Agaricus Subrufescens ameliorates ovarian dysfunction and regulates altered biochemical parameters in rats with Letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of an ethanolic extract derived from Agaricus subrufescens on rat models exhibiting Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) induced by Letrozole.

METHODS

A total of thirty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups, each consisting of six rats. The negative control group was administered a volume of 1 mL of a 0.5% solution of carboxy methylcellulose (CMC). Letrozole (1 mg/kg) was administered to additional groups for a duration of 21 days in order to induce polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Animals designated as positive controls were euthanized on the 22nd day. Both the test group and the standard group were subjected to treatment from the 22nd day to the 36th day. The experimental group was administered ethanolic extract of Agaricus subrufescens at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o, while the control group received clomiphene citrate at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The study observed various physiological markers in individuals with polycystic ovarian disease, including estimated blood glucose levels, total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and hormonal fluctuations such as increased testosterone and estrogen levels, as well as decreased progesterone levels. The presence of menstrual irregularities was confirmed through the examination of vaginal smears and histopathological changes in the ovaries.

RESULTS

The consumption of Agaricus subrufescens was found to have a significant impact on various physiological parameters, including blood glucose levels, testosterone levels, anovulation, and menstrual irregularity. All therapeutic interventions significantly normalized the levels of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). The rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that were induced by Letrozole exhibited increased levels of urea and creatinine. The findings of this study indicate that the administration of Agaricus subrufescens therapy has a protective effect on renal function, as evidenced by a reduction in serum levels of urea and creatinine. In rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) induced by Letrozole, the inhibition of hepatic synthesis, promotion of ovarian follicle immaturity, and elevation of androgen secretions result in an increase in the weight of the liver and ovaries. The weight of endocrine organs exhibited a decrease across all treatment groups. The histopathological examination of PCOS specimens revealed an increased presence of cysts and theca lutein cells. The group of rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that did not receive treatment exhibited a higher number of cysts compared to the groups that received treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the administration of Letrozole orally resulted in the development of polycystic ovarian disease. The results indicated heightened levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as alterations in hormone levels such as increased testosterone and estrogen, and decreased progesterone. These hormonal changes were accompanied by menstrual irregularities, which were confirmed through the examination of vaginal smears and histopathological analysis of the ovaries in the control group with polycystic ovarian disease. The treatment groups that received Agaricus subrufescens exhibited a decrease in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and testosterone levels.

Evaluation of acute oral toxicity, anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of Aloe vera flowers extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is widely used in various traditional systems of medicine worldwide. Since over 5000 years ago, several cultures have used A. vera extract medicinally for conditions ranging from diabetes to eczema. It has been shown to reduce the symptoms of diabetes by enhancing insulin secretion and protecting pancreatic islets.

AIM OF THE WORK

This research study aimed to investigate the in-vitro antioxidant effect, the acute oral toxicity, and the possible pharmacological in-vivo anti-diabetic activity with histological examination of the pancreas of the standardized deep red A. vera flowers methanolic extracts (AVFME).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The liquid-liquid extraction procedure and TLC technique were used to investigate chemical composition. Total phenolics and flavonoids in AVFME were quantified by Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ colorimetric methods, respectively. The present study involved evaluating the in-vitro antioxidant effect of AVFME using ascorbic acid as the reference standard, an acute oral toxicity study by using thirty-six albino rats and different concentrations of AVFME (200 mg/kg, 2, 4, 8 and 10 g/kg b.w.). Furthermore, the in-vivo anti-diabetic study was performed on alloxan-induced diabetes in rats (120 mg/kg, I.P.) and two doses of AVFME (200 and 500 mg/kg b.w., orally) were used as compared to glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, orally) as a standard hypoglycemic sulfonylurea medication. A histological examination of the pancreas was performed.

RESULTS

AVFME resulted in the highest phenolic content of 150.44 ± 4.62 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram (GAE/g) along with flavonoid content of 70.38 ± 0.97 mg of quercetin equivalent per gram (QE/g). An in-vitro study revealed that the antioxidant effect of AVFME was strong as ascorbic acid. The results of the in-vivo studies showed that the AVFME didn't cause any apparent toxicity signs or death in all groups at different doses which proves the safety of this extract with a wide therapeutic index. The antidiabetic activity of AVFME demonstrated a considerable drop in blood glucose levels as glibenclamide, without severe hypoglycemia or significant weight gain which is considered an advantage of AVFME over glibenclamide use. The histopathological study of pancreatic tissues confirmed the protective effect of AVFME on the pancreatic beta-cells. The extract is proposed to have antidiabetic activity through inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Molecular docking studies were conducted to understand possible molecular interactions with these enzymes.

