Background and Objectives: Studies have noted that some ABO blood types are more susceptible to COVID-19 virus infection. This study aimed to further confirm the relationship between different blood groups on the vulnerability, symptoms, cure period, and severity among COVID-19 recovered patients. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study approached the participants from the Arab community via social media (mainly Facebook and WhatsApp). The data were collected through two Google Form questionnaires, one for COVID-19 recovered patients (COVID-19 group, n = 726), and the other for the healthy people (Control group, n = 707). Results: The subjects with blood group O were the least likely to be infected with the COVID-19 virus, while those with blood group A were not likely to be the most susceptible. There were significant differences among different ABO blood groups regarding the distribution of oxygen saturation percentage, myalgia, and recovery time after COVID-19 infection (p < 0.01, 0.01, and 0.05, respectively). The blood group A showed the highest percentage of patients who experienced an oxygen saturation range of 90–100%, whereas the blood group O showed the highest percentage of patients who experienced an oxygen saturation range of 70–80%. The blood group A showed the lowest percentage of patients who required artificial respiration, whereas the blood group O showed the highest percentage of patients who required artificial respiration. The blood group B showed the lowest percentage of patients who experienced myalgia and exhibited the lowest percentage of patients who needed 3 weeks or more to recover. Conclusion: The people of blood group O may be the least likely to be infected with COVID-19, however, they may be the more in need of treatment in hospital and artificial respiration compared to the other blood groups.

Background:Diabetes mellitus could be result from disorders in insulin secretion or receptors, characterized by hyperglycemia. Natural antioxidants including pomegranate have hypoglycemic effect.Aim of the Work:The present research was designed to evaluate the possible protective role of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) against diabetic-induced hepatic complication.Materials and Methods:Forty-eight male Wistar rats, weighed 200–250 g and aged 3 months, were sorted into four groups: Group 1: Used as control, Group 2: Normal rats received PPE (200 mg/kg bw/day) given orally for 11 consecutive weeks. Group 3: Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, injected with 55 mg/kg bw of STZ, and Group 4: Normal rats received PPE for 11 weeks and then rats were injected with STZ (55 mg/kg/bw). Effectiveness of the PPE was assessed by measuring serum glucose and histopathology of liver tissue. Liver enzymes were also assayed. PPE was found to control diabetic hyperglycemia and decrease in body weight. Histological examination showed that pretreatment with PPE provided preservation against diabetes-induced hepatic histological changes (necrotic and apoptosis).Result:Alanine aminotransferase, alanine phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly elevated in Group 3 diabetics and decreased in Group 4 which confirmed histological finding.Conclusion:This study confirmed the hypothesized possible protective effect of PPE against diabetic-induced histological and functional alteration of rat liver and advised its use by diabetic patients.

Diabetes mellitus is a common global health problem. Among the complications that are frequently associated with DM are the alternation of sexual function and fertility, especially in young men. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of nanoparticles of Costus speciosus (C. speciosus) in preserving the prostatic structure of diabetic rats and to explore the mechanism behind this effect. A model of DM was induced in male albino rats by a single intraperitoneally injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg body weight). Five groups (n = 10 each) of rats were included in this study: the control, C. speciosus gold nanoparticles-treated (150 mg/kg body weight through gastric intubation for 30 days), untreated diabetic, metformin-treated diabetic (500 mg/kg/day gastric intubation for 30 days) and the C. speciosus-treated diabetic group. The blood glucose, insulin and testosterone levels as well as oxidants/antioxidants status were assessed in the serum. Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL1β and IL-6 were assessed in the prostate homogenate. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and the prostate was dissected out and prepared for histopathological and immunohistochemistry study using Ki67 and Bcl-2. C. Speciosus nanoparticles significantly decreased (p = 0.03) the blood glucose level while significantly increasing insulin (p = 0.01) and testosterone (p = 0.04) levels compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Oxidants/antioxidants status was markedly improved after administration of C. speciosus. Prostatic expression of the mRNA of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL1β and TNF-α was down-regulated in metformin- and C. speciosus-treated rats. The histological structure of the ventral prostate was preserved in metformin- and C. speciosus-treated diabetic rats with a significantly thicker epithelial cell layer and significant increase immunoexpression in Bcl-2 and Ki67. In conclusion, the protective effect induced by C. speciosus nanoparticles on the prostate of diabetic rats might be directly mediated through the down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines and the up-regulation of antioxidant activity and indirectly mediated through the anti-hyperglycemic effect through enhancing insulin secretion.

