Potential effect of Aloe barbadensis and Salvadora persica [Miswak] Mixture Sap as a contraceptive therapy in female mice

Background: Evaluation of herbs has been in progress worldwide for several decades to identify effective and safe substances for fertility regulation. This approach proved to be a good alternative to synthetic drugs as the chemicals of plant origin have limited side effects. Various medicinal plant extracts were investigated for their antifertility activity in female animal models

Aim of the work: This study was designed to investigate the toxic effects of Aloe barbadensis and Salvadora persica [Miswak] Mixture sap and to assess them as a contraceptive therapy

Material and Methods: Twenty female adult albino rats [Sprague dawley strain] were used in this study. Rats were divided into two groups [10 rats in each group]; Group I [control untreated group] and Group II [mix treated group]. Mixture of Aloe barbadensis and Miswak sap was orally administered [7 mg of Miswak + 7 mg of Aloe per 100 gram body weight] for 30 +/- 2 days, where females were in the diestrus phase]. All animals were decapitated after 30 days and blood samples were analyzed for estrogen, progesterone, tumor markers CA-15.3 and CA-125, kidney and liver functions, proteins profile and lipids profile

Results: The mean serum level of estrogen was significantly increased [p<0.01], while that of progesterone was significantly decreased [p

Conclusion: It could be concluded that Aloe barbadensis and Miswak extract can be used as a safe contraceptive therapy that can increase the estrogen level due to its phytoestrogen components such as beta sitosterol, without deleterious effects on the vital organs [liver and kidneys]

Effects of iron chelating therapy and / or HBV-vaccination on beta-thalassemia major patients

Thalassemia is a genetic inherited blood disorder in which the body makes abnormal hemoglobin with excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. For many years, hepatitis B virus was a major problem for patients with thalassemia substantially contracted from blood transfusions. The development of effective vaccine has further reduced the magnitude of the problem of hepatitis B. Iron chelators are used to remove excess iron that accumulates due to repeated blood transfusion. To compare thalassemic patients either have or haven't HCV with healthy persons as regards biochemical indices taking in consideration effect of vaccination against HBV or not and using iron chelating therapy or not by the studied persons. A case control study in which 40 thalassemic, blood transfusion dependent patients were chosen randomly to act as a case group from thalassemic patients attending the VACSERA Company. The cases [40 patients] they were classified to patients having HCV, patients were HBV vaccinated, other non vaccinated, using iron chelating therapyor don't use it. Another 10 healthy and non thalassemic persons were chosen randomly among persons attending the same company as a control group to be matched with the case group. 50% of studied thalassemic patients had HCV seropositivity. Biochemical blood indices which were found to be significantly elevated among thalassemic patients than controls were ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and LDH enzymes in addition to serum iron, ferritin and globulin mostly in HBV non-vaccinated and iron chelating therapy non dependent patients while, other biochemical indices which were significantly decreased among thalassemic patients compared to controls included: total cholesterol, total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin ratio mostly in HBV vaccinated and iron chelating non dependent patients. This study illustrated the effectiveness of iron chelators agentsand the importance of vaccination for reduction of morbidity and mortality

Ultrastructural study on biomphalaria alexandrina haemocytes infected with schistosoma mansoni in Egypt and its correlation with nitric oxide level

Some snails of Biomphalaria alexandrina can resist the infection of Schistosoma mansoni so this study aimed to clearly this mechanism by using light and electron microscopy [EM] and determine the role of Nitric oxide in this mechanism. B. alexandrina snails used in this study were exposed individually to S. mansoni infection according to their response they were classified into susceptible group [shed cercariae] and resistant group [failed to shed cercariae]. Snails not exposed to infection were included in this study as control group. Nitric oxide [NO] level was assayed directly in the soluble fraction of B. alexandrina haemolymph supernatants collected from each group of B. alexandrina snails were subjected to NO assay by the Greiss reaction. The level of NO in haemolymph of infected snails was significantly increased [p<0.001] than both control and non infected snails groups, however, in non infected snails group had significantly [p<0.05] compared to control group. This study when correlated the changes recognized by EM with NO level the pro apoptotic effect of high level of NO on the haemocytes. Characterization and identification of cell shape of haemocytes in both haemolymph and tissue were examined by light and electron microscopy. Examination of B. alexandrina snail's haemocytes revealed three types of different cells classified according to their shape and granular contents. These cells are granulocytes, amoe-bocytes and hyalineocytes. Electron microscope Study also revealed the important role of granulocytes and amoebocytes as defense mechanism against snail infection. NO is considered an important anti parasite molecule; intra-molluscan stages of parasites switch off host NO defense response

Kupffer cell immune functions in hepatic schistosomiasis

To study Kupffer cell phagocytosis in relation to immune complex clearance in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, the present work included 30 schistosomal patients classified into three groups. The first group included patients with early hepatic affection, the second included those with late affection, and the third one comprised patients with late hepatic affection associated with nephropathy. The present study showed that Kupffer cells seem to play an important role in immune complexes' clearance during the course of hepatic schistosomiasis. If Kupffer cells' clearance mechanisms are overwhelmed, immune complexes circulate in the blood with increased liability for deposition in different organs causing immune complex mediated diseases such as schistosomal nephropathy

