Postbiotic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects of aqueous microbial lysozyme in broiler chickens.

Lysozymes, efficient alternative supplements to antibiotics, have several benefits in poultry production. In the present study, 120, one-day-old, Ross 308 broiler chickens of mixed sex, were allocated into 2 equal groups, lysozyme treated group (LTG) and lysozyme free group (LFG), to evaluate the efficacy of lysozyme (Lysonir®) usage via both drinking water (thrice) and spray (once). LTG had better (p = 0.042) FCR, and higher European production efficiency factor compared to LFG (p = 0.042). The intestinal integrity score of LTG was decreased (p = 0.242) compared to that of LFG; 0.2 vs. 0.7. Higher (p ≤ 0.001) intestinal Lactobacillus counts were detected in chickens of LTG. Decreased (p ≤ 0.001) IL-1ß and CXCL8 values were reported in LTG. The cellular immune modulation showed higher (p ≤ 0.001) opsonic activity (MΦ and phagocytic index) in LTG vs. LFG at 25 and 35 days. Also, higher (p ≤ 0.001) local, IgA, and humoral, HI titers, for both Newcastle, and avian influenza H5 viruses were found in LTG compared to LFG. In conclusion, microbial lysozyme could improve feed efficiency, intestinal integrity, Lactobacillus counts, anti-inflammatory, and immune responses in broiler chickens.

Exogenous aqueous and spray microbial lysozyme enhanced growth in commercial broiler chickensThe postbiotic effects of microbial lysozyme modulated intestinal integrity.Anti-inflammatory, as well as local, cellular, and humoral immune response were stimulated by lysozyme supplementation.

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.

Synergistic effect of green synthesis magnesium oxide nanoparticles and seaweed extract on improving water quality, health benefits, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding liquid extract of algae (Hypnea musciformis, Grateloupia acuminata, and Sargassum muticum) (HGS) and Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) using this extract to rear water of Oreochromis niloticus, on improving culture water indices, growth performance, digestive enzyme, hemato-biochemical characters, immune, antioxidative responses, and resistance after challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila with specific refer to the potential role of the mixture in vitro as resistance against three strains bacteria (Aeromonas sobria, Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa) and one parasite (Cichlidogyrus tilapia). The first group represented control, HGS0, whereas the other group, HGS5, HGS10, and HGS15 mL-1 of liquid extract, as well as all groups with 7.5 µg mL-1 MgO-NPs added to culture water of O. niloticus, for 60 days. Data showed that increasing levels at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1 in to-culture water significantly enhanced growth-stimulating digestive enzyme activity and a significantly improved survival rate of O. niloticus after being challenged with A. hydrophila than in the control group. The total viability, coliform, fecal coliform count, and heavy metal in muscle partially decreased at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1 than in the control group. Correspondingly, the highest positive effect on hemato-biochemical indices was noticed at levels HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1. Fish noticed an improvement in immune and antioxidant indices compared to control groups partially at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1. Interestingly, fish cultured in rearing water with the mixture provided downregulated the related inflammatory genes (HSP70, TNF, IL-1ß, and IL-8) partially at HGS15 mL-1. In vitro, the mixture showed positive efficiency as an antibacterial and partially antiparasitic at HGS 10 and HGS15 mL-1. This study proposes utilizing a mixture of (HGS) and (MgO-NPs) with optimum levels of 10-15 mL-1 in cultured water to improve water indices, growth, health status, and increased resistance of O. niloticus against bacterial and parasitic infection.

