This experiment aimed to examine the effect of chitosan-oligosaccharides (COS) supplementation in laying hens' diets affected their immune response, hematological characteristics, blood biochemical parameters, and histological status. At the age of 34 wk, 200 laying hens and 20 cocks of the Mandarah chicken strain were allotted into four groups, each consisting of 50 hens and five cocks. The first group acted as a control group, fed on a basal diet. The second, third, and fourth experimental groups each received 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 g/kg of COS in addition to a base diet. Birds received COS at various dosages had significantly (P ˂ 0.05) increased serum concentration of immunoglobulins, avian influenza, and Newcastle disease antibodies compared with the control birds. Moreover, adding COS at level 0.2 g/kg diet insignificantly enhanced immune response than the rest of the treatment groups. Also, treated birds with COS at different levels had insignificantly improved hematological parameters such as red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit compared to the control group. Birds fed COS at all levels had significantly decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, Ca⁺⁺ and alanine aminotransferase concentrations compared with control birds. In addition, compared to the control group, chitosan-treated birds showed enhanced histological examination of the small intestine, isthmus, and testis, notably in birds given COS at 0.1 g/kg diet compared to other treated birds. Cocks fed COS at all levels improved testicular tissues and increased the number and diameter of seminiferous tubules compared with control birds Morphological examination of the ileum showed increased villi number, height, and crypt depth. It is possible to conclude that laying hens' physiological performance and general health can be effectively improved by using chitosan at 0.1 or 2 g/kg diet levels enhanced immune response.

Background: Gentamicin (GM) is extensively used as an antibiotic for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in GM-induced renal damage. Chrysin (CH), also known as 5,7-dihydroxyflavone, has been used in traditional medicine to treat various kidney disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects of CH against nephrotoxicity induced by GM. Methods: Male rats were separated into four equal groups: a negative control group (NC), a CH-treated group (100 mg/kg/day per os), a group treated with GM (100 mg/kg/day IM), and a group treated with both GM and CH (100 mg/kg/day), for 10 days. Blood and urine renal markers were investigated. Results: GM caused increases in the serum creatinine and urea levels and decreases in creatinine clearance, urine flow, and urine volume in the GM-treated rats. Moreover, there were increases in the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-18, and MDA in the renal tissues, with an augmented expression of NF-κB/KIM-1, as well as decreases in antioxidant marker (GSH, GPx, CAT, and SOD) activities and decreased expressions of the anti-inflammatory transcription factors Nrf2 and AKT. The simultaneous treatment with CH in the GM-treated group protected renal tissues against the nephrotoxicity induced by GM, as demonstrated by the normalization of renal markers and improvement in histopathological damage. Conclusions: This study reveals that CH may attenuate GM-induced renal toxicity in rats.

Hazardous heavy metals, particularly cadmium (Cd), are widely distributed in the environment and cause oxidative stress in various animal and human organs. Clove oil (CLO), a common aromatic spice, has been used as a traditional medication as it has potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects of clove oil (CLO) against hepatorenal toxicity induced by cadmium (Cd). Methods: Twenty rats were equally divided into four groups: a control group, a Cd group treated with 15 mg/kg b.wt CdCl₂, a CLO group administered 200 mg/kg b.wt CLO, and a Cd+CLO group. All groups were orally treated for 4 weeks. Results: Cadmium (Cd) exposure caused anemia and hepatorenal damage, as evidenced by increased serum levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin (including its direct and indirect fractions), and elevated activities of liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). However, total protein and albumin levels decreased. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the levels of glutathione, glutathione transferase, and catalase in the liver antioxidant profiles. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde levels increased. Cadmium toxicity caused elevated expression of liver apoptosis markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and caspase-3, and inflammation. CLO ameliorated the oxidative effects of Cd through decreasing urea (27.4%), creatinine (41.6%), liver enzymes, and hepatic apoptotic markers while increasing levels of total protein, albumin, and hepatic values of SOD (60.37%), CAT (64.49%), GSH (50.41%), and GST (9.16%). Conclusions: Hematological and biochemical parameters, as well as the antioxidant system, improved following clove oil treatment, leading to a reduction in hepatorenal damage. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that CLO protects rats from inflammation, apoptosis, and hepatorenal oxidative damage caused by Cd poisoning. Comprehensive translational research is required to validate CLO’s efficacy and safety of use in humans. Future studies should focus on elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms, optimal dosing strategies, and potential synergistic effects of CLO with other therapeutic agents.

