A Complex Case of Obstructive Jaundice in a Septuagenarian: Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Strategies.

Obstructive jaundice occurs when an obstruction in the bile duct system prevents bile from flowing from the liver into the intestine, accumulating bilirubin in the blood. This condition can result from various causes, including gallstones, tumors, or inflammation of the bile ducts. The management of obstructive jaundice depends on the underlying cause (malignant obstructions such as cholangiocarcinoma or pancreatic cancer), indicating the need for surgical intervention. The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the standard curative approach for resectable distal common bile duct (CBD) adenocarcinoma. Doctors usually recommend adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. We report the case of a 70-year-old male with a history of untreated hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and long-term smoking, who presented with classic signs of obstructive jaundice, including yellowing of the eyes, itching, right upper quadrant pain, and intermittent fevers. Laboratory findings revealed elevated inflammatory markers, bilirubin, liver enzymes, and leukocyte count, indicative of an inflammatory and obstructive biliary condition. Imaging studies confirmed a distal CBD stricture, including abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography scans, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Brush cytology obtained during ERCP revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the distal CBD. The patient's treatment plan included preoperative optimization, surgical resection via the Whipple procedure, and postoperative adjuvant therapy. This case emphasizes the importance of a thorough diagnostic workup and a multidisciplinary treatment strategy in managing complex cases of obstructive jaundice in the elderly, highlighting the need for personalized care to achieve optimal outcomes.

Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnostics: Machine Learning and Genomic Profiling Reveal Key Biomarkers for Early Detection.

This study, utilizing high-throughput technologies and Machine Learning (ML), has identified gene biomarkers and molecular signatures in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). We could identify significant upregulated or downregulated genes in IBD patients by comparing gene expression levels in colonic specimens from 172 IBD patients and 22 healthy individuals using the GSE75214 microarray dataset. Our ML techniques and feature selection methods revealed six Differentially Expressed Gene (DEG) biomarkers (VWF, IL1RL1, DENND2B, MMP14, NAAA, and PANK1) with strong diagnostic potential for IBD. The Random Forest (RF) model demonstrated exceptional performance, with accuracy, F1-score, and AUC values exceeding 0.98. Our findings were rigorously validated with independent datasets (GSE36807 and GSE10616), further bolstering their credibility and showing favorable performance metrics (accuracy: 0.841, F1-score: 0.734, AUC: 0.887). Our functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis provided insights into crucial pathways associated with these dysregulated genes. DENND2B and PANK1 were identified as novel IBD biomarkers, advancing our understanding of the disease. The validation in independent cohorts enhances the reliability of these findings and underscores their potential for early detection and personalized treatment of IBD. Further exploration of these genes is necessary to fully comprehend their roles in IBD pathogenesis and develop improved diagnostic tools and therapies. This study significantly contributes to IBD research with valuable insights, potentially greatly enhancing patient care.

Optimizing liquid fermentation for Wolfiporia cocos: gene expression and biosynthesis of pachymic acid and mycelial biomass.

Wolfiporia cocos, a versatile fungus acclaimed for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits in Traditional Chinese Medicine, holds immense potential for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. In this study, we aimed to optimize liquid fermentation techniques and culture medium composition to maximize mycelial biomass (MB) yield, pachymic acid (PA) concentration, and overall PA production. Additionally, we investigated the molecular basis of our findings by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with PA and MB biosynthesis using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Under the optimized fermentation conditions, significant results were achieved, with maximum MB reaching 6.68 g l-1, PA content peaking at 1.25 mg g-1, and a total PA yield of 4.76 g l-1. Notably, among the four examined genes, squalene monooxygenase, exhibited enhanced expression at 0.06 ratio under the optimized conditions. Furthermore, within the realm of carbohydrate-active enzymes, the glycoside hydrolases 16 family displayed elevated expression levels at 21 ratios, particularly during MB production. This study enhances understanding of genetic mechanism governing MB and PA production in W. cocos, highlighting the roles of squalene monooxygenase and glycoside hydrolases 16 carbohydrate-active enzymes.

Comprehensive insights on treatment modalities with conventional and herbal drugs for the treatment of duodenal ulcers.

