Assembly of In-Situ Gel Containing Nano-Spanlastics of an Angiotensin II Inhibitor as a Novel Epitome for Hypertension Management: Factorial Design Optimization, In-vitro Gauging, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics Appraisal.

More than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension; therefore, hypertension management has been categorized as a global health priority. Losartan potassium (LP) is an antihypertensive drug with a limited oral bioavailability of about 33% since it undergoes the initial metabolic cycle. Thus, nasal administration is a unique route to overcome first-pass metabolism. The investigation focused on the potential effects of LP-loaded spanlastic vesicles (SNVs) on LP pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic parameters, utilizing a thin-film hydration methodology established on a 3122 full factorial design. Entrapment efficiency (EE%) ranged from 39.8 ± 3.87.8 to 83.8 ± 2.92% for LP-SNVs. Vesicle size (VS) varied from 205.5 ± 6.5.10 to 445.1 ± 13.52 nm, and the percentage of LP released after 8 h (Q8h) ranged from 30.8 ± 3.10 to 68.8 ± 1.45%. LP permeated through the nasal mucosa during 24 h and flocculated from 194.1 ± 4.90 to 435.3 ± 13.53 µg/cm2. After twenty-four hours, the optimal LP-SNVs in-situ gel showed 2.35 times more permeation through the nasal mucosa than the LP solution. It also lowered systolic blood pressure, so it is thought to be better than the reference formulation in terms of pharmacodynamics. The pharmacokinetics studies demonstrated that the intranasal LP-SNVs gel boosted its bioavailability approximately 6.36 times compared to the oral LP solution. Our research showed that intranasal LP-SNVs could be a good nanoplatform because they are well-tolerated and have possible pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Chitosan nanoparticles of new chromone-based sulfonamide derivatives as effective anti-microbial matrix for wound healing acceleration.

A new series of chromone and furochromone-based sulfonamide Schiff's base derivatives 3-12 were synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, C. albicans, and A. niger using agar diffusion method. Compound 3a demonstrated potent antimicrobial activities with MIC values of 9.76 and 19.53 µg/mL against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans, which is 2-fold and 4-fold more potent than neomycin (MIC = 19.53, 39.06 µg/mL respectively). To improve the effectiveness of 3a, it was encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles (CS-3aNPs). The CS-3aNPs size was 32.01 nm, as observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) images and the zeta potential value was 14.1 ±â€¯3.07 mV. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) were 91.5 % and 1.6 %, respectively as indicated by spectral analysis. The CS-3aNPs extremely inhibited bacterial growth utilizing the colony-forming units (CFU). The ability of CS-3aNPs to protect skin wounds was evaluated in vivo. CS-3aNPs showed complete wound re-epithelialization, hyperplasia of the epidermis, well-organized granulation tissue formation, and reduced signs of wound infection, as seen through histological assessment which showed minimal inflammatory cells in comparison with untreated wound. Overall, these findings suggest that CS-3aNPs has a positive impact on protecting skin wounds from infection due to their antimicrobial activity.

Synthesis, bioactivity assessment, molecular docking and ADMET studies of new chromone congeners exhibiting potent anticancer activity.

In consideration of the chromones' therapeutic potential and anticancer activity, a new series of chromanone derivatives have been synthesized through a straightforward reaction between 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-methylchromone (2) and various organic active compounds. The cytotoxic activity of the newly synthesized congeners was investigated against MCF-7 (human breast cancer), HCT-116 (colon cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer), and normal skin fibroblast cells (BJ1). The obtained data indicated that compounds 14b, 17, and 19 induce cytotoxic activity in the breast MCF7, while compounds 6a, 6b, 11 and 14c showed highly potent activity in the colon cancer cell lines. Overall, the results demonstrate that the potential cytotoxic effects of the studied compounds may be based on their ability to induce DNA fragmentation in cancer cell lines, down-regulate the expression level of CDK4 as well as the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and up-regulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes P53 and Bax. Furthermore, compounds 14b and 14c showed a dual mechanism of action by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The docking studies showed that the binding affinity of the most active cytotoxic compounds within the active pocket of the CDK4 enzyme is stronger due to hydrophobic and H-bonding interactions. These results were found to be consistent with the experimental results.

