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Introduction: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is widely used as a food additive to improve the taste of food. Despite its taste stimulation and appetite enhancement, some reports indicated that MSG is toxic and induce an oxidative stress. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a natural antioxidant that prevents the excess production of free radicals. Aim of the work: Our aim was to study the toxicological effect of MSG on the renal cortex of adult male albino rats and to evaluate the possible role of ascorbic acid as a protective agent. Materials and methods: Forty adult albino rats were divided equally into four groups. Group I was the control group; group II received ascorbic acid intraperitonial injection (500 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks; group III rats were intraperitonial injected with monosodium glutamate (4mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks; and in group IV, rats were injected intraperitonially with ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg/day) for one week then followed by 4 weeks treated with monosodium glutamate and ascorbic acid as the same previous dose. At the end of the experiment, specimens from the kidney were taken and prepared for HandE, immunohistochemical stain and electron microscopic studies. Results: MSG induced degenerative changes in renal tubules as destruction in epithelial cell, loss of the brush border, exfoliated cellular debris in lumen of some tubules. Interstitial cells infiltration and blood vessels congestion were also noticed. There were signs of apoptosis as well as significant increase in caspase 3 antibodies expression. These changes were ameliorated by protective using of the ascorbic acid. Conclusion: MSG caused an apparent kidney injury on the histological, immumohistochemical and ultrastructure level. The ascorbic acid can ameliorate these effects.

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Background High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has proved to be an important diagnostic tool throughout the COVID-19 pandemic outbreaks. Increasing number of the infected personnel and shortage of real-time transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as well as its lower sensitivity made the CT a backbone in diagnosis, assessment of severity, and follow-up of the cases. Results Two hundred forty patients were evaluated retrospectively for clinical, laboratory, and radiological expression in COVID-19 infection. One hundred eighty-six non-severe cases with home isolation and outpatient treatment and 54 severe cases needed hospitalization and oxygen support. Significant difference between both groups was encountered regarding the age, male gender, > 38° fever, dyspnea, chest pain, hypertension, ≤ 93 oxygen saturation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, elevated D-dimer, high serum ferritin and troponin levels, and high CT-severity score (CT-SS) of the severe group. CT-SS showed a negative correlation with O2 saturation and patients’ outcome (r − 0.73/p 0.001 and r − 0.56/p 0.001, respectively). Bilateral peripherally distributed ground glass opacities (GGOs) were the commonest imaging feature similar to the literature. Conclusion Older age, male gender, smoking, hypertension, low O2 saturation, increased CT score, high serum ferritin, and high D-dimer level are the most significant risk factors for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Follow-up of the recovered severe cases is recommended to depict possible post COVID-19 lung fibrosis.

Introduction: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Tio2 NPs) are manufactured worldwide in large quantities for use in a wide range of applications. TiO2 NPs proved to damage liver function and induce an oxidative stress attack leading to liver toxicity. Milk thistle is an herbal supplement used to treat liver and biliary disorders. Silymarin, an active ingredient of milk thistle, is a strong antioxidant that promotes liver cell regeneration and stabilizes cell membranes. Aim: To investigate the biochemical, the histological and the histochemical changes in the liver after administration of different doses of Tio2 NPs and to evaluate the possible protective role of Milk thistle against these effects. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult male rats were divided into five groups; group I control, groups IIa and IIIa injected IP by 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg TiO2 for 2 weeks, respectively and groups IIb and 111b treated by oral milk thistle 4 weeks; one week prior, 2 weeks concomitant with IP 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg TiO2, respectively and the forth week after injection. Thereafter, rats were sacrificed and liver as well as blood samples were collected for estimation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALPs). Liver samples were processed for examination by TEM and immunohistochemical staining with P53 and PCNA antibodies counted statistically positive cells. Results: There was an increase in ALT and ALPs activities. Groups 11a and 111a treated by TiO2 showed signs of apoptosis and degeneration in the hepatocytes with nuclear changes and a significant increase in P53 and PCNA antibodies positive cells. These changes were ameliorated by concomitant injection with milk thistle with TiO2 in groups IIb and IIIb. Conclusion: The alterations observed might be an indication of hepatocyte injury due to TiO2 NPs toxicity that interacts with proteins and enzymes in hepatic tissue leading to generation of reactive oxygen species induce hepatocytes apoptosis. Milk thistle, has a hepatoprotective effect probably by its antioxidant effect.