Sherin Magdi Elsharkawy

Treatment strategies for steatohepatitis are of special interest given the high prevalence of obesity and fatty liver disease worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic mechanism of L-carnitine (LC) and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GB) supplementation in ameliorating the adverse effects of hyperlipidemia and hepatosteatosis induced by a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) in an animal model. The study involved 50 rats divided into five groups, including a control group, a group receiving only an HCD, and three groups receiving an HCD along with either LC (300 mg LC/kg bw), GB (100 mg GB/kg bw), or both. After eight weeks, various parameters related to lipid and glucose metabolism, antioxidant capacity, histopathology, immune reactivity, and liver ultrastructure were measured. LC + GB supplementation reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase levels and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, treatment with both supplements improved antioxidant ability and reduced lipid peroxidation. The histological examination confirmed that the combination therapy reduced liver steatosis and fibrosis while also improving the appearance of cell organelles in the ultrastructural hepatocytes. Finally, the immunohistochemical analysis indicated that cotreatment with LC + GB upregulated the immune expression of GLP-1 and β-Cat in liver sections that were similar to those of the control animals. Mono-treatment with LC or GB alone substantially but not completely protected the liver tissue, while the combined use of LC and GB may be more effective in treating liver damage caused by high cholesterol than either supplement alone by regulating hepatic oxidative stress and the protein expression of GLP-1 and β-Cat.

Background: Some early staged NSCLC appears as non-subpleural peripheral pulmonary nodules. Thoracic surgeons usually adopt extended wedge resection or segmentectomy to remove these nodules. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been carried out extensively worldwide in lung surgeries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in postoperative pulmonary function changes after undergoing VATS wedge resection and VATS segmentectomy anatomical lung ‏resection. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 80 patients scheduled for UVATS sublobar resection lung surgery. Patients were divided equally into two groups according to the surgical procedures, VATS wedge resection group, and VATS segmentectomy group. All patients were subjected to full history taking length of stapler on CT scan, preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function tests include Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, operation characteristics, postoperative recovery, treatment and hospitalization expenses. Results: FVC loss after segmentectomy was significantly greater than after wedge resection (17.1 ± 1.58%, vs. 7.9 ± 1.59% P < 0.001). Preoperative pulmonary function (FEV1 and FVC) was statistically different between the two groups of patients. Postoperative pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC and FEV1/-FVC) was statistically different between the two groups of patients.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite whose life cycle is completed in felids especially cats, the definitive host. Humans and many other animals can also be infected and serve as intermediate hosts. This study aimed to assess the role of chronic toxoplasmosis in changes of neurotransmitters levels in human serum. Methods: This case control study was conducted on 41 patients by examining the serofrequency of T. gondii among IgG and IgM antibodies patients with neuropsychiatric disorders and cross-matched 41 healthy individuals without any known neuropsychiatric disorders were included as a control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking, general examination, laboratory investigation, renal function test analysis, Psychiatric diagnosis and measurement of serum concentrations of three neurotransmitters (dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline). Results: T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (58.5% vs. 31.7%, P=0.026). The mean dopamine level was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (92.7 ± 17.94 pg/ml vs. 45.4 ± 22.48 pg/ml, P<0.001). The mean adrenaline level was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (272.5 ± 135.04 pg/ml vs. 147.4 ± 71.44 pg/ml, P<0.001).