Afaf El-Ansary - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Afaf El-Ansary

Current Issues in Molecular Biology, May 15, 2023

Integrative Training on Casein Kinase 2 and Its Impact on Behavioral and Social Interaction in Ch... more Integrative Training on Casein Kinase 2 and Its Impact on Behavioral and Social Interaction in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr.

Lipids in Health and Disease, Nov 21, 2012

Background: Inflammation is increasingly recognized as being of both physiological and pathologic... more Background: Inflammation is increasingly recognized as being of both physiological and pathological importance in the immature brain. Cerebellar pathology occurs in autism, as a neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic and environmental origins. The genesis of this disorder is still not understood but inflammation in utero or early in childhood is an environmental risk factor. Methods: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cysteinyl leukotriene as two important lipid mediators together with 8 isoprostane as marker of oxidative stress were measured using ELISA in plasma of 20 male autistic patients compared to 19 age and gender matching control participants. Results: PGE2, leukotrienes and isoprostanes recorded significantly elevated levels in autistics compared to controls. Role of these measured parameters in inflammation and autoimmunity as two etiological factors in autism were discussed in details. Conclusion: Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis shows satisfactory values of area under the curve (AUC) which could reflect the high degree of specificity and sensitivity of the altered PGE2, leukotrienes and isoprostanes as predictive biomarkers in autistic patients from Saudi Arabia.

Metabolites, Apr 12, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Gum-gut axis: The potential role of salivary biomarkers in the diagnosis and monitoring progress of inflammatory bowel diseases

The Saudi Dental Journal, 2023

Applied sciences, Jul 25, 2023

International Journal of Biosciences, 2012

Schistosomiasis is the most important human helminth infection in terms of morbidity and mortalit... more Schistosomiasis is the most important human helminth infection in terms of morbidity and mortality. The present study provides a comparative analysis on Biomphalaria arabica, the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni from two different areas having different prevalence level of Schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia. B. arabica snails were collected from Riyadh and Hofuf district, and the levels of various enzymes like aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST, ALT), Lactate dehydrogenate (LDH), acid and alkaline phosphatase (ACP,ALP), α amylase and lipases were measured in the tissue homogenate of snails, to confirm the relationship between the biochemical and endemic of the disease. Also amino acid profile of B. arabica was determined using amino acid analyzer. The result showed higher levels of AST and LDH in the sample of B. arabica from Hofuf as compared to Riyadh while ALT, ACP, ALK, α amylase and lipase enzymes were found lower in samples from Hofuf as compare to Riyadh. The a...

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction as key players in neurological disorders of childhood

Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry, Aug 1, 2016

Brain Sciences

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a group of disorders characterized by diff... more Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a group of disorders characterized by difficulties with social interaction and repetitive behavior. The condition is supposed to originate from early shifts in brain development, while the underlying processes are unknown. Moreover, a considerable number of patients with ASD experience digestive difficulties. Metalloproteases (ADAMs) are a class of enzymes capable of cleaving membrane-bound proteins. Members of this family, ADAM17 and ADAM22, have the ability to cleave proteins like the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-ά and glutamate synaptic molecules, which are both engaged in neuro-inflammation and glutamate excitotoxicity as crucial etiological mechanisms in ASD. ADAM17 and ADAM22 may also have a role in ASD microbiota–gut–brain axis connections by regulating immunological and inflammatory responses in the intestinal tract. Subjects and Methods: Using ELISA kits, the plasma levels of ADAM17 and ADAM22 were compared in 40 child...

Scientific Reports

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social, stereoty... more Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social, stereotypical, and repetitive behaviors. Neural dysregulation was proposed as an etiological factor in ASD. The sodium leakage channel (NCA), regulated by NLF-1 (NCA localization factor-1), has a major role in maintaining the physiological excitatory function of neurons. We aimed to examine the level of NLF-1 in ASD children and correlate it with the severity of the disease. We examined the plasma levels of NLF-1 in 80 ASD and neurotypical children using ELISA. The diagnosis and severity of ASD were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), Childhood Autism Rating Score, Social Responsiveness Scale, and Short Sensory Profile. Then, we compared the levels of NLF-1 with the severity of the disease and behavioral and sensory symptoms. Our results showed a significant decrease in the plasma levels of NLF-1 in ASD children compared to neurotypical ch...

Metabolites

Since there is no known cure for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its incidence rate is on the ris... more Since there is no known cure for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its incidence rate is on the rise. Common comorbidities like gastrointestinal problems are observed as common signs of ASD and play a major role in controlling social and behavioral symptoms. Although there is a lot of interest in dietary treatments, no harmony exists with regard to the ideal nutritional therapy. To better direct prevention and intervention measures for ASD, the identification of risk and protective factors is required. Through the use of a rat model, our study aims to assess the possible danger of exposure to neurotoxic doses of propionic acid (PPA) and the nutritional protective effects of prebiotics and probiotics. Here, we conducted a biochemical assessment of the effects of dietary supplement therapy in the PPA model of autism. We used 36 male Sprague Dawley albino rat pups divided into six groups. Standard food and drink were given to the control group. The PPA-induced ASD model was the second gr...