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of sesamin against cisplatin-induced renal and testicular toxicity in rats.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the nephron-testicular protective effects of sesamin against cisplatin (CP)-induced acute renal and testicular injuries. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were allocated to receive carboxymethylcellulose (0.5%, as sesamin vehicle), CP (a single i.p. 5 mg/kg dose), CP plus sesamin at 10 or 20 mg/kg orally for 10 days. RESULTS: Data analysis showed significant increases in serum urea, creatinine, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as renal and testicular tissue malondialdehyde and nitric-oxide concentrations in CP-intoxicated rats in comparison to control animals. On the contrary, rats treated with CP only exhibited significantly lower (p < .05) serum testosterone, tissue glutathione, and activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes compared to control rats. Histopathologically examining CP-intoxicated rats' tissues using H&E and PAS stains showed atrophied glomeruli, interstitial inflammatory cells, atypic tubular epithelium with focal apoptosis, and reduced mucopolysaccharide content. Further, immunohistochemical staining of the same group revealed an increase in p53 and cyclooxygenase-II (Cox-II) expression in renal and testicular tissues. Treatment with sesamin alleviated almost all the changes mentioned above in a dose-dependent manner, with the 20 mg/kg dose restoring several parameters' concentrations to normal ranges. CONCLUSIONS: In brief, sesamin could protect the kidneys and testes against CP toxicity through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects.

Effects of phytase enzyme supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology and metabolism in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Phytase is crucial in enhancing the bioavailability and release of phosphorus and other nutrients bound to phytic acid, making them more bioavailable for animal absorption. This study was carried out to inspect the effect of supplementing low phosphorus (P) diet with di-calcium phosphate (DCP) and liquid phytase enzyme (LP), which contains 1500 FTU/kg, on growth performance, intestinal morphometry, proximate body chemical composition, blood profile, immunity status, liver mitochondrial enzyme activities, the expression response and economic returns of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three triplicate groups of fish (initial weight 5.405 ± 0.045 g, N = 90) were fed on three different diets for 90 days. The first was a control diet with zero DCP; the second was a control diet supplemented with 0.71% DCP; the third was a control diet supplemented with 0.03% LP. The groups were designated as CG, DCP and LP, respectively. Results showed that LP induced considerable improvements (p < 0.05) in FBW, body weight gain, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, HIS, viscero-somatic index, spleen-somatic index, feed conversion ratio, blood parameters and the histomorphometry assessment of intestinal villi absorptive capacity, compared with the other groups. Also, whole-body protein and lipid contents pointedly (p < 0.05) increased by LP, compared with the DCP group. A positive response (p < 0.05) to the phytase enzyme was noted in complexes I, III and IV of the mitochondrial liver complex enzyme activity. Likewise, the relative gene expression levels of (GHr-1, IGF-1, FAS and LPL) were notably (p < 0.05) upregulated by phytase enzyme, associated with DCP and control groups. Further, phytase recorded the highest total return and profit percentage. It can be concluded that Nile tilapia benefits from using phytase enzyme 1500 FTU/kg at 0.03% without adding DCP in terms of good performance and profits.

Antimalarial drug discovery against malaria parasites through haplopine modification: An advanced computational approach.

The widespread emergence of antimalarial drug resistance has created a major threat to public health. Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp., which includes Apicoplast DNA polymerase and Plasmodium falciparum cysteine protease falcipain-2. These components play a critical role in their life cycle and metabolic pathway, and are involved in the breakdown of erythrocyte hemoglobin in the host, making them promising targets for anti-malarial drug design. Our current study has been designed to explore the potential inhibitors from haplopine derivatives against these two targets using an in silico approach. A total of nine haplopine derivatives were used to perform molecular docking, and the results revealed that Ligands 03 and 05 showed strong binding affinity compared to the control compound atovaquone. Furthermore, these ligand-protein complexes underwent molecular dynamics simulations, and the results demonstrated that the complexes maintained strong stability in terms of RMSD (root mean square deviation), RMSF (root mean square fluctuation), and Rg (radius of gyration) over a 100 ns simulation period. Additionally, PCA (principal component analysis) analysis and the dynamic cross-correlation matrix showed positive outcomes for the protein-ligand complexes. Moreover, the compounds exhibited no violations of the Lipinski rule, and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) predictions yielded positive results without indicating any toxicity. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) and molecular electrostatic potential calculations were conducted, revealing that the mentioned derivatives exhibited better stability and outstanding performance. Overall, this computational approach suggests that these haplopine derivatives could serve as a potential source for developing new, effective antimalarial drugs to combat malaria. However, further in vitro or in vivo studies might be conducted to determine their actual effectiveness.

