Circulating levels of endothelin-1 in patients with systemic sclerosis: relationship to specific organs involvement

The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of endothelin-1 [EN-1] as a marker of endothelial cell activation in patients with systemic sclerosis [SSc] and to investigate its relationship to specific organs involvement. Thirty two female patients diagnosed as SSc were included in this study; all of them met the criteria proposed by the ACR. Serum EN-1 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for the patients and 20 matched healthy subjects as a control group. Thorough clinical assessment was performed; high resolution computed tomography [HRCT] scan and scoring was done for patients with pulmonary fibrosis; doppler echocardiography was done to assess pulmonary artery pressure. In this study; there was highly significant increase in the mean titre of EN-1 in SSc patients than in control group [<0.001] and significant increase in diffuse than limited SSc [P<0.05]. Significantly higher levels of Serum EN-1 were found in SSc patients complaining from pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary and systemic arterial hypertension [P<0.001], higher in patients complaining from sclerodactyly, digital ulcers, cardiac and renal affection and in patients positive either for Anti-TOPO-I antibodies or ACA [P<0.05]. Also, there were significant positive correlation between mean pulmonary artery pressure, mean systemic arterial pressure, levels of serum creatinine, serum urea, 24 hours proteinuria, titre of ANA, anti- TOPO-I antibodies, ACA and HRCT scores with serum levels of EN-1 in SSc patients. Also, there was a significant negative correlation with creatinine clearance. Enothelin-1 through endothelial cell activation has a pathogenic role in SSc that help in evaluation of the clinical severity of scleroderma lung disease, systemic hypertension, cardiac and renal affection. EN-1 may also represent a promising serological parameter for therapeutic consideration; use of endothelin receptor antagonist may be a strategy for reaching clinical improvement

Prevalence of refractive error and low vision among schoolchildren in Cairo

A preliminary survey was conducted to detect the prevalence of refractive error [RE] and low vision among 5839 schoolchildren aged 7-14 years in Cairo, Egypt. Screening was done using Landolt broken ring chart and pinhole test. The prevalence of RE [visual acuity

Environmental risk factors for refractive error among Egyptian schoolchildren

This study evaluated the preventable environmental risk factors of refractive error [RE] among 1292 Egyptian schoolchildren aged 7-15 years, chosen from 12 schools using multistage random sampling. A questionnaire was completed, covering personal, medical, social and environmental data. Statistical analysis revealed that living in an area with many sources of environmental pollution, age, sex, family history of RE, socioeconomic status, ocular problems, school level and amount of near-work [hours/day] were significantly associated with RE. Logistic regression, after adjustment for sex, found that school level, near-work, socioeconomic status and family history were associated with RE

protective role of flavonoids on the cardiac muscle during the development of myocardial infarction

In this study, three common natural flavonoids [sour orange, sweet orange and salvia] known to have positive cardiotonic effect were chosen and their ability to inhibit apoptotic death of cardiac muscles and the extent that they could protect them during evolving myocardial infarction were tested. The three flavonoids influenced the apoptotic cell death. The elevated creatine kinase isoenzymes [CK MB] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] levels were significantly decreased. Also, the decrease in QRS volts and the increase in the heart rate, which were observed in cardiac infarction, were significantly improved. Thus, it was concluded that the three flavonoids, with variable degrees, influenced the apoptotic cell death in the cardiac muscle and protected the heart during evolving MI by decreasing the degree of tissue necrosis. Also, they can improve the performance of the heart and decrease the incidence of ventricular fibrillation

Protective role of ascorbic acid on population of -T- lymphocyte in major salivary glands of rat exposed to cadmium [immuno-histochemical study]

