Optimizing liquid fermentation for Wolfiporia cocos: gene expression and biosynthesis of pachymic acid and mycelial biomass.

Wolfiporia cocos, a versatile fungus acclaimed for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits in Traditional Chinese Medicine, holds immense potential for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. In this study, we aimed to optimize liquid fermentation techniques and culture medium composition to maximize mycelial biomass (MB) yield, pachymic acid (PA) concentration, and overall PA production. Additionally, we investigated the molecular basis of our findings by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with PA and MB biosynthesis using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Under the optimized fermentation conditions, significant results were achieved, with maximum MB reaching 6.68 g l-1, PA content peaking at 1.25 mg g-1, and a total PA yield of 4.76 g l-1. Notably, among the four examined genes, squalene monooxygenase, exhibited enhanced expression at 0.06 ratio under the optimized conditions. Furthermore, within the realm of carbohydrate-active enzymes, the glycoside hydrolases 16 family displayed elevated expression levels at 21 ratios, particularly during MB production. This study enhances understanding of genetic mechanism governing MB and PA production in W. cocos, highlighting the roles of squalene monooxygenase and glycoside hydrolases 16 carbohydrate-active enzymes.

Mitigative potential of kaempferide against polyethylene microplastics induced testicular damage by activating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway.

Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are one of the environmental contaminants that instigate oxidative stress (OS) in various organs of the body, including testes. Kaempferide (KFD) is a plant-derived natural flavonol with potential neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the alleviative effects of KFD against PE-MPs-prompted testicular toxicity in rats. Fourty eight adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups: control, PE-MPs-administered (1.5 mgkg-1), PE-MPs (1.5 mgkg-1) + KFD (20 mgkg-1) co-treated and KFD (20 mgkg-1) only treated group. PE-MPs intoxication significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the expression of Nrf-2 and anti-oxidant enzymes, while increasing the expression of Keap-1. The activities of anti-oxidants i.e., catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), hemeoxygene-1 (HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were reduced, besides malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents were increased significantly (P < 0.05) following the PE-MPs exposure. Moreover, PE-MPs exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the sperm motility, viability and count, whereas considerably (P < 0.05) increased the dead sperm number and sperm structural anomalies. Furthermore, PE-MPs remarkably (P < 0.05) decreased steroidogenic enzymes and Bcl-2 expression, while increasing the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax. PE-MPs exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone, whereas inflammatory indices were increased. PE-MPs exposure also induced significant histopathological damages in the testes. Nevertheless, KFD supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) abrogated all the damages induced by PE-MPs. The findings of our study demonstrated that KFD could significantly attenuate PE-MPs-instigated OS and testicular toxicity, due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, androgenic and anti-apoptotic potential.

Harnessing solar power for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of coloured pollutants using novel Mg-doped-ZnFe2O4/S@g-C3N4 heterojunction: A facile hydrothermal synthesis approach.

The ability of heterogeneous photocatalysis to effectively remove organic pollutants from wastewater has shown great promise as a tool for environmental remediation. Pure zinc ferrites (ZnFe2O4) and magnesium-doped zinc ferrites (Mg@ZnFe2O4) with variable percentages of Mg (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mol%) were synthesized via hydrothermal route and their photocatalytic activity was checked against methylene blue (MB) taken as a model dye. FTIR, XPS, BET, PL, XRD, TEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used for the identification and morphological characterization of the prepared nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocomposites (NCs). The 7% Mg@ZnFe2O4 NPs demonstrated excellent degradation against MB under sunlight. The 7% Mg@ZnFe2O4 NPs were integrated with diverse contents (10, 50, 30, and 70 wt.%) of S@g-C3N4 to develop NCs with better activity. When the NCs were tested to degrade MB dye, it was revealed that the 7%Mg@ZnFe2O4/S@g-C3N4 NCs were more effective at utilizing solar energy than the other NPs and NCs. The synergistic effect of the interface formed between Mg@ZnFe2O4 and S@g-C3N4 was primarily responsible for the boosted photocatalytic capability of the NCs. The fabricated NCs may function as an effective new photocatalyst to remove organic dyes from wastewater.

