Dramatic Improvement in the Efficacy of Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccines by Co-administration of Echinacea

Foot and mouth disease [FMD] is a highly contagious and economically devastating disease of cloven-hoofed animals. The goal of the present study was to increase the efficacy of FMD vaccines by coadministration of Echinacea [herbal medicine for enhancing the immune system]. Two dairy farms [1 and 11] containing 1620 cows and calves were firstly monitored by nonstructural proteins [NSPs] antibody test for identifying the previous or current infections. The non-infected calves of 4 months old were selected in the 2 farms and divided into 4 groups of 90 calves. Group A was vaccinated with imported FMD vaccine [Raksha-Ovac, India] alone. Group B was vaccinated with imported FMD vaccine associated with Echinacea. Group C was vaccinated with local FMD vaccine alone and, Group D was vaccinated with local FMD vaccine associated with Echinacea. The efficacy of such vaccine either alone or associated with Echinacea were evaluated by determination of the antibody titers in the sera of vaccinated animals by ELISA and SNT. The results of NSPs antibody test revealed that 12 animals out of 820 were infected in farm I while 10 out of 800 were infected in farm II. ELISA and SNT results showed that, the protective antibody level was higher in sera of group B than group A in farm I and in group D than group c in farm II. This level was generally higher in farm I than farm II and continued until the 32[nd] and 40[th] week post-vaccination in group A and B of farm I respectively while in farm II it continued until the 20th and 24th week post-vaccination in group C and D, respectively. The association of Echinacea significantly enhanced the efficacy of both FMD local and imported vaccines and this is the first paper, to our knowledge, that described the association of Echinacea with FMD vaccines in the veterinary field with its use in treatment of infected animals

Utility of imidazole derivative in the synthesis of biologically active nitrogen heterocyclic systems

Reaction of 2-[4-[4-Chlorobenzylidene]-5-oxo-4,5 dihydroxazol2-ylmethyl]- isoindole-l,3-dione [1] with p-aminoacetophenone followed by reaction with p-chi- orobenzaldehyde afforded chalcone 3, which used was as a precursor for the synthesis of a variety of pyrazole, oxazole, pyrimidine, pyridine and oxarine compounds.On the other hand, the reaction of 1 with glycine afforded imidazolylglycine [14] which reacted with thionyl chloride followed by addition of ammonium thiocyanate to give the isothiocyanate derivative 15 which reacts with different nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles to afford new derivatives of biologically active heterocycles. The antimicrobial activities of some synthesized derivatives were examined against some selected bacteria and fungi

Sodium fluoride-induced testicular toxicity in rats: the possible modulatory effect of quercetin

To Investigate the possible modulatory effects of quercetin [QE] against sodium fluoride [NaF]-mnduced testicular toxicity in rats and to highlight the underlying mechanisms of such protection. Forty adult male rats were classified into four groups; group [I] was served as control. Group [2] was administered NaF [20 mg/kg/day for 30 consecutive days]. Group [3] was received QE [IS mg/kg/day for 30 consecutive days. Group [4] was received QE 24 h prior to NaF administration for 30 consecutive days. Significant decreases in the normal relative testes weight, testicular lactic dehydrogenase [LDH-x] isoenzyme activity, sperms count and motility as well as daily sperm production were observed. The association of NaF-induced testicular toxicity with oxidative stress cascade was also investigated. Significant elevation in testicular level of salondialdehyde [M DA] accompanied with marked reductions in reduced glutathione [GSH] content and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were shown. Treatment with QE prior to NaF revealed marked mitigations in the studied functional parameters of the testes. In addition, the lowered activity of SOD and GSI-I content in the testicular tissue were elevated. The high level of MDA lended to be normalized. The data showed the capability of QE to ameliorate NaF-induced testicular toxicity through its antioxidant potential

Variation in Sensitivity Among Some Isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina Isolated from Cotton Roots to Flutolanil Fungicide

Toxicity of the fungicide Flutolanil was in vitro tested against 20 isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina and cotton seedlings of ten commercial cotton cultivars. The isolates were recovered from roots of cotton plants obtained from different cotton-growing areas in Egypt. Most of the tested isolates were sensitive to Flutolanil; however, they varied in sensitivity. Twenty-five percent of the isolates were highly sensitive where IC50 ranged from 100 microg/ml. Flutolanil was very safe on both shoots and roots of the tested cultivars (IC50 > 100 microg/ml). Treating cotton seeds with Flutolanil resulted in highly significant (P < 0.01) reductions in pathogenicity of 18 isolates and a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in pathogenicity of isolate M29. M1 was the only isolate, which was insensitive to the application of Flutolanil. In vivo toxicity to Flutolanil was not correlated with its in vitro toxicity. However, a highly significant correlation (r = 0.60, P < 0.01) was observed between pathogenicity of isolates and the in vivo toxicity of the fungicide.

Utility of 4-[2-[2-[4-methoxyphenyl] vinyl]-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl] benzoic acid hydrazide

Quinazoline derivatives were reported to have different biological activities, including analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial, fungicidal, antidepressant and other central nervous system affecting activities[1-7]. The use of quinazoline derivative as starting material for the design and synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds with the aim of preparing potent biologically active compounds is a subject of recent interest[8, 9]Now, we report a facile synthesis of several heterocyclic compounds containig pyrazole, oxadiazine, phthalazine and triazine to test them against different microorganisms

Value of head-shaking nystagmus in examination of the dizzy patient

The value of head-shaking nystagmus in vestibular examination was studied in 30 patients who complained of dizziness, this was done by comparing the head-shaking test results with the results of the saccade test, spontaneous nystagmus test and the caloric test, we found that head-shaking nystagmus is a highly sensitive method indicating unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction and its direction is always toward the intact side. In bilateral peripheral vestibular lesions or in central lesions the direction of the head-shaking nystagmus is not significant. The origin of head-shaking nystagmus was also discussed and we concluded that head-shaking nystagmus is not an amplification of a spontaneous nystagmus, hidden by suppressive mechanisms but it is due to a combination of directional asymmetry of vestibular responses and central velocity storage

E.N.T. abnormalities in arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is a congenital failure of the development of the skeletal muscles. It may be neuropathic or myopathic. Affection of the hard palate may be severe enough, especially in the myopathic type to cause otorhinolaryngology abnormalities. This may lead to disorders of speech or malfunction of the Eustachian tubes, with its sequelae, that might present to the otorhinolaryngologist and necessitate its management and follow up

Effect of occupational factors of employed women on the outcome of their pregnancy

The work during pregnancy does not affect its outcome, but rather the nature or type of work assumed by the worker. Low birth weight and pregnancy wastage especially abortion was higher among manual workers and those whose work requires standing most of the time or exerting physical effort than for the other professions. Abnormal outcome was more frequently encountered among working mothers exposed to two or more combined hazards as chemical and physical hazards or psychological as nurses, technicians and industrial workers. The importance and positive effect of antenatal care received during pregnancy had its implication on pregnancy outcome. Working mothers who received proper antenatal care tended to give birth to normal full term babies

study on diarrhoea among children under 2 years in Alexandria

Diarrheal diseases being one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among young children. Improved knowledge about its causes will help in the prevention of the disease. The study was carried out on 1000 cases of children under 2 years of age suffering from diarrhea and attending at a representative sample of government centers in Alexandria. The study revealed that the majority of mothers were illeterate and were from low socio-economic class. Mothers lacked the essential knowledge about causes of diarrhea. Also they sought medical help late after the occurence of the disease