Effect of Boswellia serrata on Alzheimer's disease induced in rats

Alzheimer's disease [AD] is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Increased oxidative stress has been shown to be a prominent and early feature in AD. Medicinal plants with antioxidant activities have been used traditionally in the treatment of several human diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the possible prophylactic and therapeutic effects of aqueous infusions of Boswellia serrata on AD induced in rats. Ninety adult male Sprague Dawley rats were enrolled in this study and were divided into 9 groups [ten each]. Groups 1-5 for the protective study, 6-9 for the therapeutic study as follows: 1st group: negative control group in which rats were given daily oral dose of 1ml tab water, 2nd group: induction of animal model mimicking AD by daily oral administration of aluminum chloride [AlCl[3]] to rats in a dose of 17 mg/kg for 4 successive weeks; 3rd, 4th, and 5th groups: rats were orally given rivastigmine [0.3 mg/kg/day], Boswellia serrata [45 and 90 mg/kg /day respectively], for two weeks followed by combination of each treatment with AlCl[3] for another four successive weeks. Groups 6-9 for the therapeutic study: 6th group: AD induced group which acted as a model mimicking AD in humans received orally 1ml of tab water only for 12 successive weeks and served as therapeutic untreated group. 7th, 8th and 9th groups: AD rats treated orally with rivastigmine [0.3 mg/kg/day], Boswellia serrata [45 and 90 mg/kg /day respectively] daily for 12 successive weeks. At baseline [before induction of AD], before treatment, then after each treatment, behavioral stress tests as activity cages, rotarod, and T-maze tests were done. At the end of all experiments rats' brains were dissected and divided sagitally into two portions, the first portion was homogenized for determination of acetylcholine [Ach] and acetycholinesterase [AchE] levels. The second portion was used for histopathologic examination. The present study indicated that Boswellia serrata when was used for treatment of AlCl[3] induced AD, its high dose only produced increased activity of rats in the activity cage, duration of rats revolving on the rotarod and reduction in the duration taken by rats to reach food in the T-maze test. Both doses produced elevation of Ach level and reduction of AchE activity in brain homogenates. These results were consistent with the histopathological findings in brain tissues where, the neurons appear more or less like normal ones. This study revealed that the treatment of AD-induced rats with aqueous infusions of B. serrata significantly ameliorates the neurodegenerative characteristics of ADs in rats

Effect of virus load on insukin resistance in HCV infected patients

Chronic HCV infection is a multifaceted disease, which is associated with numerous of clinical manifestations. Type 2 diabetes considered another conditions added to HCV complications It is a complex and multisystem disease with a pathophysiology that includes a defect in insulin secretion, increased hepatic glucose production and resistance to the action of insulin Human tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNf alpha] - an unglycozylated polypeptide cytokine- has the ability to inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The aim of this study is to investigate the status of insulin resistance expressed as HOMA index in patients with HCV infection, patients with HCV+D.M and its relationship to TNF- alpha level and virus load in comparison with healthy control and another control group with DM but without HCV infection. Group I: control group [n=15], group II: 1-ICV patients [n= 18], group III: HCV patients with D.M [n = 13] and group IV D.M. patients [n=15]. Show that HOMA index was highly significant increased in patients with HCV, HCV+DM and DM compared with control [p<0.001]. Furthermore, patients with HCV+DM had significant increased level in HOMA index compared to those of DM alone [p<0.001]. Serum TNF- alpha level were also significant increased in patients with HCV and HCV + DM compared with patients with D.M alone and to control group [p<0.001]. HCV RNA load showed a significant cotrelation with both HOMA index and TNF-a levels [r=0.81 1 and 0.848, respectively] [p<0.001]. In conclusion this study showed that HCV infection induces insulin resistance through increased TNF- alpha secretion. The degree of insulin resistance is directly proportional to the virus load

Catheter- related right atrial thrombosis in haemodialysis patients: a study of internal jugular and subclavian venous approaches

Right atrial thrombosis is an under diagnosed condition that may occur as a complication of central venous cannulation when adopted temporarily in haemodialysis patients. It can have serious potentially life-threatening complications that include systemic sepsis and pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis often is challenging and requires, first and foremost, a high degree of clinical suspicion. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of transthoracicechocardiography [TTE] in diagnosis of cardiac complications namely: right atrial thrombosis and infection by. In this study, TEE was done for 100 of chronic haemodialysis patients with temporary central venous haemodialysis catheters aiming at detection of cardiac complications mainly, right atrial thrombosis and infection. Incidence of right atrial thrombosis was 1 patient [1.9% with internal jugular [IJV]catheters] and 2 patients 4.1% with subclavian[SCV] catheters one week after catheter placement. 1 patient [1.9%] for group I, 3 patients [6.3%] for group II one month after catheter placement. Also, it was more prevalent with the presence of catheters tips in right atrium and development of catheter infection. TEE is one of the valuable tools in the diagnosis of intravenous catheter complications research should focus on defining the precise incidence of thrombosis with central venous cannulation .Priority should be given to internal jugular vein cannulation