CONCLUSION

AVFME represents a promising alternative source of active constituents against diabetes mellitus (DM) based on its oral safety, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic activities, and pancreatic protective effects. These data revealed the antihyperglycemic activity of AVFME is mediated by pancreatic protective effects while significantly enhancing insulin secretion through increasing functioning beta cells. This suggests that AVFME has the potential as a novel antidiabetic therapy or a dietary supplement for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Cubosomes as a Potential Oral Drug Delivery System for Enhancing the Hepatoprotective Effect of Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) acts as an antioxidant that protects the cells by preventing lipid peroxidation. Owing to its low solubility, CoQ10 has shown poor delivery properties and poor bioavailability. The aim of this study is to develop CoQ10 loaded cubosomes in order to enhance its oral delivery and hepatoprotective activity. Cubosomes are cubic nanostructured systems resulting from the colloidal dispersion of cubic liquid crystalline structure in water. CoQ10 loaded cubosomes were prepared using poloxamer 407 and glyceryl monooleate at three weight ratios (1:2.5, 1:5 and 1:7.5) and were further characterized. They were investigated for their hepatoprotective effect in thioacetamide (TAA) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. The developed CoQ10 cubosomes exhibited moderate to high entrapment efficiency percentages (44.69-75.96%), nanometric dimensions (132.4-223.2 nm), and negatively charged zeta potential values (<-21.3). In-vitro release profiles showed a sustained release of CoQ10 from the developed cubosomes up to 48 h. In-vivo study revealed an improved hepatoprotective effect of CoQ10 cubosomes via reducing liver enzymes, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde as well as elevating phosphoinositide 3-kinase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, compared to plain drug. These results were in good agreement with histopathological investigations. Consequently, the developed cubosomes showed a potential effect in enhancing the hepatoprotective activity of CoQ10.

Differential efficacies of marigold leaves and turmeric paste on the healing of the incised wound in sheep

Objective:

This study was undertaken to compare the curative efficacy of marigold leaf paste and turmeric paste on healing the incised wound in sheep. The study also determined the antimicrobial effects and histopathological changes in a wound’s healing process treated with these medicinal herbs.

Materials and Methods:

Surgical wounds (n = 18) were created aseptically in the skin of the flank region of six healthy sheep dividing them into three experimental groups. Follow-up data were taken up to day 21. Different morphological characteristics of the wound and wound contraction (length and width) were recorded weekly. Samples were collected on days 1, 2, and 3 to test the antimicrobial effects and on days 1, 3, and 7 for histopathological studies.

Results:

Treatment with marigold leaf paste and turmeric paste resulted in a swelled wound area of 11.78 ± 0.38 mm and 11.52 ± 0.27 mm, respectively. The wound areas were comparatively lower than that of the control group (11.44 ± 0.20 mm). Moreover, the least elevation (2.44 ± 0.12 mm) of the sutured line from the skin surface was noted and compared between the marigold leaf paste and normal saline (2.74 ± 0.13 mm). Bacterial colonies in the nutrient agar medium cultured with swabs from the normal saline-treated group’s wound area were found on day 1. On the contrary, bacterial colonies were absent on days 2 and 3 of treatment in the groups treated with both the paste of marigold leaves and turmeric. Less intense tissue reactions and higher keratinization of epithelium were shown in the group treated with marigold leaf paste than turmeric paste and saline-treated groups.

Conclusion:

Marigold leaf paste showed less tissue reaction and healed the wounds effectively. Thus, this paste could be used for the treatment of superficial wounds in sheep.

Significant decrease in lipid core burden index following balloon dilation was associated with the leakage of cholesterol crystals in a patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used for analysis the composition of the atherosclerotic plaque in coronary arteries. However, meaning of significant decrease in max lipid core burden index at 4 mm (max LCBI_4mm) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is poorly understood.

