Various investigations of ameliorative role of Ashwagandha seeds (Withania somnifera) against amoxicillin toxicity.

Several studies showed the adverse effects of amoxicillin on various body organs. So, this research has been designed to evaluate the modulatory role of Ashwagandha seed extract (ASE) against amoxicillin (AM) toxicity. Rats treated with AM (90 mg/kg), protected by ASE doses (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg), and treated by ASE at the same three doses. At the end of the experimental period, DNA comet assay, cytogenetic examinations, sperm-shape analysis, evaluation of the malondialdehyde (MDA) percentages, histopathological examinations, and biophysical tests (modulus, relaxation time, permittivity, entropy, and internal energy change of brain) were documented. The results confirmed that AM treatment induced significant elevation of DNA damage, cytogenetic aberrations, and MDA content in brain, liver, and testis tissues and sperm-shape anomalies. ASE treatment significantly minimized the genetic changes, sperm-shape anomalies, and MDA generation. These enhancements were more pronounced by protective ASE and increased by increasing the dose level. In histopathological examinations, AM treatment caused neurotoxicity in brain tissue. ASE treatment, partially, minimized these damages and the positive effects of therapeutic ASE were more noticeable. Biophysical parameters showed that therapeutic ASE was better for relaxation time, permittivity, and free energy change. Protective and therapeutic ASE were able to recover entropy and internal energy changes in variant degrees.

Dielectric investigation of irradiated RBCs and study the role of Moringa leaves extract against radiation damage.

This research article introduces dielectric and thermodynamic state functions as physical markersdetecting both radiation effects and biological repairs to such damages. The red blood cells of rats were physically investigated in this work after whole body irradiation by 7 Gy of gamma rays and trying for reducing the damage effect of ionizing radiation by using the one of the best medicinal plants, Moringa leaves, which are rich with plentiful amounts of antioxidants and nutrients. The animals were divided into six groups; control, Moringa, irradiated, protected, treated, pro-treated. The physical parameters measured were impedance and DC conductivity then, relaxation time, activation energy and enthalpy change were calculated. Most of these parameters showed that the damage occurred in RBCs membrane due to ionizing radiation needs more than four weeks after irradiation to recover. As dipolar relaxation required much more time to occur and charge conduction were greatly reduced.

Characterization of irregular electron beam for boost dose after whole breast irradiation.

Irradiating a tumor bed with boost dose after whole breast irradiation helps reducing the probability of local recurrence. However, the success of electron beam treatment with a small area aiming to cover a superficial lesion is a dual challenge as it requires an adequate dosimetry beside a double check for dose coverage with an estimation of various combined uncertainty of tumor location and losing lateral electron equilibrium within small field dimensions. AIM OF WORK: this work aims to measure the electron beam fluence within different field dimensions and the deviation from measurement performed in standard square electron applicator beam flatness and symmetry, then to calculate the average range of the correction factor required to overcome the loss of lateral electron equilibrium. MATERIAL AND METHOD: the electron beam used in this work generated from the linear accelerator model ELEKTA Precise and dosimetry system used were a pair of PTW Pin Point ion chambers for electron beam dosimetry at standard conditions and assessment of beam quality at a reference depth of measurement, with an automatic water phantom, then a Roos ion chamber was used for absolute dose measurement, and PTW 2Darray to investigate the beam fluence of four applicators 6, 10, 14 and 20 cm2 and 4 rectangular cutouts 6 × 14, 8 × 14, 6 × 17 and 8 × 17 cm2, the second part was clinical application which was performed in a precise treatment planning system and examined boost dose after whole breast irradiation. RESULTS: revealed that lower energy (6MeV and 8MeV) showed the loss of lateral electron equilibrium and deviation from measurements of a standard applicator more than the high energy (15 MeV) which indicated that the treatment of superficial dose with 6MeV required higher monitor unit to allow for the loss of lateral electron equilibrium and higher margin as well.

Biophysical and biochemical roles of Moringa oleifera leaves as radioprotector.

It has been found that medicinal plants have chemical and/or therapeutic effects on different diseases related to oxidative damage. This work investigates the use of ethanolic Moringa oleifera leaves extract; as a protective and/or therapeutic agent against damage induced by high acute dose of ionizing radiation. Also, this study aims to explore the associations of electrical properties (relaxation time and DC conductivity of bone marrow) with biochemical markers (SOD, CAT and GSH) to detect and prognosticate radiation effects. Biophysical and biochemical data revealed that Moringa extract can improve the electrical properties of bone marrow and the antioxidants levels in the blood. They also showed that the feeding of Moringa leaves extract post irradiation is preferred to recover rapidly and continuously from radiation effects.

