Retrospective study investigating naloxone prescribing and cost in US Medicaid and Medicare patients.

BACKGROUND: Opioid overdoses in the USA have increased to unprecedented levels. Administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone can prevent overdoses. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to reveal the pharmacoepidemiologic patterns in naloxone prescribing to Medicaid patients from 2018 to 2021 as well as Medicare in 2019. DESIGN: Observational pharmacoepidemiologic study SETTING: US Medicare and Medicaid naloxone claims INTERVENTION: The Medicaid State Drug Utilisation Data File was utilised to extract information on the number of prescriptions and the amount prescribed of naloxone at a national and state level. The Medicare Provider Utilisation and Payment was also utilised to analyse prescription data from 2019. OUTCOME MEASURES: States with naloxone prescription rates that were outliers of quartile analysis were noted. RESULTS: The number of generic naloxone prescriptions per 100 000 Medicaid enrollees decreased by 5.3%, whereas brand naloxone prescriptions increased by 245.1% from 2018 to 2021. There was a 33.1-fold difference in prescriptions between the highest (New Mexico=1809.5) and lowest (South Dakota=54.6) states in 2019. Medicare saw a 30.4-fold difference in prescriptions between the highest (New Mexico) and lowest states (also South Dakota) after correcting per 100 000 enrollees. CONCLUSIONS: This pronounced increase in the number of naloxone prescriptions to Medicaid patients from 2018 to 2021 indicates a national response to this widespread public health emergency. Further research into the origins of the pronounced state-level disparities is warranted.

Geochemical characteristics, hazards impact assessment and radiogenic heat production of the alkaline rocks.

This study primarily investigates the natural radioactivity level in alkaline rocks collected from the Wadi El-Dib ring complex (WDRC) in North Eastern Desert of Egypt, and assesses potential health risks associated with their use as decorative building materials. The work was accomplished using a high-purity germanium detector as well as ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniques. The WDRC composed essentially of trachyte, quartz syenite, granite and syenite. Geochemically, these rocks contain high SiO2 and alkalis with metaluminous to slightly peraluminous features. All rocks contain high concentrations of rare earth elements (∑REEs = 109-1075 ppm), with clear enrichment in light REEs compared to heavy REEs [(La/Yb)N = 8.3-25.3. Radiometrically, the concentrations of the natural radioisotopes (238U, 232Th, and 40K) in the studied rock types surpassed the worldwide average values assigned for building materials by UNSCEAR. This elevation of the radioisotope concentration values is due to the presence of supplement minerals such as monazite, zircon, allanite, and rutile. Granites exhibit the highest mean concentrations of 238U (av. 164.24 ± 14.76 Bq/kg) and 232Th (av. 214.37 ± 23.33 Bq/kg), while trachytes demonstrate the highest 40K (av. 1352.56 ± 65.56 Bq/kg) concentrations. In contrast, syenites exhibite the lowest mean concentrations for 238U (av. 54.51 ± 6.81 Bq/kg) and 232Th (av. 56.76 ± 6.25 Bq/kg), while quartz syenites display the lowest mean concentration of 40K (av. 1144.78 ± 96.19 Bq/kg). The radiogenic heat production (RHP) associated with U, Th, and K range between 1.41 to 9.33 µW/m3, exceeding the typical crustal mean value of 0.8 to 1.2 µW/m3. The radiological parameters and indices evaluating risks of the outdoor and indoor radiation doses due to the investigated rocks were assessed. The results indicated that these rocks meet globally accepted values and safety standards (approved by UNSCEAR, ICRP, and EC) for surface building materials, as well as they underscore the importance of adhering to safety protocols to safeguard workers from radiation exposure within the WDRC area. Ultimately, the data herein provide a valuable database for assessing the compatibility of geochemical data and natural radioactivity level in WDRC rocks. Additionally, it reveals that from the radiological perspective, the investigated rocks are considered safe for use as decorative construction materials.

Mixed agricultural, industrial, and domestic drainage water discharge poses a massive strain on freshwater ecosystems: a case from the Nile River in Upper Egypt.

