Abstract

Hyperglycaemia, a key metabolic abnormality in diabetes mellitus, is implicated in pathological cardiogenesis during embryological development. However, the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets remain unknown. We, therefore, studied the effect of hyperglycaemia on mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) cardiac differentiation. The mESCs were differentiated via embryoid body (EB) formation and cultured under conditions with baseline (25 mM) or high (50 mM) glucose. Time-lapse microscopy images of pulsatile mESCs and Ca2+ntransients were recorded. Biomarkers of cellular changes were detected using immunocytochemistry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay, and Western blot analyses. Differentiated, spontaneously beating mESCs stained positive for cardiac troponin T, α-actinin 2,nmyosin heavy chain, and connexin 43. Hyperglycaemia decreased the EB diameter and number of beating EBs as well asnthe cellular amplitude of contraction, the Ca2+ transient, and the contractile response to caffeine (1 mM), but had no effect. on the expression of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase 2 (SERCA 2). Furthermore, hyperglycaemia decreased the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and increased the expression of cytoplasmic cytochrome c and the number of TUNEL-positive cells, but had no effect on the expression of one of the mitochondrial fusion regulatory proteins, optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1). Overall, hyperglycaemia suppressed the mESC cardiomyocyte-like differentiation and induced contractile dysfunction. The results are consistent with mechanisms involving abnormal Ca2+ handling and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, factors which represent potential therapeutic targets in developmental diabetic cardiac disease.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to investigate the etiology of infertility in couples seeking medical help from the Infertility Clinics and gynecological departments in hospitals in Western Libya.

Patients and Methods:

Data were collected directly from patients' medical records. However, additional data were collected through interviews.

Results:

The total number of couples recruited was 135. Men (mean±standard deviation of age= 41.7±7.0 years) were significantly older than women (35.2±6.5 years)(P= 0.001). Women were more likely to marry younger than men (mean difference= 6.5 years, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 5.1–7.8 years) and the duration of all participant's marriages before the interviews was 9.0±5.0 years. The causes of fertility were as follows: 33 (24.4%)(95% CI 17.16–31.64) cases were due to a female factor, 92 (68.1%)(95% CI= 60.24–75.96) cases were due to a male factor with 6 (4.4%)(95% CI 0.94–7 

Small molecule, (2-(2-(2-nitrophenyl)diazenyl)malononitrile) (NPDAM), is synthesized and its chemical structure is characterized by different analyses. NPDAM powder is identified as polycrystalline monoclinic structure, whereas the thermally deposited films have nanostructure character with average particle size of 39 nm. NPDAM films are utilized for manufacturing hybrid solar cells in the structure of Au/NPDAM/p-Si/Al. The dark current-voltage (I-V) curves of the diode are measured in the temperature range 303-383 K and the thermionic emission theory is employed to extract the ideality factor, n, and potential barrier height, ∅ at forward applied voltages of V≤0.20 volt. The n value increases, whereas the ∅ value decreases with decreasing temperature. This behavior is analyzed in terms of the lateral inhomogeneous barrier following Gaussian distribution at the NPDAM/p-Si interface. Cheung and Cheung functions are used for extracting the values of series resistance, Rs, n and ∅. The behavior of these parameters as a function of temperature is discussed. At forward applied voltages 0.20<V≤2, the I-V relation reveals crossover from thermionic emission to square power law. This behavior is discussed by means of the space charge limited current. Under illumination, the device exhibits a response to light exposure with a photoelectrical conversion efficiency of 2.91 %.

The groundwater aquifers in Azintan, northwestern Libya suffer from an acute shortage of water. The groundwater was evaluated to determine its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes from major two aquifers in north and south of Azintan area. This study carried out to assess the groundwater quality and to identify major affecting variables. Twelve samples from the two aquifers were collected. The two aquifers were collected and analyzed for total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, CO32- and HCO3-. The results show that, the groundwater in many places is dominated by higher concentrations of Cl-, SO42- and HCO3-. Two water types were recognized in this region are Cl-SO4-Na-Ca and Cl-SO4-Na. Gibbs and Piper method, as well as the hardness, soluble sodium percentage and the permeability index all have been used to assess the diagram quality of the groundwater of aquifers. Further, the multiple correlations and Cluster Analysis of groundwater quality parameters were carried out for further classification and interpretation of the groundwater quality. Finally, water qualities in the study area are compared with Libyan standards and WHO guidelines of drinking water and irrigation purposes.