Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was announced in early December 2019. The pandemic situation is declared. This study aimed to evaluate the role of biomarkers in estimating the severity and predicting the prognosis of COVID-19. Results A total of 116 confirmed patients were included in this study. The patients were evaluated clinically. The disease severity was assessed. The measured and calculated laboratory tests were done. The primary outcome is the 30-day mortality. Patients were assigned to the severe (14.7%) and non-severe (85.3%) groups. At IL-6 level of 32.3 pg/mL (the highest Youden’s index = 0.77), IL-6 can differentiate severe from non-severe patients with 82.4% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity. IL-6 can predict the severity [odds ratio of 87.7 (95% CI = 18.9-408.2) (P < 0.0001)]. After adjustment to the significant clinical and laboratory parameters, IL-6 had an adjusted odds ratio of 30.8 (95% CI = 1.1-728.3) (P = 0.046). A high CRP/albumin ratio of > 11.4 was associated with COVID-19 mortality [hazard ratio = 59.9 (95% CI = 7.4–488.3) (P < 0.0001)]. High CRP/albumin ratio had an adjusted hazard ratio of 26.5 (95% CI = 2.6-270.7) after adjustment of age and presence of co-morbidities (P = 0.006). Conclusion IL-6 level could effectively discriminate COVID-19 severity. CRP/albumin ratio was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality rate in patients with COVID-19. IL-6 and CRP/albumin ratio seem to be valuable biomarkers in evaluating the severity and prognosis of COVID-19, respectively.

The current study aimed to assess the antiulcerogenic impact of mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells (BMMSCs) against gastric ulcer induced by the use of piroxicam in rats and to compare this effect with the antiulcer drug “Pantoloc ®” proton pump inhibitors. The study included histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examination in stomach of rats in different study groups. In the ulcerated group, the glandular region of the stomach displayed clear mucosal lesions occurring as perforations along the stomach axis. In addition, stomach displayed degeneration of surface mucous cells accompanied by pyknosis, vacuolation among parietal cells in ishmus region, basal region with vacuolated chief cells and karyolitic nucleus of parietal cells. Moreover, Stomach sections of ulcer model rats showed intensive immunoreactivity to cytokeratin 20, Cox 2 and PCNA. Findings of the present study have shown that BMMSCs have an ameliorative effect against piroxicam-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Collectively, the proposed work has shown that BMMSCs have a curative capacity as an antiulcer due to their high antioxidant activity. Further studies are required in molecular levels to understand the mechanism of action during treatment.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of berberine (BER) against Plasmodium chabaudi-induced infection in mice. Animals were divided into three groups. Group I served as a vehicle control. Group II and group III were infected with 1000 P. chabaudi infected erythrocytes. Group III was gavaged with 100 μl of 10 mg/kg berberine chloride for 10 days. All mice were sacrificed at day 10 post-infection. The percentage of parasitemia was significantly reduced more than 30%, after treatment of mice with BER. Infection caused marked hepatic injuries as indicated by histopathological alterations as evidenced by the presence of hepatic lobular inflammatory cellular infiltrations, dilated sinusoids, vacuolated hepatocytes, increased number of Kupffer cells and the malaria pigment, hemozoin. These changes in livers led to the increased histological score. Also, infection induced a significant increase in liver alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and a significant increase in the total leucocytic count. Moreover, mice became anemic as proved by the significant decrease in erythrocyte number and haemoglobin content. BER showed a significant protective potential by improving the above mentioned parameters. Based on these results, it is concluded that berberine could offer protection against hepatic tissue damage.

Background: This study investigates the effects of nano-curcumin on gene expression of insulin and insulin receptor in diabetic rats. Forty female rats were divided into four groups (ten rats for each). The first group was non-diabetic rats acting as negative control and rats of the second group were rendered diabetic by STZ served as positive controls. The third one was induced diabetic and received oral Diamicron for 3 weeks. The fourth was rendered diabetic and administrated oral nano-curcumin for 3 weeks. Results: A significant increase of blood glucose was showed in diabetic rats with significant reduction of insulin level compared to non-diabetic controls. The gene expression of insulin and insulin receptor were more significant in diabetic untreated rats compared to the control non-diabetic group. The induction of curcumin as well as Diamicron to diabetic rats normalized significantly their blood sugar level. Also, curcumin-treated rats indicated significant higher in gene expression of insulin and insulin receptor than positive and negative controls. Conclusion: The results suggest that nano-curcumin could be used as antidiabetic therapy, induced hypoglycemia, and increase the gene expression of insulin and insulin receptor in STZ-induced diabetic rats. More studies are needed to illustrate the definite mechanism of action of nano-curcumin concerning the upregulation of gene expression of the above-mentioned genes.

