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Background: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have detrimental effects on the central nervous system and increase the risk of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, there is a proposed condition called "type 3 diabetes" that refers to insulin resistance and impaired insulin signaling in the brain, leading to cognitive deficits similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease. Diabetes leads to various changes in the CNS, including structural and functional alterations. Chronic high blood sugar levels, oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular damage associated with diabetes contribute to neuronal damage and impaired synaptic plasticity. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring compound that acts as a powerful antioxidant. Conclusions: DM cause damage to CNS through increasing the risk of cerebrovascular diseases, promoting chronic low-grade inflammation, increasing oxidative stress, inducing Alzheimer's diseaseand diabetic encephalopathy. ALA protects against these effects through Improving Insulin Sensitivity, glucose utilization, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamics (PBPK/PD) modeling to predict the effect of obesity and gastric bypass surgery on the pharmacokinetics and intragastric pH following omeprazole treatment. The simulated plasma concentrations closely matched the observed data from non‐obese, morbidly obese, and post‐gastric bypass populations. Obesity significantly reduces CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 activities, as reflected by the metabolic ratio [omeprazole sulphone]/[omeprazole] and [5‐hydroxy‐omeprazole]/[omeprazole]. The morbidly obese model accounted for the down‐regulation of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 to recapitulate the observed data. Sensitivity analysis showed that intestinal CYP3A4, gastric pH, small intestine bypass, and the delay in bile release do not have a major influence on omeprazole exposure. Hepatic CYP3A4 had a significant impact on the AUC of (S)‐omeprazole, while hepatic CYP2C19 affected both (R)‐ and (S)‐omeprazole AUC. After gastric bypass surgery, the activity of CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 is restored. The PBPK model was linked to a mechanism‐based PD model to assess the effect of omeprazole on intragastric pH. Following 40 mg omeprazole, the mean intragastric pH was 4.3, 4.6, and 6.6 in non‐obese, obese, and post‐gastric bypass populations, and the daily time with pH >4 was 14.7, 16.4, and 24 h. Our PBPK/PD approach provides a comprehensive understating of the impact of obesity and weight loss on CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 activity and omeprazole pharmacokinetics. Given that simulated intragastric pH is relatively high in post‐RYGB patients, irrespective of the dose of omeprazole, additional clinical outcomes are imperative to assess the effect of proton pump inhibitor in preventing marginal ulcers in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment offers an eco-friendly opportunity for simultaneous nutrient recovery and biomass generation, aligning with the circular bioeconomy concept. This approach aims to utilize the nutrients of potato industry wastewater (PIW) for algal growth while mitigating the environmental impact of this industrial byproduct. This study focused on cultivating three cyanobacterial strains, Anabaena oryzae, Nostoc muscorum, and Spirulina platensis, in PIW and synthetic media for 30 days to assess feasibility. Growth performance was monitored by measuring chlorophyll content, dry weight (DW), optical density (OD), and pH at 3-day intervals. The high-performing cyanobacterial biomass from the laboratory findings was formulated into a biofertilizer, which was then evaluated in a controlled greenhouse experiment on celery and lettuce plants. The biofertilizer replaced conventional NPK mineral fertilizers at different levels (25%, 50%, and 75%), while a control group received 100% chemical fertilizer. The results showed favourable growth of all three cyanobacteria strains and their mixture in PIW throughout the experiment. The mixed cyanobacteria followed by Spirulina platensis exhibited the highest growth rates, achieving chlorophyll contents of 3.75 and 2.30 µg·mL−1, DWs of 1.79 g·L−1 and 1.63 g·L−1, and ODs of 0.41 and 0.38, respectively, surpassing the other treatments. The formulated biofertilizers, Spi-PIW (Spirulina platensis + potato industry wastewater) and Cyano-PIW (mixed culture+ potato industry wastewater), significantly enhanced plant height, root and stem lengths, and the number of leaves per plant in celery and lettuce compared to the control group. These biofertilizer treatments also improved chlorophyll contents, as well as macro- and micronutrient levels, in the two crops. Additionally, the application of these biofertilizers improved certain sandy soil properties, i.e., pH, total organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In conclusion, utilizing PIW as a substrate for cultivating cyanobacteria strains and producing high-quality liquid bio-organic fertilizers holds potential for reducing recommended NPK fertilizer doses by 25–50% in celery and lettuce growth, providing an environmentally friendly approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance of mangrove forests to the ecological system, environment, climate change adaptation, mitigation and ecosystem services, it is necessary to understand the status of the mangroves in Egypt (ecology and physiology). The present study aimed to obtain the basic information needed to evaluate the photosynthetic pigments and proline mechanisms of Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata mangrove to the ambient salinity. The results reached that the free proline accumulated appreciably in leaves. The functional role of proline accumulation appears to be as a cytoplasmic osmoticum to lower cell water potential, provide hydration to bipolymer and serve as an energy source under high salinity environmental conditions. Mangroves showed variations in proline content between the two species. The highest value of proline was recorded 23.56 mg/g dry wt for R. mucronata and the minimum value was recorded 17 mg/g dry wt for A. marina. In addition, the mean value of proline was recorded 18.57 mg/g dry wt for A. marina and 23.98 mg/g dry wt for R. mucronata. The contents of chlorophyll-a in different analyzed mangroves was ranged from 4.46 to 6.05 mg/gf.wt. for A. marina, and from 3.69 to 4.29 mg/gf.wt. for R. mucronata. In addition, the chlorophyll-b content was ranged from 1.46 to 1.83 mg/gf.wt. for A. marina, and from 1.27 to 1.65 mg/gf.wt. for R. mucronata. The carotenoids contents in mangroves ranged from 2.94 to 2.29 mg/gf.wt for A. marina and from 2.04 to 2.09 mg/gf.wt for R. mucronata. In the present study, A. marina was relatively more tolerant and adapted to salinity, low rainfall and extreme temperature conditions than R. mucronata. This explains the more significant local distribution of A. marina in Egypt compared to R. mucronata.

Background: Patients with ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, or both who have reduced plasma renin activity can benefit from midodrine, which is an a1-adrenergic agonist, by increasing the effective arterial blood volume by splanchnic vasoconstriction and decreasing nitrite as well as nitrate activity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of midodrine in management of refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis. Methods: The present case-control study included 100 patients who had refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis. They were divided into 2 groups (50 each): The control group who received standard medical treatment (SMT), and the midodrine group who received SMT in addition to midodrine. Ascitic fluid study for calculation of SAAG and exclusion of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was done for all participants. Patients were followed up one month of treatment. Results: After 1-month, mean values of body weight, paracentesis frequency, furosemide and spironolactone doses, S.creatinine were decreased significantly, mean arterial blood pressure and eGFR was significantly increased, among midodrine group (P<0.001). At cutoff value equal to 15 mg/day, midodrine played a role in protection against hepatorenal syndrome. After 1 week a statistically significant positive correlation was revealed between midodrine dose and mean arterial blood pressure (p<0.001), After 1 month, statistically significant negative correlations were revealed between midodrine dose and body weight, paracentesis frequency and diuretic doses (p<0.001). Also, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between midodrine dose and mean arterial blood pressure (p<0.05). Conclusions: The addition of midodrine to standard medical treatment (salt restriction and diuretics) has an important role in managing the refractory ascites with protection against hepatorenal syndrome at dose 15mg/day. So, it is considered safe adjuvant treatment for patients who had refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis with little side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was determination and identification of phenolic and flavonoids fraction in addition to the antioxidant activities of used herbals (curcumin, black pepper and cumin) by HPLC in addition to evaluating the effects of such different spicy food consumptions on body weight reduction between obese animal models. Rats were randomly divided to ten groups fed; Black Papers, Cumin and Curcumin either alone or in different mixtures additionally to groups fed Orlistat (control body weight loss), Non-obese negative control group (C-ve) and Obese control positive group (C+ve). Blood glucose and body weight levels were measured at the beginning and end of the experimental in addition to rats' lipid profiles (total cholesterol; triglycerides;, high dense lipoprotein cholesterol; low dense lipoprotein cholesterol; and very low dense lipoprotein cholesterol). Results presented that obese models received (Cumin) Cu/(Curcumin) Cur mixture have the biggest effective significant treatment (about -80% body weight reduction) followed by both groups fed mixtures of (Curcumin) Cur/(Black Papers) Bp and (Curcumin) Cur/(Black Papers) Bp/(Cumin) Cu; decreased by -68.0 and -65.6g respectively. The study could be more valuable causing significant body weight reduction between obese models, however human studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]