Total phenolic content and versatile biological activity of some selected widely consumed Egyptian vegetables'extract

Ethanolic extract as well as essential oils of parsley [Petroselinum crispum], Coriander [Coriander sativum] and dill [Anethum graveolens L.] were subjected for biological evaluation. Thus, these extracts and vegetables oils were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against different types of microorganisms using the agar diffusion technique. The ethanolic extracts as well as the essential oils were tested against two Gram-positive bacterial strains [Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus], two Gram-negative bacterial strains [Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli], one yeast strain [Candida albicans] and three fungal strains [Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium italicum and Syncephalastrum racemosum]. Furthermore, the previous extracts and essential oils were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using 1, 1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] scavenging techaque

Okra and Jew's mellow mucilages as hypoglycemic agents

Adult male normal and diabetic rats were maintained on diets containing 1,2,3 or 4% mucilage extracted from okra pods and jew's mellow leaves. The blood samples were taken every two weeks for measuring glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triacylglycerols. At the end of experiment [6 weeks], the animals were sacrificed and hepatic glycogen contents were measured. The mucilages decreased plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C and triacylglycerols, while HDL-C and hepatic glycogen were increased

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

study of topographic patterns of the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve [EBSLN] in conventional neck surgery: cadaveric and surgical dissection

Based on a cadaveric and surgical dissection of 38 superior thyroid poles [19 fresh cadavers] and 20 superior thyroid poles [15 patients for thyroidectomy and total thyroid lobectomy], a topographic categorization of external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve [EBSLN] was planned considering the hazard during thyroidectomy. This study correlated between the cadavers and the surgical dissection and presented a simple and easy classification to the relation of the EBSLN and superior thyroid artery with the upper pole of the thyroid lobe and also compared between them. Only one patient had a sign of the EBSLN injury postoperatively, probably caused by dissection or during ligation of superior thyroid pedicle in high risk dissection area behind the thyroid pole. The topographic description pattern of variable course of the EBSLN may help to decrease the risk of iatrogenic lesion of this imperative nerve

New, cheap, effective and easily prepared closed suction drainage device, experimental and clinical study

An experimental and clinical study of a new cheap and easily prepared closed suction drainage device was presented. The proposed system consists of a Nelaton catheter no. 14 or 16 connected to an I.V. set which is connected to 500 c.c. plastic bottle of saline or dextrose 5%. The bottle is evacuated from the fluid by opening the valve of I.V. set and without making a vent in the bottle. It was concluded that, as the ordinary Redivac is somewhat expensive and not always available in public and small hospitals, it was recommended to use this new suction device whenever closed suction in needed

Unexplained fever in intensive care unit patients with nasal intubation [is the cause: maxillary sinusitis]

Fever in ICU patients with nasal intubation were evaluated of 183 patients. In the present study, systemic diagnostic protocol comprising comprising expanded physical examination, observation of other cause of fever an sepsis, otorhinolaryngological examination starting by anterior and posterior rhinoscopy, early roentgen examination, pneumatic otoscopy and antral irrigation as a diagnosis and treatment. From the results obtained, it was recommended that nasal tubes must be exchanged to oral tubes as soon as it clinically feasible where safe choice exist. Plain X-ray is advised in feverish in ICU patients with rhinorrhea. The treatment started early by specific antibiotic, nasal decongestant and sinus irrigation if indicated