Environmental factors are known to influence carcinogenesis. Procarcinogens, such as heterocyclic amines (HAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are examples of these environmental factors. Procarcinogens are chemically inert and require bioactivation, via enzymes such as Cytochrome P450 (CYP). CYP1A1 isoform, regulated by Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), plays a significant role in the bioactivation of PAHs and HAs. AhR has multiple co-activators and co-repressors, of which SMRT (silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors) has been identified as a major co-repressor for AhR. In the present study we examined the effect of SMRT over expression on the Cyp1a1 mRNA levels in murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 cell line. Hepa 1c1c7 cells were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), and competent cells were successfully produced using calcium chloride method. Cells were transformed using plasmid DNA and Lipofectamine. TCDD was employed as an inducing agent for CYP1A1. Total cellular RNA was isolated and real-time PCR of Cyp1a1 was conducted. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Student–Newman–Keul’s test. Our results showed that, cells transfected with the co-repressor SMRT has lower TCDD-mediated induction of Cyp1a1 mRNA without affecting constitutive Cyp1a1 mRNA levels, i.e., SMRT was able to significantly decrease inducible Cyp1a1 mRNA levels in Hepa 1c1c7 cells. Moreover, our work demonstrated that calcium chloride is a convenient method for routine transformation. Our work will open new avenues for treatment of carcinogenesis involving CYP1A1 inducing carcinogens.

Background and aims. Open reading frames (ORFs) are sections of a reading frame that do not include any stop codons. A reading frame is a sequence of nucleotide triplets read as codons indicating amino acids; a single strand of DNA has three potential reading frames. Long ORFs in a DNA sequence may represent possible protein-coding areas. In addition to extended ORFs, which assist in gene locus prediction, there is yet another type of ORFS known as small open reading frames (smORFs), which have 100 codons or fewer. Methods. We develop an offline, cross-platform, and dependable detection tool for regular ORFs and smORFs prevalent in biomedical studies. Results. In this work, the most ORFs were found in the Bos taurus (Cattle) Insulin gene, which had 17 consecutive ORFs, while the fewest ORFs were reported in the Cani's lupus (Dog) Insulin gene, which had only 4 ORFs. Conclusion. The software meets the expected demarcation restrictions. We strongly advise more research into the detection of nested ORFs.

The present study was conducted at the Poultry Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture; Sebha University, Libya. The feeding trial lasted 42 days in total. A local hatchery provided 240 unsexed one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308). The birds were randomly distributed into four groups, and each group was then divided into four replicates, with 15 birds in each group. The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of ginger powder as a natural feed supplement on broiler chickens' growth performance, hematological parameters, and serum lipids. Four dietary treatments were formulated and supplemented with ginger powder at levels 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%. The findings exhibited substantial differences in body weight and weight gain across the experimental groups. Birds fed ginger-enriched diets had higher feed conversion and lower feed intake than control birds (P<0.05). Birds fed a 0.6% ginger powder diet compared to the control group had considerably superior productive performance (P<0.05), while feed consumption was lowered. Dietary ginger powder supplementation improved hematological parameters; white blood cells, lymphocytes, heterophils, and the lymphocyte to heterophil ratio were improved with dietary ginger powder supplementation (P<0.05). Additionally, as compared to the control group, ginger powder groups significantly (P<0.05) lowered serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein. While supplementation of dietary ginger powder significantly increased (P<0.05), the levels of high-density lipoprotein against the control group. In conclusion, ginger supplementation had a positive …

A total of 240 1-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb500) were purchased from a local hatchery and randomly distributed into four dietary treatments. Each treatment comprised 5 replicates with 12 chicks each. Garlic powder (Allium sativum) was supplemented as follows: 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%. The diets were formulated to be approximately isocaloric and cover all nutrient requirements for broilers throughout two stages of growth periods: starter diets (1–21 days) and finisher diets (22–42 days). At the end of the experiment, one bird was chosen from each replicate to measure the carcass characteristics and blood was collected.

Background: Medical students have been shown through multiple studies to be more susceptible to stress and depression than the rest of the population. Libyan students specifically have to undergo the challenges of becoming a doctor while living in the terrifying and stressful outcomes of the Libyan civil war. And the spread of COVID-19 has added to these stressors.

Objective: This study aimed to determine prevalence of depression and anxiety among Libyan medical students and analyze the causing factors.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using an online survey. The survey used the K-10 Kessler psychological distress scale which is a self administered questionnaire used to measure the level of distress. 

Results: A total of 1348 students from 16 Libyan medical schools across the 5 years of study completed the survey. 992 (73.6%) were female students and 356 (26.4%) were male. The mean age (SD) was 22.09 (2.56).

Out of the 1348 participants, 638 (47.3%) scored for severe mental disorder. 213 (15.8%) scored for moderate mental disorder and 200 (14.8%) presented with mild mental disorder. 297 (22%) of the students are likely to be well according to the K-10 psychological distress scale. Out of the students who have had their houses displaced due to the war, 66.3% have presented with moderate to severe mental disorder.

 235 students (17.4%) have reported having suicidal thoughts throughout their time in medical school.

Conclusion: In comparison to similar studies done in other countries, Libyan students scored a higher prevalence of depression. The stress of the current political state of the country and the COVID-19 pandemic were shown to be contributing factors.