Investigations on the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of terezine E and 14-hydroxyterezine D.

Secondary metabolites produced by endophytes are an excellent source of biologically active compounds. The newly isolated natural products terezine E and 14-hydroxyterezine D are endophytic metabolites exhibiting anticancer activity recently identified by our team (https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1489393). In our current study, we evaluated their affinity for binding to the active site of histone deacetylase (PDB ID: 4CBT) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (PDB ID: 4H3X) by molecular docking using AutoDock Vina software after having tested their cytotoxic activities on three cell lines (human ductal breast epithelial tumor cells (T47D)-HCC1937), human hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2)-HB8065), and human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116)-TCP1006, purchased from ATCC, USA)). Additionally, their antimicrobial activities were investigated, and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined against P. notatum and S. aureus by the broth microdilution method. Higher cytotoxicity was observed for terezine E against all tested cell lines compared to 14-hydroxyterezine D. Molecular docking results supported the high cytotoxicity of terezine E and showed higher binding affinity with 4CBT with an energy score of 9 kcal/mol. Terezine E showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities than 14-hydroxyrerezine D: MIC values were 15.45 and 21.73 µg/mL against S. aureus and 8.61 and 11.54 µg/mL against P. notatum, respectively.

Investigations on the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of terezine E and 14-hydroxyterezine D

Secondary metabolites produced by endophytes are an excellent source of biologically active compounds. The newly isolated natural products terezine E and 14-hydroxyterezine D are endophytic metabolites exhibiting anticancer activity recently identified by our team (https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1489393). In our current study, we evaluated their affinity for binding to the active site of histone deacetylase (PDB ID: 4CBT) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (PDB ID: 4H3X) by molecular docking using AutoDock Vina software after having tested their cytotoxic activities on three cell lines (human ductal breast epithelial tumor cells (T47D)-HCC1937), human hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2)-HB8065), and human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116)-TCP1006, purchased from ATCC, USA)). Additionally, their antimicrobial activities were investigated, and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined against P. notatum and S. aureus by the broth microdilution method. Higher cytotoxicity was observed for terezine E against all tested cell lines compared to 14-hydroxyterezine D. Molecular docking results supported the high cytotoxicity of terezine E and showed higher binding affinity with 4CBT with an energy score of 9 kcal/mol. Terezine E showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities than 14-hydroxyrerezine D: MIC values were 15.45 and 21.73 µg/mL against S. aureus and 8.61 and 11.54 µg/mL against P. notatum, respectively.

Evaluating the role of propolis and bee venom on the oxidative stress induced by gamma rays in rats.

Honeybee products consist of many substances, which have long been known for their medicinal and health-promoting properties. This study set out to appraise the protective potential of Egyptian propolis (EP) and bee venom (BV) separately or combined against total body irradiation (TBI) induced oxidative injury in rats. Besides, we assessed the bioactive components in EP and BV using HPLC and UPLC/ ESI-MS analysis in the positive ion mode. The animals were subjected to a source of gamma ionizing radiation at a dose of 6 Gy. Propolis and BV were administered independently and in combination before 14 days of γ-irradiation. Liver and kidney functions were estimated besides, DNA damage index (8- OHdG) by ELISA. Antioxidants, including glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were detected. Gene expression technique investigated for BAX, BCL2, and in plasma also miR125b expression in serum of rats. Besides, the histopathological for the brain, liver, kidney, and heart were investigated. In addition, lipid peroxidation was investigated in plasma and in the previous organs. The present results provide opportunities to advance the use of bee products as promising medicinal sources.

