Egyptian Society for Physiological SciencesBulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences1110-084236120160601Pre-treatment of ozone therapy in rat model provides good prophylaxis against nephrotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide112864010.21608/besps.2016.8640ENGehan M.Badrzoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, 11566, Cairo, Egypt.Journal Article20180704Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a drug with a wide spectrum of clinical uses. It has a potent effect in treatment of many types of cancers. CP adverse side effects limit its therapeutic uses. Renal damage is one of the limiting side effects of CP. Recently; ozone therapy (OT) has important clinical effects in minimizing the renal injury. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate whether ozone has potency to reduce the adverse toxic effects of cyclophosphamide in rat kidney. Methods: Forty male albino rats were divided in five groups: Control (C), cyclophosphamide –induced nephrotoxicity (CPIN) injected I.P. with a single dose 200mg/kg CP. Two groups treated with CP in pre- or post-treatment of ozone therapy PRO/POO; respectively and the fifth group is ozone- only treated group (OT- only), rats treated with a single I.P. dose of ozone/oxygen mixture (0.7 mg/kg). Serum and kidney tissues used to evaluate the urea and creatinine levels, histopathological examinations, oxidative stress parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokines expressions. Results: The results showed that CP administration caused damage in the kidney after 24 h with significant decrease in total glutathione (tGSH), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and increased in lipid peroxidation (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) values. In line with elevations in the serum (TNF- alpha) and (IL-6). The results showed improvement in PRO group but no changes in POO group compared to the CPIN group results. Conclusions: The study represents that pre-treatment of ozone decreased the renal severity of CP in a manner leading to modulations in kidney histopathology alterations.Egyptian Society for Physiological SciencesBulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences1110-084236120160601Effect of Sexual Deprivation Stress on Bone of Albino Female Rats1319864110.21608/besps.2016.8641ENM AlRefaeyDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt.AhmedGadallaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt.M ZakariaEl-EtrebyDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.Hassan AbdAl HadyDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt.Mohammad M.Abo AlfotouhDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt.Journal Article20180704Sexual deprivation stress leads to mental or sexual disorder that can occur after exposure to relative long period of not having sexual relation. Objective: The present work was undertaken to evaluate the possible effects of sexual deprivation on bone remodeling. Materials and Methods: Forty mature adult rats (twenty males and twenty females), of local strains were chosen to be the model of this work , 120-140 gm and aged two months old . They were kept on special formulated diet and tap water was freely allowed. The rats were housed in a wire mesh cage with plastic floor. Each cage was 25 Χ 25 Χ 30 cm . All rats were housed in a laboratory room subjected to normal light dark cycle, All rats were kept for 21 days in the laboratory room at comfortable room temperature for adaption before any experimental interference and to allow a copulation between male and female before deprivation. The whole length of experiment was two months i.e. twelve estrous cycle. The rats were randomly divided into two equal groups, control group, experimental group. Experimental group were exposed to sexual deprivation for 40 days. Vaginal smear examination, was performed approximately at the same time each day over the course of study for detection of acopulatory plug or by observation of spermatozoa in the vaginal smear .Also determination of serum estrogen, progesterone, calcium, phosphorus, parathormone and alkaline phosphatase enzyme in all female rats was done at the end of experiment. Also, morphology of bone and ovary in all female rats were evaluated at the end of experiment. Results: Experimental group showed significant decreased in serum calcium, estrogen and progesterone hormones compared to control group and significant increased in serum parathormone hormone, blood phosphorous level and alkaline phosphatase enzyme compared to control group. As regard histological picture of bone, our results showed that abnormal structure of bone that consisted of discrete cortex and epiphyseal plate (cartilage). Conclusion: The female rats alleged to sexual deprivation may suffer from alteration in the metabolism of bones which may lead to pathological disease called osteoporosis.Egyptian Society for Physiological SciencesBulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences1110-084236120160601Evaluation of circulating zonulin as a potential marker in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease2029864210.21608/besps.2016.8642ENOlfat M.HendyDepartment of Clinical Pathology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.Maha M.ElsabaawyDepartment of Hepatology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.Mona M.ArefDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry , National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.Fatma A.KhalafDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.Abel Moaty A.OdaDepartment of Hepatology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.Helmy