Fiber-based in vivo imaging: unveiling avenues for exploring mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and neuronal adaptations underlying behavior.

In recent decades, various subfields within neuroscience, spanning molecular, cellular, and systemic dimensions, have significantly advanced our understanding of the elaborate molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin learning, memory, and adaptive behaviors. There have been notable advancements in imaging techniques, particularly in reaching superficial brain structures. This progress has led to their widespread adoption in numerous laboratories. However, essential physiological and cognitive processes, including sensory integration, emotional modulation of motivated behavior, motor regulation, learning, and memory consolidation, are intricately encoded within deeper brain structures. Hence, visualization techniques such as calcium imaging using miniscopes have gained popularity for studying brain activity in unrestrained animals. Despite its utility, miniscope technology is associated with substantial brain tissue damage caused by gradient refractive index lens implantation. Furthermore, its imaging capabilities are primarily confined to the neuronal somata level, thus constraining a comprehensive exploration of subcellular processes underlying adaptive behaviors. Consequently, the trajectory of neuroscience's future hinges on the development of minimally invasive optical fiber-based endo-microscopes optimized for cellular, subcellular, and molecular imaging within the intricate depths of the brain. In pursuit of this goal, select research groups have invested significant efforts in advancing this technology. In this review, we present a perspective on the potential impact of this innovation on various aspects of neuroscience, enabling the functional exploration of in vivo cellular and subcellular processes that underlie synaptic plasticity and the neuronal adaptations that govern behavior.

Biophysical, histological, and bioaccumulation properties of Tilapia muscle affected by water pollution with heavy elements and microbes at the El-Rahawy drain in Egypt.

The leakage of sewage and agricultural drains has led to the contamination of freshwater branches with toxic heavy elements. This raises concerns about their toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems, especially on fish. Tilapia is regarded as an important protein source in Egypt and many other countries. The biophysical, nutritional, and histological aspects of water pollution in the El-Rahawy and Al-Qatta locations of the Nile on Nilotic tilapia muscle were evaluated by assessing the level of contamination of Nilotic tilapia fish. The current study showed that water of the Rosetta branch water was polluted with a very high level at El-Rahawy Drain discharge (RD) location, and with a high level at Al-Qatta (Q) location, while El-Rahawy (R) location was polluted with a lower level. The study traced the pollution effects on Tilapia (Nilotic) muscles in the previous locations. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) showed a high value of all heavy metals in Tilapia muscle at the Q and R locations. Contrary to what was expected, discharge (RD) location contamination caused BAF increment of heavy metals in Tilapia muscles at upstream R location. All these results were compared with measured dielectric parameters of Tilapia muscle samples in the frequency range (0.02-1000) kHz. There was an increase in conductivity (σac), dielectric constant (ε'), dielectric loss (ε″), penetration depth (dp), and dissipated power (PD) values of Tilapia muscle, with increasing pollution level. The values of permittivity at low and high frequencies (ε's & ε'∞) for Tilapia muscle decreased by increasing pollution. Finally, the variation of these parameters, based on that proportionality relationship, can be considered as a physical indicator for fish contamination affected by their environment pollution, although these parameters need further studies in a controlled (qualitatively and quantitatively) polluted media.

Functionalized Graphene Oxide with Chitosan for Dopamine Biosensing.

Detecting biological structures via a rapid and facile method has become a pronounced point of research. Dopamine (DA) detection is critical for the early diagnosis of a variety of neurological diseases/disorders. A study on the real-time optical detection of DA is described here using graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with chitosan (Cs). Hence, a computational model dependent on a high theoretical level density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP/LANL2DZ model is carried out to study the physical as well as electronic properties of the proposed interaction between GO functionalized with Cs and its interaction with DA. GO functionalized with a Cs biopolymer was verified as having much higher stability and reactivity. Moreover, the addition of DA to functionalized GO yields structures with the same stability and reactivity. This ensures that GO-Cs is a stable structure with a strong interaction with DA, which is energetically preferred. Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) calculation maps indicated that the impact of an interaction between GO and Cs increases the number of electron clouds at the terminals, ensuring the great ability of this composite when interacting with DA. Hence, these calculations and experimental results support the feasibility of using GO functionalized with Cs as a DA biosensor.

