In vitro antischistosomal activity of venom from the Egyptian snake Cerastes cerastes

Abstract INTRODUCTION: We studied the potential in vitro antischistosomal activity of Cerastes cerastes venom on adult Schistosoma mansoni worms. METHODS: Live specimens of the horned viper snake, C. cerastes were collected from the Aswan Governorate (Egypt). Venom was collected from snakes by manual milking. Worms of S. mansoni were obtained from infected hamsters by perfusion and isolated from blood using phosphate buffer. Mortality rates of worms were monitored after 3 days of exposure to snake venom at LC50 and various sublethal concentrations (10, 5, 2.5µg/ml). Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate tegumental changes in treated worms after exposure to LC50 doses of venom. RESULTS: The LC50 of C. cerastes venom was 21.5µg/ml. The effect of C. cerastes venom on Schistosoma worms varied according to their sex. The mortality rate of male and female worms after 48-h exposure was 83.3% and 50%, respectively. LC50 of C. cerastes venom induced mild to severe tegumental damage in Schistosoma worms in the form of destruction of the oral sucker, shrinkage and erosion of the tegument, and loss of some tubercle spines. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that C. cerastes venom exerts potential in vitro antischistosomal activity in a time and dose-dependent manner. These results may warrant further investigations to develop novel schistosomicidal agents from C. cerastes snake venom.

Conus vexillum venom induces oxidative stress in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cells: an insight into the mechanism of induction

It is estimated that venoms of marine cone snails (genus Conus) contain more than 100,000 different small peptides with a wide range of pharmacological and biological actions. Some of these peptides were developed into potential therapeutic agents and as molecular tools to understand biological functions of nervous and cardiovascular systems. In this study we examined the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of the marine vermivorous cone snail Conus vexillum (collected from Hurgada and Sharm El-Shaikh, Red Sea, Egypt) and suggest the possible mechanisms involved. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of Conus venom were assessed against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Results Conus venom treatment resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity as indicated by a lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay. Apoptotic effects were measured in vivo by measuring levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative defense agents in albino mice injected with EAC cells. Conus venom (1.25 mg/kg) induced a significant increase ( p  < 0.05) in several oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content and reactive nitrogen intermediates) of EAC cells after 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours of venom injection. Conus venom significantly reduced ( p  < 0.05) the activities of oxidative defense enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) as well as the total antioxidant capacity of EAC cells, as evidenced by lowered levels of reduced glutathione.Conclusions These results demonstrate the cytotoxic potential of C. vexillum venom by inducing oxidative stress mediated mechanisms in tumor cells and suggest that the venom contains novel.

Conus vexillum venom induces oxidative stress in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cells: an insight into the mechanism of induction

Background: It is estimated that venoms of marine cone snails (genus Conus) contain more than 100,000 different small peptides with a wide range of pharmacological and biological actions. Some of these peptides were developed into potential therapeutic agents and as molecular tools to understand biological functions of nervous and cardiovascular systems. In this study we examined the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of the marine vermivorous cone snail Conus vexillum (collected from Hurgada and Sharm El-Shaikh, Red Sea, Egypt) and suggest the possible mechanisms involved. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of Conus venom were assessed against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Results: Conus venom treatment resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity as indicated by a lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay. Apoptotic effects were measured in vivo by measuring levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative defense agents in albino mice injected with EAC cells. Conus venom (1.25 mg/kg) induced a significant increase (p < 0.05) in several oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content and reactive nitrogen intermediates) of EAC cells after 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours of venom injection. Conus venom significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the activities of oxidative defense enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) as well as the total antioxidant capacity of EAC cells, as evidenced by lowered levels of reduced glutathione. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the cytotoxic potential of C. vexillum venom by inducing oxidative stress mediated mechanisms in tumor cells and suggest that the venom contains novel molecules with potential anticancer activity.(AU)

Haematological and biochemical changes induced by amaranth impact on male albino rats