Iron in Dyslipidemic atherosclerotic development and the role of the antioxidant superoxides Dismutase in chronic renal failure patients

Over the past decade, researchers have hypothesized that iron plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Abnormalities of lipoproteins are common in patients with chronic renal failure and contribute to the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Iron stores per se increase the risk of oxidized low density lipoprotein which is a crucial pathogenic factor in atherosclerosis and the levels ofantioxidant have an important protective role. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of iron in the development of atherosclerosis in chronic renal failure patients. One hundred and seventeen individuals were randomly selected, fifty five patients with primary end stage renal failure on regular hemodialysis treatment with mean ages 38.94 +/- 13.00 years, [group I], fourly patients with chronic end stage renal failure under conservative treatment with mean ages 48.25 +/- 12.7 years, [group II] and twenty two healthy control volunteers with mean ages 38.09 +/- 9.66 years, [group III]. Full history and clinical examination with stressing on macrovascular atherosclerotic complications were done. Laboratory investigations included serum[s] lipids profile total lipids, total cholesterol [TC], phospholipids phosphorus [PLP], triacylg-lycerol [TG] and lipoproteins [alpha lipoprotein [HDL], pre-betalipoprotein [VLDLJ, beta lipoprotein [LDL] and lipoprotein [a][Lp [a]|], fasting blood glucose [FBG], insulin, S iron[l], ferritin [Ft], percentage of transferrin saturation [Tsat] and total iron binding capacity [TIBC]. In addition to renal function tests, cardiovascular assessment and Superoxide dismutase enzyme [SOD] were done. In group I and group II patients there were significant increase of the serum levels of TC [p<0.05], TG [p<0.001] and Ft [p<0.001] in contrast to significant decrease of HDL [p<0.01], SOD [p<0.001], SI and Tsat [p<0.01] as compared to group III. Group II showed significant decrease of TIBC [p>0.05] in comparison to group I and group III. In groups I and II patients there were non significant differences of total lipids, LDL, Lp[a] PLP and VLDL [p>0.05] in comparison to group III. The correlation coefficient between iron parameters and lipids profile levels in the patients groups showed, non significant negative correlation between iron parameters with total lipids, while there was significant negative correlation between SI with TC, TG and LDL [r=-0.232, -0.197, -0.252 respectively] and between Tsat with TC [r=-0.245]. Also significant but positive correlation was observed between SI and Tsat with HDL [r=0.305 and 0.261 respectively] and between TIBC with SOD [r=0.303]. In conclusion, group I and II chronic renal failure patients showed iron deficiency and decreased SOD activity .which has an important protective role. Dyslipidemia was obvious in form of significance increased TC, TG with significant decrease of HDL. Although the direct evidence of involvement of iron parameters in atherosclerotic chronic renal failure complications are still obscure, the atherosclerotic complications in group I and group II patients accounted 34.5% and 60% respectively where ischemic heart diseases were 23.6% and 30%' respectively. So we recommend to use 1- More objective evidence of atherosclerosis procedures in more number of patients. 2- Lipids lowering agents with low fat diet-regimen is advisable to chronic renal failure patients. 3- Best way of safety when giving iron therapy orally or intravenously to chronic renal failure patients

HIA-class II gene polymorphism in IDDM

Susceptibility to develop IDDM was first found to be associated with class I molecules B8 and B15. Later, DR and DQ allelic genotypes have drawn attention world over to link their role with IDDM pathogenesis to find out the correlation between the frequency of HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQBl alleles and the pancreatic beta-cell function in IDDM patients in a trial to use it in clinical evaluation. 22 IDDM patients were studied and 10 healthy individuals of matched age and sex as control group. The patients were further subclassified into 13 patients with residual beta-cell function and 9 patients without residual beta-cell function. Statistical analysis of our results concluded that: DRB1 0304 allele has significant correlation with susceptibility to IDDM [being more common in 25% of patients than in controls 0%]. On the other hand, DRB1 0701 allele was found to be a protective allele against IDDM [segregated more frequently in controls 20% and abscent in patients 0%]. As regard DQA1 and DQBl alleles; the DQA1 0101 alleles has significant correlation with IDDM susceptibility [being more frequent in patients 22.7% and abscent in controls 0%]. Similarly, the DQBl 0201 allele was the most diabetogenic allele more frequent in patients 43.2% than in controls 5%, On the other hand DQA1 0102 and DQA1 0103 alleles are protective alleles against IDDM [segregated more frequently in controls 30% and 15% respectively and abscent in patients 0%]. Also DQBl 0601 allele is protective against IDDM [significantly more in controls 25% than in patients 4.5%]

Metabolic activities, enterotoxin production and antibiotic sensitivity of staphylococcus aureus isolated from food processing industrial environment

