Study of the possible protective effects of Nigella sativa on some experimentally induced cardiac, renal and liver diseases in rats

This work was designed to declare the possible protective effects of Nigella sativa "crushed seeds" on experimentally induced renal hypertension, myocardial infarction, renal and hepatic toxicities in male albino rats. The results of the present study demonestrated that Nigella sativa. [N.S] orally for four weeks [l80mg/kg/day] produced significant diastolic hypotensive effect in control normal rats and prevented development of renal hypertension when was administered simultaneously with left renal artery ligation in rats. This hypotensive effect of N.S most probably may be due to inhibition of Ca[++] ion entry via slow Ca[++] channels, inhbition of eicosanoids synthesis and increase release of endothelium derived relaxing factors. However, oral pretreatment with N.S for 4 weeks did not produce significant protective effect in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction. Simultaneous administration of N.S with gentamicin sulphate [60mg/kg SC once/day] produced signficant protective effect on renal functions manifested by reduction in serum levels of urea and creatinine [as indicators for kidney function]. This may be explained on the ability of N.S to act as free radical scavenger and to stimulate DNA and protein synthesis that improve tissue regeneration. Additionally, enhanced glutathione, DNA and protein synthesis can explain the protective effect of N.S against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Furthermore, N.S significantly decreased the renal and hepatic histopathological toxic changes induced by gentamicin or acetaminophen respectively, but did not be able to normalize them long term administration of N.S may modulate the reactivity of the blood vessels to different endogenous vasoactive agents which may be the cause of renal hypertension and may be also used in the prophylaxis against drugs-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Accordingly, N.S as a medicinal plant has wide range of health promotion and can play a role in the prophylaxis against drugs induced organs toxicity

Pulmonary manifestations in patients with parasitic infections

The interrelation between various parasitic infections and pulmonary manifestations, using clinical, radiological, laboratory and ventilatory functional data was assessed. Results of ventilatory function evaluation showed high significant reduction in mean values of peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR%], forced expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1%] and forced vital capacity [FVC%] among patients with parasitic infection. Reversible obstructive dysfunction was detected in 5 cases [18.5%] of schistosomiasis, one case [9.1%] of fascioliasis, 3 cases [60%] of ascariasis and one case of strongyloidiasis. Irreversible obstructive dysfunction was detected in 7 cases [25.9%] of schistosomiasis while restrictive dysfunction was detected in 15 cases [55.6%] of schistosomiasis, one case [9.1%] of fascioliasis and 2 cases [100%] of pleuropulmonary hydatid disease. The study also revealed insignificant negative correlation between blood eosinophils and PEFR%, FEV1% and FVC% of patients with parasitic infections but insignificant positive correlation between blood eosinophils and FEF 25-75% of patients with parasitic infections

Typical and atypical pulmonary mycobacterial infection in Sharkia governorate patients

This study was carried out on 65 patients [45 suspected T. B., 10 bronchogenic carcinoma and 10 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [C.O.P.D.] and 16 healthy volunteers as control. Of 45 patients suspected T. B., the sputum culture was positive for Mycobacterial T.B. in 71.5%, for M. kansasi in 5.26% and 2.63 for M. avium intracellulare. M.T.B. and M. avium intracellulare were isolated from 20% of 10 malignant patient while M.T.B. was isolated only from one out of 10 patient suffering from [C.O.P.D.]. Serum anti TB Ig[G] was positive in 40% of the suspected tuberculous and 40% of the malignant group. Neither the COPD nor the control had any anti TB Ig[G] in the sera. Sensitivity and specificity by different combined procedures were done and a high percent was detected in the combination between ZN and culture while low percent was detected in a combination between ZN with either anti TB Ig[G] or tuberclin test

Fibronectin pleural effusion

Twenty-nine patients with different types of pleural effusion and 10 apparently healthy persons constituted the material of this study. Plasma and pleural fluid fibronectins were estimated by radial immunodiffusion method in an attempt to evaluate the possible diagnostic role of fibronectin in pleural effusion cases. The results showed that plasma fibronectin of patients was 218 +/- 72 ug/mI compared with 288 +/- 48 ug/ml in the control group. The lowest value was observed among empyema cases [108 +/- 17 ug/ml]. The highest concentrations of pleural fluid fibronectin were found in both tuberculous [325.28 +/- 21.3 ug/ml] and malignant cases [292.55 +/- 38.5 ug/ml]. Pleural fluid/plasma fibronectin ratio was equal to one in empyema cases, more than one in both tuberculous and malignant cases and less than one in transudative group

Role of mast cell in pathogenesis of exercise induced asthma

Mast cell with its potent mediators plays a central role in allergen- induced bronchial asthma, to assess its role in the pathogenesis of exercise-induced asthma. A specific sensitive marker as serum neutrophil chemotactic activity was assessed as a direct evidence for its activation. The serum neutrophil chemotactic activity was assessed before and after 10 minutes of standardized exercise which is the best non pharmacological, non immunological stimulus for airway obstruction in patients with asthma. Twenty-four of them proved to have asthma precipitated by exercises. The other 12 were no exercise- induced asthma, another 10 healthy controls were taken for comparison