Dimethoate (DM) is one type of organophosphorus insecticide, that kills insects and mites both systemically and immediately upon contact and harms a range of non-target animals, including fish when it enters the aquatic habitat. This study aimed to determine the potentially harmful histopathological and biochemical impacts of Dimethoate on Nile tilapia fish. Sixty Oreochromis Niloticus freshwater fish, each weighing an average of 130 ± 10 g, were divided into two groups in triplicates. There were 6 groups, 3 control groups, and 3 experiment groups that received Dimethoate at a dose of 8 mg/l in water for 15 days. Blood samples were collected and used for biochemical indexes. For histological analysis, samples of the brain, gills, liver, and kidney were collected. The findings of the study demonstrated that fish treated with Dimethoate exhibited pale gills, anxious symptoms, as well as congestion and hemorrhages in many internal organs, comprising the brain, kidney, and liver. There was a significant increase in the blood levels of nitric oxide, lipid peroxide, and glutathione peroxidase and a significant fall in catalase levels in the Dimethoate group when compared to the control group. Pesticides, especially DM, should not be used carelessly in agriculture and allowed to accumulate in streams because of deleterious effects on fish.

Objective The present study was carried out to investigate the possible protective role of copper (II) albumin against zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) provoked DNA damage and hepatotoxicity in rats.
Methods Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups; Group I: the control group maintained on a regular diet, Group II: received 1 ml/day of milk as the solvent of Cu (II) albumin complex, Group III: received Cu (II) albumin at 0.03 μg/gm, Group IV: exposed to ZnONPs (400 mg/kg/day), and Group V: exposed to 400 mg/kg/day ZnONPs plus Cu (II) albumin. All treatments were administered for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized for collection of blood and liver samples. DNA damage in blood and liver was evaluated by using comet assay, while hepatotoxicity was evaluated from histopathological changes of hepatic tissue and liver enzymes (ALT and AST).
The oxidative status parameters including nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also measured.
Results The results showed that ZnONPs induced oxidative stress through a significant increase in MDA and NO activities, a significant decrease in TAC, and slight decrease in glutathione peroxidase. Significant DNA damage, a significant increase in AST, and a slight increase in ALT were accompanied by histological changes in the liver ZnONPs exposed group. Concurrent Cu (II) albumin supplement to ZnONPs-treated rats in Group IV reversed most of the histopathological changes and DNA damage, significantly lowered ALT and AST levels as well as MDA and NO, and elevated the TAC and GPx.
Conclusion Based on these results, it can be concluded that Cu (II) albumin effectively protects against ZnONPs-induced hepatic dysfunction and DNA damage in rats.

The current study was conducted to assess the effect of HFD (40%) on estrous cycle regularity and body weight in female rats. Fourteen female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (I) received the standard chow diet, and the HFD group (II) received the HFD (55% basal diet, 3% sesame oil, 25% beef tallow, 5% milk powder, 5% roasted peanuts, 5% egg, and 2% NaCl) daily for 10 successive weeks. Bodyweight was recorded every week from the beginning of the study to the end, where, at the 8th week after dietary exposure, the assessment of the estrous cycle was performed daily for ten successive days using visual assessment and vaginal cytology procedures. The HFD group revealed a statistically higher proportion of rats with an irregular estrous cycle (p = 0.031) and a significantly increased diestrus index vs. the control group (p = 0.025). The HFD group revealed a nonsignificant decrease in the cycle frequency, a significant decrease in the total days of the proestrus stage (p ≤ 0.001), and a nonsignificant shortening in the estrus and metestrus stages vs. control. In contrast, the HFD group revealed a significantly longer diestrus stage than the control group (p = 0.025). Weight gain and body weight were significantly increased throughout the experiment in the HFD group when compared with the control group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, HFD results in increased body weight and increased estrous cycle irregularities, which may impair the female reproductive function.