M.El ShazlyDepartment of Hepatology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt.Journal Article20180704Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of liver disorders ranging from simple fat accumulation in the hepatocytes (hepatic steatosis), to liver inflammation and hepatocytes injury (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH) with increasing levels of fibrosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). So, the current study aimed to determine the role of circulating zonulin in NAFLD and to correlate its level with biochemical parameters, IL-6 and liver histopathology. The study included 56 adults subjects with proved NAFLD by ultrasonography and liver biopsy, as well as 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study as a control group. For patients and controls the following were done: Clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, routine laboratory investigations, body mass index (BMI) and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated, the circulating zonulin and IL-6 were measured. The results of the study: HOMA-IR, IL-6 and serum zonulin were significantly increased in NAFLD group compared to controls. Additionally, in NASH group, a significant increase in HOMA-IR and serum zonulin was detected as compared to group of simple steatosis. The serum zonulin level was positively correlated with HOMA-IR, liver histopathology and serum IL-6. In conclusion: The increasing serum levels of zonulin in patients with NAFLD and further increase in NASH group denoting its possible role in NAFLD progression. Future large scale studies are recommended to use this novel marker in early detection of NAFLD and to prevent disease progression.Egyptian Society for Physiological SciencesBulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences1110-084236120160601Comparative Value of Real Time and Conventional PCR in Antenatal Gender Determination3041864310.21608/besps.2016.8643ENNaglaa IbrahimAzabDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha - Egypt.Rabab FawziSalimDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha– Egypt.Mohamed A. HadiFaragDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha – Egypt.Journal Article20180704Invasive procedures including chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis in sex-linked diseases increase the risk of fetal loss. Therefore, Noninvasive fetal gender determination using cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma may be promising. Fifty pregnant females with gestational age ranging from six to ten weeks were included. cffDNA were extracted from maternal plasma and amplified by real time and conventional PCR for identification of SRY, DYS14 and DAZ genes as specific genetic markers for male-bearing pregnancies. In general, sensitivity and specificity of real time PCR was better than conventional PCR. However, sensitivity of DYS14 gene and specificity of SRY gene by real time PCR was equal to those of conventional PCR. Sensitivity of DYS14 gene was the highest and sensitivity of SRY gene was the lowest. However, combination of the three Y-chromosomal sequences in the diagnosis increased the accuracy of the test, which is suitable for clinical application.Egyptian Society for Physiological SciencesBulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences1110-084236120160601MicroRNA expression in chronic Hepatitis C patients treated with combined pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin therapy4252864410.21608/besps.2016.8644ENAwadEl-abdDepartments of Medical Biochemistry,and Biochemical Endocrinology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, EgyptMagdiEl-sadekHepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases,Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.Inas A.AhmedDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Al Qalyubia, EgyptShuzan AliMohammedDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Al Qalyubia, Egypt.HendEl-sayedDepartments of Medical Biochemistry,Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.Journal Article20180704The role of microRNAs (miRNA) in many diseases, including chronic hepatitis, represents an interesting research field. The current work aimed to study the effect of combination therapy (pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin) on microRNA-128 (miR-128) and microRNA-296 (miR-296-5p) expression in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Also, we aimed to investigate the potential value of both types of microRNAs in differentiation between responders and non-responders either in the pre-treatment or post-treatment groups. Sixteen patients with chronic hepatitis C were compared to 10 healthy, age and sex matched controls. Venous blood samples were withdrawn before initiation of combination therapy and 12 weeks later and qPCR was used for gene expression assays. Comparison of pre-treatment group to the control group showed significant miR-128 down-regulation, while miR-296-5p showed a non-significant downregulation. Regarding post-treatment group, there was non-significant upregulation of miR-128, while miR-296-5p was significantly downregulated compared to either pre-treatment group or the control group. Comparative studies of miR-128 and miR-296-5p in responders versus non-responders showed non-significant fold change either in the pre- or post-treatment groups. It could be concluded that chronic hepatitis C as well as the combination therapy modulate miR-128/296 expression. Until now, miRNAs studied were not useful indicators to differentiate between responders and non-responders to combination therapy either in pre- or post-treatment group.