Background and aims: Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) can be tightly connected to metabolism syndrome (MetS) which can be counted as a metabolic indicator in the case of insulin resistance (IR). The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of these acids under oxidative stress. Material and Methods: the in vitro antioxidant activity of BCAAs was assessed using free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assays. For further check, a qRT-PCR technique was madefor detection the extent of alterations in gene expression of antioxidative enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx)) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS(-induced macrophages RAW 264.7 cell line. Additionally, BCAAs antioxidant activity was evaluated based on plasma H2O2 levels and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in prooxidative LPS-treated mice. Results: Different concentrations of BCAAs affected on DPPH radical scavenging activity but to lesser extent than the ascorbic acid. Besides, BCAAs obviously upregulated the gene expression levels of catalases and Gpx in LPS-modulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. In vivo BCAAs significantly minimized the level of plasma H2O2 as well as the activity of XO activity under oxidative stress. Conclusion: our current findings suggest that BCAAs supplementation may potentially serve as a therapeutic target for treatment of oxidative stress occurs with atherosclerosis, IR-diabetes, MetS and tumorigenesis.

Background and aims: Smoking posse’s serious health problems because there is no specific substance alleviate its toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effective plant extract containing antioxidants(turmeric and cocoa), that may reduce the cytotoxicity induced by secondhand exposure of cigarettes and waterpipe smoking. Material and Methods: Seventy-two adult male albino rats were equally divided into 9 group (n=8 per group). Extracts were delivered to each group intraperitoneal, and the exposure to cigarette and waterpipe smoking was performed using a smoking machine for a period of 30 days. After the exposure period, tissues of interest (liver and small intestine) were removed and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Results: Oral treatment of turmeric and cocoa extract with smoking exposure showed less vacuolization and better cellular architecture with regular nuclear envelope of hepatocytes, reduce or absence of blebbing, retain the normal shape and size of mitochondria, increase the proportion of euchromatic chromatin in nuclei,but turmeric extract showed better enhancement in term of reducing vacuolization. turmeric or cocoa crude extract preserve the typical length of microvilli with a uniform organization from the apical part of enterocytes and decreased vacuolization in the cytosol of enterocytes. However, mitochondria appeared less polymorphic in shapes with distinct cristae and matrix in enterocytes of the turmeric treated group than the cocoa once. Conclusion: Tobacco smoking-induced adverse effects on hepatocytes and enterocytes, this study showed that treatment with turmeric and cocoa attenuatethe toxicity of tobacco smoking.

This study aims to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of two antioxidants (curcumin [CUM] and caffeic acid [CAF]), focusing on how these antioxidants could reduce cytotoxicity induced by short term secondhand exposure of waterpipe tobacco smoking. Forty-eight adult male BALB/c albino mice were equally divided into four groups. Antioxidants were delivered intraperitoneally, and the exposure to waterpipe smoking (WPS) was performed using a smoking machine. This experiment lasts for 14 consecutive days. Serum were collected from mice before dissection to quantify the activity of some liver enzymes, kidney function tests and proinflammatory cytokines. Lung, heart, and kidney were isolated and processed for light microscopy technique. Parallel treatment of CUM or CAF along with exposure to WPS showed less inflammation, less vacuolized, and more inflated alveoli, less deteriorations in cortex part of kidney, and less disintegration of cardiac myofibers in comparison to waterpipe only. Besides, CUM and CAF significantly reduced the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and proinflammatory cytokines. CUM and CAF were found to have anti-inflammatory and ameliorative effects against the cytotoxicity induced by exposure to waterpipe tobacco smoking, and CUM showed better chemopreventive activity than CAF.

Objective: Statins are one of the most effective drugs for reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which main activity includes inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase that is involved in cholesterol synthesis. However, statins are associated with several side effects; the most commonly reported ones are those related to the liver. This study was conducted to compare the impact of two formulas of Atorvastatin: Atorvastatin calcium (ATV), and Nanoparticles of Atorvastatin (NATV) on the liver. Methods: thirty Albino rats were randomly divided into three groups; control group (n=10) (standard diet), Atorvastatin group (ATV) 40 mgkg group, and Nanoparticle Atorvastatin group (NATV) 40 mgkg. After 30 days, all rat groups were sacrificed. Results: In comparison with the control group, the ATV and NATV groups had a significant increase in the activities of liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) (p< 0.05). Compared with the ATV group, the NATV group had a significant increase in the activities of liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the NATV group significantly reduced LDL, VLDL, TC, and TG compared to the control and ATV groups (p< 0.05). The histopathological examination showed hepatocyte necrosis and sinusoidal vessel congestion, which was more significant in the NATS group than in the ATV group. Conclusion: NATV can cause a significant increase in the level of liver enzymes and has a more histopathological effect on the liver than ATV.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) presented an opportunity to conduct an online survey to research the psychological fatigue as a mental health issue among the students of Jadara University, Jordan. AIM: This study aimed at assessing prevalence of fatigue in the student population of Jadara University (Irbid, Jordan) and its association with COVID-19 quarantine. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jadara University during a period of 2 months, extending from March to May, 2020. Two-hundred students (43.8% males and 56.2% females) participated in the study and filled forms of the fatigue assessment scale. RESULTS: Psychologically-tired students constituted 59.0% of the participants whereas the remainder participants were normal students. Moreover, statistically-significant differences in fatigue between students of the various academic years (p = 0.04) were found. The highest proportion of students suffering from fatigue was observed in the fourth-, and 5th-year students (21 out of 42 and 9 out of 18, respectively, [i.e., 50.0%, each]). The lowest proportion of students suffering from fatigue was that of the 1st-year students (29.0%). Significant differences in fatigue were also found between working and non-working students (p = 0.001), where all the non-working students (92; 100.0%) suffered from fatigue while most of the working students experienced no fatigue (82; 69.0% of the working students). CONCLUSION: The current study adds to the growing body of knowledge available to policymakers and mental health practitioners throughout the world about the links between individual mental health and the COVİD-19 quarantine.