Evaluation of single and combined effects of cadmium and micro-plastic particles on biochemical and immunological parameters of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A minireview on N-acetylcysteine: An old drug with new approaches

Individuals’ favorite subjects in school can predetermine their educational and occupational careers. If girls develop weaker preferences for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), it c...

The Social Pipeline: How Friend Influence and Peer Exposure Widen the STEM Gender Gap

The indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture and public health campaigns has been associated with an increase of oxidative stress and DNA damage, resulting in health outcomes. Some defense mechanisms against free radical-induced oxidative damage include the antioxidant enzyme systems. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and the relationship of antioxidant enzyme levels with DNA damage among sprayers (workers) occupationally exposed to pesticides. The determinations of MDA and antioxidant enzymes were performed spectrophotometrically. The genotoxic effects were evaluated using the comet assay. The results showed a marginally significant decrease in SOD and CAT activities in the high exposure group compared to the control group. For MDA, statistically significant differences were found among people working long term vs. those working temporarily (P = 0.02) as sprayers. In the moderate exposure group, a positive correlation was observed between MDA levels and GPx activity. In the high exposure group, a negative correlation was observed between GR and CAT activities, and between MDA levels and GPx activities. Furthermore, in the high exposure group, a positive correlation between DNA damage parameters and MDA levels was observed. The results suggest an important role of antioxidant enzymes for the protection of DNA damage caused by occupational exposure to pesticides.

Oxidative stress and genetic damage among workers exposed primarily to organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides.

Since the late 1990s, there has been rapid multiplication of data on the anti-cancer properties of artemisinins. This article reviews the status of progress of artemisinin and its derivatives as anti-cancer agents in clinical trials, case reports, and in vitro/in vivo studies. Particular attention is laid on the combinations of artemisinins and synthetic chemodrugs to enhance the latter's efficacy. An attempt is here made to rationalize the synergistic effects of a few common anti-cancer drugs of the anthracycline, taxane, anti-metabolite, and platinum-based drug families. The various pathways that mediate the action of artemisinins as reported over the past decade are here summarized highlighting also the biomarkers that could be used to better predict the efficacy of the sesquiterpenoids. Their main action seems to be directed toward stalling tumor cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The emergence of artemisinins' nano-based formulations in combination with chemodrugs to enhance drug bioavailability and targeting as well as immunotherapy is also reviewed. The enhanced efficacy of artemisinin dimers compared to the parent molecules and standard chemotherapy is analyzed. While these therapies hold promises, it may be premature to conclude on their efficacy in the absence of clinical studies.

Artemisinin and its derivatives in cancer therapy: status of progress, mechanism of action, and future perspectives.

This work was conducted on 95 adult males from Al-Salheya Algadeeda-Sharkeya governorate. They were classified according to pesticides residues into control group (30 unexposed healthy adult males living in the same area), insecticides exposed workers group (55 adult males exposed to organophosphate and carbamates) and fungicides exposed workers group (10 adult males exposed to fungicides). The study was designed to investigate and compare the oxidative stress and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides exposure among agricultural workers according the level of pesticide residues in their blood which was measured by HPLC. The oxidative stress status has been evaluated by assessment of (SH-protein), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was measured as a biomarker of toxicity. We used IgG, IgM, as immunological biomarkers to test the humoral immune function as well as TNFα as a biomarker of cellular immune function. Our result revealed statistically significant reduction of the activity of (AchE), antioxidant defense enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, IgM and IgG while, MDA and TNF levels showed significant elevations in insecticides-exposed workers versus control. Results of fungicides exposed workers revealed non-significant reduction of the activity of (AchE), antioxidant defense enzymes, IgM, IgG and TNFα levels while there was significant elevation of MDA level and significant reduction of total antioxidant capacity level.

