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Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop a prototype of an artificial blood vessel which has similar mechanical properties to a human saphenous vein graft and to experimentally verify the function of the prosthesis via ovine carotid bypass implantation. Material and methods: The prototype of an artificial graft prosthesis for low flow was developed and manufactured from a collagenous matrix and reinforcing polyester mesh. We compared the results of both the pressurisation and the mechanical stress evaluation tests of VSM with four types of hybrid vascular graft. The most similar graft (type II) was chosen for the first ovine model implantation. Results: Dominant behavior e.g. mechanical response of VSM graft in plots of circumferential and axial stress during loading is observed in circumferential direction. Average results of used VSM showed area of ideal mechanical response and the properties of artificial blood vessels were fitted into this area. Developed graft remained patent after 161 days of follow up in ovine model. Conclusions: The mechanical properties of the graft were designed and adjusted to be similar to the behaviour of human saphenous veins. This approach showed promising results and enhanced the final performance of the prosthesis.

Lung cancer (LC) incidence represents 11.5% of all new cancers, resulting in 1.72 million deaths worldwide in 2015. With the aim to investigate the capability of the electronic nose (e-nose) technology for detecting and differentiating complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds in biofluids ex-vivo, we enrolled 50 patients with suspected LC and 50 matching controls. Tissue biopsy was taken from suspicious lung mass for histopathological evaluation and blood, exhaled breath, and urine samples were collected from all participants and qualitatively processed using e-nose. Odor-print patterns were further analysed using the principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. Adenocarcinoma, non-small cell LC and squamous cell carcinoma were the predominant pathological types among LC patients. PCA cluster-plots showed a clear distinction between LC patients and controls for all biological samples; where the overall success ratios of classification for principal components #1 and #2 were: 95.46, 82.01, and 91.66% for blood, breath and urine samples, respectively. Moreover, ANN showed a better discrimination between LC patients and controls with success ratios of 95.74, 91.67 and 100% for blood, breath and urine samples, respectively. The e-nose is an easy noninvasive tool, capable of identifying LC patients from controls with great precision.

Dose-limiting nephrotoxicity restricts Cisplatin use in high therapeutic doses. Empagliflozin showed a reno-protective effect in diabetic nephropathy. We investigated if Empagliflozin can ameliorate Cisplatin nephrotoxicity whether used prophylactically or therapeutically. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) control; (2) Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by single intraperitoneal dose; (3) Empagliflozin was given for 10 days before a single dose of Cisplatin; (4) a single dose of Cisplatin followed by Empagliflozin for 10 days; (5) received Empagliflozin only. Regular assessment of weight was done, biochemical evaluation for serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, albumin, and glucose was performed, kidney tissue nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) and oxidative stress parameters were measured, kidneys were evaluated histopathologically and immunostained for caspase 3. Cisplatin significantly reduced body weight, NGF-β, and reduced glutathione, elevated urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde with no effect on other serum biochemical parameters. Histopathologically, there was high acute tubular necrosis (ATN) score with strong immunostaining of caspase 3. The use of Empagliflozin significantly reduced urea and creatinine in both prophylactic and therapeutic, reduced ATN score in the prophylactic group associated with minimal staining of caspase 3 and elevated reduced glutathione. In conclusion, prophylactic Empagliflozin protected against Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury mainly via anti-apoptotic effect.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells widely used in cell therapy and tissue engineering. However, the broader clinical applications of ES cells are limited by their genomic instability and karyotypic abnormalities. Thus, understanding the mechanisms underlying ES cell karyotypic abnormalities is critical to optimizing their clinical use. In this study, we focused on proliferating human and mouse ES cells undergoing multipolar divisions. Specifically, we analyzed the frequency and outcomes of such divisions using a combination of time-lapse microscopy and cell tracking. This revealed that cells resulting from multipolar divisions were not only viable, but they also frequently underwent subsequent cell divisions. Our novel data also showed that in human and mouse ES cells, multipolar spindles allowed more robust escape from chromosome segregation control mechanisms than bipolar spindles. Considering the frequency of multipolar divisions in proliferating ES cells, it is conceivable that cell division errors underlie ES cell karyotypic instability.

