Prebiotics can restrict Salmonella populations in poultry: a review.

Antibiotics were over the years, the common supplement used for poultry production. There is a global trend to lessen antibiotics' use due to the contamination of consumed meat with antibiotic residues. Also, there is a concern that human treatments might be jeopardized due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Prebiotics are attractive supplements, particularly in poultry production, because of the diversity of their effects, including pH amendments, production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and the inhibition of pathogens' growth. The commonly used prebiotics are carbohydrate sources that cannot be easily broken down by chickens. However, they can efficiently be utilized by the intestinal tract's microflora. Oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and lactose are non-digestible carbohydrate sources that are typically used in poultry diets as prebiotics. This review covers current applications and prospects for using prebiotics to improve poultry performance and reduce pathogens, particularly Salmonella, in gastrointestinal tract.

Ameliorative Effect of Thymoquinone-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles on Chronic Lung Injury Induced by Repetitive Intratracheal Instillation of Lipopolysaccharide in Rats.

Thymoquinone (TQ), the active constituent of Nigella sativa, possesses several benefits in traditional and modern medicines. This study examined the effect of a single dose of Nano-TQ on chronic lung injury induced by repetitive intratracheal installation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats received LPS twice weekly for 8 weeks via intratracheal installation and a single dose of TQ-PLGA NPs on the day after the last dose of LPS. Six rats from each group were sacrificed after 8 and 10 weeks, and samples were collected for analysis. Repetitive intratracheal installation of LPS caused histopathological alterations, including partial or complete obstruction of the alveoli, interstitial edema, mild fibroblastic proliferation, fibrous strands besides lymphocytes and plasma infiltrations, suffered fetalization, bronchiectasis, hypertrophied arterioles, and others. Investigation of the ultrastructure revealed prominent necrotic pneumocytes with destructed chromatin and remnant of necrotic debris in the narrowing alveolar lumen in LPS-induced rats. TQ-PLGA NPs effectively ameliorated LPS-induced histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in the lung of rats. In addition, TQ-PLGA NPs significantly alleviated serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-ß1 in LPS-induced rats. In conclusion, TQ-PLGA NPs prevented inflammation and tissue injury in the lungs of rats challenged with repetitive intratracheal installation of LPS. Therefore, TQ-PLGA NPs represent a promising candidate for the prevention of lung injury induced by LPS, pending further studies to determine its safety and exact protective mechanism.

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Fiction, Hope or Hype? An Updated Review.

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) that began in China had infected so far more than 109,217,366 million individuals worldwide and accounted for more than 2,413,912 fatalities. With the dawn of this novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), there was a requirement to select potential therapies that might effectively kill the virus, accelerate the recovery, or decrease the case fatality rate. Besides the currently available antiviral medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), the chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) regimen with or without azithromycin has been repurposed in China and was recommended by the National Health Commission, China in mid-February 2020. By this time, the selection of this regimen was based on its efficacy against the previous SARS-CoV-1 virus and its potential to inhibit viral replication of the SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. There was a shortage of robust clinical proof about the effectiveness of this regimen against the novel SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, extensive research effort has been made by several researchers worldwide to investigate whether this regimen is safe and effective for the management of COVID-19. In this review, we provided a comprehensive overview of the CQ/HCQ regimen, summarizing data from in vitro studies and clinical trials for the protection against or the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Despite the initial promising results from the in vitro studies and the widespread use of CQ/HCQ in clinical settings during the 1st wave of COVID-19, current data from well-designed randomized controlled trials showed no evidence of benefit from CQ/HCQ supplementation for the treatment or prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Particularly, the two largest randomized controlled trials to date (RECOVERY and WHO SOLIDARITY trials), both confirmed that CQ/HCQ regimen does not provide any clinical benefit for COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of this regimen in COVID-19 patients outside the context of clinical trials.

The bidirectional role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and related mechanisms in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway, a well-conserved and basic intracellular signaling cascade, is mostly inactivated under basal conditions, although it can be phosphorylated under extracellular stimulation; in addition, it can influence the transcription and expression of multiple genes involved in biological processes such as cellular growth, metabolism, differentiation, degradation and angiogenesis. The inflammatory response, apoptosis, oxidative stress and angiogenesis are the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Numerous studies have confirmed that the JAK2/STAT3 axis can be activated rapidly by ischemic stress, which is closely related to the regulation of these important pathological processes. However, different opinions on the specific role of this signaling pathway remain. In this paper, we review and summarize previous studies on the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in ischemic stroke.

Prevalence and Association of Transfusion Transmitted Infections with ABO and Rh Blood Groups among Blood Donors at the National Blood Bank, Amman, Jordan.

