Callus induction and regeneration in sugarcane under drought stress

Tissue culture methods are useful in assessing the tolerance of various stresses due to the ease of controlling stress under in vitro conditions. This study aimed to investigate the response of sugarcane genotyps to drought stress using calli as a model system. For inducing sugarcane callus, the medium of Murashige and Skoog (MS) was used with different mannitol concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mM) to measure their effects on callus frequency, the day of callus initiation, embryogenic potential, relative growth rate (RGR), water and proline contents, K⁺ and Na⁺ contents, as well as the formation of shoot and roots for three sugarcane genotypes (e.g., GT 54-9, G 84-47, and pH 8013). The RAPD-PCR analysis was carried out using five oligonucleotide primers to identify the genetic variation among sugarcane genotypes. The results indicated that the degree of callus proliferation varied from 70 − 86%. The highest value of callus proliferation, PGR, shoot formation was recorded for the genotype GT 54-9 compared to the other two genotypes (G 84-47 and pH 8013). Calli treated with 100 mM mannitol showed the highest RGR, proline and waer contents for the genotype GT 54-9, while, those treated with 300 mM recorded the lowest values of these parameters for the genotype pH 8013. The genotype G 84-47 collected highest Na⁺ content, while the genotype pH 8013 collected highest K⁺ content. The results of this study recommend preference for GT 54-9 genotype, which is considered the most promising genotype, showing more tolerance to drought stress based on all studied traits.     

Antioxidant,antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic effects of the combination of liposomal resveratrol and carvedilol against doxorubicin‐induced cardiomyopathy in rats

The use of the cytotoxic antibiotic doxorubicin (DOXR) is limited by its dose‐dependent cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of the combination of carvedilol (CARD) and liposomal resveratrol (LIPO RESV) against DOXR‐induced cardiomyopathy in rats. The results of the present study showed that DOXR administration significantly increased heart weight/body weight ratio by 35.6%, creatine kinase‐MB (CK‐MB) by 40.6%, troponin‐I levels by 85%, and decreased reduced glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity by 47% and 52%, respectively compared to the control group. Moreover, cardiac caspase‐3 protein expression was upregulated by 51.6% vs the control group. In contrast, treatment of DOXR‐administered rats with CARD, RESV, or LIPO RESV and their combination for 6 weeks improved all the above‐mentioned measured parameters. In conclusion, concomitant administration of CARD and LIPO RESV exerted additive pharmacological effects in some measured parameters against DOXR‐induced cardiomyopathy and this may be a useful cardioprotective strategy.     

Biochemical Changes Observed After PUVA Versus PUVA Plus Methotrexate Therapy in Mycosis Fungoides Using Synchrotron Infrared Microspectroscopy

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T cell lymphoma in which the distinction between early stage MF and other inflammatory dermatosis remains difficult. Twenty patients of early stage MF and nine patients with psoriasis and lichen planus were included in this study. Ten MF patients were treated with psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) and the other 10 MF patients were treated with PUVA plus methotrexate (MTX) until complete clinical remission. Synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy (SIRM) found that MF lesions were biochemically different compared to inflammatory diseases. After treating MF with either therapeutic modality, the lymphocytic count decreased significantly in both the epidermis and dermis (P < 0.001) but no biochemical changes were observed in the remaining lymphocytes after treatment, indicating the disease process was slowed by treatment but not eradicated. In conclusion SIRM is a promising method for distinguishing MF from other inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and lichen planus. A significant reduction in lymphocyte count indicated that PUVA therapy is an effective treatment for early stage MF, and MTX could be reserved for more advanced cases that are not PUVA responsive. However, SIRM evidence of persistent disease suggests that maintenance therapy is recommended after clinical remission.     