A study on oxidative stress biomarkers and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides in pesticide-sprayers

Accurate age estimation of human adult is an important problem in both anthropological and forensic fields Recently, determination of pulp/tooth area ratio from dental radiographs used as noninvasive and feasible methods for adult age prediction The aim of this study was to test the reliability and applicability of pulp/tooth area ratio (PTR) in three mandibular teeth as an indicator of age by Panoramic Radiographs A total of 500 panoramic radiographs of Egyptian individuals (262 males and 238 females), aged between 18 and 71 years, were studied Pulp/tooth area ratios (PTR) were determined by AutoCAD 2010 Data were subjected to correlation and regression analysis which indicated that 2nd premolar (PM2) was the most closely correlated with age(r=-0947) followed closely by canine(c) (r=-0941) The 1st premolar revealed the lowest correlation (r=-0914); among tooth combinations, the three teeth taken together had the best R value (- 0956) Linear regression equations were determined separately for the individual teeth and tooth combinations The standard errors of estimates (SEE) of the regression analyses for the individual teeth and tooth combinations ranged from ± 410 to 566 years, indicating minimal difference in age estimates using solitary or multiple teeth The observations obtained from the current study indicate that the PTR method is a useful procedure for assessing age with reasonable accuracy among Egyptians in forensic field

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Age Estimation from Pulp/Tooth Area Ratio in Three Mandibular Teeth byPanoramic Radiographs: Study of an Egyptian Sample

Burn deaths are an important public health problem in a developing country like Egypt. The purpose of this study was to record and evaluate the causes and the magnitude of the fatal burn injuries retrospectively. An analysis of autopsy records revealed 106 (2.66%) cases of burn injuries among the total autopsies done over 5 years period (2006–2010) in the mortuary of Forensic Medicine Institute, Cairo. The majority of deaths (66.1%) occurred between 11 and 50 years of age group with a preponderance of males (67%). The flame burns were seen in 96.2% of the victims. The majority of burn incidents were accidental (55.7%) in nature followed by suicidal (22.6%) and homicidal (21.7%) deaths. The percentages of burns (TBSA) over 50% were observed in most of the cases (83%). Clear signs of vitality were found in 67% of the victims. The majority of deaths occurred within a week (82%) and most of the victims died from neurogenic shock (54.7%) followed by Septicemia & pneumonia (23.5%). The results of this study provide the necessary information to develop proper burn prevention programs, thereby reducing the frequency of burns and burn-related deaths.

Fatal burn injuries: A five year retrospective autopsy study in Cairo city, Egypt

The extensive use of fipronil (FPN) may trigger hazards to more than insects. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the abrogating role of Terminalia laxiflora (TL) methanol extract (TLE) against the neurotoxic effects provoked by FPN. Fourty male albino rats were assigned into four equal groups. The first group served as control, the second one was orally administered FPN (10.5 mg/kg BW), the third group was given combination of FPN and TLE) (100 mg/kg BW), and the fourth one was orally given TLE. Our findings highlighted the efficacy of TLE as a neuroprotectant through a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 25.8%, elevations of the reduced glutathione (GSH) level, catalase (CAT,) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 30.9, 41.2, and 48.2% respectively. Consequently, the relative mRNA levels of both Bax and caspase-3 were down-regulated by 40.54% and caspase-3 by 30.35% compared with the control group. Moreover, restoration of the pathological tissue injuries were detected. In conclusion, TLE proved to be a potent neuroprotective agent against the FPN-induced toxicity.

The Terminalia Laxiflora Modulates The Neurotoxicity Induced By Fipronil In Male Albino Rats

The word “endogenous” means produced or originating from within the body, so endogenous ethanol therefore implies a spontaneous auto regulation of ethanol through various human metabolic processes. In the current research, endogenous ethanol concentrations in blood were determined by sensitive headspace gas chromatography/mass Spectrophotometry in 1400 residents of Saudi Arabia. The subjects were from 14 nationalities, of both sexes and of different age groups. There was no significance difference in blood ethanol concentration between nationalities or between sexes within and between nationalities. The data was extracted and the overall mean ± SD, minimum, maximum, 5% percentile and 95% percentile were 0.14, ± 0.35, 0.00, 1.53 , 0.00, 1.20 mg/dl respectively. The values of blood ethanol concentration as reported in this study indicate they are far too low to have any forensic significance.

https://www.longdom.org/open-access/endogenous-ethanol-production-levels-in-saudi-arabia-residents-2329-6488-1000211.pdf

Mostafa M. Afify

Papers

A study on oxidative stress biomarkers and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides in pesticide-sprayers

Age Estimation from Pulp/Tooth Area Ratio in Three Mandibular Teeth byPanoramic Radiographs: Study of an Egyptian Sample

Fatal burn injuries: A five year retrospective autopsy study in Cairo city, Egypt

The Terminalia Laxiflora Modulates The Neurotoxicity Induced By Fipronil In Male Albino Rats

Endogenous Ethanol Production Levels in Saudi Arabia Residents