Blood screening is considered a compulsory procedure in health care services to reduce the occurrence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs). This study estimated the distribution rates of ABO and Rh blood group systems, prevalence rates of TTIs among blood donors and their association with the ABO blood group and Rh system. A retrospective study was conducted at the national blood bank, Amman, Jordan for a period of 6 years (from January 2013 to December 2018). For TTIs analysis, about 5 mL blood sample was collected from each volunteer. A total of 365,029 persons (346,048 (94.8%) males and 18,981 (5.2%) females) donated their blood at the national blood bank, Amman, Jordan from January 2013 to December 2018. The results revealed that O and A were the most prevalent blood groups (37.44% and 36.82%, respectively), followed by B (18.62%) and AB (7.12%). The distribution of Rh + ve and Rh - ve among blood donors showed that Rh + ve donors were more prevalent (88.73%) compared with Rh - ve (11.27%). HBsAg was the most prevalent viral infection (0.38%) followed by HCV (0.13%), syphilis (0.02%), HIV (0.006%) and the male donors were highly infected when compared with female donors. The association between ABO/Rh blood groups and TTIs infections was nonsignificant. In conclusion, low frequency rates of TTIs among blood donors were detected in the current study, but improvements are still continuously required. Low percentages of female donors need to be managed via conducting health cultural education programs.

Testosterone level and endothelial dysfunction in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

The association between endothelial dysfunction and late onset hypogonadism (LOH) in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) is not yet well settled. Our objective was to assess the association between LOH and endothelial dysfunction in patients with vasculogenic ED. Throughout 2014-2015 a total of 90 men were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Of them 60 patients with a clinical diagnosis of ED were further subdivided into two equal groups: patients with vasculogenic ED and LOH (A); patients with vasculogenic ED and euogonadal (B). Thirty age-matched men with no ED or hypogonadism were enrolled as control group (C). All patients were subjected to detailed medical and sexual history, total testosterone (TT), calculated free (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BT), flow cytometric evaluation for endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) (CD45negative/CD34positive/CD144positive) and endothelial microparticles (EMPs) (CD45negative/CD144positive/annexin V positive). The mean age ± SD of the three groups A, B and C were 51.3 ± 11.1, 53.6 ± 10.6 and 48.3 ± 5 years, respectively, with insignificant age differences (p = 0.089). The diagnostic criteria of LOH were adapted according to European male aging study, 2010. The means of TT(ng/mL) were 2.32 ± 0.21, 6.43 ± 0.36 and 5.37 ± 0.30 in groups A, B and C, respectively. There were highly significant differences between group A and groups B and C (p < 0.001 for each). The means of EPCs were 0.43 ± 0.070, 0.22 ± 0.05 and 0.032 ± 0.013 in groups A, B and C, respectively. The means of EMPs were 0.15 ± 0.029, 0.056 ±  .013 and 0.014 ± 0.002 in groups A, B and C, respectively. There were significant differences between group C and groups A and B (p < 0.05 for each). This study clearly demonstrated that there is a significant association between LOH and the higher expression of EPCs and EMPs in patients with vasculogenic ED.

Long-term outcome of transobturator tape (TOT) for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in females with neuropathic bladders.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVES: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a cause of significant distress in women with neurogenic bladder dysfunction (NBD) due to spinal cord injury (SCI). Transobturator tape (TOT) has not previously been studied in this select group for cure of SUI. We aim to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of TOT in SCI patients with NBD and SUI. SETTING: London, the United Kingdom. METHODS: All patients undergoing TOT between 2005 and 2013 were identified (27 patients). All patients had pre-operative videocystometrogram (VCMG) and all had VCMG-proven SUI. Mean follow-up was 5.2 years. Patient-reported leakage, satisfaction, change in bladder management, complications and de novo overactive bladder (OAB) were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age was 56 years (range 30-82) with complete follow-up. Twenty-two patients (81.5%) reported complete dryness from SUI post surgery. One patient (3.7%) reported SUI only when her bladder was very full but was satisfied. Twenty-three patients (85.2%) were happy. Four patients (14.8%) remained wet. Twenty-five patients (92.6%) had no change in bladder management. Two out of five patients (40%) who voided by straining prior to surgery required clean intermittent self-catheterisation (CISC) post-operatively. Two patients (7.4%) developed de novo OAB. No bladder or vaginal injuries, tape erosions or urethral obstruction were seen. Three patients (11.1%) had transient thigh pain. CONCLUSION: In women with NBD and SUI, TOT should be considered safe and effective with very good medium/long-term outcomes. There may be an increased risk of CISC in women who void by straining pre-operatively.

The anaesthetic management of bone marrow harvest for transplantation.

The anaesthetic management of 217 donors undergoing 236 operative procedures to donate bone marrow for allogeneic transplantation or for autologous grafting is described. The procedures were those performed between November 1979 and the end of October 1982.