Exploration of motor cortex activity is essential to understanding the pathophysiology in Parkinson's Disease (PD), but only simple motor tasks can be investigated using a fMRI or PET. We aim to investigate the cortical activity of PD patients during a complex motor task (gait) to verify the impact of deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus (DBS-STN) by using Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy (NIRS). NIRS is a neuroimaging method of brain cortical activity using low-energy optical radiation to detect local changes in (de)oxyhemoglobin concentration. We used a multichannel portable NIRS during finger tapping (FT) and gait. To determine the signal activity, our methodology consisted of a pre-processing phase for the raw signal, followed by statistical analysis based on a general linear model. Processed recordings from 9 patients were statistically compared between the on and off states of DBS-STN. DBS-STN led to an increased activity in the contralateral motor cortex areas during FT. During gait, we observed a concentration of activity towards the cortex central area in the "stimulation-on" state. Our study shows how NIRS can be used to detect functional changes in the cortex of patients with PD with DBS-STN and indicates its future use for applications unsuited for PET and a fMRI.

Examination of semen characteristics is routinely performed for fertility status investigation of the male partner of an infertile couple as well as for evaluation of the sperm donor candidate. A useful tool for preliminary assessment of semen characteristics might be an artificial neural network. Thus, the aim of the present study was to construct an artificial neural network, which could be used for predicting the result of semen analysis based on the basic questionnaire data. On the basis of eleven survey questions two models of artificial neural networks to predict semen parameters were developed. The first model aims to predict the overall performance and profile of semen. The second network was developed to predict the concentration of sperm. The network to evaluate sperm concentration proved to be the most efficient. 92.93% of the patients in the learning process were properly qualified for the group with a correct or incorrect result, while the result for the test set was 85.71%. This study suggests that an artificial neural network based on eleven survey questions might be a valuable tool for preliminary evaluation and prediction of the semen profile.

The advanced glycated end products (AGEs) are formed in the diabetic patients; it is a major cause of macrovascular and microvascular complications in diabetes. Clinically there is no treatment available for the AGEs. Stveoside (Stv), a sweetener has potent anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant activity. Hence, we investigated its use in prevention of AGEs formation using in vitro and in vivo models. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). These rats were kept without treatment till blood HbA1c was markedly increased. They were then divided into 5 groups and treated orally with vehicle or Metformin (MET) or Stv respectively for 28 days. Every 7th day, animals were tested for body weight and blood glucose (BG). On the last day of treatment, all the groups were evaluated for physiological and biochemical parameters, histopathology and AGEs; N-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) estimation. Stv showed inhibition of AGEs in in vitro as well as in in vivo respectively. Positive effects were seen on the BG, lipid profile and urine parameters as well it showed reduced formation of CML. It also showed antihyperglycaemic, antihyperlipedemic and nephroprotective activities. The present study provides scientific rationale for the use of Stv as a sweetener with additional benefits in diabetes.

Recent literature evidence indicates the potential use of chokeberry preparations in the prevention and treatment of some chronic noncommunicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the three months oral chokeberry juice supplementation in type 2 diabetic patients, as well as its influence on hematological parameters and certain parameters of the renal dysfunction. The study was designed as an open-label trial, which included 35 patients who have received the herbal supplement, polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice (150 ml/day, three times a day for 50 ml), in addition to their standard therapy. Chokeberry juice as a rich source of polyphenol compounds could be an effective preventive and therapeutic agent in diabetes mellitus type 2. Hematological and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline, after 3 months with the chokeberry juice supplementation and after the next 3 months without the chokeberry juice supplementation (follow-up period). Significant difference was noticed in the levels of LDL-cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin and serum creatinine (p < 0.05), as well as in the levels of some hematological parameters, such as white blood cell and lymphocyte count (p < 0.01), hematocrit, blood hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin and hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count (p < 0.05). The daily consumption of the chokeberry juice could improve the health status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, in combination with their standard therapy.

