• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8299-8305
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• 2016

Background: In Egypt, breast cancer is estimated to be the most common cancer among females. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Use of circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA) as non-invasive biomarkers is a promising tool for diagnosis and follow-up of breast cancer (BC) patients. Objective: To assess the role of circulating cell free DNA (nuclear and mitochondrial) in diagnosing BC. Materials and Methods: Multiplex real time PCR was used to detect the level of ccf nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in the peripheral blood of 50 breast cancer patients together with 30 patients with benign lesions and 20 healthy controls. Laboratory investigations, histopathological staging and receptor studies were carried out for the cancer group. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the performance of ccf-nDNA and mtDNA. Results: The levels of both nDNA and mtDNA in the cancer group were significantly higher in comparison to the benign and the healthy control group. There was a statistically significant association between nDNA and mtDNA levels and well established prognostic parameters; namely, histological grade, tumour stage, lymph node status andhormonal receptor status. Conclusions: Our data suggests that nuclear and mitochondrial ccf-DNA may be used as non-invasive biomarkers in BC.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of crude ginseng saponin (CGS) on blood chemical parameters in adult female guinea pigs exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). A total of 80 guinea pigs (800$\pm$20g) were divided into 8 groups: group 1 (normal control group) was given vehicle (corn oil containing small amount of acetone and DMSO) and saline; group 2 (single TCDD-treated) received TCDD (1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, i.p.) and saline (i.p.); groups 3 and 4 were administered CGS at a daily i.p. doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg for 4 weeks, respectively; groups 5 and 6 were administered CGS (10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively) for 5 weeks starting 1 week before TCDD-exposure; groups 7 and 8 were administered CGS (10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively) for 3 weeks from 1 week after TCDD-exposure. CGS was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography. Body weights of G2 were significantly decreased from the and week after TCDD-exposure (P<0.01). Body weights of the CGS-treated groups were also decreased by TCDD-exposure but the weight loss was greatly retarded compared with that of G2. Increase in blood glucose, amylase, lipase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, AST and LDL-cholesterol levels by TCDD exposure was significantly attenuated by the CCS-treatment (P<0.05). From these results, we found that saponin, the main active ingredient of gineseng, played a protective role in TCDD-induced toxicity and ginseng protected female animals from dioxin-induced toxic manifestation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.490-495
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• 2000

Effect of Quartz porphyry (QP) on clinical chmical parameters in male common finch by feeding the basal diet (Control group) containing 3.0% QP (QP group) for 14 days was studied. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, the relative weight (mg/10 g body wight) of liver and heart were not significantly different in the both groups. However, the relative weights of kidney and gizzard in the QP group were higher and lower than in the control group, respectively. The contents of triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, glucose and albumin, and the activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in serum were not significantly different in the both groups. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in serum were lower and higher in the QP group than in the control group.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2007

The distribution of light in a randomly scattering medium can represent problems found in many area. Particularly, in the clinical application of lasers for Photodynamic therapy(PDT) or in the fluorescence spectroscopy for biological tissue, turbidity plays a very important role. The influences of fluorophor, scatterer, and absorber in turbid material by light scattering were interpreted for the scattered fluorescence intensity and wavelength. The molecular properties have been studied by laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy in scattering medium as tissue. It has been found that the effects of optical properties in scattering media could be investigated by the optical $parameters({\mu}_s$, ${\mu}_a$ ,${\mu}t)$. Experimental and Monte Carlo simulation method for modelling light transport in tissue was applied. The experimental results using a randomly distributed scattering medium were discussed and compared with those obtained through Monte Carlo simulation. It'll be also important in designing the best model for oil chemistry, medicine and application of medical engineering.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 1999

