Chitosan is produced by deacetylating the abundant natural chitin polymer. It has been employed in a variety of applications due to its unique solubility as well as its chemical and biological properties. In addition to being biodegradable and biocompatible, it also possesses a lot of reactive amino side groups that allow for chemical modification and the creation of a wide range of useful derivatives. The physical and chemical characteristics of chitosan, as well as how it is used in the food, environmental, and medical industries, have all been covered in a number of academic publications. Chitosan offers a wide range of possibilities in environmentally friendly textile processes because of its superior absorption and biological characteristics. Chitosan has the ability to give textile fibers and fabrics antibacterial, antiviral, anti-odor, and other biological functions. One of the most well-known and frequently used methods to create nanofibers is electrospinning. This technique is adaptable and effective for creating continuous nanofibers. In the field of biomaterials, new materials include nanofibers made of chitosan. Numerous medications, including antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, proteins, and analgesics for inflammatory pain, have been successfully loaded onto electro-spun nanofibers, according to recent investigations. Chitosan nanofibers have several exceptional qualities that make them ideal for use in important pharmaceutical applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, wound dressing, and enzyme immobilization. The preparation of chitosan nanofibers, followed by a discussion of the biocompatibility and degradation of chitosan nanofibers, followed by a description of how to load the drug into the nanofibers, are the first issues highlighted by this review of chitosan nanofibers in drug delivery applications. The main uses of chitosan nanofibers in drug delivery systems will be discussed last.

The current work aimed to synthesize selenium and zinc nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Ephedra aphylla as a valuable medicinal plant. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, zeta potential, and changes in the phytochemical constituents. Hence, the phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were reduced in the case of the prepared samples of nanoparticles than the original values in the aqueous extract. The prepared extract of Ephedra aphylla and its selenium and zinc nanoparticles showed high potency as antioxidant agents as a result of the DPPH^• assay. The samples were assessed as anticancer agents against six tumor cells and a normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) cell line. The selenium nanoparticles of Ephedra aphylla extract revealed very strong cytotoxicity against HePG-2 cells (inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) = 7.56 ± 0.6 µg/mL), HCT-116 cells (IC₅₀ = 10.02 ± 0.9 µg/mL), and HeLa cells (IC₅₀ = 9.23 ± 0.8 µg/mL). The samples were evaluated as antimicrobial agents against bacterial and fungal strains. Thus, selenium nanoparticles showed potent activities against Gram-negative strains (Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli), Gram-positive strains (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis), and the fungal strain Candida albicans. In conclusion, the preparation of nanoparticles of either selenium or zinc is crucial for improved biological characteristics.

The primary goal of this study is to prepare chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) by the ionic gelation method via the treatment of chitosan (0.2 wt.%) with tripolyphosphate (0.2 wt.%) ultrasonically for 45 min. FT-IR spectroscopy and TEM images were used to characterize and validate CSNP production. Cellulosic materials with different concentrations of CSNPs have better antibacterial and colouring characteristics. The treated cellulosic fabrics were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, and thermogravimetric analysis. Colourimetric data measurements expressed in K/S values were used to evaluate the impact of CSNPs on the dyeing affinity of cellulosic materials. In addition, antibacterial activity against bacteria and fungi was tested on the treated cellulosic fabrics. According to the K/S values, cellulosic textiles treated with CSNPs (0.3 wt.%) had a better affinity for acid dyeing. These textiles also offer better antibacterial properties and are more resistant to washing, light, and rubbing. A cytotoxicity study found that CSNPs give cellulosic materials antibacterial and acid dyeing properties, which is good for the environment.

The current investigation focused on the therapeutic role of the administration of taurine on hypertensive rats to reduce or cure the hazard effects of hypertension problems. This research included 2 experiments; 1^st was done to survey the variations that might occur in blood pressure (BP) of male rats because of the fed 8% NaCl diet for 4 weeks. 2^nd experiment, it contains normal control rats', hypertensive rats were served as hypertension recovery group and hypertensive rats were took orally by the help of gastric tube 50 mg taurine/100 g b.wt/day for four weeks and served as taurine group. 1^st experimental, clarified a significant elevation in BP, body weight, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, activities of serum cardiac enzymes, endothelin-1, ADMA, MDA and TNF-α in hypertensive rats' group. On contrary, there is a significant reduction in serum level of TNO and antioxidant enzymes level in relation to the control group. A numerical variation but not statistically significant was happened in HDL in hypertensive rats' group as compared to their matching results in control rats' group. 2^nd experimental taurine significantly reduced the BP as compared with hypertensive control. Furthermore, a significant improvement occurred in the mean value of most investigation parameters in hypertensive animal group which treated with taurine. The previous data could be concluded that, there is an obvious amelioration effects of taurine on hypertensive rats by reducing the hazard effects of hypertension problems. The primary mechanisms were discussed according to existing published investigations.

Aim: The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of tramadol on the testicular functions of adult male rats due to the chronic usage of tramadol and the effect of its withdrawal. Method: Adult male albino rats were classified into the following 3 groups: (I) a control administered with normal saline and (II) tramadol-treated rats (40 mg/kg b.w. orally) for 21 successive days; and (III) like the rats in the second group but kept for 4 weeks after the last tramadol dose to study the effect of tramadol withdrawal. At the end of the experimental period, blood was collected and specimens from testis were taken for histopathological, biochemical, and molecular studies. A reverse transcription-polymerized chain reaction after RNA extraction from specimens was detected for the anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes in testicular tissues. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in tissues homogenate and antioxidant enzymes activities were evaluated. Results: The results of this study demonstrated histological changes in testicular tissues in groups II and III compared to the control group, accompanied with increased apoptotic index and proved by increased B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) associated-X-protein and caspase-3 expression, whereas anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 markedly decreased. Moreover, in tramadol-abused and -withdrawal groups, the MDA level increased, while the antioxidant enzymes activity decreased and revealed oxidative stress, indicating that tramadol is harmful at the cellular level and can induce apoptotic changes in testicular tissues. The withdrawal effect showed signs of improvement, but it did not return to normal levels. Conclusions: It could be concluded that the administration of tramadol causes abnormalities on testicular tissues associated with oxidative stress, which confirmed the risk of increased oxidative stress on testicular tissues due to tramadol abuse.

Insights into the mechanisms of crossed reflexes are essential for understanding coordinated leg movements that maintain stable locomotion. Advances in mouse genetics allow for the selective manipulation of spinal interneurons and provide opportunities to understand crossed reflexes. Crossed reflexes in mice, however, are poorly described. Here, we describe crossed reflex responses in mice initiated by stimulation of the common peroneal nerve, which serves as a starting point for investigating crossed reflexes at the cellular level.