The potency of three nerve agents (sarin, soman, tabun) to induce oxidative damage of DNA in lymphocytes, liver and brain during lethal or sublethal poisoning was investigated. The single strand breaks or oxidative base DNA damage was evaluated with the help of Comet assay and a specific enzyme able to detect oxidative bases of DNA (endonuclease III). While sarin and soman administered at sublethal doses corresponding to 50% of their LD50 values were not able to induce oxidative damage of DNA, their lethal dose (LD50) induced the significant increase of the number of oxidative bases in DNA of hepatocytes. In addition, tabun administered at lethal dose (LD50) induced significant increase of the number of single strand breaks and oxidative bases of DNA in glial cells isolated from pontomedullar brain region. Thus, some nerve agents were able to induce oxidative damage in the peripheral as well as central compartment but only in the case of severe poisoning caused by lethal doses of nerve agents. This non-cholinergic effect of nerve agents has probably consequences with nerve agents-induced hypoxic status during acute cholinergic crisis and it can contribute to their long-term toxic effects.

Oxidative stress (OS) is a major cause of hepatic and renal disorders, so present investigation was designed to evaluate the antioxidative efficacy of aqueous broccoli extract (BE) via three different doses - 10, 20 and 30 mmol - of glucosinolates against toxic effects of triazophos (TZ), an organophosphorous pesticide, in female rats during 30 days experiment. Six groups of rats were made and were orally intubated with TZ and BE as per experimental design. TZ and BE induced OS biomarkers of hepatic and renal toxicity - ALT, AST, urea and creatinine - were noticed in plasma, while catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid peroxidation (LPO) were estimated in liver and kidney along with histological and apoptotic observation. Plasma ALT, AST, urea and creatinine levels along with organ OS parameters as CAT, SOD, GST and GPx were subtly improved in all BE + TZ treated rats. Decreased LPO and reduced apoptosis along with improved histoarchitecture was observed in all BE + TZ treated rats. Present study suggest that the administration of broccoli extract and TZ combination in rats can prevent severe alterations of hepatic and renal biochemical markers and disruptions of histological structure by antioxidative potential of BE from sprouts.

In the present study the effect of pramipexole alginate nanodispersion (PAND) was studied on the transgenic Drosophila exhibiting the PD symptoms. The PD flies were allowed to feed on the diet having PAND at final concentration of 1, 2 and 3 μM. A dose dependent significant delay in the loss of climbing ability and improvement in the activity was observed in PD flies. A dose dependent significant change in the oxidative stress markers and dopamine content was also observed in the PD flies exposed to various doses PAND. The improvement in the PD symptoms was more in PD flies exposed to PAND compared to PD flies exposed to pramipexole alone.

Alnus japonica has been used as a traditional oriental medicine for many diseases such as fever, haemorrhage and alcoholism. In this study, A. japonica extracts were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant potentials and anticancer effects in AGS human gastric carcinoma cell line. The antioxidant properties of A. japonica extracts were evaluated using several biochemical assays, including FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay, ABTS (2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), alkyl and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity assay. Our study showed that ethanol extract of A. japonica (AJE) has a more potent antioxidant activity than its water extract. In addition, AJE extract inhibited the cell growth and induced the cell death by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in AGS cells. Moreover, AJE extract specifically triggered the apoptosis mediated through the activation of caspase-8, 7, 3, and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). Thus, these results suggest that AJE extract could be potentially useful as a new promising strategy in the therapy for gastric carcinoma cancer.