Areas of the body accessible to gastric secretions, such as the stomach and duodenum, are most commonly damaged by circumscribed lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa. Peptic ulcer disease is the term for this illness (PUD). About 80% of peptic ulcers are duodenal ulcers, with stomach ulcers accounting for the remaining 20%. Duodenal ulcers are linked to the two primary results about Helicobacter pylori infection and COX inhibitor users. Additional causes might include drinking, smoking, stress, and coffee consumption. The indications and symptoms of a duodenal ulcer depend on the patient's age and the lesion's location. For duodenal ulcers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the usual course of treatment. This comprehensive study included an in-depth literature search in the literature and methods section using electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The search method included publications published from the inception of the relevant database to the present. Inclusion criteria included studies investigating different treatment options for duodenal ulcer disease, including traditional pharmacotherapy and naturopathic treatments. Data mining includes information on treatment techniques, treatment outcomes, and possible synergies between conventional and herbal treatments. In addition, this review critically examines the available information on the effectiveness, safety, and possible side effects of different treatments. The inclusion of conventional and herbal treatments is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the many treatment options available for duodenal ulcer disease. A more comprehensive and personalized treatment plan can be achieved by incorporating dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and, if necessary, herbal therapies to complement other treatments normally.

Recent development of substrates for immobilization of bimetallic nanoparticles for wastewater treatment: a review.

Bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) have gained considerable attention due to their remarkable catalytic properties, making them invaluable in wastewater treatment applications. One of these challenges lies in the propensity of BMNPs to aggregate due to Van der Waals interactions, which can reduce their overall performance. Additionally, retrieving exhausted NPs from the treated solution for subsequent reuse remains a significant hurdle. Moreover, the leaching of NPs into the discharged wastewater can have harmful effects on humans as well as aquatic life. To overcome these issues, various substrates have been researched to maximize the efficiency and stability of the NPs. This review paper delves into the pivotal role of various substrates in immobilizing BMNPs, providing a comprehensive analysis of their performances, advantages, and drawbacks. The substrates encompass a diverse range of materials, including organic, inorganic, organic-inorganic, beads, fibers, and membranes. Each substrate type offers unique attributes, influencing the stability, efficiency, and recyclability of BMNPs. This review paper aims to provide an up-to-date and detailed analysis and comparison of the substrates used for the immobilization of BMNPs. This work further reviews the underlying mechanisms of the composites involved in treating pollutants from wastewater and how these mechanisms are enhanced by the synergistic effects produced by the substrate and BMNPs. Furthermore, the reusability and sustainability of these composites are discussed. Also, high-performing substrates are highlighted to give direction to future research focusing on the immobilization of BMNPs in the application of wastewater treatment.

Harnessing solar power for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of coloured pollutants using novel Mg-doped-ZnFe2O4/S@g-C3N4 heterojunction: A facile hydrothermal synthesis approach.

The ability of heterogeneous photocatalysis to effectively remove organic pollutants from wastewater has shown great promise as a tool for environmental remediation. Pure zinc ferrites (ZnFe2O4) and magnesium-doped zinc ferrites (Mg@ZnFe2O4) with variable percentages of Mg (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mol%) were synthesized via hydrothermal route and their photocatalytic activity was checked against methylene blue (MB) taken as a model dye. FTIR, XPS, BET, PL, XRD, TEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used for the identification and morphological characterization of the prepared nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocomposites (NCs). The 7% Mg@ZnFe2O4 NPs demonstrated excellent degradation against MB under sunlight. The 7% Mg@ZnFe2O4 NPs were integrated with diverse contents (10, 50, 30, and 70 wt.%) of S@g-C3N4 to develop NCs with better activity. When the NCs were tested to degrade MB dye, it was revealed that the 7%Mg@ZnFe2O4/S@g-C3N4 NCs were more effective at utilizing solar energy than the other NPs and NCs. The synergistic effect of the interface formed between Mg@ZnFe2O4 and S@g-C3N4 was primarily responsible for the boosted photocatalytic capability of the NCs. The fabricated NCs may function as an effective new photocatalyst to remove organic dyes from wastewater.