Heavy metal and pesticide pollution of freshwater ecosystems, i.e., rivers, raises significant concerns worldwide, where practical solutions to reduce the threats become urgent need. Heavy metals and pesticides are top of the list of environmental toxicants endangering nature; therefore, pesticides and heavy metals were measured at 10 stations along the Al-Zennar agricultural drain and the Nile River at Assiut city in Upper Egypt, to assess potential negative impact on the water/sediment's quality. The sediment of the streambed is a sink for pesticides and heavy metals, where both water and sediments have higher contamination factor (CF) for Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn. In addition, the Nile water is highly contaminated by PCBs. The distance to the point source and hydrodynamics (flow rate and stream gradient) has major influences in pollutant concentrations as indicated by regression models. Dilution effect and rapid sedimentation may comment on the lower concentrations of the pollutants in the Nile comparatively to the drain and on the water comparatively to the sediments. The physiochemistry of the stations has minor effect on the metal/pesticide concentration, where the variable importance of projection (VIP) of the partial least square model indicated that total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), SO42-, and BOD/TOC/COD are the main contributors to the metal/pesticide concentration. Concentrations were not correlated between water and sediment suggesting a historical accumulation in sediments and temporal variation in the pollution load in the Al-Zennar drain. Bray-Curtis clustering confirmed that heavy metals have the same anthropogenic source in contrast to natural source of both Mn and Fe.

Arrestin-3-assisted activation of JNK3 mediates dopaminergic behavioral and signaling plasticity in vivo.

In rodents with unilateral ablation of the substantia nigra neurons supplying dopamine to the striatum, chronic treatment with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA or dopamine agonists induces a progressive increase of behavioral responses, a process known as behavioral sensitization. The sensitization is blunted in arrestin-3 knockout mice. Using virus-mediated gene delivery to the dopamine-depleted striatum of arrestin-3 knockout mice, we found that the restoration of arrestin-3 fully rescued behavioral sensitization, whereas its mutant defective in JNK activation did not. A 25-residue arrestin-3-derived peptide that facilitates JNK3 activation in cells, expressed ubiquitously or selectively in the direct pathway striatal neurons, fully rescued sensitization, whereas an inactive homologous arrestin-2-derived peptide did not. Behavioral rescue was accompanied by the restoration of JNK3 activity and of JNK-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor c-Jun in the dopamine-depleted striatum. Thus, arrestin-3-dependent JNK3 activation in direct pathway neurons is a critical element of the molecular mechanism underlying sensitization.

Mycoplasmosis in Poultry: An Evaluation of Diagnostic Schemes and Molecular Analysis of Egyptian Mycoplasma gallisepticum Strains.

Infections with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in poultry are associated with a wide range of disease conditions, including those affecting the respiratory and reproductive systems. The purpose of this study was to endorse the more sensitive diagnostic scheme for MG infection and identify the best molecular marker for MG phylogenetic analysis using six housekeeping genes: mgc2, mraW, atpG, ugpA, DUF31196, and lgT. For these purposes, 55 poultry flocks of different species were screened using either qRT-PCR or PCR techniques analogous to conventional culturing from non-cultured and cultured swabs on PPLO broth. The rate of MG positivity was the highest when using qRT-PCR from cultured broth (89.0%) and the lowest when using conventional culturing (34.5%). Compared to qRT-PCR from broth, statistical analysis using the Roc curve in MedCalc statistical software showed that the PCR schemes (qRT-PCR from swabs and PCR from swabs and broth) performed better than conventional culturing in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC), suggesting that they may be more reliable schemes. Further support was added by Cohen's kappa test, showing moderate agreement between the molecular approaches. Among the six screened genes, mgc2 and mraW had the highest detection rates (69% and 65.4%, respectively). The comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed that mgc2 or atpG gene sequences distinguished MG isolates into different clades with high discriminatory power.

Historical changes in fish landings indicate a significant shift in fish catch composition and biodiversity loss in the Nile-Delta lakes.

To monitor the changes in fish biodiversity and to elucidate the factors responsible for these changes, the landings composition (LC) over the past 30 years in the Nile-Delta lakes was quantitatively analyzed. The LC data indicates a shift in target species towards demersal opportunistic species. A significant difference (P < 0.001) between two main intervals highlighted in both PERMANOVA and PCA plot; the first interval (1991-2002) is dominated by Tilapia and rare species, while the second interval (2003-2020) is dominated by the opportunistic catfish and mullet species. Noticeable declines in species richness and landings of rare species were observed, where rare taxa either have been overexploited or they may be positively affected by increasing pollution levels than do other dominated species such as Tilapia. In contrast, opportunistic fish species such as catfish and mullet, have flourished in such polluted water due to their ability to tolerate seasonal pollution-related hypoxia.