Influence of using synbiotics by various routes on Mandarah male chicks: intestinal bacterial counts, gut morphology and histological status.

This experiment investigated the influence of different synbiotic processing methods on the intestinal bacterial count, morphology and histological status of developed male Mandarah chicks. Two hundred and ten male Mandarah line chicks aged 1 d were randomized to receive one of 7 chicks. The method and dose for 1-time synbiotics administration to the day-old chicks were as follows: G1: chicks on basal diet received no treatment (control); G2: 0.25 mL synbiotics sprayed; G3: 0.50 mL synbiotics sprayed; G4: 0.25 mL of synbiotics are added to drinking water; G5: 0.50 mL of synbiotics are added to drinking water; G6: 0.25 mL of synbiotics dripped into the mouth; and G7: 0.50 mL of synbiotics dripped into mouth drops. Lactic acid bacteria(LAB) were significantly increased (P<0.0001) compared to the control group and other treated groups and had the maximum values after the use of synbiotics via drinking water (0.25 or 0.50 mL). Furthermore, when comparing the treated birds (G4, G5) with the control birds, the Escherichia coli concentration in the drinking water containing synbiotics was significantly lower. In addition, treated chickens at (G7) showed a higher duodenum, ileum villus height (VH), and VH. - Ileum crypt depth (CD) ratio compared to other groups. In addition, birds treated with 0.50 mL of synbiotics in drinking water (G5) performed better in duodenum, ileum, CD and VH. - CD ratio than the other groups. Meanwhile, intestinal tract length and visceral pH did not differ significantly between groups. It can be concluded that the use of 0.25 mL of synbiotics in drinking water can improve the overall health of birds.

Nose-to-Brain Targeted Delivery of Donepezil Hydrochloride via Novel Hyaluronic Acid-Doped Nanotransfersomes for Alzheimer's Disease Mitigation.

Alzheimer's disease is the most serious neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive and memorial defects alongside deterioration in behavioral, thinking and social skills. Donepezil hydrochloride (DPZ) is one of the current two FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors used for the management of Alzheimer's disease. The current study aimed to formulate hyaluronic acid-coated transfersomes containing DPZ (DPZ-HA-TFS) for brain delivery through the intranasal pathway to surpass its oral-correlated GIT side effects. DPZ-HA-TFS were produced using a thin film hydration method and optimized with a 24 factorial design. The influence of formulation parameters on vesicle diameter, entrapment, cumulative release after 8 h, and ex vivo nasal diffusion after 24 h was studied. The optimal formulation was then evaluated for morphology, stability, histopathology and in vivo biodistribution studies. The optimized DPZ-HA-TFS formulation elicited an acceptable vesicle size (227.5 nm) with 75.83% entrapment efficiency, 37.94% cumulative release after 8 h, 547.49 µg/cm2 permeated through nasal mucosa after 24 h and adequate stability. Histopathological analysis revealed that the formulated DPZ-HA-TFS was nontoxic and tolerable for intranasal delivery. Intranasally administered DPZ-HA-TFS manifested significantly superior values for drug targeting index (5.08), drug targeting efficiency (508.25%) and direct nose-to-brain transport percentage (80.32%). DPZ-HA-TFS might be deemed as a promising intranasal nano-cargo for DPZ cerebral delivery to tackle Alzheimer's disease safely, steadily and in a non-invasive long-term pattern.

Continuous clinicopathological and molecular recognition of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus in commercial broiler chickens.

