Carvacrol mitigates vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity via regulation of IkBα/p38MAPK and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathways: an experimental study with in silico evidence

OBJECTIVE: Despite its evident renal toxicity, vancomycin is considered an effective glycopeptide antibiotic against life-threatening positive bacterial contagions. The current study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of carvacrol as well as its underlying mechanism against vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were randomly classified into four groups (8 rats per group). Group I, which served as a control group, received only vehicles. Group II received a single i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg of carvacrol for seven days. Group III received vancomycin (200 mg/kg, i.p.) as a singular daily dose for seven days. Carvacrol was administered to Group IV seven days prior to the daily vancomycin dose. RESULTS: The results revealed that carvacrol minimized vancomycin-induced renal injury as evidenced by lower serum cystatin C levels and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), in addition to a decline in renal damage caused by vancomycin as indicated in histopathological assessment. Furthermore, carvacrol significantly attenuated oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory mediators. Moreover, it downregulated Keap1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) genes and proteins, along with controlling the NF-κB inhibitory protein (IkBα) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) genes and proteins observed through streaming its genes. A molecular docking technique was also used to investigate the potential interactivity between carvacrol and proteins involved in regulating oxidative injury and inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: The current study findings revealed that carvacrol administration before vancomycin could be a promising therapeutic approach for maceration of renal damage stimulated by vancomycin via controlling IkBα/MAPK and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling molecules.

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Extreme environments: microbiology leading to specialized metabolites

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens due to the continued misuse and overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine is raising the prospect of a return to the preantibiotic days of medicine at the time of diminishing numbers of drug leads. The good news is that an increased understanding of the nature and extent of microbial diversity in natural habitats coupled with the application of new technologies in microbiology and chemistry is opening up new strategies in the search for new specialized products with therapeutic properties. This review explores the premise that harsh environmental conditions in extreme biomes, notably in deserts, permafrost soils and deep-sea sediments select for micro-organisms, especially actinobacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi, with the potential to synthesize new druggable molecules. There is evidence over the past decade that micro-organisms adapted to life in extreme habitats are a rich source of new specialized metabolites. Extreme habitats by their very nature tend to be fragile hence there is a need to conserve those known to be hot-spots of novel gifted micro-organisms needed to drive drug discovery campaigns and innovative biotechnology. This review also provides an overview of microbial-derived molecules and their biological activities focusing on the period from 2010 until 2018, over this time 186 novel structures were isolated from 129 representatives of microbial taxa recovered from extreme habitats.

Comparative influence of dietary probiotic, yoghurt, and sodium butyrate on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, blood hematology, and immune response of meat-type chickens

This study was conducted to assess the effects of early dietary supplementation with probiotic, yoghurt, and sodium butyrate (SB) on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota, blood hematology, and immune response of broiler chickens. A total of 180 1-day-old SASSO broiler chicks, housed in 12 equal floor pen replicates each of 15 chicks, were assigned randomly to four feeding treatments (three replicates/treatment, n = 45): T1. Basal diet (BD) (control), T2. BD incorporated 1 g of a commercial probiotic per kilogram, T3. BD mixed with 5 g of fresh yoghurt per kilogram, and T4. BD incorporated 0.6 g SB/kg. The experimental birds received the dietary treatments from 1 to 21 days of age. The dietary supplementation (g/kg) with commercial probiotic, yoghurt, and SB during the first 21 days of age did not affect broiler's growth performance variables at day 42, relative weight of immunity organs, blood hematological indices, or the ileal and cecal bacterial counts at day 42, but increased the serum IgG levels and reduced the cecal aerobes at day 21. The probiotic and yoghurt treatments increased the serum content of antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus and decreased the counts of ileal aerobes and E. coli at day 21, whereas the SB treatment increased the ileal lactobacilli count at day 21. In conclusion, the tested feed additives displayed beneficial impacts on broilers' gut microbiota at day 21 and serum IgG at day 42, but did not affect the growth performance or blood hematological indices at 42 days of age.

