Effects Of Doses Research Articles

Dissecting the manipulation of lufenuron on chitin synthesis in Helicoverpa armigera

Lufenuron, a benzoylurea chitin synthesis inhibitor, is effective against many insect pests. However, the insecticidal activity of lufenuron has not been completely elucidated, nor do its disturbing effect on chitin synthesis genes. In this study, bioassay results demonstrated an outstanding toxicity of lufenuron against Helicoverpa armigera larvae. The treated larvae died from abortive molting and metamorphosis defects, and severe separation of epidermis and subcutaneous tissues was observed. Treatment of 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae with LC25 lufenuron significantly extended the duration of larval and pupal stage, reduced the rates of pupation and emergence, and adversely affected pupal weight. Besides, lufenuron can severely reduce chitin content in larval integument, and the lufenuron-treated larvae showed reduced trehalose content in their hemolymph. Further analysis using RNA sequencing revealed that five chitin synthesis genes were down-regulated, whereas the expressions of two chitin degradation genes were significantly enhanced. Knockdown of chitin synthase 1 (HaCHS1), uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine-pyrophosphorylase (HaUAP), phosphoacetyl glucosamine mutase (HaPGM), and glucosamine 6-phosphate N-acetyl-transferase (HaGNPAT) in H. armigera led to significant increases in larval susceptibilities to LC25 lufenuron by 75.48%, 65.00%, 68.42% and 28.00%, respectively. Our findings therefore revealed the adverse effects of sublethal doses of lufenuron on the development of H. armigera larvae, elucidated the perturbations on chitin metabolism, and proved that the combination of RNAi and lufenuron would improve the control effect of this pest.

Effect of the Incorporation of Hydrogel on the Growth of Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris var. Vittata Seedlings

Hydrogel has important functions, being a soil and substrate conditioner, improving the ability to retain water and nutrients, making them available and improving the development of bamboo seedlings in nursery. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of different doses of hydrogel on the development and quality of seedlings of Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. var. vittata. Additionally, it was to investigate on the three types of propagules (Lateral regrowth + disc, Lateral regrowth and Disc). Four doses of hydrogel (1, 2, 3 and 4g) were used and one fifth treatment control (0g). The recorded traits were numbers of shoots and roots and their variations in relation to size and weight. Every 60 days the height of the shoot (cm) and the number of shoots were measured. At 180 days, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were performed. For all variables, the disc propagule was the one that provided the greatest growth and establishment of the seedlings, which was indicated for the production of seedlings by cutting. For the hydrogel, the dose 4g/liter was the one that proposed more vigorous seedlings, showing that the incorporation in this amount is ideal, with values of 117.1 and 113.1 for the aerial part for Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris respectively. Regarding the number of roots the highest values were 49 for Dendrocalamus asper and 64.3 for Bambusa vulgaris.

In Vitro Antitumor and Antioxidant Capacity as well as Ameliorative Effects of Fermented Kefir on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Toxicity on Cardiac and Hepatic Tissues in Rats

Fermented prebiotic and probiotic products with kefir are very important to slow down and prevent the growth of tumors and to treat cancer by stimulating the immune response against tumor cells. Cyclophosphamide (CPx) is widely preferred in cancer treatment but its effectiveness in high doses is restricted because of its side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of kefir against CPx-induced heart and liver toxicity. In an experiment, 42 Wistar albino rats were divided into six treatment groups: the control (Group 1), the group receiving 150 mg/kg CPx (Group 2), the groups receiving 5 and 10 mg/kg kefir (Groups 3 and 4) and the groups receiving 5 and 10 mg/kg kefir + CPx (Group 5 and 6). Fermented kefirs obtained on different days by traditional methods were mixed and given by gavage for 12 days, while a single dose of CPx was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) on the 12th day of the experiment. It was observed that alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB), ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and Troponin I values, which indicate oxidative stress, increased in the CPx-administered group, and this level approached that of the control in the CPx + kefir groups. Likewise, as a result of the kefir, the rats’ CPx-induced histopathological symptoms were reduced, and their heart and liver tissue were significantly improved. In conclusion, it was observed that kefir had a cytoprotective effect against CPx-induced oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, bringing their biochemical parameters closer to those of the control by suppressing oxidative stress and reducing tissue damage.

