Comparative effects of single and combined chelation therapy in chronic lead toxicity: role of reactive oxygen species

To investigate and compare the efficacy of different chelation therapies either single [CaNa[2]EDTA or meso-DMSA] or combined regimen [CaNa[2]EDTA + meso-DMSA] in the treatment of chronic lead acetate exposure and suggested role of reactive oxygen species [ROS] in the mechanism of lead toxicity. This study was carried out on thirty adult male albino rats classified into 5 groups [6 rats/each group] and subjected to the treatments with lead acetate in a dose of 5mg/kg daily for 6 weeks [i.p] for 6 weeks, then injected with CaNa[2]EDTA [0.3 mmol/kg daily, i.p.] for 2 consecutive weeks or meso-DMSA [0.5 mmol/kg daily, i.p.] for 2 consecutive weeks or both CaNa[2]EDTA 0.3 mmol/kg daily, [i.p.] and meso-DMSA [0.5 mmol/kg daily, i.p.] for 2 consecutive weeks. Lead was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBA-RS], tissue TBA-RS, serum protein thiols [PrSH], tissues non-protein sulfhydryl compounds [NPSH], hemoglobin and serum creatinine were determined spectrophotometry. Brain glutathione peroxidase [GPx] was determined by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC].Treatment of adult male albino rats with lead acetate produced significant increases in lead levels of serum, liver, kidney, brain and bone amounting to 205%, 126%, 152%, 275% and 133%, respectively as compared to control healthy group. Also, there were marked elevations in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBA-RS] which are indicators of oxidative stress in serum, liver, kidney and brain calculated as 159%, 95%, 192% and 153%, respectively. In addition, serum protein thiol [PrSH] was decreased amounted to 32%. Meanwhile, there was marked decrease in non-protein sulfhydryl groups [NPSH] of kidney reaching 36%. Moreover, measured serum creatinine was significantly elevated recording 245%, whereas hemoglobin concentration was markedly decreased amounted as 23% in comparison with the control group. On the other hand, administration of each of the single chelating agents [calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, CaNa[2]EDTA, i.p. in a dose of 0.3 mmol/kg daily for 2 consecutive weeks or meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid, meso-DMSA, i.p. in a dose of 0.5 mmol/kg daily for 2 consecutive weeks] and the combined chelation therapy [CaNa[2]EDTA 0.3 mmol/kg daily, i.p. and meso-DMSA 0.5 mmol/kg daily, i.p] for 2 consecutive weeks after lead acetate treatment resulted in significant ameliorating effects in the previous mentioned parameters. It is to be concluded that the reactive oxygen species play important roles in chronic lead toxicity. Moreover, each of meso-DMSA or the combined chelation therapy is more effective than CaNa[2]EDTA in reducing serum and brain lead levels as well as brain TBA-RS. However, the combined chelation therapy was more effective than meso-DMSA in decreasing serum TBA-RS; Effects that might be considered on choice of such chelating agents during chronic lead intoxication

Electrorecovery of copper from dilute waste solutions using packed column cells

The concentration of copper ions in dilute solutions is less than 5 gl[-1], which is unsuitable for conventional electrolysis cells. Non-conventional cells with relatively large cathodic area are essential. Packed column, three-dimensional particulate electrode cell [PCE] has been investigated. The effect of cathodic current densities, initial copper concentrations, free sulphuric acid concentration and rate of flow of the solution on both cathodic current efficiency and power consumption were determined. The effect of the presence of iron and zinc cations on the electrowinning process was studied. Copper could be removed to less than 5 ppm with current efficiencies of about 88%.

Effect of anagallis arvensis plant against natural infestation of sheep with fasciola sp. a comparative study

The present work investigates the efficacy of oral administration of Anagallis arvensis plant in sheep naturally infested with Fasciola gigantica worms. Five apparently healthy and 5 infested animals were orally administered daily with powdered Anagallis arvensis plant [100 mg/kg b. wt.] for 14 days. Another 5 infested sheep were injected subcutaneously with a single dose of nitroxynil at a dose of 1 ml/ 25 kg b.wt. Faecal, haematological and some biochemical parameters were performed before and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment. The results showed no viable eggs in the faeces at 7th day in infested sheep treated with Nitroxynil, meanwhile 60% and 80% reduction in egg count were recorded at 7th and 14th day respectively in infested sheep treated with the plant respectively. Haematological and biochemical results revealed a significant decrease in erythrocytic count, haemoglobin percent, haematocrit value, total proteins and albumin. There was an increase in the activities of serum Aspartate amintransferase [AST], Alanine aminotransferase [ALT] in addition to leucocytosis, eosinophilia and monocytosis in sheep infested with Fasciola. These values returned to their normal values it 7th day post-treatment. No changes in the levels of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and creatinine in serum of all tested groups were observed. The plant administration displayed no adverse effects in the treated sheep

electrical behaviour of an excitable cell at different conditions

The Hodgkin-Huxley, H-H model has been modified in this work to study the electrical behavior of an excitable cell due to changes in the permeability of K and Na ions [9K and 9Na], the simultaneous stochastic variations of gK and 9Na, the current stimulus [Jstim] and the non-inactivation of Na-channel [NI-NaC]. The amplitude and duration of the generated action potential [AP] was found to increase as 9K increase, with the appearance of repetitive AP spikes in the range of 21.5 >/= 9K >/= 3.5, while the K- and Na-currents [JK and JNa] showed a pronounced decrease. On the other hand, the increase of 9Na was accompanied by an increase in AP amplitudes and durations and also in JK and JNa with the appearance of a repetitive AP at 1400 >/= 9Na >/= 189 m/cm2, whose frequency increases with the increase of 9Na. Moreover, the stochastic variations in 9K and 9Na could generate a repetitive AP whose frequency could be changed either by changing the values of 9K or 9Na or both, and may represent an information carried by the sensory cells for example. The electrical behavior of the stimulated cell can also be affected by Jstim at different values of 9K except at the range of 21.5 >/= 9K >/= 3.5 m/cm2 and also depended on NI- NaC fraction