Attenuative effect of astilbin on polystyrene microplastics induced testicular damage: Biochemical, spermatological and histopathological-based evidences.

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are the potential environmental pollutants that possess the ability to induce testicular damage. Astilbin (ASB) is a dihydroflavonol, abundantly reported in multiple plants that has various pharmacological properties. This research elucidated the mitigative potential of ASB against PS-MPs-instigated testicular toxicity. 48 adult male rats (200 ± 10 g) were distributed into 4 groups (n = 12): control, PS-MPs received (0.01 mg/kg), PS-MPs + ASB received (0.01 mg/kg + 20 mg/kg) and ASB supplemented group (20 mg/kg). After 56th day of the trial, animals were sacrificed and testes were harvested for the estimation of biochemical, hormonal, spermatogenic, steroidogenic, apoptotic and histological profiles. PS-MPs intoxication significantly (P < 0.05) lowered glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR) as well as catalase (CAT) activities, whereas elevated MDA as well as ROS levels. Besides, the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) along with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity were raised. PS-MPs treatment reduced luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level besides decreased epididymal sperm number, viability, motility as well as the count of HOS coil-tailed spermatozoa and increased sperm morphological irregularities. PS-MPs exposure lowered steroidogenic enzymes (17ß-HSD, 3ß-HSD and StAR protein along with Bcl-2 expression, besides increasing Caspase-3 and Bax expressions and histopathological alterations in testicular tissues. However, ASB treatment significantly reversed PS-MPs mediated damage. In conclusion, ASB administration is protective against PS-MPs-instigated testicular damage owing to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant and androgenic nature.

Attenuative effects of tamarixetin against polystyrene microplastics-induced hepatotoxicity in rats by regulation of Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway.

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are environmental contaminants due to their potential to induce damages in multiple organs specifically liver. Tamarixetin (TMT) is a naturally occurring flavonoid present in Tamarix ramosissima plant that exhibits multiple pharmacological properties. Therefore, the present research was designed to evaluate the palliative role of TMT against PS-MPs instigated liver dysfunction in rats. The exposure to PS-MPs reduced the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and antioxidant genes, while increasing the expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1. PS-MPs exposed rats exhibited considerably (p < .05) higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) contents. Additionally, PS-MPs treatment resulted in a notable decrease in anti-oxidants activity, that is, glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) content, whereas upregulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Moreover, PS-MPs intoxication noticeably increased (p < .05) the inflammatory indices (interleukin-1ß [IL-1ß], nuclear factor kappa B [NF-κB], interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] levels, and cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2] activity). Besides, Caspase-3 and Bax expressions were upregulated and Bcl-2 expression was decreased after PS-MPs exposure. Additionally, the histomorphological examination revealed notable hepatic damage in PS-MPs treated group. However, TMT treatment substantially (p < .05) recovered all the PS-MPs-induced damages and histopathological changes. Taken together, it can be deduced that TMT might be used as a pharmacological agent to ameliorate hepatic damage.

Eriodictyol attenuates Furan induced testicular toxicity in Rats: Role of oxidative stress, steroidogenic enzymes and apoptosis.

Furan (C4H4O) is a naturally occurring organic compound. It develops as a result of the thermal processing of food and stimulates critical impairments in male reproductive tract. Eriodictyol (Etyol) is a natural dietary flavonoid possessing diverse pharmacological potentials. The recent investigation was proposed to ascertain the ameliorative potential of eriodictyol against furan-instigated reproductive dysfunctions. Male rats (n = 48) were classified into 4 groups: untreated/control, furan (10 mg/kg), furan+ eriodictyol (10 mg/kg + 20 mg/kg) and eriodictyol (20 mg/kg). At the 56th day of the trial, the protective effects of eriodictyol were evaluated by assessing various parameters. Results of the study revealed that eriodictyol attenuated furan-induced testicular toxicity in the biochemical profile by increasing catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) along with glutathione reductase (GSR) activities, whereas reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) along with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. It also restored the normal state of sperm motility, viability, the count of hypo-osmotic tail swelled sperm as well as epididymal sperm number along with reduced sperm anomalies (morphological) tail, mid-piece and head. Furthermore, it elevated the decreased levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well steroidogenic enzymes (17ß-HSD, StAR protein & 3ß-HSD) and testicular anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2) expression, whereas, down-regulating apoptotic markers (Bax & Caspase-3) expression. Eriodictyol treatment also effectively mitigated the histopathological damages. The outcomes of the current study provide fundamental insights into the ameliorative potential of eriodictyol against furan-instigated testicular toxicity.