Pro-apoptosis and inflammation in autism as an emerging neuroimmune disorder

Journal of clinical & cellular immunology, Nov 5, 2013

Journal of Chemistry, May 27, 2022

e essential oil and macroelemental composition of di erent parts of ower bud (petal, choke, and h... more e essential oil and macroelemental composition of di erent parts of ower bud (petal, choke, and heart) of Cynara scolymus L. were explored and compared using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Overall, 62 organic components were detected in the ower bud based on mass spectra characteristics and retention indices. e essential oil extracted from the petals, choke, and bud showed the presence of thirty-one, twenty-one, and twenty-one compounds, respectively, with linoleic acid and palmitic acid as the major components. 21 components were identi ed in the oil of the petals, comprising 94.45% of the total oil, in which linoleic acid methyl ester, palmitic acid methyl ester, octadecanoic acid methyl ester, O-α-d-glucopyranoside, and heptyl oct-3-yl ester were the major constituents. Twenty-one compounds, representing 89.13% of the total oil, were detected in the choke oil. Linoleic acid methyl ester, palmitic acid methyl ester, and 2-methyl-1-hexadecanol were the main components. However, the edible heart oil contains twenty compounds, comprising 86.84% of the total oil. Cyclopropane butanoic acid, linoleic acid, methyl ester, and palmitic acid were the major constituents. e analysis executed by ICP-MS revealed the presence of signi cant amounts of various inorganic elements in all the three samples. e extracted essential oils were tested for antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. e results showed that the oil extracted from the petals of C. scolymus ower bud displayed the highest antibacterial, antioxidant, antiin ammatory, and anticancer e ects, as compared to choke and heart oils.

Nutrients

This study tested the anti-hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory ... more This study tested the anti-hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects of whole pearl millet grain powder (MPG) and its ethanol extract (MPGethaolE) in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. The rats were divided into eight groups based on the treatments they received: control, high fat diet (HFD), HFD + MGE (25 mg/Kg), HFD + MPGethaolE (50 mg/Kg), HFD + MPGethaolE (100 mg/Kg), HFD + MPG (10%), HFD + MPG (20%), and HFD + MPG (30%). The final body weight, visceral, epididymal fat pads, and the liver weight were significantly decreased, in a dose-dependent manner, in HFD fed rats that were co-administered either the MPG powder or MPGethaolE. In the same line, serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), cholesterol (CHOL), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), as well as fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and serum levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), interleukine-6 (IL-6), interleukine-10 (IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), ...

Learning Difficulties and Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of the Role of Nutritional Interventions

Neurochemical Journal, 2021

Objectives: The neurobiological basis for autism remains poorly understood. However, research sug... more Objectives: The neurobiological basis for autism remains poorly understood. However, research suggests that environmentalfactors and neuroinflammation, as well as genetic factors, are contributors. This study aims to test the role that might be played by heat shock protein (HSP)70, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β 2 , Caspase 7 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)in the pathophysiology of autism. Materials and methods: HSP70, TGF-β 2, Caspase 7 and INF-γ as biochemical parameters related to inflammation were determined in plasma of 20 Saudi autistic male patients and compared to 19 age-and gender-matched control samples. Results: The obtained data recorded that Saudi autistic patients have remarkably higher plasma HSP70, TGF-β 2, Caspase 7 and INF-γ compared to age and gender-matched controls. INF-γ recorded the highest (67.8%) while TGF-β recorded the lowest increase (49.04%). Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis together with predictiveness diagrams proved that the measured parameters recorded satisfactory levels of specificity and sensitivity and all could be used as predictive biomarkers. Conclusion: Alteration of the selected parameters confirm the role of neuroinflammation and apoptosis mechanisms in the etiology of autism together with the possibility of the use of HSP70, TGF-β 2, Caspase 7 and INF-γ as predictive biomarkers that could be used to predict safety, efficacy of a specific suggested therapy or natural supplements, thereby providing guidance in selecting it for patients or tailoring its dose.

