Effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma on the fertility and quality of cryopreserved buffalo bull semen: a comparative study using OptiXcell® and tris egg yolk extenders.

BACKGROUND: Buffalo spermatozoa have a distinct membrane structure that makes them more vulnerable to cryopreservation, resulting in lower-quality post-thawed sperm. This decreases the success rate of artificial insemination in buffaloes. Understanding and addressing these specific vulnerabilities are essential for improving reproductive techniques in buffalo populations. The properties of cryopreserved buffalo bull semen were examined in this study regarding the impact of adding autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to OptiXcell® or Tris egg yolk-based extenders. Ten buffalo bulls were used to collect semen. Each bull's ejaculate was separated into two main equal amounts, each of which was then diluted with either OptiXcell® or Tris egg yolk-based extender, supplemented with various PRP concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%), and the control (0%), before being cryopreserved according to established protocols. Following equilibration and thawing, the quality and functionality of the sperm were evaluated, along with the antioxidant enzyme activities (GSH and TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and in vivo fertilization rate of the thawed semen. RESULTS: All PRP concentrations in both extenders, particularly 10% PRP, improved the quality and functionality of the sperm in both equilibrated and frozen-thawed semen. Additionally, the antioxidant enzyme activities in both extenders were higher in the PRP-supplemented groups compared to the control group in thawed semen (P < 0.05). All post-thaw sperm quality, antioxidant enzyme activities, and functionality aside from DNA integrity were higher (P < 0.05) in the PRP-supplemented OptiXcell® than in the PRP-supplemented Tris egg yolk-based extender. The fertility of cryopreserved semen in the extenders supplemented with 10% and 15% PRP increased (P < 0.05) significantly more than that of the control extenders, with 10% PRP being the optimum concentration in OptiXcell® (80%) compared to that of Tris egg yolk-based extender (66.67%) and control of two extenders (53.33% and 46.67%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Even though autologous PRP-supplemented extenders have a protective impact on equilibrated and cryopreserved semen, 10% PRP-supplemented OptiXcell® extenders are more effective at preserving post-thaw semen quality, functionality, and antioxidant capacity, which increases the in vivo fertility of buffalo bulls.

Modulatory mechanisms of copperII-albumin complex toward N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced neurotoxicity in mice via regulating oxidative damage, inflammatory, and apoptotic signaling pathways.

N-nitrosodiethylamine (ND) is an extremely toxic unavoidable environmental contaminant. CopperII-albumin (CuAB) complex, a newly developed Cu complex, showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Hereby, we explored the plausible neuroprotective role of CuAB complex toward ND-evoked neurotoxicity in mice. Twenty-four male mice were sorted into 4 groups (6 mice each). Control group, mice were administered oral distilled water; and CuAB group, mice received CuAB complex at a dose of 817 µg/kg orally, three times weekly. In ND group, ND was given intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 6 w). CuAB+ND group, mice were administered a combination of CuAB and ND. The brain was quickly extracted upon completion of the experimental protocol for the evaluation of the oxidative/antioxidative markers, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathological examination. Oxidative stress was induced after ND exposure indicated by a reduction in GSH and SOD1 level, with increased MDA level. In addition, decreased expression of SOD1 proteins, Nrf2, and 5-HT mRNA expression levels were noticed. An apoptotic cascade has also been elicited, evidenced by overexpression of Cyt c, Cl. Casp 3. In addition, increased regulation of proinflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, Casp1, and NF-κB (p65/p50); besides, increment of protein expression of P-IKBα and reduced expression of IKBα. Pretreatment with CuAB complex significantly ameliorated ND neuronal damage. Our results recommend CuAB complex supplementation because it exerts neuroprotective effects against ND-induced toxicity.

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.

Body image dissatisfaction and its relation to body mass index among female medical students in Sudan: across-sectional study 2020-2021.