Role of lung ultrasound in the assessment of recruitment maneuvers in ventilated preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome and its correlation with tracheal IL-6 levels: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study's aim is to evaluate lung ultrasound (LUS) efficacy in detecting opening and closing lung pressures and its correlation with the tracheal interleukin 6 (IL-6) level. METHOD: This single-blinded randomized controlled study was done at Ain Shams University Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care units, Egypt. It consists of 44 mechanically ventilated preterm neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Initial LUS assessment was done followed by randomization to one of 2 groups; group I: 22 patients underwent LUS guided RM and group II: 22 patients underwent non-ultrasound guided RM. Tracheal IL-6 level was measured before and after RM in both groups. RESULTS: The LUS scores showed a sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of 62.10% and accuracy of 70.45% at the cut-off point >B1 grade. After RM, there was a higher percentage of changes in mean airway pressure (p = 0.03), FiO2 (p = 0.01), PaO2/FiO2 ratio (p = 0.01), and IL-6 (p < 0.01) in group I. The duration of oxygen requirement (6 vs.13.5 days, p = 0.01), invasive ventilation (3 vs.5.5 days, p = 0.03), non-invasive ventilation (2.5 vs. 5 days, p = 0.02) and NICU stay (21.5 vs. 42.5 days, p = 0.03) were less in group I. A positive correlation is found between reaeration score and the duration of O2 requirement (p = 0.002), duration of invasive ventilation (p = 0.001), NICU length of stay (p = 0.002) and negative correlation with PaO2/FiO2 ratio before RM (p = 0.012). The best cut-off point for the reaeration score is >21 with a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 71.43% and area under the curve of 78.1%. CONCLUSION: LUS-guided RM achieved earlier lowest FiO2, shorter O2 dependency, lesser NICU stay and marked decrease in lung inflammation by decreasing atelectotrauma and shortening the duration of invasive ventilation.

Soft-tissue outcomes following implantation of different types of bone conduction hearing devices in a single centre.

OBJECTIVE: To compare soft-tissue complications following implantation of different bone conduction hearing devices. METHODS: Adults who underwent implantation of different bone conduction hearing devices, between January 2008 and December 2016, were included in the study. Five groups were identified depending on the soft-tissue approach: (1) split-thickness skin flap with use of dermatome; (2) Sheffield 'S'-shaped incision with skin thinning; (3) linear incision without skin thinning (hydroxyapatite-coated abutment); (4) 'C'-shaped full-thickness incision for passive transcutaneous bone conduction hearing devices; and (5) post-aural incision for active transcutaneous bone conduction hearing devices. The main outcome measures were different soft-tissue complications. RESULTS: The study comprised 120 patients (group 1 = 20 patients, group 2 = 35, group 3 = 35, group 4 = 20, and group 5 = 10). Soft tissue related problems were encountered in 55 per cent of patients from group 1, 26 per cent in group 2, 3 per cent in group 3, and 0 per cent in groups 4 and 5. CONCLUSION: There was a reduction in soft tissue related complications with reduced soft-tissue handling. In addition, there was a shift from an initial skin-penetrating (percutaneous) approach to a non-skin-penetrating (transcutaneous) approach.

Positive distending pressure produced by heated, humidified high flow nasal cannula as compared to nasal continuous positive airway pressure in premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: our objective is to assess the positive distending pressure generated by high flow nasal cannula and nasal continuous positive airway pressure by measuring the end esophageal pressure in premature infants. STUDY DESIGN: This is a pilot, non-randomized, open label, uncontrolled, crossover assignment study that included neonates born with a birth weight of 1750 grams or less and receiving nCPAP ventilatory support for 24 hrs or more and requiring FiO2 21-50% on nCPAP. Each infant was started on nCPAP at 4, 6 and 8 cm H2O then on three levels of HHHFNC, 4 L/min, 6 L/min and 8 L/min with 4 hours interval on each flow level. Esophageal pressure (EP), apnea of prematurity, FiO2 requirements and bradycardia were recorded during the different levels of CPAP and HHHFNC use. RESULTS: The study showed that there were no complications observed during the study such as pneumothorax. It showed that EP created by the three different levels of HHHFNC were slightly higher than that EPs created by the three different levels of nCPAP, but statistically not significant. There was no significant change in the FiO2 requirements during the study. There was a trend towards the improvement of oxygen saturation in HHHFNC at different levels and it was statistically significant when 8 L/min was used (P 0.0214). The rates of bradycardia and apnea in nCPAP and HHHFNC were low and statistically were not significant, however the episodes of bradycardia were less in HHHFNC and they were statistically significant at the level of 6 L/min. CONCLUSIONS: HHHFNC in premature infants was well-tolerated with no adverse side effects such as pneumothorax, desaturation, apnea and bradycardia. The study also showed that HHHFNC was able to deliver distending pressure equal to nCPAP. Moreover, we have observed a significant improvement in oxygen saturation when higher levels of HHHFNC was used, most probably due to the improvement of infant comfort which is a noticeable feature of HHHFNC.

