Hypertension-induced ventricular and vascular remodeling causes myocardial infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. Most available pharmaceutical products used to treat hypertension lead to adverse effects on human health. Limited data is available on apitherapy (bee products) combinations for treatment of hypertension. This study aims to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of combinations of natural apitherapy compounds used in the medical sector to treat a variety of diseases. Rats were assigned into six groups consisting of one control group and five hypertensive groups where hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90) was induced with dexamethasone. One of these groups was used as a hypertension model, while the remaining four hypertensive groups were treated with a propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom combination (PRV) at daily oral doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg, and with losartan 10 mg/kg. The PRV combination at all doses decreased arterial blood pressure below the suboptimal value (p < 0.001), and PRV combination treatment improved dexamethasone-induced-ECG changes. The same treatment decreased angiotensin-II, endothelin-1, and tumor growth factor β serum levels in hypertensive rats. Additionally, PRV combination improved histopathological structure, and decreased serum levels of NF-kB and oxidative stress biomarkers. We concluded that PRV combination therapy may be used as a potential treatment for a variety of cardiovascular diseases.

The Corona virus-19 pandemic has forced universities globally to shut down and shift their educational and assessment activities to online platforms. This study explores the perception of undergraduate preclinical medical students about online assessment during the ongoing pandemic. A cross-sectional study based on a semi-structured online self-administered questionnaire was conducted on 654 preclinical medical students following the final online exams at Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University. Perception was investigated using a 3-point Likert scale. The overall mean score of students’ satisfaction with the quality of online assessment was (31.7 ± 3.1), and they agreed that online exams create a sense of security. However, 69.7% of students preferred paper-based exams to online exams. Furthermore, high cost, lack of ability to concentrate and only knowledge-based exams were some of the reported drawbacks. These findings highlight the importance of students’ perception through online assessment for promoting successful educational processes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease, accounting for 75–85% of primary liver cancers. The conclusive research on miR-181c-5p’s role in hepatocarcinogenesis, whether it has oncogenic effects or acts as a tumor repressor, is limited and fluctuating. Therefore, the current study aimed to elucidate the role of miR-181c-5p in HCC in silico and in vivo. The bioinformatics analysis of miR-181c-5p expression data in HCC using several databases strongly shed light on its involvement in HCC development, but also confirmed the fluctuating data around its role. miR-181c-5p was proven here to have an oncogenic role by increasing HepG2 cells’ viability as confirmed by MTT analysis. In addition, miR-181c-5p was upregulated in the HCC positive control group and progressed the HCC development and malignant features by its forced expression in an HCC mouse model by targeted delivery using a LA-PAMAM polyplex. This is indicated by the cancerous gross and histological features, and the significant increase in liver function biomarkers. The functional enrichment bioinformatics analyses of miR-181c-5p-downregulated targets in HCC indicated that miR-181c-5p targets were significantly enriched in multiple pathways and biological processes involved in HCC development. Fbxl3, an example for miR-181c-5p potential targets, downregulation and its correlation with miR-181c-5p were validated by qPCR. In conclusion, miR-181c-5p is upregulated in HCC and has an oncogenic role enhancing HCC progression.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has become an increasingly valuable biologic approach for personalized regenerative medicine because of its potent anti-inflammatory/healing effects. It is thought to be an excellent source of growth factors that can promote tissue healing and lessen fibrosis. Although this treatment has demonstrated effectiveness in numerous disease areas, its impact on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) caused by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via its antiapoptotic effects remains to be explored. AgNPs were synthesized biologically by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 55000. AgNP characterization was carried out via UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging to reveal monodispersed spheres with a mean diameter of 45.17 nm. A total of 48 male Wistar rats divided into six groups, with 8 rats per group, were used in the current study on the basis of sample size and power. The groups used were the PRP donor, control, AgNP, AgNP + PRP, AgNP + dexamethasone (Dexa) rat groups, and a recovery group. Body weights, hydroxyproline (HP) levels, and CASP3 and TWIST1 gene expression levels were assessed. H&E and Sirius Red staining were performed. Immunohistochemical studies for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) with histomorphometry were conducted. A significant reduction in body weight (BWt) was noted in the AgNP group compared with the AgNP + PRP group (p < 0.001). HP, CASP3, and TWIST1 expression levels were significantly increased by AgNPs but decreased upon PRP (p < 0.001) treatment. Compared with those in the control group, the adverse effects of AgNPs included PF, lung alveolar collapse, thickening of the interalveolar septa, widespread lymphocytic infiltration, increased alveolar macrophage CD68 expression, and iNOS positivity in the cells lining the alveoli. This work revealed that PRP treatment markedly improved the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings observed in the AgNP group in a manner comparable to that of the Dexa. In conclusion, these results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of PRP in a PF rat model induced via AgNPs. This study revealed that PRP treatment significantly improved the histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations observed in the AgNP-induced group, with effects comparable to those of the Dexa. In conclusion, these findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PRP in a rat model of AgNP-induced PF.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely known for their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial uses. Still, hazardous usage of AgNPs can damage various tissues, including the lung and is considered as environmental toxin. The ability of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to lessen the pulmonary damage caused by AgNps is not widely recognized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRP, a natural yet harmless biological substance, in reducing lung fibrosis and damage caused by AgNps in rats. Forty-eight adults male Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups; Group 1, donors for PRP; Group 2, control rats; Group 3, received AgNPs (10 mg kg^-1 of body weight (BWt) once daily by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection for4 successive weeks; Group 4, received AgNPs +PRP (0.5ml kg^-1. BWt i.p.) two days / week after AgNPs for for 3 weeks); Group 5, AgNPs+ dexamethasone (0.5 mg kg ^-1 i.p) for for 4 weeks after AgNPs treatment; Group 6, recovery group received Ag-NPs and then left for another 4 weeks without treatment. This study included the assessment of; BWt, hydroxyproline level in lung tissue. In addition, Caspase-3, and TWIST -1 gene expression in lung tissue as markers for apoptosis and fibrosis, respectively, was assessed using Rt-PCR. Also, histological (H/E &Siris red staining) and immunohistochemical studies were conducted to detect the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) in lung tissue associated with histomorphometry studies. Significant increase in BWt was noted in AgNPs group when compared to AgNPs +PRP group (p<0.001). Hydroxyproline levels were markedly increased by AgNPs and decreased after PRP treatment (p<0.001). Caspase-3 and TWIST-1 genes were up-regulated in AgNPs group and significantly downregulated in AgNPs+PRP group. AgNPs induced deleterious changes in the lung tissues, including thickening of the interalveolar septa, collapse of the lung alveoli, diffuse lymphocytic infiltration and pulmonary fibrosis. This was also associated with increased alveolar macrophage CD68 expression and iNOS positivity in the cells lining the alveoli compared to AgNPs group. Treatment with PRP markedly improved histopathological and immunohistochemical picture. Surprisingly, the effect of PRP was comparable to dexamethasone. The herein study showed that treatment with PRP is a promising, natural, safe, and effective treatment against AgNPs induced lung fibrosis and injury by playing anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative stress roles.