Aim
The current study was designed to investigate the effect of berbamine (BBM) on isoproterenol (ISO) induced changes in cardiac marker enzymes, myocardial oxidative stress, lipid profile and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in male Wistar rats. Rats were pretreated with BBM (25 mg/kg) through intraperitoneal injection for 7 days followed by induction of myocardial infarction (MI) by subcutaneous injection of ISO (85 mg/kg) for last two days. Key findings: In the present study, the histopathological findings of the heart tissue showed that BBM treatment significantly minimized the damage induced by ISO. BBM pretreatment showed a significant decrease in heart weight, serum marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation and significant increase in cardiac endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants compared to the ISO-treated group. In addition, we observed significantly upregulated eNOS expression and downregulated iNOS expression in BBM pretreated group. Thus, BBM protected the rat's heart from ISO-induced myocardial infarction by its antioxidant, and antilipidemic properties. Significance: The results of the present investigation suggested that BBM efficiently ameliorated the ISO-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Background and aim
Diabetes mellitus is a very common metabolic disease with a rising incidence. It is one of the most serious comorbidities in renal transplant recipients. New-onset diabetes after renal transplantation (NODAT) is associated with poor graft function, higher rates of cardiovascular complications and a poor prognosis. Adipocytokines, synthetized by adipose tissue influence metabolic pathways and disorders in various ways. In this review article, we chose the most researched adipocytokines and evaluated their relationship to posttransplant diabetes mellitus. The aim of this paper is to summarize current knowledge and discuss their perspective role in diagnostics or therapy of the new onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation.

Global obesity rates are of epidemic proportion. With limited treatments available there is a large demand for therapeutic alternatives. Polyphenols derived from coloured rice varieties may serve as a potential functional food alternative in combating obesity and obesity-related diseases. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols found in coloured rice varieties could have the ability to neutralize oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory responses in obese populations. This review discusses polyphenols derived from rice, the oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways involved in obesity pathogenesis, bioavailability of polyphenols and the therapeutic potential of polyphenols on transcriptional and molecular pathways related to obesity and obesity-related diseases.

Pseuduvaria macrophylla (Family: Annonaceae) is commonly used as medicinal plant in Malaysia. A recent study with the Pseuduvaria species showed antioxidant and antidiabetic effects. This study aimed to ascertain antidiabetic potential of methanolic extract of Pseuduvaria macrophylla bark (PM) using streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rat models. Various phytochemical and biochemical properties of the plant have been evaluated. The results showed that the extract has potentially normalized the elevated blood glucose levels by upregulating the insulin and C-peptide levels and alleviated oxidative stress by improving glutathione (GSH) and reducing lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the diabetic rats. In addition, PM has drastically downregulated the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1). Histopathological examination of the pancreas in PM treated diabetic rats showed significant recovery of the pancreatic structural degeneration and thus reflected the protective role of PM against peroxidation damage by a rise in insulin level as evidenced by the immunohistochemistry study. The improved expressions of GLUT-1, GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 further confirmed the restoration of β-cell mass by PM. Interestingly, the findings demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic potential of PM which may provide future lead for the management of type-2 diabetes.

Purpose
Cadmium (Cd) is a classic cumulative nephrotoxicant and literature suggests that its toxicity is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation which contribute to pathologies in various tissues. We sought to investigate whether polyphenols isolated from virgin coconut oil (VCO) would modulate nephrotoxicity and inflammation induced by Cd in rats.
Methods
Rats were administered polyphenols prior to and along with Cd (5 mg/kg, orally) for 7 weeks. Serum markers of renal damage, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO) were evaluated; renal activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were determined. Histopathologic alterations were evaluated to define kidney damage.
Results
Cadmium exposure induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress evident by significantly increased serum levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid along with remarkable depression in renal activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH with prominent increase in MDA. Inflammatory markers - IL-6, CRP and NO were significantly increased and confirmed by histopathology. Sub-chronic administration of VCO polyphenols attenuated the Cd-induced biochemical alterations compared to Cd control with remarkably improved histopathological observations.
Conclusion
The findings showed that VCO polyphenol supplementation protects against Cd-induced nephrotoxicity via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in rats.