The present study was undertaken to compare the variation on serum biochemical values by storage in the rats. Sera were prepared from 30 Sprague-Dawley rats of each sex. 5 aliquots from each serum were placed in a -80$^{\circ}C$ freezer with the exception of I aliquots which was analyzed immediately. The analysis was performed on the following months; 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after freezing. The parameters measured) were aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), blood urea nitrogen(BUN) creatinine(CRE), glucose(GLU), total cholesterol(TCHO), triglyceride (TG), total protein(TP), albumin(ALB), total bilirubin(TBIL), calcium(Ca$\^$＋＋/), inorganic phosphorus(IP), creatine kinase (CK), phospholipid(PL), albumin-globulin ratio(A/G), sodium(Na$\^$＋/), potassium(K$\^$＋/), and chloride(Cl$\^$－/) The statistical analysis with Repeated Measures ANOVA, did not show statistical significance in the parameters of AST, ALT, BUN, TG, CK, A/G, Na$\^$＋/ of 1 month freezed sera, in those of AST, TG, CK, K$\^$＋/) of 2 month freezed sera, in those of AST, ALT, BUN, CRE, TCHO, TP, TBIL, CK, PL, Na$\^$＋/), K$\^$＋/), Ct on month fteezed sera, in those of Cl$\^$－/ of 6 month fteezed sera, and in those of ALT, TG, ALB of 12 month freezed sera in male SD rats. On the other hand, it did not show statistical significance in the parameters of AST, ALT, ALP, BUN, GLU, TCHO, TG, TBIL, CK, PL, A/G, Na$\^$＋/ of 1 month freezed sera, in those of AST, TCHO of 2 month freezed sera, in those of AST, BUN, CRE, TCHO, TP, TBIL, CK, PL of 3 month freezed sera, in those of TCHO, IP, PL of 6 month freezed sera, and in those of ALB of 12 month freezed sera in female SD rats. On the basis of the results, although there are some statistical variations in the biochemical values of the sera, it is suggested that if sera are analysed at the same time before 12 months storage in a －80 $^{\circ}C$ freezer, the storing time does not affect the biochemical evaluation of the sera in SD rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of crude saponin from Korean red ginseng on clinical chemical parameters in ovariectomized rats. The crude red ginseng saponin was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography and spirit. Tota1 of 50 rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control (NC), sham-ovariectomized (SO), ovariectomized (OR), ovariectomized and saponin treated (OS) and normal control treated with saponin (NS). Saponin was intraperitonally administered for 12 weeks since 1 week before ovariectomy: The body weight of ovariectomized rats showed no significant change but that of NS group showed significant increase when compared with NC group. Platelet counts of serum showed significant increase when treated with saponin regardless of ovariectomy. Triglyceride content of serum in NC group was 152.1 mg/㎗, while that of OR group was decreased to 99.9 mg/㎗ However, when saponin was administered, the content was increased to 138.0 mg/㎗. The weight of spleen also showed significant increase when treated with saponin, while the other organs showed no weight changes. On the other hand, ovariectomy in rats induced decrease in femur weight by 10% when compared with NC group. However, administration of crude saponin in ovariectomized rats recovered the weight of the femur to the similar level of NC (e<0.01 0.05). In addition, femur weight of NS group indicated 10 to 16% higher value than that of NC. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng saponin attenuates phyiological disorders induced by malfunction of ovary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.915-921
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• 2015

Context: In the last half century, discovering, developing and introducing of clinical agents from marine sources have seen great successes, with examples including the anti-cancer compound trabectedin. However, with increasing need for new anticancer drugs, further exploration for novel compounds from marine organism sources is strongly justified. Objective: The major aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor and antioxidant potential of Sargassum tenerrimum J.Agardh (Sargassaceae) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: An ethanol extract of S. tenerrimum (EEST) from whole algae was used to evaluate cytotoxicity followed by in vivo assessment of toxicity, using biochemical parameters including hepatic and non-hepatic enzymes. Antioxidant properties were examined in animals bearing EAC treated with daily oral administration of 100-300 mg/kg extract suspension. Results: Antitumor effects of EEST in EAC bearing mice was observed with LD50 1815 mg/kg. Parameters like body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, tumor cell count, mean survival time and increase in life span in animals in the EAC bearing animals treated with EEST 300 mg/kg was comparable with control group. Significant differences were also seen with changes in total protein content, hepatic enzymes contents, MDA level, and free radical scavenging enzymes in untreated vs. EEST treated group animals. Conclusions: Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes and hepatic enzymes in the EAC animal model treated with EEST exhibited similar effects as the positive control drug 5-flurouracil. S. tenerrimum extracts contain effective antioxidants with significant antitumor activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.343-354
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• 2018