Evaluation Of Interdepartmental Calls Generated In 8 Tertiary Care Hospitals Of Northern Pakistan.

Objectives: To assess the quality of medical call writing in multiple tertiary care hospitals based on a variety of parameters. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 tertiary care hospitals across Pakistan from May 27 to June 27, 2021, and comprised residents and consultants aged 25-60 years regardless of gender and specialty. Data was collected using questionnaires related to demographic and professional characteristics, quality of calls received, quality of calls sent, and opinion regarding improvements to the existing system. Data ws analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the105 participants, 65(62%) were residents and 40(38%) were consultants. General surgery team received referrals most frequently 26(24.7%). History of the patient along with relevant examination findings were mentioned in 4(3%) and 6(5%), respectively (p=0.6 vs p=0.5). The timeline was mentioned by 10(9.5%), (p=0.09), and it was inconsistent with the clinical relevancy in 13(12.3%) cases (p=0.5). The working diagnosis for which the patient was admitted in a particular service was mentioned in 35(33.3%) of the generated calls (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The call referral system deserved more attention in order to improve communication among the physicians. Analysis of the quality of referral letters should be part of initial and continuing medical education.

Improved transplant survival and long-term disease outcome in children with MHC class II deficiency.

MHC class II deficiency is a rare, but life-threatening, primary combined immunodeficiency. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) remains the only curative treatment for this condition, but transplant survival in the previously published result was poor. We analyzed the outcome of 25 patients with MHC class II deficiency undergoing first HCT at Great North Children's Hospital between 1995 and 2018. Median age at diagnosis was 6.5 months (birth to 7.5 years). Median age at transplant was 21.4 months (0.1-7.8 years). Donors were matched family donors (MFDs; n = 6), unrelated donors (UDs; n = 12), and haploidentical donors (HIDs; n = 7). Peripheral blood stem cells were the stem cell source in 68% of patients. Conditioning was treosulfanbased in 84% of patients; 84% received alemtuzumab (n = 14) or anti-thymocyte globulin (n = 8) as serotherapy. With a 2.9-year median follow-up, OS improved from 33% (46-68%) for HCT before 2008 (n = 6) to 94% (66-99%) for HCT after 2008 (n = 19; P = .003). For HCT after 2008, OS according to donor was 100% for MFDs and UDs and 85% for HIDs (P = .40). None had grade III-IV acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease. Latest median donor myeloid and lymphocyte chimerism were 100% (range, 0-100) and 100% (range, 64-100), respectively. Latest CD4+ T-lymphocyte number was significantly lower in transplant survivors (n = 14) compared with posttransplant disease controls (P = .01). All survivors were off immunoglobulin replacement and had protective vaccine responses to tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae. None had any significant infection or autoimmunity. Changing transplant strategy in Great North Children's Hospital has significantly improved outcomes for MHC class II deficiency.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cortex modulation by stimulation of the primary motor cortex and parietal cortex in humans.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used to measure corticospinal excitability (CSE) from the primary motor cortex (M1) in humans through motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). The variability of CSE responses to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocols is high and needs to be reproduced in the healthy population. The M1 and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) are anatomically and functionally connected and could play a role in understanding the variability in CSE responses. We tested the individual MEPs following a common cathodal (ctDCS) protocol over the M1 and PPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy subjects were randomized for a ctDCS stimulation over the left M1 and PPC for 20 min on a separate days. The first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) contralateral stimulation of the left M1 was used as the resting motor threshold (RMT), while 15 single pulses 4-8 s apart at an intensity of 120% RMT were used to determine the baseline MEP amplitude and at T0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min after ctDCS stimulation in both sessions. RESULTS: A 20 min duration of ctDCS stimulation significantly deceased the CSE only at T0 (p = 0.046 at M1, p = 0.010 at PPC). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that PPC stimulation can modulate M1 excitability and PPC-M1 connectivity, but a significant effect is only observed immediately post ctDCS. The tDCS showed variability in response to the tDCS protocol is consistent with other non-invasive brain stimulation studies.