Background: Due to their potential for treating a variety of common illnesses, medicinal plants have recently attracted a lot of attention, also other medicinal assertions are now supported by a wealth of scientific evidence, so nowadays natural products such as essential oils (EOs) and crude extracts provide boundless opportunities for novel drugs. Objective: This Study was carried out to investigate the antiviral and antibacterial activity of an essential oils product, Deca-Cel®, against Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Lasota strain, as a viral model and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium as bacterial models. Methodology: The antiviral activity of these EOs was systematically studied in three experimental protocols viz. virucidal, therapeutic and prophylactic assays employing in ovo model. Firstly, toxicity study was estimated for screening the optimal non-toxic concentration of the EOs in the embryonated chicken eggs and then their antiviral efficacy was determined. Embryo survival was observed by candling daily and the survival rates of embryos were recorded on day 4th post-inoculation (pi). After the end of experiments, survivors were killed by chilling the eggs in a refrigerator for further examination and allantoic fluid from treated eggs was collected for rapid hemagglutination (HA) test to detect NDV. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are used to determine the susceptibilities of some bacterial agents to these EOs to evaluate their antibacterial activity. Results: For studying their antiviral activity, it was found that Deca-Cel® oil can completely inhibit NDV growth with a high embryo survival rate reaching 100% with -ve HA activity as a virucidal and prophylactic agent, while 60% embryo survival rate and negative hemagglutination activity had been recorded as a therapeutic agent, comparing to virus control which showed 100% embryo mortality rate within 48:72hrs pi with strong positive HA activity. Regarding the antibacterial activity, it was found that MIC values of these EOs were 0.4 μL/ml and 0.2 μL/ml against Salmonella Typhimurium and E. coli respectively, which means that these EOs can be used as a good alternative to antibiotics that recently showing resistance. Conclusion: The current findings have demonstrated that these EOs have promising antiviral and antibacterial properties against many avian pathogens

An essential research tool for studying colorectal cancer (CRC) is the use of 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) as an animal model of colorectal carcinogenesis. Niclosamide (Nic), an oral anthelmintic drug, has been identified as a possible anticancer agent. The purpose of this research was to determine the potential antineoplastic effect of Nic on induced colorectal carcinogenesis. Five groups from thirty-five albino rats were created. Group I was given a vehicle for four weeks. Group II was administered Nic I/P at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. daily for four weeks. Group III was administered DMH S/C at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. twice weekly for four weeks. Group IV received DMH in the same manner as Group III, and following a week from the last DMH injection, they were given daily doses of 20 mg/kg b.w. of Nic I/P until the experiment concluded. Group V received for four weeks both DMH S/C at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. twice weekly and Nic I/P at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. daily. Upon completion of the experiment, which lasted 12 weeks, rats were sacrificed for sampling. Colons of rats in all groups were collected for aberrant crypt foci (ACF) counting using 0.2% methylene blue. Then tissue specimens were taken for histopathological examination. According to the topographical features of colon preneoplastic lesions, we found that group III had more ACF count and crypt multiplicity, whereas groups IV and V had a significantly lower number. Microscopically, rats receiving DMH exhibited moderate to severe dysplastic changes. These changes were significantly decreased in both Nic-treated groups, however, Group V showed the best improvement. These results indicated the obvious protective effect of Nic against ACF progression.

Purpose Despite having a wide range of therapeutic advantages, dexamethasone (DEXM)-free formulations have some negative side effects that manifest over time. Polymeric nanocapsules (PNCs) exhibit a core-shell structure that can encapsulate and control the release of drug products. Accordingly, the present study aimed to develop a new nanoparticulate system, PNCs, as drug nanocarriers of DEXM and to exemplify the difference in safety profile regarding the gastropathic and cardiopathic effects of DEXM PNCs versus free DEXM.
Methods Dexamethasone-loaded alginate nanocapsules were prepared using the nanoprecipitation technique and evaluated for different parameters. In-vivo assessment of the safety profile of the DEXMs (free and PNCs) necessitated three animal groups: vehicle, free DEXM, and DEXM PNCs groups. Treatments with DEXM were administered intraperitoneally, once daily, for 7 days. Stomach and heart samples were investigated for tissue damage. Tissue insults were assessed via macroscopic, biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses.
Results The selected PNCs exhibited a small particle size of 287 ± 7.5 nm, a zeta-potential of -21.06 ± 0.23 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 91.53 ± 0.5%, and a prolonged release profile for up to 48 h as compared with a free drug. Gastric damage indicators showed more serious mucosal damage with free DEXM, hemorrhagic ulcers, and enhanced oxidative stress than the DEXM PNCs. Biomarkers of cardiac damage were significantly elevated with free DEXM and significantly lower in the DEXM PNCs group.
Conclusion Dexamethasone was successfully encapsulated into polymeric nanocapsules of sodium alginate coating polymer.
The developed alginate nanocapsules exhibited desirable parameters and a superior anticipated side effect profile regarding gastric and cardiac damage.