Eriodictyol attenuates Furan induced testicular toxicity in Rats: Role of oxidative stress, steroidogenic enzymes and apoptosis.

Furan (C4H4O) is a naturally occurring organic compound. It develops as a result of the thermal processing of food and stimulates critical impairments in male reproductive tract. Eriodictyol (Etyol) is a natural dietary flavonoid possessing diverse pharmacological potentials. The recent investigation was proposed to ascertain the ameliorative potential of eriodictyol against furan-instigated reproductive dysfunctions. Male rats (n = 48) were classified into 4 groups: untreated/control, furan (10 mg/kg), furan+ eriodictyol (10 mg/kg + 20 mg/kg) and eriodictyol (20 mg/kg). At the 56th day of the trial, the protective effects of eriodictyol were evaluated by assessing various parameters. Results of the study revealed that eriodictyol attenuated furan-induced testicular toxicity in the biochemical profile by increasing catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) along with glutathione reductase (GSR) activities, whereas reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) along with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. It also restored the normal state of sperm motility, viability, the count of hypo-osmotic tail swelled sperm as well as epididymal sperm number along with reduced sperm anomalies (morphological) tail, mid-piece and head. Furthermore, it elevated the decreased levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well steroidogenic enzymes (17ß-HSD, StAR protein & 3ß-HSD) and testicular anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2) expression, whereas, down-regulating apoptotic markers (Bax & Caspase-3) expression. Eriodictyol treatment also effectively mitigated the histopathological damages. The outcomes of the current study provide fundamental insights into the ameliorative potential of eriodictyol against furan-instigated testicular toxicity.

A Comprehensive Approach to Derivatization: Elemental Composition, Biochemical, and In Silico Studies of Metformin Derivatives Containing Copper and Zinc Complexes.

The current study was designed to synthesize, characterize, and screen the molecular and biological activities of different metformin derivatives that possess potent antidiabetic potential with minimal side-effects. Metformin-based derivatives containing the metal complexes Cu II (MCu1-MCu9) and Zn II (MZn1-MZn9) were generated using aromatic aldehydes and ketones in a template process. The novel metal complexes were characterized through elemental analysis, physical state, melting point, physical appearance, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV/visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Screening for inhibitory activity against the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and molecular simulations performed in Schrödinger were used to assess the synthesized derivatives' biological potential. Met1, Met2, Met3, and Met8 all displayed activities that were on par with the reference in an enzymatic inhibition assay (amylase and glucosidase). The enzyme inhibition assay was corroborated by molecular simulation studies, which also revealed a competitive docking score compared to the gold standard. The Swiss ADME online web server was utilized to compute ADME properties of metformin analogues. Lipinski's rule of five held true across all derivatives, making it possible to determine the percentage of absorption. Metformin derivatives showed significant antidiabetic activities against both targeted enzymes, and the results of this work suggest that these compounds could serve as lead molecules for future study and development.

Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease: A Favorable Cellular Target to Ameliorate Alzheimer's Pathogenesis.

Microglial cells serve as molecular sensors of the brain that play a role in physiological and pathological conditions. Under normal physiology, microglia are primarily responsible for regulating central nervous system homeostasis through the phagocytic clearance of redundant protein aggregates, apoptotic cells, damaged neurons, and synapses. Furthermore, microglial cells can promote and mitigate amyloid ß phagocytosis and tau phosphorylation. Dysregulation of the microglial programming alters cellular morphology, molecular signaling, and secretory inflammatory molecules that contribute to various neurodegenerative disorders especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, microglia are considered primary sources of inflammatory molecules and can induce or regulate a broad spectrum of cellular responses. Interestingly, in AD, microglia play a double-edged role in disease progression; for instance, the detrimental microglial effects increase in AD while microglial beneficiary mechanisms are jeopardized. Depending on the disease stages, microglial cells are expressed differently, which may open new avenues for AD therapy. However, the disease-related role of microglial cells and their receptors in the AD brain remain unclear. Therefore, this review represents the role of microglial cells and their involvement in AD pathogenesis.

