Blocking Toll-like receptor 9 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury

Background@#Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the most common complications in coronavirus disease 2019 patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI). In ARDS, marked distortion of pulmonary architecture has been reported. The pulmonary lesions in ARDS include hemodynamic derangements (such as alveolar edema and hemorrhage), vascular and bronchiolar damage, interstitial inflammatory cellular aggregations, and eventually fibrosis. Bleomycin induces ARDS-representative pulmonary damage in mice and rats; therefore, we used bleomycin model mice in our study. Recently, Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) was implicated in the development of ARDS and ALI. @*Methods@#In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of a TLR9 blocker (ODN2088) on bleomycin-induced pulmonary damage. We measured the apoptosis rate, inflammatory reaction, and fibroplasia in bleomycin- and bleomycin + ODN2088-treated mice. @*Results@#Our results showed a significant amelioration in bleomycin-induced damage to pulmonary architecture following ODN2088 treatment. A marked decrease in pulmonary epithelial and endothelial apoptosis rate as measured by cleaved caspase-3 expression, inflammatory reaction as indicated by tumor necrosis factor α expression, and pulmonary fibrosis as demonstrated by Van Gieson staining and α-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry were observed following ODN2088 treatment. @*Conclusions@#All these findings indicate that blocking downstream TLR9 signaling could be beneficial in prevention or mitigation of ARDS through hemodynamic derangements, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis.

The relationship between the development of musculoskeletal disorders, body mass index, and academic stress in Bahraini University students

BACKGROUND: There are many mechanisms in which stress can lead to weight gain thus high a BMI. The endocrine and inflammatory pathway can directly increase abdominal adiposity. Another way in which stress leads to weight gain is through changes in health behaviors. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthy students of Ahlia University, and to determine the relationship between the development of MSDs and academic stressors and body mass index. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 94 students aged 18-26 years who were enrolled at various Ahlia University colleges and met other inclusion criteria. The students responded to the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and the modified College Student Stress Inventory regarding musculoskeletal symptoms and academic stressors. Height and weight measurements were also obtained to determine body mass index. RESULTS: A total of 77.66% reported MSDs in one or more body part, with the prevalence being higher among women than among men. The 7-day prevalence of MSDs severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living was 60.64%, and 44.68% by female and male students, respectively. There was a significant relationship between academic stress and MSDs in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips, while the relationship between MSDs, and body mass index, academic stress, and grade point average was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MSDs among Ahlia University students was found to be high. Apart from the positive correlation between academic stress and MSDs in certain body parts, other correlations were not significant.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of antifibrogenic effect of grape seed extract on CCl4-induced model of hepatic fibrosis

Introduction: Liver fibrosis represent a worldwide challenge of clinical importance, results from chronic damage of liver, and evidenced by build up of excessive extracellular matrix proteins.. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antifibrogenic effect of grape seed extract [GSE] against hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice

Experimental Design: forty adult male albino mice were divided into four equal groups; first [control] in which mice were injected IP with olive oil as vehicle. In the second group [GSE] mice were received GSE orally at a dose of 200mg/kg/day for 8 weeks while in the third group [CCl4] mice were injected IP with CCl4 [0.4ml/kg / twice weekly] for 8 weeks . In the fourth [GSE+ CCl4] group mice were injected IP with CCl4 and co-treated with GSE orally as in previous treated-groups. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and blood samples and liver tissue specimens were collected

Results: the examined liver of CCl4-intoxicated group revealed marked hepatic fibrotic lesions confirmed by Masson's trichrome stain and associated with the presence of intensely stained alpha -SMA-positive hepatic stellate cells [HSCs] in entire of the hepatic lobules and in the vicinity of bridging fibrotic septa. Hepatic degeneration and necrosis were also seen. This hepatic damage was associated with significant increases in AST and ALT activities with low albumin levels and hypoproteinemia. Co-administration of GSE with CCl4 improved the microscopic picture of liver where scanty fibrotic lesions and mild degeneration of some hepatic cells were recorded. Less intensely stained alpha -SMA-immunopositive cells were observed. Serum AST, ALT, albumin and total protein values were more or less within the ranges of these parameters in the control non-intoxicated group

Conclusion: GSE has potent antifibrogenic effect on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting HSCs activation, decreasing collagen synthesis and improving hepatic regenerative capability through its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Superantigen gene profile of Staphylococcus aureus colonizing Egyptian pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis: relationship to disease severity and multi-drug resistance

Background: Eczematous skin of atopic dermatitis [AD] is highly susceptible to infection and colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and the superantigen toxins can worsen the condition

Objectives: To assess the colonization of Egyptian pediatric AD patients with S. aureus and to characterize the superantigen gene profile of isolates in relation to severity and to presence of multiple drug resistant [MDR] strains

Methodology: The study included 53 AD pediatric patients and 45 controls. Severity of AD was assessed by scoring atopic dermatitis [SCORAD] index. Swabs were collected to isolate S. aureus. Isolates were subjected to multiplex PCR reactions for detection of six superantigen genes and to antimicrobial susceptibility tests by disc diffusion method

Results: Colonization with S. aureus was significantly higher [P < 0.0001] in AD children compared to controls and was significantly associated [P= 0.001] with severity. Superantigen genes were detected in 30.1% of isolates. The most prevalent genes were sea [64.5%], seb [32.3%], sec [6.5%] and tsst-1 [3.2%]. Multidrug resistance was found in 63.1% of strains. Severity of AD was significantly higher with strains harboring superantigen genes [P=0.04] and with MDR strains [P=0.0002]. Among methicillin resistant S. aureus [MRSA], seb was the most prevalent superantigen gene [37.5%], while sea was most prevalent in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [MSSA] [20%], MDR [23.1%] and non MDR isolates [13.2%]

Conclusion: Superantigen genes and multidrug resistance are common in S. aureus colonizing AD patients and are associated with severity. More attention should be paid at performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing before antibiotic therapy

Association of IL-13 [-1055 C/T] and CYP1A1 [MspI] gene polymorphisms with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Egyptian patients in relation to disease severity

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, characterized by persistent and progressive airflow limitations. The etiology seems to be an interaction between genetic and environmental factors

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to identify the possible association of IL-13 [-1055 C/T] and CYP1A1 [MspI] gene polymorphisms with COPD in Egyptian patients and their relation to the severity of the disease

Methodology: Our study included 200 participants [100 COPD patients and 100 controls]. Pulmonary function tests were performed for patients, DNA extraction was done and the polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] for serum samples from all participants

Results: IL- 13 -1055 C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with COPD; CT and TT genotypes [P=0.01, 0.03 respectively] compared to CC genotype, with a significant association of the T allele with the disease [P=0.003], while CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism showed no significantly different distribution between patients and controls [P=0.11and 0.068 for CT and CC respectively], while, a significant association between the C [m2] allele and COPD was found [P=0.04]. IL-13 -1055 T allele and CYP1A1 MspI C [m2] allele were found to be significantly associated with more severe cases of COPD when compared to the less severe ones [P= 0.03 and 0.02, respectively]

Conclusions: IL-13 -1055 C/T polymorphism is associated with COPD, and the presence of IL-13 T allele and CYP1A1 MspI C [m2] allele are risk factors for developing more severe COPD

Simultaneous determination of olanzapine and fluoxetine hydrochloride in capsules by spectrophotometry, TLC-spectrodensitometry and HPLC

This paper describes sensitive, accurate and precise spectrophotometric, TLC-spectrodensitometric and high performance liquid chromatographic [HPLC] methods for simultaneous determination of olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl. Two spectrophotometric methods were developed, namely; first derivative [D[1]] and derivative ratio [DD[1]] methods. The TLC method employed aluminum TLC plates precoated with silica gel GF[254] as the stationary phase and methanol: toluene:ammonia [7:3:0.1, by volume] as the mobile phase, where the chromatogram was scanned at 235 nm. The developed HPLC method used a reversed phase C18 column with isocratic elution. The mobile phase composed of phosphate buffer pH 4.0:acetonitrile:triethylamine [53:47:0.03, by volume] at flow rate of 1.0 mL min[-1]. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 235 nm. The methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization [ICH] guidelines. The selectivity of the proposed methods was tested using laboratory-prepared mixtures. The developed methods were successfully applied for the determination of olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl in bulk powder and combined capsule dosage form

