METHOD TO IMPROVE THE CONSUMER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF QUAIL MEAT DURING DENITRIFICATION

Phospholipids are a kind of “solvents” of cholesterol and show a hepatoprotective effect. Also, phospholipids regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism, improve the functional activity of the liver and its detoxification function. The study aims to study the impact of different doses of phos-pholipid lecithin preparation on economically useful indicators, meat productivity, nutritional value and environmental safety of quail meat at a subtoxic dose of nitrates in their compound feed. This article presents materials that indicate the feasibility of introducing phospholipid preparation of lecithin in the amount of 1.0 % by weight of feed under the presence of a sub-toxic dose of nitrates in the compound feed quail grown for meat. This introduction of phospholipid preparation of lecithin increases the preservation of livestock, body weight gain and reduces the cost of feed per unit gain. Poultry of the 2nd experimental group had an advantage over their control counterparts in preservation rate by 4.0 % and average daily growth by 9.50 % (P<0.05). The authors observed the benefit over the control samples in the concentration of dry substances by 0.98 and 0.99 %, protein by 0.98 and 0.97 % (P<0.05) in the examples of thigh and breast muscles of the poultry of the 2nd experimental group. The value of the protein-quality index (PQI) was higher by 13,55 % (P<0,05) in the samples of white meat from poultry carcasses of the 2nd experimental group as compared with the control counterparts. Also, the examples of poultry meat of the 2nd experimental group had better sanitary and hygienic characteristics. For instance, they had 36.83 % lower nitrate content (P<0.05) and 40.91 % lower nitrites content (P<0.05). This content indicates high denitrifying properties of phospholipid lecithin.

Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Porcine Prepubertal Sertoli Cells: An “In Vitro” Study

The increasing use of nanomaterials in a variety of industrial, commercial, medical products, and their environmental spreading has raised concerns regarding their potential toxicity on human health. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) represent one of the most commonly used nanoparticles. Emerging evidence suggested that exposure to TiO2 NPs induced reproductive toxicity in male animals. In this in vitro study, porcine prepubertal Sertoli cells (SCs) have undergone acute (24 h) and chronic (from 1 up to 3 weeks) exposures at both subtoxic (5 µg/ml) and toxic (100 µg/ml) doses of TiO2 NPs. After performing synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, we focused on SCs morphological/ultrastructural analysis, apoptosis, and functionality (AMH, inhibin B), ROS production and oxidative DNA damage, gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, proinflammatory/immunomodulatory cytokines, and MAPK kinase signaling pathway. We found that 5 µg/ml TiO2 NPs did not induce substantial morphological changes overtime, but ultrastructural alterations appeared at the third week. Conversely, SCs exposed to 100 µg/ml TiO2 NPs throughout the whole experiment showed morphological and ultrastructural modifications. TiO2 NPs exposure, at each concentration, induced the activation of caspase-3 at the first and second week. AMH and inhibin B gene expression significantly decreased up to the third week at both concentrations of nanoparticles. The toxic dose of TiO2 NPs induced a marked increase of intracellular ROS and DNA damage at all exposure times. At both concentrations, the increased gene expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and HO-1 was observed whereas, at the toxic dose, a clear proinflammatory stress was evaluated along with the steady increase in the gene expression of IL-1α and IL-6. At both concentrations, an increased phosphorylation ratio of p-ERK1/2 was observed up to the second week followed by the increased phosphorylation ratio of p-NF-kB in the chronic exposure. Although in vitro, this pilot study highlights the adverse effects even of subtoxic dose of TiO2 NPs on porcine prepubertal SCs functionality and viability and, more importantly, set the basis for further in vivo studies, especially in chronic exposure at subtoxic dose of TiO2 NPs, a condition closer to the human exposure to this nanoagent.

Determination of the Toxic Dose of Experimental Lead Poisoning for Male Goats in Fallujah City, Iraq

This study aimed to induce lead poisoning experimentally in male goats to determine the toxic dose and investigate it is effects on hematological parameters, and the functions of the liver and kidney. The experiment was performed on 15 male goats, aged between 3 – 5 months with a mean weighing 13±0.65 kg. Goats were divided into five equal groups, the first represented the control group given tap water, while the other groups were given orally (by stomach tube) 70,100,200 and 400 mg/kg B.W. of lead acetate respectively, for 5 days. Blood was collected weekly for 4 weeks to estimate the concentrations of lead, hematological and biochemical analysis. The results indicated a significantly (P≤0.05) increase of lead(0.738±0.07ppm), only in goats which received 400 mg Pb/kg B.W of lead with symptoms included: depression, dullness, anemia, muscle twitching, staggering, and teeth grinding, with a significant reduction in erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin 10.391±0.41*106/ml, 25.5±0.55%, and 8.30±0.19g/dl respectively, compared with the control ones. Also, increase in total white blood cell count to 9.098±0.08*103/ml, neutrophils 39.07±0.93%, monocytes 1.88±0.07%, and eosinophils 4.82±0.05%. The same group results showed significant elevations in the activities of liver enzymes; ALT 59.9±0.20u/l, AST 243±1.3u/l, in addition, the serum levels of creatinine and urea were also increased indicating renal frailer 1.96±0.05 mg/dl and 29.78±0.34 mg/dl respectively. In summary, this is the first study that proved the toxic dose of lead poisoning for male goats in Iraq and estimate their hazardous results on the hematological and chemobiological analyses on goats.

Antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of metronidazole and levofloxacin composites with silver nanoparticles

The aim of the work is to to ascertain their antibacterial activity, as well as the toxic effects toward human cells of composites of silver nanoparticles immobilized by electron-beam technology onto crystals of antimicrobial agents metronidazole and levofloxacin The assessment of antibacterial activity and cytotoxic action of silver naonparticled metronidazole and levofloxacin composites was carried out using the MTT-test. Objects of study of antibacterial activity were three strains of microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Escherichia coli dH5α, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027. For the investigation of cytotoxic action, cells of HEK 293 line obtained from human kidney embryos were used. Nanocomposites of metronidazole and levofloxacin were tested at concentrations known as the minimum toxic dose of antibiotics and at concentrations reduced/increased in 2 times. Immobilization of silver nanoparticles on the surface of metronidazole and levofloxacin by electron-beam technology gives a different effect on their antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. Nanocomposites of metronidazole exhibit a weaker antibacterial effect on E. coli than metronidazole alone, while levofloxacin nanocomposites have higher antibacterial activity compared to levofloxacin alone. Nanocomposites of the levofloxacin, compared to free levofloxacin, are characterized by a higher antibacterial effect towards gram-negative bacteria (E. coli), but practically do not differ in activity toward P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Immobilization of silver nanoparticles on metronidazole crystals does not affect on its cytotoxicity relative to pseudonormal human cells line HEK 293, while the nanocomposites of levofloxacin with silver are more toxic to these cells than levofloxacin alone.

All-in-one Superparamagnetic and SERS-active Niosomes for Dual-targeted in Vitro Detection of Breast Cancer Cells

BackgroundIn vitro and in vivo biosensing through surface-enhanced Raman scattering often suffer from signal contamination diminishing both the limit of detection and quantification. However, overcoming the lack of specificity requires excessive nanoparticle concentrations, which may lead to adverse side effects if applied to patients. ResultsWe propose encapsulation of iron oxide (FexOy) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) into the bilayer structure of transferrin-modified niosomes. This approach enables achieving greatly enhanced and contamination-free SERS-signals in vitro as well as a dual-targeting functionality towards MCF-7 breast cancer cells. An in-depth characterization of FexOyNPs- and AuNPs-loaded niosomes (AuNPs/FexOyNPs/NIO) after magnetic downstream processing reveals defined hybrid niosome structures, which show a long-term SERS-signal stability in various media such as MCF-7 cell culture medium. In vitro 2D-SERS imaging unveil a successful incorporation of a non-toxic dose of hybrid NPs into MCF-7 cells, which leads to strong and almost contamination-free SERS-signals. The measured signal-to-noise ratio of the in vitro signal exceeds the values required by DIN 32645 for the successful validation of a detection method. ConclusionsThe hybrid niosomes can be considered a promising and efficient agent for the establishment and commercialization of a highly sensitive detection kit for monitoring cancerous tissue.

Tilapia Piscidin 4 (TP4) Reprograms M1 Macrophages to M2 Phenotypes in Cell Models of Gardnerella vaginalis-Induced Vaginosis

Gardnerella vaginalis is associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV). The virulence factors produced by G. vaginalis are known to stimulate vaginal mucosal immune response, which is largely driven by activated macrophages. While Tilapia piscidin 4 (TP4), an antimicrobial peptide isolated from Nile tilapia, is known to display a broad range of antibacterial functions, it is unclear whether TP4 can affect macrophage polarization in the context of BV. In this study, we used the culture supernatants from G. vaginalis to stimulate differentiation of THP-1 and RAW264.7 cells to an M1 phenotype. The treatment activated the NF-κB/STAT1 signaling pathway, induced reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, and upregulated inflammatory mediators. We then treated the induced M1 macrophages directly with a non-toxic dose of TP4 or co-cultured the M1 macrophages with TP4-treated vaginal epithelial VK2 cells. The results showed that TP4 could not only decrease pro-inflammatory mediators in the M1 macrophages, but it also enriched markers of M2 macrophages. Further, we found that direct treatment with TP4 switched M1 macrophages toward a resolving M2c phenotype via the MAPK/ERK pathway and IL-10-STAT3 signaling. Conversely, tissue repair M2a macrophages were induced by TP4-treated VK2 cells; TP4 upregulated TSG-6 in VK2 cells, which subsequently activated STAT6 and M2a-related gene expression in the macrophages. In conclusion, our results imply that TP4 may be able to attenuate the virulence of G. vaginalis by inducing resolving M2c and tissue repair M2a macrophage polarizations, suggesting a novel strategy for BV therapy.