Gumboro virus is one of the most dangerous immunosuppressant viruses that infect chickens and causes massive financial losses worldwide. The current study aims to conduct a molecular characterization of chicken farms for the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Based on postmortem (PM) lesions, 125 bursal samples from 25 farms were collected from clinically diseased commercial chicken farms with increased mortality and suspected Gumboro virus infection. Pooled bursal samples from suspected IBD-vaccinated flocks were tested for IBDV by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fifteen out of 25 pooled specimens were found positive for IBDV, with a 60% detection rate, and confirmed positive for very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) by sequence analysis. Nucleotide phylogenetic analysis of VP1 and VP2 genes was employed to compare the 5 chosen isolates with strains representing different governorates in Egypt during 2022. All strains were clustered with vvIBDV with no evidence of reassortment in the VP1 gene. The VP1 and VP2 genes are divided into groups (I, II). The strains in our study were related to group II, and it acquired a new mutation in the VP2 gene that clustered it into new subgroup B. By mutation analysis, the VP2 gene of all strains had a characteristic mutation to vvIBDV. It acquired new mutations in HVRs compared with HK46 in Y220F, A222T/V in all strains in our study, and Q221K that was found in IBD-EGY-AH5 and AH2 in the loop PBC in addition to G254S in all strains in our study and Q249k that found in IBD-EGY-AH1 and AH3 in the loop PDE. These mutations are important in the virulency and antigenicity of the virus. The VP1 had 242E, 390M, and 393D which were characteristic of vvIBDV and KpnI restriction enzyme (777GGTAC/C782) in addition to a new mutation (F243Y and N383H) in IBD-EGY-AH1 and AH4 strains. According to the current study, the strains were distinct from the vaccinal strain; they could be responsible for the most recent IBDV outbreaks observed in flocks instead of received vaccinations. The current study highlighted the importance of molecular monitoring to keep up to date on the circulating IBDV for regular evaluation of commercial vaccination programs against circulating field viruses.

The potential of Spirulina platensis to substitute antibiotics in Japanese quail diets: impacts on growth, carcass traits, antioxidant status, blood biochemical parameters, and cecal microorganisms.

The development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms prompted the investigation of possible antibiotic substitutes. As a result, the purpose of the current study is to assess the effect of dietary Spirulina platensis extract as an antibiotic alternative on Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) growth, antioxidant status, blood parameters, and cecal microorganisms. There was a total of 150 Japanese quails used in this study, divided equally among 5 experimental groups (10 birds per group with 3 replicates): group 1 (G1) received a basal diet without any S. platensis extract, group 2 (G2) received a basal diet supplemented with 1 mL S. platensis extract/kg, group 3 (G3) received a basal diet supplemented with 2 mL S. platensis extract/kg, group 4 (G4) received a basal diet supplemented with 3 mL S. platensis extract/kg, and group 5 (G5) received a basal diet supplemented with 4 mL S. platensis extract/kg from d 7 until d 35. The results showed that compared to the control birds in G1, Japanese quail supplemented with 4 mL of S. platensis extract/kg of diet (G5) had significantly better live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, digestive enzymes, blood parameters, liver and kidney functions, lipid profile, antioxidant profile, immunological parameters, and cecal microorganism's count. There were no significant changes in the percentage of carcasses, liver, and total giblets among all the 5 groups. Only gizzard percentage showed a significant increase in G2 compared to birds in G1. In addition, intestinal pH showed a significant drop in G2 and G5 compared to birds in G1. After cooking the quail meat, the juiciness and tenderness increased as S. platensis extract levels increased, whereas aroma and taste declined slightly as S. platensis extract levels increased. Furthermore, when a high concentration of S. platensis extract was used, the lightness of the meat reduced while its redness and yellowness increased. The disk diffusion assay showed that S. platensis extract had significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, and Salmonella typhi, with inhibition zones ranging from 16 to 42 mm. This activity may be attributable to the volatile chemicals in S. platensis extract, of which Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol are the primary components. In the diet of Japanese quails, it is possible to draw the conclusion that the extract of S. platensis can be utilized as a feed additive and as an alternative to antibiotics.

Ecological prevalence, genetic diversity, and multidrug resistance of Salmonella enteritidis recovered from broiler and layer chicken farms.

