Evaluation of tolerance in Chrysoperla carnea Steph. (Neuropt., Chrysopidae) to successive insecticidal treatments

The results obtained indicate that the Chrysoperia carnea collected from Giza region (where no insecticidal treatments were used), were more sensitive to malathion than those of Kafr El-Sheikh, where insecticides were used intensively. In predator colonies which were treated repeatedly with malathion, the sensitivity to malathion decreased from the first to the fifth generation. On the other hand, insects of the reference colony, showed a considerable increase in sensitivity within the same generations.     

Evaluation of serum Nestin and HOTAIR rs12826786 C>T polymorphism as screening tools for breast cancer in Egyptian women

BackgroundNestin is a neural stem cell protein that plays an important role in cancer stem cells (CSC) development and proliferation. It has been identified as a marker for newly formed endothelial cells and was shown to be preferentially expressed in basal and myoepithelial cells of the mammary gland. HOTAIR is long intergenic non-coding (linRNA) associated with tumorigenesis through promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness as well. HOTAIR gene contains a functioning single nucleotide polymorphic site rs12826786 C>T that has been associated with several cancer types.MethodsWe evaluated serum Nestin and the HOTAIR rs12826786 C>T polymorphism in healthy Egyptian women and those with breast cancer as a possible screening tool to identify patients with breast cancer. Also, we tested the possible association of the two markers with each other and the aggressiveness of the disease.ResultsPatients with breast cancer had a median (Min-Max) of serum Nestin 31.3 (6.7-167.3 pg/mL), while control subjects had a median (Min-Max) of serum Nestin 42.3 (25.7-315.95) pg/mL. The best cut-off value for serum Nestin to differentiate normal subjects and patients with breast cancer was 39.9 pg/mL. This cut-off value had a diagnostic sensitivity of 84.8% and specificity of 65.1%. There was a significant difference in the distribution of different alleles in patients with breast cancer than normal subjects (P=0.039 Exact Fisher test). The breast cancer patients group had 23.9% CC, 52.1% CT, and 23.9% TT genotypes, respectively, while the control group had 46.9% CC, 42.8% CT, and 10.2% TT, respectively.ConclusionsA significantly low serum Nestin below 39.9 pg/mL and a higher percentage of the T/T homozygous variant allele of HOTAIR rs12826786 C>T were found in Egyptian patients with breast cancer. We suggest that the reported cut-off value of serum Nestin and the presence of C/T polymorphism can be used to assess the risk of females for developing breast cancer and might be of potential benefit in screening the disease. Larger studies in different ethnic groups are needed to confirm our findings.     

Liraglutide treatment effects on rat ovarian and uterine tissues

Liraglutide is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of Liraglutide in ovarian and uterine tissues in albino rats. 30 female rats were divided into 3 groups, 10 rats each. Group (I) served as control group, group (II) animals administrated therapeutic doses of liraglutide for 5 weeks and group (III) animals were injected with Liraglutide as the pervious group. Then they were left for 2 weeks after drug termination as a recovery period. The biochemical results showed a decrease in the female reproductive hormones profile, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and an increase in the level of testosterone (T). Liraglutide administration caused a significant decrease in the antioxidant markers, glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant increase in the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA). The histopathological examination revealed apoptosis of granulosa cells of different types of follicles with an increase in atretic and disorganized follicles. Vacuolar degenerative changes, and Atrophied muscle with sever inflammatory cell infiltrate in endometrium with congested, dilated blood vessels could be detected in uterine tissues. However, most of the deleterious effects of liraglutide decreased after drug discontinuation. In this study, we clarify the harmful effect of the liraglutide on ovarian and uterine tissues, thus potentially causing reproductive health malfunction and reducing the chances of pregnancy.     