Background: Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, a pharmaceutical company expressed rapid interest in developing a safe and effective vaccine candidate to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines. Here, we investigated the attitude and acceptance of using different generic types of COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study using an online survey conducted in Saudi Arabia from the 19th of October to the 6th of December 2021. The questionnaire was distributed using social media platforms such as Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The inclusion criteria to participate in this study were adults who live in Saudi Arabia (Saudis or non-Saudis) and had two doses of COVID-19 vaccinations. Result: 3486 participants were included in this study, and 67.5% of the participants had side effects after the first dose. Similarly, 66.7% of the study participants had side effects after administering the second dose. Our data showed that most participants were unsure if the heterologous COVID-19 vaccination could cause severe side effects. In addition, 47.6% of the participants refused to receive a different generic type of COVID-19 vaccine due to fear of health problems. However, most participants obtained information regarding COVID-19 vaccination from the Saudi Ministry of Health. Conclusions: We found a low level of acceptance for receiving different generic types of vaccines if the participants had a choice. Therefore, plans should focus on increasing the acceptance level among the Saudi population through official platforms such as the Saudi Ministry of Health and private clinics.

Aim DOX is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, but its severe nephrotoxicity limits its clinical use. This study evaluates the potential protective effects of Solidago virgaurea extract against DOX-induced kidney damage in rats. Methods Animals were classified into four groups, with 8 rats in each group: control, extract-only, DOX, and DOX plus extract (DOX + Solidago virgaurea extract). Results After 14 days, DOX administration led to significant renal impairment, demonstrated by elevated serum Cr and BUN levels, along with histopathological disruption. DOX also induced oxidative stress by increasing MDA levels and reducing TAC. Furthermore, it triggered renal inflammation by upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, while downregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35). Additionally, DOX promoted renal apoptosis by increasing the levels of apoptotic markers (Caspase-3, BAX) and decreasing the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein levels. Co-treatment with Solidago virgaurea extract effectively mitigated these adverse effects by reversing the previously observed changes in these parameters. Histopathological analysis further confirmed the preservation of renal architecture compared with the DOX-only group. Conclusion These results suggest that Solidago virgaurea extract exhibits strong nephroprotective potential, making it a promising adjunctive therapy for preventing chemotherapy-induced kidney injury.

The present study investigated the protective effects of edaravone (EDA), metformin (Met), and their combined treatment against diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats. Sixteen normal non-diabetic rats were allocated to the negative control (NC) and EDA-treated control (EDA10; 10 mg/kg/day) groups and received a standard diet throughout the study. Type 2 diabetes was induced by feeding male Wistar rats (n = 40) a high-fat diet (HFD) for four weeks followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg). Of the 40 rats, 36 developed diabetes; 32 were subsequently maintained on the HFD for an additional four weeks to establish DN and were then randomly allocated into four equal diabetic groups (n = 8/group) for the 8-week therapeutic intervention as follows: untreated DN, DN treated with Met alone (300 mg/kg/day), and DN treated with Met combined with either 5 or 10 mg/kg/day EDA. The diabetic animals remained on the HFD throughout the intervention period. Blood, urine, and renal tissue were collected to assess glucose homeostasis along with renal function, histopathology, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, inflammation, apoptosis, and selected molecular regulatory markers at both gene and protein levels. DN was associated with impaired glucose homeostasis together with marked renal dysfunction, histopathological injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. While Met significantly ameliorated many of these abnormalities, co-administration of EDA produced additional improvements, with the greatest overall effects observed with the higher EDA dose. Correlation and Mantel network analyses showed stronger associations of Mapk1 expression with renal injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress markers in DN, whereas combined treatment was associated with stronger relationships between Akt1 and Hmox1 expression and the cytoprotective biomarkers. In conclusion, combined EDA and Met treatment produced greater overall renoprotective effects than Met monotherapy, with the higher EDA dose showing the strongest nephroprotection. Further studies are required to determine the mechanisms underlying EDA-associated renoprotection and their translational relevance in humans.