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Background Colorectal cancer is considered a potential causative agent of morbidity and death, making it a particularly dangerous malignancy. The current study aims to assess the efficacy of ferulic acid (FA) to attenuate the harmful side effect of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in colon cancer tissues induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Results Regarding the colon tissues of male Wistar-albino rats (Rattus norvegicus), combined FA and 5FU showed the approximately normal structure of mucosa. The treated groups showed a remarkable reduction in Ki67, Ck20, and an elevation in caspase-3 and P53. There was significant upregulation of P53 in both 5FU and combined FA–5FU groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.00001, respectively). Conclusions The present results revealed a potential role of the combined therapy by 5FU and FA in the suppression of colon cancer induced by DMH by upregulation of apoptosis with the clear effect of FA in attenuating the side effects of 5FU on the normal cells.

T O produce unique products with novel properties, to manipulate materials at the nanoscale level. Nanoparticles demonstrate novel or improved characteristics that are supported with specific properties such as size and distribution. The effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin-were evaluated in this study. Forty male albino rats with weight 180-200 gm were used in this study and grouped as follows: Group A: non-diabetic animals (n=10) negative control; Group B1: Diabetic animals that did not received any treatment (n=10) positive control; Group B2: the Diabetic animals (n = 10) who received ZnONPs (10 mg / kg body weight oral daily); Group B3: the Diabetic animals (n=10) who received Diamicron (10 mg / kg body weight oral daily). Intraperitonial injection of streptozotocin by a single dose (60 mg/kg body weight) was used to induce diabetes. After 7 days from the induction, the samples were taken by capillary from fasting rats to measure glucose and insulin (Initial) and after 21 days. At the end of experiment the blood glucose, serum insulin and HbA1c levels were determined for all studied groups. Tissues samples from liver and pancreas were taken to determine the histopathology and gene expression for insulin and insulin receptor. The results indicated high level of blood glucose and low level of insulin in diabetic rats as compared to the-ve control, while their levels were significantly modified in rats that administrated ZnONPs and Diamicron and this results will be confirmed by the gene expression. zinc oxide nanoparticles act as potent antidiabetic agent through decreasing blood glucose and increasing serum insulin.

Background: Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. (Fabaceae) is an ornamental tree with flamboyant flowers. Objective: to carry out pharmacognostical studies to evaluate the features of different D. regia organs, quantification and HPLC profiling of phenolics and flavonoids of leaf extract, also to evaluate possible hepatoprotective activities of the leaf hydroalcoholic extract and its fractions. Materials and Methods: Total phenolic content (TPC) as gallic acid equivalent /100 g dried extract (GAE/100 g DE), and total flavonoid content (TFC) as catechin equivalent /100 g (CE/100 g DE) of the leaves were carried out using Folin-Ciocalteu's and aluminum chloride assays, respectively. Hepatoprotective activity was determined against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Results: TPC and TFC were 5.5 g GAE/100 g DE and 53.3 g CE/100 g DE respectively, with identification of 13 flavonoids, and 17 phenolics. Hesperidin was present as the highest flavonoid content (48622.5 mg/100 g DE), followed by quercetrin (711.5 mg/100 g DE), whilst hydroxytyrosol was the major identified phenolic compound (1111.2 mg/100g DE) followed by catechin (1026.1 mg/100 g DE). The ethyl acetate fraction showed significant protection against the elevation in the levels of serum biochemical parameters, normal hepatocytes with minimum fatty changes, portal vain congestion and mild inflammatory cell infiltration around the portal vain comparable to CCl 4 group (P< 0.001). The potent and significant hepatoprotective activity of the ethyl acetate fraction may be attributed to its high content of antioxidant phenolic compounds. Thus, the present study may be the first to test the hepatoprotective effect of Delonix regia fractions. INTRODUCTIONThe Caesalpinioideae (Fabaceae) represent approximately 11% of all legume taxa with more than 2250 species of mostly tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs.1 Delonix is a genus of Caesalpinioideae that is widely used in folk medicine. Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. (Poinciana regia Boj. ex Hook, Gul mohar) is an ornamental tree (10-18 m) with fern-like bipinnately compound leaves and attractive red peacock flowers. It is native to Madagascar and widely grown in Egypt (especially in Cairo and Sinai), lining the streets and gardens for its beauty.2 Delonix regia, with an impressive range of medicinal and biological properties, has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of constipation, inflammation, arthritis, hemiplagia, gynecological disorders, and rheumatism. The leaves were reported to have antidiabetic, 4 anti-inflammatory, 5 antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.6 A methanolic extract of aerial parts possesses hepatoprotective activity against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rats.7 Chemically, the leaves are reported to contain lupeol, epilupeol, β-sitosterol 8 and phenolic acids (gallic, protocatechuic and salicylic acids).9 It is well established that phenolic antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, are commonly distributed in plant leaves. Natural flavonoids and phenolic acids ha...