BACKGROUND: Body image is mainly determined by biological, social, psychological and cultural factors thus it is a multifaceted vigorous construct. Body image is an essential aspect of girls' self-definition and individual identity. Excessive concern about body image and body image misconceptions leads to dissatisfaction, disturbed eating patterns, affecting the nutritional status and also leading to depression and anxiety disorder. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional university-based study aiming to investigate body image dissatisfaction and its relation to BMI among female medical students at the University of Khartoum, faculty of medicine. The study was carried out between December 2020 and January 2021. Simple random sampling was applied and a two-sectioned questionnaire was used. The first part consisted of socio-demographic data and the second part contained questions to assess body image the data was. A total of 277 participants were enrolled in the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: We enrolled 277 female medical students the majority of participants (53%) were considered of normal weight according to BMI, 7% considered obese, and 18% underweight. Large number of participants thought that they are not in the ideal weight according to their height (62%). (21% to 17%) of participants always feel pressure from people or society to get to a certain weight. With respect to attitude towards weight, (29%) of participants always wear clothes that don't reveal their body shape, (35%) of them always tend to wear clothes that hide their excess weight. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that participants who were overweight, obese or underweight have significant increase risk for poor body image perception with odd ratio of 39, 11, and 59 respectively. Thus early and proper interventions are necessary to circumvent the impact and future repercussion of body image distortion.

Development of new TAK-285 derivatives as potent EGFR/HER2 inhibitors possessing antiproliferative effects against 22RV1 and PC3 prostate carcinoma cell lines.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein tyrosine kinases co-expressed in various cancers such as ovarian, breast, colon, and prostate subtypes. Herein, new TAK-285 derivatives (9a-h) were synthesised, characterised, and biologically evaluated as dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors. Compound 9f exhibited IC50 values of 2.3 nM over EGFR and 234 nM over HER2, which is 38-fold of staurosporine and 10-fold of TAK-285 over EGFR. Compound 9f also showed high selectivity profile when tested over a small kinase panel. Compounds 9a-h showed IC50 values in the range of 1.0-7.3 nM and 0.8-2.8 nM against PC3 and 22RV1 prostate carcinoma cell lines, respectively. Cell cycle analysis, apoptotic induction, molecular docking, dynamics, and MM-GBSA studies confirmed the plausible mechanism(s) of compound 9f as a potent EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitor with an effective antiproliferative action against prostate carcinoma.

Nephroprotective effects of Acacia senegal against aflatoxicosis via targeting inflammatory and apoptotic signaling pathways.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common environmental pollutant that poses a major hazard to both humans and animals. Acacia senegal (Gum) is well-known for having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds. Our study aimed to scout the nephroprotective effects of Acacia gum (Gum) against AFB1-induced renal damage. Four groups of rats were designed: Control, Gum (7.5 mg/kg), AFB1 (200 µg/kg b.w) and AFB1-Gum, rats were co-treated with both Gum and AFB1. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was done to determine the phytochemical constituents in Gum. AFB1 triggered profound alterations in kidney function parameters (urea, creatinine, uric acid, and alkaline phosphatase) and renal histological architecture. Additionally, AFB1 exposure evoked up-regulation of mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nuclear factor kB p65 (NF-κB/P65) in renal tissue. The oxidative distress and apoptotic cascade are also instigated by AFB1 intoxication as depicted in down-regulated protein expression of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1) along with upregulation of cytochrome c (Cyto c), and cleaved Caspase3 (Casp3-17 and 19) in renal tissue. In conclusion, current study obviously confirms the alleviating effects of Gum supplementation against AFB1-induced renal dysfunction, oxidative harm, inflammation, and cell death. These mitigating effects are suggested to be attributed to Gum's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Our results recommend Gum supplementation as add-on agents to food that might aid in protection from AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity.

Transchromosomic bovines-derived broadly neutralizing antibodies as potent biotherapeutics to counter important emerging viral pathogens with a special focus on SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, Ebola, Zika, HIV-1, and influenza A virus.

Historically, passive immunotherapy is an approved approach for protecting and treating humans against various diseases when other alternative therapeutic options are unavailable. Human polyclonal antibodies (hpAbs) can be made from convalescent human donor serum, although it is considered limited due to pandemics and the urgent requirement. Additionally, polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) could be generated from animals, but they may cause severe immunoreactivity and, once "humanized," may have lower neutralization efficiency. Transchromosomic bovines (TcBs) have been developed to address these concerns by creating robust neutralizing hpAbs, which are useful in preventing and/or curing human infections in response to hyperimmunization with vaccines holding adjuvants and/or immune stimulators over an extensive period. Unlike other animal-derived pAbs, potent hpAbs could be promptly produced from TcB in large amounts to assist against an outbreak scenario. Some of these highly efficacious TcB-derived antibodies have already neutralized and blocked diseases in clinical studies. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has numerous variants classified into variants of concern (VOCs), variants of interest (VOIs), and variants under monitoring. Although these variants possess different mutations, such as N501Y, E484K, K417N, K417T, L452R, T478K, and P681R, SAB-185 has shown broad neutralizing activity against VOCs, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants, and VOIs, such as Epsilon, Iota, Kappa, and Lambda variants. This article highlights recent developments in the field of bovine-derived biotherapeutics, which are seen as a practical platform for developing safe and effective antivirals with broad activity, particularly considering emerging viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Zika, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, and influenza A virus. Antibodies in the bovine serum or colostrum, which have been proved to be more protective than their human counterparts, are also reviewed.