Role of some factors in schistosomal hepatic encephalopathy

The present work was carried out to evaluate the role of aromatic amino acids [AAAs], branched chain amino acids [BcAAs], ammonia and gamma amino butyric acid [GABA] as well as some trace elements [copper, zinc and manganese] in the development of schistosomal hepatic encephalopathy. This study included 10 patients with schistosomal hepatic encephalopathy and 10 normal healthy adults as controls. Determination of amino acids, GABA and ammonia was done using the Bechmann amino acid autoanalyzer, 119CL. Estimation of trace elements was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The findings revealed that the mean serum and CSF aromatic amino acids' [phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan] concentrations were significantly higher in cases than controls. However, there was significantly lower serum and CSF branched chain amino acids [leucine, isoleucine and valine] in cases than controls. It was also found that the mean serum and CSF copper and manganese concentrations were significantly raised while their mean zinc was significantly lower in cases than in controls

Cellular immunity in Hymenolepis nana infection

Hymenolepis nana affects both humoral and cellular components of the immune system. This work studied cellular immune changes occurring in cases infected with H. Nana and to determine whether or not these responses could be affected by antihelminthic treatment. Fifteen patients and 10 normal healthy controls were investigated. Patients received a 7-day course of aminosidine in a dose of 45 mg/kg/day for adults and 30 mg/kg/day for children. Stool examination was done before, one week and three weeks after treatment. In both controls as well as patients before and after treatment, T cell count, T and B cell function were studied by blast transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to mitogens, e.g. phytohemagglutinin [PHA] and Pokweed mitogen [Pwm]. The results suggested that, H. nana suppresses T cell count, T and B cell function. These changes return to normal level after elimination of infection

T-lymphocyte subsets characterization in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis using monoclonal antibodies

Immunohistochemical technique using monoclonal antibodies was applied on the liver tissues of 20 adult Egyptian male patients with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis to characterize the relative distribution of T-lymphocytes subpopulations. Sections showed marked pan T-lymphocytic infiltration [OKT3] with marked relative increment of suppressor/cytotoxic [OKT8] cells over helper/inducer [OKT4] cells. Also, alkaline phosphatase activity showed inverse significant correlation with suppressor/cytotoxic [OKT8] and pan lymphocyte [OKT3] cells. This suggested that suppressor/cytotoxic [OKT8] cells play an important role in modulation of the granuloma with subsequent stabilization of liver condition

Electrocardiographic changes in tetanus

Fifteen patients with tetanus were included in this study. Electrocardiographic changes during tetanic sedation and after clinical cure were recorded. The most frequent ECG changes were T wave changes [80%], sinus tachycardia [73.3%], P wave abnormalities [26.6%], right sided dominance [20%], ST depression [13.3%] and sinoatrial block [one case]. Most of these abnormalities were transient and all of them disappeared nearly completely after clinical cure

Study of gastric secretory activity in Schistosomal hepatic with ascites

Gastric secretory activity was studied in ten patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis with ascites and five control subjects. Free and total acidity were determined in the basal and stimulated gastric secretions. Pepsin activity was also measured in the basal gastric contents. The results showed significant fall in free and total acidity and significant reduction in pepsin activity in schistosomal patients. This was attributed to diminished secretory power of the stomach due to chronic venous congestion caused by the portal venous hypertension. Clinically all patients had sense of fullness in the epigastrium after meals. Intestinal flatulence was found in 80% of patients and heart-burn occurred in 20% of patients

study of neutrophil function in cases of amoebic dysentary

A modified nitrobule tetrazolium [NBT] dye reduction test was performed on samples of the peripheral blood obtained from 30 cases of amoebic dysentery [acute and chronic]. The obtained data indicated that NBT response was higher in patients with amoebic dysentery than in the controls. This may be due to an increase in the phagocytic activity of neutrophils towards trophozoites, the release of amoebic toxins or due to stimulation of neutrophils by products of tissue damage

Evaluation of the circumoval preciptin test in the different clinical stages of schistosomiasis mansoni

Circumoral precipitin test was done for 60 patients in three different clinical stages of Schistosomiasis mansoni as well as for 10 early cases with active Schistosomiasis haematobium. The sensitivity and the intensity of the precipitate was found to be higher in the cases with Schistosomiasis haematobium than in those with Schistosomiasis mansoni. It was also noticed that in cases of S. mansoni infection the sensitivity of this test and the intensity of the reaction increased with the progress of the disease. However, this increase was not found to be statistically significant

Some microvascular studies in hepatic schistosomiasis

"The present work comprised 40 living males; 25 were schistosomal patients and 15 were controls. Both groups were subjected to biochemical investigations including fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels. Specimens from the gingiva, skin, and sigmoid colon were examined histo-pathologically. Schistosomal patients showed mild glucose intolerance but no thickening in the wall of the capillaries of the chosen sites. These contradicted findings could be explained by the fact that these patients are of the low risk atherosclerosis group"

Liver function tests and protein fractionations in hepatic amoebiasis

Liver function tests and protein fractionations were studied in 12 cases diagnosed as hepatic amoebiasis. Abnormal values were detected in zinc turbidity, serum bilirubin, more apparent in S. alkaline phosphatase, S.G.P.T. and L.D. Hypo-al buminaemia occured in all cases and was associated with increased gamma, beta and alpha[2], globulins. Improvement in liver functions after treatment was noticed in S.G.P.T., lactic dehydrogenase and serum alk. phosphatase, with significant improvement in serum albumin and beta globulin