The present investigation was performed to study the effect of daily administration [interperitoneal injection] of synthetic coloring agent amaranth at dose 50 mg /kg b.w. /day for two periods [7 and 21 days], using male albino rats. The effects of amaranth on growth, haematological and some biochemical parameters were examined throughout the study. The results revealed that amaranth treatment cause a marked change in treated groups when compared with control. They showed a significant decrease in percentage of body weight change, RBCs count, Hb concentration and HCT value, while, they recorded a significant increase in WBCs, serum activity of AST and ALP, in addition to serum urea and creatinine levels in treated rats. But ALT and bilirubin showed insignificant changes throughout the experiment

Neonatal late onset sepsis: the use of TNF-alpha as a marker for antibiotic sensitivity

Objectives: Early and accurate treatment of an infant with suspected sepsis is the gold for his survival. Cytokines are important proinflammatory mediators in the early phases of the sepsis syndrome. Recent investigations have demonstrated that some antibiotics, in addition to their antimicrobial effects, can interfere with cytokine production. This study was designed to determine the level of serum TNF-alpha in late neonatal septicemia [LOS] before and after antibiotic therapy to assess its role as a marker of success or failure of such therapy

Methods: Forty preterm neonates with culture proven LOS who were admitted to NICU, Pediatric Department, Tanta University Hospital during the period from January 2009 to January 2010 in addition to ten healthy full term and ten healthy preterm control neonates and 36 cases received final diagnosis of non-sepsis were included in this case control study. Selected neonates were classified into four groups according to the results of antibiogram. Group I: received ampicillin and cefotaxime and were sensitive to one or both of them. Group II: received ampicillin and cefotaxime and were resistant to them. Group III: received ampicillin and amikacin and were sensitive to one or both of them. Group IV: received ampicillin and amikacin and were resistant to them. The causative micro-organisms and their antibiograms were microbiologically determined with estimation of serum TNF- alpha using ELISA technique before and 24 hours and 72 hours after start of antibiotic treatment

Results: Forty neonates with laboratory confirmed LOS were enrolled in this study. klebsiella [42.5%] and coagulase negative staphylococci [25%] constituted the majority of the isolated organisms. LOS cases had significantly high serum level of TNF-alpha than preterm and fullterm controls as well as no-sepsis group [P<0.0001]. Only in group I and III, there was significant increase [P<0.0001 and P= 0.0001, respectively] in the levels of TNF-alpha after 24 hours of treatment as compared to TNF-alpha level before treatment, and significant decrease [P<0.0001] in TNF-alpha level after 72 hours of treatment as compared to 24 hours level

Conclusion: TNF-alpha is a powerful early predictor of LOS. Measurement of serum TNF- alpha during empiric treatment of neonatal sepsis could be a powerful indicator of appropriateness of antibiotic therapy. Therefore, increase of TNF - alpha level during initial treatment especially during the first day of treatment of neonatal sepsis may be taken as indication for sensitivity to initial antibiotics, even before sensitivity of microbiological causes to given antibiotics is known

Self expanding metal stent for palliation of advanced esophageal carcinoma

Intubation using self-expanding stents was performed in sixty patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma at the NCI, Cairo University between January1998 and June 2001. The ages ranged from 51 to 72 years including 36 males and 24 females. Most patients had narrowing of the lumen with an average diameter less 10 mm, 38 patients had stricture with diameter 5 mm or less. Stent placement was successful in all patients. The entire procedure was done with minimal discomfort in all patients with immediate improvement of dysphagia. The early complications [within 30 days] were serious haematemesis [3.3%], migration of the stent [3.3%], transient neck pain [6.6%] and retrosternal pain [78%]. Of these, only 12 patients had persistent pain that required potent analgesics. The delayed complications were mainly esophago-gastric reflux in 44 patients [73.3%], tumor overgrowth in 33% and food impact in 6.6%. Procedure related mortality occurred in one patient [1.6%]. The patients who were referred for radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy showed improvement in the general condition before treatment. For patients treated with radiotherapy, 73% were able to continue the radical dose as prescribed. Self-expanding stents for inoperable esophageal cancer is an easy procedure with minor complications and is important in improving the general condition of the patients before radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

Evaluation of clinical significance of prostate specific antigen and other tumor markers in breast cancer

