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Jerusalem artichoke is an untraditional vegetable crop that offers many health benefits to the human body. Therefore, the present study was carried out to estimate the effect of different ratios of Jerusalem artichoke powder on diabetic rats. Male albino rats (25 rats) weighting 160 ± 10 g used in this study. The rats divided into two main groups. The first main group (5 rats) fed on a basal diet (as a negative control group). While the second main group (20 rats) was diabetic induced by a single intraperitoneal injection from alloxan (150 mg/ kg b.w.) then divided into four subgroups. One of them fed on a basal diet as the positive control group and the other groups fed on a basal diet containing 10 %, 15 %, and 20 % of Jerusalem artichoke powder for 28 days. The result of sensory evaluation for pan bread fortified with 10 % Jerusalem artichoke powder was the best, this level showed non-significant changes, as compared with control pan bread. On the other hand, feeding rats with diets containing Jerusalem artichoke powder led to a marked improvement in all biochemical and biological parameters. The best results have recorded for the group treated with 20 % JAT. Additionally, histopathological examination of the pancreas showed that the adding of Jerusalem artichoke tubers to the diets of diabetic rats improved the pancreatic tissue. Therefore, we recommended the use of the Jerusalem artichoke plant in the different food applications.

This study aimed to identify the suitable induction protocol to produce highly qualified insulin producing cells (IPCs) from human adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSCs) and evaluate the efficacy of the most functionally IPCs in management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in rats. The ADSCs were isolated and characterized according to the standard guidelines. ADSCs were further induced to be IPCs in vitro using three different protocols. The success of trans-differentiation was assessed in vitro through analysis of pancreatic endocrine genes expression, and insulin release in response to glucose stimulation. Then, the functionalization of the generated IPCs was evaluated in vivo. The in vitro findings revealed that the laminin-coated plates in combination with insulin-transferrin-selenium, B27, N2, and nicotinamide could efficiently up-regulate the expression of pancreatic endocrine genes. The in vivo study indicated effectual homing of the PKH-26-labelled IPCs in the pancreas of treated animals. Moreover, IPCs infusion in diabetic rats induced significant improvement in the metabolic parameters and prompted considerable up-regulation in the expression of the pancreatic related genes. The regenerative effect of infused IPCs was determined through histological examination of pancreatic tissue. Conclusively, the utilization of laminin–coated plates in concomitant with extrinsic factors promoting proliferation and differentiation of ADSCs could efficiently generate functional IPCs.

SummaryTwo novel chemotherapeutic chalcones were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by different spectral tools. Theoretical studies such as molecular modeling were done to detect the mechanism of action of these compounds. In vitro cytotoxicity showed a strong effect against all tested cell lines (MCF7, A459, HepG2, and HCT116), and low toxic effect against normal human melanocytes (HFB4). The lung carcinoma cell line was chosen for further molecular studies. Real-time PCR demonstrated that the two compounds upregulated gene expression of (BAX, p53, casp-3, casp-8, casp-9) genes and decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic genes bcl2, CDK4, and MMP1. Flow-cytometry indicated that cell cycle arrest of A459 was induced at the G2/M phase and the apoptotic percentage increased significantly compared to the control sample. Cytochrome c oxidase and VEGF enzyme activity were detected by ELISA assay. SEM tool was used to follow the morphological changes that occurred on the cell surface, cell granulation, and average roughness of the cell surface. The change in the number and morphology of mitochondria, cell shrinkage, increase in the number of cytoplasmic organelles, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and apoptotic bodies were observed using TEM. The obtained data suggested that new chalcones exerted their pathways on lung carcinoma through induction of two pathways of apoptosis.

Impaired depolarizing-to-hyperpolarizing (D/H) switch of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is reported during brain development in rodent valproate-model of autism spectrum disorder (VPA-ASD). We hypothesize that this impairment triggers NADPH oxidases (NOXs)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Here, we followed the impact of prenatal exposure to VPA on the synaptic protein expression of potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2), sodium potassium chloride cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) and, in brains of male and female Wistar rats during infantile (P15), juvenile (P30) and adult (P60) stages. We also assessed alterations in synaptic NOX isoforms 2 and 4 (NOX2 and NOX4) activities and expressions in developing rat brains. Our findings revealed a significant reduction in KCC2 expression and a concomitant increase in NOX activity and NOX4 expression in synaptosomes of VPA-exposed rats, particularly at P15 and P30. Prenatal exposure to shikonin, (10 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (i.p.) into pregnant dam, daily from G12.5 until birth), ameliorated these effects by reducing synaptic protein expression of NOX4, generally quenched synaptic NOX activity and enhanced synaptic protein expression of KCC2. Indeed, shikonin reversed VPA-induced sociability deficits in ASD rats. These results suggest that targeting the NOX-ROS pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy for ASD.

