flackground: AjlMo.rins(AF) (Ire co111monly environmental toxicnnt in devc/opitJg tropical cottntnes. •Aim of the work: This study set out to im•estigntc tire prevalence of aflato.xins ottd their metabolites in sera of jaundiced neonates and !heir mother's sem aiUI breast milk using Thin Layer Clrroma rograpl!y (TLC). Srtbjects and methods: Samples were obtai11ed from 200 jaundiced neonates and their mothers, and 60 non jaundiced controls and their mothers ndmirred ro Oenfta universiry ltu! pital, locmed in Qual• yobin gm•emorale, Egypt. Results: AF fe1•els in cases were flisMy signiflcam (Pe corre[(ltiatl (P

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Objectives: Nevirapine (NVP) is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of HIV infections. It has been reported that NVP has a toxic effect on the liver, kidney and male reproductive system. This study was designed to assess the NVP toxic effects on these tissues (liver, kidney and testis) and its possible genotoxic and mutagenic effects. Methodology: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats each): (A) negative control group, (B) positive control group received 1ml/ day of corn oil, (C) NVP1 treated group received 3.6mg (loading dose) of the drug for 2 weeks and (D) NVP2 treated group received the loading dose of the drug for 2 weeks then 7.2 mg (maintenance dose) for 2 weeks more. Results: The results of present study revealed the followings: NVP did not alter the body weight gain or kidney weight, but it increased liver weight in (group C) and decreased testis weight in (group D). NVP caused a high significant increase of liver function tests (serum aspartate transferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin), a high significant decrease in hormonal levels of testes (testosterone, FSH and LH) and no significant difference on kidney function tests (urea and creatinine). Histopathological changes in liver and testis in NVP-treated groups were observed as compared to control groups. Comet assay showed that NVP caused a highly significant damage in blood cells in a dose dependent fashion. This result suggests for the first time that this drug might induce genotoxicity in the whole blood. Conclusion: oral exposure of adult albino rats to NVP at a human therapeutic dose daily for 4 weeks leads to toxic effects on liver and damaging effect on male reproductive system in addition to the genotoxicity.

Background: DNA methylation (DNAm) is a biochemical modification which occurs over the lifespan of an individual and it is a substantial constituent in the aging process. The degree of methylation was significantly related to age. So far, the ELOVL2 locus has been the most thoroughly studied age marker. This locus has been demonstrated to be reliable in ancient and fresh human bloodstains, which constitute a major source of DNA in forensic laboratories. Aim of work: The current study aimed to assess the use of DNA methylation on the ELOVL2 gene from blood samples as biomarkers for chronological age estimation using pyrosequencing in Egypt. Material and methods: Eighty whole blood samples from individuals aged 18-69 years divided into 4 groups were analysed using a DNA methylation quantification assay based on bisulphite conversion and DNA pyrosequencing of 7 CpG sites in the ELOVL2. Results: Our results display significantly strong correlation between DNAm and chronological age; the model supporting DNAm as a strong age predictor. The age prediction accuracy was most accurate in age group III (>40-50y) and was least accurate in age group IV of the elderly individuals (>50-69 y) on choosing1, 2.5-, and 5-years as difference threshold.