Aluminum oxide nanoparticles ($Al_2O_3$ NPs) are among the most widely used nanomaterials; however, relatively little information about their risk identification and assessment is available. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of $Al_2O_3$ NPs following repeated inhalation exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were exposed to $Al_2O_3$ NPs for 28 days (5 days/week) at doses of 0, 0.2, 1, and $5mg/m^3$ using a nose-only inhalation system. During the experimental period, we evaluated the clinical signs, body weight change, hematological and serum biochemical parameters, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathology findings. Additionally, we analyzed the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), including differential leukocyte counts, and aluminum contents in the major organs and blood. Aluminum contents were the highest in lung tissues and showed a dose-dependent relationship in the exposure group. Histopathology showed alveolar macrophage accumulation in the lungs of rats in the $5mg/m^3$ group during exposure and recovery. These changes tended to increase at the end of the recovery period. In the BALF analysis, total cell and neutrophil counts and lactate dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and interleukin-6 levels significantly increased in the 1 and $5mg/m^3$ groups during exposure. Under the present experimental conditions, we suggested that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of $Al_2O_3$ NPs in male rats was $1mg/m^3$, and the target organ was the lung.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2008

The study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of ethanolic extract and its fractions of Cleome rutidosperma. The antioxidant activity, reducing power, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, superoxide anion scavenging activity, nitric oxide anion scavenging activity, in vitro antilipid peroxidation activity and in vitro non-enzymatic hemoglobin glycosylation were studied. The results obtained in the study indicate that Cleome rutidosperma is a potential source of natural antioxidant. All the parameters were found to be concentration dependent and increased with increasing amounts of sample. Flavonoids, phenolic compound like tannins, terpenoids may be responsible for the antioxidant activity of the plant. Variation of solubility parameters in various models may be attributed to non-linearity of activity of ethanol extract fractions models. Further investigation on the isolation and identification of antioxidant component(s) in the plant may lead to chemical entities with potential for clinical use.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

We have synthesized $^{99m}$Tc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3)-biocytin as a new imaging agent for hepatobiliary scintigraphy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of $^{99m}$Tc-MAG3-biocytin scintigraphy in differentiating carbon tetrachloride ( $CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity from $\alpha$-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis in mice, which reflecting the differential diagnosis of neonatal jaundice caused by neonatal hepatitis from congenital biliary atresia in humans. Methods: Balb/c mice (female, 20 g, n=4-6) were pretreated with $CCl_4$(0.5 or $1.0m\ell$/kg) and ANIT ($150 or 300 m\ell$/kg) 18 h before scintigraphy. Biochemical and histopathological examinations showed a pattern of typical acute hepatitis (increase of transaminases and hepatocellular necnsis) in $CCl_4$-treated mice and cholestasis (increase of alkaline phosphatase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase, and biliary hyperplasia) in ANIT-treated mice, respectively, Mice were fasted at least 4 hr prior to the intravenous injection of $^{99m}$Tc-MAG3-biocytin (18.5 MBq/20$\mu\textrm{g}$) in 2% human serum albumin in saline. Scintigraphy was performed with a ${\gamma}$-camera equipped with a 1-mm diameter pin-hole collimator for 30 min and images were acquired every 15 s. We compared the values of physical parameters, such as peak liver/heart ratio ($${\gamma}$_{max}$) and peak ratio time ($t_{max}$) far $^{99m}$Tc-MAG3-biocytin scintigraphy. Results: Scintigraphic parameters of the $CCl_4$-pretreated (0.5 $m\ell$/kg) group showed a 81.9% decrease of r$_{max}$, and 42.2% decrease of $t_{max}$, whereas the ANIT-pretreated ( $150m\ell$/kg) group showed a 53% decrease of $r_{max}$, and 2.36-fold increase of $t_{max}$, (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that the decrease of $r_{max}$ and the shortening of $t_{max}$ are characteristic features for hepatotoxicity, in contrast to the increase of $t_{max}$ and decrease of $r_{max}$ for biliary hyperplasia. Conclusion: $^{99m}$Tc-MAG3-biocytin hepatobiliary scintigraphy can distinguish hepatitis from cholestasis in mice model and may be similarly useful in humans which differentiating the cause of neonatal jaundice in clinical study.cal study.cal study.cal study.