Sodium nitrite is a widely used color fixative and preservative. However, it has been reported to exert deleterious toxic effects on various body organs. Moreover, thymoquinone (TQ), the active ...constituent of Nigella sativa oil is known to possess beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential protective effects of TQ against sodium nitrite-induced renal toxicity.
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with sodium nitrite (80mg/kg, po, daily) in presence or absence of TQ (25 and 50mg/kg, po, daily). Morphological changes in renal sections were assessed by staining with Hematoxylin/Eosin and Periodic acid–Schiff. Renal homogenate was used for measurement of oxidative stress markers (MDA and GSH), inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) and apoptotic markers (caspase-3/caspase-8/caspase-9).
Treatment with sodium nitrite significantly increased markers of renal dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. These effects were markedly attenuated by TQ in dose dependent manner.
TQ has a potential protective effect against sodium nitrite-induced renal toxicity. This can be attributed to its ability to dampen oxidative stress, restore the normal balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and protect renal tissue form extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis.
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•Effect of nonbridging bonds on cluster formation.•Substitution of V2O5 with CuO has substantial effect on glass structure.•Decreasing bridging bonds affect the glass hardness and sound waves.•Five ...fold vanadate units is changed at the expense of tetrahedral units.
Glasses in the system xCuO-(80-x)V2O5-20 P2O5 with x= 0- 40 mol %. have been prepared. XRD spectroscopy confirms the amorphous nature of all as-prepared compositions.51V NMR experiments confirm increasing of nonbridging oxygen atoms (NBO) with increasing CuO. Ultrasonic velocities, both longitudinal and shear velocities decrease as CuO increases. CuO creates void spaces, causing the host network structure to weaken. The decreasing trends in both glass hardness numbers and ultrasonic longitudinal and shear velocities support that CuO enters the network to form NBO. The density increased significantly as the CuO content increased, while the molar volume decreased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the creation of clusters species since Cu ions accumulation can be formed. Both (Cu2O) and (CuO) are the two stable copper oxide compositions in the bulk (CuO). Clusters, on the other hand, may be made up of a variety of stable components.
Background
Online education jeopardizes many aspects of medical education. Online lecturing has the disadvantage of disengaging students, which leads to poor learning. Instructors can increase ...student engagement by incorporating active learning techniques into classroom discussions and interactions.
Team Based Learning (TBL) has been shown to benefit students in a variety of settings. Ahead of COVID 19, TBL was used in classrooms and occasionally in blended learning environments combining online and classroom instruction.
This study aims to introduce an innovative strategy for increasing student engagement through use of online TBL. We designed a TBL strategy using the Blackboard lockdown browser, breakout rooms, and Microsoft forms. The TBL framework of orientation, readiness assurance, and implementation exercises was maintained.
Methodology
Students were introduced to course material and held accountable for pre‐class instruction through the TBL Readiness Assurance tests. For the deployment of the iRAT, we used the lockdown browser in conjunction with the blackboard Respondus camera. The question type used was multiple‐choice without reporting the correct answers to the students. After submitting the iRAT, students were permitted to enter the blackboard session, where they were divided into groups for the tRAT, which took place in the breakout rooms that had been assigned in advance. The students' groups in their rooms were given a link to a Microsoft Form that was structured to look like the IF‐AT cards used by TBL, and they were instructed to use it. In order to construct the tRAT, point allocation and branching were used, and each question was entered three times into Forms and assigned a score of 4, 2, or 1 point. An automatic comment was triggered by selecting the correct response, praising the group for their effort, and awarding the required number of points. If the correct answer was not provided in the first three trials, the correct answer is provided before moving on to the next question in the series. When it was determined that all of the groups had submitted their tRAT answers, the breakout rooms were closed, and all of the students were moved to the main room with the blackboard where the session came to a close with a discussion of the answers with the instructor, who immediately provided feedback. Students' perceptions (N=203) were also evaluated using quantitative and qualitative tools, including a self‐administered questionnaire and a focus group discussion.
Results
Based on the data gathered during the readiness assurance process and the attendance of the students, it appears that the students were highly engaged in the online TBL process. The most significant themes identified by participants included increased commitment and preparedness, appropriately challenging questions, a deeper level of learning in the breakout rooms, and the ease with which technology could be used. Furthermore, students stated that participating in the online TBL enhanced their self‐confidence in order to face the examinations, offered an opportunity for a weaker student to cover learning objectives, and stimulated further motivation in them to attend these sessions.