Ameliorative effect of Spirulina and Saccharomyces cerevisiae against fipronil toxicity in Oreochromis niloticus.

The ameliorative effects of Spirulina and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) against fipronil toxicity in Nile tilapia fish were investigated. Fipronil is a kind of pesticide that is widely used in agriculture, thus this trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of fipronil on growth related parameters (final body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio), hematology related parameters (RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and deferential leukocytic count), biochemistry related parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, urea, and creatinine), histopathology of liver, intestine, gills, and spleen, and gene expression of antioxidants, stress, inflammatory, apoptotic, and related to junction proteins genes as SOD and GPx, COX II, TNF-α, Casp-3, and Claudin-3, respectively, in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four hundred and five Nile tilapia fish were distributed in a glass aquarium into nine groups according to the Spirulina and S. cerevisiae supplemented diets, with or without fipronil contaminated water. The classified groups are control, Sc: S. cerevisiae (4 g/Kg diet), Sp: Spirulina (1 g/100 g diet), Fb1: 0.0021 mg fipronil/L, ScFb1: S. cerevisiae (4 g/Kg diet) with 0.0021 mg fipronil/L, SpFb1: Spirulina (1 g/100 g diet) with 0.0021 mg fipronil/L, Fb2: 0.0042 mg fipronil/L, ScFb2: S. cerevisiae (4 g/Kg diet) with 0.0042 mg fipronil/L, and SpFb2: Spirulina (1 g/100 g diet) with 0.0042 mg fipronil/L. The results of the present investigation indicated the negative effect of fipronil on the growth performance parameters of Nile tilapia, which was confirmed by the results of hematology, biochemistry, and histopathology. In addition, the results of gene expression of antioxidants, stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic genes indicate the genotoxicity of fipronil. However, these negative effects were ameliorated by Spirulina and Saccharomyces dietary supplementation.

Cefepime and diclofenac sodium combined treatment-potentiated multiple organ injury: Role of oxidative damage and disrupted lipid metabolism.

Concurrent exposure to antimicrobial and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is usually inevitable in most infections and postsurgery. Consequently, the present study was designed to assess the intertwining impact of coadministration of cefepime (CP, a wide spectrum antibiotic) and diclofenac sodium (DF, an NSAID) on rat's liver, kidney, and testes. Rats received saline, CP (180 mg/kg/day, IM), DF (10 mg/kg/day, IM), or a combination of CP and DF. After 14 days, CP or DF induced tissue damage expressed by marked biochemical alterations in hepatic and renal function tests. Besides this, disrupted lipid metabolism and testosterone levels along with significant histological changes in hepatic, renal, and testicular tissues were noticed. A significant increase in malondialdehyde and decreases in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities alongside significant upregulated caspase 3 expression in tissues following CP or DF treatment suggested a bearable influence of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death. Accordingly, the simultaneous therapy of CP and DF evoked more obvious tissue damage than their individual treatment. Overall, data concluded that concurrent use of CP and DF in medical practice is a worrisome matter, so it should be done cautiously to avoid synergistic deleterious outcomes.

The impact of the COVID-19 on households' hourly electricity consumption in Canada.

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a tremendous impact on our societies, including changes in household energy consumption. Using measured electricity use data from 500 homes in Ottawa, Canada, this study applies changepoint analysis, descriptive statistics, k-means clustering, and the corresponding change of electricity utility bills before and after COVID-19. Our analysis indicates that the average household daily electricity consumption increased by about 12% in 2020 relative to 2019, about one-third was due to warmer temperatures, with much of the rest due to the temperature-independent loads (e.g., lighting and appliances). Additionally, the highest five peak loads corresponding to post-COVID are significantly higher (15-20%) than peaks that occurred pre-COVID. The lockdown's impact on household electricity use is not consistent, and there are noticeable differences among different months, seasons, and day types. Two clusters of household electricity use patterns emerged, with about one-third showing significant increases during the pandemic and the remainder showing only minor changes. On the other hand, in the summer, all customers' electricity use profile patterns after the pandemic resemble the pattern before the pandemic. Yet, there is a significant increase (from 16.3 to 29.1%) in daily demand after COVID-19. Finally, the average increase in the utility bill post-COVID would be 9.71% if TOU rates were used instead of the flat rate that was implemented as a subsidy to consumers.

