Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide healthcare problem; however, traditional treatment methods have failed to cure all patients, and HCV has developed resistance to new drugs. Systems biology-based analyses could play an important role holistic analysis of the impact of HCV on hepatocellular metabolism. Here, we integrated HCV assembly reactions with a genome-scale hepatocyte metabolic model to identify the metabolic targets for HCV assembly and the metabolic alterations that occur between different HCV progression states (cirrhosis, dysplastic nodule, and early and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) and healthy liver tissue. We found that diacylglycerolipids were essential for HCV assembly. In addition, the metabolism of keratan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate was significantly changed in the cirrhosis stage, whereas the metabolism of acyl-carnitine was significantly changed in the dysplastic nodule and early HCC stages. Our results explained the role of the upregulated expression of BCAT1, PLOD3 and six other methyltransferase genes involved in carnitine biosynthesis and S-adenosylmethionine metabolism in the early and advanced HCC stages. Moreover, GNPAT and BCAP31 expression was upregulated in the early and advanced HCC stages and could lead to increased acyl-CoA consumption. By integrating our results with copy number variation analyses, we observed that GNPAT, PPOX and five of the methyltransferase genes (ASH1L, METTL13, SMYD2, TARBP1 and SMYD3), which are all located on chromosome 1q, had increased copy numbers in the cancer samples relative to the normal samples. Finally, we confirmed our predictions with the results of metabolomics studies and proposed that inhibiting the identified targets has the potential to provide an effective treatment strategy for HCV-associated liver disorders. 

NULL

Out of ninety eight of camels (Camelus dormadarius) examined, only forty eight (48.9 %) were found to be infected with blood protozoan parasites (Trypanosoma evansi, Theileria sp. and Babesia sp.). The higher incidence of infection were found in males (36.7%) whereas, (12.24%) in females. Microscopical examination revealed that longitudinal binary fission, the stumpy, slender forms of Trypanosoma evansi, trophozoites of both Theileria sp. And Babesia sp. Experimental infection revealed that both of Babesia and Theileria have a zoonotic importance for their transmissible to the experimental animals.

Out of 195 Camelus dromedarius examined only 19 were infected (9.7 %) with this parasite. The life cycle of T. sp. involves many morphologically distinct stages-more than described for any other genus in the Trypanosomatidae. This parasite was appeared for the first time in Camelus dromedarius at Assiut, Egypt. Most of stages of T. dromedarius (n.sp.) which were appeared in the blood of Camelus dromedarius are amastigotes stages. At the same time spheromastigots, epimastigote stages and trypomastigote stages with two shapes slender and broad. In experimental infection, the trypanosome was found to be transmissible to laboratory white mice, also metacyclic and amstigote formes were seen.

Babesia and Theileria are intraerythrocytic parasites which are capable of infecting a wide range of vertebrates causing huge economic losses. Histopathological and hematological changes during Babesia and Theileria inoculation in rat they were reported. Objective of the study is to determine the presence of Babesia & Theileria infected Camelus dromedarius at Assiut locality, Upper Egypt and their effects on hematological and tissues (liver, lung and kidney) of rat by injection in the blood. Blood samples were collected from Camelus dromedarius from different localities of Slaughter houses at Assiut city, Egypt (Dairout, Beni ady and Elethamna). Thick and thin blood smears were made for morphological examination of some protozoan blood parasites with electron microscopic studies. Out of (195) one hundred and ninety five Camelus dromedarius were examined and only twelve (6.1 %) were infected with Th. assiutis (n. sp.) and fifty one were found to be infected (26.1 %) with B. Cameli (n. sp.). For the first time the parasites were infected camels at Assiut. These parasites were injected in the blood of rat and the changes occurred on the organs were seen. Also Hemoglobin concentration, WBCs, RBCs, hematocrite, MCV, MCH and MCHC were measured for detection the hematological effects of these parasites. This study has reported for the first time the presence of Th. assiutis (n. sp.) & B. Cameli (n. sp.). in Camelus dromedarius and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis and theileriosis in the region to increase the livestock output.

