Variation of insect succession in summer on decomposing rabbit carrions treated with aluminum phosphide in Beheira governorate, Egypt

The present study aimed to record the arthropod fauna of medico-legal importance in an urban city: El Delengat, Beheira governorate, Egypt, by studying the succession of insects and the duration of the decomposition of rabbit carrions injected with Aluminum phosphide (AlP). In our study the total of twelve male rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus L, each weighing 1,25 kg were used. The experiment was conducted in summer. Three replicate experiments were conducted, for each experiment, 3 rabbits were administered intragastrically dosages of 27.4 mg, 13.7 mg, 54.8 mg of aluminum phosphide by body weight representing LD50, ½ LD50, 2 LD50, respectively. The fourth rabbit was used as a control, injected by saline solution. The recorded entomofauna was denoted in 5 orders, 12 families, and 17 genera and species. Necrophagous arthropods that colonized rabbit carrions were substantially of Diptera and Coleoptera orders. Calliphorid insects was the foremost family that colonizing the different carrions. AlP appeared to delay the decomposition process in ½ LD50 and 2 LD50 carrions. These results are the primary record of the arthropod successive pattern on aluminum phosphide remains, it will provide useful data in any future case studies involving AlP intoxication.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG):promoter of neurotoxicity, testicular impairment, inflammation and apoptosis in male rats

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most common food additives extensively used as a flavor enhancer. MSG induced lipid peroxidation and inflammation. The present study aimed to assess the neurotoxicity, testicular impairment, inflammation and apoptosis induced by MSG. Thirty adult male Wistar rats, weighing about 180-200 g were assigned equally into five groups, each consists of six rats. Animals of Group I are controls and they received distilled water, whereas animals of Groups II, III, IV and V were given oral daily doses of MSG 0.8, 1, 2 and 3 g/kg body weight, respectively for consecutive 70 days. Administration of different doses of MSG revealed a significant elevation in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), β amyloid 1-42, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), cholesterol and sperm abnormality while it showed reduction in the level of GSH and SOD, CAT and GST antioxidant enzymes activities, sperm count and sperm motility. MSG led to disruption in neurotransmitter levels; serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamate and GABA, also disorders in sexual hormones; testosterone, FSH and LH. The present results were confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical observations that obviously designate the neurodegeneration and reproductive toxicity. In conclusion, administration of low and high doses of MSG provoke deleterious effects on oxidant/ antioxidant markers, neurotransmitters, inflammatory cytokines, sexual hormones, brain and testes structures. Prominence hazards of lasting exposure to low and high doses of MSG on neuronal and testicular health. Therefore, its use should be restricted.

The potential therapeutic effect of red clover’s extract against an induced molecular neurodegeneration in male rats

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer. Oxidative neurotoxicity of MSG is well established. This study explored the therapeutic effect of red clover’s (RC) extract against MSG–induced neurodegeneration. HPLC-analysis revealed that formononetin, genistein, daidzein and biochanin A are the major isoflavones in RC’s extract. Four equal groups of male rats were used: control group, MSG-treated group, MSG plus RC-treated group and RC-treated group. The gene expression of iNOS, TNF-α, Cox-2 and p53 were evaluated in the brain extract using RT-PCR. The histological and electron microscopic examinations as well as the cholinergic function, the neurotransmitters and the oxidative status were also assessed. The MSG significantly up regulated the expression levels of iNOS, TNF-α, Cox-2 and p53. The activity of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), the monoamine neurotransmitters and the oxidative status as well as the histological and electron microscopic examinations confirmed the MSG-induced neurodegeneration. The administration of RC plus MSG diminished the expression of the inflammatory cytokines, the activity of AChE and the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters. RC also ameliorated the oxidative stress and the histological and the electron microscopic alterations. Accordingly, the present study provides an insight on the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials of RC’s extract as neuroprotective agent.

Seasonal effects of heavy metals on the date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga (Mollusca:Bivalvia) at Eastern harbor, Alexandria, Egypt

The edible mussel Lithophaga lithophaga is considered as one of the most important human food sources in Alexandria, Mediterranean Sea. The present study is designed to determine the seasonal bioaccumulation levels of Cd, Co and Pb in the whole soft tissues as well as different tissues of Lithophaga lithophaga. Results revealed that the seasonal bioaccumulation levels of Cd, Co and Pb in date mussel were below the permissible limits or other reported values from other regions of the Mediterranean. On the other hand, the order of metals accumulation level in different tissues was as follows: digestive gland>remaining soft tissues>gonads. The present study confirmed the role of digestive gland as a concentration center for heavy metals. Moreover, total protein content and stress protein responses of the whole soft tissues were evaluated. The total protein content was arranged in the following order: summer>autumn>spring>winter. Five novel stress proteins appeared in summer. The histological and ultrastructural studies of the digestive gland of Lithophaga lithophaga collected in summer and spring showed marked histopathological alternations.

