Background A new domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH, family Hepadnaviridae) was first reported from whole blood samples of domestic cats in Australia in 2018, and from cat serum samples in Italy in 2019. The pathogenesis of DCH is unknown, but it was reported in cats with viraemia (6.5–10.8%), chronic hepatitis (43%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (28%). Recent reports suggest that DCH resembles the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its related hepatopathies. This study aims to detect and characterize DCH among domestic cats in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was performed on 253 cats, of which 87 had paired blood and liver samples, entailing whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of DCH from a liver tissue sample. Results Among the 253 cats included in this study, 12.3% of the whole blood samples tested positive for DCH. The detection rate was significantly higher in pet cats (16.6%, n = 24/145) compared to shelter cats (6.5%, n = 7/108). Liver tissues showed higher a DCH detection rate (14.9%, n = 13/87) compared to blood; 5 out of these 13 cats tested positive for DCH in their paired liver and blood samples. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was elevated (> 95 units/L) in 12 out of the 23 DCH-positive cats (52.2%, p = 0.012). Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed that the Malaysian DCH strain, with a genome size of 3184 bp, had 98.3% and 97.5% nucleotide identities to the Australian and Italian strains, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the Malaysian DCH genome was clustered closely to the Australian strain, suggesting that they belong to the same geographically-determined genetic pool (Australasia). Conclusions This study provided insights into a Malaysian DCH strain that was detected from a liver tissue. Interestingly, pet cats or cats with elevated ALT were significantly more likely to be DCH positive. Cats with positive DCH detection from liver tissues may not necessarily have viraemia. The impact of this virus on inducing liver diseases in felines warrants further investigation.

It has been demonstrated that probiotic supplementation has positive effects in several murine models of disease through influences on host immune responses. This study examined the effect of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (L. casei Shirota) on the blood glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), and body weight among STZ-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg BW) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Streptozotocin caused a significant increase in the blood glucose levels, CRP, and IL-6. L. casei Shirota supplementation lowered the CRP and IL-6 levels but had no significant effect on the blood glucose levels, body weight, or IL-4. Inflammation was determined histologically. The presence of the innate immune cells was not detectable in the liver of L. casei Shirota-treated hyperglycemic rats. The probiotic L. casei Shirota significantly lowered blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CRP) and neutrophils in diabetic rats, showing a lower risk of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Colon cancer has been a major problem worldwide. Kelulut honey (KH) is produced by the stingless bees from Trigona species and has strong antioxidant activities that could be one of the potential chemopreventive agents from natural resources. Aim of This Study. This study investigated the chemopreventive properties and toxicity of KH in Sprague Dawley rats induced with azoxymethane (AOM). Material and Method. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats aged 5 weeks were divided into 4 groups: (G1) untreated group not induced with AOM, (G2) untreated group induced with AOM, (G3) treated group induced with AOM, and (G4) treated group not induced with AOM. Injection of AOM (15 mg/kg) was via intraperitoneal route once a week for two subsequent weeks. The treatment groups were given oral administration of KH (1183 mg/kg body weight) twice daily for 8 weeks. Results. Treatment with KH significantly reduced the total number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypts (AC) and crypt multiplicity. KH was not toxic to the animals since the level of blood profile parameters, liver enzymes, and kidney functions was in normal range. Conclusions. The current finding shows that KH has chemopreventive properties in rats induced with colorectal cancer and also was found not toxic towards the animals.

Background: An experimental study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) with tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) cream in the wound-healing process on skin with deep partial-thickness burn in rats. Methods: A total of 180 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups of six each and were: untreated control, treated with Silverdin® cream, base cream, base cream with c% EGF, base cream with 3% TRF or base cream with c% EGF and 3% TRF, respectively. Creams were applied once daily for 21 consecutive days. Six animals from each group were sacrificed using anaesthetic overdose on the third, seventh, 11th, 14th and 21st day post-burn. Skin tissues with the wound to be examined were excised for macroscopic and microscopic evaluation and biochemical analyses. Results: EGF + TRF formulation decreased the number of neutrophils, lymphocytes and myofibroblasts post-burn. However, no effects on the number of adipose cells in the healing process were recorded. In addition, lipid peroxidation and nitrite production were found to be reduced post-burn, reducing oxidative stress. Conclusions: Results of the present study indicate that the addition of EGF with TRF have ameliorating effects on deep-partial thickness burn healing parameters.