Indoor radon in Kuwait

Indoor radon measurements were carried out in 300 dwellings in Kuwait using duplicate sets of charcoal detectors. Measurements were made at three different locations in the dwellings: living rooms, bedrooms, and basements. The results show that the radon concentration in the dwellings of Kuwait was found to vary in the range of 4.0-241.8 Bq m(-3) with a mean value of 32.8 Bq m(-3), and most values are confined within the range of 10-50 Bq m(-3) for all locations with few cases above the value of 100 Bq m(-3). Overall results show that the indoor radon concentration levels in Kuwait are relatively low, which is attributed to the use of air conditioning in summer and possible natural ventilation in winter. The radon concentration in basements was found to be relatively higher when compared to other rooms of the dwellings.

A simple bubbling system for measuring radon (222Rn) gas concentrations in water samples based on the high solubility of radon in olive oil

Based on the different levels of solubility of radon gas in organic solvents and water, a bubbling system has been developed to transfer radon gas, dissolving naturally in water samples, to an organic solvent, i.e. olive oil, which is known to be a good solvent of radon gas. The system features the application of a fixed volume of bubbling air by introducing a fixed volume of water into a flask mounted above the system, to displace an identical volume of air from an air cylinder. Thus a gravitational flow of water is provided without the need for pumping. Then, the flushing air (radon-enriched air) is directed through a vial containing olive oil, to achieve deposition of the radon gas by another bubbling process. Following this, the vial (containing olive oil) is measured by direct use of gamma ray spectrometry, without the need of any chemical or physical processing of the samples. Using a standard solution of 226Ra/222Rn, a lowest measurable concentration (LMC) of radon in water samples of 9.4 Bq L(-1) has been achieved (below the maximum contaminant level of 11 Bq L(-1)).

Measurements of 210Pb concentrations in airborne in Kuwait

The concentrations of 210Pb in the atmosphere of Kuwait City have been monitored over a period of five years (January 1994 to December 1998) using cellulose air filters for analysis with liquid scintillation counting forgross beta. Results show that the distribution of daily averaged 210Pb concentrations varied from 0.002 to 2.53 mBqm(-3) with an average of 0.896 mBqm(-3) and a geometric mean of 0.687 mBqm(-3). The study suggests that the existence of 210Pb in air in Kuwait originates mainly from re-circulated fraction of 210Pb which was already deposited on ground surface, not from direct decay of radon. The long-term trend pattern for the five years shows a seasonal variation with maximum concentrations occurring in the autumn season.

Variations in 7Be concentrations in the atmosphere of Kuwait during the period 1994 to 1998

The Beryllium-7 (7Be) concentrations in the atmosphere of Kuwait, as found by gamma-ray measurements for 243 air filters collected over a five-year period, produced variable values ranging from 0.2 to 14.9 mBq/m3 with a behavior pattern which has oscillatory characteristics, with increased activities occurring in the summer months of each year. The annual levels of occurrence of 7Be were found to be correlate with the cyclic pattern resulting from the eleven-year temporal variations associated with the solar activity.

Gender differences in the responses of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and transthyretin (prealbumin) to trauma

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether factors such as age, gender, and severity of injury should be considered when evaluating serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and transthyretin concentrations as markers of nutritional status after trauma. A large, diverse group of patients was studied before the confounding effects of acute nutrient deprivation.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, descriptive study.