Maastrichtian Anoxia and Its Influence on Organic Matter and Trace Metal Patterns in the Southern Tethys Realm of Egypt during Greenhouse Variability.

Maastrichtian organic-rich sediments of Egypt were deposited under a warm greenhouse climate along the stable African shelf. This study presents an integrated analysis of the geochemical, mineralogical, and palynological data from Maastrichtian organic-rich sediments in the northwest Red Sea region of Egypt. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of anoxia on the enrichment of organic matter and trace metals and to reconstruct a model for the formation of these sediments. The sediments are hosted within the Duwi and Dakhla formations, covering an interval of ∼1.14-2.39 million years. Our data indicate variable bottom-water oxygen-level conditions for early and late Maastrichtian sediments. The C-S-Fe systematics and redox geochemical proxies (e.g., V/(V + Ni), Ni/Co, and Uauthigenic) suggest dysoxic to anoxic depositional conditions for the late and early Maastrichtian organic-rich sediments, respectively. The early Maastrichtian sediments contain abundant small-sized framboids (average = 4.2-5.5 µm), suggesting anoxic conditions, while the late Maastrichtian sediments have larger framboids (average = 4-7.1 µm), indicating dysoxic conditions. The palynofacies analyses reveal the high abundance of amorphous organic matter and confirm the predominance of anoxic conditions during deposition of these organic-rich sediments. The early Maastrichtian organic-rich sediments have a significant Climate concentration of Mo, V, and U, indicating high biogenic production rates and distinct preservation conditions. Additionally, the data imply that oxygen deficiency conditions and low sedimentation rates were the main factors controlling the preservation of organic matter in the studied sediments. Overall, our study provides insights into the environmental conditions and processes that led to the formation of the Maastrichtian organic-rich sediments in Egypt.

New Arylazo-Based (Chromene-Thiazole) Hybrids as Potential MRSA Inhibitors.

A three-component protocol was established to efficiently synthesize (chromene-thiazole) and related arylazo analogs in good to excellent yields. The desired products were prepared by reacting the appropriate salicylaldehydes, 2-cyanothioacetamide, and chloroacetone or hydrazonyl chlorides. Using piperidine as a mediator in ethanol at 80 °C for 4-6 h, the three-component protocol produce the target hybrids in 87-96 % yields. The newly synthesized products showed a broad range of antibacterial activity. The addition of an arylazo unit at the chromene-C6 position significantly improved the antibacterial activity, while the impact of adding an arylazo group at the thiazole-C5 position varied based on the electronic characteristics of the para-substituted arene unit. Generally, series that is linked to two arylazo units, one at chromene-C6 and the other at thiazole-C5, showed the best activity. Some new hybrids showed effective antibacterial activity than ciprofloxacin with MIC/MBC values up to 1.9/3.9 µM against S. aureus and E. coli. Additionally, they demonstrated better effectiveness against MRSA ATCC:33591 and ATCC:43300 compared to linezolid, with MIC/MBC values up to 4.0/16.1 and 3.9/15.6 µM, respectively. The data predicted for the physicochemical properties, lipophilicity, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness of new arylazo-based chromene-thiazole hybrids evaluated by SwissADME. As a result of the above, products that are linked to two arylazo units can be considered drug-like scaffolds.

Isotopic, Geophysical, and Hydrogeochemical Investigations of Groundwater in West Middle Upper Egypt.

The groundwater of the west Assiut and El-Minia districts was evaluated in this paper using geoelectrical, hydrogeochemical, and stable isotope (oxygen-18 and deuterium) studies. In the studied localities, 42 vertical electrical soundings (VES) were taken to evaluate groundwater potential, and the analysis, as well as collection, of 74 samples of Eocene groundwater was carried out. In accordance with the vertical electrical soundings' interpretation, there are four geoelectrical formations and two major water-bearing units that act as aquifers (Pleistocene and Eocene). To determine irrigation suitability, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium percentage (Na %), magnesium hazard (MH), Kelley's ratio (KR), and permeability index (PI) were evaluated as irrigation quality parameters. The EC, Na %, and the diagram of the US salinity laboratory indicated that most of the collected samples of groundwater were suitable for irrigation, whereas the RSC and PI pointed out that all of the collected water samples were safe for irrigation. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope values in groundwater samples showed that the Eocene aquifer was recharged by both surface water and the Nubian aquifer.