Plants offer unlimited source of bioactive compounds that have tremendous applications in pharmaceutical industry. To find new sources of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents against pan-drug resistant (PDR) pathogens of skin burn infections, methanolic extracts of nine Egyptian plants were evaluated. Total phenolic content varied from 19.48 to 65.48mg GAE/g dry weight (dw). Total flavonoid content varied from 2.90 to 11.09mg QE/g dw, while total alkaloid content varied from 18 to 60mg/g dw. Suaeda vermiculata, Varthemia candicans and Arthrocnemum glaucum showed the highest content of phenolics, flavonoids and alkaloids, respectively. The results of antioxidant (DPPH assay) activity were varied to a great extent and Varthemia candicans (90.6%) and Suaeda vermiculata (90.5%) showed the highest antioxidant activities. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against four PDR bacterial and fungal strains; namely Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. Among all examined extracts, Salsola vermiculata and Suaeda vermiculata showed significant antimicrobial activity. The fatty acid composition of Salsola vermiculata and Suaeda vermiculata leaf extracts was detected using GC-MS analysis. Overall, Salsola vermiculata and Suaeda vermiculata could be used as an alternative source for the exploration of new antioxidant and antimicrobial agents that are potentially valued for food and biomedical applications.

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is an organic acid widely distributed in animal tissues. It is involved in many physiological processes. Thus, it is widely discussed especially due to its antioxidant properties. In this study, we focused on the effect of taurine supplementation on the concentration of antioxidants in blood plasma and erythrocytes of Wistar rats. Taurine was applied in feed mixture in the dosage of 0, 1, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500 and 4000 mg/kg. We monitored both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants - glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase and reduced/oxidized glutathione and metallothionein. Using three different methods 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and free radicals, we determined antioxidant capacity. In addition, we monitored levels of uric acid and glucose. Our results revealed significant changes in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters with the increasing taurine supplementation.

The integrity of whole blood samples may be compromised by suboptimal collection practices. Therefore, we investigated the influence of spurious hyperglycemia on erythrocytes and platelets, assessed with two hematological analyzers using optical or impedance technique. Three K₂EDTA blood specimens were collected from 12 healthy subjects, pooled and divided into four aliquots. The first aliquot was left untreated (glucose concentration 4.4 mmol/L), whereas scalar amounts of standard 5% glucose solution were added to the remaining, generating glucose contamination of 5% (19.2 mmol/L), 10% (33 mmol/L) and 20% (62 mmol/L). Hematological testing was then performed using Siemens Advia 2120 and Sysmex XE-2100, whereas glucose and cell-free hemoglobin were measured in centrifuged plasma. Hemolysis did not occur in contaminated aliquots, whereas hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and platelet count progressively decreased with glucose concentration. No clinically significant variation was found for red blood cell distribution width and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The erythrocyte size increased in parallel with glucose, exhibiting larger variation with Advia 2120 than with XE-2100. The mean platelet volume increased on Advia 2120 but not on XE-2100. These results suggest that hyperglycemia induces alterations of erythrocyte and platelet properties, which differ according to the technology used for assessment.

Neutrophils play an important role as the central mediators of the innate immune defence response, providing the first line of host protection. It was shown that these cells can trap and kill various microorganisms through different ways. One of them is a release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) composed of chromatin fibrils and antimicrobial proteins. There is the evidence that the release of NETs does not have only a beneficial effect. NETs can trap and kill microorganisms and pathogens, however on the other hand the same pathway can also cause the damage of the organism by various mechanisms. NETs participate in the pathogenesis of a lot of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, periodontitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and others. The aim of this review is to summarize information about the release of NETs and their beneficial, but also detrimental effect during various diseases. The better characterization and understanding of the dual role of NETosis during these diseases is necessary for the early diagnosis and more effective treatment.

