Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction

Bancroft's Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques

During the past few years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) became one of the most investigated and explored nanotechnology-derived nanostructures, given the fact that nanosilver-based materials proved to have interesting, challenging, and promising characteristics suitable for various biomedical applications. Among modern biomedical potential of AgNPs, tremendous interest is oriented toward the therapeutically enhanced personalized healthcare practice. AgNPs proved to have genuine features and impressive potential for the development of novel antimicrobial agents, drug-delivery formulations, detection and diagnosis platforms, biomaterial and medical device coatings, tissue restoration and regeneration materials, complex healthcare condition strategies, and performance-enhanced therapeutic alternatives. Given the impressive biomedical-related potential applications of AgNPs, impressive efforts were undertaken on understanding the intricate mechanisms of their biological interactions and possible toxic effects. Within this review, we focused on the latest data regarding the biomedical use of AgNP-based nanostructures, including aspects related to their potential toxicity, unique physiochemical properties, and biofunctional behaviors, discussing herein the intrinsic anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities of silver-based nanostructures.

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Biomedical Applications of Silver Nanoparticles: An Up-to-Date Overview

Effects of Disease on Clinical Laboratory Tests

Silver is easily available and is known to have microbicidal effect; moreover, it does not impose any adverse effects on the human body. The microbicidal effect is mainly due to silver ions, which have a wide antibacterial spectrum. Furthermore, the development of multidrug-resistant bacteria, as in the case of antibiotics, is less likely. Silver ions bind to halide ions, such as chloride, and precipitate; therefore, when used directly, their microbicidal activity is shortened. To overcome this issue, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been recently synthesized and frequently used as microbicidal agents that release silver ions from particle surface. Depending on the specific surface area of the nanoparticles, silver ions are released with high efficiency. In addition to their bactericidal activity, small Ag NPs (<10 nm in diameter) affect viruses although the microbicidal effect of silver mass is weak. Because of their characteristics, Ag NPs are useful countermeasures against infectious diseases, which constitute a major issue in the medical field. Thus, medical tools coated with Ag NPs are being developed. This review outlines the synthesis and utilization of Ag NPs in the medical field, focusing on environment-friendly synthesis and the suppression of infections in healthcare workers (HCWs).

Synthesis and Application of Silver Nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for the Prevention of Infection in Healthcare Workers

Evaluation of hepatotoxic and genotoxic potential of silver nanoparticles in albino rats

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the major, immune-mediated, demyelinating neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-established animal model of MS. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective and ameliorative effects of N. sativa seeds (2.8 g/kg body weight) in EAE-induced Wistar rats. EAE-induced rats were divided into: 1- EAE-induced rats (“EAE” group). 2- “N. sativa + EAE” group received daily oral administration of N. sativa 2 weeks prior EAE induction until the end of the experiment. 3- “EAE + N. sativa” group received daily oral administration of N. sativa after the appearance of first clinical signs until the end of the experiment. All animals were decapitated at the 28th day post EAE-induction. EAE was investigated using histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations in addition to determination of some oxidative stress parameters in the cerebellum and medulla. N. sativa suppressed inflammation observed in EAE-induced rats. In addition, N. sativa enhanced remyelination in the cerebellum. Moreover, N. sativa reduced the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF β1). N. sativa seeds could provide a promising agent effective in both the protection and treatment of EAE.

Nigella sativa amliorates inflammation and demyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced Wistar rats.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-established animal model of multiple sclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa ( N. sativa ) seeds (2.8 g/kg body weight) in EAE-induced rats. EAE-induced animals were divided into: (1) EAE-induced animals (“EAE” group). (2) “ N. sativa  + EAE” group received a daily oral administration of N. sativa 2 weeks prior to EAE induction until the end of the experiment. (3) “EAE +  N. sativa ” group received a daily oral administration of N. sativa after the appearance of the first clinical signs until the end of the experiment. All animals were sacrificed at the 28th day post EAE-induction. Disease pathogenesis was monitored using a daily clinical scoring, body weight, open field test, histopathological and ultrastructural examination and determination of some oxidative stress parameters in the cortex and hippocampus. N. sativa ameliorated the clinical signs and suppressed inflammation observed in EAE-induced rats. In addition, N. sativa enhanced remyelination in the hippocampus. However, protection of rats with N. sativa administered 2 weeks prior to EAE induction and its continuation until the end of the experiment resulted in a significant increase in the cortical lipid peroxide level with reference to control and “EAE” rats. In conclusion, N. sativa seeds could be used as a protective agent or an adjunct treatment for EAE even when the treatment started after the appearance of the first clinical signs. However, the dose and duration of N. sativa must be taken into consideration to avoid its probable pro-oxidant effect.