Background Altered status of thyroid hormones, which have a key role in regulating metabolism, was reported to affect glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion. Objective This study was designed to assess the impact of propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism on the pancreatic islet cells and the efficacy of thymoquinone (TQ) in alleviating this impact and explore the mechanism behind it alleviating oxidative stress and affecting β-catenin expression. Materials and Methods PTU (6 mg/kg/body weight) was used to induce hypothyroidism in Wistar rats. Four groups of rats (n=6 each) were utilized in this study. Untreated hypothyroid and TQ-treated hypothyroid groups (50 mg/kg/body weight for 4 weeks) were included. Thyroid functions, antioxidant profile and pancreatic β-catenin and IL-10 mRNA were measured. Histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment of the pancreas was performed. Results PTU administration induced a hypothyroid status that was associated with a marked disturbed oxidant/antioxidant status and a significant hyperglycemia (p<0:001), hypoinsulinemia (p=0.01) and decreased HOMA-β-cell (p<0.001). Islet cells of hypothyroid pancreas showed many degenerative changes with increased apoptosis, reduced insulin β-catenin immunoexpression. Administration of TQ alleviated these effects on the thyroid function, antioxidants, structure of pancreatic islet cells. Up-regulation of β-catenin, IL-10 and CAT gene expression in pancreatic islets after treatment with TQ supported its antioxidant and preserving β-cell function and viability mechanistic action. Conclusion TQ alleviated PTU-induced hypothyroidism changes in insulin homeostasis and pancreatic β cells mostly through its antioxidant effect as well as up-regulation of pancreatic β-catenin expression.

The liver plays a crucial role in maintaining adequate endocrine homeostasis including the endocrine function of the testis. Testicular atrophy and gonadal dysfunction have been clinically reported in advanced cirrhotic liver diseases. This study was conducted to review the effect of liver fibrotic changes induced by different agents on the structure of testis and the mechanisms underlying these effects. Chemical-induced liver fibrosis was found to have a negative impact on testicular structures. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was frequently described to increase apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduced testicular transferrin expression through enhancing lipid peroxidation or direct toxic effect on the testis. Thioacetamide, another hepatotoxin, was reported to have harmful effects on sperm structure and function. Deltamethrin had hepatic changes that were associated with marked degeneration in rat seminiferous tubules. Cyclosporine A, an immunosuppressive drug, induced Sertoli and germ cell vacuolation besides inducing hepatic cytotoxicity. Testes of rats which chronically received alcohol, showed hypocellularity of the seminiferous tubules, degeneration of germinal epithelial and interstitial cells along with reduced sperm count and motility which was attributed to changes in the structure of the mitochondria. Portasystemic shunting and portal hypertension in rats were associated with reduced volume of germinal epithelium, reduced cell birth, reduced or complete loss of spermatogenic activity and marked increase in apoptosis. Virus-induced chronic active hepatitis was associated with sperm damage and reduced sperm quality parameters. Conclusion: Hepatic fibrotic changes induced by different injurious stimuli were found to have a harmful impact on testicular structure and function.

MURAD, H. A. M. & ALI, S. S. Improved histoarchitectural changes with angiotensin receptor blockers in early testicular and cauda toxicity in rats. Int. J. Morphol., 37(2):515-521, 2019. SUMMARY:Reproductive dysfunction is a complication for many diseases and toxins. Its early diagnosis and treatment are immensely important. Here the morphological histoarchitecture changes in early testicular and cauda toxicity before and after treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers were evaluated. Low-grade testicular damage was induced using thioacetamide (TAA, 50 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for two weeks in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8) treated daily orally for three weeks as follows: Normal control (distilled water), TAA (positive control), TAA+candesartan (0.2 mg/kg) and TAA+losartan (7.5 mg/kg). Serum testosterone and testicular malondialdehyde and glutathione were measured. The changes in histoarchitecture of testis and cauda epididymis were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin for general structure, Masson's trichrome for collagen, periodic acid Schiff for basement membrane, and caspase-3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for immunohistochemical analysis. The TAA-rats showed decreases of serum testosterone and testicular glutathione, increases in testicular malondialdehyde, degenerative changes and apoptosis in germ cells, thickening of tubular basal lamina and increases in expression of caspase 3, and decreases in expression of PCNA. The ARBs (candesartan and losartan) significantly reversed these changes with non-significant differences in-between. Treatment with ARBs (candesartan and losartan) significantly reversed TAA-induced low-grade testicular and cauda toxicity in rats. This could be potentially useful for early treatment of male patients with occupational toxicant-induced reproductive dysfunction especially if they are using ARBs for other comorbidities.

Background: Diabetes mellitus could result from disorders in insulin secretion or receptors mainly characterized by hyperglycemia. Natural antioxidants including pomegranate are traditionally used as hypoglycemic agents. The present research was designed to evaluate the possible therapeutic role of Pomegranate Peel Extract (PPE) against type1 diabetic -induced hepatic biochemical and histological alteration. Materials and methods: Adult male Wistar rats (N= 48) were sorted into four groups: G1: control group, G2: normal rats received PPE. G3: STZ-diabetic rats, received IP streptozotocin (55 mg/kg BW) and G4: Diabetic rats post-treated with PPE (200 mg/kg BW/day). Effectiveness of (PPE) was assessed by measuring serum glucose, liver enzymes, and morphological features of liver tissue using light and electron microscopy.Results: Histological examination showed degenerative necrotic changes in diabetic rat liver which were improved by post-treatment with PPE. Biochemical results confirmed microscopic morphological and ultrastructural findings. Conclusions: PPE wasfound to have a moderate therapeutic effect against a hepatic alteration in the male rats. It could be advised for diabetic patients suffering from the early alteration of liver functions.