Chemoprevention has become an important area in cancer research due to low success rate of current therapeutic modalities. Diet plays a vital role in the etiology of cancer. This research was carried out to study the chemopreventive properties of germinated rough rice (GRR) crude extract in Sprague-Dawley rats induced with azoxymethane. Germination of rough rice causes significant changes in several chemical compositions of presently bioactive compounds. These compounds may prevent or postpone the inception of cancer. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks of age) were randomly divided into 5 groups which were (G1) induced with azoxymethane (AOM) and not given GRR (positive control), (G2) induced with AOM and given 2000 mg/kg GRR, (G3) induced with AOM and given 1000 mg/kg GRR, (G4) induced with AOM and given 500 mg/kg GRR, and (G5) not induced with AOM and not given GRR crude extract (negative control). To induce colon cancer, rats received two IP injections of AOM in saline (15 mg/kg) for two subsequent weeks. Organs were removed and weighed. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were evaluated histopathologically. β-Catenin expressions were determined by Western blot. Treatment with 2000 mg/kg GRR crude extract not only resulted in the greatest reduction in the size and number of ACF but also displayed the highest percentage of nondysplastic ACF. Treatment with 2000 mg/kg GRR also gave the lowest level of expression in β-catenin. Thus, GRR could be a promising dietary supplement for prevention of CRC.

Background: Burns are injuries that lie on the skin or other organic tissues caused by exposures to the heat, electricity, chemicals or ionizing radiation. The present study was carried out to record temporal changes in the cell population and wound healing-related gene expression in rats with deep partial-thickness burn. Methods: Burn wound was induced on the dorsal part of Sprague-Dawley rats using temperature-regulated 20-mm wide aluminum head heating device. Animals were then sacrificed on days three, seven, 11, 14 and 21 post-burn, respectively. Half of the wounded skin tissues were dissected and fixed in buffered neutral formalin for Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining, and the other half were cut off and stored in − 20°C for real-time PCR analyses. Results: The number of adipose cells was found to be maximal on the 3rd day post-burn, and it gradually decreased over time and completely disappeared on day 11 post-burn. The maximum number of neutrophils were found to be on the 3rd and 14th day post-burn, while the maximum number of myofibroblasts were found on the 11th day post-burn. The number of lymphocytes did not change too much during the whole healing process. At the gene expression level, the expression pattern of inflammation-related genes including IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS were similar, which was found to be increased from day 3 to day 11 and decreased thereafter. Angiogenesis related genes including both VEGF-A and TGF-β1 showed a same expression pattern, both of which were slightly increased from day 3 to day 14 and smoothly decreased on day 21 post-burn. Matrix re-modeling related genes including MMP-2, TIMP-2 and Collagen-1 changed over time synchronously, where they all persistently increased from day 3 till day 14, then slightly declined on day 21 post-burn. Conclusion: The present study revealed the changes in the cell population and expression profile of wound healing-related genes in deep partial-thickness burn, which could provide a cellular and genomic basis for the future research of burn injuries.

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The female genital tract angiomyofibroblastoma (AMFB) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumour that mostly affects premenopausal women. Although it is most commonly seen in the vulvovaginal region, it has also been documented in the inguinosacral region, pelvis, and retroperitoneum (1,2). Patients usually present with indolent, painless swelling in the vulvovaginal region, or a pedunculated lesion on rare occasions. Those that appeared in the vulva were frequently misdiagnosed as Bartholin cysts. Leiomyoma is a differential in the vaginal area. AMFB must be recognised from aggressive angiomyxoma (AA) due to the latter’s potential for recurrence with typical infiltrative boundaries. We discuss a case of a 46-year-old woman who had a slow-growing paravaginal swelling incidentally discovered during a total hysterectomy for leiomyoma five years prior.