Nigella sativa as an anti-inflammatory and promising remyelinating agent in the cortex and hippocampus of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced rats

2 Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of marjoram oil in alleviating hematological, serum biochemical, chromosomal and histopathological alterations induced by sodium nitrite toxicity in rats. For this purpose, forty adult male rats were divided into four groups (10 rats each);Group (1): received distilled water and served as a control, Group (2) was daily administered marjoram oil at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg b.wt.by stomach tube for 2 months, Group (3) was daily administered sodium nitrite at dose of 30 mg/ kg b.wt. by stomach tube for 2 months and Group (4) was concurrently administered sodium nitrite and marjoram oil with similar doses that mentioned before. The obtained results indicated that sodium nitrite possesses a deleterious effect on blood cytology, induce oxidative damage, hepato-renal dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities and histopathological alterations. The administration of marjoram oil in conjugation with sodium nitrite minimized the hazard effects of sodium nitrite, it improved RBCs count, PCV, Hb concentration and WBCs count. It increased the level of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and diminished the level of serum malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, it decreased the elevated activities of AST, ALT and ALP, cholesterol, BUN, creatinine and glucose concentration and elevated the values of total proteins and albumin in comparison to sodium nitrite group. In addition, marjoram oil ameliorated the genotoxic effect of sodium nitrite as it reduced the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and improved the histopathological changes in liver, kidney and spleen in comparison to sodium nitrite intoxicated group.

Effect of Marjoram Oil on the Clinicopathological, Cytogenetic and Histopathological Alterations Induced by Sodium Nitrite Toxicity in Rats

Escherichia coli field isolates from calves were characterized and categorized into the most significant diarrheagenic pathotypes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays with different specific primers. The used PCR systems were designed to detect sequences representing the group-specific virulence genes encoding fimbriae f5 (K99), Shiga toxins (stx1 and stx2), heat-stable enterotoxins (st), heat-labile enterotoxins (lt), intimin (eae), hemolysin (hylA), and EAEC heat-stable enterotoxin (astA). In the present work, a total of 150 E. coli field isolates were recovered from 150 fecal swabs collected from 100 diarrheic and 50 apparently healthy in-contact cattle and buffalo calves under 3 months old. Out of these 150 isolated E. coli, 106 isolates from 77 diarrheic and 29 in-contact calves harbored one or more of the investigated virulence genes. The pathotyping of the isolates could classify them into shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) with a 30.7, 2.7, 12.7, and 7.3% distribution, respectively. Meanwhile, the detection rates of f5, stx1, stx2, st, lt, eae, hylA, and astA genes were 17.3, 27.3, 6.7, 10, 37.3, 17.7, 9.3, and 20.7%, respectively. These virulence genes were found either single or in different combinations, such as stx/eae, stx/st/f5, eae/st/f5, or st/lt/f5. Four attaching-effacing shigatoxigenic E. coli isolates (AE-STEC) harboring stx/eae were retrieved from diarrheic calves. Although none of the stx-or eae-positive isolates was verified as O157:H7, STEC isolates detected in apparently healthy calves have potential pathogenicity to humans highlighting their zoonotic importance as reservoirs. Atypical combinations of ETEC/STEC and ETEC/EPEC were also detected in percentages of 14.7 and 2.7%, respectively. Most of these atypical combinations were found more in buffalo calves than in cattle calves. While STEC and EPEC isolates were detected more in cattle calves than in buffalo calves, ETEC isolates were the same in the two species. The pathogenic E. coli infection in calves was recorded to be higher in the first weeks of life with the largest numbers of virulence factor-positive isolates detected at the age of 4 weeks. Histopathological examination of five intestinal samples collected from four dead buffalo calves revealed typical attaching and effacing (AE) lesion which was correlated with the presence of intimin encoding virulence gene (eae). Other lesions characterized by hemorrhagic enteritis, shortening and fusion of intestinal villi and desquamation of the lining epithelium of intestinal mucosa had also been detected.

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Faten F. Mohammed

Papers

Evaluation of hepatotoxic and genotoxic potential of silver nanoparticles in albino rats

Nigella sativa amliorates inflammation and demyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced Wistar rats.

Nigella sativa as an anti-inflammatory and promising remyelinating agent in the cortex and hippocampus of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced rats

Effect of Marjoram Oil on the Clinicopathological, Cytogenetic and Histopathological Alterations Induced by Sodium Nitrite Toxicity in Rats

Molecular characterization of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic and in-contact cattle and buffalo calves.