122 coagulase-positive staphylococci strains isolated from food handlers, and representing group A, as well as other 122 strains of the same bacterium isolated from industrial environment, and representing group B, were tested for their physiological and biochemical properties, in addition to their enterotoxigenicity and susceptibility to antibiotics. From the result obtained it was suggested that, food handlers and food processing plant environment may play an important role for cross contamination of foodstuff. No definite correlation could be drawn between the different properties of the isolated strains and their toxigenicity. In general, coagulase, thermonuclease, sugar fermentation and, may be resistance to penicillin together may give better indication of toxigenicity than the other studied characters

Sensitivity of Azolla filiculoides to hydrogen sulphide

This study was conducted to clarify the patterns of nitrogen fixation [nitrogenase activity C2H2 - C2H4 reduction] and chlorophyll concentration of Azolla filiculoides under different concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. It was found that hydrogen sulfide reduced the nitrogenase activity and chlorophyll concentration of Azolla. The reduction in the amount of nitrogen fixed under concentration of 10 mg H2S/l was found to be 56% and 72% after 24 and 96 hours of incubation, respectively, while the reduction in chlorophyll content was 25% and 48% after 24 and 90 hours, respectively, under the same conditions. The study showed linear negative correlation between the hydrogen sulfide concentrations and each of nitrogenase activity [r = 0.92] and chlorophyll concentration [r = -0.88]. The results of Azolla are useful and sensitive enough to use as a new sensitive test species in environmental toxicity tests

Effect of castration and testosterone administration on filiform and fungiform papillae of albino rat tongue

The effects of testosterone on the filiform and fungiform lingual papillae were studied in 16 adult male albino rats. They were divided into 4 groups: Animals of group I were used as control, that of group II were injected by testosterone for 2 weeks, animals of group III were castrated and that of group IV were castrated and injected by testosterone for 2 weeks. Scanning electron and light microscopic studies revealed hypertrophy of the filiform and fungiform papillae after testosterone administration. Atrophy of the papillae was observed after castration. However, the papillae appeared similar to the control and testosterone was administered to the orchidectomized animals

Acute toxicity of six organophosphorus herbicides tested by nauplii of brine shrimp, artemia sp

The acute toxicity of six organophosphorus herbicides ametryne, gramxone, gesabrime, bladex atrazine pimextra, and igrane on the survival rate of larvae of brine shrimp Artemia sp., was studied. The effect of these herbicides on larvae after 24 hours exposures in 39% saline water and in sea water having low salinity [20%] were estimated graphically. Results show that the sensitivity of larvae exposed to gramaxone, gesabrime, bladex atrazine and pimextra were higher in sea water of low salinity [LC[50] values were 45 mg/1, 90mg/1, 19mg/1 and 47 mg/1 respectively] than in saline one [which were 75 mg/1, 100 mg/1, 35 mg/1 and 54 mg/1; respectively]. On the other hand, ametryne indicates higher activity and toxicity to larvae in saline water

Application of guar flour and guaran as stabilizing and thickening agents in ice cream production

Gura gum and guaran prepared from Cyamopsis tetra-gonoloba, Taub. Seeds were used as stabilizers and thickening agent in ice-cream manufacture. The organoleptic and microbiological properties of the products were studied. The results of viscosity and over run tests proved the superiority of the guar and guaran ice cream mixes to the ordinary mixes, [gelatin and starch]

Enterotoxiguinity and characterization of staphylococci isolated from human sources

A total of 137 strains isolated from human sources obtained from clinical and subclinical cases were examined for their physiological and biochemical characterization in relation to their enterotoxigenicity. Significant correlation between enterotoxin production and coagulase, thermonuclease, protein A, mannitol fermentation and hemolysin formation was observed. On the other hand, nonsignificant correlation with the other examined characterization was observed. About 31% of the studied strains produced enterotoxins A, B, C, D where enterotoxin A was the most prevalent. Few strains [1.5%] produced more than one enterotoxin

Effect of oral hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine devices on peripheral lymphocytes subpopulation

Subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes were studied in 40 women taking oral hormonal contraceptives [OC's], in 50 women using intrauterine contraceptive devices [IUD's] and in 20 age matched control group of women who had never taken oral hormonal contraceptive pills not used intrauterine devices. The group taking oral hormonal contraceptive demonstrated significant depression of their T lymphocyte count when compared to the control group. While, the group using IUS's showed significant rise of their T lymphocytes count. On the other hand no significant quantitative difference in subpopulation of the peripheral lymphocytes "B cells" with IgG, IgA and IgM markers was observed between the three studied groups. These findings suggest that the use of oral hormonal contraceptives induces a state of immunological abnormality, affecting mainly the cellular limb of the immune system. While in IUD's users the increase in the T lymphocytes suggest that the ID's mode of action might partly be immunologically mediated