New Insights on the Energy Impacts of Telework in Canada.

Quantifying the energy impact of teleworking has been challenging because of the low prevalence of telework. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the associated widespread shift to telework provides a new opportunity to study the energy impact of teleworking. Within two months of the lockdowns, we surveyed 278 knowledge-based workers in Canada who started working primarily from home to investigate their energy-related behaviours and attitudes. The survey's major themes are energy-saving actions taken in the office, equipment used for telework, impacts on home energy usage, and both awareness of and response to electricity pricing. Given trends toward increased teleworking in the future, these results can inform public policy related to teleworking and energy.

Quantifier l'impact du télétravail sur la consommation d'énergie a longtemps été difficile en raison du faible recours au télétravail. La pandémie de la COVID-19 et le passage généralisé au télétravail fournit une nouvelle occasion pour étudier l'impact du télétravail sur la consommation d'énergie. Dans les deux mois qui ont suivi les confinements, nous avons interrogé 278 travailleurs ayant des emplois fondés sur le savoir qui ont commencé à travailler principalement de chez eux, afin d'étudier leurs comportements et attitudes quant à la consommation d'énergie. Les thèmes principaux de l'enquête sont les actions prises au travail visant la réduction de consommation d'énergie, l'équipement utilisé pour le télétravail, l'impact sur la consommation résidentielle, et la prise de conscience et la réaction quant au prix de l'électricité. Étant donné la tendance plus accrue au télétravail à l'avenir, ces résultats peuvent éclairer la politique publique en matière de télétravail et d'énergie.

Decreased Excretion of Urinary Exosomal Aquaporin-2 in a Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Nephrotic Syndrome Model.

Urinary exosomes, small extracellular vesicles present in urine, are secreted from all types of renal epithelial cells. Aquaporin-2 (AQP2), a vasopressin-regulated water channel protein, is known to be selectively excreted into the urine through exosomes (UE-AQP2), and its renal expression is decreased in nephrotic syndrome. However, it is still unclear whether excretion of UE-AQP2 is altered in nephrotic syndrome. In this study, we examined the excretion of UE-AQP2 in an experimental rat model of nephrotic syndrome induced by the administration of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). Rats were assigned to two groups: a control group administered saline and a PAN group given a single intraperitoneal injection of PAN (125 mg/kg) at day 0. The experiment was continued for 8 days, and samples of urine, blood, and tissue were collected on days 2, 5, and 8. The blood and urine parameters revealed that PAN induced nephrotic syndrome on days 5 and 8, and decreases in the excretion of UE-AQP2 were detected on days 2 through 8 in the PAN group. Immunohistochemistry showed that the renal expression of AQP2 was decreased on days 5 and 8. The release of exosomal marker proteins into the urine through UEs was decreased on day 5 and increased on day 8. These data suggest that UE-AQP2 is decreased in PAN-induced nephrotic syndrome and that this reflects its renal expression in the marked proteinuria phase after PAN treatment.

Antioxidant Property of the Egyptian Propolis Extract Versus Aluminum Silicate Intoxication on a Rat's Lung: Histopathological Studies.

In this study, we evaluated the inflammatory responses induced by aluminum silicate (AS) cytotoxicity in rat lungs. The prophylactic effect of propolis extract was evaluated in 60 adult male albino rats. The rats were divided into six groups: (1) a normal, healthy control group; (2) a normal group fed with 200 mL of propolis extract/Kg; (3) a low-dose positive control group injected with 5 mg/kg of AS; (4) a treated group given propolis and a low dose of AS; (5) a high-dose positive control group injected with 20 mg/kg of AS; and (6) a treated group given propolis with a high-dose of AS. At the end of the two-month experiment, the rats' lungs were removed. For each pair of lungs, one portion was subjected to biochemical analysis and the other underwent hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining in order to study its histology. The rats that received AS doses displayed significant disorders in their antioxidant contents as well as in their enzymatic activities and their histopathological structures revealed severe damage to their lung tissues. Upon the rats being treated with propolis, the enzymatic and antioxidant contents improved and partial improvements in the lung structures appeared, including minimized congestion, a reduced hemorrhage of blood vessels and preserved bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli. The prophylactic effectiveness of propolis extract on the cytotoxicity of AS, owing to the antioxidant properties of propolis, were studied.

