/mL) was analyzed by RT-qPCR. HMGA1 significantly reduced cASCs proliferation in concentrations of 10-200 ng/mL culture medium. A combination of HMGA1 and HMGA2 protein (100 and 200 ng/mL each) caused the same effects, whereas no significant effect on cASCs proliferation was shown after HMGA2 protein application alone. RT-qPCR results showed that expression levels of marker genes including KLF4, SOX2, OCT4, HMGA2, and cMYC mRNAs were on the same level in both HMGA2-protein-stimulated and -unstimulated cASCs. Extracellular HMGA protein application might be valuable to control proliferation of cASCs in context with their employment in regenerative approaches without affecting their self-renewal and multipotency abilities.

Resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep to some anthelmintics.

The occurrence of resistance to three of commonly used anthelmintics, Pyrantel tartrate (Banminth), Albendazole2.5% (Valbazen) and Duramectin 1% (Dectomax) was studied in locally bred sheep in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, by means of faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). The faecal egg count reduction test showed that Pyrantel tartrate and Albendazole were less than 95% effective, 77% and 89% FECR% value respectively (i.e.: presence of resistance) while Duramectin showed full efficacy, 100% FECR% value. Culture of faecal samples before and after treatment in groups was done to interpret the anthelmintic resistance of individual nematode species. Where Ostertagia circumcincta and Bunostomum trigonocephalumn were susceptible to Pyrantel tartrate and Albendazole (100% FECR for each) but Nematodirus battus and Homonchus contortus have developed varying degrees of resistance for both drugs (56.3%, 48.2% and 88%, 70% respectively). Meanwhile, all nematode species were susceptible to Duramectin.

Antimicrobial effect of bee honey in comparison to antibiotics on organisms isolated from infected burns.

Despite recent advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and burn wound management, infection continues to be an important problem in burns. Honey is the most famous rediscovered remedy that is used to treat infected wounds and promote healing. The present study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of bee honey on organisms isolated from infected burns in comparison to the antibiotics used in treatment of burn infection, and to evaluate the effects produced when bee honey is added to antibiotic discs. Thirty patients with burn infection were selected for this study. The collected specimens were cultured on blood agar plates. The isolated colonies were identified by different methods. The isolated organisms were inoculated onto Müller-Hinton agar. Each agar plate was divided by a marker pen into two halves - in one half the antibiotic discs were plated while on the opposite side each antibiotic disc, immersed in honey, was plated opposite to the same antibiotic disc. At the centre of the agar, a sterile filter paper disc immersed in honey was applied. The most frequently isolated organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, representing 53.3% of the isolates. The mean inhibition zones (in mm) produced by honey (18.2 ± 2.5 mm) when applied to isolated gram-negative bacteria were significantly higher than amoxicillin/clavulinic acid, sulbactam/ampicillin, and ceftriaxone (p1 = 0.005 for each). When honey was added to the antibiotic discs there was highly significant increased sensitivity of isolated gram-negative bacteria compared with each of the antibiotic discs alone and with honey alone. The susceptibility of isolated staphylococci revealed the synergistic effect of added honey to the antibiotic discs tested. The antimicrobial effect of honey (18.7 ± 2.2 mm) was significantly higher than antibiotics - ciprofloxacin, sulbactam/ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and vancomycin (p1 ≤ 0.05 for each). After the addition of honey to the tested antibiotic discs there were highly significant increased inhibition zones of antibiotic mixed with honey compared with antibiotic alone - ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, and methicillin (p3 ≤ 0.001 for each). Also, the increase was significant compared with antibiotics alone - imipenem, amoxicillin/clavulinic acid, and ceftriaxone (p3 ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, honey had more inhibitory effect (85.7%) on isolated gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella) than commonly used antibiotics, while it had an inhibitory effect on all methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (100%) compared with antibiotics used. A synergistic effect of honey was observed when it was added to antibiotics for gram-negative bacteria and also for coagulase-positive staphylococci.

Serum copper, iron and zinc in cases of acne vulgaris.

Serum copper, iron and zinc were estimated in 30 individuals complaining of moderate acne vulgaris, grade II. The results obtained were compared with those obtained from a normal control group. The results revealed changes in the copper and iron content of the sera, although they were statistically not significant. The zinc content showed no changes compared to the control group.