Ahmed Hamed Bayoumi

Background: Placenta previa is abnormally located either very close to or covering the internal os of the uterine cervix and may interfer with normal fetal growth and development. The incidence of placenta previa during second trimester is 5%, but near the end of pregnancy more than 90% of these cases will not be placenta previa as observed by trans-vaginal ultrasonography. Recent evidence has suggested that disproportion between pro‑angiogenic and anti‑angiogenic factors may have a principal role in the pathogenesis of placenta previa. Aim: The present study aimed at studying the morphological features, histological and immunohistochemical changes (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and connective tissue growth factor [CTGF]) of placenta previa compared to normal placenta.Materials and methods: Thirty placentas were brought from term pregnant women undergoing delivery, 15 healthy normally situated control placentas and 15 placenta previa. Gestational age, neonatal birth weight and delivery mode were obtained. Maternal, placental and fetal parameters were statistically assessed. Placentas were then subjected to morphological, histological and immunohistochemical studies. Results: Placenta previa was associated with higher incidence of cesarean section and lower neonatal birth weight. Histological examination of placenta previa showed morphological changes indicative of increased syncytial knots, villous agglutination and infarcts, distal villous hypoplasia, and vascular mural hypertrophy of stem villi. Placenta previa revealed significant decrease in the expression of CTGF compared to control placentas. Assessment of histomorphometric data were carried out using “ImageJ 1.50i” program. The data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS advanced statistics version 26. Conclusion: Angiogenic factors appeared to have no role in pathogenesis of placenta previa. Moreover, the risk caused by persistent placenta previa necessitates further studies of both umbilico-placental and utero-placental circulations.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most used drugs. The pathogenesis of aspirin-induced gastric ulceration includes blocking the activities of the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) leading to reduced mucus and bicarbonate secretion. Spirulina contains many functional bioactive ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, including phenolic phytochemicals and phycobiliprotein C-phycocyanin. To investigate the possible gastroprotective role of spirulina against aspirin-induced gastric mucosal insults. Forty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Group I (Control) and group II (Spirulina control) were given spirulina for 3 days, group III (Ulcer model) were given single dose of acetyl salicylic acid to induce ulcer and group IV (Treatment) were given spirulina for 3 days after induction of ulcer formation. Animals were sacrificed, stomachs were collected and processed for examination of light and scanning electron microscope histopathological examination. Statistical difference mucosal mucin area percentage among groups was determined and data were analyzed. Histological examination of the H&E-stained and combined Alcian-blue-PAS-stained sections of Group III rats illustrated severe destruction of the mucosal architecture and reduction of the mucin surface area while those examined for group IV illustrated minor affection of the gastric mucosa and mucin protective layer. Oxidant antioxidant markers: Nitric oxide (NO) is elevated, Glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are reduced in aspirin treated group. The use of Spirulina restores the normal balance between the oxidant antioxidant system. Spirulina has a great potential in protecting the gastric mucosa against harmful effect of NSAID.

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is considered a health hazard due to its industrial use. Lungs and kidneys are the primary organs affected by its toxicity. Inflammatory response in lung tissue is mediated by Cd exposure until it becomes dysfunctional. Cd damages DNA indirectly by increasing reactive oxygen species generation, which interacts with DNA defense system leading to genomic instability. Curcumin (C) has multiple health benefits, as well as its Nano-formulation, Nano-curcumin (NC), which has potential to increase biological and pharmacological actions of curcumin.Aim: to focus on Cd-mediated inflammatory response and cell apoptosis in lung tissue of adult male albino rat and use NC as a potential therapeutic agent.Material and methods: Thirty adult albino male rats were split into three groups, each with ten rats: control (group I), Cd treated (group II), and Cd+NC treated (group III). Rats were sacrificed and lungs were extracted for light microscopic and ultra-structural examination. IL-6 and TNF-α concentration were estimated and lung cellular survival genes; Bax and Bcl2 expression was evaluated by PCR.Results: alveolar damage with loss of normal lung architecture were seen in H&E-stained sections of group II confirmed by ultrastructural investigation revealing cellular cytoplasmic vacuolations with degenerated mitochondria. In group II, IL-6, TNF-α and Bax gene were increased, whereas Bcl2 gene was decreased with increased Bax/Bcl-2 genes ratio expression. NC treated group showed cellular restoration, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased Bax/Bcl-2 genes ratio expression.Conclusion: NC can be taken as a medicinal supplement to ease Cd poisoning risk in lungs.