Habitat characteristics for different freshwater snail species as determined biologically through macroin- vertebrate information

Macro-invertebrates including freshwater snails collected from 643 sites over 8 successive seasons among the River Nile, branches, main canals and certain drains in eight Egyptian Governorates. Thirteen snail species and one bivalve species were identified. The most distributed were Lanistus carinatus and Physa acuta while the most abundant were Cleopatra bulimoides and Physa acuta during the whole study. The sites that harbored each snail species in all the examined watercourses were grouped seasonally and their biological assessment was determined by their minimum and maximum total point similarity percentage to that of the corresponded reference site and mean of the total points. Habitats for most snail species attained minimum total point's similarity percentage less than 21% [very poor habitat] during autumn and winter then spring while during summer very poor habitat was harbored by only few snail species. P. acuta was the only survived snails in habitat which attained 0 as a minimum total point's similarity percentage during two seasons and L. carinatus and Succinea cleopatra during one season. With respect to medically important snails very poor sites constituted 23% of Biomphalaria alexandrina sites, 14% of Lymnaea natalensis and 9.4% of Bulinus truncatus sites. The studied macroinvertebrate matrices, total number of organisms, taxa richness, the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera [EPT] index, ratio of EPT index to chironomidae, ratio of scraper to filtering collector, contribution of dominant macroinvertebrate major group, comparison revealed descending tolerances from B. alexanrina followed by L. natalensis then B. truncates, but Hilsenhoff Biotic Index [HBI] showed the same tolerance to organic pollution

Chemical and biological assessment for Egyptian surface freshwater environment with reference to human activities

The Egyptian freshwater was assessed in the River Nile, branches, main canals and certain drainages in eight Governorates, over eight successive seasons starting from spring 2008. Chemical assessment was made through ten parameters and the biological one was made through macro-invertebrates information. Results showed that means of Cd, Pb, Cu, Hg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Na, K and Ca varied in watercourses seasonally within somewhat narrow ranges, which may exceed the level of concern but with some elevations in branches, Rayahs and canals during certain seasons. Sites showed chemical levels over the permissible one or those gain total points

Preparation of hemolysin for detection of some viral and bacterial antigens

Hemolysin [amboceptor] which is the most important constituent in complement fixation test [CFT] was prepared by inoculation of sheep RBCs S/C in Bosket rabbits in two concentrations [10% and 20%]. Blood samples were obtained weekly from inoculated rabbits to measure the titre of induced Hemolysin by CFT. It was found that Hemolysin titer was increased with the number of inoculation till the 7[th] inoculation then began to decrease with the 8[th] inoculation. However the titer of Hemolysin obtained from rabbits inoculated with 20% sheep RBCs was higher [1/5800] than that obtained from rabbits inoculated with 10% red cell suspension [1/4500]. Similar results were reported to the imported Hemolysin. By using the prepared Hemolysin in CFT for diagnosis of FMD and Brucellosis it gave the same results as that obtained by imported one

Outcome of enzyme replacement therapy in children with Gaucher disease: the Egyptian experience

Gaucher disease is the most prevalent lysosomal storage diseases which results from inherited deficiency in the glucocerebrosidase enzyme. Three main clinical forms have been described: type I non-neuropathic, type II acute neuropathic and type III subacute neuropathic. Although it is panethnic disease, its presentation has some ethnic specific characteristics. In this work, we present specific characteristics as well as our experience in diagnosing and managing a group of Egyptian patients with this disease. The study included 48 patients with Gaucher disease attending Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. The recombinant enzyme imiglucerase [cerezyme] was given in a dose of 60 U/kg/2 weeks. Haemoglobin, platelet count, plasma chitotriosidase, and abdominal ultrasound were assessed before starting therapy and every 6 months. Molecular analysis was done to 23 patients. At presentation, the mean age was 3.54 +/- 3.8 years. Ten patients [20.8%] had type I, 6 had type II [12.5%] and 26 had type III Gaucher disease [66.7%]. The commonest genotype was homozygous L444P which was present in 13 patients [56.5%] followed by homozygous N370S; found in three patients [13.04%]. Follow up after enzyme replacement therapy revealed a significant increase in weight and height, haemoglobin level and platelet count and slow reduction in the liver span and spleen length. Bone manifestations showed slow but complete improvement while neurological and respiratory manifestations were partially ameliorated with individual variations. To conclude, since most of Egyptian children with GD have type III disease and L444P/L444P genotype, a minimum dose of 60 U/kg/2 weeks should be maintained until adulthood. Higher doses started at an early age may delay the progression of neurological symptoms. Pulmonary involvement is not rare in Egyptian patients and may respond to dose increase or dose fractionation. Cardiovascular and renal involvement should be further studied in our population