The occurrence and development of lung cancer is closely related to inflammation. Thus, we conducted the present study to investigate the effects of IL-37 (Interleukin 37), a newly identified anti-inflammatory factor, on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. To address the function of IL-37 in NSCLC, we first evaluated IL-37 expression in the human NSCLC tissues; then the IL-37 function was assessed in vitro and in vivo in a xenografted lung tumor model. IL-37 was barely expressed in the NSCLC tissue but highly expressed in the adjacent normal tissue. This expression profile was validated by ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunoassay), western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Recombinant IL-37 could suppress cell migration, invasion and proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in NSCLC cell line A549 and SK-MES-1. IL-37 inhibited the IL-6/STAT3 pathway and also the downstream targets Bcl-2, NEDD9 and Cyclin D1. Overexpressing IL-6 or constitutive active STAT3 eliminated the anti-tumor effects of IL-37. Furthermore, IL-37 expression in vivo could inhibit the cancer development. Our results showed that IL-37 plays an inhibitory role in lung cancer development, possibly through IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

Obesity would result in increased cardiovascular morbidity including endothelial destruction, and miRNAs are recognized as potent regulators on endothelial function. We therefore explored pivotal miRNAs before and after exercise and dietary intervention in obese adults and examined their potential relationships with selected endothelial function and biomarkers. Obese adults were included in an exercise and dietary intervention training program for 2 months. At the beginning and the end, measurements of anthropometric and metabolic parameters were performed. Flow-mediated dilation, endothelial related biochemicals and circulating miR-214 and miR-126 levels were also determined. Results showed that circulating miR-214 and miR-126 levels were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) by exercise and dietary intervention along with improved endothelial function. The relationship between relative changes of miR-214 and that of endothelial progenitor cells was significant (r = 0.589, P < 0.05); relative expression of miR-126 was also significantly (r = 0.433, P < 0.05) correlated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The intervention lead to upregulation of circulating miR-214 and miR-126 in obesity, and these molecular adaptations are associated with improved endothelial function during the restoring process.

Herein, we report a facile route to synthesize palladium nanoparticles (CGPdNPs) using the aqueous fruit extract of C. guianensis Aubl. as a potent biological reducing agent. Reduction of PdCl₂ solution into their nano scale was confirmed with the formation of a black precipitate which gives a reduced absorbance in UV-vis spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveals the active role of phenolic constituents from C. guianensis in reduction and surface functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analysis confirms the generation of polydispersed highly stable NPs with large negative zeta value (-17.7 mV). Interestingly, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that the synthesized CGPdNPs were face centered cubic crystalline in nature. The HRTEM micrographs of CGPdNPs displays well-dispersed, spherical NPs in the size ranges between 5 and 15 nm with an average of 6 nm. It was also noticed that the synthesized CGPdNPs possess an effective antimicrobial activity against different bacterial pathogens. On the other hand, in vitro cell viability (MTT) assays reveals that the synthesized CGPdNPs exhibited an extraordinary anticancer properties. Eventually, hemocompatibility assay depicts the safe nature of synthesized NPs for biomedical application.

Apigenin is a natural flavonoid compound that has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the effects of apigenin on ethanol-induced oxidative stress and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine production were examined in cultured rat hepatocytes. Following pretreatment of ethanol-stimulated hepatocytes with apigenin 6-24 mM for 2 h, the levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) protein expression and supernatant alanine aminotransferase and malondialdehyde were reduced (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase were increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Likewise, the pretreatment of LPS-stimulated hepatocytes with the same concentrations of apigenin could decrease the levels of nuclear factor-κB protein expression and supernatant tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and increase the level of IκB-α protein expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In all of these results, the concentration of 24 μM was the most effective. These findings demonstrate that apigenin may exert an inhibitory effect on ethanol-induced oxidative stress and LPS-induced inflammation in the cultured hepatocytes, and its mechanisms may be related to the reduction of CYP2E1 expression, increment of antioxidative ability, and regulation of inflammatory gene expression.