Can Sarcopenia Quantified by Computed Tomography Scan Predict Adverse Outcomes in Emergency General Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia (a decline of skeletal muscle mass) has been identified as a predictor of poor postoperative outcomes. The impact of sarcopenia in emergency general surgery (EGS) remains undetermined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between sarcopenia and outcomes after EGS. METHODS: A 3-y (2012-15) review of all EGS patients aged ≥45 y was presented to our institution. Patients who underwent computer tomography-abdomen were included. Sarcopenia was defined as the lowest sex-specific quartile of total psoas index (computer tomography-measured psoas area normalized for body surface area). Patients were divided into sarcopenic (SA) and nonsarcopenic. Primary outcome measures were in-hospital complications, hospital-length of stay [h-LOS], intensive care unit-length of stay, adverse discharge disposition, and in-hospital mortality. Our secondary outcome measures were 30-d complications, readmissions, and mortality. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-two patients undergoing EGS were included. Mean age was 58 ± 8.7 y, and 60% were males. Hundred thirteen patients were categorized as SA. Compared to nonsarcopenic, SA patients had higher rates of minor complications (28% versus 17%, P = 0.01), longer hospital-length of stay (7d versus 5d, P = 0.02), and were more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facility/Rehab (35% versus 17%, P = 0.01). There was no difference between the two groups regarding major complications, intensive care unit-length of stay, mortality, and 30-d outcomes. On regression analysis, sarcopenia was an independent predictor of minor complications (OR 1.8 [1.6-3.7]) and discharge to rehab/SNIF (OR: 1.9 [1.5-3.2]). However, there was no association with major complications, mortality, 30-d complications, readmissions, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia is an independent predictor of minor postoperative complications, prolonged hospital-length of stay, and an adverse discharge disposition in patients undergoing EGS. Identifying SA EGS patients will improve both resource allocation and discussion about the patient's prognosis between physicians, patients, and their families.

Usage and types of mobile medical applications amongst medical students of Pakistan and its association with their academic performance.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of usage and types of mobile medical applications amongst medical students of Pakistan and its association with their academic performance. METHODS: The is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in five medical colleges. It was of 6 months duration from Sept, 2017 to Feb 2018. A sample size of 448 undergraduates was calculated by using WHO sample size calculator. Sampling technique was non-probability convenient sampling. Self-constructed questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Data were entered and analysed in SPSS version 22. RESULTS: The study included 198 male (44.2%) and 250 female (55.8%) students (448 in total). The mean age was 21.08 ±1.542 years. About 323 (72%) students whose were routinely using medical application scored 69+7% in their professional examination while 125 (28%) students, who were not using medical application scored 67±9%. The association between average usage of medical application and academic performance was statistically significant (p<0.01). Amongst the medical applications "Medical Wikipedia" had the most frequent usage i.e. 162 (36.2%) while the least frequently used app was Disease Dictionary i.e. 50 (11.2%). CONCLUSION: More than half of medical students who participated in the study were using medical applications on daily basis with "Medical Wikipedia" being the most commonly used applications. Association between average usage of mobile medical applications and academic performance of the students was statistically significant. A large number of students agreed that medical applications were helpful in improving their medical as well as clinical knowledge.

Establishing a baseline on the distribution and pattern of occurrence of Salvadora persica L. with meteorological data and assessing its adaptation in the adjacent warmed-up zones.