Investigating the Alcohol Effects on the Response to Strenuous Exercise Training: Protocol for a Multidisciplinary Intervention Study in Young Healthy Adults-The BEER-HIIT Study.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient strategy to improve fitness and performance. Whereas the multiple and negative effects of high intake of alcohol have been widely studied, the effect of moderate alcohol doses after exercise is not clear, and it is currently under debate. For that, a total of 80 young healthy adults are studied and allocated into 5 groups, each including 16 participants. Four groups follow a HIIT program, while the fifth group is a control non-training group. The training groups will be randomized according to the characteristics of the ingested beverage (alcohol beer, beer 0.0%, sparkling water, or ethanol). The effects of HIIT on several aspects of physical performance and mental health in young healthy adults are evaluated, also the concomitant effect of daily and moderate alcohol consumption. The novelty of this study lies in the continuous measurement of the psychological parameters associated with carrying out a highly demanding training program in conjunction with alcohol consumption in moderate quantities, reflecting real-life conditions.

Heavy ion beams and gamma rays induce biological changes and flavonoid accumulation in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge

Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (A. mongholicus) is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae family. Its dried rhizome has been used in clinical practice in China for more than 2000 years. However, the limited germplasm resources and unstable quality of A. mongholicus have limited its large-scale cultivation and wide application. Therefore, there is an urgent need to breed stable varieties. At present, heavy ion beams (HIBs) and gamma rays are important mutagenesis tools applied in medicinal plants. The aim of this investigation was to assess the effects of various doses (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 Gy) of HIBs and gamma rays on the development, physiological reaction, and secondary metabolite accumulation of A. mongholicus. The findings indicated that the LD50 of the A. mongholicus seeds to HIBs and gamma rays was 200–250 Gy and 400 Gy, respectively. As the radiation dose increased, there was a subsequent increase in the inhibition of seedling height, plant diameter, and number of branches and leaves, as well as a decrease in the chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid contents of leaves. Additionally, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter NPQ and flavonoid contents (total flavonoids, Calycosin-7-glucoside, Calycosin, Ononin, and Methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside) were also affected, which resulted in a distinct decrease in Y(II) values and diverse levels of elevation in leaf MDA content, SOD, and POD activities. Differently, CAT activity was substantially reduced, except for 50 Gy HIBs irradiation. Overall, upon the same dose of the two radiation qualities, HIBs had a stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of Astragalus seedlings, but less effect on antioxidant enzymes and physiological responses. There was no difference between two radiation qualities in increasing trend of flavonoid composition. The present study showed that HIBs is more beneficial for A. membranaceus mutation breeding research and would be promising tool for A. mongholicus mutation breeding.

Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory Effects of Hypericin as a Photosensitizer in Photodynamic Therapy Used on Skin Cell Cultures

Determination of the hypericin–photodynamic (HY–PDT) effect on the secretion of cytokines secreted by the skin cells, may be the basis for using the immunomodulatory effect of photodynamic action in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. The study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of hypericin (HY) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) performed in vitro on cultures of selected skin cell lines. The study used two human cell lines, primary dermal fibroblast (HDFa) and primary epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa). The MTT test was used to define the metabolic activity of treated cells. Cell supernatants subjected to sublethal PDT were assessed to determine the interleukins: IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, IL-11, IL-19, IL-22, and metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1). The results confirm the destructive effect of HY–PDT and the immunomodulatory effects of sublethal doses on the selected skin cells, depending on the concentration of HY and the light doses. No statistically significant differences were noted in IL-2 and IL-10 concentration after HY–PDT for HEKa and HDFa lines. After using HY–PDT, the concentration of IL-8, MMP-1, IL-22, and IL-11 significantly decreased in the HEKa line. Moreover, the concentration of IL-19 and MMP-1 significantly decreased in the HDFa line. The concentration of IL-11 in the HDFa line after using only the HY, without the light, increased but decreased after HY–PDT. Our experiment confirmed that HY–PDT has not only a cytotoxic effect but, used in sublethal doses, also presents immunomodulatory properties. These may be an advantage of HY–PDT when used in the treatment of persistent skin inflammation, connected with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines resistant to conventional treatment methods.