Relationship between obesity and hypertension among elementary school children in Zagazig city

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease which is independently related to cultural, economic and social parameters. Hypertension is the most common complication of childhood obesity. This study was undertaken with the aim of assessing the prevalence of obesity among primary school children and detecting the factors leading to obesity and predisposing to the occurrence of hypertension. This study was conducted at four elementary schools at Zagazig City, Sharkia Governorate. A total random sample of 200 elementary school children was included after fulfilling the criteria of selection. Two tools for data collection were used, they included a questionnaire sheet and a clinical assessment sheet. The study results revealed a high prevalence of obesity among the elementary school children. Consumption of high fat diet, highly carbohydrate preparations, TV viewing, sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity are important contributing factors to obesity and increase its prevalence among the children. Social, behavioral and environmental factors such as low social class and low educational level of the parents had an important role in increasing the prevalence of obesity among the school age children. Obesity is also associated with hypertension, increased with the increasing grades of obesity among the children aged 6-12 years and the relation was statistically significant. Based on the findings of this study, periodic check up of blood pressure, nutritional programs and nutritional counseling to the students and teachers to improve the students' nutritional awareness inside and outside the schools is highly recommended

Combined viscocanalostomy-trabeculectomy for management of advanced Glaucoma- a comparative study of the contralateral eye: a pilot study

To compare combined viscocanalostomy-trabeculectomy [VISCO-TRAB] to trabeculectomy [TRAB] for the management of advanced glaucoma. The study cohort comprised of 18 subjects with bilateral advanced glaucoma who underwent VISCO-TRAB surgery [VISCO-TRAB group] in the right eye and TRAB [TRAB group] in the left eye. VISCO-TRAB constituted lamellar scleral flap, deep scleral flap dissection with deroofing of Schlemm's canal [SC], viscodilation of SC, penetrating trabeculectomy, peripheral iridectomy, and tight flap closure. All eyes received subconjunctival mitomycin. Success criteria included intraocular pressure [IOP] < 14 mmHg or > 30% lowering of IOP with no devastating complications. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean IOP was significantly lower after VISCO-TRAB compared to TRAB at 1 week and 3 months postoperatively [P<0.05]. No eyes lost more than two lines of Snellen acuity. There were more hypotony-related complications after TRAB than VISCO-TRAB surgery. Target IOP was achieved in 83.3% in the VISCO-TRAB group compared to 55.6% in the TRAB group. Combined VISCO-TRAB is effective in reducing IOP to the target level for advanced glaucoma with lower postoperative complications

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: presentation and neuroradiological detection

