Mohamed Zaki

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders that ultimately afflicts large number of individuals. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilator peptide; previous studies reported development of insulin resistance in aged AM deficient mice. In this study, we employed a gene delivery approach to explore its potential role in insulin resistance. Four groups were included: control, diabetic, non-diabetic injected with the AM gene and diabetic injected with the AM gene.

Aspartame is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners in over 90 countries worldwide. It is ahighly intensity sweetener added to a large variety of food, most commonly found in low caloriebeverages, desserts and table top sweeteners added to tea or coffee. The present study examinedwhether the daily oral administration of ASP (40 mg/kg) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks induce oxidative stress inthe liver and kidney of male albino rats. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione reduced (GSH) levels aswell as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) enzymes were determined. A significant increase in LPO levels was obtained in the liver tissueafter 4 and 6 weeks of ASP administration while there was a significant decrease in LPO level after 2weeks followed by a significant increase in the renal tissue at the end of the 6 weeks. SOD activitysignificantly decreased in the liver tissue after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment. Also, there was asignificant decrease in SOD activity after 2 and 4 weeks in the renal tissue. CAT activity significantly decreased in the liver tissue after 2 and 4 weeks of ASP administration. Regarding to GSH content, there was a significant decrease in the liver tissue after 2, 4 and 6 weeks which was accompanied by asignificant increase in GST activity after 4 and 6 weeks of ASP administration. In conclusion, ASP may induce an oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of male albino rats.

Background: Bleomycin is an effective antineoplastic drug; however it is associated with pulmonary pathology which may progress to fibrosis.
Aim of the work: The present work was planned to study the injurious effects of bleomycin administration on the lung and the possible protective role of dexamethasone and N-acetyl cysteine.
Materials and methods: Forty albino rats were divided, into Group I: control and Group II: bleomycin-treated group which was subdivided into three subgroups: (A) which received bleomycin only, (B) which received dexamethasone and bleomycin and(C) which received N-acetyl cysteine in combination with bleomycin. Rats were sacrificed three weeks after administration of bleomycin. Lungs were carefully excised, weighed and grossly examined for any changes. Histological study was done for histological changes. Ultrathin sections were done and studied.
Results: The present study revealed a significant increase in the lung weight of rats that received bleomycin as compared to the control. The lung that received bleomycin manifested loss of normal alveolar pattern, associated diffuse mononuclear cellular infiltration, consolidation and collapse. Some specimens manifested emphysematous changes. The nuclei of pneumocytes displayed degeneration and pyknosis, the cytoplasm was rarefied with some degenerated organelles and shortening of the microvilli. Abundant fibroblasts and excessive collagen deposition. Thickened arterioles associated with exravasated blood.
Conclusion: Co-administration of dexamethasone or N-acetyl cysteine with bleomycin, resulted in regenerative changes of the alveolar damage. This protective effect was variable among the animals within the same group, where, in most specimens the lungs regained normal pulmonary architecture. No significant difference was observed between the protective role of dexamethasone and N-acetyl cysteine.

This study was conducted on sixty adult albino rats in attempt to evaluate the effect of calcium, vitamink, low intensity laser therapy and their combination on the histopathlogical bony changes in induced osteoporosis. Ten rats were maintained on normal diet, the remaining fifty rats were divided into three groups. Group A was received no drug. Group B was received calcium and subjected to laser on right side. Group C was received calcium and vitamin K and subjected to laser on the right side

The present study aimed to investigate the possibility of involved oxidative stress due to the oraladministration of either ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin (under therapeutic level) in the three brain regions, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum of male albino rats weighing