Salmonella is a significant foodborne pathogen that has a significant impact on public health, and different strains of multidrug resistance (MDR) have been identified in this genus. This study used a combination of phenotypic and genotypic approaches to identify distinct Salmonella species collected from poultry broiler and layer farms, and antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed on these species. A total of 56 Salmonella isolates were serotyped, and phenotypic antibiotic resistance was determined for each strain. The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) method was also used to provide a genotypic description, from which a dendrogram was constructed and the most likely phylogenetic relationships were applied. Salmonella isolates were detected in 20 (17%) out of 117 samples collected from small-scale broiler flocks. Salmonella isolates were classified as MDR strains after showing tolerance to 4 antibiotics, but no resistance to cloxacillin, streptomycin, vancomycin, or netilmicin was observed. From a genotypic perspective, these strains lack dfrD, parC, and blasfo-1 resistant genes, while harboring blactx-M, blaDHA-L, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, gyrA, ermA, ermB, ermC, ermTR, mefA, msrA, tet A, tet B, tet L, tet M resistance genes. The genotyping results obtained with ERIC-PCR allowed isolates to be classified based on the source of recovery. It was determined that Salmonella strains displayed MDR, and many genes associated with them. Additionally, the ERIC-PCR procedure aided in the generation of clusters with biological significance. Extensive research on Salmonella serotypes is warranted, along with the implementation of long-term surveillance programs to monitor MDR Salmonella serotypes in avian-derived foods.

Coinfection of the gut with protozoal and metazoal parasites in broiler and laying chickens.

The chicken business faces substantial economic losses due to the risk of parasitic coinfection. Because the current study aimed to investigate enteric parasitic coinfections problems among the suspected examined chicken farms, samples were collected during the field investigation from suspected freshly dead birds, clinically diseased, apparently healthy, and litter samples for further laboratory parasitological, histopathological, and immunological examinations. Variable mortalities with various clinical indicators, such as ruffled feathers, weight loss, diarrhea of various colors, and a decline in egg production, occurred on the farms under investigation. In addition, the treatment protocols of each of the farms that were evaluated were documented and the m-RNA levels of some cytokines and apoptotic genes among the infected poultry have been assessed. The prevalence rate of parasitic coinfection in the current study was found to be 8/120 (6.66%). Parasitological analysis of the samples revealed that they belonged to distinct species of Eimeria, cestodes, and Ascaridia galli. When deposited, A. galli eggs were nonembryonated and ellipsoidal, but cestodes eggs possessed a thin, translucent membrane that was subspherical. Eimeria spp. oocysts in layer chickens were identified as Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria maxima in broiler chickens. Our findings proved that coinfection significantly upregulated the IL-1ß, BAX, and Cas-3 genes. Conversely, the IL-10, BCL-2, and AKT mRNA levels were downregulated, indicating that nematode triggered apoptosis. The existence of parasite coinfection was verified by histological investigation of the various intestinal segments obtained from affected flocks. A. galli and cestodes obstructed the intestinal lumen, causing different histological alternations in the intestinal mucosa. Additionally, the lamina propria revealed different developmental stages of Eimeria spp. It was determined that parasite coinfection poses a significant risk to the poultry industry. It was recommended that stringent sanitary measures management methods, together with appropriate treatment and preventative procedures, be employed in order to resolve such issues.

The influence of Spirulina extract on pathogenicity, immune response, and vaccine efficacy against H9N2 avian influenza virus in specific pathogen free chickens.

