Effects of replacement of dietary fish oil with plant oil on growth performance and fatty acid composition of spinefoot rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus.

A 95-day feeding study was carried out to evaluate the impact of complete replacement of fish oil by plant oils in the growth performance, feed consumption fatty acid and body composition of juvenile rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus. There were four treatments i.e., A (fish oil diet), (linseed oil diet), C (soybean meal oil diet) and D (sunflower oil diet). The experimental trial was conducted in twelve 1.5-m3 fiber glass tanks (n=3). Spinefoot rabbitfish juveniles had an average initial weight of 0.948 g ± 0.124 g and they were stocked at 50 fish per tank. Fish fed diet A showed significantly better growth rate, final body weight, and total body weight than fish fed on the other diets. Moreover, the best FCR was observed for diet A followed by diet C and diets B and D had the worst FCR. Fish body composition for crude protein, dry matter, ashes and gross energy at the end of the trial had not differed between the treatments. The highest polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was found in fish fed diet A followed in decreasing order by diets D, B, and C. Fish oil is a better dietary lipid source for Spinefoot rabbitfish juveniles, Siganus rivulatus, than plant oils. Among plant oils, soybean oil was better than linseed oil and sunflower oil as the main dietary fat source.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan/polyacrylic acid/copper nanocomposites and their impact on onion production.

Chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) and chitosan/polyacrylic acid hydrogel nanoparticles (CS/PAA-HNPs) were obtained by ionic gelation with tripolyphosphate anions and copolymerization of CS with acrylic acid (AA), respectively. The prepared NPs were loaded by different concentrations of copper (1, 2 and 3% with respect to CS) to obtain chitosan/copper nanocomposites (CS/Cu-NCs) and chitosan/polyacrylic acid/copper hydrogel nanocomposites (CS/PAA/Cu-HNCs). The prepared NPs and their NCs were characterized by different techniques. The swelling properties and copper release from CS/Cu-NCs and CS/PAA/Cu-HNCs were evaluated. The antibacterial activity of the prepared samples against bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), fungi, and yeast were investigated. The results displayed that the copper release, as well as the swelling percentage of CS/PAA/Cu-HNCs, were higher than that of CS/Cu-NCs. Furthermore, the impact of using CuSO4, CS/Cu-NCs, and CS/PAA/Cu-HNCs as a different source of copper on chlorophyll content, vegetative growth, minerals content, and the yield of onion plants during two seasons 2016 and 2017 were studied. It was found that the yield, plant growth, and nutrient content of onion bulbs were improved using CS/PAA-HNPs, which was loaded with 75 ppm copper, as foliar spray for onion plants.

Molecular signalling of a novel curcumin derivative versus Tadalafil in erectile dysfunction.

The efficacy of a novel curcumin derivative (NCD) versus tadalafil in erectile signalling was assessed. Ten control male rats and 50 diabetic male rats were used and divided into the following: diabetic (DM), curcumin (CURC), NCD, tadalafil and NCD combined with tadalafil rat groups. Cavernous tissue gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Nrf2, NF-B and p38, enzyme activities of heme oxygenase (HO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cGMP and intracavernosal pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) were assessed. Results showed that 12 weeks after induction of diabetes, erectile dysfunction (ED) was confirmed by the significant decrease in ICP/MAP, a significant decrease in cGMP, NOS, HO enzyme activities, a significant decrease in HO-1 gene and a significant increase in NF-Ò ß, p38 genes. Administration of all therapeutic interventions led to a significant increase in ICP/MAP, cGMP levels, a significant increase in HO-1 and NOS enzymes, a significant increase in HO-1, and Nrf2 gene expression, and a significant decrease in NF-Ò ß, p38 gene expression. NCD or its combination with tadalafil showed significant superiority and more prolonged duration of action. In conclusion, a tendency was observed that CURC and NCD have high efficacy and more prolonged duration of action in enhancing erectile function.

