Acute lung injury (ALI) is a state of inflammation that breaks down the lung endothelial and epithelial cell barriers. In the current study, we investigated the role of resveratrol (RES) in regulating the expression and functions of tight junction proteins (TJP) in epithelial cell responses following exposure to this superantigen. To this end, C3H mice were given resveratrol orally twice prior to intranasal challenge with lethal SEB doses. 16S rRNA results showed that there were microbes transported in the blood in addition to the lung and colonic tissues. For this purpose, we used a reporter E. coli-GFP labeled bacterium to monitor and examine the viability of this bacterium in case of leak from lung into blood and other body compartments during the peak of ALI. The flow cytometry results showed significant reduction in copy numbers of this reporter in the blood in RES-treated mice in comparison to vehicle-treated mice. However, bacteriological examination for viability by culture of the blood showed all were negative for all experimental groups. Mouse transcriptome array showed increase in TJP gene expression in colonic and alveolar epithelial cells of RES-treated mice. Some of these genes were validated with qPCR. We found that there was an increase in the expression of some TJP genes following RES treatment. Commensals and probiotics are also known to decrease intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, mass spectrometry (MS) analysis showed increase in the metabolome in colons of RES-treated group that help in strengthening of intestinal barrier. In conclusion, RES treatment increased directly or indirectly the rigidity of cell boundaries resulting in amelioration of ALI-dependent complications.
Combination of natural poly-phenolic compounds with chemotherapeutic agents is recently being a novel strategy in cancer therapy researches owing to their potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that modulate several intracellular signaling pathways.
Resveratrol and Baicalein are well known poly-phenolic compounds that belong to stilbene and flavone subclasses, respectively.
This study aims to investigate the possible enhancement effect of resveratrol and Baicalein when combined with doxorubicin using a different combination ratio and applied on two cancer cell lines: HCT116 (colorectal cancer cells) and HepG2 (hepatocellular cancer cells). It also investigates the possibility of such natural compounds to p
... Show MoreBackground: Hypothyroidism is a decrease in the production of the thyroid hormones and leads to gland dysfunction. Ashwagandha extract was used as an ayurvedic treatment and supposed to be as antihypothyroidism agent.
Objectives: to investigate the impact of ashwagandha (Ash) extract on propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism in rats.
Subjects and Methods: The rats were divided into three groups, control group, PTU (hypothyroid) group (6mg/kg/day by oral route), PTU (6mg/kg/day by oral route) +Ash (50mg/kg/day by oral route) treated group. All treatment continued for
... Show MoreBackground: Acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency. The diagnosis of this condition is still essentially clinical and there is difficulty in the clinical diagnosis, especially among elderly, children and patients with a typical presentation, so early and accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis is important to avoid its complications.Objectives: To evaluate the degree of accuracy of Alvarado scoring system in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Method: Two hundred patients were admitted to the Alkindy Teaching Hospital from January 2011 to april 2014- presented with symptoms and signs suggestive of acute appendicitis. After examination and investigations all patients were given a score according to Alvarado sc
... Show MoreBackground: The acute phase response is a major pathophysiologic phenomena that accompanies inflammation whether acute or chronic. The complements 3 (C3), complement4
(C4) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are positive acute phase proteins (+ve APPs) their production is increased by hepatocyte in osteoarthritis (OA). Chloroquine (CQ) which is a diprotic weak base traditionally used to treat malaria.Todate, the phosphate salt of CQ is used to decrease +ve APPs.
Objective: To evaluate the role of chloroquine phosphate on acute phase proteins C3, C4 and Creactive protein in patients with knee OA.
Subjects and methods :A total of seventy four patients (45 female and 29male) were selected randomly from the outpati
Both methotrexate and vitamin D3 are used in combination for the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study is to highlight the effect of vitamin D3 on methotrexate-induced jejunum damage using biochemical and histopathological studies. Seven groups of both sexes of rats were selected and treated as follows: (Group I and Group II) : control 1,control 2 (I.P normal saline) daily for 14 and 21 days respectively ; (Group III and Group IV) :vitamin D3 groups (500 IU/rat/day) orally for 14 and 21 days, respectively;(Group V): once daily dose of methotrexate 20mg/kg, I.P injected for 4 days;(Group VI):vitamin D3 (500 IU/rat/day) once daily for 14 days and methotrexate (20 mg/kg I.P) injected only at day 10;.(Group
... Show MoreTenofovir disoproxil fumarate, a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor utilized for the treatment of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections; and is now one of the most widely used antiretroviral drug. However, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can induce nephrotoxicity, which may be attributed to the interaction between such drug and the organic anion transporters (hOAT1, and OAT3) with consequent changes in levels of some parameters that may have a role in nephrotoxicity. Thiazide diuretics have high to intermediate potency of inhibition of OAT1s and OAT3; thus, it may possess nephroprotective effects. This study was designed to investigate whether hydrochlorthiazide has nephroprotective effects on tenofovir diso
... Show MoreSome feline intestinal parasites such as Toxocara, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium can spread to humans through feces. Therefore, it is important to prevent exposure of family members by screening cat fecal samples twice per year for potential treatment regimes. This study was initiated to compare and identify gastrointestinal parasites of domestic and stray cats (Felis domesticus) in Baghdad City, Iraq. Parasite eggs and oocysts were identified under light microscopy by applying standard laboratory techniques (flotation and sedimentation). Overall, 59 of 121 (48.7%) fecal samples were positive for intestinal parasites. The rate of infection by Toxoplasma gondii was (3.31%), Isospora spp. (6.61%), Cryptosporidium spp. (31.4%), and Toxocara spp
... Show MoreThis study was conducted with the aim to extract and purify a polyphenolic compound “ Resveratrol†from the skin of black grapes Vitis vinifera cultivated in Iraq. The purified resveratrol is obtained after ethanolic extraction with 80% v/v solution for fresh grape skin, followed by acid hydrolysis with 10% HCl solution then the aglycon moiety was taken with organic solvent
( chloroform). Using silica gel G60 packed glass column chromatography with mobile phase benzene: methanol: acetic acid 20:4:1 a
... Show MoreBackground: The high prevalence of head injury among civilian populations and the provision of the adequate hospitals services have become matters of worldwide concern. Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) have been shown to be of highly resistant to systemic factors and toxic or metabolic derangements, making them particularly useful in differentiating reversible brain-stem dysfunction from that due to structural disruption.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the changes in brainstem evoked response (BAER( in patient with moderate closed head injury and assessing again these changes in BAER six months later as follow up indices.
Background: Pulmonary masses represent a great challenge for diagnosis. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is one of the diagnostic methods which was used since long time.
Objectives: To concern on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of pulmonary masses regarding benefits, precautions and patient’s preparation to avoid possible complications.
Patients and Methods: A prospective study is carried out from December 2008 to July 2015 on 45 patients presented with pulmonary masses to the Department of the thoracic and vascular surgery at Al-Yarmook teaching hospital and from the private sector. A Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology was done for them under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.
Results: 40 patients (88.9%) got acc