Avian influenza (AI) viruses pose a risk to the worldwide poultry industry. Ultimately, improving the efficiency of the H9N2 vaccine is necessary to better control low-pathogenic avian influenza-H9N2 by using natural immunostimulant. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to examine varying doses of the cyanobacterium Spirulina extract on the effectiveness of H9N2 vaccine. Thus, a total of 150 specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were allocated into 6 groups, 25 birds each, as follow: G1, G2, and G6 were supplemented with 200, 400, and 400 mg Spirulina extract/kg feed, respectively, whilst the feed in G3, G4, and G5 were not supplemented with Spirulina extract. At 21-days-old, only the chickens in G1, G2, and G3 were vaccinated with the H9N2 AI vaccine. After 4 wk postvaccination, the chickens in G1, G2, G3, G4, and G6 were challenged with H9N2 AI Egyptian strain. The challenged virus was selected from a recent circulating Egyptian strain during 2022, and it was related to A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/97-like virus lineage and clustered with G1-B sub-lineage EGY-2 group. It had a high amino acids identity percentage of 92.6% with the A/chicken/Iran/av1221/1998 (Boehringer Ingelheim) vaccine. The results of real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR) revealed that no shedding of the virus was reported in G1, G2, G3, and G5. The supplementation of Spirulina extract in low (200 mg/kg of feed) and high (400 mg/kg of feed) concentration with the birds vaccinated with H9N2 AI vaccine (G1 and G2) induced prominent immuno-stimulatory effect in a dose dependent manner where it strongly enhanced the phagocytic activities of broilers' peripheral blood monocytes, and lysozyme at all days postvaccination (dpv) and days postchallenge (dpc) compared to other groups with significant differences at all day of experiment and 21st dpv, 28th dpv, 7th dpc, and 14th dpc, respectively. The supplementation with Spirulina extract in G1 and G2 induced the highest hemagglutination inhibition antibody titer in a dose-dependent manner at all-time intervals. The antibody titer postvaccination was significantly increased in G1 and G2 at 14th, and 21st dpv, in comparison with G3. Furthermore, G1 and G2 showed higher significant antibody titers at 7th and 14th dpc, compared to other groups. Furthermore, Spirulina extract (200 and 400 mg/kg feed) in G1 and G2 showed anti-inflammatory effect in a dose dependant manner by downregulating nitric oxide levels at all times postchallenge with a significant difference at 3 to 7 dpc compared to G3, G4, and G6, with improved histopathological alterations in the trachea, lung, kidney, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius.  G6 supplied with 400 mg/kg Spirulina extract feed only without vaccination had a similar effect as vaccinated groups on innate immunity. However, it delayed the production of antibodies and did not prevent viral shedding as in vaccinated groups. In conclusion, vaccination in conjunction with either dose of Spirulina extract (G1, and G2) prevents viral shedding, increases the immune response, and reduces inflammation and histopathological change caused by H9N2 AI infection in a dose dependent manner. We recommend the use of 400 mg Spirulina extract/kg feed as a natural immunostimulant in conjunction with the H9N2 vaccine to achieve the highest possible level of protection against H9N2 AI infection.

The Impact of Cefepime and Ampicillin/Sulbactam on Preventing Post-Cesarean Surgical Site Infections, Randomized Controlled Trail.

Over the previous three decades, the rate of caesarean sections performed worldwide has grown exponentially. In comparison to a vaginal birth, the risk of all postpartum infections is higher with a cesarean section. One of the key factors contributing to maternal morbidity is the development of infectious complications in the surgical site after a caesarean section. The primary goal of the research was to compare the efficiency of using ampicillin/sulbactam (AMS) and cefepime (CEF) to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) following caesarean delivery. This prospective randomized study was conducted among 200 pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean section. They were collected from the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Beni-Suef University Hospital, and then they were randomly assigned into two groups. Group (A) received cefepime 30 min before and 12 h after cesarean delivery, while group (B) received ampicillin/sulbactam 30 min before and 12 h after cesarean delivery. The groups were matched regarding the baseline women characteristics. Comparing the cefepime to the ampicillin/sulbactam revealed that the cefepime significantly decreased superficial SSI from 27% to 14% (0.023). A significant decrease was observed in deep SSI with cefepime compared to ampicillin/sulbactam from 24% to 13% (p-value 0.045). Interestingly, when the cefepime was compared to the ampicillin/sulbactam, we noted that the incidence of endometritis significantly decreased from 13% to 5% (p = 0.048). A noted decrease in post-operative fever in cefepime as compared to ampicillin/sulbactam from 18% to 13% (p-value = 0.329). Receiving prophylactic cefepime pre- and post-cesarean delivery significantly decreases post-operative wound infection and endometritis.