Conclusion
Online TBL is a valuable learning strategy that can be implemented to increase student engagement in online learning, provided the applications are used effectively.
The goal of this study was to develop atorvastatin (ATN) calcium biloaded, i.e., immediate release (IR) and sustained release (SR) capsules that would promote the quick onset of action and a better ...dissolution profile on both the IR and SR aspects. The IR granules were prepared by the wet granulation method, and an aqueous solubility study proved that the IR granules released the ATN within 25 min compared to the pure drug due to the addition of PEG and super disintegrants such as croscarmellose (CC) and crospovidone (CP). The sustained release nanoparticles (SR-NPs) were synthesized using a solvent evaporation technique and an optimal combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. The addition of a hydrophobic polymer to a hydrophilic polymer delays drug release, resulting in a sustained and controlled release lasting up to 12 hours. The drug release of ATN from SR nanoparticles followed the Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas models and had first-order kinetics (r2 = ???). Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, powder X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetric analysis were used to test the prepared biloaded capsules, and the results showed that there was no significant interaction between the polymers, excipients, and drug. The SEM and DLS analysis clearly demonstrated that drug particles in a continuous layer were enclosed by polymers at the nanoscale. To summarise, integrating both layers into a single capsule resulted in a superior release profile and patient compliance. Finally, prepared biloaded capsules were discovered to exhibit both an IR and an SR profile.
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is alarmingly increasing worldwide. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a prevailing DM microvascular complication, representing the major cause of blindness in ...working-age population. Inflammation is a crucial player in DR pathogenesis. JAK/STAT3 axis is a pleotropic cascade that modulates diverse inflammatory events. Nifuroxazide (Nifu) is a commonly used oral antibiotic with reported JAK/STAT3 inhibition activity. The present study investigated the potential protective effect of Nifu against diabetes-induced retinal injury. Effect of Nifu on oxidative stress, JAK/STAT3 axis and downstream inflammatory mediators has been also studied. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). Animals were assigned into four groups: normal, Nifu control, DM, and DM + Nifu. Nifu was orally administrated at 25 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. The effects of Nifu on oxidative stress, JAK/STAT3 axis proteins, inflammatory factors, tight junction proteins, histological, and ultrastructural alterations were evaluated using spectrophotometry, gene and protein analyses, and histological studies. Nifu administration to diabetic rats attenuated histopathological and signs of retinal injury. Additionally, Nifu attenuated retinal oxidative stress, inhibited JAK and STAT3 phosphorylation, augmented the expression of STAT3 signaling inhibitor SOCS3, dampened the expression of transcription factor of inflammation NF-κB, and inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Collectively, the current study indicated that Nifu alleviated DR progression in diabetic rats, suggesting beneficial retino-protective effect. This can be attributed to blocking JAK/STAT3 axis in retinal tissues with subsequent amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Using Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron micrographs (TEM-EDP), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the local environment of Te atoms and the ...crystallization behavior of glasses in the system of chemical formula
x
Ag
2
O. (100 −
x
)TeO
2
(25 ≤
x
≤ 50 mol%) have been examined. Crystalline structure was evident in the XRD spectra of glasses containing 40 and 50 mol% TeO
2
. On the other hand, an amorphous structure has been observed in glasses with lower Ag
2
O concentrations (25, 30, and 35 mol%). Thermal heating could be used to crystallize the amorphous glasses’ structure. Using DSC measurements, the treatment's temperature was controlled. The species with good crystallinity include Ag
2
Te
4
O
9
and Ag
2
Te
2
O
5
. The results of TEM and EDP, as well as both SEM and XRD, revealed that in glasses enriched with Ag
2
O, crystalline clustered species were formed. Raman data proved that the crystalline clustered is improved as a result of the formation of TeO
3
units enriched with nonbridging oxygen bonds. In compositions containing less than 40 mol%, Ag
2
O plays the role of a glass modifier. At higher Ag
2
O concentrations, it plays the role of building crystalline clusters of the Ag
2
Te
4
O
9
and Ag
2
Te
2
O
5
types.