Predictors and timing of hypotension and bradycardia after carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypotension and bradycardia are common in carotid artery stenting (CAS) and are particularly worrisome in the high risk patient who is typically referred for CAS. The purpose of this work was to assess the incidence and predictors of hypotension and bradycardia and the risk of their delayed occurrence after CAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 53 men and 40 women (median age, 71 years) with symptomatic (57%) or asymptomatic (42%) carotid artery stenosis had CAS performed in our institution between December 2002 and January 2007. Patient vital sign records for the 12 hours post-CAS were analyzed. The relative decrease of blood pressure and pulse rate were used as primary end points, and the requirement of pressor or anticholinergic drugs was used as a surrogate end point. Significant predictors of hypotension and bradycardia were analyzed with a logistic regression model. Cumulative freedom from hypotension and bradycardia was calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Negative predictive value (NPV) of screening for early hypotension and bradycardia was determined. RESULTS: The incidence of hypotension, bradycardia, and both was 14%, 23%, and 15%, respectively. Drug intervention was required in 45 patients (48%). Asymptomatic stenosis was an independent predictor of hypotension and bradycardia. Stenosis proximity to the bifurcation and dilation percentage were independent predictors of the drug intervention requirement. Seven patients (8%) had new onset of hypotension or bradycardia later than 6 hours post-CAS. The NPV of early hypotension and bradycardia was 97% and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, the risk of hypotension or bradycardia after CAS is significantly influenced by the degree of dilation performed, and the risk of their delayed occurrence may justify a minimum of 12 hours postprocedural vital sign monitoring.

Surgically treated transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder. The role of radical surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the treatment outcome and differentiate between the individual behavior of the tumor stages that were studied (Ta, T1, and T2a) with special reference to T2a tumors. METHODS: This study was carried out at Al-Rasheed Military Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, during a 12 year period. Fifty-six patients with Ta, T1, and T2a (superficial invasion of muscularis propria) transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder, have been retrospectively analyzed. They were treated surgically with either transurethral of the bladder tumor (N=45) or radical surgery (N=11). Tumors with frequent recurrences or mulifocal or extending to the ureter or vesical outlet were treated with radical surgery. No adjuvant intraveiscal chemotherapy or bacillus calmette-guerin therapy was practiced. RESULTS: All Ta tumors were controlled by transurethral of the bladder tumor treatment. Seventy-five percent of T1 tumors were controlled by transurethral of the bladder treatment and 25% qualified for radical surgery according to our criteria. Sixty percent of T2a tumors were controlled by transurethral of the bladder treatment and 40% warranted radical surgery. No stage progression occurred in Ta and T1 lesions, but 27% of T2a lesions (superficial invasion of muscularis propria) progressed to T2b (deep invasion of muscularis propria). All grade 2a lesions of all stages under study were controlled by transurethral of the bladder treatment. Of 6 patients with T2a grades 2b and 3 tumors, 5 patients (83%) qualified for radical surgery. No distant metastasis occurred during the observation period, which ranged from 4 months to 12 years (mean 51 months). Seventy-five percent of all patients, 78% of the transurethral of the bladder treatment group and 64% of the radical surgery group are alive and free of disease for 5 years or more. CONCLUSION: Radical surgery is indicated for T1 and T2a bladder carcinomas if they were multifocal, or extending to the ureter or the vesical outlet or frequently recurring within the first year, specially if they were T1 tumors of grade 3 or T2a tumors of grades 2b and 3. Transurethral resection is justifiable for grades 1 and 2a, low risk T2a tumors.

Dielectric properties of dates at 2.45 GHz determined with a tunable single-mode resonant cavity.

A tunable TM012-mode resonant cavity with an additional tuning mechanism and working at 2.45 GHz has been designed, fabricated and tested for determination of dielectric properties of dates. The cavity has a Q-factor > 5000, and a tuning mechanism which gives it more flexibility and controllability. The cavity has been used for determining the dielectric properties of Rezaiz, the most common type of dates used in the production of data juice in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The dielectric constant for this type of dates was 4.6 +/- 0.16, and the loss factor was 0.21 +/- 0.03, at 8.75% moisture. These results are comparable with the dielectric properties of some other fruits, of similar composition, at the same moisture level.