Morphological assessment of the ovarians after single and fractional local electron iradiation

BACKGROUND: When malignant neoplasms of the pelvic organs are irradiated, healthy ovarian tissues can get into the irradiation area. So, among all physico-chemical factors, ionizing radiation is the most common cause of ovarian failure, which has a negative impact on fertility. Conducting research in this area is especially important in connection with the active introduction of electron therapy in the protocols for the treatment of malignant neoplasms of the small pelvis with the need to find ways to prevent and treat post-radiation ovarian lesions. In addition, one of the main tasks of modern radiobiology is the creation of experimental animal models in order to reveal the mechanisms of radiation exposure with subsequent extrapolation of the results obtained to humans in order to level the side effects of radiation therapy and select optimal doses. AIM: The aim of the study was a morphofunctional assessment of the ovaries after local electron irradiation in single and fractional modes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats (n = 30) were divided into three groups: I — control (n = 10); II (n = 10) — subjected to a single local irradiation with electrons at a dose of 2 Gy; III (n = 10) — subjected to fractional local irradiation with electrons in a total dose of 20 Gy. RESULTS: After a single local irradiation with electrons at a dose of 2 Gy, multiple hemorrhages and a decrease in the number of growing follicles with a discontinuous theca layer, which were unevenly distributed over its volume, were noted in the ovary. A statistically significant difference in the number of follicles was revealed: a decrease in the number of primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary follicles and an increase in atretic follicles. The most pronounced difference in the number of follicles between the studied groups was found in the group of fractional electron irradiation at a dose of 20 Gy: the smallest number of primordial and the largest number of atretic follicles with signs of post-radiation fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The most profound damage to the ovary develops after exposure to fractional electron irradiation at a total dose of 20 Gy compared with a single exposure to ionizing radiation at a dose of 2 Gy: a reduced number of follicles, a decrease in the area and thickness of the cortical substance, as well as the thickness of the ovarian tunica, in combination with the growth of the connective tissue.

Effects of Different Doses of Nitrogen on Growth and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Berekum Municipality of Ghana

Background: Adequate and balanced use of plant nutrients could increase crop performance and reduce adverse environmental effects. Farmers in Berekum have little information on the specific rate of nutrient, especially nitrogen application for hybrid and open pollinated maize varieties. Methods: A field experiment was carried out in Berekum Municipality of Ghana to determine the effects of different doses of N fertilizer (0, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1) on growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of Pannar 12 (hybrid) and Omankwa (open-pollinated) maize varieties. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice. Result: Experimental results revealed that incremental doses of nitrogen significantly impacted vegetative growth and NUE of maize. The studies indicated that the growth response in terms of plant height, number of leaves per plant and stem diameter of Omankwa was better than that of Pannar 12. It was found that in the main cropping period of 2019, the maximum NUE of 14.58 kg/kg was gained when Pannar 12 was grown with 150 kg N ha-1, while the highest NUE (15.91 kg/kg) was recorded when Omankwa was grown with 90 kg N ha-1. In the minor season of 2019, NUE was highest (13.54 kg/kg) when Pannar 12 was grown with 150 kg N ha-1, while application of 120 kg N ha-1 to Omankwa resulted in the highest NUE (10.85 kg/kg). The studies indicated that application of nitrogen at 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1 improved NUE in maize. However, NUE was optimized in Pannar 12 due to application of 150 kg N ha-1, while application of 90 kg N ha-1 was enough to optimize NUE in Omankwa.