Antimicrobial prescribing in a secondary care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Increased antimicrobial resistance patterns lead to limited options for antimicrobial agents, affecting patient health and increasing hospital costs. Objectives: To investigate the antimicrobial prescribing patterns at two district hospitals in Northern Ireland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A mixed prospective-retrospective study was designed to compare pre- and during pandemic antimicrobial prescribing data in both hospitals using a Global Point Prevalence Survey. Results: Of the 591 patients surveyed in both hospitals, 43.8% were treated with 402 antimicrobials. A total of 82.8% of antimicrobial prescriptions were for empirical treatment. No significant difference existed in numbers of patients treated or antimicrobials used before and during the pandemic. There was a slight decrease of 3.3% in the compliance rate with hospital antimicrobial guidelines during the pandemic when compared with the pre-pandemic year of 2019, when it was 69.5%. Treatment based on patients' biomarker data also slightly decreased from 83.5% pre-pandemic (2019) to 81.5% during the pandemic (2021). Conclusions: There was no overall significant impact of the pandemic on the antimicrobial prescribing patterns in either hospital when compared with the pre-pandemic findings. The antimicrobial stewardship programmes would appear to have played an important role in controlling antimicrobial consumption during the pandemic.

Monocyte to eosinophil ratio as a diagnostic biomarker for overlap syndrome and predictor of disease exacerbation.

Objectives: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most common pulmonary diseases. The concomitant association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and COPD is known as the Overlap Syndrome (OS). This study aimed to identify markers for predicting OS, among routine laboratory tests, including differential blood counts.Methods: One hundred twenty-five patients with exacerbated COPD were enrolled in the study and screened for OSA using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Those with a positive ESS score underwent polysomnography (PSG) for confirmation. All patients were followed for 90 days to monitor for subsequent exacerbations.Results: Out of the 125 patients with exacerbated COPD, 25 were confirmed to have OSA. Those with OS had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001). The monocyte to eosinophil ratio (MER) was significantly higher in the OS group, while the neutrophil to monocyte (NMR) ratio and platelets to monocyte (PMR) ratio were significantly lower. Younger age, male sex, and higher body mass index (BMI) were all associated with OS. During the 90-day follow-up period after hospital discharge, 60% of patients with OS were re-admitted due to acute exacerbations. The hazard ratio for a second exacerbation increased by two-fold for every one-unit increase MER. The MER demonstrated excellent utility in predicting a second exacerbation, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 83% and a p-value of .005.Conclusion: The monocyte to eosinophil ratio (MER) was independent predictors of OS among exacerbated COPD patients and had a very good prognostic utility for predicting the next exacerbation episodes. Long term follow up is recommended to evaluate the severity of exacerbations and the effect of complications of OS on the morbidity and mortality of these patients.

Correction: Synthesis of novel solid scale inhibitors based on silver tungstate loaded KIT-6 for scale removal from produced water: static and modeling evaluation.

Correction for 'Synthesis of novel solid scale inhibitors based on silver tungstate loaded KIT-6 for scale removal from produced water: static and modeling evaluation' by Heba M. Salem, et al., Dalton Trans., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3dt02594b.

Impact of Eimeria tenella experimental Infection on intestinal and splenic reaction of broiler chickens.

This work assesses the cell-mediated immune reaction IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ of experimentally challenged broiler chicken with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella). Therefore, ninety, 2-weeks-old healthy broiler chicks were allocated as eighty chicks infected orally with 2.5 × 104 E. tenella sporulated oocysts, and the other ten birds were kept as control negative birds. Post-challenge, mortality rate, symptoms, oocysts shedding, and lesion score were evaluated. Tissue samples (cecum and spleen) were collected at 0, 4, 8, and 12 days post-infection (dpi). Ten chickens were ethically slaughtered at 0, 4, 8, and 12 days post-infection, as well as two birds from the negative control group; parts from cecal and spleen samples were kept in cryopreservation containers, and other parts were preserved in formaline 10% for further investigation. The evaluated genes (IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) were normal at 0 days and upregulated at 4 and 8 days, which reached maximum upregulation at eight dpi. The histopathological examination of the ceca and spleen were evaluated before and after challenge. It could be concluded that E. tenella revealed direct severe macroscopic and microscopic changes in cecal tissues and indirectly induced alteration in splenic tissues, resulting in upregulation of different cell mediated immune response in cecum and spleen in relation to the experimental period.

