Cataract, which is the opacity inside clear ocular lens of eye, result in the scattering of visible light as it passes via the lens and consequently deterioration in optical image. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether safranal, an active constituent of Crocus sativus L. stigmas, has a protective effect on the cataract in the rat's pups. The animals were randomly divided into five groups, each of which consisted of 7 rat pups. Group I served as normal control (vehicle administration). For testing cataract induction, animals of Groups II, III, and IV were administered a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite on postpartum day 12. After sodium selenite intoxication, Group II served as control selenite, Groups III-IV received intraperitoneal safranal at doses of 200, and 300 mg/kg, respectively from the 11th day through the 17th day, while group V receive only safranal (300 mg/kg). On postpartum day 30, the rat pups were examined for cataract formation, and the lenses were isolated for further analysis. This study found that selenite caused significant (p < 0.05) cataract formation. Through the effects of selenite on the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) which was upregulated. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzymes levels GSH levels and NRF2 protein were downregulated. In contrast, treatment with safranal could significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorate cataract formation and oxidative damage in the lens. Moreover, safranl administration significantly increased the protein expressions of Nrf2 and the GSH level, in addition to reducing the level both the MDA and the level soluble proteins in the lens. Taken together, safranal is a prospective anti-cataract agent that probably delays the onset and progression of cataracts induced by sodium selenite.
Crystalline silicon (c-Si) has low optical absorption due to its high surface reflection of incident light. Nanotexturing of c-Si which produces black silicon (b-Si) offers a promising solution. In this work, effect of H2O2 concentrations towards surface morphological and optical properties of b-Si fabricated by two-step silver-assisted wet chemical etching (Ag-based two-step MACE) for potential photovoltaic (PV) applications is presented. The method involves a 30 s deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in an aqueous solution of AgNO3:HF (5:6) and an optimized etching in HF:H2O2:DI H2O solution under 0.62 M, 1.85 M, 2.47 M, and 3.7 M concentrations of H2O<
... Show MoreThis study compares the effects of plasma jet and plasma-activated water on teeth root canals contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. A plasma jet system was developed for biological purposes that operate at atmospheric pressure. The plasma jet works with argon gas and is generated by a power supply, which supplies a sinusoidal alternating voltage of 12 kV of 20 kHz frequency. The system was optically diagnosed, as it was found that the peaks of the nitrogen spectrum were obtained at the wavelength (300- 450) nm with the appearance of hydroxide peaks at 380 nm. Extracted teeth with one root canal were used, which were contaminated with bacteria and divided into two groups to be treated with a plasma jet and plasma-activated
... Show MoreThin films of (CdO)x (CuO)1-x (where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) were prepared by the pulsed laser deposition. The CuO addition caused an increase in diffraction peaks intensity at (111) and a decrease in diffraction peaks intensity at (200). As CuO content increases, the band gap increases to a maximum of 3.51 eV, maximum resistivity of 8.251x 104 Ω.cm with mobility of 199.5 cm2 / V.s, when x= 0.5. The results show that the conductivity is ntype when x value was changed in the range (0 to 0.4) but further addition of CuO converted the samples to p-type.
The results of the present study show the biological effects of ethyl elcoholic and aquatic extracts as well as alkaloids compounds of Atriplex helmius and Capparis spinosa roots. The results demonstrated the superiority of the cold aqueous extract of C. capparis at the highest concentration of 20 mg / ml, as the killing rate was 81.16% for the second larval instar of Cx. pipiens after 72 hours of exposure. While, the killing rate caused by the same treatment was 79.52% for the third larval instar. The results also showed the superiority of the alcoholic extract against C. spinosa , as the killing rate reached 98.55% for the
... Show MoreThis study was aimed to investigate the effects of Cuminum cyminum seed aqueous extract on the function and histological structure of rat kidney treated with dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Eighteen albino rats weighing 190-240g and aged 10-12 weeks were used for this study which went on for 28 days. The rats were divided into three groups (each with six animals): 1st group: control rats were given food and tap water, 2nd group was given DBP (420mg/Kg. B.W.) with tap water and diet, 3rd group were fed cumin plant orally at a daily dose of (200 mg/kg B.W.) and DBP (420mg/kg. B.W.) was given with drinking water and fed with diet daily. Kidney and liver function parameters were measured and hi
... Show MoreThe objective of this study is to test In Vitro the twenty chemical compounds that contains Schiff base or oxazepine, indoline, imidazolo units in concentrations( 50, 100, 150) mg / dl as antifungal activity, against three pathogenic Candida species that occur in humans. We tested one isolates of
) Candida albicans ,Candida glabrata and Candida krusei). All these species affect human health . The study was carried out in the Laboratory of Public Health , directly of health for the period from May 2016 to April 2017 , Candida spp isolates used in this study were collected from patients admitted at some private c
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to investigate the effects of cages of fish farming of Mussayyib district,The fish farming have been selected at Euphrates river with in Mussayyib districtBabylon province the area of study extend 3 Km at the river and includes 541 cages in water with in 46 fish farming . Water samples were taken from 3 stations three times within one month for each two of them were taken from two water purification stations in mussayyib ,physical and chemical examination of water quality were taken ,The results for samples from the fish farming indicated that PH and salinity of water within acceptable levels, high proporation of dissolved oxygen and vital oxygen required were very high while the turbidity was more t
... Show MoreChronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a public health problem and many studies support the link between kidney dysfunction and cardiovascular events. Aldosterone has been shown for decades that a plasma aldosterone concentration is elevated in CKD. Whilst, Osteoprotegerin (OPG), after its capacity to protect bone, also osteoprotegerin is elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), where it could predict the deterioration of kidney function, cardiovascular, vascular events and all-cause mortality. On the other hand, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), in patients with CKD, its levels seem to increase progressively as kidney function worsens. The aim of the present study is to assess the correlations between serum osteoprotegerin
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