Background and aim:The ameliorative effect of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) on cyclophosphamide-induced gonadal toxicity are studied in adult male rats. Methods: Forty-four adult male albino rats were used in this study in four groups. Group I served as normal control, groups II-IV received cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally at a daily dose of 20 mg per kg body weight for 7 days but group III and IV received supplementary vitamin E and ginger respectively for two weeks starting one week before the start of the cyclophosphamide. Results: The sperm counts of the normal (I), cyclophosphamide treated group alone (II), cyclophosphamide with vitamin E (III) and with ginger (IV) showed 23.5, 8.5, 14.2, 18.1 (× 10 6 per cubic milimeter) and abnormal morphology was most frequently found in group II (16.2%) followed by groups III (6.3%), IV (5.9%) and I (2.2%). Testosterone level, malondialdehyde enzyme activity, and red cell catalase and superoxide dismutase activities also correlated well with the morphological parameters. Incidence of apoptosis and the number of TUNEL-stained cells as well as pathological findings in reproductive organs also correlated with these parameters. Conclusion: Both vitamin E and ginger have protective effect from the cyclophosphamide-induced gonadal toxicity. The mechanism is largely unknown but empirical supplementation of vitamin E and ginger would be recommended before and during cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

BackgroundFreon includes a number of gaseous, colorless chlorofluorocarbons. Although freon is generally considered to be a fluorocarbon of relatively low toxicity; significantly detrimental effects may occur upon over exposure. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether occupational exposure to fluorocarbons can induce arterial hypertension, myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, elevated levels of plasma lipids and renal dysfunction.MethodsThis comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the cardiology clinic of the Suez Canal Authority Hospital (Egypt). The study included 23 apparently healthy male workers at the refrigeration services workshop who were exposed to fluorocarbons (FC 12 and FC 22) and 23 likewise apparently healthy male workers (unexposed), the control group. All the participants were interviewed using a pre-composed questionnaire and were subjected to a clinical examination and relevant laboratory investigations.ResultsThere were no significant statistical differences between the groups studied regarding symptoms suggesting arterial hypertension and renal affection, although a significantly higher percentage of the studied refrigeration services workers had symptoms of arrhythmias. None of the workers had symptoms suggesting coronary artery disease. Clinical examination revealed that the refrigeration services workers had a significantly higher mean pulse rate compared to the controls, though no significant statistical differences were found in arterial blood pressure measurements between the two study groups. Exercise stress testing of the workers studied revealed normal heart reaction to the increased need for oxygen, while sinus tachycardia was detected in all the participants. The results of Holter monitoring revealed significant differences within subject and group regarding the number of abnormal beats detected throughout the day of monitoring (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences detected in the average heart rate during the monitoring period within subject or group. Most laboratory investigations revealed absence of significant statistical differences for lipid profile markers, serum electrolyte levels and glomerular lesion markers between the groups except for cholesterol and urinary β2-microglobulin (tubular lesion markers) levels which were significantly elevated in freon exposed workers.ConclusionsUnprotected occupational exposure to chlorofluorocarbons can induce cardiotoxicity in the form of cardiac arrhythmias. The role of chlorofluorocarbons in inducing arterial hypertension and coronary artery diseases is unclear, although significantly elevated serum cholesterol and urinary β2-microglobulin levels raise a concern.

Cardiomyopathy induced by doxorubicin (DOX) was recognized at an early stage and also several years after drug administration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have many properties that make them suitable for preventive and/or regenerative therapies. In this study, we evaluated the effect of MSCs in the functional and the structural improvement of DOX-induced cardiomyopathy in rats. Ninety adult male albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups of thirty rats each: Group I (control): rats received normal saline. Group II (DOX- group): rats received DOX. Group III (DOX-MSCs group): rats received DOX for 2 weeks then human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs). Rats in all groups were evaluated for: physical condition, electrocardiography (ECG), and hemodynamic parameters. Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and DNA fragmentation on heart tissue isolated DNA were estimated for evaluation of the mechanism and the extent of the damage. Hearts were examined histopathologically for detection of MSCs homing, structural evaluation, with counting of the collagen fibers for evaluation of fibrosis. DOX-administered rats showed significant functional and structural deterioration. DOX-MSCs treated rats (group III) showed improved functional and structural criteria with restoration of all biochemical indicators of cardiac damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to normal, as well. In Conclusion, hUCB-MSCs significantly ameliorated the cardiotoxic manifestations as shown by biochemical, functional, and structural cardiac improvement. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3119-3129, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