Apigetrin ameliorates doxorubicin prompted testicular damage: biochemical, spermatological and histological based study.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective, commonly prescribed, potent anti-neoplastic drug that damages the testicular tissues and leads to infertility. Apigetrin (APG) is an important flavonoid that shows diverse biological activities. The present research was designed to evaluate the alleviative role of APG against DOX-induced testicular damages in rats. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups, control, DOX administered (3 mgkg-1), DOX + APG co-administered (3 mgkg-1 of DOX; 15 mgkg-1 of APG), and APG administered group (15 mgkg-1). Results of the current study indicated that DOX treatment significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while increasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). DOX treatment also reduced the sperm count, viability, and motility. Moreover, DOX significantly increased the sperm morphological anomalies and reduced the levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The administration of DOX significantly increased the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3, as well as the levels of inflammatory markers. Additionally, DOX treatment significantly downregulated the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, 3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD) and Bcl-2. Furthermore, DOX administration provoked significant histopathological abnormalities in the testicular tissues. However, APG supplementation significantly reversed all the testicular damages due to its androgenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nature. Therefore, it is concluded that APG may prove a promising therapeutic agent to treat DOX-induced testicular damages.

An incidentally diagnosed primary pancreatic body hydatid cyst: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Primary pancreatic hydatid cysts are exceptionally rare as they have an incidence rate ranging from 0.14 % to 2 %. Due to their extreme rarity, the patient's clinical manifestations are nonspecific. This leads to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary for the proper treatment of this pathology. CASE PRESENTATION: Herewith, we present the rare case of a 46-year-old Middle Eastern female who sought medical attention at our surgical clinic complaining of an acute on-top-of chronic epigastric pain that radiated to the back. It was associated with a reported dark and pale discoloration of the urine and stool, respectively. The preoperative investigative radiological analysis identified a primary pancreatic body mass formation. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: A meticulous surgical resection of the pancreatic body, tail, and the spleen was performed. Subsequent histopathological analysis of the excised specimens decisively established the diagnosis of a primary pancreatic body hydatid cyst. CONCLUSION: Primary pancreatic hydatid cysts are profoundly rare, and their occurrence in the pancreatic body is even rarer. The profound scarcity of published literature on primary pancreatic body hydatid cysts highlights the imperative need for documentation, epidemiological studies, and the development of crucial interventional protocols. After a meticulous review of the published literature, we deduced that ours is the third documented case from our country of a primary pancreatic body hydatid cyst. Furthermore, no other cases beyond these three have been published from our country involving primary pancreatic hydatid cysts.

Curative effects of tectochrysin on paraquat-instigated testicular toxicity in rats: A biochemical and histopathological based study.

Background: Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide that is used globally in the agriculture sector to eradicate unwanted weeds, however it also induces significant damages in various organs of the body such as testes. Tectochrysin (TEC) is an important flavonoid that shows versatile therapeutic potentials. Currently, there is no established antidote to cure PQ-induced testicular toxicity. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of TEC against PQ prompted testicular damage. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were used to conduct the trial. Rats were allocated in to 4 groups i.e., Control, PQ administrated group (5 mgkg-1), PQ + TEC co-administrated group (5 mgkg-1 + 2.5 mgkg-1) and TEC only administrated group (2.5 mgkg-1). The trial was conducted for 8 weeks. The activity of anti-oxidants and the levels of MDA and ROS were determined by spectrophotometric method. Steroidogenic enzymes as well as apoptotic markers expressions were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The level of hormones and inflammatory indices was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: PQ exposure markedly (P < 0.05) disturbed the biochemical, spermatogenic and histological profile in the rats. Nevertheless, TEC treatment considerably (P < 0.05) increased CAT, GPx GSR and SOD activity, besides decreasing MDA and ROS contents. TEC administration also increased sperm viability, count and motility. 17ß-HSD, 3ß-HSD, StAR and Bcl-2 expressions were also increased following TEC administration. The supplementation of TEC substantially (P < 0.05) decreased Bax, Caspase-3 expression and the levels of inflammatory markers i.e., interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Additionally, the levels of plasma testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were increased following TEC supplementation. Furthermore, TEC supplementation considerably decreased sperm structural abnormalities and histomorphological damages of the testes. The mitigative role of TEC might be due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, androgenic and anti-oxidant potentials. Conclusion: Taken together, it is concluded that TEC can be used as a potential candidate to treat testicular toxicity.