Control of antibiotic resistance and superinfections as a strategy to manage COVID-19 deaths

Data Science for COVID-19, 2022

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral infections continue to emerge and pose se... more According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral infections continue to emerge and pose severe problems to public health. In mid-December 2019, coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) infection begun scattering from China. Globally, there are growing worries about community infections, in light of pandemic characterization for the outbreak by the WHO. Some studies have found that 1 out of 7 COVID-19 patients have acquired secondary bacterial infection, and half of the patients who have died had such infections. The challenge of antibiotic resistance could become an enormous force contributing to the rise in illness and death associated with COVID-19, as lower respiratory tract infections are among the leading causes of mortality in critically ill ventilated-patients with COVID-19. The increasing prevalence of resistance to penicillin and other drugs among pneumococci has considerably complicated the treatment of acquired pneumonia. Resistance to other classes of antibiotics, traditionally used as alternatives in the treatment of pneumococcal infections, has also increased markedly in the recent years. Although the search for new antibiotics remains a top priority, the pipeline for new antibiotics is not encouraging, making it essential to search for other alternative solutions. Researching promising antimicrobial agents that are effective against COVID-19 as well as Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major cause of pneumonia, should be encouraged to reduce mortality related to COVID-19 infections. In this chapter, the relation between secondary infections and antibiotic resistance as contributors to high death rate among COVID-19 patients will be traced and highlighted. The possibility of using antimicrobial agents of plant origin, either independently or in combination with nanostructures, as preventive and/or treatment strategies for infections associated with COVID-19 will be reviewed.

Prospective of biosynthesized L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite film for its antibacterial and anticancer potential

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2021

A substantial interest has been manifested in utilizing oil/metal oxide hybrid bionanocomposite, ... more A substantial interest has been manifested in utilizing oil/metal oxide hybrid bionanocomposite, especially organic/ inorganic to design different biomedical applications. The present study reports the synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and anticancer properties of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite. The fabricated AgNPs and L.sativum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite were characterized by employing different spectroscopic (UV, FTIR, XRD) and microscopic (TEM, SEM) techniques. The particle size analysis showed that the mean size of 16.32 nm for AgNPS and 13.45 nm L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO, indicating the excellent dispersion of Ag-MgO nanoparticles in the PEG– L.satiVum oil matrix. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs and polymeric bionanocomposite was investigated against two pathogenic bacteria. The highest antibacterial effect was observed for bionanocomposite towards Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (27 mm) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (25 mm) at 40 µg/well. The bionanocomposite completely vanished the bacterial growth (100%) at 80 µgmL−1 concentrations. Moreover, the AgNPs and polymeric bionanocomposite was evaluated for anticancer activity against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) at different doses (50, 250, 500, and 1000 µgmL−1). The results showed polymeric bionanocomposite was stronger in inducing the HeLa cancer cell death than AgNPs. Overall, the fabricated L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite serve as a potential antimicrobial and anticancer agent and could be used in the development of novel drugs and health care products in near future.

Inflammatory Cytokines Correlate with Dry Eye Indexes Estimated by Keratograph in Healthy Subjects

Current Proteomics, 2020

Background: Inflammation plays a major role in dry eye diseases and is the prime target in clinic... more Background: Inflammation plays a major role in dry eye diseases and is the prime target in clinical treatments of the disease. Objective: To determine whether the inflammatory cytokines in the tear film of patients with dry eye correlate with parameters such as tear break-up time (TBUT) and tear meniscus height (TMH) and could be used together as predictive biomarkers of disease severity Method: This study included 58 eyes (29 female subjects; age, 19–25 years) comprising 20 normal eyes (control), 20 eyes (level 1 dryness), and 18 eyes (level 2 dryness). Dryness level 1 or 2 is keratographic diagnosis according to the tear breakup time cut-off value obtained. After ophthalmic examinations, including determination of non-invasive TBUT average and first second and TMH using Keratograph 4 (to measure dryness level), tears of all participants were collected. Five cytokines, including interleukin 6, 10, 12, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were measured using ELISA. Results: Si...

Novel Techniques in Nutrition & Food Science, 2018

Acta Neurologica Belgica, 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by re... more Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social communication as well as repetitive behaviors. Many studies have proved that defective synapses in ASD influence how neurons in the brain connect and communicate with each other. Synaptopathies arise from alterations that affecting the integrity and/ or functionality of synapses and can contribute to synaptic pathologies. This study investigated the GABA levels in plasma being an inhibitory neurotransmitter, caspase 3 and 9 as pro-apoptotic proteins in 20 ASD children and 20 neurotypical controls using the ELISA technique. Analysis of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) of the data that was obtained to evaluate the diagnostic value of the aforementioned evaluated biomarkers. Pearson's correlations and multiple regressions between the measured variables were also done. While GABA level was reduced in ASD patients, levels of caspases 3 and 9 were significantly higher when compared to neurotypical control participants. ROC and predictiveness curves showed that caspases 3, caspases 9, and GABA might be utilized as predictive markers in autism diagnosis. The present study indicates that the presence of GABAergic dysfunction promotes apoptosis in Egyptian ASD children. The obtained GABA synaptopathies and their connection with apoptosis can both relate to neuronal excitation, and imbalance of the inhibition system, which can be used as reliable predictive biomarkers for ASD.