Oxidative stress is a common mechanism contributing to the initiation and progression of hepatic damage. Hence there is a great demand for the development of agents with potent antioxidant effect. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of Holothuria atra extract (HaE) as an antioxidant against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene- (DMBA-) induced hepatorenal dysfunction. Experimental animals were divided into two main groups: protective and curative. Each group was then divided into five subgroups pre- or posttreated either with distilled water (DMBA subgroups) or with HaE (200 mg/kg body weight) for seven and fourteen days. Single oral administration of DMBA (15 mg/kg body weight) to Wistar rats resulted in a significant increase in the serum liver enzymes and kidney function's parameters. DMBA increased level of liver malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in the liver tissue, and induced liver histopathological alterations. Pre- or posttreatment with HaE orally for 14 days significantly reversed the hepatorenal alterations induced following DMBA administration. In conclusion, HaE exhibits good hepatoprotective, curative, and antioxidant potential against DMBA-induced hepatorenal dysfunction in rats that might be due to decreased free radical generation.

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Rodents are widely used for animal research in Egypt. Pentobarbital is the most common anesthetic agent; however overdoses may affect the experimental outcomes and limit the use of tissues. To investigate the effects of sodium pentobarbital overdoses during exsanguination, three groups (6 rats/ group) of male and female rats were injected i.p. with 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of sodium pentobarbital, then carotid exsanguination was performed immediately after loss of consciousness. Hypoxiainducible factor 1-alpha (Hif1a) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (Tnfa) mRNA expressions in liver and kidney organs were evaluated. As well as, serum aminotransferase activities (AST&ALT), glucose, urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels were determined. The histological alterations in liver, kidney and spleen were studied. It was found that Hif1a and Tnfa were significantly overexpressed in the studied organs and serum AST, glucose, creatinine and urea levels were significantly increased after sodium pentobarbital overdoses (100 and 150 mg/kg) compared to 50 mg/kg dose. Similarly, significant increase in MDA and GSH levels of liver, kidney and spleen were noticed. Results showed gender difference where Hif1a and Tnfa levels were significantly overexpressed at high dose of sodium pentobarbital of liver and kidney organs in female more than male rats. Since euthanasia protocol may influence the physiological variables and affect genes' expression, it is recommended to avoid sodium pentobarbital overdose during euthanasia as it may interfere with the biochemical, molecular and histological measurements. In Egypt, rodents are considered the first choice for the majority of animal research and training. Euthanasia of animals is generally performed upon completion of the study or if a humane endpoint has been reached. Last updates of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) euthanasia guidelines 1 describe several techniques for successful euthanasia to refine killing methods for rats and other laboratory animals 2. Euthanasia procedures are divided into two main methods; chemical and physical. Ideally, a mechanical method, such as exsanguination, should be implemented after the chemical death. Pentobarbital is an anesthetic agent commonly used in euthanasia. Olsen and Li (2011) reported that sodium pentobarbital is an injectable, fast-acting, central nervous system depressant which acts via GABA receptors to cause a loss of consciousness and cardiovascular depression 3. In the AVMA Guidelines, anesthetic overdose is recommended as an acceptable method of euthanasia. For rodents, overdose of sodium pentobarbital is the most preferable euthanizing agent 4-6. The main reported negative side effects of pentobarbital mono-anesthesia are cardiovascular and respiratory systems depression, decreased arterial blood pressure, peripheral vasodilation, decreased cardiac output and depression of the vasopressor response to hemorrhage 7. Moreover, ...

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The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has risen rapidly in the past few years [1]. DM is a main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide [2]. It is considering a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, which caused by the deficiency in insulin secretion within type 1 diabetes (T1DM), and it is the main a feature of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2DM) along with insulin resistance. Many complications accompanied uncontrolled diabetes include vasculopathy, cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy.A major complication of DM is diabetic nephropathy (DN) in both type 1 and type 2, which is a main cause of end

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Background: Epicardial fat is recognized as active endocrine organ and as emerging risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between epicardial fat and carotid intima–media thickness in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: Epicardial fat thickness was measured in 76 type 2 diabetes patients without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and 30 age- and sex-matched controls. In addition to laboratory tests, all patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography for epicardial fat thickness and ultrasonographic examination of carotid intima–media thickness. Results: Patients with diabetes had higher epicardial fat thickness and carotid intima–media thickness than those of the controls (6.23 ± 1.27 mm vs 4.6 ± 1.03 mm, p < 0.001 and 0.77 ± 0.150 mm vs 0.58 ± 0.08 mm, p < 0.001, respectively). Epicardial fat thickness was correlated significantly with age, duration of type 2 diabetes, body mass index, waist circumference, HbA1c, carotid intima–media thickness, Homeostasis Model Assessment Index for insulin resistance and lipid profile in the type 2 diabetic patients. Stepwise regression analysis showed that carotid intima–media thickness, duration of diabetes, triglyceride and body mass index were the independent predictors of epicardial fat thickness, with carotid intima–media thickness the most important predictor ( β = 3.078, t = 4.058, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was done and cut-off high-risk epicardial fat thickness value of 6.1 mm was determined with a sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 72%, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes have higher carotid intima–media thickness and epicardial fat thickness. Epicardial fat thickness was found to be a strong predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis.