ObjectivesThe effect of Salvadora persica sticks on prevention of tooth decay is well established, but the effect of S. persica stick extract (SPE) on the prevention/treatment of osteoporosis has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to provide baseline information of the effectiveness of SPE on ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis.MethodsSPE was administered at 50, 150, and 300 mg/d orally to OVX rats for 16 weeks. Serum osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus, and urinary deoxypyridinoline, calcium, and phosphorus were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD), 3-point bending test, and histomorphometric characteristics of the femoral bone were also examined.ResultsSPE at doses of 150 and 300 mg/d, but not 50 mg/d, significantly prevented bone loss in OVX rats as proved by decreased biochemical markers of bone resorption and increased BMD and biomechanical indices of the femoral bone.ConclusionsThis study confirms a dose-dependent protective action of SPE on rat OVX model of osteoporosis. This effect needs further investigation at the molecular and clinical levels to provide a natural and cost-effective alternative for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Aim: Mitomycin C (MMC) is a commonly used as intravesical treatment for superficial bladder cancer. However, its role in combination with ras inhibition has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to explore the role of ras in MMCinduced apoptosis in T24 bladder cancer cells and to determine the efficacy of combination therapy in vitro . Methods:We measured the effects of various doses of MMC on apoptosis induction as well as on ras, ERK and Ki-67 protein expression by T24 cell line using immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and Western blotting. We also tested the effect of siRNA on ras employed singly or in combination with MMC. Results: T24 cells expressed high level of ras protein. MMC treatment increased the level of ras and ERK protein expressionafter 24 h, and decreased these levels after 72 h. Ras siRNA (100 nmol/L) caused massive apoptosis associated with a marked decrease in ras expression in T24 cells. When combined with low doses of MMC, ras siRNA (50 nmol/L) sensitized T24 cells to apoptosis and decreased their expression of ras. The effect of combined therapy was higher than that of either compound used alone. Expression levels of ERK, a downstream target of ras, declined following combination therapy. Conclusion:Ras siRNA in combination with low dose MMC is a possible treatment strategy for patients with ras-positive bladder tumors.

Ca signaling plays crucial role in ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Although blockade of L-type Ca channels by amlodipine (AML) has been shown to suppress hepatic I/R injury in several animal models, information is still needed regarding the hepatoprotective effects of the dual L/N-type Ca channel blockers, cilnidipine (CIL). We examined the effect of pretreatment with AML or CIL (100 μg/kg i.p.) 45 min before induction of 60 min of liver ischemia followed by reperfusion, on oxidative stress markers, liver enzymes, serum tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, apoptosis markers, and nuclear factor KB after 6 and 24 h of hepatic reperfusion. Both drugs significantly ameliorated biochemical and histological markers of hepatic I/R injury, but protection with CIL was more significant at the 6-h time point where protection with AML outlasted that of CIL. Both drugs offered significant protection against hepatic I/R damage, but the protection with CIL seemed more potent but of shorter duration than that observed with AML possibly due to the shorter half-life of CIL.

Background. The goals of this study were to elucidate the use of the expression of microRNA-30e (miR-30e) and microRNA-223 (miR-223) as diagnostic biomarkers for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods. The study included three groups, the first group included thirty patients with HCC associated with HCV, the second group included thirty patients with cirrhosis with HCV and the third group included thirty healthy control subjects. Blood samples were obtained for determination of serum expression of miR-30e and miR-223 by real time polymerase chain reaction. Results. There was significant decrease of miR-30e of expression in patients with HCC (0.16 ± 0.1) compared to both patients with cirrhosis (0.4 ± 0.2, P<0.01) and healthy control subjects (1.2 ± 0.4, P<0.001). There was also significant reduction of miR-223 expression levels in patients with HCC (0.2 ± 0.1) compared to patients with cirrhosis (0.5 ± 0.2, P<0.01) and healthy control subjects (1.0 ± 0.1, P<0.001). There was also significant decrease of miR-30e expression in late stage versus early stage of HCC (0.1 ± 0.0 vs. 0.22 ± 0.1, P<0.001), while there was no significant difference of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) between patients with late and early HCC. Also, values of miR-223 had significantly reduced levels in late HCC compared to its expression values in early HCC (0.1± 0.0 vs. 0.23 ± 0.2, P<001). Conclusion. There was significant reduction of expression of miR-30e and miR-223 in serum of HCC patients compared to either patients with cirrhosis or healthy subjects. These results show that the combined use of both biomarkers had better sensitivity in the diagnosis of HCC compared to AFP.

Background: Hepatitis b virus infection (HBV) was recognized as an important hazard for patients and staff in Hemodialysis Units (HDU), and this issue was first recognized in the 1960s with a set of guidelines for the control of HBV in HDU. HCV is a blood-borne infection and is the most significant cause of viral hepatitis which is mainly transmitted by blood transfusion. Thus, it is reasonable to perform initial screening for HCV in HD patients. Patients admitted or re-admitted to an HD unit are recommended to be tested for HBsAg, HCV, and HIV antibodies and to be followed up monthly or at least every three months after admission to HDU. We aim to present this case of spontaneous clearance of HBV and HCV positive after being positive for more than twelve years on HD. Case Presentation: A 66 years old Egyptian male patient with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) from Alexandria had started HD 14 years ago while he tested positive for HCV-Ab and HBs Ag positive, although fared well with normal liver function, while the source of infection was not known. HCV-Ab turned into seronegativity after twelve years on HD. Astonishingly, after 13 years on HD; the test of HBs Ag became negative and hepatitis B surface antibody appears by Elisa testing. This was noticed or observed following the implementation of quality enhancement of the HD parameters in most of the HD services provided units according to the regulations of Ministry of Health (MOH), and this was accompanied by better anemia and more frequent utilization of high flux dialysis with a consequent reduction to the need for blood transfusion in the last four years. Previous publications advocated hypothetical mechanisms of HCV clearance during the process of HD: namely, filtration of the virus particles through the pores of the dialysis membrane and or their adsorption to the HD membrane. These welcome spontaneous clearances of the HBV and HCV in this patient could be attributable to the improvement of anemia state and use of high flux dialysis that might have improved the immunity of this patient. Conclusion: Spontaneous clearance of HBV and HCV could potentially possible and could benefit from the improvement of both patients and HD states that could enhance the immune system or mechanical entrapment of the virus particles. Suggestions need further studies for confirmation.