Renal arterial resistive index versus novel biomarkers for the early prediction of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical complication of sepsis. There is a continuous need to identify and validate biomarkers for early detection. Serum and urinary biomarkers have been investigated, such as neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C (Cys C), but their reliability in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown. Renal hemodynamics can be investigated by measuring the renal resistive index (RRI). This study aimed to compare the performance of RRI, serum NGAL (sNGAL), urinary NGAL (uNGAL), and serum Cys C levels as early predictors of the diagnosis and persistence of sepsis-associated AKI. A total of 166 adult patients with sepsis syndrome were enrolled immediately after ICU admission. Biomarkers were measured directly (T1) and on day 3 (T3). RRI was measured directly (T1) and 24 h later (T2). Patients were categorized (according to the occurrence and persistence of AKI within the first 7 days) into three groups: no AKI, transient AKI, and persistent AKI. The incidence rate of sepsis-associated AKI was 60.2%. Sixty-six patients were categorized as in the no AKI group, while another 61 were in transient AKI and only 39 were in persistent AKI. The RRI value (T1 ≥ 0.72) was the best tool for predicting AKI diagnosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUROC = 0.905). Cys C (T1 ≥ 15.1 mg/l) was the best tool to predict the persistence of AKI (AUROC = 0.977). RRI (T1) was the best predictive tool for sepsis-associated AKI, while Cys C was the best predictor of its persistence and 28-day mortality.

Flawless polyaniline coating for preservation and corrosion protection of ancient steel spearheads: an archaeological study from military museum, Al-Qala, Egypt.

The purpose of this research was to examine the viability of applying a flawless polyaniline coating on steel spearheads to preserve them and protect them from corrosion. The spearpoints, thought to be archaeologically significant, were acquired from the Military Museum in Al-Qala, Egypt. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the spearheads chemical composition and microstructure (EDX). The spearheads were determined to be constructed of steel and to have a coating of ferric oxide and other corrosion products on their exteriors. After that, a flawless polyaniline coating was electrochemically deposited onto the spearpoints in a way that was both quick and cheap. Many types of corrosion tests, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) readings, were used to determine the coating's effectiveness. The steel spearheads' findings revealed a significant improvement in their resistance to corrosion after being coated with flawless polyaniline. The coating served as a barrier, blocking out water and other corrosive substances and slowing the buildup of corrosion byproducts on the spearpoints. In conclusion, our research shows that a flawless polyaniline coating may be an effective anti-corrosion treatment for ancient steel artifacts. The approach is straightforward, cheap, and readily scalable for massive conservation efforts.

The Versatility of the Lateral-based Mammary Flap as an "Auto-implant" for Enhancing Breast Mound for Patients Undergoing Primary Mastopexy.

Background: The demand for augmentation-mastopexy surgery without using implants has significantly increased over the years. Fat transfer offers an alternative method, but some patients do not favor this procedure either. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the versatility of using a lateral-based mammary flap as an "auto-implant" for enhancing the breast mound for patients undergoing primary mastopexy. Method: This retrospective study was performed between February 2016 and April 2019, including 36 female patients (72 breasts). Our technique involves using the inferior breast tissue by elevating the lateral-based dermoglandular flap that was moved cranially with a 90 degree rotation in a conical shape within the created pocket to refill the superior and central mound. Result: The mean nipple projection was 11.2 after 36 months postoperative compared with 5.2 before surgery. The mean ± SD of pre- and postoperative measurements for the lower pole zone were 80.2 ± 10.5 and 50.1 ± 6.4, and those for the upper pole zone were 40.3 ± 9.5 and 63.9 ± 6.5, respectively. The distance of breast mound elevation after the surgical procedure ranged from 5.30 to 9.55 cm, with a mean of 7.90 cm. Conclusions: The lateral-based mammary flap acts like an implant that helps shape and augment the breast, enhances the mammary projection, and restores the breast contour without requiring a synthetic implant or fat grafting. It is a reliable technique with high patient satisfaction but is unsuitable for patients with insufficient breast volume.

Effect of nanovesicular surface-functionalization via chitosan and/or PEGylation on cytotoxicity of tamoxifen in induced-breast cancer model.