Mitigative potential of kaempferide against polyethylene microplastics induced testicular damage by activating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway.

Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are one of the environmental contaminants that instigate oxidative stress (OS) in various organs of the body, including testes. Kaempferide (KFD) is a plant-derived natural flavonol with potential neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the alleviative effects of KFD against PE-MPs-prompted testicular toxicity in rats. Fourty eight adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups: control, PE-MPs-administered (1.5 mgkg-1), PE-MPs (1.5 mgkg-1) + KFD (20 mgkg-1) co-treated and KFD (20 mgkg-1) only treated group. PE-MPs intoxication significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the expression of Nrf-2 and anti-oxidant enzymes, while increasing the expression of Keap-1. The activities of anti-oxidants i.e., catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), hemeoxygene-1 (HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were reduced, besides malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents were increased significantly (P < 0.05) following the PE-MPs exposure. Moreover, PE-MPs exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the sperm motility, viability and count, whereas considerably (P < 0.05) increased the dead sperm number and sperm structural anomalies. Furthermore, PE-MPs remarkably (P < 0.05) decreased steroidogenic enzymes and Bcl-2 expression, while increasing the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax. PE-MPs exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone, whereas inflammatory indices were increased. PE-MPs exposure also induced significant histopathological damages in the testes. Nevertheless, KFD supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) abrogated all the damages induced by PE-MPs. The findings of our study demonstrated that KFD could significantly attenuate PE-MPs-instigated OS and testicular toxicity, due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, androgenic and anti-apoptotic potential.

Mitigative potential of rhoifolin against cisplatin prompted testicular toxicity: biochemical, spermatogenic and histological based analysis.

Rhoifolin (ROF) is a naturally occurring flavonoid compound with diverse pharmacological and therapeutic benefits. The current investigation was designed to evaluate the curative potential of Rhoifolin (ROF) against Cisplatin (CP) induced testicular damage. Mature male albino rats (n = 48) were randomly distributed into 4 equal groups: control, CP (10 mg/kg), CP + ROF (10 mg/kg + 20 mg/kg) and ROF (20 mg/kg) supplemented group. Following 56 days of the trial, biochemical, inflammatory markers, spermatogenic, steroidogenic, hormonal, apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, and histopathological parameters were evaluated. The exposure to CP markedly (p < 0.05) lowered the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes, glutathione reductase (GSR), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) in testicular tissues of male albino rats. Besides the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were considerably augmented in CP exposed rats. The administration of CP also increased the level of inflammatory cytokines i.e. IL-6, TNF-α, 1L-1ß and NF-κß as well as COX-2 activity. Additionally, a notable (p < 0.05) upsurge was observed in dead sperms count, abnormality in the tail, midpiece as well as head of sperms along with a notable decline in sperm motility in CP treated rats. Moreover, the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes were also lowered in CP administered group. The levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and plasma testosterone as well as luteinizing hormone (LH) were decreased in CP treated group. Moreover, the expression of Bax as well as Caspase-3 (apoptotic markers) were increased. On the other hand, Bcl-2 expression (anti-apoptotic marker) was reduced. Furthermore, the histopathological analysis showed that CP considerably (p < 0.05) damaged the testicular tissues. However, the administration of ROF significantly reduced the damaging effects of CP in testicular tissues. The results of our study suggested that ROF can potentially alleviate CP-induced testicular damages due to its androgenic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory as well as anti-apoptotic nature.

Sciadopitysin mitigates spermatological and testicular damage instigated by paraquat administration in male albino rats.

Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide that has ability to induce testicular toxicity by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sciadopitysin (SPS) is a promising flavonoid that displays multiple pharmacological properties i.e., anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the mitigative role of SPS against PQ induced testicular toxicity in male rats. The experiment was performed on male albino rats (n = 48) that were divided into 4 groups. The group-1 was control group. Group-2 was administrated orally with PQ (5 mg/kg). Group-3 was administrated orally with PQ (5 mg/kg) and SPS (2 mg/kg). Group-4 was supplemented with SPS (2 mg/kg) through oral gavage. The experiment was conducted for 56 days. The exposure to PQ significantly lowered the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Whereas, a substantial increase was observed in dead sperms number, abnormalities in the tail, head as well as midpiece of sperms in PQ intoxicated rats. Moreover, a significant increase in the level of ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) was noticed in PQ administrated group. Furthermore, steroidogenic enzymes expression was significantly decreased in PQ-intoxicated group, whereas the level of inflammatory markers was increased in PQ administrated rats. Besides, the expression of apoptotic markers was significantly escalated in PQ exposed rats, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic markers was considerably reduced. A significant reduction in hormonal level was also noticed in the rats that were administrated with PQ. Moreover, the histopathological examination revealed that PQ significantly damaged the testicles. However, the supplementation of SPS with PQ significantly reduced the adverse effects of PQ in the testes of albino rats. Therefore, the current investigation demonstrated that SPS possesses a significant potential to avert PQ-induced testicular dysfunction due to its anti-apoptotic, androgenic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nature.

Attenuative effects of tamarixetin against polystyrene microplastics-induced hepatotoxicity in rats by regulation of Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway.

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are environmental contaminants due to their potential to induce damages in multiple organs specifically liver. Tamarixetin (TMT) is a naturally occurring flavonoid present in Tamarix ramosissima plant that exhibits multiple pharmacological properties. Therefore, the present research was designed to evaluate the palliative role of TMT against PS-MPs instigated liver dysfunction in rats. The exposure to PS-MPs reduced the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and antioxidant genes, while increasing the expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1. PS-MPs exposed rats exhibited considerably (p < .05) higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) contents. Additionally, PS-MPs treatment resulted in a notable decrease in anti-oxidants activity, that is, glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) content, whereas upregulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Moreover, PS-MPs intoxication noticeably increased (p < .05) the inflammatory indices (interleukin-1ß [IL-1ß], nuclear factor kappa B [NF-κB], interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] levels, and cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2] activity). Besides, Caspase-3 and Bax expressions were upregulated and Bcl-2 expression was decreased after PS-MPs exposure. Additionally, the histomorphological examination revealed notable hepatic damage in PS-MPs treated group. However, TMT treatment substantially (p < .05) recovered all the PS-MPs-induced damages and histopathological changes. Taken together, it can be deduced that TMT might be used as a pharmacological agent to ameliorate hepatic damage.

Melanin pigmentation variations in the larval cuticle of almond moth, Ephestia cautella caused by gamma radiation.

To determine the effects of gamma radiation on the melanization process and phenoloxidase activity, Ephestia cautella larvae were exposed to dosages of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 Gy. After irradiation, the number of non melanized larvae and the number exhibiting a slight melanization usually increased. The degree of melanization in treated larvae differed significantly from untreated larvae. The amount of melanin usually decreases as the dosage increases and as time passes after the treatment. The results of the phenoloxidase assay indicate that the enzyme activity responds differently to radiation. For instance, at doses of 200, 400, and 800 Gy, the enzyme activity remained consistent in both control and irradiated larvae. However, at doses of 600 and 1000 Gy, the enzyme activity increased to 14.92 and 13.37 O.D. units, respectively, compared to 8.81 O.D. units in the control. In order to determine if irradiated larvae have been previously exposed to ionizing radiation, a quick and easy test based on phenoloxidase activity or the melanization response is presented for use in quarantine treatment. Histological changes, specifically in the pigment granules of melanin, were studied using a light microscope. Upon inspection of the unirradiated larvae, it was observed that brown melanin pigment granules were deposited in the epicuticle and exocuticle layers of the cuticle. When gamma radiation dosages were administered to larvae, it was observed that the melanin pigment gradually diminished until it vanished at the highest dose (1000 Gy).

Rhamnazin ameliorates 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-evoked testicular toxicity by restoring biochemical, spermatogenic and histological profile in male albino rats.

