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.

An Efficient Marine Predators Algorithm for Feature Selection

Abstract: Feature Selection (F.S.) reduces the number of features by removing unnecessary, redundant, and noisy information while keeping a relatively decent classification accuracy. F.S. can be considered an optimization problem. As the problem is challenging and there are many local solutions, stochastic optimization algorithms may be beneficial. This paper proposes a novel approach to dimension reduction in feature selection. As a seminal attempt, this work uses binary variants of the recent Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) to select the optimal feature subset to improve classification accuracy. MPA is a new and novel nature-inspired metaheuristic. This research proposes an algorithm that is a hybridization between MPA and k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) called MPA-KNN. K-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) is used to evaluate the selected features on medical datasets with feature sizes ranging from tiny to massive. The proposed methods are evaluated on 18 well-known UCI medical dataset benchmarks and compared with eight well-regarded metaheuristic wrapper-based approaches. The core exploratory and exploitative processes are adapted in MPA to select the optimal and meaningful features for achieving the most accurate classification. The results show that the proposed MPA-KNN approach had a remarkable capability to select the optimal and significant features. It performed better than the well-established metaheuristic algorithms we tested. The algorithms we used for comparison are Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), MothFlame Optimization Algorithm (MFO), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Slap Swarm Algorithm (SSA), Butterfly Optimization Algorithm (BFO), and Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO). This paper is the first work that implements MPA for Feature Selection problems. The results ensure that the proposed MPA-KNN approach has a remarkable capability to select the optimal and significant features and performed better than several metaheuristic algorithms. MPA-KNN achieves the best averages accuracy, Sensitivity, and Specificity rates of all datasets.

Curcumin ameliorates methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Abstract: Methotrexate is an effective anticancer and immunosuppressive agent. However, nephrotoxicity is one of the complications of its use. On the other hand, curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, is reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Those two properties are likely to prevent methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible protective effect of curcumin against methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity and delineate various mechanism(s) underlies this effect in rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of methotrexate (7 mg/kg/day) for three consecutive days. Curcumin administration in methotrexate-intoxicated rats resulted in nephroprotective effects as evidenced by the significant decrease in levels of serum creatinine and urea as well as renal malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and tumor necrosis factor-α with a concurrent increase in renal glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities compared to nephrotoxic untreated rats. Additionally, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that curcumin treatment markedly reduced cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Histopathological examination confirmed the protective effects of curcumin. In conclusion, curcumin protected rats from methotrexate nephrotoxicity, at least in part, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Limiting prolonged inflammation during proliferation and remodeling phases of wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats supplemented with camel undenatured whey protein.

Abstract: Impaired diabetic wound healing occurs as a consequence of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokine production. We previously found that whey protein (WP) was able to normally regulate the ROS and inflammatory cytokines during the inflammatory phase (first day) in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic wound healing. This study was designed to assess the effect of WP on metabolic status, the inflammation and anti-inflammation response, oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system during different phases of the wound healing process in diabetic rats. WP at a dosage of 100 mg/kg of body weight, dissolved in 1% CMC, was orally administered daily to wounded normal (non-diabetic) and STZ-induced diabetic rats for 8 days starting from the 1st day after wounding. The data revealed that WP enhanced wound closure and was associated with an increase in serum insulin levels in diabetic rats and an alleviation of hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic states in diabetic animals. The increase in insulin levels as a result of WP administration is associated with a marked multiplication of β-cells in the core of islets of Langerhans. WP induced a reduction in serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels and an increase in IL-10 levels, especially on the 4th day after wounding and treatment. WP also suppressed hepatic lipid peroxidation and stimulated the antioxidant defense system by increasing the level of glutathione and the activity of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in wounded diabetic rats. WP was observed to enhance wound closure by improving the diabetic condition, limiting prolonged inflammation, suppressing oxidative stress and elevating the antioxidant defense system in diabetic rats.