To study the presentation and the results of the different radiological tools; computed tomography [CT] brain scan, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], magnetic resonance angiography [MRA] and cerebral angiography [CA] in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] resulting from ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Consecutive patients with CT proved diagnosis of SAH were subjected to thorough history taking, general, neurological examination and laboratory investigation. After exclusion and deaths, 13 patients underwent MRA and CA beside CT and MRI. CA detected 11 aneurysms in 11 patients, arterio-venous malformation in one patient and in one patient there was no apparent cause. Among our 11 patients with aneurysmal SAH, females and age group of 31-50 years predominated. Smoking was present in 45.5%, hypertension in 27.3% and history of recurrent headache in 63.6%. With the onset of SAH, headache with neck stiffness was the most common presentation [63.6%]. Disturbed consciousness was found in 45.5%, seizures in 18.2% and focal signs in 9.1%. 36.4% of the patients had grade II and 27.3% had grade III in Hunt and Hess scale. Radiological assessment revealed that 7 patients had pure SAH, 3 patients had intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH] and one patient had intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH] in association with SAH. 63.6% of the aneurysms in our patients were small and no giant aneurysms were found. The most common site of aneurysms was middle cerebral artery [MCA] accounted for 36.4%. Anterior cerebral artery [ACA] and anterior communicating artery [ACoA] accounted for 18.2% each. Internal carotid artery [ICA] and posterior communicating artery [PCoA] accounted for 27.3%. In comparison to the CA, as the golden standard method, MRA detected 10 aneurysms out of 11, and missed one small aneurysm, with a sensitivity of 90.9% in detection of aneurysms. Ruptured intracranial aneurysms accounted for about 85% of causes of SAH. History of recurrent headache, smoking, hypertension and female gender may be predictors of aneurysmal rupture in the 4[th] and 5[th] decades. 36.4% of SAH may be associated with ICH or IVH. Headache is the most common presentation of rupture aneurysm while less than half of the patients presented with altered consciousness. About tow thirds of aneurysms are small sized. Intracranial aneurysms located in the anterior cerebral circulation mostly in MCA. MRA is a rapid, non invasive technique and can be used to detect intracranial aneurysms with high sensitivity of 90.9%, with excellent correlation with the gold standard, invasive, CA

Alterations of certain biological parameters of biomphalaria Alexandrina snails exposed to the plants pittosporum tobira, abutilon pictum and thevetia peruviana.

The molluscicidal effect of Pittosporum tobira, Abutilon pictum and Thevetia peruviana leaves and seeds powder and ethanol extract against adult Biomphalaria alexandrina snails after 24 hrs of exposure under laboratory conditions showed that T peruviana is the most toxic ones since its LC[90] values were the least among the other tested plants, being 98.8 and 18.5 ppm for the dry powder water suspension and ethanol extract, respectively. Bioinphalaria snails continuously exposed to sublethal concentration [LC[0]=1.2ppm] of the ethanolic extract of T. peruviana exhibited a great reduction in survival rate, being 24% and 2% after 4 and 8 weeks post exposure compared to 76% and 56% for control group, respectively. The egg production of treated snails was significantly reduced from the first week of exposure. Thus, the mean number of eggs/snail/week at the 41h week was 42.2 and 223.3 eggs/snail for treated and control snails, respectively. The exposure of B. alexandrina to sublethal concentration of the ethanolic extract of T. peruviana for 4 weeks led to disturbance in some biochemical parameters. The protein content in the hemolymph and glycogen content in tissues of treated snails were significantly reduced compared to control groups. The ratios of reduction of protein content were 46.7% and 65% respectively. Meanwhile, the alkaline phosphatase activity and the glucose content were increased in the hemolymph of treated snails, than of control ones. The elevation ratios were 72.7% and 88.2%, respectively. The LC[0] of T. peruviana ethanol extract killed 65% of miracidia and 55% of cercariae after one hour of exposure and they were killed after 4 hrs and 5 his after exposure respectively

Molluscicidal effect of fenitrothion and anilofos on Lymnaea natalensis and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and on the free larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni

Pesticides; fenitrothion and anilofos [aniloguard] were tested as molluscicides against Lymnaea natalensis and Biomphalaria alexandrina. The LC 50 and LC 90 of fenitrothion was 0.12 and 0.21 ppm for L. natalensis and 0.l7 and.26 ppm for B. alexandrina, respectively. The LC 50 and LC 90 anilofos was 2.61 and 6.47 ppm for Lymnaea and 3.07 and 8.6 ppm for Biomphalaria. The effect of sublethal concentrations [LC 0, LC 5 and C 10] of Feni-rothion on B. alexandrina growth rate, eggs hatchability and on free larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni [miracidia and cercariae] were studied. The results obtained showed that sublethal concentrations of fenitrothion caused reduction in growth rate of B. alexandrina and reduction in the hatchibility of snails eggs. The mortality rates of miracidia and cercariae were elevated by increasing both the concentrations of fenitrothion and the time of exposure. The results showed that fenitrothion was more toxic to the free larval stages of S. mansoni than to their snails. The results showed a significant reduction in total protein of treated snails when compared with controls in haemolymph while there was an increase of protein contents of the tissue. The AlkP enzyme activity was slightly increased in the haemolymph of experimental groups than the control and in the tissues the values were significantly higher when compared with control. ALT enzyme activity in haemolymph of experimental groups was higher than controls while its activity in tissue was lower. AST enzyme activity was higher in haemolymph and tissue of experimental groups than in controls