Dielectric and thermodynamic study of Hb exploring Moringa Oleifera leaves extract potential against radiation damage.

This work has a major interest of the use of Moringa oleifera leaves extract as protective and protective-therapeutic natural supplement helping the biosystem to stand against irradiation induced damage. Rats were orally administered with Moringa oleifera leaves extract by two modalities. The dielectric properties were measured over the frequency range 106 - 2 × 108 Hz and in the temperature window 283-313 K. The dielectric parameters were used to estimate some thermodynamic state functions and evaluate the energy within the Hb molecule. Information source will be the least invasive way consuming haemoglobin from blood sample. Results indicated that some physical parameters were better indicators than others and different modalities showed variant outcomes. In addition, administration of moringa leaves extract proved to have a significant effect that can be used to reduce radiation damage which may be due to constituents of Moringa.

Response of rats to dose rates of ionizing radiation evaluated by dielectric properties of bone marrow.

The response of adult Wistar albino female rats toward two dose rates of gamma radiation delivered as acute dose of 7 Gy is investigated using classical methodologies as chemical, hematological and histological parameters in comparison with newly introduced dielectric parameters. Two groups of rats were exposed to γ ray with dose rates 533.35 mGy/min and 325.89 mGy/min. Then the irradiated groups were followed up for two weeks after irradiation. In case of higher dose rate, high percentage of animals was lost and there were substantial alterations in the dielectric parameters in addition to massive damage in liver and bone marrow cells. On the other hand, a reduction of death rate of rats, different behavior in the dielectric parameters of bone marrow and lesser injury of liver tissue were well noticeable in case of lower dose rate. Moreover, the sensitivity of dielectric parameters toward the two different dose rates was well pronounced during the 1st and 2nd weeks after irradiation more than other parameters.

Permittivity, entropy, free and internal energies as tools for detecting radiation dose rates' changes in Hb.

In this paper we'll shed some light on well-known physical parameters to introduce them as new tools, biophysical markers, for diagnosis and prognosis of the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ biosystems such as Haemoglobin representing the macromolecules' category. Where the data reveal a lot of information about the effect of radiation dose rate on the macromolecule that are not discovered by conventional ways. Also, data put forward the dielectric and thermodynamical parameters and classify them as premiers and superiors for the detection of any disturbance that occurs in the electrical homogeneity of the macromolecule. The interesting results showed an inverse response of the Hb molecule toward higher and lower dose rates for all tested parameters, Static permittivity and change in the following thermodynamical state functions Helmholtz free energy, internal energy and entropy.

Therapeutic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of laser acupuncture on patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The laser acupuncture has many potential therapeutic effects. Currently, they are not evaluated for their therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of laser acupuncture on the oxidative and antioxidative markers, as well as the inflammatory markers and disease activity of RA patients. DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 RA patients and 20 healthy subjects. The patients were subjected to laser acupuncture (904 nm, 100 mW power output, 1 minute irradiation time, beam area of 1 cm(2) , total energy per point 6 J, energy density 6 J/ cm(2) , irradiance 0.1 W/cm(2) , frequency 10000 Hz, duty-cycle 100%) for 3 days/week for duration of 4 weeks. The acupuncture points of exposure were LI4, TE5, LI 11, DU 14, LIV3, SP6, GB34, and S36. The levels of oxidative and antioxidant markers were determined by spectrophotometric methods whereas the inflammatory markers were determined by ELISA methods. Lastly, using DAS28 scores the disease activity was assessed. RESULTS: After laser acupuncture, the study group revealed significantly increased plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase activities, blood glutathione (GSH), and plasma ATP concentrations, compared to those before treatment (P < 0.0005). Moreover, the results revealed significantly reduced plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), serum nitrate and nitrite, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and significantly reduced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in laser exposed patients, compared to those before treatment (P < 0.0005). The RA patients subjected to laser acupuncture showed highly significant reduction in disease activity (P < 0.0005) based on DAS28 score. CONCLUSION: Our study results confirmed the effectiveness of laser acupuncture in alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation, improving antioxidant and energy metabolic status, while also suppressing the disease activity in RA patients. Laser acupuncture is a promising treatment modality to reduce the pain and suffering of RA patients because of its efficiency in inhibiting most of the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:490-497, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.