AIMS: The effect of surface-modification of Tamoxifen (Tam)-loaded-niosomes on drug cytotoxicity and bio-distribution, via functionalization with chitosan and/or PEGylation, was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tam-loaded hybrid-nanocarriers (Tam-loaded niosomes, chitosomes, PEGylated niosomes, and PEGylated chitosomes) were formulated and characterized. KEY FINDINGS: Chitosanization with/without PEGylation proved to selectively enhance Tam-release at the cancerous-acidic micromilieu. Cytotoxic activity study showed that Tam-loaded PEGylated niosomes had a lower IC50 value on MCF-7 cell line (0.39, 0.35, and 0.27 times) than Tam-loaded PEGylated chitosomes, Tam-loaded niosomes, and Tam-loaded chitosomes, respectively. Cell cycle analysis showed that PEGylation and/or Chitosanization significantly impact Tam efficiency in inducing apoptosis, with a preferential influence of PEGylation over chitosanization. The assay of Annexin-V/PI double staining revealed that chitosanized-nanocarriers had a significant role in increasing the incidence of apoptosis over necrosis. Besides, PEGylated-nanocarriers increased apoptosis, as well as total death and necrosis percentages more than what was shown from free Tam. Moreover, the average changes in both Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Caspase 9 were best improved in cells treated by Tam-loaded PEGylated niosomes over all other formulations. The in-vivo study involving DMBA-induced-breast cancer rats revealed that PEGylation made the highest tumor-growth inhibition (84.9 %) and breast tumor selectivity, while chitosanization had a lower accumulation tendency in the blood (62.3 ng/ml) and liver tissues (103.67 ng/ml). The histopathological specimens from the group treated with Tam-loaded PEGylated niosomes showed the best improvement over other formulations. SIGNIFICANCE: All these results concluded the crucial effect of both PEGylation and chitosan-functionalization of Tam-loaded niosomes in enhancing effectiveness, targetability, and safety.

Cholesterol-Based Nanovesicles Enhance the In Vitro Cytotoxicity, Ex Vivo Intestinal Absorption, and In Vivo Bioavailability of Flutamide.

Critical adverse effects and frequent administration, three times per day, limit the use of flutamide (FLT) as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, our research aimed to develop new cholesterol-based nanovesicles for delivering FLT to malignant cells in an endeavor to maximize its therapeutic efficacy and minimize undesired adverse effects. Draper-Lin small composite design was used to optimize the critical quality attributes of FLT-loaded niosomes and ensure the desired product quality. The influence of the selected four independent variables on mean particle size (Y1), zeta potential (Y2), drug entrapment efficiency (Y3), and the cumulative drug release after 24 h (Y4) was examined. The optimized nanovesicles were assessed for their in vitro cytotoxicity, ex-vivo absorption via freshly excised rabbit intestine as well as in vivo pharmacokinetics on male rats. TEM confirmed nanovescicles' spherical shape with bilayer structure. Values of dependent variables were 748.6 nm, -48.60 mV, 72.8% and 72.2% for Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4, respectively. The optimized FLT-loaded niosomes exerted high cytotoxic efficacy against human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) with an IC50 value of 0.64 ± 0.04 µg/mL whilst, it was 1.88 ± 0.16 µg/mL for free FLT. Moreover, the IC50 values on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) were 0.27 ± 0.07 µg/mL and 4.07 ± 0.74 µg/mL for FLT-loaded niosomes and free FLT, respectively. The permeation of the optimized FLT-loaded niosomes through the rabbit intestine showed an enhancement ratio of about 1.5 times that of the free FLT suspension. In vivo pharmacokinetic study displayed an improvement in oral bioavailability of the optimized niosomal formulation with AUC and Cmax values of 741.583 ± 33.557 µg/mL × min and 6.950 ± 0.45 µg/mL compared to 364.536 ± 45.215 µg/mL × min and 2.650 ± 0.55 µg/mL for the oral FLT suspension. With these promising findings, we conclude that encapsulation of FLT in cholesterol-loaded nanovesicles enhanced its anticancer activity and oral bioavailability which endorse its use in the management of prostate cancer.

Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Tamoxifen Citrate Loaded Span-Based Nano-Vesicles on Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Serious adverse effects and low selectivity to cancer cells are the main obstacles of long term therapy with Tamoxifen (Tmx). This study aimed to develop Tmx-loaded span-based nano-vesicles for delivery to malignant tissues with maximum efficacy. The effect of three variables on vesicle size (Y1), zeta potential (Y2), entrapment efficiency (Y3) and the cumulative percent release after 24 h (Y4) were optimized using Box-Behnken design. The optimized formula was prepared and tested for its stability in different storage conditions. The observed values for the optimized formula were 310.2 nm, - 42.09 mV, 75.45 and 71.70% for Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4, respectively. The examination using electron microscopy confirmed the formation of rounded vesicles with distinctive bilayer structure. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of the optimized formula on both breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and normal cells (BHK) showed enhanced selectivity (9.4 folds) on cancerous cells with IC50 values 4.7 ± 1.5 and 44.3 ± 1.3 µg/ml on cancer and normal cells, respectively. While, free Tmx exhibited lower selectivity (2.5 folds) than optimized nano-vesicles on cancer cells with IC50 values of 9.0 ± 1.1 µg/ml and 22.5 ± 5.3 µg/ml on MCF-7 and BHK cells, respectively. The promising prepared vesicular system, with greater efficacy and selectivity, provides a marvelous tool to overcome breast cancer treatment challenges.

Effect of phylogenetic diversity of velogenic Newcastle disease virus challenge on virus shedding post homologous and heterologous DNA vaccination in chickens.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly devastating disease for the poultry industry as it causes high economic losses. In this present study, a DNA vaccine containing the F and HN surface antigens of a highly virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV), NDV/1/Chicken/2005 (FJ939313), was successfully generated. Cell transfection test indicated that the vaccine expressed the F and HN genes in Hep-2 cells. The main objective of this study was to compare the extent of protection induced by DNA vaccination after homologous and heterologous NDV-challenge as determined by the amount of NDV shedding after challenge. NDV-antibody-negative chickens were vaccinated either once, twice or thrice intramuscularly at 7, 14 and 21 days old and were challenged 14 days post vaccination with either homologous virus (vaccine-matched velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus (vvNDV) strain, FJ939313), phylogenetically related to group VII, or a phylogenetically divergent heterologous virus (unmatched vvNDV strain, AY968809), which belongs to genogroup VI and shows 84.1% nucleotide similarity to the NDV-sequences of the DNA vaccine. Our data indicate that birds, which received a single dose of the DNA vaccine were poorly protected, and only 30-40% of these birds survived after challenge with high virus shedding titre. Multiple administration of the DNA vaccine induced high protection rates of 70-90% with reduced virus shedding compared to the non-vaccinated and challenged birds. Generally, homologous challenge led to reduced tracheal and cloacal shedding compared to the heterologous vvNDV strain. This study provides a promising approach for the control of ND in chickens using DNA vaccines, which are phylogenetically closely related to the circulating field strains.

Mast cells and angiogenesis in wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of mast cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a mediator of angiogenesis to promote wound healing in surgical and pathological scars. STUDY DESIGN: The study was carried out on 40 patients who presented with active scar lesions. They were subdivided into 4 groups. They included granulation tissue (10 cases), surgical scar (10 cases), hypertrophic scar (10 cases), and keloid scar (10 cases). Also 10 healthy volunteers of the same age and sex were selected as a control group. Skin biopsies were taken from the patients and the control group. Skin biopsies from clinically assessed studied groups were processed for routine histology and embedded in paraffin. Four sections were prepared from each paraffin block. The first section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation. The second and third sections were processed for immunostaining of mast cells that contain chymase (MCCs) and mast cells that contain tryptase (MCTs). The fourth section was processed for immunostaining of VEGF. RESULTS: MCCs exhibited mild expression in normal tissue, granulation tissue, and surgical, hypertrophic and keloid scars. MCTs exhibited mild expression in normal tissue, granulation tissue and keloid, whereas moderate expression was exhibited in hypertrophic and surgical scars. VEGF expression was absent in normal tissue, mild in keloid, surgical and hypertrophic scars, and moderate in keloids and granulation tissue. CONCLUSION: Mast cell expression variation among different scar types signals the pathological evolution of the lesion, and hence may guide the need for therapeutic intervention.