Antidiabetic assessment; in vivo study of gold and core-shell silver-gold nanoparticles on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Recently, we have published a pioneering work on green biosynthesis and complete characterization of gold and core shell silver-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs and Ag@AuNPs). Herein, the so obtained nanoparticles are assessed for their antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thus, sixty-four male albino rats were divided into eight groups: control untreated; diabetic rats; diabetic rats received standard drug; diabetic rats received carrier only; diabetic rats received 0.5ml AuNPs; diabetic rats received 1ml AuNPs; diabetic rats received 0.5ml Ag@AuNPs and diabetic rats received 1ml Ag@AuNPs for twenty-one days. Results revealed that diabetic rats treated with AuNPs or Ag@AuNPs restored normal glucose level. In particular, Ag@AuNPs was found to significantly induce a reduction in blood glucose and restore both the high serum insulin level and glucokinase activity compared to the control normal rats. The results obtained disclose the effectual role of Ag@AuNPs in reducing the lipid profile, an anti-inflammatory effect in diabetic rats assessed using inflammatory markers IL-α and C-reactive protein (CRP). Histopathological examination of diabetic rats signifies distortion in the arrangement of cells around the central vein, inflammatory cells, pyknotic and apoptotic nuclei. Kidney of diabetic rat appears with vacuolation and pyknotic nuclei of some tubules. On the other hand, the liver of diabetic rat treated with Ag@AuNPs displayed normal hepatic cells with only few necrosis of hepatocytes. Ag@AuNPs restored the increased number of caspase-3 stained cells in the liver and kidney tissue in diabetic rats. In conclusion, Ag@AuNPs was observed to improve diabetic condition by limiting prolonged inflammation, suppressing oxidative stress and elevating the antioxidant defense system in diabetic rats which subsequently evoke the potential impact of AuNPs as a cost effective therapeutic cure in diabetic treatments and its complications.

The relationships of coping, negative thinking, life satisfaction, social support, and selected demographics with anxiety of young adult college students.

PROBLEM: Understanding young adults' anxiety requires applying a multidimensional approach to assess the psychosocial, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of this phenomenon. METHODS: A hypothesized model of the relationships among coping style, thinking style, life satisfaction, social support, and selected demographics and anxiety among college students was tested using path analysis. A total of 257 undergraduate students aged 18-24 years completed an online survey. The independent variables were measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Brief Students' Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale, the Brief COPE Inventory, the Positive Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and the Cognition Checklist-Anxiety. The outcome, anxiety, was measured using the Anxiety subscale of the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. FINDINGS: Only negative thinking and maladaptive coping had a direct relationship with anxiety. Negative thinking was the strongest predictor of both maladaptive coping and anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that helping undergraduates manage their anxiety by reducing their negative thinking is critical. Designing and testing interventions to decrease negative thinking in college students is recommended for future research.

Role of Heme Oxygenase, Leptin, Coenzyme Q10 and Trace Elements in Pre-eclamptic Women.

The objective of this study to evaluate heme oxygenase (COHb), leptin and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in pre-eclamptic women. Also Zinc, copper, Iron, total iron binding capacity, Ferritin and uric acid were assessed. 120 female subjects were included in this study. They were divided into, 60 female with normal pregnancy attending the outpatient clinic, 60 pre-eclamptic patients were recruited from obstetrics and gynaecology department El-kasr El-Aini hospital. The results showed that in pre-eclampatic group, leptin level was significantly increased while COHb and CoQ10 was significantly decreased. It is concluded that hemeoxygenase, leptin and coenzyme CoQ10 can be considered as new markers for prediction of pre-eclampsia.

Novel synthesized aminosteroidal heterocycles intervention for inhibiting iron-induced oxidative stress.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the potential role of novel synthesized aminosteroidal heterocyclic compounds 2, 5, 9b and 10c against iron-induced oxidative stress with particular insight on erythrocyte ghosts in male rats. Chronic iron supplementation (3000 mg kg(-1) diet) for 6 weeks significantly increased plasma iron and ferritin levels. It also produced significant increase in plasma TNF-alpha and NO levels. Lipid metabolism was also affected by excess iron, so that plasma and erythrocyte membrane total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and total lipid levels were significantly elevated. In consequence, a significant increase in plasma leptin level was detected. Iron overload clearly induces oxidative stress as indicated by the significant increase in both plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation levels. Noteworthy, excess iron not only decreased the mean value of erythrocyte membrane protein but also caused marked alterations in the membrane protein fractions with concomitant inhibition in erythrocyte membrane ATPases activity. On the other hand, treatment with the aminosteriodal heterocyclic compounds especially compounds 5, 2, and 10c in an oral dose of 5 mg kg(-1) B.W. per day could ameliorate almost all of the changes in plasma and erythrocyte ghosts components induced by iron overload. The efficacious role of these novel synthesized aminosteriods in preventing iron-induced oxidative stress may be mediated through their iron chelating properties, anti-lipid peroxidation activities and membrane stabilizing actions. The encouraging results obtained in the present study lend credence to substantial investigation to assess the use of these compounds as a potent line of therapy to retard the pathogenesis of iron overload diseases.