Cellular infiltration, cytokines, and histopathology of skin lesions associated with different clinical forms and stages of naturally occurring lumpy skin disease in cattle.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) caused by the Capripoxvirus LSD virus which infects cattle, leading to a serious disease characterized by fever and the eruption of skin nodules all over the surface of the body. Our understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease is still incomplete, particularly the immunopathological alterations occurring in the skin nodules of infected animals. Therefore, we collected skin nodules from naturally infected cattle with different forms of the disease, both in the early stage of clinical infection and after disease progression. The skin samples were examined both histopathologically and immunohistochemically using a variety of antibodies targeting immune cellular markers and cytokines. As a result, the dermatohistopathology revealed orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, vasculitis, epidermal microvesicles, and cellules claveleuses of Borrel in the early stage of infection, with the severity of the lesions correlating with the severity of the clinical disease. Meanwhile, late-stage samples had epidermal hyperkeratosis as well as dermal lymphocytic and histiocytic infiltrations. The predominant cellular infiltrates in the cutaneous lesions of early-stage LSD samples were interferon (IFN)-γ+ cells and CD4+ T lymphocytes with few macrophage lineage cells. However, in the late-stage samples, numerous Iba-1+ macrophages, with few IFN-γ+ cells and CD4+ T lymphocytes, were detected. Our findings indicate that IFN-γ+ cells, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and macrophages play a key role in the immunity against natural LSD virus infection and imply that cutaneous vasculopathy associated with LSD virus infection is an immune-mediated lesion. The current study contributes to our understanding of the pathogenesis of LSD.

Short-Term Sea-Level Changes and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Mid-Cretaceous Kharita Formation Reservoirs in Egypt: Insights from Geochemical and Palynological Data.

Widespread deposition of siliciclastic sediments with consequent alternations between fine-grained siltstones and shales versus coarse-grained sandstones in the north Western Desert of Egypt provides an archive for mid-Cretaceous sea-level oscillations. This study presents elemental geochemical data as well as palynofacies and palynomorph components of upper Albian reservoirs in the Abu Gharadig Basin, north Western Desert. During the mid-Cretaceous, the studied area is located in the transition zone between the fluvio-deltaic and shallow marine settings at the southern margin of the Tethys Ocean. Thirty rock cutting samples were collected from the Kharita Formation and analyzed for major and trace elements, total organic carbon, and palynological composition. These data, together with geophysical gamma ray log values and lithological composition, allowed us to reconstruct the changes in relative sea level at this time in the framework of a third-order transgressive-regressive (T-R) sequence stratigraphic model. Palynomorph composition, represented by a fairly diverse assemblage of terrestrial plant spores and pollen grains versus marine dinoflagellate cysts and other microplankton, was employed along with the variation in the particulate organic matter composition. Chemical proxies, including Si, Ti, and often K and Fe, and their ratios normalized to Al, as well as the carbonate content and the Sr/Ca ratio, provided significant stratigraphic variations with respect to sea-level changes. The above proxies allowed for the subdivision of the studied reservoir intervals into three T-R sequences.

Ameliorative Effects of Bovine Lactoferrin on Benzene-Induced Hematotoxicity in Albino Rats.

Benzene (Bz) is one of the major products of the petrochemical industry globally, which induces aplastic anemia and leukemia in humans and animals. This study aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on Bz-induced hematotoxicity in albino rats. Eighty male rats were randomly divided into eight groups: corn oil group [2 mL/kg body weight (BW)], bLf groups (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW), Bz group (Bz 2 mL/kg BW; corn oil 2 mL/kg BW), and Bz + bLf groups (Bz 2 mL/kg BW; corn oil 2 mL/kg BW; bLf 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW). Hematobiochemical results exhibited marked pancytopenia, a significant decrease in total protein, albumin, α2- and γ-globulin, ferritin, serum iron, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and an increase in serum bioactivities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and erythropoietin hormone levels in Bz-treated rats. Histopathological examination revealed a marked reduction in all hematopoietic cell lines in the bone marrow (BM), necrosis in the white pulp of the spleen and cytosolic hydrops, and apoptosis of hepatocytes in the Bz-treated group. Rats treated with bLf (300 mg/kg BW) revealed marked increases in total protein, albumin, α2- and γ-globulin, ferritin, serum iron, and TIBC levels and decreases both in ALP and LDH bioactivities and erythropoietin hormone levels compared with the Bz-treated group. Histopathological results were concomitant with hematobiochemical parameters in rats treated with bLf (300 mg/kg BW), almost showing restoration of the normal cellularity of BM, the architecture of red and white pulps of the spleen, and even the normal hypertrophy of hepatocytes compared with the control groups. To conclude, bLf (300 mg/kg BW) can be recommended to treat Bz-induced hematotoxicity.