T Cell Repertoire Evolution after Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation: An Organizational Perspective.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of human T cell receptors has revealed a high level of complexity in the T cell repertoire, which makes it difficult to correlate T cell reconstitution with clinical outcomes. The associations identified thus far are of a broadly statistical nature, precluding precise modeling of outcomes based on T cell repertoire development following bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Previous work has demonstrated an inherent, mathematically definable order observed in the T cells from a diverse group of donors, which is perturbed in recipients following BMT. In this study, T cell receptor (TCR)-ß sequences from HLA-matched related donor and recipient pairs are analyzed to further develop this methodology. TCR-ß sequencing from unsorted and sorted T cell subsets isolated from the peripheral blood samples of BMT donors and recipients show conservation and symmetry of VJ segment usage in the clonal frequencies, linked to the organization of the gene segments along the TCR locus. This TCR-ß VJ segment translational symmetry is preserved post-transplantation and even in cases of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), suggesting that GVHD occurrence represents a polyclonal donor T cell response to recipient antigens. The complexity of the repertoire is significantly diminished after BMT, and the T cell clonal hierarchy is altered post-transplantation. Low-frequency donor clones tended to take on a higher rank in the recipients following BMT, especially in patients with aGVHD. Over time, the repertoire evolves to a more donor-like state in the recipients who did not develop GVHD as opposed to those who did. The results presented here support new methods of quantifying and characterizing post-transplantation T cell repertoire reconstitution.

Acetazolamide enhances the release of urinary exosomal aquaporin-1.

BACKGROUND: Renal aquaporin-1 (AQP1), a water channel protein, is known to be secreted into urine, conveyed by nano-sized extracellular vesicles called exosomes. A previous study has demonstrated that acetazolamide (AZ), a diuretic that inhibits carbonic anhydrases, alters the expression level of AQP1 in cultured cells. Here we investigated whether AZ alters the release of urinary exosomal AQP1 in vivo. METHODS: The effect of AZ on urinary exosomal AQP1 secretion was examined in rats and compared with furosemide (another diuretic), NaHCO3 (an alkalizing agent) and NH4Cl (an acidifying agent). Urine, blood and kidney samples were obtained 2 h after each treatment. Urinary exosomes were isolated by a differential centrifugation technique and urinary exosomal proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: The release of exosomal AQP1 into urine was markedly increased after treatment with AZ, accompanied by alkaluria and metabolic acidosis. Immunohistochemistry clearly demonstrated that AZ increased the apical membrane expression of AQP1 in the proximal tubules. AZ did not affect the release of exosomal marker proteins (tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein and apoptosis-linked gene 2 interacting protein X). Treatment with furosemide did not change, whereas NaHCO3 and NH4Cl decreased the exosomal release of AQP1. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that AZ increases the release of exosomal AQP1 into urine in association with enhanced apical membrane expression of AQP1.

Histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies on the protective effect of ginger extract against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats.

Cisplatin (CP) is a widely used anticancer drug; however, it has several side effects such as nephrotoxicity. Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, consumed since ancient times has numerous health benefits. The objective of this work was to evaluate the protective effect of ginger extract (GE) against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. CP group displayed a marked renal failure characterized by a significant increase in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in addition to severe histopathological and ultrastructural renal alterations. Also, CP group showed an increase in the immunohistochemical expression of Bax proapoptotic protein. In contrast, GE+CP group showed significant decrease in the elevated serum creatinine and BUN levels and an improvement in the histopathological and ultrastructural renal injury induced by CP. The overexpression of Bax proapoptotic protein was significantly decreased in the GE+CP group. Hence, the present results indicated that GE has a protective effect against CP-induced renal damage in rats. Thereby, such findings recommended the usage of GE to prevent and/or decrease the renal damage induced by CP chemotherapeutic treatment.

Urinary excretion pattern of exosomal aquaporin-2 in rats that received gentamicin.