The study was carried out to evaluate the immunohistochemical investigation of the protective role of ascorbic acid on population of T-lymphocyte in major salivary glands of rat exposed to cadmium. Fifteen male rats weighting about 250g, were divided into three groups, 5 animals for each. In group I, the rats were injected with 0.5 ml of physiological saline and used as control. In group II, the animals were injected with cadmium chloride [15mg/kg body weight] for 1.4 and 8 weeks. In group III, the rats were injected with cadmium chloride simultaneously with ascorbic acid for different periods equal to the periods cadmium chloride injection. The results demonstrated that, by using of the anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, the immunohistochemical finding of group II demonstrated weak positive staining with anti-CD3 antibody and a few number of positive T lymphocyte was situated in the connective tissue storma, as well as, parenchymal tissue of salivary glands. In group III, strong positive reactivity with anti-CD3 antibody in all examined tissue. There was great number of anti-CD3 positive T-lymphocyte scattered in the glandular tissue than that seen in group II. The ascorbic acid demonstrated beneficial effect on the cadmium toxicity exposed salivary gland when both drugs were simultaneously administrated and toxic effect of cadmium on the immune system can be obliterated by a sufficient intake of ascorbic acid. We conclude that immune functional abnormalities can be restored after toxic chemicals exposure by oral usage of ascorbic acid

precise mechanism of action of fish oil [omega-3-fatty acid] in amelioration postmenopausal osteoporosis in female rats

This work studied the mechanism of the action of fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docasahexaenoic acid [DHA] [omega-3 fatty acid] on postmenopausal symptoms and bone resorption in intact and ovariectomized [ovx] female rats. The effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil [omega-3 fatty acid] for eight weeks on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, bone formation markers, bone resorption markers and bone mineral metabolism were tested. It was concluded that the resulted data could be the protective mechanisms of fish oil against postmenopausal osteoporosis. These mechanisms based on promote positive calcium balance, increase osteoblastic bone formation and decreased bone resorption

Protective Effect of vitamin E in renal transplantation

This work studied the effect of vitamin E as antioxidant and an oxygen free radicals scavenger on preventing and treating renal dysfunction induced by Cy-A in experimental rats. Five groups of male albino rats [ten each] were used; the first group served as controls, the second received vitamin E, the third received vitamin E prior to Cy-A treatment, the fourth received Cy-A and the fifth received Cy-A then vitamin E. The study revealed that Cy-A induced deterioration in renal function as manifested by a significant increase of plasma urea and creatinine levels as well as a significant increase of urinary excretion of creatinine, retinol binding protein [RBP] and thromboxane B2 [TxB2]. On the other hand, there was an association between the enhanced production of lipid peroxidation and increase excretion of thromboxane B2 [TxB2] and also cortical synthesis of endothelin. Treatment with vitamin E minimized the effects of Cy-A on kidney functions, especially if it was given prior to Cy-A. Vitamin E also decreased the synthesis of lipid peroxidation and endothelin by the cortical tissues and decreased the urinary excretion of thromboxane B2

Tooth lead concentration as an indicator for environmental lead pollution in Cairo

A comparison of lead burden of children deciduous teeth collected in suburban and urban areas of Cairo was undertaken. This comparison was determined by calculating the concentrations of lead levels in teeth shedded from children living in both regions. A significant correlation was established and the results proved that children who live in Cairo City have a relatively high degree of tooth lead contamination, especially in the urban area. These data should encourage the Egyptian authorities to increase the control of lead emission sources

Acetate utilization by sulfate reducing bacteria in an uaff reactor

Industrial development in Egypt, like in many other developing countries in the world, is causing serious environmental problems due to the increasing influence of the disposal of heavy metals and organic wastes in the natural water bodies and on the land. Such pollutants in water, soil and air environments are causing damaging impact on the health of all the living beings. This study was carried out to develop new processes for the treatment of heavy metals and organic wastes, which can be considered as environment friendly, and will cause minimum damage to the environment and human health. The proposed method for the removal of heavy metals and organic matter from the waste stream is based on the use of sulfate reducing bacteria which convert sulfate to sulfide which in turn remove metals as metal sulfide. The sulfate reducing bacteria, SRB, have been used widely for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters. In this research, it was decided to determine the optimum controlling factors affecting the growth of the SRB utilizing acetate as an organic carbon source in an up flow anaerobic fixed film reactor, UAFFR. A series of continuous flow experiments were carried out to measure the optimum values for these parameters. Substrate, containing acetate as the organic carbon source along with other nutrients such as sulfate, ammonia and phosphates was fed to the experimental units. It was found experimentally that the optimum SRB growth activity occurred with an organic loading rate, OLR, of 6 kg/d/m[3], and the theoretical oxygen demand to sulfate ratio, Th.O.D./SO[4], ranged from 1.5 to 2.0. The optimum hydraulic retention time HRT was found to be equal to or higher than 11 hours. The effect of the reactor's packing material on SRB growth was also studied. Different packing materials with different surface areas were used. It was shown that the SRB growth does not depend on the nature of the packing material of the reactor