At the end of the experiment, the neurobehavioral tests (sucrose preference, Morris water maze, inverted screen test) were done.The final body weight of each rat was recorded for evaluating the body weight changes.

Tramadol and alcohol are among commonly abused drugs. Although there are potential dangers reported upon their mixing, there are no previous reports describing this mixture's effects on the cardiovascular system (CVS). The aim was to study the effects of mixed alcohol and tramadol on the CVS of adult male rats. Fifty rats were divided into four groups: control, tramadol-treated group, alcohol-treated, and coadministration groups. Tramadol caused a significant increases in creatine kinase-MB, troponin I, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, and a significant decrease in total antioxidant capacity with histological alterations in sections of the heart and aorta and a significant increase in the area% of collagen fibers while there was a nonsignificant difference in body weight, heart weight, heart weight/body weight ratio, lipid profile, tissue tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ, intermediate microfilament proteins (IFPs) {desmin, vimentin, con-nexin43} gene expression, mean area% of elastic fibers in aortic tissue and osteopontin expression in cardiac and aortic tissue. Alcohol treatment caused a significant change in all the measured parameters and more damage in histological sections.The changes were highest in the coadministration group. There was a strong positive correlation between the area% of collagen fibers and vimentin gene expression, and the area% of osteopontin expression was positively correlated to connexin43 in cardiac and vascular tissue. Tramadol causes CVS injury mainly through oxidative stresses, while the alcohol effect is multifactorial; mixing both aggravates CVS injury. The study also highlights the role of IFPs and osteopontin-expression in inducing injury.

The aim of this study is to explore the ameliorative effects of α-lipoic acid (ALA) and/or Spirulina platensis (SP) against manganese (Mn)-induced brain damage. Sixty-four rats were classified into eight equal group, group I served as negative controls, group II received normal saline as a vehicle, group III treated with ALA (50 mg/kg/day), group IV treated with SP (300 mg/kg/day), group V treated with manganese chloride (MnCl2) at dosage of 74 mg/ kg/five times/week, along with rats in groups VI (MnCl2/ALA), group VII (MnCl2/SP) and group VIII (MnCl2/ ALA/SP). All treatments were administrated through oral route for eight-week, after that, the brain Mn, oxidant/ antioxidant stress and inflammatory biomarkers, as well as the histopathological and immunohistochemical changes of the brain tissues were examined. Our results revealed that MnCl2 induced an overwhelming neurotoxicity evident by the elevation of brain Mn, serum protein carbonyl, brain tumor necrosis factor-α with reduction in serum superoxide dismutase and brain interleukin-10. Histologically, Mn accumulation caused structural damage, intense brain caspase-3 immuno-expression and induction of heat shock protein-70. Administration of ALA and/or SP significantly decreased the brain levels of Mn, reduce the inflammatory response, re-established the cytotoxic changes and downregulated the caspase-3 immunoexpression of HSP-70. We can conclude that simultaneous ALA and/or SP administration elicited the most favorable protective effects against the Mn-induced neurotoxicity.

Toxic effects of……...

Background: Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is used excessively in Egypt as a fumigant and preservative for the grains. Recently, the suicidal accidents due to AlP poisoning are uprising as it is highly toxic and easily available for vulnerable groups as uneducated individual and teenagers.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the ability of oxidative stress parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to predict the outcome of AlP acute intoxication. Patients and methods: This was a prospective cohort study on 50 cases of AlP-intoxicated cases who presented to