SETTING

Emergency room of a university hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred eight trauma patients.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In this heterogeneous group of patients, Injury Severity Score ranged from 1 to 45 (11.5 +/- 10.3 [SD]), age ranged from 18 to 77 yrs (35 +/- 15.3 [SD]), and 68% were male and 32% were female. A venous blood sample was collected on admission and analyzed for serum IGF-1, transthyretin, albumin, and C-reactive protein concentrations. Relationships among variables were tested with multiple regression, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and analysis of variance. Gender, age, and severity of injury demonstrated strong and interactive effects on serum IGF-1 concentrations. IGF-1 concentrations were predicted with the following equations in women and men, respectively: y = 414 - 10.87(age) + 1.19(Injury Severity Score) + .09(age2); y = 454 - 10.87(age) - 2.57(Injury Severity Score) + .09(age2); (R2 = .35, p < .0001). The relationship between age and IGF-1 was curvilinear in both men and women. IGF-1 concentrations increased with age until approximately 57 yrs, and then decreased with increasing age. In women, IGF-1 concentrations increased with increasing severity of injury. In men, IGF-1 concentrations decreased with increasing Injury Severity Scores. This dissimilar response to injury between men and women was also seen in the significant interaction between gender and Injury Severity Score in predicting transthyretin concentrations (R2 = .32, p < .05). In men, transthyretin concentrations decreased significantly with severe injury; in women, transthyretin concentrations remained stable with severe injury. Albumin concentrations were predicted by injury severity and serum osmolality, but not gender. C-reactive protein, and time postinjury did not significantly influence the serum proteins (serum IGF-1, transthyretin, or albumin). Without consideration of age or severity of injury, mean concentrations of IGF-1, transthyretin, albumin, and C-reactive protein were not different between men and women, and were within normal expected ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum IGF-1 and transthyretin concentrations, measured without the confounding effects of acute nutrient deprivation, were influenced by the severity of the injury in patients suffering traumatic injury. Age was an important determinant of serum IGF-1 in men and women even in severe trauma. The present study indicated that men and women demonstrate different physiologic responses to trauma. Women responded to increasing severity of injury with increased serum IGF-1 and little change in transthyretin concentrations. In men, both IGF-1 and transthyretin concentrations decreased with severe injury. Interpretation of serum concentrations of IGF-1 and transthyretin as markers of nutritional status after trauma should include consideration of age, gender, and severity of injury.

Serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 responds differently to trauma in men and women

OBJECTIVES

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been studied as a marker of nutrition in critical illness, but there is little research on IGF-binding protein-3, which regulates the bioactivity of IGF-1. The objectives of the present study were to measure serum IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations in trauma patients and to determine whether factors such as age, gender, and severity of injury should be considered when evaluating serum IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations as a marker of nutritional or clinical status.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, descriptive study.

SETTING

Emergency room of a university hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred eight trauma patients.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In this diverse group of patients, Injury Severity Score ranged from 1 to 45 (11.5 +/- 10.3 [SD]), age ranged from 18 to 77 yrs (35 +/- 15.3), and 68% were male. A venous blood sample was collected at the time of admission into the study and was analyzed for serum IGF-binding protein-3 concentration (by radioimmunoassay), serum osmolality, IGF-1 concentration, and C-reactive protein concentration. Relationships between variables were tested using Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. Age, Injury Severity Score, serum osmolality, time since injury, and gender were not significant predictors of serum IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations when all patients were analyzed together. However, when men and women were analyzed separately, notable gender differences were observed. In women, serum IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations were increased with increasing severity of injury (beta = 0.52, R2 = .33, p < .01). In men, the opposite relationship was observed (beta = -0.29, R2 = .17, p < .01). Other predictors in the model (age, serum osmolality, and time since injury) were not significant. Variability in IGF-binding protein-3 concentration could not be explained by differences in body mass index or acute-phase response (serum C-reactive protein). Serum IGF-1 concentrations changed coordinately with IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations in females and males (r = .62, p < .001 and r = .54, p < .001, respectively). IGF-binding protein-3 concentration at the time of admission into the study could not predict mortality, but this value was correlated with length of hospitalization in women (r = .37, p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Determination of the specificity and sensitivity of IGF-binding protein-3 as an index of nutrition or anabolism requires knowledge of its relationship to nonnutritional factors. These factors are most discernible before the confounding effects of treatments, absence of feeding, and complications. The present study demonstrated that gender and severity of injury must be considered when interpreting serum IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations in trauma patients. In a much wider context, the present findings suggest that the study of the metabolic response to stress requires separate analyses, based on gender.