Phytochemical Profiling, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidant and In-Silico Approach of Cornus macrophylla Bioss (Bark).

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of the Cornus macrophylla. C. macrophylla belongs to the family Cornaceae. It is locally known as khadang and is used for the treatment of different diseases such as analgesic, tonic, diuretic, malaria, inflammation, allergy, infections, cancer, diabetes, and lipid peroxidative. The crude extract and different fractions of C. macrophyll were evaluated by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), which identified the most potent bioactive phytochemicals. The antioxidant ability of C. macrophylla was studied by 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1 diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) methods. The crude and subsequent fractions of the C. macrophylla were also tested against anti-inflammatory enzymes using COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2) and 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase) assays. The molecular docking was carried out using molecular operating environment (MOE) software. The GC-MS study of C. macrophylla confirmed forty-eight compounds in ethyl acetate (Et.AC) fraction and revealed that the Et.AC fraction was the most active fraction. The antioxidant ability of the Et.AC fraction showed an IC50 values of 09.54 µg/mL and 7.8 µg/mL against ABTS and DPPH assay respectively. Among all the fractions of C. macrophylla, Et.AC showed excellent activity against COX-2 and 5-LOX enzyme. The observed IC50 values were 93.35 µg/mL against COX-2 and 75.64 µg/mL for 5-LOX respectively. Molecular docking studies supported these in vitro results and confirmed the anti-inflammatory potential of C. macrophylla. C. macrophylla has promising potential as a source for the development of new drugs against inflammation in the future.

Assessment of Tocilizumab (Humanized Monoclonal Antibody) for Therapeutic Efficacy and Clinical Safety in Patients with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Background and objectives: COVID-19 patients exhibit a broad range of manifestations, presenting with a flu-like respiratory tract infection that can advance to a systemic and severe disease characterized by pneumonia, pulmonary edema, severe damage to the airways, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS, causing fatality in 70% of COVID-19 cases). A 'cytokine storm' profile is found in most severely influenced COVID-19 patients. The treatment protocol of the disease also includes tocilizumab, which is a humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. This study was designed (1) to assess the role of tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients regarding therapeutic efficacy through evaluation of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) resolution and anticoagulant effect, analyzing clinical safety via monitoring of associated adverse effects profile; and (2) to compare the clinical safety and therapeutic efficacy of institutional treatment regimen (alone) versus tocilizumab added to an institutional treatment module in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: In this study, the endpoints parametric assessment of severely diseased patients of COVID-19 was performed (total n = 172, control group (institutional protocol treatment provided), n = 101 and test group (tocilizumab provided), n = 71) at the Khyber Teaching Institution, MTI, Peshawar. The assessments were compared using non-parametric analyses at baseline and after a follow-up of 12−18 days until the patient discharged or expired. Results: Results of the study revealed an insignificant difference among the control vs. test group in resolving inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein (CRP) 21.30 vs. 50.07; p = 0.470, ferritin 482.9 vs. 211.5; p = 0.612, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 29.12 vs.18.8; p = 0.0863, and D-dimer 464 vs.164.4; p = 0.131). However, a statistically significant difference was found between the control group and test group regarding coagulation parameters (international normalized ratio (INR) 0.12 vs. −0.07; p ≤ 0.001; activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 0.42 vs. −1.16; p ≤ 0.001; prothrombin time (PT) 0.31 vs. −0.96; p ≤ 0.001; platelet count −12.34 vs. −1.47; p = 0.012) and clinical survival rate (89.10 vs. 90.14; p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was significantly higher infection rates and raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) associated with the tocilizumab group as compared to those receiving institutional treatment (bacterial infections: 0.99% vs. 15.49%; p ≤ 0.01, ALT: 3.96% vs. 28.16%; p ≤ 0.01, ALP: 1.98% vs. 22.53%; p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: From this study, it was concluded that tocilizumab can be a better drug of choice in terms of efficacy, particularly in resolving coagulopathy in severe COVID-19 patients.

