Ionizing radiation has cytotoxic and genotoxic effects caused mainly by the oxidative damage induced by free radical release. The need for radioprotectives is increasing to protect normal tissues during radiotherapy. In the present study, we investigated the radioprotective effect of Date syrup in rats subjected to whole body radiation at 6 Gy through biochemical, molecular and histopathological analysis. Significant elevations were recorded in the activities of serum ALT, AST, ALP and LDH and in the levels of all lipid profiles parameters, while the level of HDL-C was reduced. The concentration of liver MDA was elevated with depletion of hepatic glutathione (GSH) and catalase. DNA damage was evidenced by increased DNA strand breakage and DNA-protein crosslinks. Significant elevations were observed in the expression of liver TNF-α and serum activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9). Pretreatment of rats with Date syrup ameliorated the tissue damage induced by radiation as evidenced by the improvement of liver function, antioxidant status and reduction of DNA damage. Besides, liver TNF-α expression and serum MMP-9 activity were reduced. In conclusion, Date syrup could alleviate the toxic effects of ionizing radiation and thus is useful as a radioprotective in radiotherapy regimen.

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This article presents a trial of the treatment of chronic-phase (CP) and accelerated-phase (AP) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) that is resistant or only partially responded to chemotherapy. Blood samples of 6 cases diagnosed with CML were studied and compared with a control group. The first 3 cases were AP CML resistant to imatinib and nilotinib. The other 3 partially responded to the chemotherapy and returned to CP CML. Triple blood cultures for each case were exposed to a cold, pulsed, atmospheric pressure plasma jet for different durations (40, 80, and 120 seconds). Hematological, cytogenetic, and biochemical investigations were done before and after plasma jet exposure. The results showed an increase in necrotic and apoptotic cell counts and a decrease in the number of characteristic nucleoplasmic bridges (multinucleated threadlike shape). Concentrations of transforming growth factor-β1 and arginase decreased in the CML blood samples after exposure to plasma jet.This type of nonthermal plasma can kill cancer cells and prevent the cells from dividing, especially for the 80-second duration.

Plasma medicine is an emerging field of research that aims to increase understanding and utilization of the interaction of plasmas with living tissues and cells. Low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma is a multi-component system that includes such biologically active agents as charged particles, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, metastable-state molecules or atoms, and UV radiation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects on human blood cultures of exposure to the plasma components for different time periods (20 s, 40 s, 60 s, and 80 s). The present study recorded the scoring of micronuclei in both mono-and bi-nucleated lymphocytes as well as the apoptosis and necrosis of cells for each time period of exposure. Three blood samples for each experimental dose were compared with a non-exposed (control) group. In addition, the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed for each experimental dose and for the control samples. The results showed that the exposure of blood samples to the plasma jet yielded significant incremental differences in micronuclei, IL-1β, and TNF-α, except in the first dosage group. Based on these results, we conclude that plasma can be used to repair tissues, cure diseases, and treat tumors.KEY WORDS: plasma jet, micronucleus test, interleukin-1β, blood culture, tumor necrosis factor alpha Plasma Medicine 192Ahmed et al.

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One of the numerous methods that could be used in order to confine hot fusion plasma is the Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) fusion. IEC plasma device was studied experimentally with Argon and Helium gases at different pressures. IEC will be supplied with an electric field to heat ions to suitable conditions for nuclear fusion.IEC fusion plasma device must be required to control plasma shape, color, and parameters easily. The inner electrode (cathode) and the outer electrode (the anode) were established with specific characteristics and features. Using Paschen's Curve, it is concluded that, the breakdown voltage (𝑉 𝑏 ) depends on the product of the working gas pressure (P) and the gap distance between two electrodes (d). The minimum breakdown voltages(𝑉 𝑏 ) 𝑚𝑖𝑛 are 97.82volts at𝑃𝑑 = 0.5 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟. 𝑐𝑚 and 74.72volts at 𝑃𝑑 = 2 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟. 𝑐𝑚for the Argon and Helium gases respectively i.e. the minimum breakdown voltages (𝑉 𝑏 ) 𝑚𝑖𝑛 for Argon gas is higher than minimum breakdown voltages for Helium gas. The Townsend Second Ionization Coefficient dependson the type of gas, the material of cathode, and reduced electric field (E/P).The visible light intensity of Argon glow plasma was found to be greater than Helium glow plasma.