Surveillance of Escherichia coli in different types of chicken and duck hatcheries: one health outlook.

Escherichia coli is an important zoonotic bacterium that significantly impacts one health concept. E. coli is normally detected in the gut of warm-blooded animals, but some serotypes can cause diseases in humans and animals. Moreover, it can continue for a long time in different environments, replicate in water, and survive outside different hosts. In this study, 171 samples collected from 10 different types of poultry hatcheries (automatic, semiautomatic, and manual "traditional" types) were examined for the prevalence of E. coli. PCR was applied to verify the E. coli isolates via 16S rRNA gene-specific primers. From the gathered samples, 62 E. coli isolates were recovered (36.3%). The highest prevalence was met with the manual "traditional" hatcheries (57.1%) with no significance difference (P = 0.243) in the 3 types of hatcheries. The incidence of E. coli varied significantly in different tested avian types and breeds. The prevalence was 35.7% in duck hatcheries and 37% in chicken hatcheries, with significant differences between breeds of both species (P = 0.024 and 0.001, respectively). The identification of zoonotic E. coli serotypes in this study is concerning, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts across various sectors, including social, environmental, and governance, to promote the adoption of the one health principle in the chicken business. Periodical surveillance, biosecurity measures at the hatcheries and farm levels, and boosting the immunity of birds were recommended to limit the risk of E. coli spread from avian sources to humans.

Synthesis of novel solid scale inhibitors based on silver tungstate loaded KIT-6 for scale removal from produced water: static and modeling evaluation.

Oilfield scaling is a major problem in the oil and gas industry. Scaling issues cost the industry millions of dollars in damage and lost production every year as scaling is one of the main causes of global production decline. In this study, solid scale inhibitors based on silver tungstate loaded KIT-6 were synthesized and evaluated using a static scale inhibition test. The synthesized materials were characterized using wide and low XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, TGA, and FTIR, SEM, and XPS analyses. Small-angle XRD patterns showed that KIT-6 had 3D-mesopore diffraction peaks with a cubic Ia3d space group. Wide-angle XRD patterns of silver tungstate loaded KIT-6 confirmed the crystallinity. The prepared catalysts are characterized by higher surface areas (394-918 m2 g-1), large pore volumes (0.63-0.98 cm3 g-1), narrow pore size distributions (5.3 nm), and high thermal stability up to 1000 °C. The results of this study demonstrate that the inhibition efficiency of the scale inhibitor increases and that of the calcite scale inhibitor decreases with increasing pH (2 to 8). This proposes that the scale inhibitor is more effective under alkaline conditions. An inhibition efficiency of 99% on calcium carbonate can be achieved at an optimal dosage of 7.5 ppm at 55 °C, indicating that the scale inhibitor exhibits a relatively good inhibition performance on calcium carbonate. The use of these materials can potentially lead to more efficient and cost-effective solutions for scale inhibition in various industrial processes.

Clinical Care Team's Guide for Awareness on Risk Assessment of Eltrombopag Complicating Acute Kidney Injury in Relapsed Immune Thrombocytopenic Patients: A Case Report.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder caused by antigen-specific T cells and antiplatelet autoantibodies that inhibit platelet production in the bone marrow or destroy platelets in the spleen. ITP is a form of autoimmunity and is closely associated with inflammation. Corticosteroids are the first-line therapy for ITP, with a total response rate of 53-80%. However, corticosteroid therapy is associated with significant side effects and is often ineffective in patients with corticosteroid-resistant or -intolerant disease. Eltrombopag has been validated as a second-line option in ITP therapy. Despite several studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of Eltrombopag in immune thrombocytopenia patients, the prevalence of Eltrombopag-induced acute kidney injury has been observed. This case report describes a patient who experienced acute kidney injury during Eltrombopag therapy. A sudden increase in serum creatinine to 6.7 mg/dL and metabolic acidosis occurred after eight weeks of Eltrombopag. The patient's renal failure had worsened, proteinuria was detected, and emergency hemodialysis was initiated. With vigilant kidney function screening and prompt treatment, the patient's renal function improved remarkably following cessation of Eltrombopag and initiation of hemodialysis. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive medication history-taking and vigilant kidney function screening in patients receiving Eltrombopag.