The natural occurrence of Salvadora persica L., stretching from the coastal area of the Arabian sea to northward along the Indus floodplains, was surveyed to document the pattern of its occurrence with the available meteorological record showing increasing trends of frost northwards. Information was compiled from various sources to generate the past and present temperature data in order to establish relationship between the changing temperature factors and the extent of the area available due to climate change over the years for introducing species beyond its range of natural distribution. In addition, the species was experimentally introduced in the warmed-up zones to monitor its performance and to evaluate its adaptability. The reconnaissance survey showed that the natural populations of thorn forest communities with S. persica, as associate, are now surviving only as degraded remnants. Its common occurrence is documented in zones where the mean winter temperatures are above the threshold level of frost, whereas it is rarely found in zones where it drops below this level for a single month, which seems to be its range edge. S. persica does not occur in zones where low temperature could persist for 2 months. Recent temperature data suggests that the month of December has warmed up above the threshold level; therefore, it was expected that correspondingly the range edge of the frost-sensitive species has potentially shifted further northwards. The response of the species introduced at the experimental sites beyond its natural occurrence suggests high survival and growth, demonstrating its adaptability to the new sites beyond its limit of distribution.

Recent development of substrates for immobilization of bimetallic nanoparticles for wastewater treatment: a review.

Bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) have gained considerable attention due to their remarkable catalytic properties, making them invaluable in wastewater treatment applications. One of these challenges lies in the propensity of BMNPs to aggregate due to Van der Waals interactions, which can reduce their overall performance. Additionally, retrieving exhausted NPs from the treated solution for subsequent reuse remains a significant hurdle. Moreover, the leaching of NPs into the discharged wastewater can have harmful effects on humans as well as aquatic life. To overcome these issues, various substrates have been researched to maximize the efficiency and stability of the NPs. This review paper delves into the pivotal role of various substrates in immobilizing BMNPs, providing a comprehensive analysis of their performances, advantages, and drawbacks. The substrates encompass a diverse range of materials, including organic, inorganic, organic-inorganic, beads, fibers, and membranes. Each substrate type offers unique attributes, influencing the stability, efficiency, and recyclability of BMNPs. This review paper aims to provide an up-to-date and detailed analysis and comparison of the substrates used for the immobilization of BMNPs. This work further reviews the underlying mechanisms of the composites involved in treating pollutants from wastewater and how these mechanisms are enhanced by the synergistic effects produced by the substrate and BMNPs. Furthermore, the reusability and sustainability of these composites are discussed. Also, high-performing substrates are highlighted to give direction to future research focusing on the immobilization of BMNPs in the application of wastewater treatment.

Comprehensive insights on treatment modalities with conventional and herbal drugs for the treatment of duodenal ulcers.

Areas of the body accessible to gastric secretions, such as the stomach and duodenum, are most commonly damaged by circumscribed lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa. Peptic ulcer disease is the term for this illness (PUD). About 80% of peptic ulcers are duodenal ulcers, with stomach ulcers accounting for the remaining 20%. Duodenal ulcers are linked to the two primary results about Helicobacter pylori infection and COX inhibitor users. Additional causes might include drinking, smoking, stress, and coffee consumption. The indications and symptoms of a duodenal ulcer depend on the patient's age and the lesion's location. For duodenal ulcers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the usual course of treatment. This comprehensive study included an in-depth literature search in the literature and methods section using electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The search method included publications published from the inception of the relevant database to the present. Inclusion criteria included studies investigating different treatment options for duodenal ulcer disease, including traditional pharmacotherapy and naturopathic treatments. Data mining includes information on treatment techniques, treatment outcomes, and possible synergies between conventional and herbal treatments. In addition, this review critically examines the available information on the effectiveness, safety, and possible side effects of different treatments. The inclusion of conventional and herbal treatments is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the many treatment options available for duodenal ulcer disease. A more comprehensive and personalized treatment plan can be achieved by incorporating dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and, if necessary, herbal therapies to complement other treatments normally.