Study of some tissue encystations with referring to epitheliocysis [chlamydiosis] in the gills of oreochromis niloticus in Egypt

In the present study, attempts are made to detect the parasitic tissue encystations [Haplorichid and Echinotsomatid encysted metacercaria, myxos-porean cysts and non parasitic tissue encystations Epitheliocystis, chlamydial infections of fish, in gills of Oreochromis niloticus fish. The clinical signs of naturally infected freshwater cultured Oreochromis niloticus are recorded. The prevalence of tissue encystations [encysted metacercariae, Myxosporean cysts and Epitheliocystis] was 80%, 46.6% and 69.3%, respectively. The isolated parasites identified as Haplorichid, Echinosto matid encysted metacercariae and 2 types of myxobolous spp. In addition, Epitheliocystis was reported in the present work for the first time from Egyptian freshwater fish. Light microscope detect intracellular granular inclusion of Epitheliocystis, while electron microscopic examination revealed that the pathogen are rod shaped and situates at the center and had an electron dense core with electron lucent vesicles on its sites

Partial laser arytenoidectomy in the management of bilateral vocal fold immobility. A modification nased on functional anatomical study of the cricoarytenoid joint

To establish the anatomical relationships of the arytenoid and cricoid cartilages and apply these findings to design an arytenoidectomy based on a sound anatomical basis. We prospectively conducted this study between 1996 and 2002 at the Main University Hospital of Alexandria, Egypt. In 50 patients, we endoscopically measured the length of the vocal process and the distance between the vocal process tip and upper border of the cricoid cartilage. We sagittally and axially sectioned 25 total laryngectomy specimens to verify the position of the arytenoids and their relation to the cricoid. The anatomical findings led to the design of a laser partial arytenoidectomy and cordotomy [L-PAC], which we used in 45 patients with bilateral cord paralysis in adduction. The anatomical findings showed that the cricoarytenoid joint did not contribute to the airway in any of the measured specimens. Using L-PAC, we decannulated 100% of the patients and no patient needed postoperative tracheostomy at any time. Only 3 patients experienced minimal postoperative aspiration to liquids [6.7%]. We achieved reasonable phonation as assessed by a speech analysis battery. However, 3 patients [6.7%] needed contralateral L-PAC. The present extra-articular technique, L-PAC, showed its superiority to previous endoscopic or transcervical complete arytenoidectomy techniques in providing an effective balance between the protective, respiratory, and to a lesser extent the phonatory functions

Semifield trials to control biomphalaria Alexandrina by different modes of exposure to certain plant and chemical molluscicides

Semi-field trials were carried out in Snail Research Station under simulated natural conditions to evaluate different modes of exposure to Anagallis arvensis and Calendula micrantha as plant molluscicides and bayluscide and copper sulphate as chemical molluscicides. Firstly, B. alexandrina were exposed to the tested molluscicides alone and in addition to two densities of aquatic plants. No apparent effect of aquatic plants on the activity of both plant and chemical molluscicides, this may be due that the two densities of the aquatic plants used were insufficient to interfere with the molluscicides action. Secondly, snails were pre-exposed to three sub-lethal concentrations of the plant molluscicides for 24h then to three concentrations of the chemical molluscicides and vice versa. The results indicate that the pre-exposure increases the snail mortality significantly in all treatments of bayluscide and A. arvensis [except in the highest concentration when the snails firstly exposed to bayluscide then to A. arvensis, where the two compared treatment showed 100%] and in all treatments of bayluscide and C. micrantha. Also, in one treatment of copper sulphate and A. arvensis [in the highest concentration when the snails firstly exposed to A. arvensis then to copper sulphate] and in three treatments of copper sulphate and C. micrantha, [in least and moderate concentrations when snails firstly exposed to C. micrantha then to copper sulphate and in the highest concentration when snails firstly exposed to copper sulphate then to C. micrantha]. Thirdly, snails were exposed to mixtures of six different ratios of hayluscide and each of A. arvensiS and C. micrantha. The results indicated that the snail mortality increased significantly only in the first treatient of bayluscide and A. arvensis mixtures and in treatment number 6 of bayluscide and C. micrantha