The Therapeutic Application of Tamarix aphylla Extract Loaded Nanoemulsion Cream for Acid-Burn Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration.

Background and Objectives: Nanomedicine is a constantly growing field for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases as well as for regenerative therapy. Nanotechnology-based drug-delivery systems improve pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profiles of plants based biologically active molecules. Based on traditional claims, leaves of the Tamarix aphylla (TA) were investigated for their potential healing activity on burn wounds. Materials and Methods: In this study, TA-based nanoemulsion was prepared. The nanoemulsion was characterized for size, zeta potential, pH, viscosity, and stability. The nanoemulsion containing plant extract was converted into cream and evaluated for its efficacy against acid-burn wounds inflicted in the dorsum of rabbits. The animals were classified into four main groups: Group A as a normal control group, Group B as a positive control (treated with cream base + silver sulfadiazine), Group C as a standard drug (silver sulfadiazine), and Group D as a tested (treated with nanoemulsion cream containing TA extract). The prepared system could deliver TA to the target site and was able to produce pharmacological effects. On days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35, wound contraction rate was used to determine healing efficacy. The wound samples were collected from the skin for histological examination. Results: Based on statistical analysis using wound-healing time, Group D showed a shorter period (21.60 ± 0.5098) (p < 0.01) than the average healing time of Group C (27.40 ± 0.6002) (p < 0.05) and Group B (33.40 ± 0.8126) (p < 0.05). The histopathological assessment showed that burn healing was better in Group D compared with Group C and Group B. The nanoemulsion cream had a non-sticky texture, low viscosity, excellent skin sensations, and a porous structure. By forming a protective layer on the skin and improving moisture, it enhanced the condition of burnt skin. Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, nanoemulsion cream containing TA extract has great potential in healing acid-burn wounds

The impact of vitamin E and/or selenium dietary supplementation on growth parameters and expression levels of the growth-related genes in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Broilers are continuously stressed because of the rapid growth rate and the environmental issues associated with industrialized poultry production systems, which lead to higher susceptibility for infection with pathogens. It is well known that vitamin E (Vit. E) and selenium (Se) supplementation have protective functions in such stressful conditions. This protocol was to investigate the impact of Vit. E and/or Se on the production performance, some serum biochemistry, and expression of some growth-related gene in the liver tissue of the broilers. The day-old chicks were allotted into four groups according to the supplement; Control group and groups supplemented with Vit. E and/or Se into Vit. E group (100 mg Vit. E/kg diet), Se group (0.3 mg sodium selenite/kg diet), and Vit E + Se group that supplemented with both Vit. E and Se. RESULTS: The data of the present experiment showed that dietary inclusion of Vit. E and/or Se significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved the production parameters without any side effect on the general health status of the broilers, which indicated by normal serum biochemical parameters. Moreover, the treatments positively affected the expression of some genes related to growth performance including growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in the liver tissue of broilers. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of Vit. E and/or Se improved the production parameters and upregulate the growth-related genes without effect on the general health status of the broilers.

Molecular Mechanisms of Astaxanthin as a Potential Neurotherapeutic Agent.

Neurological disorders are diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system that affect millions of people, and the numbers are rising gradually. In the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, the roles of many signaling pathways were elucidated; however, the exact pathophysiology of neurological disorders and possible effective therapeutics have not yet been precisely identified. This necessitates developing multi-target treatments, which would simultaneously modulate neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. The present review aims to explore the potential therapeutic use of astaxanthin (ASX) in neurological and neuroinflammatory diseases. ASX, a member of the xanthophyll group, was found to be a promising therapeutic anti-inflammatory agent for many neurological disorders, including cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and neuropathic pain. An effective drug delivery system of ASX should be developed and further tested by appropriate clinical trials.