2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potential environmental toxin that has the ability to affect male reproductive tract. Rhamnazin is a naturally present flavone that displays multiple medicinal properties. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the mitigative role of rhamnazin against TCDD induced reproductive damage. 48 adult male albino rats were randomly separated into four groups: control, TCDD (10 µgkg-1), TCDD + rhamnazin (10 µgkg-1 + 5 mgkg-1 respectively) and rhamnazin (5 mgkg-1). The trial was conducted for 56 days. TCDD intoxication notably affected superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSR) and catalase (CAT) activities, besides reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were augmented. TCDD administration also lowered sperm motility, viability, sperm number, while it augmented the sperm morphological (tail, neck/midpiece and head) anomalies. Moreover, it decreased the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and plasma testosterone. Moreover, TCDD reduced steroidogenic enzymes i.e., 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) as well as B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions, but increased the expressions of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cysteine-aspartic acid protease (Caspase-3). Furthermore, TCDD exposure also induced histopathological anomalies in testicular tissues. However, the supplementation of rhamnazin recovered all the mentioned damages in the testicles. The outcomes revealed that rhamnazin can ameliorate TCDD induced reproductive toxicity due to its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and androgenic nature.

The lethal and sterile doses of gamma radiation on the museums pest, varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci (Coleoptera: Dermestidae).

Museums preserve historical cultural artifacts and serve as an essential resource for current and future generations seeking first-hand knowledge about the diversity of life on Earth. However, significant changes in climate from temperature and humidity cause serious biotic degradation. Despite ongoing insect control treatments, insect pests are still a major problem for museums due to the lack of suitable and unsafe environments that are provided for the storage and display of the collection. The varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is one of the major stored product pests whose larvae cause serious damage to household items and museum specimens. Therefore, this research aims to study the effect of gamma radiation on the larval, pupal and adult stages. The effects of gamma radiation have been studied on 3rd instar larvae (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 Gy). The results showed that mortality in the larval stage significantly increased with increasing gamma radiation dose, which was reflected in the eclosion of the adult stage. The exposure of one-day-old pupae to 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 Gy of gamma radiation showed that the higher the dose, the lower the percentage of adult emergence. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the percentage of mortality in A. verbasci adults with increasing radiation doses when the newly emerged adults were irradiated with 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 Gy. The LD50 and LD90 of gamma radiation doses on larvae, pupae and adults were calculated, and the malformations in all stages were photographed. The fecundity and fertility of A. verbasci adults that were exposed to radiation as one-day-old pupae decreased gradually with increasing doses of gamma radiation and reached 100% sterility when exposed to a dose of 150 Gy. Among all the treatments, the sterile dose (150 Gy) or lethal dose (1000 Gy) showed superior performance over other treatments and was adjudged as the best treatments, which prevented the subsequent development and complete mortality of the pest.

Evaluation Of Interdepartmental Calls Generated In 8 Tertiary Care Hospitals Of Northern Pakistan.

Objectives: To assess the quality of medical call writing in multiple tertiary care hospitals based on a variety of parameters. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 tertiary care hospitals across Pakistan from May 27 to June 27, 2021, and comprised residents and consultants aged 25-60 years regardless of gender and specialty. Data was collected using questionnaires related to demographic and professional characteristics, quality of calls received, quality of calls sent, and opinion regarding improvements to the existing system. Data ws analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the105 participants, 65(62%) were residents and 40(38%) were consultants. General surgery team received referrals most frequently 26(24.7%). History of the patient along with relevant examination findings were mentioned in 4(3%) and 6(5%), respectively (p=0.6 vs p=0.5). The timeline was mentioned by 10(9.5%), (p=0.09), and it was inconsistent with the clinical relevancy in 13(12.3%) cases (p=0.5). The working diagnosis for which the patient was admitted in a particular service was mentioned in 35(33.3%) of the generated calls (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The call referral system deserved more attention in order to improve communication among the physicians. Analysis of the quality of referral letters should be part of initial and continuing medical education.

The Effect of Food Allergen Exclusion on the Growth of Saudi Children.

