High levels of blood glucose and lipids are well-known risk factors for heart diseases. Bee venom is a natural product that has a potent hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The current study aimed to determine the bee venom effects on cardiac dysfunction compared to combined therapy of metformin and atorvastatin in diabetic hyperlipidemic rats. The median lethal dose of bee venom was estimated, and then 50 adult male albino rats were categorized into five groups. One group was fed a standard diet and served as a negative control, while the other groups were given nicotinamide and streptozotocin injections to induce type 2 diabetes. After confirming diabetes, the rats were fed a high-fat diet for four weeks. The four groups were divided as follows: one group served as a positive control, whereas the other three groups were treated with bee venom (0.5 mg/kg), bee venom (1.23 mg/kg), and combined therapy of metformin (60 mg/kg) and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), respectively, for four weeks. Upon termination of the experiment, blood samples and heart tissue were obtained. Administration of bee venom using both doses (0.5 and 1.23 mg/kg) and combined therapy of metformin and atorvastatin revealed a significant decrease in the concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, troponin I, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities. Moreover, a significant decrease had been detedcted in malondialdehyde, nuclear factor-kappa-β levels, and relative mRNA expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and galectin-3 in heart tissue compared to the positive control ( P < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in bodyweight levels of insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total antioxidant capacity in heart tissue compared to the positive control ( P < 0.0001). The results indicate that bee venom can ameliorate cardiac dysfunction through attenuating oxidative stress and downregulating the NF-κβ signaling pathway.

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Mullet fillets modified atmosphere packaging Quality criteriaThis study was conducted to compare the effect of four package systems on quality criteria of mullet's fish fillets stored at 4±1°C for 18 days. Modified atmosphere packaging (MP1, 60% CO 2 \ 35 % N 2 \ 5 % O 2 and MP2, immersing fillets in sodium chlorides solution prior to package with the same condition of MP1) suppressed (p<0.05)the growth of total count and psychrophilic bacterial when compared with aerobic (AP) and vacuum package (VP). During storage period aerobic package taken the highest physicochemical, microbial load and the lowest sensory scores. Likewise, MP1 and MP2had lowertotal volatile basic nitrogen, Trimethy lamine nitrogen, Thiobarbituric acid and microbial loadcompared toaerobic package samples (p<0.05). However, MP2 showed exudate loss lower than MP1. Thiobarbituric acids of the samples kept VP were lower compared to other condition package in the same time. Overall acceptability of MP1, MP 2 and VPsamples were accepted during storageof fifteen, eighteen and twelve days, respectively. While, aerobic package samples had the acceptability six days only. Therefore, MP2 was a best choice for extending the shelf-life and maintained the quality of mullet's fish fillets.