Effects of Low and High Doses of Aspirin on Inflammatory Markers in Diabesity Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Effects of Low and High Doses of Aspirin on Inflammatory Markers in Diabesity Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Metal–Organic Framework-Capped Gold Nanorod Hybrids for Combinatorial Cancer Therapy

Recently, nanomaterials have attracted extensive attention in cancer-targeting therapy and as drug delivery vehicles owing to their unique surface and size properties. Multifunctional combinations of nanomaterials have become a research hotspot as researchers aim to provide a full understanding of their nanomaterial characteristics. In this study, metal–organic framework-capped gold nanorod hybrids were synthesized. Our research explored their ability to kill tumor cells by locally increasing the temperature via photothermal conclusion. The specific peroxidase-like activity endows the hybrids with the ability to disrupt the oxidative balance in vitro. Simultaneously, chemotherapeutic drugs are administered and delivered by loading and transportation for effective combinatorial cancer treatment, thereby enhancing the curative effect and reducing the unpredictable toxicity and side effects of large doses of chemotherapeutic drugs. These studies can improve combinatorial cancer therapy and enhance cancer treatment.

Randomized, Multicenter Study to Assess the Effects of Different Doses of Sildenafil on Mortality in Adults With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Sildenafil, approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), has a recommended adult dose of 20 mg TID, with a previously approved 5-mg TID dose by the US Food and Drug Administration. Safety concerns arose because of common off-label use of higher doses, particularly after pediatric data linked higher doses to increased mortality. To assess this, the Food and Drug Administration mandated a study evaluating the effects of various sildenafil doses on mortality in adults with PAH. This randomized, double-blind study compared sildenafil at doses of 5, 20, or 80 mg TID in adults with PAH. The primary objective was noninferiority of 80 mg of sildenafil versus 5 mg for all-cause mortality. Secondary end points included time to clinical worsening and change in 6-minute walk distance at 6 months. Interim analyses were planned at 50% and 75% of the anticipated mortality events. Safety and tolerability were assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The study was halted after the first interim analysis, demonstrating noninferiority for 80 mg of sildenafil versus 5 mg. Of 385 patients enrolled across all dose groups, 78 died. The primary analysis showed a hazard ratio of 0.51 (99.7% CI, 0.22-1.21; P<0.001 for noninferiority) for overall survival comparing 80 mg of sildenafil with 5 mg. Time to clinical worsening favored 80 mg of sildenafil compared with 5 mg (hazard ratio, 0.44 [99.7% CI, 0.22-0.89]; P<0.001). Sildenafil at 80 mg improved 6-minute walk distance from baseline at 6 months compared with 5 mg (least square mean change, 18.9 m [95% CI, 2.99-34.86]; P=0.0201). No significant differences were found between 80 mg of sildenafil and 20 mg in mortality, clinical worsening, and 6-minute walk distance. Adverse event-related drug discontinuations were numerically higher with 80 mg of sildenafil. Sildenafil at 80 mg was noninferior to sildenafil at 5 mg when examining all-cause mortality in adults with PAH. Secondary efficacy end points favored 80 mg of sildenafil over 5 mg. On the basis of these findings, the Food and Drug Administration recently revoked the approval of 5 mg of sildenafil for adults with PAH, reinforced 20 mg TID as the recommended dose, and now allows dose titration up to 80 mg TID, if needed. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02060487.

Therapeutic Doses of Antioxidants Inhibit the Growth and Enhance the Effects Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy on Cancer Cells by Blocking the Uptake and Metabolism of Glucose and Glutamine