An incidentally diagnosed primary pancreatic body hydatid cyst: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Primary pancreatic hydatid cysts are exceptionally rare as they have an incidence rate ranging from 0.14 % to 2 %. Due to their extreme rarity, the patient's clinical manifestations are nonspecific. This leads to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary for the proper treatment of this pathology. CASE PRESENTATION: Herewith, we present the rare case of a 46-year-old Middle Eastern female who sought medical attention at our surgical clinic complaining of an acute on-top-of chronic epigastric pain that radiated to the back. It was associated with a reported dark and pale discoloration of the urine and stool, respectively. The preoperative investigative radiological analysis identified a primary pancreatic body mass formation. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: A meticulous surgical resection of the pancreatic body, tail, and the spleen was performed. Subsequent histopathological analysis of the excised specimens decisively established the diagnosis of a primary pancreatic body hydatid cyst. CONCLUSION: Primary pancreatic hydatid cysts are profoundly rare, and their occurrence in the pancreatic body is even rarer. The profound scarcity of published literature on primary pancreatic body hydatid cysts highlights the imperative need for documentation, epidemiological studies, and the development of crucial interventional protocols. After a meticulous review of the published literature, we deduced that ours is the third documented case from our country of a primary pancreatic body hydatid cyst. Furthermore, no other cases beyond these three have been published from our country involving primary pancreatic hydatid cysts.

Curative effects of tectochrysin on paraquat-instigated testicular toxicity in rats: A biochemical and histopathological based study.

Background: Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide that is used globally in the agriculture sector to eradicate unwanted weeds, however it also induces significant damages in various organs of the body such as testes. Tectochrysin (TEC) is an important flavonoid that shows versatile therapeutic potentials. Currently, there is no established antidote to cure PQ-induced testicular toxicity. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of TEC against PQ prompted testicular damage. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were used to conduct the trial. Rats were allocated in to 4 groups i.e., Control, PQ administrated group (5 mgkg-1), PQ + TEC co-administrated group (5 mgkg-1 + 2.5 mgkg-1) and TEC only administrated group (2.5 mgkg-1). The trial was conducted for 8 weeks. The activity of anti-oxidants and the levels of MDA and ROS were determined by spectrophotometric method. Steroidogenic enzymes as well as apoptotic markers expressions were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The level of hormones and inflammatory indices was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: PQ exposure markedly (P < 0.05) disturbed the biochemical, spermatogenic and histological profile in the rats. Nevertheless, TEC treatment considerably (P < 0.05) increased CAT, GPx GSR and SOD activity, besides decreasing MDA and ROS contents. TEC administration also increased sperm viability, count and motility. 17ß-HSD, 3ß-HSD, StAR and Bcl-2 expressions were also increased following TEC administration. The supplementation of TEC substantially (P < 0.05) decreased Bax, Caspase-3 expression and the levels of inflammatory markers i.e., interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Additionally, the levels of plasma testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were increased following TEC supplementation. Furthermore, TEC supplementation considerably decreased sperm structural abnormalities and histomorphological damages of the testes. The mitigative role of TEC might be due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, androgenic and anti-oxidant potentials. Conclusion: Taken together, it is concluded that TEC can be used as a potential candidate to treat testicular toxicity.

Apigetrin ameliorates doxorubicin prompted testicular damage: biochemical, spermatological and histological based study.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective, commonly prescribed, potent anti-neoplastic drug that damages the testicular tissues and leads to infertility. Apigetrin (APG) is an important flavonoid that shows diverse biological activities. The present research was designed to evaluate the alleviative role of APG against DOX-induced testicular damages in rats. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups, control, DOX administered (3 mgkg-1), DOX + APG co-administered (3 mgkg-1 of DOX; 15 mgkg-1 of APG), and APG administered group (15 mgkg-1). Results of the current study indicated that DOX treatment significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while increasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). DOX treatment also reduced the sperm count, viability, and motility. Moreover, DOX significantly increased the sperm morphological anomalies and reduced the levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The administration of DOX significantly increased the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3, as well as the levels of inflammatory markers. Additionally, DOX treatment significantly downregulated the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, 3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD) and Bcl-2. Furthermore, DOX administration provoked significant histopathological abnormalities in the testicular tissues. However, APG supplementation significantly reversed all the testicular damages due to its androgenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nature. Therefore, it is concluded that APG may prove a promising therapeutic agent to treat DOX-induced testicular damages.

Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnostics: Machine Learning and Genomic Profiling Reveal Key Biomarkers for Early Detection.