To evaluate the significance of prostate specific antigen [PSA], both total and free, carcinoembroynic antigen [CEA] and carbohydrate antigen 15 -3 [CA15- 3] in breast cancer serum levels of total and free PSA, CEA and CA15-3 were measured in 60 female patients with breast cancer at time of primary diagnosis. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the stage of breast cancer and the results were compared with those of 25 apparently healthy females as controls. The study revealed that, total PSA was detected in serum of 4% [1/25] of healthy controls and 18% of breast cancer patients. Free PSA is the predominate molecular form of serological PSA in 54% of patients with increased total PSA levels. Free and total PSA, levels were highly significantly increased in advanced stages of breast cancer [III and IV] in comparison to control group, stage I and stage II [P < 0.001]. There was significant negative correlation between PSA [total and free] and age of breast cancer patients [r = 0.285,P< 0.05, r = -0.295, P<0.05 respectively]. There was significant positive correlation between PSA [total and free] and stage of breast cancer [r = + 0.470, P <0.001, r = +0.399, P <0.01 respectively] CEA levels were significantly increased in stage I [P< 0.05], stage II [P < 0.01] stage III and IV [P < 0.001] in comparison with control group. Levels of CEA and CA 15-3 were significantly high in stages III and IV compared with stages I and II [P < 0.001]. There was significant Positive correlation between [CEA, CA15-3] and stage of breast cancer [r = +0.314, P<0.05, r = + 0.547, P <0.01 respectively]. There is a positive correlation between [CEA and CA15-3 [r = +0.597, P<0.001]. In conclusion: Levels of serum PSA and CA 15-3 increased in late stages of breast cancer and so they cannot be used as a screening diagnostic tool for breast cancer. Although CEA increases early in breast cancer, it cannot be trusted as a diagnostic tool for breast cancer as its levels are elevated in a variety of cancers, so it may be used as a screening test. There is a positive correlation between CA 15-3 and CEA, which can be used together for follow up and prognosis of breast cancer

Significance of hepatitis B virus antibodies in Saudi patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

To study the clinical significance of antibodies to hepatitis B virus among 100 Saudi patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The records of 100 patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection who were admitted between November 1990 and January 1994 were retrospectively studied. These patients were classified into 3 groups according to their serological hepatitis B virus [HBV] status. Group one comprised of 43 patients lacking in HBV antibody and serving as controls. Twenty-nine patients in Group two were positive for HBcAb only, while Group three included 28 patients positive for both HBcAb and HBsAb. Patients with hepatitis C infection who had hepatitis B core antibodies [HBcAb] or both HBcAb and hepatitis B surface antibodies [ABsAb] were more likely to be cirrhotic as compared to sex and age, matched controls lacking antibodies to HBV [75.8%] and 80% respectively vs 48.5%]. When present, cirrhosis was more likely to be decompensated in patients with HBV antibodies as compared to controls [36% and 37.5%] vs 0% Child-Pugh's grade C. Number of hepatocellular carcinomas [HCC] appeared to be related to that of cirrhosis [28% and 34% vs 31% in controls]. It is concluded that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection have more severe liver disease when they have been previously infected by hepatitis B virus

Clonidine versus diazepam as preanesthetic agents and their effects on cardiovascular and sympathoadrenal responses to laryngoscopy and intubation

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation frequently induce a cardiovascular stress response, characterized by hypertension, tachycardia and increased serum concentrations of catecholamines. Three qroups each contained 10 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia were studied. Preanesthetic medications were nothing, oral diazepam 10 mg and oral clonidine 10 mg in each group. Heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, HR, SAP, DAP and MAP were recorded. Estimation of plasma concentrations of catecholamines were performed. There were lack of significant changes in HR and MAP in the clonidine group in comparison to control group but diazepam group showed a significant reduction in HR. Plasma norepinephrine showed a significant decrease in both groups. It also showed a significant correlation between plasma norepinephrine concentration and MAP only in the clonidine group. Although clonidine has some side effects as sedation and dry mouth. It is preferable than diazepam as a premedicant agent as it causes analgesia, anxiolysis and sedation