Bioelectrical activity of citrus flower moth prays citri and host plant selection for oviposition

Electroantennogram [EAG] and oviposition responses of the citrus flower female moth, Yponomeuta prays citri to various citrus flower volatile chemicals were tested as possible attractants or deterrents for oviposition. This was also coupled with analytical chromatographic techniques to identify the organic pure compounds in the citrus flowers with the EA recording. Dose response relationships were established to compare the relative receptor sensitivities using different concentrations of these individual pure components and correlate them with ovipositional activities. The obtained results indicated that the volatile odors from different citrus flowers may activate [e.g. Limonene and Citronellol] or inhibit [e.g. Nerol, Terpineol, B-Caryophyllene, Methylantheranlate and Geraniol] the females to lay eggs. A good correspondence was found between oviposition and single sensillum EAg response. In conclusion, the sensory cues that mediate the P.Citri ovipositional response include visual and chemical information. The visual information [flower's shape, colour and size] direct the insect to land on the flower. Contact chemoreceptors present on the insect's antenna appeared to be involved in the assessment of flower surface chemistry which directs the insect to oviposit or deterred the unsuitable plants. Finally the insect's ovipositional response in mediated by a complex mixture of compounds of certain fixed concentrations instead of a single compound. The variation of these concentrations may change or reverse this response and hence it may serve in biological control of this insect

Structure changes in chicken retina caused by argon laser irradiation

Infrared spectroscopic study has been performed on chicken retina before and after argon laser irradiation. The infrared [IR] spectra obtained from intact retina are in agreement with the polarized [IR] studies on rhodopsin, which indicate that it has an alpha - helical structure with fixed orientation with the membrane normal. Retinae exposed to argon laser light of constant intensity [1mW/cm] and different durations [0.12 and 0.25 sec] at constant temperatures [10, 20 and 30 degree] show no detectable spectral changes, indicating that there is no change in the main helical structure of protein. However, distinct changes occur in the orientation angle of rhodopsin. It was found that the sensitivity of chicken retina for the recovery of the rhodopsin reorientation is more pronounced after laser irradiation of duration 0.12 sec. than that of 0.25 sec. Also the decrease in the chicken temperature by 10 degree could compensate the heating effect due to the increase in laser duration

Comparative study between intra-articular steroidal and non steroidal therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee

Forty healthy patients without local or systemic contraindication for intra-articular drug injection were submitted for management of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee joint. They were divided into two groups [each contained 20 patients]: Group A in which steroidal drug depomedrol was injected intra-articularly, and group B, in which non steroidal drug [liometacen] was used. All patients were assessed as regards analgesia, B.P., pulse and respiratory rate, cortisol, sugar and serum potassium level and were observed for the knee motion degree in flexion and extension. Analgesia and articular mobility were found to be satisfactory in group "A" [depomedrol group] and unsatisfactory in group "B" [liometacen group]. Regarding pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate showed insignificant change in both groups. Serum cortisol level was estimated in the 2 groups and showed that its level was decreased after pain relief in group "A" and insignificantly decreased in group "B". Blood glucose and serum potassium level were also estimated before and after therapy but with no significant importance in both groups

Analysis of the spontaneous activity of the identified neurone [A] of molluscan planorbius corneus

The glass microelectrode technique was used to record the spontaneous activity of the identified neurone [A] molluscan Planorbius comeus. The number of the recorded spontaneous spikes and there interspike time were found to be random variables. Using the stochastic distribution and the statistical analysis, it was found that : a] The random spike number recorded at a definite interval of time follows the Poisson distribution with probability 95 percent b] The random interspike time obeys the exponential distribution with a mean value of 1.537 second. According to the results obtained in a and b, the number of the generated spontaneous spikes at a certain time interval could be predicted

EMG quantitative analysis of triceps muscle upon irradiation by different magnetic fields

An action potential analyzer was used to measure the EMG characteristics, generated by the triceps muscle. Three EMG parameters were investigated: [i] the integrated voltage of the muscle's electrical activity in uV/sec, [ii] the frequency in spikes/sec, and [iii] the amplitude of the EMG. Triceps muscle in uV. The employed magnetic fields were: [a] constant magnetic fields of intensities 500 Gauss and 10 KG, [b] pulsating magnetic field [MF] of intensity 50 G/50 Hz, the exposure time for all fields used was 15 min. The results of the present work showed that the constant MF of 500 G induced a little on muscle performance ability when it was applied for a short duration, and the increase of the EMG amplitude was 11.3 percent on the average. While the constant MF 10 KG increased the amplitude of the EMG by an average of 33.6 percent. Therefore, when the muscle is exposed to constant strong MF, its energy increases and this, in turn improves its performance ability. However, a pulsating MF of 50 G/50 Hz increased the muscle performance ability by an average of 37.0 percent