Actinic lichen planus: an experience with 40 cases

The present study suggests that sun exposure has no direct effect as a cause of lichen planus, rather, it may trigger a chain of immunological reactions ending with the appearance of lichen planus

Effect of water for constitution on the stability of ampicillin suspension

The effect of different types of water, viz distilled, freshly boiled, cooled and tap water from four different districts on the stability of ampicillin suspension was studied. The possible cause of progressive decomposition of the antibiotic as a result of certain types of tap water was explained as being due to the higher microbial content of the water. Distilled water and freshly-boiled and cooled tap water were recommended to be used for reconstitution to avoid this decomposition

Albothyl discolouration and its effect on its protein recipitation efficacy

The effect of temperature on the discoloration of Albothyl solution was studied. It was proved that discoloration is a function of temperature, and the oxidation takes place leads to formation of dye which integrated in the polymer. It has been demonstrated that amount of oxidation product does not affect its protein precipitation efficacy

Comparison of the microbiological turbidimetric and hydroxylamine colorimetric methods in stability study of cefadroxil monohydrate powder

Comparison between the chemical and microbiological methods for the analysis of cefadroxil in powder for reconstitution stored at different temperature was carried out. Results indicated that the values of the antibiotic percent obtained by chemical method differ than those obtained microbiologically of the same samples. Microbiological assay of stored samples at 25 gave information that the product is valid up to 30 months while the chemical method indicated that the same sample valid for 12 months only. Sample stored at 37C seemed valid after storage for 12 months using microbiological method but the chemical assay indicated that it was not valid after 6 months. Chemical and microbiological assay indicated that stored samples at 56C were not valid but there was difference between values obtained by chemical and microbiological methods. Microbiological assay of stored sample valid for 2 months but chemical assay showed them not valid at all. This indicated that the chemical method considered invalid for stability study and/or assessment of validity of product containing cefadroxil

Stability of neomycin and bacitracin in semisolid and powder dosage form

Stability of bacitracin and neomycin were comparatively studied in different batches of two topical preparations; powder and ointment. The results emphasizes that the ointments exhibit a progressive and gradual increase in their spreadability during storage. This indicated that ointment bacitracin content is acceptable for the first 3-6 months only, after which the antibiotic yield is less than 90%. Neomycin content in both forms decreased after 12 months to be less than 90%. Kinetic study of decomposition revealed that all are first order for both antibiotic. Bacitracin t 1/2 in powder form and ointment was 6.7 months and 5.58 months, respectively. For neomycin t 1/2 was 5.544 months in powder form and 5.25 months in ointment. The comparative stability of the antibiotic in both topical preparations showed no big difference in the decomposition rate. The so determined expiry date of these products was 24 months

In vitro predictability, in vitro dissolution of theophyllin

Theophylline sustained release tablet, Quibron 300 mg, was tested by USP. rotating basket over a period of 12 hours. In vivo test was carried on over a period of 24 hours. The percent absorbed from the tablet correlate extremely well with dissolution profile over 12 hour period. It was proved that there is nearly a 1:1 correlation of in vitro and in vivo data

Selenium heterocycles 1: synthesis and antibacterial activity of some new 1,2,3thia and 1,2,3-selenadiazole containing sulfonamides

4-acetyl sulfonamide derivatives [I] were smoothly condensed with semicarbazide to produce the corresponding semicarbazones [II]. The latter [II] were when either oxidized with selenium dioxide in acetic acid to give 4-[substituted benzene sulfonamido-4-yl]-1,2,3- selenadiazoles [III] or react with thionyl chloride to give 4- [substituted benzene sulfonamido-4-yl]-1,2,3-thiadiazoles [IV]. The constitution of some of the prepared products is discussed in the light of their infrared and microanalysis data. The biological activities of some of these compounds were tested