Anti-aging effect of nifuroxazide on skin changes of aged male rat models via modulating immunoreactivity of IL-6/NF-κB/Caspase-3.

PURPOSE: To evaluate nifuroxazide's (NIF's) anti-aging characteristics in a skin-aging rat model for the first time in order to create effective preventive measures and anti-aging skin therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty randomly selected aged male rats were assorted into three equal groups; aged control group, treated NIF I, aged rats were treated with NIF (10mg/kg, orally once daily for 14 consecutive days), and treated NIF II, aged rats were treated with NIF (20mg/kg, orally once daily for 14 consecutive days). Skin samples were obtained from the dorsal skin of the aged male rats and processed for tissue biochemical MDA, histological (Hx&E and Masson's Trichrome stains), and immunohistochemical (IL-6, NF-κB, and caspase-3) analysis. RESULTS: Group I aged male albino rat skin illustrated evident distorted epidermis and dermis, disorganization of collagen fibers with marked multiple spaces of collagen fibers loss in the dermis, marked reduction of total epidermal thickness and mean area percent of collagen fibers, elevated tissue MDA level and strong positive IL-6, NF-κB, and caspase-3 immune reaction. The anti-aging benefits of NIF on skin aging are demonstrated by a marked improvement in histological alterations in the form of a well-organized epidermis and dermis, most collagen fibers in the dermis appear closely packed, significant elevation of total epidermal thickness and mean area percent of collagen fibers, a significant decrease of tissue MDA level, and immunoexpression of the inflammatory markers, IL-6, and NF-κB, and the apoptotic marker caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that group III, which received 20mg/kg of NIF, experienced more pronounced and noticeable improvements in skin aging than group II, which received 10mg/kg of NIF.

Comparative study on the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells versus platelet rich plasma on the pancreas of adult male albino rats with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is endogenous regeneration of the pancreatic beta-cell. This can be achieved either by transplanting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) or injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Current research reviewed a T1DM model and compared the effect of BMSCs on exocrine and endocrine pancreas portions versus PRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into four groups: Control group, Diabetic group (single streptozotocin dose 60 mg/kg IP), Diabetic + PRP group (PRP, 0.5 mL/kg SC twice weekly/4 weeks given to diabetic rats) and Diabetic + BMSCs group (1 mL of PKH26 labelled MSCs suspension in buffer phosphate solution, 3 × 106 cells/mL IV to diabetic rats). Glucose, amylase and lipase levels were calculated and pancreases were designed for light, electron microscopic, immunohistochemistry, morphometry and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Diabetic rats exhibited elevated glucose, decreased amylase and lipase compared to control rats. In addition, variable histological degenerative changes in the form of congested blood vessels have been identified with a significant increase in the mean area percentage of collagen, a significant decrease in the diameter of the islets, the number of cells in the islets of Langerhans and the number of zymogen granules. Ultrastructural findings exhibited distorted Golgi apparatus morphology, degenerated mitochondria, pyknotic nuclei, and few secretory beta-cell granules. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of BMSCs to diabetic group significantly increased the number of cells and diameter of Langerhans islets and the number of zymogen granules compared to Diabetic group as well as Diabetic + PRP group. BMSCs could be considered more efficient than PRP in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Effect of preservative-free and preserved prostaglandin analogues on the histology of cornea of adult male guinea pigs following repeated exposure.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss. Prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) are known to be first-line treatment for patients with glaucoma. Latanoprost is a good, efficient and well-tolerated PGA that is currently available as latanoprost with benzalkonium chloride (BAC) (Xalatan) and preservative-free (PF) prostaglandin analogue latanoprost (Monopost). Lately, using PF anti-glaucoma agents has been considered an essential procedure for enhancing glaucoma care. This study aimed to analyse the histological changes within the corneal tissue with the use of currently available preserved prostaglandins-derived eye drops and PF prostaglandin analogue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 40 male guinea pigs were divided into four equal groups. Control group, Latanoprost with 0.02% BAC-treated group, Recovery group and PF latanoprost-treated group. After 2 months, the corneal tissues of guinea pigs were prepared for light and electron microscopic studies; morphometric and statistical studies were performed. RESULTS: Our results indicated that guinea pigs treated with latanoprost with BAC exhibited ocular surface changes: there was epithelial thinning with desquamation, the stroma showed irregularly arranged collagen fibres and small keratocytes. Morphometrically, there was a marked decrease in the thickness of epithelium and number of keratocytes. Negative periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction was observed in some parts of the epithelial basement membrane. The epithelium gave a strong positive immunoreactivity for Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX). Guinea pigs left to recover exhibited improvement, while treatment of animals with PF latanoprost resulted in nearly normal corneal structure. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, PF prostaglandin anti-glaucoma medication seems to be better and have protective effect on cornea of male guinea pigs than prostaglandins with BAC preservative.

Steroid therapy in children with fulminant hepatitis A.

Fulminant hepatic failure is a life-threatening disease. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) can cause fulminant hepatic failure and death in about 0.2% of cases. Extensive destruction of infected hepatocytes by immune-mediated lysis is thought to be the cause. We aimed to evaluate the use of steroid therapy in children with fulminant HAV. This study included 33 children with fulminant HAV in two groups. Steroid group: comprised of 18 children who received prednisolone (1 mg/kg/d) or its equivalent dose of methylprednisolone, and the nonsteroid group: comprised another 15 children who did not receive steroid therapy. Age and sex were matched for both groups (P > .05), and they were comparable regarding baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics. Of the steroid group, 15 patients survived and 3 died, while in the nonsteroid group, 4 patients survived and 11 died (P = .001). Of the living patients, 15 of 19 (78.9%) received steroids while only 3 of 14 (21.4%) of the dead patients received steroids (P = .001). Stepwise regression analysis showed that steroid therapy was the only independent variable associated with recovery (P = .001). Steroid therapy in children with fulminant HAV associated significantly with improved outcome and survival. Future studies on a larger population size are strongly recommended.