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have produced increased 5-year survival rate in majority of cancers; however, acute side-effects during treatment and late adverse effects after these therapies remain a major concern of oncologists. To improve further 5-year survival rate and reduce acute and late adverse effects of therapies, a new non-toxic biological approach is needed. Experimental data for such an approach was available for over 25 years. For example, therapeutic doses of antioxidants inhibit the growth of cancer cells and enhances the growth-inhibitory effects of chemotherapeutic agents and x-irradiation on cancer cells but not on normal cells. These exciting observations failed to draw any attention from oncologists, because mechanistic data on therapeutic doses was not available until now. The mechanistic data on preventive doses of antioxidants suggested that they scavenge free radicals. Since one of the mechanisms of action of chemotherapy and radiation therapy on cancer cells is mediated by free radicals, oncologists fear that supplementation with antioxidants may reduce the effectiveness of cancer therapies by neutralizing free radicals. Cancer cells require glucose and glutamine for their survival and proliferation. This review briefly describes the effects of therapeutic doses of antioxidants alone and in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy on the growth of neoplastic cells and normal cells. It also presents evidence to show that such doses of antioxidants reduce the uptake and metabolism of glucose and glutamine in cancer cells. We propose that therapeutic doses of multiple antioxidants can selectively kill cancer cells and enhance the growth-inhibitory effects of therapeutic agents on cancer cells without affecting normal cells by inhibiting the uptake and metabolism of glucose and glutamine.

Effect of different doses of nitrogen and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense on the productive characteristics of maize

This study assessed the effects of different nitrogen doses on maize crops, with and without the inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense. The experiment was carried out during the 2020/2021 harvest season in the administrative department of Concepción, district of Horqueta, Paraguay, at the coordinates of 23°14'31.7" S and 56°53'05.9" W. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) arranged in a factorial design (4 X 2). Factor A included nitrogen doses (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1), while factor B corresponded to the bacterial inoculation (with and without A. brasilense). The experiment was performed in three replications; each experimental unit (EU) was 22.5 m2. The study evaluated the following characteristics: plant height, cob insertion height, cob length and diameter, weight of 1000 kernels, and kernel yield. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the averages were compared using Tukey's test at a 5% probability of error. Regression analysis was also carried out during the study. The experiment results demonstrated that increased nitrogen levels positively affected the measured characteristics, fitting a quadratic model, except for cob insertion height. Inoculation with A. brasilense significantly increased corn growth and productivity. The interaction of both factors produced a significant increase in cob length. Based on the experiment results, applying 104.30 kg ha-1 of N in combination with A. brasilense inoculation is recommended for improved maize production.

Study of lithium carbonate and ascorbate proliferative properties on transplantable Lewis lung carcinoma metastasis model

Objective: to study the antitumor effects of organic lithium salt (lithium ascorbate) in different doses in comparison with inorganic lithium salt (carbonate).Material and methods. Two series of experiments were carried out on the effect of lithium preparations on the dynamics of transplantable Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) growth and metastasis in F1 mice (CBA × C57Bl/6j). In the first series, a comparative study of the effects of different lithium ascorbate doses (1 and 10 mg/kg/day based on elemental lithium) was performed, and in the second series, a comparison was made of the effects of lithium ascorbate and carbonate when used at the same dose (5 mg/kg/day).Results. Significant antitumor effects were found for lithium ascorbate lower doses (1 and 5 mg/kg/day). A statistically significant antitumor effect of lithium ascorbate was observed from Day 10 throughout the entire observation period (tumor growth inhibition index (TGII) 30–40%). The antitumor effect of lithium carbonate in this experiment was less pronounced and stable (TGII 20–30%). No antimetastatic effect was observed with both preparations.Conclusion. Subchronic intragastric administration of lithium ascorbate and carbonate to tumor-bearing animals at a daily dose of 5 mg/kg, an antitumor effect is observed, manifested by LLC growth inhibition. Effective and safe antitumor doses of lithium ascorbate are in the range of 1–5 mg/kg.