Urinary exosomes are nano-sized vesicles secreted into urine from all types of renal epithelial cells and are known to contain possible biomarker proteins for renal diseases. Gentamicin has been reported to decrease the level of renal aquaporin (AQP)2, which is known to be mainly expressed in renal collecting ducts and excreted into the urine via exosomes. In the present study, we investigated whether urinary exosomal AQP2 could serve as a potential biomarker for gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, especially collecting duct cell dysfunction. Gentamicin was given to rats intraperitoneally once every day starting on day 0. Gentamicin significantly increased the plasma creatinine concentration from day 5 and beyond. Also, gentamicin induced polyuria and a defective urine concentration mechanism on day 7, suggesting gentamicin-induced collecting duct cell dysfunction. Immunoblot analysis showed that gentamicin significantly increased urinary exosomal AQP2 excretion on day 1 but decreased it on day 7 compared with the control group. Similarly, increased excretion of exosomal tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein, frequently used as an exosome marker protein, was observed on day 1. However, gentamicin did not significantly affect the urinary excretion of exosomal tumor susceptibility gene 101 on day 7. Gentamicin slightly decreased renal AQP2 expression on day 2 and markedly decreased it on day 8. These data strongly suggest that the use of urinary exosomal AQP2 as a biomarker may allow detection of gentamicin-induced collecting duct cell dysfunction. Furthermore, urinary exosomal AQP2 might also be useful for the early detection of gentamicin-induced renal injury in addition to collecting duct injury.

Allicin and Omega-3 fatty acids attenuates acetaminophen mediated renal toxicity and modulates oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis in rats.

Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used medication known for its pain-relieving and fever-reducing effects, can cause kidney failure if taken in excess. To investigate the potential protective effects of allicin (ALC) and/or omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) against acetaminophen-induced kidney damage, a study was conducted using 49 rats divided into seven groups. The control group was given saline, while the other groups received ALC, O3FA, APAP, ALC + APAP, O3FA + APAP, or ALC + O3FA + APAP. After administering APAP, the rats showed decreased levels of total protein and albumin in their blood, along with increased levels of creatinine and urea. The concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), decreased, while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the renal tissues increased. The activation of caspase-3 and HSP70 also suggested an impact on kidney histopathology. Overall, the study found that ALC and/or O3FA may have a protective impact against acetaminophen-induced kidney damage through their anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant defense systems.

Genetic Biomarkers in Astrocytoma: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential.

Astrocytoma is the most common adult brain tumor, with glioblastoma being the deadliest neuro-related malignancy. Despite advances in oncology, the prognosis for astrocytoma, especially glioblastoma, remains poor, and tracking disease progression is challenging due to a lack of robust biomarkers. Genetic biomarkers, including microRNAs, cell-free DNA, circulating tumor DNA, circular RNA, and long noncoding RNA, can serve as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. In this review, we examine the existing literature, analyzing the various less established liquid and tumor genetic biomarkers and their potential to act as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. We highlight the clinical challenges and limitations in implementing liquid biopsy strategies in clinical practice. The article discusses the potential of liquid biopsies as valuable tools for personalized astrocytoma management while emphasizing the need for standardized protocols and further advancements to establish their clinical utility and therapeutic application.

The potential biological activities of Aspergillus luchuensis-aided green synthesis of silver nanoparticles.

Biosynthetic metals have attracted global attention because of their safety, affordability, and environmental friendliness. As a consequence, the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of Dill leaf-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus luchuensis was employed for the extracellularly synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A reddish-brown color shift confirmed that AgNPs were successfully produced. The obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, EDX, and zeta potential. Results demonstrated the creation of crystalline AgNPs with a spherical shape at 427.81 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum, and size ranged from 16 to 18 nm as observed by TEM. Additionally, the biogenic AgNPs had a promising antibacterial activity versus multidrug-resistant bacteria, notably, S. aureus, E. coli, and S. typhi. The highest growth reduction was recorded in the case of E. coli. Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated potent antifungal potential versus a variety of harmful fungi. The maximum growth inhibition was evaluated from A. brasinsilles, followed by C. albicans as compared to cell-free extract and AgNO3. In addition, data revealed that AgNPs possess powerful antioxidant activity, and their ability to scavenge radicals increased from 33.0 to 85.1% with an increment in their concentration from 3.9 to 1,000 µg/mL. Furthermore, data showed that AgNPs displayed high catalytic activity of safranin under light irradiation. The maximum decolorization percentage (100%) was observed after 6 h. Besides, the biosynthesized AgNPs showed high insecticidal potential against 3rd larval instar of Culex pipiens. Taken together, data suggested that endophytic fungus, A. luchuensis, is an attractive candidate as an environmentally sustainable and friendly fungal nanofactory.