CASE SUMMARY

A 64-year-old male with unstable angina underwent coronary angiography, which demonstrated a hazy tight culprit lesion in the mid-right coronary artery. Pre-intervention NIRS-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) and chemogram showed plaque with high lipid burden at the culprit lesion. Then, we used a distal protection device before PCI because of high max LCBI_4mm in the lesion. After pre-dilation with a scoring balloon, repeat NIRS-IVUS interrogation revealed an almost complete disappearance of the yellow signal and decrease in max LCBI_4mm (from 537 to 44) significantly, suggesting decrease in the lipid content of the plaque. Finally, a drug-eluting stent deployment followed by inflation of a non-compliant balloon led to an excellent result. After PCI, we detected trapped large amounts of debris on retrieval of the filter. Pathological diagnosis confirmed that trapped material was lipid-rich plaque including cholesterol crystals.

DISCUSSION

This is the first report directly demonstrated that significant decrease in max LCBI_4mm at culprit lesion should be associated with the leakage of cholesterol crystals from lipid-rich plaque during PCI in the clinical patient.

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia with Clinical Presentation Concerning for Juvenile Temporal Arteritis

A 20-year-old boy presented with a mass superotemporal to the right eyebrow of 1 month's duration without a history of recent trauma. Complete examination and workup, including laboratory analysis, Doppler ultrasound imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging, suggested a diagnosis of juvenile temporal arteritis. Excisional biopsy and histopathology contradicted the preoperative workup and yielded the final diagnosis of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, a rare eosinophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology. This case highlights the need for better characterization of temporal vascular tumors in the pediatric population.

Pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of novel rectal mucoadhesive hydrogels containing tolmetin sodium

The objective of the present study was to develop rectal mucoadhesive hydrogels loaded with Tolmetin Sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, for prolonged duration of action and increased bioavailability. Fourteen formulae were prepared with different types and concentrations of polymers as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxylethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate. Each formulation contain Tolmetin Sodium equivalent to 5% w/w active drug. The effect of the employed gel bases on pH, gel strength, mucoadhesion, viscosity and the in vitro release profile of drug was examined. In addition, hydrogel formulations were subjected to rheological and stability studies. The physicochemical characterization revealed that all hydrogels had a suitable pH (6.64-7.75) and gel strength (15.5-65.29 s) for rectal application. The in-vitro drug release from the formulations showed a controlled drug release pattern, reaching 72-92.6% after 8 h. The kinetic analysis of the release data revealed that the drug release from all tested hydrogel bases obeyed the diffusion mechanism. The degradation of Tolmetin Sodium from its rectal hydrogel formulations was found to be a zero-order reaction. All formulations except sodium alginate hydrogel were quite stable. Considering the in-vitro release, rheological properties and shelf life, (CMC; 2%w/w) hydrogel formula was the best among the studied formulations. Therefore, further histopathological and bioavailability studies were carried out to detect different pharmacokinetic parameters of the established formulations compared with commercially available capsules. Formula containing 2% CMC showed relative bioavailability 357.93%. Finally, good correlation was observed between in-vitro and in-vivo profile.

A hemodynamic, metabolic and histopathological study of a heterotopic auxiliary swine liver graft with portal vein arterialization

BACKGROUND

Auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation with portal vein arterialization (AHLT-PVA) is a model that has been hardly studied, despite its therapeutic potential.

METHODS

Hemodynamic and biochemical characterization was carried out during graft implantation, in a pig-to-pig model (n=15 AHLT-PVA). Furthermore a histopathological study was performed to establish microscopic alterations due to PVA.

RESULTS

Reperfusion of the arterialized graft produced an increase in heart rate (HR) vs. baseline (P=.004) and vs. inferior vena cava clamping phase (P=.004); and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance vs. cava clamping phase (P=.021). At the end of implantation, cardiac output remained elevated (P=.001), likewise HR remained increased vs. baseline phase (P=.002). Mean arterial pressure decreased with cava clamping, but was not affected by the reperfusion of the graft, nor the skin closure. The histopathological study at 3, 10, and 21 days post-PVA revealed that functional liver structure was maintained although it is common to find foci of perilobular necrosis on day 3 (P=.049), and perilobular connective tissue proliferation at day 10 (P=.007), vs. native liver.