The Effects of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Turkey Poults: Assessment of Biochemical Parameters and Histopathological Changes.

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a large molecule and an outer membrane glycolipid found in Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). These molecules (LPS) target acute inflammatory responses and significant physiological changes. Importantly, E. coli is considered one of the most important bacterial causes of avian colibacillosis that affect domestic turkey industry. However, little information is available about the potential influence of LPS on the biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in turkey poults. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules on serum biomarkers and histopathological changes in turkey poults. The birds were randomly divided into five groups, as follows: group I did not receive any inoculation; group II was inoculated with sterile saline; and groups III, IV, and V were inoculated intraperitoneally with LPS at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg of body weight (BW), respectively. The biochemical parameters and the histopathology of different organs were examined in all birds one day post-inoculation. Our results revealed hypolipidemia, hypoglycemia, a significant decrease in uric acid, and a significant increase in serum activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK), as well as cardiac troponin T concentrations in treated groups. Moreover, there was a significant increase in α1-, ß-, and γ-globulin concentrations and a decrease in albumin and α2-globulin concentrations in group V. However, a significant increase in α2- and γ-globulin levels and a decrease in albumin levels were detected in groups III and IV. In addition, significant decreases in the albumin/globulin ratio were recorded in all LPS-treated groups. Hepatocellular and cardiac muscle necrosis, slight renal changes, and massive pulmonary inflammatory reactions were recorded. This study provides valuable information about serum biomarkers, protein fractions, and histopathological changes in turkey poults treated with LPS for further investigations of pathophysiological mechanisms in avian medicine along with biomedical research.

Acute and Delayed Doxorubicin-Induced Myocardiotoxicity Associated with Elevation of Cardiac Biomarkers, Depletion of Cellular Antioxidant Enzymes, and Several Histopathological and Ultrastructural Changes.

Doxorubicin (DOX; Adricin) is an anthracycline antibiotic, which is an efficient anticancer chemotherapeutic agent that targets many types of adult and pediatric tumors, such as breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphomas. However, use of DOX is limited due to its cardiotoxic effects. This study sequentially investigated the mechanistic pathways of the cardiotoxic process of DOX in rats at different post-treatment periods using cumulative dose, which is used in therapeutic regimes. In this regard, 56 male albino rats were used for the experiment. The experimental animals were divided into seven groups (n = 8/group) based on dose and sacrifice schedule as follows: G1 (2 mg/kg body weight [BW] and sacrificed at day 4), G2 (4 mg/kg BW and sacrificed at day 8), G3 (6 mg/kg BW and sacrificed at day 15), G4 (8 mg/kg BW and sacrificed at day 30), G5 (10 mg/kg BW and sacrificed at day 60), G6 (10 mg/kg BW and sacrificed at day 90), and G7 (10 mg/kg BW and sacrificed at day 120). As expected, G1, G2, and G3-treated groups revealed features of acute toxic myocarditis associated with degenerative and necrotic changes in myocytes, mitochondrial damage, elevation of cardiac biomarkers, and depletion of cellular antioxidant enzymes. However, these changes increased in severity with subsequent treatment with the same dose until reaching a cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg BW for 30 d. Furthermore, after a cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg BW with a withdrawal period of 2-3 months, various predominant changes in chronicity were reported, such as disorganization and atrophy of myocytes, condensation and atrophy of mitochondria, degranulation of mast cells, and fibrosis with occasional focal necrosis, indicating incomplete elimination of DOX and/or its metabolites. Altogether, these data provide interesting observations associated with the cardiotoxic process of DOX in rats that would help understand the accompanying changes underlying the major toxic effects of the drug. Future research is suggested to explore more about the dose-dependent mechanisms of such induced toxicity of DOX that would help determine the proper doses and understand the resulting cardiomyopathy.

Photocatalytic Detoxification of Some Insecticides in Aqueous Media Using TiO2 Nanocatalyst.