Effect of HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex transfer on erectile signalling of aged rats.

This work aimed to assess the efficacy of haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) cDNA-liposome complex transfer as a mediator of erectile signalling in aged rats. One hundred and fifty aged white albino rats were equally divided into five groups: controls, rats receiving lipofectamine, rats receiving intracorporeal HO-1 cDNA-lipsome complex, rats receiving HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex plus nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and rats receiving HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex plus HO inhibitor. Six rats were killed from each group after 12, 24 and 48 h, and after1 and 2 weeks. In dissected cavernous tissues, the following were assessed: HO-1 gene expression, Western blot for HO-1, HO enzyme activity, cGMP and histopathology. The results showed that HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex transfer led to a significant increase in cavernous tissue HO-1 protein, HO-1 gene expression, HO enzyme activity and cGMP up to 1 week. NOS inhibition exhibited no effect on HO-1 gene enhancement of cavernous tissue HO enzyme activity or cGMP, whereas inhibition of HO significantly decreased these parameters. Histopathology of cavernous tissue demonstrated a significant dilatation of helicine arteries in HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex treated group after 48 h compared with the controls. It is concluded that HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex transfer augments cavernous tissue cGMP with subsequent sinusoidal relaxation.

New prenylflavans from Cyperus conglomeratus.

In addition to luteolin and its 7-methyl ether, the CH2Cl2-MeOH (1:1) extract of Cyperus conglomeratus afforded two new prenylflavans identified as 7,3'-dihydroxy-5,5'-dimethoxy-8-prenylflavan and 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-5'-methoxy-8-prenylflavan. The structures were established by CIMS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, H-H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and DEPT analysis.

A benzoquinone and flavonoids from Cyperus alopecuroides.

A benzoquinone, named alopecuquinone, was isolated from the ethanol extract of the inflorescences of Cyperus alopecuroides. Its structure was primarily elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 1H, 13C NMR, APT, HMQC, 1H-1H COSY and CIMS. The known flavonoids, vicenin 2, orientin, diosmetin, quercetin 3,3'-dimethyl ether and its 3,4'-dimethyl ether, were also isolated and characterized. The ethanol extract of the plant material showed moderate estrogenic activity using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Deleterious effects of khat addiction on semen parameters and sperm ultrastructure.

The semen parameters and sperm ultrastructural morphology have been described in semen samples from two groups of Yemeni subjects. The first 'exposed' group comprised 65 khat addicts, while the second control group included 50 non-khat addict subjects. The mean age was 39.94 +/- 13.85 and 35.72 +/- 11.35 years in the exposed and control groups respectively, without a significant difference. The mean duration of khat addiction among the addicts was 25.34 +/- 12.96 years (range 6.00-48.00). Statistically significant differences were detected between the semen parameters of the two groups. Such parameters, including semen volume, sperm count, sperm motility, motility index and percentage of normal spermatozoa, were lower among addicts. Significant negative correlation was also found between the duration of khat consumption and all semen parameters (r ranged from -0.30 to -0.74). At the transmission electron microscopy level, a counting system was incorporated to compare the numbers of normal spermatozoa with deformed and dead spermatozoa in ultrathin plastic sections. The total mean percentage of deformed spermatozoa was approximately 65%. Different patterns of sperm deformation were demonstrated, and included both the head and flagella in complete spermatozoa, aflagellate heads, headless flagella and multiple heads and flagella. Deformed heads showed aberrated nuclei with immature nuclear chromatin and polymorphic intranuclear inclusions; these were associated with acrosomal defects. The deformed flagella demonstrated numeric aberrations of the axonemal 9 + 2 configuration and structural defects of their associated elements. Persistent cytoplasmic droplets were observed frequently. This study has shown for the first time the deleterious effects of khat addiction on semen parameters in general and sperm morphology in particular of all addicts, especially those who have consumed khat for longer periods of time.