Doxorubicin (DOX) is an efficient antineoplastic agent with a broad antitumor spectrum; however, doxorubicin-associated cardiotoxic adverse effect through oxidative damage and apoptosis limits its clinical application. Cafestol (Caf) is a naturally occurring diterpene in unfiltered coffee with unique antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-inflammatory activities by activating the Nrf2 pathway. The present study aimed to investigate the potential chemoprotective effect of cafestol on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Wistar albino rats of both sexes were administered cafestol (5 mg/kg/day) for 14 consecutive days by oral gavage alone or with doxorubicin which was injected as a single dose (15 mg/kg intraperitoneally at day 14) to induce toxicity. The result showed that Caf significantly improved cardiac injury induced by doxorubicin, decreased serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, ALP, and ALT, and improved histopathological changes. In addition, cafestol significantly inhibited DOX-induced cardiac oxidative stress as seen in the reduced level of MDA and increased GSH, SOD, CAT, and Gpx-1 cardiac tissue levels; cafestol significantly enhanced Nrf2 gene and protein expression and promoted the expression of downstream antioxidant genes HO-1 and NQO-1 and downregulated Keap1 and NF-κB genes’ expression; in addition, Caf significantly reduced inflammatory mediators, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels and inhibited cardiac apoptosis by modulating Bax and Casp 3 tissue levels and reduced TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, the present study confirmed that cafestol improved the cardiotoxic effects induced by doxorubicin through the regulation of apoptosis and oxidative stress response through the Nrf2 pathway; this study suggests that cafestol may serve as a potential adjuvant in chemotherapy to alleviate DOX-induced toxicities.
One of the goals of adding adjuvants to agricultural spray solutions is to enhance the droplet size characteristics of this spray. Droplet size, in turn, has an influence in the deposited spray quality, in addition to the drift and losses of spray to off-target places. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of adding adjuvants to two types of water from different sources on the droplet size characteristics. Two types of adjuvants were employed in the tests: the active substance content of the first adjuvant was a 50% aqueous solution of sodium salt of alkylbenzenesulfonic acid—10% (HY), whereas the second was from rapeseed oil (natural origin)—85% (OL). Both adjuvants were tested in two concentrations: the first was
... Show MoreFencing is characterized by rapid and sudden changes that require speed in decision-making and motor responses. In addition, it requires high sensorimotor awareness and strong coordination between leg, arm, and eye movements. In the current study, the researchers used cognitive coordination response speed exercises and physical and skill exercises in order to develop performance in the time counterattack. The aim of the study is to identify the effect of cognitive coordination response speed exercises on the performance of the time counterattack of female foil fencers. An experimental method was used on the female fencing team players at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences for Women/University of Baghdad in the spo
... Show MoreBackground: Obesity increases the host’s susceptibility by modulating the immune and inflammatory systems in a manner that predisposes to inflammatory tissue destruction and leaves an individual at greater risk of periodontitis. Melatonin is a pineal secretory product involved in numerous actions, such as regulation of internal biological clocks and energy metabolism, and it functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. There exists a substantial amount of evidence supporting the beneficial effect of melatonin supplementation on obesity and its complications. Aim of the study: To investigate the effects of systemic melatonin intake on periodontal health status and lipid profiles in obese periodontitis patients. Subjects and met
... Show MoreVisceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease on the rise in different regions of Iraq, especially in areas with poor hygiene and among refugee populations. The effectiveness of existing chemotherapy for leishmaniasis is constrained by its high toxicity, cost, and the development of drug resistance. The current research examined various concentrations (ranging from 125 to 1000 μM) of lupeol to evaluate its ability to boost the generation of nitric oxide, which has anti-leishmanial properties, in an ex-vivo macrophage model. Griess assay was used to detect the nitric oxide (NO) production in Leishmania donovani infected U937 cell-line macrophages along 24 and 48 hours post treated. The nitric oxide concentration was signifi
... Show MoreChlorine disinfection is a globally used method to ensure the safety of drinking water. However, it has not always been successful against viruses and, therefore, it is important to find new methods to disinfect water. Seventeen different coliphages were isolated from the treated municipal wastewater. These coliphages and MS2 were treated with different dosages of chlorine in drinking water, and a combined chlorine/ultraviolet irradiation treatment for the chlorine-resistant coliphages. Chlorine disinfection with 0.3–0.5 mg/L total chlorine (free Cl-dosage 0.12–0.21 mg/L) for 10 min achieved 2.5–5.7 Log10-reductions for 11 sensitive coliphages. The six most resistant coliphages showed no reduction with these chlorine concentra
... Show MoreThis paper reports an experimental study regarding the influence of vertical oscillations on the natural convection heat transfer from a vertical channel. An experimental set-up was constructed and calibrated; the vertical channel was tested in atmosphere at 25o
C. The channel-to-ambient temperature difference was varied with the power supply to the electrical heater ranging between
15W to 70W divided into five levels. Data sets were measured under different operating condition from a test rig under six vibrating velocities (VVs) levels ranging from (5-30 m/s) in addition to the stationary state. The results show that the maximum heat transfer enhancement factor (E) occurs at Rayleigh number (Ra=2.328×103 ) and vibrational Reynol
Characterized Iraq, being one of the oldest countries where oil was discovered in the Middle East since 1927, and possess a vast oil reserves. In addition, the production and marketing of Iraqi oil continued since 1934 and until the present time. Over the past eight decades, the range of economic benefit of the financial Iraq’s oil resources varied according to the applicable forms of investments in the oil sector in Iraq.
This research included a study
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