Reduced bone mineral density in polytransfused patients with beta thalassemia, poorly defined role of hypoparathyroidism in pathogenesis

Patients with beta thalassemia frequently develop bone disease of multi-factorial etiology. We studied the prevalence of hypoparathyroidism in addition to other laboratory indices of bone and calcium metabolism [serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase], in fifty patients with beta thalassemia major and ten patients with beta thalassemia intermedia. These biochemical indices were correlated to bone mineral density assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]. Hypoparathyroidism was found in 8% of the studied thalassemic patients with significantly lower serum parathormone and calcium and significantly higher serum phosphate compared to control subjects. Results of DEXA scan revealed decreased bone mineral density in 90% of the studied thalassemic patients. Serum parathyroid hormone showed no significant correlation with any of the studied DEXA parameters. In conclusion, bone disease is present in the majority of thalassemic patients with no significant correlation with parathyroid hormone, denoting that bone disease in beta thalassemia is likely to be multi-factorial

Effect of daily hemodialysis of uremic peripheral neuropathy

Objective and aim of the work: uremic syndrome is characterized by overall deterioration of biochemical and physiological functions in parallel with progression of renal failure. Uremic polyneuropathy represent a well- known complication of end-stage renal failure [ESRF] caused by major neurotoxins accumulating in uremia, such as urea, creatinine, uric acid, middle molecules and others. The study was performed to study the effect of daily hemodialysis on uremic polyneuropathy and improving the patients clinically and biochemically. The cases of this study were patients under regular hemodialysis in the Nephrology Unit, Medical Department, Al-Azhar University and Naser City Hospitals from October 2004 to Mayo 2005. Material and methods: the cases of this study were patients under regular hemodialysis in the Nephrology Unit, Medical Department, Al-Azhar University and Nasr City Hospitals. The patients classified into 2 groups: group 1 comprised 10 patients with ESRF under thrice-weekly hemodialysis for less than 3 years; group ii comprised 10 patiepts with ESRF under thrice-weekly hemodialysis for less than 3 years who shift to daily hemodialysis except Fridays for 6 months; and 10 healthy normal volunteers of matching age and sex were the control group. Complete clinical and laboratory instigation were performed with nerve conduction velocity [sensory] and distal latency [motor] for median, ulnar and common peroneal nerves. K [t/v] to assess the adequacy of hemodialysis. paraethesia showed significant differences after 6 months of daily dialysis [p < 0.001], while other neurological symptoms and signs showed no significant differences in both groups after 6 months of dialysis. Sensory and motor nerve conduction study was significantly impaired in the median, ulnar and common peroneal in both groups when compared to controls [p < 0.001]. Nerve conduction velocities [sensory] were significantly improved in three nerves after 6 months of daily dialysis [p < 0.01], on the other hand no significant improvement was noticed after 6 months of thrice-weekly dialysis. Distal motor latency [motor] showed no significant improvement in three nerves in both groups after 6 months of dialysis. K [t/v] value was not significantly improved after 6 months of daily dialysis [3.2 vs. 3.1, p = 0.521]. from our study we speculated that the protocol of daily hemodialysis is feasible in routine hospital practice being well tolerated by patients and having a low incidence of complications compared to the standard protocol. Further works are required to study the effect of daily home dialysis on the different clinical, biochemical and psychological aspects of dialysis patients as well as the economic aspects of the daily regimen hemodialysis