Therapeutic Outcomes of High Dose-Dexamethasone versus Prednisolone + Azathioprine, Rituximab, Eltrombopag, and Romiplostim Strategies in Persistent, Chronic, Refractory, and Relapsed Immune Thrombocytopenia Patients.

BACKGROUND: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be managed with several treatment options. However, there is a lack of comparative data on the efficacy of these options in different phases of the disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose Dexamethasone (HD-DXM), Prednisolone + Azathioprine, Rituximab, Eltrombopag, and Romiplostim schedules in persistent, chronic refractory or relapsed Egyptian ITP patients with a platelet count ≤30 × 109/L. The primary outcome measure was a sustained increase in platelet counts over 50 × 109/L for an additional 12 months without additional ITP regimens. The study also aimed to identify a suitable treatment regimen with a long remission duration for each phase of ITP. RESULTS: Prednisolone + Azathioprine was significantly more effective in achieving an overall response in persistent patients than Romiplostim, high-dose Dexamethasone, and Rituximab. (90.9% vs. 66.6, [Odds ratio, OR: 5; confidence interval, CI 95% (0.866-28.86)], 45%, [OR: 0.082, CI 95% (0.015-0.448)] and, 25%, [OR: 30, CI 95% (4.24-211.8)], respectively, p-value < 0.01). Eltrombopag was significantly more effective in achieving a durable response in refractory ITP than HD-DXM, Rituximab, and Prednisolone; (80% compared to 32.2% [OR: 0.119, CI 95% (0.035-0.410)], 22.2% [OR:0.071, CI 95% (0.011-0.455)], and 18.1% [OR: 0.056, CI 95% (0.009-0.342)], respectively, p-value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Finally, Eltrombopag following HD-DXM showed the highest percentage of patients with complete treatment-free survival times of at least 330 days. These findings could help clinicians choose the most appropriate treatment for their patients with ITP based on the phase of the disease. This trial is registered in clinicaltrials.gov with registration number NCT05861297.

Formulation and Therapeutic Evaluation of Isoxsuprine-Loaded Nanoparticles against Diabetes-Associated Stroke.

Ischemic stroke is the second-leading cause of death. Hyperglycemia, which is characteristic of diabetes mellitus, contributes to the development of endothelial dysfunction and increases the risk of stroke. Isoxsuprine is an efficient beta-adrenergic agonist that improves blood flow to the ischemic aria and stops the infarct core from growing. However, low bioavailability, a short biological half-life, and first-pass hepatic metabolism reduce the therapeutic efficacy of oral isoxsuprine. Therefore, the authors focused on developing isoxsuprine-loaded liposomes containing ethanol and propylene glycol (ILEP) formulation as nasal drops for the treatment of ischemic stroke in diabetic patients. Different ILEP formulations were optimized using Design Expert software, and the selected formulation was examined in vivo for its anti-stroke effect using a rat model of diabetes and stroke. The optimized ILEP, composed of 15% propylene glycol, 0.16% cholesterol, 10% ethanol, and 3.29% phospholipid, improved the sustainability, permeation, and targeting of isoxsuprine. Furthermore, the in vivo studies verified the improved neurological behavior and decreased dead shrunken neurons and vascular congestion of the rats treated with the optimized ILEP formulation, demonstrating its anti-stroke activity. In conclusion, our study found that treatment with an optimized ILEP formulation prevented the initiation and severity of stroke, especially in diabetic patients.