The valuable effects of antioxidants supplemen- tation on lithium-induced nephrotoxicity has not been understood yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the renoprotective effect of zinc sulfate (Zn) and/or vitamin E (Vit. E) against lithium chloride (Li)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Forty male rats were divided into five groups. The first worked as controls and the other were treated with Li (20 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks). Group I of Li- treated was left without treatment, however, group II, III and IV were treated with Zn (10 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks), Vit. E (10 mg/kg, twice a week for 4 weeks), and the combination of Zn and Vit. E, respectively. Rats were killed for collection of blood and kidneys for biochemical and histological studies. The results showed a significant increase in Li in kidney tissue in all treated groups with Li, however, Zn was only increased in the groups treated with Zn, whereas Cu was similar in all treated and control groups. Plasma levels of creatinine, urea and glucose showed differences among the treated groups. The levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase in renal tissue were significantly increased in Li-treated groups in comparison with the control and ameliorated by treatment with Zn and the combination of Zn and Vit. E. Histological observation showed perivascular edema and interstitial lymphocytic cell reaction in kidney of rats treated with Li, however co-treatment with Zn and/or Vit. E resulted in improvement of the histological changes. In conclu- sion Li-exposure causes a histological and biochemical changes mediated by oxidative stress and Li accumulation and co-treatment with Zn and/or Vit. E may protect against Li toxicity.

The valuable effects of antioxidants supplemen- tation on lithium-induced nephrotoxicity has not been understood yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the renoprotective effect of zinc sulfate (Zn) and/or vitamin E (Vit. E) against lithium chloride (Li)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Forty male rats were divided into five groups. The first worked as controls and the other were treated with Li (20 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks). Group I of Li- treated was left without treatment, however, group II, III and IV were treated with Zn (10 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks), Vit. E (10 mg/kg, twice a week for 4 weeks), and the combination of Zn and Vit. E, respectively. Rats were killed for collection of blood and kidneys for biochemical and histological studies. The results showed a significant increase in Li in kidney tissue in all treated groups with Li, however, Zn was only increased in the groups treated with Zn, whereas Cu was similar in all treated and control groups. Plasma levels of creatinine, urea and glucose showed differences among the treated groups. The levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase in renal tissue were significantly increased in Li-treated groups in comparison with the control and ameliorated by treatment with Zn and the combination of Zn and Vit. E. Histological observation showed perivascular edema and interstitial lymphocytic cell reaction in kidney of rats treated with Li, however co-treatment with Zn and/or Vit. E resulted in improvement of the histological changes. In conclu- sion Li-exposure causes a histological and biochemical changes mediated by oxidative stress and Li accumulation and co-treatment with Zn and/or Vit. E may protect against Li toxicity.

NULL

There is a growing demand to find an effective extraction process of sulfated polysaccharides from brown algae to conserve its structure and biological activity. Fucoidan was recovered from Sargassum sp. using a hot buffer extraction process. BoxeBenhken experimental design was evaluated to study different conditions of temperature, pH and buffer: alga ratio on fucoidan yield and its sulfate content. By solving the regression equations and analyzing 3-D plots, the optimum conditions were at extraction temperature 60
C, pH 4.0, and ratio of buffer: alga 10.0 mL/g. Under these conditions, the experimental fucoidan yield, and sulfate content were 19 and 47.6% (w/w), respectively, which were in good agreement with the predicted values. The use of hot buffer extraction was efficient to obtain a high fucoidan yield with maintaining high sulfate contents. Fucoidan preparations showed variations in antioxidant properties using various antioxidant assays. Increasing reducing antioxidant activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging of fucoidan extracts was attributed to increasing total sugars, fucose, and uronic acids. The data obtained suggested that the sulfate groups might act as reductones rather than radical scavengers to contribute to the antioxidant activity of fucoidan. Additionally, proteinaceous and phenolic compounds co-extracted with crude fucoidan contributed to its antioxidant potential. Crude fucoidan demonstrated good emulsion stabilizing capacities, especially with cedar wood oil and xylene. These results suggest the use of the crude fucoidan as a good alternative to many synthetic polymers, as well as other natural polysaccharides, in several applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, paper and petroleum industries.

Micronutrients in food have been found to have chemopreventive effects, supporting the conclusions from epidemiologie studies that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables reduces cancer risk. The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of querctin (Q) and sodium gluconate (GNA) supplementation separately or in combination in ameliorating promotion of colon tumor development by dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH) in mice. Histopathological observation of colons in mice treated with DMH showed goblet cell dysplasia with inlammatory cell iniltration. This pathological inding was associated with signiicant alteration in oxidative stress markers in colon tissues and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in plasma. Mice co-treated with GNA and Q showed mild changes of absorptive and goblet cells and inlammatory cell iniltration in lamina properia, with improvement in oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, indings of the present study indicate signiicant roles for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pathogenesis of DMH-induced colon toxicity and initiation of colon cancer. Also, they suggest that Q, GNA or the combination of both have a positive beneicial effect against DMH induced colonic cancer induction in mice.