The present study was performed to fabricate a titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocatalyst with proper characteristics for the removal of some insecticides (dimethoate and methomyl) from aqueous media. A TiO2 catalyst of regular (TiO2-commercial-/H2O2/UV) or nano (TiO2-synthesized-/H2O2/UV) size was employed as an advanced oxidation process by combining it with H2O2 under light. Moreover, the total detoxification of insecticides after treatment with the most effective system (TiO2(s)/H2O2/UV) was also investigated through exploring the biochemical alterations and histopathological changes in the liver and kidneys of the treated rats. Interestingly, the present study reported that degradation rates of the examined insecticides were faster using the TiO2 catalyst of nano size. Complete degradation of the tested insecticides (100%) was achieved under the TiO2(s)/H2O2/UV system after 320 min of irradiation. The half-life values of the tested insecticides under H2O2/TiO2(c)/UV were 43.86 and 36.28 for dimethoate and methomyl, respectively, whereas under the H2O2/TiO2(c)/UV system, the half-life values were 27.72 and 19.52 min for dimethoate and methomyl, respectively. On the other hand, no significant changes were observed in the biochemical and histopathological parameters of rats administrated with water treated with TiO2(s)/H2O2/UV compared to the control, indicating low toxicity of the TiO2 nanocatalyst-. Altogether, the advanced oxidation processes using TiO2 nanocatalyst can be considered as a promising and effective remediation technology for the complete detoxification of methomyl and dimethoate in water. However, further future research is needed to identify the possible breakdown products and to verify the safety of the used nanomaterials.

Impact of Dietary or Drinking Water Ruminococcus sp. Supplementation and/or Heat Stress on Growth, Histopathology, and Bursal Gene Expression of Broilers.

This research was conducted to evaluate the impact of dietary or drinking water Ruminococcus sp. supplementation and/or heat stress (HS) on the growth, serum biochemistry, tissue antioxidant, phagocytic assay, histopathology, and bursa gene expression of broilers. Day-old broiler chicks were allotted into six groups according to HS and/or Ruminococcus with or without enzyme supplementation. The first group was the control one, with a formulated diet and normal environmental temperature but without any supplement. The second group fed on Ruminococcus-supplemented diet (1 kg/kg diet). The third group fed on a formulated diet without supplement, and Ruminococcus and digestive enzymes were given in drinking water (0.1 ml/L). The fourth one was the heat stress group, with a normal formulated diet. The fifth and the sixth groups served as second and third groups, respectively, but with heat stress. The results of this experiment indicated that thermal temperature negatively affected the parameters of growth performance, serum biochemical, tissue antioxidants, and phagocytic assay. Moreover, heat stress led to pathological lesions in the internal organs and affected the expression of some genes related to heat stress, including proapoptotic genes such as caspase8 and bax, inflammatory genes such as NF-κß1, and heat shock protein such as HSP 70 in the bursal tissue. These bad effects and abnormalities were mitigated by Ruminococcus alone or with enzyme supplementation, which improved all the above-mentioned parameters.

Descriptive Pathological Study of Avian Schistosomes Infection in Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) in Japan.

Cercarial dermatitis, or Swimmer's itch, is one of the emerging diseases caused by the cercariae of water-borne schistosomes, mainly Trichobilharzia spp. Since the zoonotic potential of Allobilharzia visceralis is still unknown, studies on this schistosome would be helpful to add knowledge on its possible role in causing human infections. In the present study, 54 whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) from rescue/rehabilitation centers in Honshu, Japan, were necropsied to identify the cause of death. Grossly, 33 (61.11%) swans were severely emaciated and 23 (42.59%) had multiple reddened areas throughout the length of the intestine with no worms detected in the internal organs. Microscopically, adult schistosomes were found in the lumen of the mesenteric, serosal, portal, and testicular veins, in the capillaries of the intestinal lamina propria, and in the sinusoids of the adrenal gland, spleen, and liver of 23 (42.59%) swans. Hypertrophy of veins containing adult worms was identified in 15 (27.77%) swans, and vascular lumen obliteration was observed in 8 (14.81%) swans. Mild to severe villous atrophy and superficial enteritis were observed in 8 birds (14.81%), whereas bile pigments and hemosiderin were detected in the livers of 14 (25.92%) and 18 (33.33%) swans, respectively. In three swans (5.55%), schistosome parasites were found in the subcapsular veins of the testes. The schistosomes in the present study were assumed to be A. visceralis based on the microscopical and histological evidence of adult schistosomes found in the lumen of veins as well as the infection pathology, which was very similar to the schistosome-induced pathology previously reported in swans infected by A. visceralis in Europe and Australia. The swans examined herein most likely died from obstructive phlebitis associated with A. visceralis, but further molecular confirmation is required for identification of this species. However, the present study does not provide new data on the zoonotic potential, but only on the pathogenic potential of this schistosome in swans. Furthermore, our study provides a novel contribution to the description of the pathological effects of avian schistosomes infection in whooper swans in Japan.