Ageing process is accompanied by disrupted maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Declined cognitive function is a hallmark of ageing process. Patients with severe dementia and elderly people at an early ...stage of Alzheimer's disease demonstrated marked reduction in serum concentration of vitamin K. Menaquinone‐7 (MK‐7) is a major form of vitamin K2 that can be found in animal products and fermented food. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of MK‐7 against cognitive decline and structural alterations in brain tissue of naturally aged rats and to delineate the potential involved molecular mechanisms. Three months‐aged albino rats were randomly assigned into two groups; ageing control receiving vehicle and ageing group received MK‐7 (30 mg/kg, oral, once daily 5 days per week). Treatment was continued for 17 months. Additional group containing three‐month‐old rats was used as adult control. Modified T‐maze, Crawley's sociability test and modified forced swim test were used to assess cognitive level, anxious and depressive like behaviour, respectively. Dissected brain tissues were used to assess neuroprotective mechanisms of MK‐7 by histopathology and immunohistochemistry, real time polymerase chain reaction, spectrophotometry and Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent assay. Behavioural tests showed attenuated cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety and improved spatial memory and learning ability by MK‐7 administration. Additionally, brain expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, caspase‐1) and production of downstream inflammatory factors (IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α) were markedly decreased in MK‐7 treated rats. Further, MK‐7 triggered Nrf‐2 expression, reduced lipid peroxidation and restored antioxidant enzymes levels. Also, MK‐7 dampened microglial activation, modulated hippocampal and cerebral cortical structure alterations and restored tyrosine expression in aged brain. Our findings highlighted MK‐7 as a promising candidate for halting progression of structural and cognitive deterioration in aged population. Activation of Nrf‐2 accompanied by NLRP3/ caspase‐1 suppression participated in neuroprotective effect of MK‐7 in rat aged brain.
The impact of a soluble complex (SC) of curcumin (CuR) synthesized using hot melt (HM) and hot-melt extrusion (HE) technologies on adenocarcinoma cells for the treatment of colorectal cancer by ...enhancing CuR solubility is investigated in this work. In silico molecular modelling, solubility, drug release, and physicochemical analysis were all part of the phase solubility (PS) study, which featured a novel dyeing test and a central composite design to optimize the best complex (CDD). The optimal HE-SC (1 : 5) enhances solubility (0.8521 ± 0.016 mg·mL−1) and dissolution (91.87 ± 0.208% at 30 min), and it has an ideal stability constant (309 and 377 M−1) at 25 and 37°C and an AL type of isotherm, implying 1 : 1 stoichiometry according to the findings. An intermolecular hydrogen bond that has not undergone any chemical change and has resulted in the complete conversion of the amorphous form aids in the creation of SC. In vitro cytotoxicity was measured at IC50 on the SW480 (72 M·mL−1) and Caco-2 (40 M·mL−1) cells. According to apoptotic studies, apoptosis was responsible for the vast majority of cell death, with necrosis accounting for a small proportion of the total. In vivo toxicity was established using a zebrafish model, and a western blot examination revealed apoptosis at the molecular level. It was argued that the novel formulations developed using HE technology are more significant and effective than existing pure CuR formulations.
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) and associated tumor microenvironment (TM) have been proposed to mediate cancer progression, and therapeutic resistance rendering them valuable therapeutic targets in head ...and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Oral CSCs drive their tumorigenic effect via stromal fibroblasts. Phytochemicals like allantoin are extensively used in wound healing modulating fibroblast activity. The present study aimed to evaluate whether allantoin can modulate CSCs and/or TM and subsequently contribute to sensitization of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Hep2, OECs, DPSC cell lines were used to test the cytotoxicity of allantoin on cancer, oral epithelial cells, and normal dental pulp stem cells, respectively. The effect of allantoin and/or 5‐fluorouracil (5FU) on cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of stem cell and apoptotic markers was tested in vitro. Further validation was performed using in vivo 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide model of tongue squamous cell carcinoma model with assessment of cytotoxic effect of allantoin by flow cytometry, immunohistochemical staining, western‐blot and RT‐PCR. Allantoin was safe on both normal oral epithelial cells and dental pulp stem cells. Allantoin showed a statistically significant and dose dependent increase in 5FU apoptotic effect via reduction of cancer stem cell markers CD133 and CD44. Regarding cell cycle arrest, there was no statistically significant difference with addition of allantoin to 5FU. In vivo, allantoin down‐regulated SOX2, NANOG, ALDH and OCT4 gene expression in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Additionally, allantoin reduced the expression IL‐6, TGF‐Β, PDGF, α‐ SMA and CD163. Our results proposed that high concentration of allantoin drives its antitumorigenic effect. This was mediated by modulating stromal component of TM via down‐regulation of trans‐differentiation of cancer associated fibroblasts and tumor associated macrophages. These findings shed the light on potential use of allantoin as cytotoxic drug either alone or combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs.