The Impact of Addition Oats (Avena sativa) and Cinnamon on Cookies and their Biological Effects on Rats Treated with Cirrhosis by CCL4.

Oats are represented an important source for nutrition, and it have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. In this study we produced oatmeal cookies and oats was added to formula wheat by 50% and 75%. Also, we added cinnamon to treatments 3 and 4 by 5% to increase nutrition value of oatmeal cookies, improvement sensory evaluation and increase antioxidant properties. All the cookies treatments were storage at room temperature. The purposes of this study were to study antioxidant activity for oats and cinnamon. Also determined the chemical composition include (moisture content, protein, ash, total lipids, crude fibers, carbohydrates and total calories) for oats, white flour and oatmeal cookies treatments. In addition evaluated all of sensory evaluation contain (appearance, color, texture, taste and odor) and microbiological evaluation such as (total bacterial count, spore forming bacteria and mold and yeasts count) for oatmeal cookies treatments. Also, biological assays were preformed to measure level of GPT, GOT, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and glucose. Furthermore, histopathological examination of both liver and kidneys was analyzed. The obtained results were clarified that the antioxidant activity for oats and cinnamon were 52.91% and 87.91%. Moreover, addition of oats and cinnamon to the cookies improve sensory evaluation as made it more acceptable, decreasing microbial load principally treatments 4 (prepared by 75% oats + 5% cinnamon). Biochemical assays were improved in rats with cirrhosis of carbon tetrachloride and their histopathological examination of liver and kidneys. It was clear that the additions ground whole grain oats and cinnamon to wheat flour based cookies improve its nutritional, chemical, and biological functions properties.

Quality and microstructure of freeze-dried yoghurt fortified with additives as protective agents.

The effect of freeze drying of yoghurt and addition of some additives on the physico-chemical, microbiological, texture, microstructure, and sensory quality of yoghurt was studied. Freeze drying of yoghurt had light effects on the viability of Streptococcus thermophilus and no effect on viability of Lactobacillus delbreuckii subsp. bulgaricus and rehydrated yoghurt. Addition of modified starch had a considerable protection effect on Streptococcus thermophilus during freeze drying process. Addition of whey protein concentrate produced different surface structures and caused porous and loos structure. The microstructure of the freeze-dried yoghurt fortified with spirulina powder showed a coarse and a compact less porous structure in comparison with the freeze-dried yoghurt samples fortified with whey protein concentrate. All Additives significantly decreased adhesiveness and significantly increased cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness in both fresh and rehydrated yoghurts.

Spectrum of kidney diseases in patients presented for acute hemodialysis in Kasr Al-Aini School of Medicine.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized patients with mortality varying from 10% to 80%. It is crucial to know the incidence and etiology of AKI to promote prevention strategies. Our study aimed at obtaining a comprehensive review of the pattern and spectrum of patients who presented for emergency hemodialysis to Kasr Al-Aini Hospital between October 2012 and October 2014. We analyzed clinical and laboratory factors in all such patients. Two thousand twenty three patients were included of which patients with AKI were 728 patients (36%). Cardiac diseases were the cause of AKI in 171 patients, other prerenal causes were found in 55 patients, drug induced AKI in 113 patients, and obstetric causes in 48 patients. Glomerulonephritis was responsible for AKI in 101 patients, lupus nephritis was found in 33 patients of them. Patients with chronic kidney disease who presented with acute exacerbation were 243 patients (12%). Patients who were discovered to be with end-stage renal disease during their first presentation itself were 1052 patients (52 %). Diabetes mellitus was present in 50.12%, while hypertension was present in 29.56%. Hepatitis C virus was present in 17.3%, while HBsAg was present in 0.8%. Drugs and obstetric causes represented a larger fraction among our cases than seen in developed countries. Lupus nephritis was also a common cause of AKI.