Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus venom on 293T and C2C12 eukaryotic cell lines

Scorpion venom toxicity is of major concern due to its influence on human activities and public health. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by scorpion L. quinquestriatus venom on two established eukaryotic cell lines (293T and C2C12) were analyzed. Both cultured cell lines were incubated with varying doses (10, 20, and 50 µg/ml) of scorpion venom in serum free medium (SFM) for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours at 37°C. The percentage of total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in the culture during venom incubation was used as an index of cell damage. Control culture was treated with an equal amount of SFM. Cell injury was recognized morphologically and apoptosis was researched by a Fluorescing Apoptosis Detection System using the principle of TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labelling) assay and confirmed by another assay concerning nuclear DNA staining with DAPI stain. Cytotoxicity was remarkable and cell survival highly reduced at the highest tested concentration (50 µg/ml). These effects were rapid and observed within 30 minutes. The apparent initial damage to the nucleus and lysis of the plasmalemma and/or organelle membranes, which was evident by a significant increase in cytosolic LDH release, suggested that this toxin acts at the membrane level. The morphological changes that occurred in apoptotic cells include condensation and compartmentalization of nuclear and cytoplasmic materials into structurally preserved membrane-bound fragments or blebs. The cytotoxic effects are dose and time dependent and cell death by apoptosis was more characteristic of 293T cells than C2C12 cells. The apoptotic effects were more prominent and clear in the early stages of toxicity, while other forms of cell damage such as swelling, rupture, and/or necrosis occurred at later stages.

use of Amantadine in the treatment of pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis b and/or C

Amantadine, a drug developed in 1960. It is a synthetic antiviral agent that specifically used in the prevention of Influenza A virus infection Amantadine was shown to result in a sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients who were unresponsive to interferon therapy. The present study was carried out to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this antiviral drug in pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis B and/or C. the study included 19 children with chronic viral hepatitis: 9 had HCV, 7 had HBV and 3 had both. Their ages ranged between 2-15 years. Eleven were males and 8 were females. They were treated with amantadine in a dose of 5-1 0 mg/kg daily orally for 6 months. Serum aminotransferase values decreased in 13 patients [68.4%], seven of whom showed normalization of ALT [P<0.001]. Two patients with chronic hepatitis C who were HCV RNA + ve became - ve by the end of therapy. Mild neurological symptoms in the form of insomnia and irritability were reported in 4 of our patients, however this did not necessitate stopping therapy.Amantadine appeared quite safe and effective in pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis B and / or C

Serum Neopterin as a marker of rheumatic activity in children with acute rheumatic fever: comparison of its behavior with soluble interleukin 2-receptors

This study was conducted on 30 children with acute rheumatic fever [ARF] and 15 apparently healthy children chosen as controls. Both groups were subjected to thorough history, complete clinical examination, complete blood count [CBC], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], antistreptolysin O titer [ASOT], serum soluble interleukin 2-receptors [sIL2-R] and serum neopterin level. These investigations were repeated for 26 cases after a period of 25-30 days. Chest X-ray, ECG and echocardiography were done for cases at first examination and were repeated for some cases. Children with ARF had a significantly higher sIL2-R than controls. Serum concentrations of sIL2-R showed no significant differences in the groups of ARF. No significant correlations were detected between sIL2-R and the other parameters examined. The mean serum level of sIL2-R did not differ significantly after follow up. Children with ARF had a significantly higher serum neopterin level than controls. A higher frequency of abnormally elevated serum neopterin was detected in cases with carditis and cases with carditis and arthritis than cases with arthritis alone. Children with combined mitral and aortic valve had a significantly higher serum neopterin level than those with mitral valve lesions alone. A significant positive correlation between serum neopterin and ESR and a significant negative correlation between neopterin and hemoglobin was detected. After therapy, serum neopterin level decreased significantly and did not significantly differ from that of the controls

Autonomic dysfunction in patients with borderline hypertension

Eight male patients with borderline hypertension [BH] and high cardiac index [CI], twelve patients with BH and normal CI and twelve normal control subjects were studied. Propranolol injection caused a decrease in heart [HR], mean blood pressure [MBP], and increase in total peripheral resistance [TPR] in the three groups. The decrease in CI in patients with high CI was significantly higher than the other groups. HR, MBP and CI increased after atropine injection in the three groups. Regitine injection caused significant decrease in TPR in the three groups. Urinary catecholamines were higher in patients with normal CI. Urinary adrenaline, noradrenaline and plasma renin activity [PRA] increased in patients with high CI than the controls. Vanillylm and elic acid [VMA] in the urine showed no significant difference in the three groups. This demonstrated that there was a decrease in parasympathetic drive in both groups with BH, but there was an increase in sympathetic drive in patient with high CI and normal in patients with normal CI. So, the autonomic nervous system plays a role in the pathogenesis of BH

M-mode Echocardiographic study of left ventricular structure and function in borderline hypertension

Twenty patients with borderline hypertension [BH] and twelve control subjects were studied. Hemodynamically, there were two subgroups of BH [high cardiac output [CO] [hyperkinetic] and normal Co subgroups. The total peripheral resistance [TPR] of normokinetic subgroup was significantly higher than the controls and the plasma volume was insignificantly lower than both the hyperkinetic and the control groups. The left ventricular mass index and the relative wall thickness of patients was not significantly different from the controls, which negates the occurrence of concentric hypertrophy in this early stage of hypertension. Asymmetric septal hypertrophy with IVSTd/PWTd ratio of >1.3 was found in some of the patients and may be related to the increased sympathetic tone of the heart. There was no significant difference between the three groups as regards the ejection phase indices, which denoted no impairment of left ventricular performance. The mean left ventricular systolic wall stress index of the normokinetic subgroup was significantly higher than the hyperkinetic and the control groups

Preliminary notes on the molluscicidal effect of some surface active agents

1000 p.p.m. - 200 p.p.m. aqueous solutions of two detergents were lethal to all the snails exposed for 2 hours. 125 p.p.m. became lethal to 50% of Physa, 60% of Biomphalaria and 35% of Bulinus. Melania Tuberculata was not killed. The cause of death of the snails is suggested to be due to extravasation of the haemolymph. In case of Biomphalaria and Bulinus the haemolymph formed a red zone at the bottom of the conical glass