This study, utilizing high-throughput technologies and Machine Learning (ML), has identified gene biomarkers and molecular signatures in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). We could identify significant upregulated or downregulated genes in IBD patients by comparing gene expression levels in colonic specimens from 172 IBD patients and 22 healthy individuals using the GSE75214 microarray dataset. Our ML techniques and feature selection methods revealed six Differentially Expressed Gene (DEG) biomarkers (VWF, IL1RL1, DENND2B, MMP14, NAAA, and PANK1) with strong diagnostic potential for IBD. The Random Forest (RF) model demonstrated exceptional performance, with accuracy, F1-score, and AUC values exceeding 0.98. Our findings were rigorously validated with independent datasets (GSE36807 and GSE10616), further bolstering their credibility and showing favorable performance metrics (accuracy: 0.841, F1-score: 0.734, AUC: 0.887). Our functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis provided insights into crucial pathways associated with these dysregulated genes. DENND2B and PANK1 were identified as novel IBD biomarkers, advancing our understanding of the disease. The validation in independent cohorts enhances the reliability of these findings and underscores their potential for early detection and personalized treatment of IBD. Further exploration of these genes is necessary to fully comprehend their roles in IBD pathogenesis and develop improved diagnostic tools and therapies. This study significantly contributes to IBD research with valuable insights, potentially greatly enhancing patient care.

Melanin pigmentation variations in the larval cuticle of almond moth, Ephestia cautella caused by gamma radiation.

To determine the effects of gamma radiation on the melanization process and phenoloxidase activity, Ephestia cautella larvae were exposed to dosages of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 Gy. After irradiation, the number of non melanized larvae and the number exhibiting a slight melanization usually increased. The degree of melanization in treated larvae differed significantly from untreated larvae. The amount of melanin usually decreases as the dosage increases and as time passes after the treatment. The results of the phenoloxidase assay indicate that the enzyme activity responds differently to radiation. For instance, at doses of 200, 400, and 800 Gy, the enzyme activity remained consistent in both control and irradiated larvae. However, at doses of 600 and 1000 Gy, the enzyme activity increased to 14.92 and 13.37 O.D. units, respectively, compared to 8.81 O.D. units in the control. In order to determine if irradiated larvae have been previously exposed to ionizing radiation, a quick and easy test based on phenoloxidase activity or the melanization response is presented for use in quarantine treatment. Histological changes, specifically in the pigment granules of melanin, were studied using a light microscope. Upon inspection of the unirradiated larvae, it was observed that brown melanin pigment granules were deposited in the epicuticle and exocuticle layers of the cuticle. When gamma radiation dosages were administered to larvae, it was observed that the melanin pigment gradually diminished until it vanished at the highest dose (1000 Gy).

Effect of gamma radiation on the protective efficacy of Thuja orientalis essential oil on stored cowpea against Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis.

PURPOSE: Cowpea is an essential pulse food in several regions throughout the world. Essential oil isolated from Thuja orientalis unripe fruits exposed to gamma radiation at dose levels of 0, 1, 3 and 5 kGy was evaluated as cowpea seed protectant against Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cowpea seeds were treated with three rates of the oils from non-irradiated and irradiated fruits, 0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 g kg-1. Mortality of C. maculatus and C. chinensis adults after 3 and 7 days, progeny reduction and weight loss of cowpea seeds after 45 days were recorded for all treatments. RESULTS: The pronounced mortality of C. maculatus adults was achieved at the highest rate 3.0 g kg-1 of the irradiated oil with 5 kGy (98.3%). While in the case C. chinensis, all tested application rates induced marked adult mortality and a complete mortality (100%) resulted at two application rates (0.5 and 1.5 g kg-1) of irradiated oil with 5 kGy and 3.0 g kg-1 after 7 days. Strong progeny suppression of C. maculatus and C. chinensis was resulted at the highest rate of 3.0 g kg-1 of irradiated oil with 5 kGy (11.3 ± 0.3) and (8.5 ± 3.8) after 45 days of treatment, respectively. High protection of cowpea seeds with weight loss 0.5 and 1.4% for C. maculatus and C. chinensis was achieved at 3.0 g kg-1 of irradiated oil dose of 5 kGy, respectively after 45 days. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that gamma irradiation of T. orientalis fruits improve the protective activity of their essential oil against C. maculatus and C. chinensis on stored cowpea seeds and the irradiated oil could be successfully used for management of these bruchid insects.