Development of novel isatin–nicotinohydrazide hybrids with potent activity against susceptible/resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and bronchitis causing–bacteria

Joining the global fight against Tuberculosis, the world''s most deadly infectious disease, herein we present the design and synthesis of novel isatin-nicotinohydrazide hybrids (5a–m and 9a–c) as promising anti-tubercular and antibacterial agents. The anti-tubercular activity of the target hybrids was evaluated against drug-susceptible M. tuberculosis strain (ATCC 27294) where hybrids 5d, 5g and 5h were found to be as potent as INH with MIC = 0.24 µg/mL, also the activity was evaluated against Isoniazid/Streptomycin resistant M. tuberculosis (ATCC 35823) where compounds 5g and 5h showed excellent activity (MIC = 3.9 µg/mL). Moreover, the target hybrids were examined against six bronchitis causing-bacteria. Most derivatives exhibited excellent antibacterial activity. K. pneumonia emerged as the most sensitive strain with MIC range: 0.49–7.81 µg/mL. Furthermore, a molecular docking study has proposed DprE1 as a probable enzymatic target for herein reported isatin-nicotinohydrazide hybrids, and explored the binding interactions within the vicinity of DprE1 active site.     

Molecular aspects in elevation of sunflower tolerance to drought by boron and calcium foliar sprays

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid Hysun 333 (black seeded) was cultivated in a greenhouse and subjected during flowering stage to drought with or without the application of boron (B) and calcium (Ca) foliar sprays alone or in combination. The results revealed that drought induced a sharp decrease in seed fresh weight, seed protein and lipid contents. Application of B and Ca combined sprays overcame the drought effects on seed weight and seed lipid contents. Catalase expression was detected as a single band for all treatments where peroxidase isozymes were increased to seven, six of them were expressed when B sprays were applied with drought indicating that B has a major role in peroxidase up-regulation under drought conditions. SDS-PAGE analysis showed differential changes in protein profile with an appearance and/or disappearance of polypeptide protein bands, some of which were concluded to be drought-related proteins. The combined sprays of B and Ca seemed to overcome the effects of drought through minimizing band alterations (disappearance and/or appearance). The DD-RT PCR showed a variation in gene expression between the control and the other treatments. Sprays of B and Ca in combination seemed to be the most effective in band up-regulation and/or down-regulation that might play a possible role in improving tolerance of sunflower to overcome the drought deleterious effects.     

Study the association of microRNA polymorphisms (miR-146a,miR-4513) with the risk of coronary heart diseases in Egyptian population

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent cause of cardiovascular mortality in the world. It is well established that microRNAs (miRNAs) and their variants have an essential role in regulating the development of cardiovascular physiology, thus impacting the pathophysiology of heart diseases. This study was designed to determine the possible association of miRNA polymorphisms (miRNA-146a rs2910164C/G and miR-4513 rs2168518G/A) with susceptibility to CHD in Egyptian patients and their correlation with different biochemical parameters. The study comprised 300 participants, including 200 unrelated patients with CHD and 100 healthy controls. Anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters were measured as well genetic analysis for rs2910164C/G and rs2168518G/A polymorphisms were performed for all subjects using TaqMan real-time PCR assay. Our results revealed that the biomedical parameters have a significant correlation between CHD patients and healthy controls with a p < 0.05. Analyses of genotype distribution for (rs2910164 and rs2168518) revealed a significant association with CHD [odd ratio = 4.54, confidence interval (CI 95%) = (2.41–8.53)] and [odd ratio = 0.88, (CI 95%) = (0.83–0.92)], respectively. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was detected between lipid profile levels and both rs2910164 and rs2168518 polymorphisms. The present study's findings indicated that the selected polymorphisms, miR-146a rs2910164 and miR-4513 rs2168518 could represent a useful biomarker for susceptibility to CHD in the Egyptian population. These genetic characteristics and personal habits and environmental factors may contribute to the development of CHD.     

Metformin and/or low dose radiation reduces cardiotoxicity and apoptosis induced by cyclophosphamide through SIRT-1/SOD and BAX/Bcl-2 pathways in rats

Molecular Biology Reports - Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent with effective antineoplastic, immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties. Despite its vast...