Anti-Alzheimer's Molecules Derived from Marine Life: Understanding Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. It has been confirmed that the pathological processes that intervene in AD development are linked with oxidative damage to neurons, neuroinflammation, tau phosphorylation, amyloid beta (Aß) aggregation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and cholinergic deficit. Still, there is no available therapy that can cure AD. Available therapies only manage some of the AD symptoms at the early stages of AD. Various studies have revealed that bioactive compounds derived from marine organisms and plants can exert neuroprotective activities with fewer adverse events, as compared with synthetic drugs. Furthermore, marine organisms have been identified as a source of novel compounds with therapeutic potential. Thus, there is a growing interest regarding bioactive compounds derived from marine sources that have anti-AD potentials. Various marine drugs including bryostatin-1, homotaurine, anabaseine and its derivative, rifampicins, anhydroexfoliamycin, undecylprodigioisin, gracilins, 13-desmethyl spirolide-C, and dictyostatin displayed excellent bioavailability and efficacy against AD. Most of these marine drugs were found to be well-tolerated in AD patients, along with no significant drug-associated adverse events. In this review, we focus on the drugs derived from marine life that can be useful in AD treatment and also summarize the therapeutic agents that are currently used to treat AD.

Potential role of specific microRNAs in the regulation of thermal stress response in livestock.

Thermal stress is known to have harmful effects on livestock productivity and can cause livestock enterprises considerable financial loss. These effects may be aggravated by climate change. Stress responses to nonspecific systemic actions lead to perturbation of molecular pathways in the organism. The molecular response is regulated in a dynamic and synchronized manner that assurances robustness and flexibility for the restoration of functional and structural homeostasis in stressed cells and tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are micro molecules of small non-coding RNA that control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Recently, various studies have discovered precise types of miRNA that regulate cellular machinery and homeostasis under various types of stress, suggesting a significant role of miRNA in thermal stress responses in animals. The miRNAs revealed in this paper could serve as promising candidates and biomarkers for heat stress and could be used as potential pharmacological targets for mitigating the consequences of thermal stress. Stress miRNA pathways may be associated with thermal stress, which offers some potential approaches to combat the negative impacts of thermal stress in livestock. The review provides new data that can assist the elucidation of the miRNA mechanisms that mediate animals' responses to thermal stress.

Mesoporous Carbon: A Versatile Material for Scientific Applications.

Mesoporous carbon is a promising material having multiple applications. It can act as a catalytic support and can be used in energy storage devices. Moreover, mesoporous carbon controls body's oral drug delivery system and adsorb poisonous metal from water and various other molecules from an aqueous solution. The accuracy and improved activity of the carbon materials depend on some parameters. The recent breakthrough in the synthesis of mesoporous carbon, with high surface area, large pore-volume, and good thermostability, improves its activity manifold in performing functions. Considering the promising application of mesoporous carbon, it should be broadly illustrated in the literature. This review summarizes the potential application of mesoporous carbon in many scientific disciplines. Moreover, the outlook for further improvement of mesoporous carbon has been demonstrated in detail. Hopefully, it would act as a reference guidebook for researchers about the putative application of mesoporous carbon in multidimensional fields.

Spirulina platensis ameliorates hepatic oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by aflatoxin B1 in rats.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a widely distributed mycotoxin, causing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. One of the most famous unicellular cyanobacteria is Spirulina platensis (SP) which is well known for its antioxidant characteristics against many toxicants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant potential and hepatoprotective ability of SP against oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats intraperitoneally injected with AFB1. Rats were separated into five groups as follows: negative control administered with saline; SP (1000 mg/kg BW) for two weeks; AFB1 (2.5 mg/kg BW) twice on days 12 and 14; AFB1 (twice) + 500 mg SP/kg BW (for two weeks) and AFB1 (twice) + 1000 mg SP/kg BW (for two weeks). Liver and blood samples were assembled for histological and biochemical analyses. AFB1 intoxicated rats showed a marked elevation in serum biochemical parameters (ALP, ALT, and AST), hepatic lipid peroxidation (MDA and NO), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indicating DNA damage. Moreover, AFB1 caused suppression of antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, GHS, GSH-Px, and CAT). However, the elevated serum levels of biochemical parameters and PCNA expression were reduced by SP. Moreover, SP lowered oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation markers in a dose-dependent manner. To sum up, SP supplementation is capable of decreasing AFB1 toxicity through its powerful antioxidant activity.