With a variety of symptoms that can impede children's development, food allergies are an important public health concern. With the help of information from the King Fahad Medical City Hospital in Riyadh, we looked at how restricting certain foods affected the growth of Saudi children who had food allergies. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire asking about the individuals' demographics and their restricted eating habits was completed by 72 children (48 boys and 24 girls) between the ages of 2 and 14. The sensitivity of six allergens (hen eggs, cow milk, fish, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans), anthropometric indices, specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and sensitivity were examined. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 26, was used to analyze the data. Chi-square and t-tests were used to examine the relationships between various category variables. According to the findings, most of the mothers of the children were between the ages of 30 and 40 (80.6%), had a college degree (72.3%), were unemployed (59.7%), and had a monthly family income between 5000 and 15,000 SAR (69.4%). Both sexes had specific IgE antibodies for allergens in classes 2 and 3, with boys having noticeably (p ≤ 0.05) higher quantities than girls. While females were more sensitive to fish and peanuts, boys were more likely than girls to show specific IgE sensitivity to egg white, cow milk, wheat, and soybeans. Both sexes' allergy levels were considerably (p ≤ 0.01) higher in children aged 5.01 to 10 than in other age groups. In terms of classifications of thinness, overweightness, and obesity, boys were slenderer than girls, and a greater percentage of boys than girls were overweight or obese. The exclusion of hen eggs, cow milk, wheat, and peanuts from the diet had a significant and detrimental effect on body mass index (BMI) and height-for-age ratio among children with impaired growth, in contrast to the demographic factors, which had a significant and favorable effect on the growth of other children. In conclusion, restrictions on food allergens impairs growth in Saudi children, particularly boys' growth.

Evaluation of possible attenuative role of chrysoeriol against polyethylene microplastics instigated testicular damage: A biochemical, spermatogenic and histological study.

The current study was designed to evaluate the protective role of chrysoeriol against polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) induced testicular damage. Forty eight male rats were distributed into 4 equal groups: vehicle control, PE-MP administrated, PE-MP + chrysoeriol co-administrated and only chrysoeriol supplemented group. The administration of PE-MP significantly reduced the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes, i.e., glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, whereas the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were increased. PE-MP exposure increased the levels of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, 1L-1ß, NF-κß, IL-6 & COX-2). Additionally, a considerable increase was observed in dead sperms number, abnormality of sperms (tail, midpiece and head), while a potential decrease was noticed in sperm motility in PE-MP treated rats. The expressions of steroidogenic enzymes were also decreased in PE-MP administrated group. The levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing & follicle stimulating hormone were decreased in PE-MP treated group. Moreover, Bax and Caspase-3 expressions were increased, whereas Bcl-2 expressions were reduced. Furthermore, histopathological analysis showed that PE-MP exposure considerably damaged the testicular tissues. However, chrysoeriol supplementation potentially decreased all the adverse effects induced by PE-MP. Taken together, our findings indicate that chrysoeriol holds significant potential to avert PE-MP-induced testicular damage due to its androgenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nature.

In Silico Characterization and Analysis of Clinically Significant Variants of Lipase-H (LIPH Gene) Protein Associated with Hypotrichosis.

Hypotrichosis is an uncommon type of alopecia (hair loss) characterized by coarse scalp hair caused by the reduced or fully terminated activity of the Lipase-H (LIPH) enzyme. LIPH gene mutations contribute to the development of irregular or non-functional proteins. Because several cellular processes, including cell maturation and proliferation, are inhibited when this enzyme is inactive, the hair follicles become structurally unreliable, undeveloped, and immature. This results in brittle hair, as well as altered hair shaft development and structure. Because of these nsSNPs, the protein's structure and/or function may be altered. Given the difficulty in discovering functional SNPs in genes associated with disease, it is possible to assess potential functional SNPs before conducting broader population investigations. As a result, in our in silico analysis, we separated potentially hazardous nsSNPs of the LIPH gene from benign representatives using a variety of sequencing and architecture-based bioinformatics approaches. Using seven prediction algorithms, 9 out of a total of 215 nsSNPs were shown to be the most likely to cause harm. In order to distinguish between potentially harmful and benign nsSNPs of the LIPH gene, in our in silico investigation, we employed a range of sequence- and architecture-based bioinformatics techniques. Three nsSNPs (W108R, C246S, and H248N) were chosen as potentially harmful. The present findings will likely be helpful in future large population-based studies, as well as in drug discovery, particularly in the creation of personalized medicine, since this study provides an initial thorough investigation of the functional nsSNPs of LIPH.