Metal-based coordination compounds have been used throughout the history of human medicine to treat various diseases, including cancer. Since the discovery of cisplatin in 1965, a great number of metal coordination complexes, such as platinum, ruthenium, gold or copper have been designed, synthesized and tested in order to develop clinically effective and safe drugs. Currently, many reviews cover applications of cytostatic metal complexes pointing out the most promising examples of platinum- and non-platinum-based compounds in preclinical and clinical trials. However, recent comprehensive reviews covering chemical and biological aspects of metal-based coordination compounds in cancer therapy are still rare. In this review we wish to provide an overview of the coordination chemistry of current and novel cytostatic compounds, including an outline of their design and rationale of synthesis, and summarize bio-chemical reactivity and physicochemical properties of candidate metal complexes.

Purpose
Investigation of the effect of exercise and zinc (Zn) supplementation on trace element status in rats.
Methods
24 male Wistar were divided into four groups: control, exercised, Zn-supplemented (15 mg/kg weight Zn asparaginate), exercised Zn-supplemented. Zn was supplemented as Zn asparaginate. Serum lactate and creatinine levels, and creatine kinase activity were assessed. Tissue trace elements were estimated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Results
Exercise significantly increased lactate, and creatinine levels. Exercise significantly decreased muscle, kidney, and hair Zn; liver, muscle and serum Co; serum Fe; myocardial and hair Cu; liver, heart, skeletal muscle and kidney Se levels. Oppositely, exercise results in elevation of liver Zn; heart and skeletal muscle, kidney and hair Fe; kidney Cu; liver and hair Mn; serum and hair Se content. Zn supplementation reduced exercise-induced increase in lactate and creatinine levels, and elevated liver, kidney, heart, and hair Zn content in exercised rats. Supplementation with Zn reversed exercise-induced decrease in Co levels and increased Fe and Se stores in animals with high physical activity.
Conclusions
Beneficial effect of zinc supplementation in exercised organism may be associated not only with modulation of zinc status but regulation of other essential trace elements status and their biological effects.

In the present investigation Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (petals), Acorus calamus (rhizome), Moringa oleifera (leaves) and Cucurbita maxima (petals) were screened for their efficacy against osteosarcoma with elucidating a mechanism of their anticancer potentiality. The methanolic plant extracts revealed the presence of all major phytochemicals with quantitative analysis of flavonoids (98.15 ± 2.02 to 12.34 ± 0.57 mg of RUE/g) and total phenolics (26.40 ± 0.11 to 8.54 ± 0.10 mg of GAE/g). The antioxidant activity was assessed by standard DPPH, H₂O₂ scavenging, NO scavenging assays. The hemolysis, hemagglutination, and erythrocyte aggregation assays unveiled their compatibility with blood components. As most of the opportunistic microbes infect subsequently immunocompromised patients, the antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts showed a zone of inhibition (in mm) against nosocomial strains of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae having MIC between 12.5-50 μg/ml. Through MTT assay the IC₅₀ value was calculated against MG 63 osteosarcoma with detailed studies on DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation, revealing apoptosis being their primary mode of anticancer effect. Further the migration and colony forming assays supported the anticancer potentials of the methanolic plant extracts. The cell cycle analysis revealed that A. calamus and M. oleifera extracts were capable of arresting the growth of MG 63 osteosarcoma cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of toxic effects in liver tissue of rats treated with α-terpinene. All treatments were intraperitoneally administered at doses of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 ml kg^-1 during 10 days. Liver samples were collected and assessed by histopathological analysis, caspases -1, -3, -8 assay, biomarkers of hepatic damage and determination of oxidant/antioxidant status (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)). Additionally, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects were evaluated by comet assay. An increase was observed on TBARS levels and GPx activity on the hepatic tissue. Instead, CAT and SOD activities decreased in rats treated with a dose of 1.0 ml kg^-1 of α-terpinene. Concomitantly, ROS levels increased and GST levels decreased in rats treated with α-terpinene at doses of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 ml kg^-1. Also, there was an increase in frequency of damage, damage index and caspases, while cell viability decreased in rats treated with α-terpinene. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase increased in rats treated with 1.0 ml kg^-1 of α-terpinene. Therefore, α-terpinene induces oxidative stress, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in liver tissue involving the caspases activation.