Regional Distribution of Copper,Zinc and Iron in Brain of Wistar Rat Model for Non-Wilsonian Brain Copper Toxicosis

In previous studies, we have reported first in vivo evidence of copper deposition in the choroid plexus, cognitive impairments, astrocytes swelling (Alzheimer type II cells) and astrogliosis (increase in number of astrocytes), and degenerated neurons coupled with significant increase in the hippocampus copper and zinc content in copper-intoxicated Wistar rats. Nonetheless, hippocampus iron levels were not affected by chronic copper-intoxication. Notwithstanding information on distribution of copper, zinc and iron status in different regions of brain due to chronic copper exposure remains fragmentary. In continuation with our previous study, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneally injected copper lactate (0.15 mg Cu/100 g body weight) daily for 90 days on copper, zinc and iron levels in different regions of the brain using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Copper-intoxicated group showed significantly increased cortex, cerebellum and striatum copper content (76, 46.8 and 80.7 % increase, respectively) compared to control group. However, non-significant changes were observed for the zinc and iron content in cortex, cerebellum and striatum due to chronic copper exposure. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that chronic copper toxicity causes differential copper buildup in cortex, cerebellum and striatum region of central nervous system of male Wistar rats; signifying the critical requirement to discretely evaluate the effect of copper neurotoxicity in different brain regions, and ensuing neuropathological and cognitive dysfunctions.     

Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Effect of Curcumin Against Copper Toxicity in Rats

Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with several potential health benefits. Although it has been examined in several metals toxicity studies, but its role in the protection against copper toxicity has not been investigated. In this study; the detoxification and antioxidant effect of curcumin were examined to determine its prophylactic/therapeutic role experimentally in rats. Forty albino rats were divided into five groups; control, CuSO₄ (4 mg/kg body weight), curcumin (80 mg/kg body weight), curcumin post-treatment (CuSO₄ for 15 days followed by curcumin for the next 15 days) and curcumin co-treatment (CuSO₄ plus curcumin for 30 days). All rats were treated orally by stomach tube for 30 days/once a day. Changes were observed in hepatic marker enzymes such as: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase-(ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), besides the serum total protein, urea and creatinine. Concentration of liver and kidney antioxidants such as: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione-(GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. An increased in the activities of liver marker enzymes, urea, creatinine and the MDA contents were detected after exposure to CuSO₄. Meanwhile, the activities of serum total protein, hepatic and renal antioxidants were decreased. Changes in all biochemical parameters were alleviated by the post-treatment and co-treatment of curcumin. Our finding suggests that the curcumin showed protective effects on CuSO₄-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.     

Evaluation of Surfactants-Assisted Folic Acid-Loaded Pectin Submicrospheres: Characterization and Hemocompatibility Assay

Folic acid is used for preventing and treating multiple diseases and disorders, administered in the form of oral supplements. The present research work was aimed to study the influence of two non-ionic surfactants Poloxamer and Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) on pectin submicrospheres formulations. Typical natural polymer pectin was used to encapsulate folic acid by cross linking method. The resultant submicrospheres contributed to improve the aqueous solubility to enhance the bioavailability of folic acid. During investigation, it was observed that pectin polymers influenced kinetics of the rate of reaction more intensively than the surfactants. The physical phenomenon caused the change in their size, shape and chemistry of pectin polymers transforming into submicrospheres in aqueous condition. The characteristic differences of submicrospheres were assessed by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The average diameters of the submicrospheres ranged between 250 and 500 nm. The encapsulation efficiency of submicrospheres ranged between 80 and 96 %. The characteristic swelling behavior of lyophilized submicrospheres was influenced by the ratio of pectin polymers and folic acid used in the formulations. The submicrospheres systems exhibited controlled release of folic acid due to the pH-dependent solubility of pectin polymers in aqueous medium. The submicrospheres showed good haemocompatibility suggesting them to be promising candidates for oral delivery.     

A Microarray Immunoassay for Serum Thyrotropin and Thyroglobulin Using Antibodies Immobilized on Track-Etched Membranes

Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) measurements have evolved as important analytes for monitoring the prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, post-thyroidectomy. Individual analyte immunoassay is the current practice in clinical pathology, but the simultaneous assay for all relevant analytes for a given disease, can reduce assay costs, improve patient compliance and give the clinician more information for an unequivocal diagnosis. Microarray immunoassay (MI) can achieve this goal and, hence, we have developed and validated a immuno-radiometric MI for quantitation of serum TSH and Tg by using highly micro-porous polycarbonate (PC) track-etched membranes (TEM) to immobilize the monoclonal anti-TSH and polyclonal anti-Tg antibodies in ~1 mm diameter spots. Non-competitive immunoassays were performed using mixture of ¹²⁵I labeled monoclonal anti-TSH and anti-Tg antibodies. Phosphorimager was used to quantify the bound radioactivity. TSH and Tg were detected with detection limit of 0.07 µIU/ml and 0.13 ng/ml respectively, which is lower than the clinically required cut-off level. The assay showed: acceptable intra-assay precision within 20 % and recovery in the range of 76–111.2 %. MI compared well with the established immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) with r = 0.98, p < 0.01 (n = 41). No cross-reactivity was seen between the immobilized antibodies. Although two hormones are addressed in this report, MI using PC TEM and isotopic/non-isotopic tracers has the potential for highly automated multiplexed analysis.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the effect of keloid surgery and radiotherapy by reducing the recurrence rate

Objective

Keloids are exuberant cutaneous scars that form due to abnormal growth of fibrous tissue following an injury. The primary aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to reduce the keloid recurrence rate after surgical excision and radiotherapy.

Methods

(1) A total of 240 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the HBOT group (O group) received HBOT after surgical excision and radiotherapy. Patients in the other group were treated with only surgical excision and radiotherapy (K group). (2) Scar tissue from recurrent patients was collected after a second operation. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe keloid morphology. Certain inflammatory factors (interleukin-6 (IL-6), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) were measured using immunohistochemical staining.

Results

(1) The recurrence rate of the O group (5.97%) was significantly lower than that of the K group (14.15%), P<0.05. Moreover, patients in the O group reported greater satisfaction than those in the K group (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the recurrent scar tissue of the K group, the expression levels of the inflammatory factors were lower in the recurrent scar tissue of the O group.

Conclusions

Adjunctive HBOT effectively reduces the keloid recurrence rate after surgical excision and radiotherapy by improving the oxygen level of the tissue and alleviating the inflammatory process.

     

The Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale: Assessing Attitudes,Skills, and Knowledge of Counselors Working With Lesbian,Gay, and Bisexual Clients

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale (SOCCS), an instrument that measures the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of counselors who work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Internal consistency of the SOCCS was .90, and 1‐week test‐retest reliability was .84. Criterion, concurrent, and divergent validity tests established the SOCCS as a psychometrically sound instrument.