Enhanced skin targeting of retinoic acid spanlastics: in vitro characterization and clinical evaluation in acne patients

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological disorder affecting millions of individuals. Acne therapeutic solutions include topical treatment with retinoic acid (RA) which showed a good efficacy in treatment of mild and moderate cases. However, the high prevalence of adverse events, such as skin dryness, shedding and skin irritation affects the patient convenience and obstruct the acne treatment. Thus, the objective of this paper was to produce Span 60 based elastic vesicles enriched with penetration enhancers, and study their influence on the delivery of RA and its skin irritation. RA-loaded nanovesicles, enriched with Transcutol^®/Labrasol^®, were made using the thin film hydration technique, and assessed for entrapment efficiency, particle size and zeta potential. The optimized RA-loaded nanovesicles (composed of Span 60-Tween 20, and Transcutol^®) were morphologically assessed via transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, RA deposition into newborn mice skin was assessed in vitro under non-occlusive conditions, where the optimized RA-loaded nanovesicles showed 2-fold higher RA deposition in the skin compared to the corresponding one lacking Transcutol. The optimized RA-loaded nanovesicles incorporated into 1% carbopol gel was evaluated for in-vivo clinical performance in acne patients, and showed appreciable advantages over the marketed formulation (Acretin^®) in the treatment of acne regarding skin tolerability and patient’s compliance.     

The Impact of High-dose Sodium Selenite Therapy on Bcl-2 Expression in Adult Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients: Correlation with Response and Survival

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of administration of high doses of sodium selenite on the expression of Bcl-2 in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Fifty patients with newly diagnosed NHL were randomly divided into two groups. Group A-I received standard chemotherapy whereas group A-II received adjuvant sodium selenite 0.2 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for 30 days in addition to chemotherapy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess Bcl-2 at the time of diagnosis and after therapy in the two groups. Sodium selenite administration resulted in significant decline of Bcl-2 level after therapy in group A-II (8.6 ± 6.9 ng/ml vs 3 6.9 ± 7.9 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Also, complete response reached 60% in group A-II compared to 40% in group A-I. Significant increase in CD4/CD8 ratio was noticed in group A-II compared to group A-I after therapy (1.45 ± 0.36 vs 1.10 ± 0.28 p 0.04). Overall survival time in months was significantly longer in complete remission patients in group A-II (21.87 ± 1.41) compared to group A-I (19.70 ± 1.95) (p = 0.01). It is concluded that sodium selenite administration at the dosage and duration chosen acts as a downregulator of Bcl-2 and improves clinical outcome.     

Evaluation of photodynamic treatment using aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate chloride as a photosensitizer: new approach

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been the subject of several clinical studies. Evidence to date suggests that direct cell death may involve apoptosis. T(24) cells (bladder cancer cells, ATCC-Nr. HTB-4) were subjected to PDT with aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate chloride (AlS(4)Pc-Cl) and red laser light at 670 nm. Morphological changes after PDT were visualized under confocal microscopy. Raman microspectroscopy is considered as one of the newly established methods used for the detection of cytochrome c as an apoptotic marker. Results showed that PDT treated T(24) cells seem to undergo apoptosis after irradiation with 3 J cm(-2). Cytochrome c could not be detected from cells incubated with AlS(4)Pc-Cl using Raman spectroscopy whereas AlS(4)Pc-Cl seems to interfere with the Raman spectrum of cytochrome c.     

Isolation and characterization of heavy-metal resistant microbes from roadside soil and phylloplane

Contamination by heavy metals is one of the major environmental problems in many countries and these contaminants reach from various sources such as traffic cars and other activities. Soil and phylloplane samples were collected from eight traffic and two non-traffic sites in Sohag city, Egypt. Heavy metal contents of Cd2?, Zn2? and Pb2? of soil and phylloplane samples were determined and revealed high levels of Zn2? and Pb2? in traffic samples. A total of 112 bacterial and 62 fungal isolates were obtained from soil and phylloplane. Bacterial isolates were characterized on the basis of morphological, physicochemical and biochemical characteristics; and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Fungal isolates were identified according to morphological characterization. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Cd2?, Zn2? and Pb2? for each isolate were detected. All bacterial and fungal isolates demonstrated resistance to lead with MICs >0.528 mM and >0.211, respectively. Moreover, the maximum MICs of cadmium and zinc for bacteria were 0.821 mM and 1.471 mM, respectively, where as, MICs for fungi were 0.328 mM and 0.588 mM, respectively. The most resistant bacterial and fungal isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa RA65 and Penicillium corylophyllum, respectively. Therefore, P. aeruginosa RA65 was selected for further investigations. Growth curve study showed that 0.264 mM lead had no efficiently effect on the growth of P. aeruginosa RA65. Plasmid isolation evidenced by transformation studies indicated that P. aeruginosa RA65 harbored a single plasmid (~9.5 kb) which mediated heavy meal resistance. Consequently, these microbial isolates could be potentially used in bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated environment.