In vitro and in silico Anti-dengue activity of Supercritical extract of medicinal plants against Dengue serotype-2

Dengue is transmitted by female Aedes mosquitoes. It has been reported that about 2.5 billion peoples are at the risk of dengue virus. Millions of cases of dengue virus occur worldwide each year. There is no antiviral drug available still. Hence, the researchers are in the search of new anti-dengue drugs from natural products. The present study is aimed to determine the anti-dengue activity of supercritical extracts of Andrographis paniculata, Berberis vulgaris, Carica papaya, Euphorbia hirta, Phyllanthus niruri and Tinospora cordifolia in vitro and in silico. The cell viability was evaluated in C6/36 cells line by using MTT assay using a microplate reader at 595 nm. The maximum non-toxic dose of C. papaya and B. vulgaris extracts were reported as 46.87µg/ml, 31.25µg/ml for A. paniculata, P. niruri and E. hirta and 23.43 µg/ml, for T. cordifolia. Further, the anti-dengue activity of plants extract was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. 100 copies/ml of DENV-2 virus was used for the antiviral assay. A. paniculata supercritical extract showed complete inhibition against the dengue-2 virus at 40ºC temperature and 15Mpa pressure. The other plant extracts showed the inhibition in order of T. cordifolia (83.44%) > C. papaya (34.71%) > E. hirta (28.70%) whereas P. niruri and B. vulgaris failed to inhibit dengue virus. Andrographolide a major compound present in A. paniculata has been reported to have antiviral activity against hepatitis B, C virus, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, chikungunya virus, dengue virus 2 and 4. Results of molecular docking showed that the interaction between andrographolide and NS1protein shows the maximum binding energy -7.30 Kcal/mol. The docking study was conducted to validate the result against the anti-dengue activity using dengue NS1 protein with andrographolide. It was concluded that A. paniculata could be a source for isolation of therapeutic compounds against the dengue-2 virus.

Tannic Acid Exhibits Adjuvant Activity by Enhancing Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity Against BSA as a Protein Antigen

Background: Immunization or vaccination is the process of inducing artificial immunity against an antigen taking advantage of the mechanisms of immunological memory. Current vaccines include substances known as adjuvants, which tend to improve the immunogenicity of the antigen, reduce the antigen quantity employed, and boost the immune response in weak responders. Unfortunately, only a few vaccine adjuvants are approved for human use. Objective: Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Tannic acid on humoral and cell-mediated immunity against bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a protein antigen in Wistar rats. Method: In order to establish the Tannic acid concentration to test it as an adjuvant, the lethal dose 50 and maximum non-toxic dose were calculated through cytotoxicity and hemolytic assays with J774 A.1 cell line and rat erythrocytes by resazurin reduction method and UV/vis spectrophotometry. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups that included two controls without antigen and three treatment groups of adjuvants plus BSA as a protein antigen. The rats were immunized in a 30-day scheme. Blood samples were collected for humoral immunity analysis by means of immunoglobulin quantification, isotyping and antigen-antibody precipitation inhibition analysis. Rat peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes were isolated for cell-mediated immunity analysis by means of nitric oxide quantification from adjuvant stimulated peritoneal macrophages and lymphocytes proliferation assay. Results: Tannic acid was capable of increasing the immunogenicity of the antigen; besides, it was able to stimulate cell-mediated immunity by means of increased lymphocyte proliferation. Moreover, Tannic acid improved the humoral response by means of increased specific antibodies titers. These activities may be attributed to pattern recognition receptors stimulation. Conclusion: Tannic acid was considered biocompatible when tested in vivo because the concentration tested did not show cytotoxicity or hemolytic effect, and there was no detrimental effect observed on the animals’ health. These results show Tannic acid as a promising candidate for vaccine adjuvant.

Gelsemium elegans Benth: Chemical Components, Pharmacological Effects, and Toxicity Mechanisms

Gelsemium elegans Benth (GEB), also known as heartbreak grass, is a highly poisonous plant belonging to the family Loganiaceae and genus Gelsemium that has broad application prospects in medicine. This article reviews its chemical components, pharmacological effects, toxicity mechanisms, and research progress in clinical applications in recent years. Indole alkaloids are the main active components of GEB and have a variety of pharmacological and biological functions. They have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulation properties, with the therapeutic dose being close to the toxic dose. Application of small-dose indole alkaloids fails to work effectively, while high-dose usage is prone to poisoning, aggravating the patient’s conditions. Special caution is needed, especially to observe the changes in the disease condition of the patients in clinical practice. In-depth research on the chemical components and mechanisms of GEB is essential to the development of promising lead compounds and lays the foundation for extensive clinical application and safe usage of GEB in the future.