Biochemical and Histopathological Alterations in Different Tissues of Rats Due to Repeated Oral Dose Toxicity of Cymoxanil.

Evaluating potential adverse health impacts caused by pesticides is an important parameter in human toxicity. This study focuses on the importance of subchronic toxicity assessment of cymoxanil fungicide in rats with special reference to target biochemical enzymes and histopathological changes in different tissues. In this regard, a 21-day toxicity study with repeated cymoxanil oral doses was conducted. It has been shown that low doses (0.5 mg/kg) were less effective than medium (1 mg/kg) and high (2 mg/kg) doses. Moreover, high dose dose-treated rats showed piecemeal necrosis in the liver, interstitial nephritis and tubular degeneration in the kidneys, interstitial pneumonia and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia in the lungs, gliosis, spongiosis, and malacia in the brain, and testicular edema and degeneration in the testes. Cymoxanil significantly increased AST, ALT, and ALP in serum and liver, indicating tissue necrosis and possible leakage of these enzymes into the bloodstream. Creatinine levels increased, indicating renal damage. Similarly, significant inhibition was recorded in brain acetylcholinesterase, indicating that both synaptic transmission and nerve conduction were affected. Importantly, these histopathological and biochemical alterations were dose-dependent. Taken together, our study reported interesting biochemical and histopathological alterations in different rat tissues following repeated toxicity with oral doses of cymoxanil. Our study suggests future studies on different pesticides at different concentrations that would help urge governments to create more restrictive regulations concerning these compounds' levels.

Molecular characterization and diagnostic investigations of rabies encephalitis in camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Oman: a retrospective study.

The accurate and early diagnosis of rabies is critical for undertaking public health measures in animals. The aim of the current study was to identify the molecular characterization of the circulating rabies virus (RABV) among camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Oman and to evaluate the efficacy of the histopathology and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as diagnostic tools of acute rabies encephalitis in camels in comparison with direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT). Of the forty-five brain samples from suspected camels submitted to the Animal Health Research Center in Oman (2009-2013), 22 cases were positive by dFAT and RT-PCR. Two positive samples were subjected for N gene nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis (accession numbers GU353156 and KC883998 for brain samples collected in 2009 and 2011, respectively). The specificity and sensitivity of histopathology were 100% and 81%, respectively, while in RT-PCR were 100% and 100%, respectively. The neuropathological changes were presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions (Negri bodies) in the pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus beside prominent cerebral and cerebellar congestion and hemorrhage. Neuronal necrosis with satellitosis and neuronophagia were also noticed in the cerebrum of affected brains. Conclusively, there was one genetic group of RABV with 99% homology circulating in Omani camels. Also, it is concluded that histopathological examination is a safe and reliable diagnostic tool when only formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material is available, but the negative results should be reaffirmed by dFAT or RT-PCR.

Efficient Methods for the Synthesis of Novel Arylazothiazoles Based on Acetylferrocene or Adamantane.

BACKGROUND: Hydrazonoyl halides are convenient for the synthesis of arylazothiazoles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of novel arylazothiazoles were efficiently synthesized from the reaction of hydrazonoyl chlorides with 2-(adamantan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide or 2-(ferrocenyl-1-ylidene)hydrazinecarbo-- thioamide in dioxane used as an aprotic solvent because of its lower toxicity and higher boiling point (101 °C) and triethylamine at reflux. The reaction mechanistic pathway proceeded by the nucleophilic substitution reaction by the elimination of hydrogen chloride to give thiohydrazonates as intermediate, which in situ undergo intramolecular cyclization and loss of water molecule to afford the final product of novel arylazothiazoles. This method is simple with good yield and excellent purities. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The synthetic schemes for the final products are proposed and discussed. The chemical structures of the final products were identified by different techniques, such as elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). CONCLUSION: In this article, we prepared arylazothiazoles from the reaction of 2-(adamantan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide or 2-(ferrocenyl-1-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide with hydrazonoyl halides.