Bee bread, a naturally fermented bee product, could alleviate obesity-related disorders but its protective role against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced ovarian dysfunction has not been studied yet. Thirty-eight Wister albino female rats were divided into control and HFD groups. The control group (n=7) received a normal diet for 14 weeks whereas HFD group was supplemented with 40% HFD for 10 weeks and then subdivided into 4 subgroups that received either HFD or HFD and S. officinalis (300 mg/kg) or HFD and bee bread (0.5 gm/kg) or normal diet for another 4 weeks. Histopathological examination of ovarian tissues was done. The estrus cycle, final body weight, lipid profile, fasting serum glucose, and reproductive hormone levels were investigated. mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in the blood and the ovarian cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1 (CYP17A1), cyclin D1(CCND1) and autophagy-related protein-5 (Atg5) were determined. Immunohistochemical assessment of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARγ), and caspase-3 was done in all groups. Irregular estrous cycle altered folliculogenesis and reproductive hormones, dyslipidemia, and increased body weight were detected in HFD group. Also, upregulation of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6 and caspase -3 expressions, and downregulation of CCDN1, Atg5 and PPARγ were observed in HFD group. Bee bread, S. officinalis and to a lesser extent normal diet supplements bee bread improved ovarian dysfunction induced by HFD by inducing autophagy and steroidogenic genes and inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. Bee bread and S. officinalis could be protective agents against ovarian dysfunction and obesity induced by HFD

This in vitro batch culture study investigated the effects of red osier dogwood (ROD) extract supplementation on gas production (GP), dry matter disappearance (DMD), and fermentation characteristics in high forage (HF) and high grain (HG) diets with varying media pH level. The experiment was a factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with 2 media pH (5.8 and 6.5) × 4 dose rates of ROD extract (0, 1, 3, and 5% of DM substrate). An additional treatment of monensin was added as a positive control for each pH level. The HF substrate consisted of 400 and 600 g/kg DM barley-based concentrate and barley silage, respectively, while the HG substrate contained 100 and 900 g/kg DM barley silage and barleybased concentrate, respectively. Treatments were incubated for 24 h with GP, DMD and fermentation parameters determined. No interaction was detected between the media pH level and ROD extract dose rate on GP, DMD and most of the fermentation parameters. The GP, DMD, and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration were greater (P = 0.01) with media pH of 6.5 in both HF and HG diets. The GP were not affected by increasing ROD dose rate, except that GP linearly decreased in the HF (P = 0.04) and HG (P = 0.01) diets at 24 h; the DMD tended to linearly decrease at pH 6.5 (P = 0.06) for both HF and HG diets and at pH 5.8 (P = 0.02) for the HG diet. Adding ROD extract to the HF and HG diets linearly (P = 0.01) increased the acetate molar proportion at high or low media pH and consequently, the acetate to propionate (A:P) ratio linearly (P ≤ 0.04) increased. Supplementation of ROD extract to the HF diet linearly (P = 0.04) decreased the molar proportion of propionate at pH 6.5 (interaction between pH and ROD extract; P = 0.05), but had no effect on propionate proportion when added to the HG diet. Moreover, the proportion of branched-chain fatty acids linearly (P = 0.03) decreased with ROD extract supplementation at low pH (interaction, P < 0.05) for HF diet and linearly decreased (P = 0.05) at pH 6.5 for HG diet (interaction, P < 0.05). The NH3–N concentration was not affected by ROD supplementation in the HF diet but it linearly (P = 0.01) decreased with increasing dose rate in the HG diet. Methane concentration tended to linearly (P = 0.06) increase with ROD extract