First molecular identification and phylogenetic illustration of Sarcocystis species infection in Red Sea shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810).

BACKGROUND: members of the genus Sarcocystis are intracellular obligate protozoan parasites classified within the phylum Apicomplexa and have an obligate heteroxenous life cycle involving two hosts. A more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and geographic range of different Sarcocystis species in marine ecosystems is needed globally and nationally. Hence, the objective of this study was to document the incidence of Sarcocystis infection in sharks within the aquarium ecosystem of Egypt and to identify the species through the characterization of the SSU rDNA gene. METHODS: All organs of the mako shark specimen underwent macroscopic screening to detect the existence of a Sarcocystis cyst. Ten cysts were collected from the intestine and processed separately to extract the genomic DNA. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was accomplished by amplifying a specific 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragment. Subsequently, the resulting amplicons were subjected to purification and sequencing processes. RESULTS: Macroscopic examination of the mako shark intestinal wall sample revealed the presence of Sarcocystis cysts of various sizes and shapes, and sequencing of the amplicons from Sarcocystis DNA revealed a 100% nucleotide identity with the sequence of Sarcocystis tenella recorded from sheep in Iran; The mako shark sequence has been deposited in the GeneBank with the accession number OQ721979. This study presents the first scientific evidence demonstrating the presence of the Sarcocystis parasite in sharks, thereby documenting this specific marine species as a novel intermediate host in the Sarcocystis life cycle. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first identification of Sarcocystis infection in sharks, and we anticipate it will be an essential study for future screenings and establishing effective management measures for this disease in aquatic ecosystems.

Leptin Rs7799039 polymorphism is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus Egyptian patients.

BACKGROUND: Leptin (LEP) is an anti-obesity hormone that regulates food intake, energy expenditure, and glucose metabolism. The genetic variants in LEP and the LEP receptor (LEPR) gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. The current study aimed to investigate the association of serum LEP levels, and LEP polymorphisms in LEP (rs7799039, 2548 G/A) with T2DM in Egyptian patients. METHODS: A total of 205 subjects were included in the present case-control study, consisting of 100 T2DM patients and 105 healthy controls. The anthropometric, psychometric, and biochemical measurements were taken from all the subjects. The genotyping of LEP gene variants was carried out by polymerase chain reaction TaqMan technology. Serum LEP levels were measured by the ELISA technique. RESULTS: T2DM patients had significantly elevated levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS), international normalisation ratio (INR), creatinine, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and significantly decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared to healthy subjects. serum LEP levels were significantly decreased p (<0.001) as compared to the control group. LEP gene SNP rs7799039 was associated with an increased diabetic risk with A allele being more frequent in T2DM patients than control subjects. The distribution of the AA genotype and GA genotype of LEP SNP rs7799039 was higher in the diabetic group than control one. In addition, AA + GA genotype carriers had significantly elevated HbA1c, FBS, PPBS, TG, and LDL levels and on the contrary, decreased serum LEP levels compared to GG homozygotes. CONCLUSION: The genetic polymorphism rs7799039 showed a highly significant correlation with blood LEP. The co-dominant and dominant models of the LEP genetic polymorphism (rs7799039, 2548 G/A) were shown to have a significant correlation with complicated and uncomplicated diabetes individuals, but we have found that serum LEP levels were inversely related with control and diabetes patients. A positive significant association was found between LEP genetic polymorphism (rs7799039, 2548 G/A) and serum LEP in patients and controls. LEP levels and its rs7799039 genetic variant may play a vital role in increasing T2DM susceptibility.

The present study revealed a positive significant association between the leptin (LEP) genetic polymorphism rs7799039, fasting blood sugar, and post-prandial blood sugar.LEP levels might be utilised to predict T2DM. The AA genotype of LEP rs7799039, 2548G/A (co-dominant model) raises the risk of diabetes compared to the GA genotype, and the A alle is considered a risk factor OR = 1.66.A positive significant association was found between LEP genetic polymorphism (rs7799039, 2548G/A) and serum LEP in patients and controls.

[Diagnostics and treatment of functional dizziness in accordance with the new ICD-11 criteria].

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a new diagnosis for functional chronic dizziness and included in the new International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11. The new criteria are positive, specific and make it easier to identify and study functional chronic dizziness. PPPD is a condition triggered by vestibular-, neurological- or psychological conditions. This review examines the symptoms, pathophysiology and treatment of PPPD.

Rheum palmatum root extract inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma in rats treated with diethylnitrosamine.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential anticancer properties of a methanol extract of Rheum palmatum roots against diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats and to characterize its phytoconstituents. METHODS: HPLC-PDA-MS/MS was used to profile the secondary metabolites in R. palmatum root extract. HCC was induced using diethylnitrosamine (DENA). The activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total proteins, serum albumin and serum globulin was determined. DNA fragmentation and histopathological examination and GST-P immunostaining were also studied. KEY FINDINGS: LC-MS/MS analysis identified 16 compounds belonging to anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins. The root extract significantly reduced the elevated liver enzymes ALT and AST and increased total proteins, albumin and globulin in HCC-rats. Also, the tumour markers AFP and GGT levels were significantly reduced in HCC-rats treated with the extract. In addition, the extract significantly reduced elevated DNA fragmentation and decreased the numbers and areas of GST-P positive putative foci in HCC-rats. CONCLUSIONS: Rheum palmatum is a potential candidate to be explored for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.