Minia University

About: Minia University is a education organization based out in Minya, Egypt. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 4967 authors who have published 8986 publications receiving 108384 citations.

Synthesis of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers incorporating hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as future implant materials

Abstract: This study examined the mechanical properties of a disc consisting of electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers incorporated with high purity hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) for potential hard tissue engineering applications. As HAp NPs are insoluble in a PVA aqueous solution, electrospinning of a colloidal solution was used instead of the conventional process, which is based on completely miscible solutions. The PVA/HAp colloidal solutions were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoratic light scattering (ELS), which indicated a unimodal size distribution and negative zeta potential. The physiochemical characterizations confirmed the production of PVA electrospun nanofibers incorporating HAp NPs. To investigate the bioactivity of the produced nanofiber mats, compacted mats with a disc shape were incubated in stimulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C for 6 days. SEM indicated that the incorporation of HAp strongly activates the precipitation of the apatite-like materials because the HAp NPs act as seeds that accelerate the crystallization of biological HAp from the utilized SBF.

Piroxicam-induced hepatic and renal histopathological changes in mice

Abstract: Piroxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used in rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate Piroxicam-induced histopathological changes in livers and kidneys of male albino mice. Methods: Animals were classified into a control group and 4 treated groups. Piroxicam was injected intraperitoneally using 0.3 mg/kg every day for four weeks. Each week a group of mice was sacrificed. Liver and kidneys were obtained for histological and histochemical examination. Animals were classified into a control group and 4 treated groups. Piroxicam was injected intraperitoneally using 0.3 mg/kg every day for four weeks. Each week a group of mice was sacrificed. Liver and kidneys were obtained for histological and histochemical examination. Results: Liver sections appeared with inflammatory cellular infiltration, vacuolated hepatocytes, dilated sinusoids, and increased number of Kupffer cells. Kidney sections appeared with some cellular inflammations. The glomeruli were shrunk resulting in widening of the urinary space. Oedema and vacuolations were noticed in the tubular cells. There was a positive correlation between these pathological changes and the increased treatment periods. Histochemical staining revealed that glycogen and protein contents had decreased in the hepatocytes. This depletion worsened gradually in liver cells after two, three, and four weeks. Similar depletion of the glycogen content was observed in kidney tissue. However, protein content appeared to be slightly decreased in the kidney tubules and glomeruli. Incensement of coarse chromatin in the nuclei of hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and most inflammatory cells were detected by Fuelgen method. Kidney tissues appeared with a severe decrease in coarse chromatin in the nuclei. Liver sections appeared with inflammatory cellular infiltration, vacuolated hepatocytes, dilated sinusoids, and increased number of Kupffer cells. Kidney sections appeared with some cellular inflammations. The glomeruli were shrunk resulting in widening of the urinary space. Oedema and vacuolations were noticed in the tubular cells. There was a positive correlation between these pathological changes and the increased treatment periods. Histochemical staining revealed that glycogen and protein contents had decreased in the hepatocytes. This depletion worsened gradually in liver cells after two, three, and four weeks. Similar depletion of the glycogen content was observed in kidney tissue. However, protein content appeared to be slightly decreased in the kidney tubules and glomeruli. Incensement of coarse chromatin in the nuclei of hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and most inflammatory cells were detected by Fuelgen method. Kidney tissues appeared with a severe decrease in coarse chromatin in the nuclei. Conclusion: Piroxicam has a time-dependent toxic effect on both liver and kidney tissues. Key Words: Histology, piroxicam, liver, kidney, mice.

Mechanisms of gastroprotective effect of eugenol in indomethacin-induced ulcer in rats

Abstract: Possible mechanisms underlying the gastroprotective effect of eugenol against indomethacin-induced ulcer in rats were investigated. Pyloric ligation was performed for collection of gastric juice, and gastric ulceration was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Pretreatment with a single dose of eugenol (100 mg/kg, orally), 1 h before indomethacin administration caused significant reductions in gastric mucosal lesions, gastric acid outputs and pepsin activity associated with a significant increase in mucin concentration. Additionally, eugenol significantly attenuated the elevations in gastric mucosal malondialdehyde and total nitrite, and the decrease in reduced glutathione observed with indomethacin. The protective effect afforded by eugenol was significantly inhibited by prior administration of glibenclamide, the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel blocker, but not by prior use of ruthenium red, the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonist. The results indicate that the anti-ulcer effect of eugenol is mediated by opening of KATP channels, scavenging free radicals, decreasing acid-pepsin secretion, increasing mucin production, and preventing the deleterious rise in nitric oxide level. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.