The low and high doses administration of lutein improves memory and synaptic plasticity impairment through different mechanisms in a rat model of vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia (VD) is a common type of dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low and high doses of lutein administration in bilateral-carotid vessel occlusion (2VO) rats. The rats were divided into the following groups: the control, sham-, vehicle (2VO+V) groups, and two groups after 2VO were treated with lutein 0.5 (2VO+LUT-o.5) and 5mg/kg (2VO+LUT-5). The passive-avoidance and Morris water maze were performed to examine fear and spatial memory. The field-potential recording was used to investigate the properties of basal synaptic transmission (BST), paired-pulse ratio (PPR), as an index for measurement of neurotransmitter release, and long-term potentiation (LTP). The hippocampus was removed to evaluate hippocampal cells, volume, and MDA level. Treatment with low and high doses improves spatial memory and LTP impairment in VD rats, but only the high dose restores the fear memory, hippocampal cell loss, and volume and MDA level. Interestingly, low-dose, but not high-dose, increased PPR. However, BST recovered only in the high-dose treated group. Treatment with a low dose might affect neurotransmitter release probability, but a high dose affects postsynaptic processes. It seems likely that low and high doses improve memory and LTP through different mechanisms.

Efficacy and safety study of targeted small-molecule drugs in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

BackgroundTargeted small-molecule drugs in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have attracted increasing attention from clinical investigators. However, there is still a lack of evidence on the difference in the efficacy and safety of different targeted small-molecule drugs. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of different targeted small-molecule drugs for SLE.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) on targeted small-molecule drugs in the treatment of SLE in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched as of April 25, 2023. Risk of bias assessment was performed for included studies using the Cochrane’s tool for evaluating the risk of bias. The primary outcome indicators were SRI-4 response, BICLA response, and adverse reaction. Because different doses and courses of treatment were used in the included studies, Bayesian network meta-regression was used to investigate the effect of different doses and courses of treatment on efficacy and safety.ResultsA total of 13 studies were included, involving 3,622 patients and 9 targeted small-molecule drugs. The results of network meta-analysis showed that, in terms of improving SRI-4, Deucravacitinib was significantly superior to that of Baricitinib (RR = 1.32, 95% CI (1.04, 1.68), P < 0.05). Deucravacitinib significantly outperformed the placebo in improving BICLA response (RR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.20, 2.02), P < 0.05). In terms of adverse reactions, targeted small-molecule drugs did not significantly increase the risk of adverse events as compared to placebo (P > 0.05).ConclusionBased on the evidence obtained in this study, the differences in the efficacy of targeted small-molecule drugs were statistically significant as compared to placebo, but the difference in the safety was not statistically significant. The dose and the course of treatment had little impact on the effect of targeted small-molecule drugs. Deucravacitinib could significantly improve BICLA response and SRI-4 response without significantly increasing the risk of AEs. Therefore, Deucravacitinib is very likely to be the best intervention measure. Due to the small number of included studies, more high-quality clinical evidence is needed to further verify the efficacy and safety of targeted small-molecule drugs for SLE.

Evaluation of the feeding safety of Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) in the Sprague Dawley rat

This study aimed to evaluate the safety of Moringa by comparing the effects of different gavage doses of Moringa. The general behavior, body weight, food intake, blood indexes, serum biochemical indexes, and histopathology of rats were used to determine the safety threshold and to provide a reference for the further development and use of Moringa as animal feed. 40 Sprague Dawley rats were selected and given transoral gavage for 28 consecutive days. The T1, T2 and T3 groups were observed for general behavior, body weight, and food intake. Blood and serum biochemical indices were quantified, and histopathology was performed to evaluate the effect and safety of Moringa. The results of the toxicological test showed that (1) Only T1 groups experienced diarrhea. (2) The body weight and food intake of rats in each group were normal compared with the control group. (3) The hematological and serum biochemical indices of rats in the T1 group were significantly different from those of CK but were in the normal range; (4) The results of microscopic examination of the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of rats in each group were normal, but inflammation occurred in stomach and jejunum of rats in the T1 group, but not in the ileum. The gastrointestinal tract of rats in the T2 and T3 groups were normal. (5) No abnormal death occurred in any of the treatment groups.The results of this study revealed that gavage of Moringa homogenate at a dose of 6 g/kg BW can cause diarrhea in rats. Although there is no pathological effect on weight, food intake, blood and serum biochemical indicators in rats, there are pathological textures in the gastrointestinal tissue caused by diarrhea. Therefore, the safety threshold of Moringa homogenate should be ≤ 3 g/kg BW.