Chitosan from Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) enhances sensitization to insulin treatment in a diabetic burn mice of wound healing

Chitosan is recognized as a multipurpose biomaterial because of its low allergenicity, non-toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility. The present study was designed to estimate the role of chitosan derived from Lucilia cuprina on burn healing in diabetic mice; using histopathological and microbiological studies at different time intervals. Chitosan was prepared from L. cuprina with high molecular weight (MW) and high degree of deacetylation (DD) to evaluate its burn wound healing potential; skin burn closure assessment, histological and microbiological studies in vivo in male diabetic mice. Chitosan topical treatment was superior in wound closure acceleration; mainly in insulin injected group at all the time intervals. Additionally, earlier epidermal remodelling with mature and intense collagen deposition was encountered in all chitosan treated animals as well as non-diabetic burned animals. There was a significant delay in hair growth and poor epidermal remodelling with impairment of wound closure in diabetic groups. Moreover, chitosan treated groups assert the chitosan antibacterial effects with protecting the burn against contamination that hinders healing especially in this diabetic condition. Further researches needed to interpret effects of possible synergistic combination therapy.

The effect of morphine on the development rate of flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae) reared on rabbit carcasses containing this drug and its implications to postmortem interval estimates

Insects can prove to be a valuable tool in the estimation of PMI in the investigation of homicides, suicides, and other unattended human deaths, in the absence of tissues and body fluids. Aim: The current study aimed to determine morphine concentration in the second, third feeding, third post-feeding instars, and puparial skin of four forensically important flies; Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Calliphoridae), and Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Sarcophagidae) and to evaluate its effect on the rate and pattern of development of these flies. Materials and methods: Three female domestic rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) each weighing 2.5 kg received dosages of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg of morphine over a 3-h period via left ear artery perfusion. For each trial, one other rabbit, weighing 2.5 kg, was used as a control. Morphine was detected in larval instars and puparial skin using ready to use RIA kit. Results: All blood and tissue samples obtained from the rabbits receiving dosages of morphine were positive for the drug. Morphine concentrations for rabbit R2 were 1.2 to 2.6 times greater than those for rabbit R1, and concentrations for rabbit R3 were 1.4 to 3.1 times greater than those for rabbit R2. For each rabbit, morphine concentration in second, third feeding and third post-feeding instars, and puparial skin for all four species, were less than those detected in the tissues. The highest levels of morphine were recorded in the feeding third instars of Chr. megacephala R3 colony, whereas the lowest level of this drug was detected in the feeding third instars of S. argyrostoma R1 colony. Estimations of larval age for L. sericata, Chr. albiceps, Chr. megacephala and S. argyrostoma based on mean length can be significantly in error if presence of morphine in the tissues is not considered. This error can be as great as 24, 27, 6 and 21 h respectively. Conclusion: In cases of badly decomposed and/or skeletonized remains, analyses of collected carrion-feeding insects, may provide the most accurate qualitative sources of toxicological information.

Effects of protein extract from the housefly larvae (Musca domestica vicina) on the hyperlipidemic mice induced by Triton WR-1339

Hypercholesterolemia is a chief risk reason for atherosclerosis. Triton-WR 1339 (Tyloxapol) was used by several investigators to initiate hypercholesterolemia in animals. Housefly maggots contain high larval protein extract (PE) that is used as an anti-atherosclerosis. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of the PE of houseflies against Triton-WR 1339-induced hyperlipidemia, oxidative damage, and histopathological changes of the liver and dorsal aorta of male mice. In this study, four groups of experimental mice, including ten mice each, were classified into: Group I, mice were administered with 0.5 ml saline solution, and considered as a positive control; Group II, mice were administered day after day by gavage with 0.5 ml of 200 mg/kg bw PE; Group III, hyperlipidemic mice were taken no treatment till the end of experiment and Group IV, the hyperlipidemic mice were administered day after day by gavage with 200 mg/kg bw PE. On day 40, the mice were anesthetized, blood samples were collected, the livers and the aorta were dissected for various biochemical tests and histopathological examinations. The biochemical parameters, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were increased, and reduction in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), the total glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were observed following Triton WR-1339 treatment in mice. After administration of the PE (200 mg/kg bw), the results revealed significant reduction in serum TC and TGs while HDL-C, oxidative stress levels in liver tissue, LPO, GSH and GPx were significantly increased. Histopathological examinations of the liver tissue and the aorta of mice showed alterations afterwards Triton WR-1339 administration. Treatment with 200 mg/kg bw PE showed beneficial effects with lower capsular thickening, enlargment of hepatocytes and much lower inflammatory cell infiltration.

RND family efflux pumps: from antibioresistance to chemotherapy resistance

Resistance to chemotherapy can be studied comparatively to the study of resistance in microorganisms. For over 40 years, understanding mechanisms that confer MDR has been a major goal of cancer biologists. Most of the studies toward MDR in cancer cells were about ABC transporters. Unfortunately, inhibition of these transporters often resulted in over toxicity due to the important role of these ABC transporters in healthy cells. The discovery of other targets for MDR of resistant cancer cells is of significant interest. Among the protein superfamily identified as being responsible for multidrug resistance are RND. Its members are widespread in bacterial organisms, but also in Archaea and Eukaryotes. Among the common features of multidrug resistance in RND is the ability of these transmembrane proteins to efflux a broad spectrum of substrates and drugs using the proton motive force. Ptch1, member of the RND family, is overexpressed in many aggressive and metastatic cancers. Like other members of the RND family such as NPC1, it is able to transport cholesterol. It was later shown to transport chemotherapeutic drugs, and its inhibition in resistant cancer cell lines resulted in increasing chemotherapeutic treatment efficacy. However, the drug efflux mechanism of Ptch1 is still unknown. In this review, we will discuss the possibility of a drug efflux mechanism common to the different proteins from the RND family.