Search

Context Housing temperature is a critical regulator of mouse metabolism and thermoneutral housing can improve model translation to humans. However, the impact of housing temperature on the ability of wheel running exercise training to rescue the detrimental effect of diet-induced obese mice is currently not fully understood. Objective To investigate how housing temperature affects muscle metabolism in obese mice with regard to calcium handling and exercise training (ET) adaptations in skeletal muscle, and benefits of ET on adiposity and glucometabolic parameters. Methods Lean or obese female mice were housed at standard ambient temperature (22 °C) or thermoneutrality (30 °C) with/without access to running wheels. The metabolic phenotype was investigated using glucose tolerance tests, indirect calorimetry, and body composition. Molecular muscle adaptations were measured using immunoblotting, qPCR, and spectrophotometric/fluorescent assays. Results Obese female mice housed at 22 °C showed lower adiposity, lower circulating insulin levels, improved glucose tolerance, and elevated basal metabolic rate compared to 30 °C housing. Mice exposed to voluntary wheel running exhibited a larger fat loss and higher metabolic rate at 22 °C housing compared to thermoneutrality. In obese female mice, glucose tolerance improved after ET independent of housing temperature. Independent of diet and training, 22 °C housing increased skeletal muscle sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) activity. Additionally, housing at 22 °C elevated the induction of training-responsive muscle proteins in obese mice. Conclusion Our findings highlight that housing temperature significantly influences adiposity, insulin sensitivity, muscle physiology, and exercise adaptations in diet-induced obese female mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camel milk yoghurts were created using probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with exopolysaccharide (EPS) production capabilities. Lacticaseibacilluscasei ATCC 393, identified as the most efficient EPS producer, was incorporated into conventional yoghurt culture. We compared the effects of adding L. casei ATCC 393 with EPS powder (SLLP) against lactulose. Evaluations included LAB, yeast, mould, cytotoxicity and IC50 values in the samples. The results demonstrated increased bacterial counts, LAB viability, viscosity, antiproliferative effects and a lower IC50 in SLLP, indicating the potential application of EPS‐producing L. casei ATCC 393 and its derived EPS in the development of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Plane wart is a common disease that is caused by human papillomavirus. Many modalities of treatments are introduced in practice, but none of them proved to be effective. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution is a keratolytic agent with many dermatological uses. Objective To compare between topical KOH solution and cryotherapy in the treatment of plane warts. Patients and methods Lesions in each patient were divided into two groups: group A was treated with topical 5% KOH solution once at night, whereas group B was treated with cotton bud method of cryotherapy once every 2 weeks. In group A, the lesions were evaluated at second and fourth week to assess the cure rates and adverse effects. In group B, the lesions were evaluated every 2 weeks for 6-12 weeks or until warts completely disappeared. Patients were followed up for 3 months after complete cure to detect any recurrence. Results Regarding the response between lesions of plane warts treated with KOH 5% (group A) and cryotherapy (group B), lesions in group A showed a complete response in 17 (56.7%) patients, partial response in seven (23.3%) patients, and no response in six (20.0%) patients, whereas lesions in group B showed a complete response in 16 (53.3%) patients, partial response in nine (30%) patients, and no response in five (16.7%) patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the response rate. Adverse effects included itching, erythema, crust, scar formation, hypopigmentation, and hyperpigmentation. No statistically significant differences were reported regarding adverse effect, except for crust and scar formation. Regarding crust, a statistically significant difference was found (P<0.05), with a higher percentage in group B. Regarding scar formation, a statistically significant difference was found (P<0.05), with a higher percentage in group B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to assess the possibility of biological control on one of the most serious pathogenic microbes that found to infect Kariesh cheese, namely Salmonella typhimurium. To achieve this object, firstly a total of 20 Kariesh cheese samples were collected randomly from various markets located at Cairo and exposed to microbiological isolation and identification of S. typhimurium. The obtained results revealed that, S. typhimurium was detected in 30% of surveyed market Kariesh cheese according to the strain identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Secondary, five sewage water samples were obtained from Fac. of Agric., Ain Shams Univ., and Shoubra EL-Kheima station of drinking and sewage water for specific bacteriophage isolation and morphology particles of Salmonella bacteriophage was examined by transmission electron microscope. Third, pasteurized skimmed buffalo’s milk was converted into experimental Kariesh cheese at 40°C by milk inoculation with 2% of freshly activated yoghurt bacterial starter culture and then milk was divided into 5 equal portions. The 1st portion considered as control. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th portions were contaminated with equal level (1%) of S. typhimurium suspension containing 105 colony forming units (CFU)/mL, previously isolated from foregoing surveyed Kariesh cheese samples, followed by adding phage suspension, from which isolated from sewage water, containing 108 plaque forming units (PFU)/mL at the levels of nil, 1, 2 and 3% respectively. All portions were separately incubated at the same temperature up to curdling. The curds were cut and individually filled into stainless steel moulds lined with cheese cloth and consolidated by a slight pressure for 24 h. The blocks of curd were then cut, dry salted using 2% NaCl (w/w) and packaged into plastic containers. Experimentally, there were proportional reductions in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population as the level of phage spiked into cheese milk increased, as which the reduction rate of LAB count during cold storage period (CSP) prolonging was however declined. In terms of health safety, although the number of pathogen microbe added was gradually reduced due to the acid developed by prolonging the Cold Storage Period in the absence of phage, but it stilled present until the end of experimental period. While, the pathogen was completely eliminated within 7 days of cheese age when the phage suspension (108 PFU/mL) has been spiked at the level of 1% at least. The contamination of experimental Kariesh cheese with S. typhimurium led to weaken the ability of cheese curd to drain whey as explained from the dry matter (DM) content which decreased due to the presence of pathogen and increased by the pathogen elimination with bacteriophage, which resulted also to increase the protein /DM content. The ash content reduced by both reasons, namely the contamination with S. typhimurium and/or the spiking level of phage suspension. The presence of S. typhimurium slowed the LAB population and acid production by them. Finally, as a conclusion, the spiking of Kariesh cheese milk with 1% Salmonella typhimurium phage suspension (108 PFU/mL) is quite enough to eliminate this microorganism when it present at the level of 1% suspension containing 105 CFU /mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 2-3% of the global population via immune-mediated mechanisms. Osteopontin plays a crucial role in T-helper 1- and T-helper 17-mediated illnesses, including psoriasis. Ocular complications in psoriasis have been reported, and their assessment is of significant importance. Osteopontin is normally expressed constitutively in ocular structures and is linked to ocular homeostasis., Objectives: The study aimed to clarify the role of osteopontin (OPN) in psoriasis (PS) and its correlation with disease severity and ocular manifestations., Methods: A case-control study involving 40 psoriatic patients and an equal number of age- and sex- matched healthy subjects was conducted. We used the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) to assess disease severity and performed a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Additionally, we measured serum osteopontin levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in both groups., Results: A significant elevation in serum OPN levels in psoriatic patients compared to controls was found (P= 0.000). Furthermore, there was a highly significant positive correlation between serum OPN levels and patient age, disease duration, and PASI scores. Notably, a higher prevalence of ocular complications, including blepharitis, corneal affection, conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and cataract was observed in psoriatic patients compared to controls. Importantly, significant associations between serum OPN levels and the presence of cataracts and intraocular pressure (IOP) were identified. Additionally, significant correlations between serum OPN levels and measures of visual acuity and ocular surface health were found., Conclusions: Osteopontin is considered a marker of psoriasis severity and is associated with ocular comorbidities in psoriasis.

Despite the fact that anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) play a key role in coeliac disease (CD) screening, elevated AGA levels have been reported in several immune-mediated cutaneous conditions even in the absence of gastrointestinal disease clinical manifestations. A gluten-free diet led to improvements in some of these disorders. The link between oral lichen planus (LP) and CD was revealed, but there is currently no information available regarding the association between cutaneous LP and gluten sensitivity. This study aimed to assess the AGA (IgA and IgG) serum levels in LP patients compared to controls and to determine their correlation with LP severity. The study included 20 patients with cutaneous LP and 20 age- and sex-matched controls, both free of CD manifestations. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was utilized for the evaluation of AGA (IgA and IgG) serum levels. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in LP patients were evaluated qualitatively using a chromatographic immunoassay. In LP patients, AGA (IgA and IgG) serum levels were significantly elevated compared to controls (p = 0.015 and p=0.016, respectively). A significant positive correlation between AGA (IgG) serum levels and the age of patients (p= 0.024), duration of disease (p= 0.02), and LP severity index (p< 0.0001) was found. AGA serum levels were insignificantly different between HCV-positive and HCV-negative LP patients (p= 0.054). In conclusion, the significant elevation of serum AGA levels in LP patients reflects a possible link between LP and occult CD. Serum AGA (IgG) levels can be used as a marker of LP severity.., (Copyright© by the Egyptian Association of Immunologists.)