Features of the reproductive function of girls and women with rheumatoid arthritis: A review

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common and severe autoimmune diseases. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis among adults in different geographical areas of the world ranges from 0.5 to 2%. The prevalence of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is approximately 6 per 10 thousand children. The disease occurs 2 times more often in girls than in boys. Some studies have demonstrated a possible effect of high cumulative doses of methotrexate on ovarian function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, but further studies are needed to confirm this effect. The analysis of literature data allowed us to identify prognostically significant factors in the development of autoimmune ovarian failure in patients of reproductive age with rheumatic pathology, and to note the fact that there is missing information about the state of the reproductive system in female patients with juvenile arthritis.

Curcumin’s effects on growth indices, histological scores, blood metabolites, redox state, immunity, and antioxidant-related genes of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)

AbstractCurcumin, a polyphenol, targets multiple signaling molecules and shows activity at the cellular level, supporting its various health benefits. Thereafter, the present study examines the effects of different doses of dietary curcumin on growth indices, feed efficiency, serum metabolites, redox (oxidation) status, immunity, histological assessment, and antioxidant-related genes in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp, Oreochromis aureus x O. mossambicus). A total of 1200 red tilapia with an average weight of 19.1±0.03 g were distributed in 12 cement ponds (3×3.5×1m). Each treatment was assigned three pounds (n=100 replicates). For 60 days, fish were fed baseline diets containing 0, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 g of curcumin/kg of diet. The treated fish showed increased body weight and SGR (specific growth rate) compared to the T0 group (P&lt;0.05). Curcumin in the diet significantly improved weight gain, percentages, and FCR (feed conversion ratio), with a dose-dependent effect (P &lt; 0.05). Curcumin supplementation showed no influence on feed intake, fish mortality, or survival rate (P &gt;0.05). The curcumin-treated fish groups improved tissue structure in hepatocytes, pancreatic lumens, hepatic blood sinusoids, and intestine tissue layers, particularly the mucosal layer. The T0.8 group had reduced liver enzymes (AST and ALT) and greater total protein and albumin levels (P&lt;0.05). The T0.6 and T0.8 groups showed significantly lower MDA levels than the other groups (P &lt; 0.05). Curcumin groups demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant indices (CAT, GPx, and SOD) compared to the basal diet (P&lt;0.05). Curcumin administration resulted in significant improvements in IgM and lysosome levels (P&lt;0.05). All supplemented groups had considerably (P&lt;0.05) higher levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx mRNA than the control group. Consequently, administering 0.6–0.8 g/kg of curcumin to red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) diets may improve the fish’s growth, health, tissue composition, and antioxidant response.

Optimization the growth and quality of ‘Picual’ olive plants according to the dose of slow-release fertilizer

Due to its importance for oil production in Brazil and worldwide, the ‘Picual’ olive trees deserves special attention of to its good climatic adaptation and high yield and stability in the oil produced. However, there is a need to generate more technical information to improve the propagation and production system for nursery plants. The use of slow-release fertilizer (SRF) affects the quality standard of the plants formed in the nursery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of doses (0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 12 g L−1) of the SRF, Osmocote® (NPK 14-14-14), on morphological, biochemical and nutritional parameters of ‘Picual’ olive plants. It was found that the average value of maximum technical efficiency dose (MTED) for several morphological variables (plant height, stem diameter, total plant dry weight and root volume) was 7.18 g L−1. Furthermore, an Osmocote® dose of 8.35 g L−1 resulted in optimal leaf number and area. For the carbohydrate concentration (sucrose, starch and Total Soluble Sugar) in leaves, the best average values were obtained at 4.51, 5.48 and 6.12 g L−1 of Osmocote®, respectively. Additionally, the best growth responses of plants may also be due to increased internal macronutrient concentration such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) after treatment with 7.87 g L−1 of Osmocote®. The use of SRF (Osmocote®) is a viable alternative in the production of ‘Picual’ plants, as it promotes good morphological characteristics, synthesis of photosynthetic products as well as satisfactory nutritional status and plant growth.