CONCLUSIONS

The described arterialized liver graft model minimizes the number of vascular anastomoses vs. previously described models. It is hemodynamically and metabolically well tolerated and the double arterial vascularization of the graft does not cause significant changes in liver histology.

The Impact of Smoking on Gingiva: a Histopathological Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Smoking can be associated with the decreasing gingival blood flow and epithelial changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological changes of gingival epithelium and connective tissue in smokers .

METHODS

The study was case-control. Sixty male patients ( 28 smokers and 32 non smokers) suffering chronic periodontitis were participated in the study . Periodontal parameters consisting the gingival (GI) and periodontal (PI) indexes were registered. Tissue samples were taken during flap surgery. The hemotoxylin and eosin stained slides were assessed for blood vessel density, inflammatory cells infiltration and epithelial changes. The histopathological findings were compared between smokers and nonsmokers. Data analyzed using t -test and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Smokers had lower GI (1.35 ± 0.48) and higher PI (2.87±0.68) than nonsmokers (2.72 ±0.31 and 1.87±0.25, respectively). The mean count of blood vessels with ≤ 0.5µ diameter was 18.78±10.06 and 5.90±2.93 in smokers, nonsmokers, respectively. The mean inflammatory cells infiltration in smokers, and nonsmokers were 0.89±1.03 and 70±0.46 that showed significant difference between two groups ( P = 0.001, SD=1.21). The difference of epithelial hyperkeratosis, atrophy and acanthosis was not different in smokers and nonsmokers. Loss of normal epithelium pattern comprising of bulbous rete ridges, loss of polarity and increased parabasal cells was seen in 23(82.14%) of smokers and 2(6.25%) of nonsmokers.

CONCLUSION

Despite the normal appearance of gingiva in smokers, smoking increasing the epithelial changes resemble to early phases of dysplasia and decreasing inflammatory reaction.

The value of peritoneal washing cytology during intra-abdominal surgery for female genital tract neoplasms

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal washing cytology is a technique performed during surgery for genital neoplasms to detect subclinical intraperitoneal metastases from these tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate PWC utility in presumed benign and malignant female genital tract neoplasms by comparing the results of peritoneal cytology and corresponding histopathological specimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The 305 cases of female genital lesions with available staging (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) were considered. In cases with positive cytology, without neoplastic involvement of the ovarian and uterine surfaces, the salpinx was accurately examined to reveal primary malignant fallopian tubal neoplasms. For malignant ovarian neoplasms, the correlation rate between cytological and histopathological findings was statistically evaluated using the Fisher exact test. Statistical significance was defined as P < .05.

RESULTS

Histopathological diagnosis revealed that of 32 cases with positive cytology, 21 examples corresponded to primary ovarian serous carcinomas (65.625%). Moreover, the serous carcinoma was the subtype that most frequently revealed neoplastic elements on PWC (21 examples in 22 cases, 95.4%). Only 1 of these malignancies with positive cytology and pT1a stage presented simultaneous invasive and in situ serous carcinoma of contralateral tubal fimbria. Only 1 of serous endometrial carcinomas that involved an endometrial polyp was associated with positive cytology and with simultaneous carcinoma of tubal fimbria.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, PWC remains a useful procedure for staging malignant genital tract neoplasms and can be necessary to detect occult fallopian tube malignancies.

Formulation and characterization of benzoyl peroxide gellified emulsions

The present investigation was carried out with the objective of formulating a gellified emulsion of benzoyl peroxide, an anti-acne agent. The formulations were prepared using four different vegetable oils, viz. almond oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, and wheat germ oil, owing to their emollient properties. The idea was to overcome the skin irritation and dryness caused by benzoyl peroxide, making the formulation more tolerable. The gellified emulsions were characterized for their homogeneity, rheology, spreadability, drug content, and stability. In vitro permeation studies were performed to check the drug permeation through rat skin. The formulations were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, as well as their acute skin irritation potential. The results were compared with those obtained for the marketed formulation. Later, the histopathological examination of the skin treated with various formulations was carried out. Formulation F3 was found to have caused a very mild dysplastic change to the epidermis. On the other hand, the marketed formulation led to the greatest dysplastic change. Hence, it was concluded that formulation F3, containing sesame oil (6%w/w), was the optimized formulation. It exhibited the maximum drug release and anti-microbial activity, in addition to the least skin irritation potential.