Background Despite the recent progress in the differentiation strategies of stem cells into pancreatic beta cell lineage, current protocols are not optimized for different cell types. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the ability of stem cells derived from dental pulp (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament (PDLSCs) as two anatomically different dental tissues to differentiate into pancreatic beta cells while assessing the most suitable protocol for each cell type. Methods DPSCs & PDLSCs were isolated and characterized morphologically and phenotypically and then differentiated into pancreatic beta cells using two protocols. Differentiated cells were assessed by qRT-PCR for the expression of pancreatic related markers Foxa -2, Sox-17, PDX-1, Ngn-3, INS and Gcg. Functional assessment of differentiation was performed by quantification of Insulin release via ELISA. Results Protocol 2 implementing Geltrex significantly enhanced the expression levels of all tested genes both in DPSCs & PDLSCs. Both DPSCs & PDLSCs illustrated improved response to increased glucose concentration in comparison to undifferentiated cells. Moreover, DPSCs demonstrated an advanced potency towards pancreatic lineage differentiation over PDLSCs under both protocols. Conclusion In conclusion, the current study reports the promising potential of dental derived stem cells in differentiating into pancreatic lineage through selection of the right protocol.

Background The selfie phenomenon is an emanating one, specifically affecting adolescents and young adults. It emerges as a reflection of a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on this, the current study aimed to assess the rate of the selfie phenomenon among Egyptian university students and its sociodemographic and psychiatric correlates. During the study procedure, we enrolled 200 undergraduate Egyptian university students from two different faculties and were assessed using the Selfie Behavioral Scale, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis II Disorders, and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Results 49.5% of the students being assessed had borderline selfitis with a higher rate among females. We found a highly significant association between the selfie phenomenon and depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and other psychiatric disorders and personality disorders, and we also found that selfies had a significant negative association with the level of functioning among students. Conclusions Results concur with previous existing literature regarding the magnitude of the selfie phenomenon and its relationship with different psychiatric disorders and personality disorders.

This study was designed to generate functional insulin-producing cells (IPCs) from dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and further explore their therapeutic potential against diabetes mellitus in vivo. MSCs were isolated from human dental pulp and periodontal ligament and were induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) using laminin-based differentiation protocol for 14 days. Confirmation of IPCs was performed through real-time PCR analysis and insulin release assay. Then, the generated IPCs were labeled with PKH26 dye prior to transplantation in experimental animals. Twenty-eight days later, blood glucose, serum insulin (INS), c-peptide (CP), and visfatin (VF) levels and pancreatic glucagon (GC) level were estimated. Pancreatic forkhead box protein A2 (Foxa2) and SRY-box transcription factor 17 (Sox17), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), and fibroblast growth factor10 (FGF 10) gene expression levels were analyzed. Dental stem cells were successfully differentiated into IPCs that demonstrated increased expression of pancreatic endocrine genes. IPCs released insulin after being subjected to high levels of glucose. In vivo findings uncovered that the implanted IPCs triggered significant decrease in blood glucose, serum VF, and pancreatic GC levels with significant increase in serum INS and CP levels. Furthermore, the implanted IPCs provoked significant upregulation in the expression level of pancreatic genes. Histopathological description of the pancreas tissues revealed that transplantation of IPCs ameliorated the destabilization of pancreas tissue architecture. This study demonstrates the significant role of the implantation of IPCs generated from dental-derived stem cells in treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Despite the recent progress in the differentiation strategies of stem cells into pancreatic beta cell lineage, current protocols are not optimized for different cell types. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the ability of stem cells derived from dental pulp (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament (PDLSCs) as two anatomically different dental tissues to differentiate into pancreatic beta cells while assessing the most suitable protocol for each cell type. DPSCs & PDLSCs were isolated and characterized morphologically and phenotypically and then differentiated into pancreatic beta cells using two protocols. Differentiated cells were assessed by qRT-PCR for the expression of pancreatic related markers Foxa-2, Sox-17, PDX-1, Ngn-3, INS and Gcg. Functional assessment of differentiation was performed by quantification of Insulin release via ELISA. Protocol 2 implementing Geltrex significantly enhanced the expression levels of all tested genes both in DPSCs & PDLSCs. Both DPSCs & PDLSCs illustrated improved response to increased glucose concentration in comparison to undifferentiated cells. Moreover, DPSCs demonstrated an advanced potency towards pancreatic lineage differentiation over PDLSCs under both protocols. In conclusion, the current study reports the promising potential of dental derived stem cells in differentiating into pancreatic lineage through selection of the right protocol.

This study was designed to generate functional insulin-producing cells (IPCs) from dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and further explore their therapeutic potential against diabetes mellitus in vivo. MSCs were isolated from human dental pulp and periodontal ligament and were induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) using laminin-based differentiation protocol for 14 days. Confirmation of IPCs was performed through real-time PCR analysis and insulin release assay. Then, the generated IPCs were labeled with PKH26 dye prior to transplantation in experimental animals. Twenty-eight days later, blood glucose, serum insulin (INS), c-peptide (CP), and visfatin (VF) levels and pancreatic glucagon (GC) level were estimated. Pancreatic forkhead box protein A2 (Foxa2) and SRY-box transcription factor 17 (Sox17), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), and fibroblast growth factor10 (FGF 10) gene expression levels were analyzed. Dental stem cells were successfully differentiated into IPCs that demonstrated increased expression of pancreatic endocrine genes. IPCs released insulin after being subjected to high levels of glucose. In vivo findings uncovered that the implanted IPCs triggered significant decrease in blood glucose, serum VF, and pancreatic GC levels with significant increase in serum INS and CP levels. Furthermore, the implanted IPCs provoked significant upregulation in the expression level of pancreatic genes. Histopathological description of the pancreas tissues revealed that transplantation of IPCs ameliorated the destabilization of pancreas tissue architecture. This study demonstrates the significant role of the implantation of IPCs generated from dental-derived stem cells in treatment of diabetes mellitus.