Laying performance, genetic parameters, and the expression of FSHß, LHß, FSHR, and LHR genes in Japanese quails selected for early egg production.

Investigating the impact of early egg production selection (the first 90 d of laying) on egg production features, cumulative selection response (CSR), and the mRNA expression of gonadotropins (FSHß and LHß), and their receptors (FSHR and LHR), in Japanese quails was the goal. The selection experiment involved 1293 females in all, 257 from the base group and 1036 from the 4 selected generations. Age and body weight at sexual maturity (ASM, BWSM), weight of the first egg (WFE), days to the first 10 eggs (DF10E), egg mass for the first 10 eggs (EMF10E), egg weight (EW), egg number at the first 90 d of laying (EN90D), and egg mass at the first 90 d of laying (EM90D) were all recorded. Most egg production traits had heritability estimates that were low to moderate and ranged from 0.17 to 0.33., where the highest estimates were reported for EN90D (0.33) and BWSM (0.32). With the exception of EN90D, low to moderate positive genetic correlations were observed between ASM and other egg production traits (0.17-0.44). The fourth generation showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower ASM and DF10E but higher BWSM, WFE, EN90D, EM10E, and EM90D when compared with the base generation. CSR were significant (P < 0.05) for ASM (-6.67 d), BWSM (27.13 g), WFE (0.93 g), DF10E (-1.25 d), EN90D (7.24 egg), EM10E (10.57 g), and EM90D (140.0 g). FSHß, LHß, FSHR, and LHR gene mRNA expression was considerably (P < 0.05) greater in the fourth generation compared to the base generation. In conclusion, selection programs depending on the efficiency of egg production (EN90D) could improve the genetic gain of egg production traits and upregulate the mRNA expression of FSHß, LHß, FSHR, and LHR genes in selected quails (fourth generation). These findings might help to enhance breeding plans and create commercial lines of high egg production Japanese quails.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-DNA damage effects of carnosic acid against aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic, renal, and cardiac toxicities in rats.

Background: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) food contamination is a global health hazard that has detrimental effects on both human and animal health. The objective of the current study is to assess the protective impact of carnosic acid against AFB1-induced toxicities in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Methods: Forty male Wistar Albino rats (weighting 180 ~ 200 g) were allocated into 5 groups (8 rats each); the 1st group received saline as served as a control, the 2nd group received carnosic acid (CA100) at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day by gavage for 14 days, the 3rd group received AFB1 at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg bw, orally twice on days 12 and 14, the 4th group (AFB1-CA50) received AFB1 as in the 3rd group and CA at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw/day, and the 5th group (AFB1-CA100) received AFB1 as in the 3rd group and CA as in the 2nd group. Results: CA significantly decreased the liver enzymes (ALT, AST. ALP), renal function products (LDH, BUN, creatinine), and cardiac enzymes (CK and CK-MB) to control levels after the high increment by AFB1 exposure. Moreover, CA significantly decreased the oxidative stress (MDA, NO, 8-OHdG) and increased the antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, GSH, GSH-Px, and SOD) after severe disruption of oxidant/antioxidant balance by AFB1 exposure. Interestingly, CA significantly decreased the proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α) to the control levels after severe inflammation induced by AFB1 exposure. Conclusions: Conclusively, CA had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-DNA damage effects against hepatic, renal, and cardiac AFB1-induced toxicities.