Effect of crowding stress on lung and heart of the adult albino rats and the possible protective role of sulpiride

Exposure to crowding stress is associated with increased respiratory system morbidity, However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Thus, there is a need for more study of this harmful effect. Sulpiride had been shown to have a protective role against crowding stress on other systems but this role was not studied well on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Investigating the possible harmful effects of crowding on adult albino rats' lung and heart and the possible protective role of combined sulpiride treatment. The present study was carried out on 24 adult albino rats of local strain weighing 120 +/- 3 g which were randomly divided equally into Group 1[C, untreated negative control], Group 2 [Cr, crowding exposed or positive control] where rats were exposed to crowding in a cage [20x20x20 cm- 6 rats /cage] for 1 month, Group 3[D, sulpiride-treated] where the rats were exposed to sulpiride "0.028 mg/B.W./day" and Group 4 [Cr+D, crowding + sulpiride-treated]. Paraffin sections were prepared for histological, histochemical and morphometric studies. The data were statistically analysed. The rats exposed to crowding only or sulpiride only showed highly significant damaging changes on lung such as thickening in the interalveolar septa and obliteration of the alveoli, inflammatory cells infiltration within the pulmonary interstitium, peribronchiolar infiltration and fibrosis, thickening of the pulmonary blood vessels walls, interstitial collagen fibres deposition and apoptotic cellular changes. On the level of heart, significant decrease in the diameters of the myocardial muscle fibres with focal areas of necrosis, apoptotic changes and increased collagen fibres deposition was marked in sulpiride group. When crowding and sulpiride treatments were combined, the damaging effects were maximized on the lung and heart. These results provided evidence that crowding stress causes obvious lung and heart tissue damages. No protective role for sulpiride was proofed. This is because using sulpiride alone or in combination with crowding showed marked damaging effects on the lung and heart tissues

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer and its application time on growth and yield of two sunflower varieties

The two Sunflower [Helianthus annuus L.] varieties i.e., Vedoc and Malabar were grown under four different N fertilization treatments i.e., 45, 60, 75 and 90 kg N/fed. And three times of application i.e., 21, 30, and 40 days from sowing in two types of doses i.e., low as 15 units and high as 30 units of Nitrogen during 2003 and 2004 seasons at the experimental farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Minufiya University. The application of the various tested fertilization treatments caused an increase in all studied traits except in the oil content. The treatment of 75 kg N/fed. gave the highest values for the most vegetative, yield and its components as well as oil yield. Variety Vedoc was better than cv. Malabar in all vegetative growth and all yield components characters under study, which lead to increase seed yield and oil yield. The maximum sunflower seed production with good quality was obtained by the application of 75 kg N/fed. which was added in three doses [LHH] as 15 units at 21 days, 30 units at 30 days and 30 units at 40 days after sowing for both tested varieties

Study of the relation of interleukin-6, essential fatty acids, and estrogen in bone metabolism in elderly women

The aim of this study was to evaluate and assess the relation of interleukin-6, essential fatty acids, and estrogen to the development of osteoporosis in women of different age groups. This study was carried on 40 women divided in two groups: the first group [GI] included 20 apparently healthy women above 65 years and the second group [GII] included 20 healthy women between 20-30 years of age. Serum osteocalcin, estrogen, interleukin-6 by ELISA, Urinary hydroxyproline by ELISA, essential fatty acid in the blood by Gas Liquid Chromatography, serum calcium, and phosphorus were estimated as well as bone density. The current study revealed a significant decrease of serum estrogen in GI when compared to GII [p<0.05], a significant increase of serum interleukin-6, osteocalcin, urinary hydroxyproline in GI when compared to GII [p<0.05], a significant decrease of bone density in GI when compared to GII [p<0.05]. A significant strong positive correlation between interleukin-6 and bone density in both groups were found. From this study, it is concluded that low estrogen level and high interleukin-6 could be used as a predictor for the occurrence of low bone density and the production of osteoporosis with the subsequent occurrence of fractures in post menopausal women

value of estimation of procalcitonin and complement levels in neonatal sepsis

Neonatal sepsis is a serious problem with high morbidity and mortality. Serum Procalcitonin, C[3] and C[4] levels were estimated in 30 neonates suffering from neonatal sepsis. Further investigations were done including: Complete blood picture, blood culture, CRP, ESR, CSF examination and chest X-ray. Eighteen matched healthy neonates were included as a control group. Serum procalcitonin level was significantly elevated in neonates suffering from septicemia [p<0. 001] and its level was significantly related to the severely affected cases suffering from meningitis, [p<0. 05] and those with poor outcome [P<0.01]. The mean levels of C[3] and C[4] in the study group were lower than controls but these differences were not statistically significant [P>0.05]. Also, there was no significant relationship between the level of C[3] and C[4] and severity of the cases or outcome. We can conclude that procalcitonin can be considered as an interesting diagnostic and prognostic marker of neonatal sepsis

Effect of tiaprofenic acid or naproxen on the serum glucose level and liver function in alloxan-diabetic rats, after treatment by insulin or glipizide

The effect of tiaprofenic acid [10 mg/kg] or naproxen [10 mg/kg] alone and each in combination with insulin [0.2 IU/kg] or glipizide [15 mg/kg] on serum glucose, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] was investigated before one and two weeks after treatment in alloxan-diabetic rats. The present study showed that tiaprofenic acid, naproxen, insulin, glipizide and their combinations caused a decrease in blood glucose level in the diabetic rats. Insulin, glipizide and naproxen-glipizide combination significantly reduced serum bilirubin level. Tiaprofenic acid and its combination with glipizide significantly elevated serum bilirubin level. Insulin, naproxen or tiaprofenic acid combination with either insulin or glipizide did not alter serum AST level. But glipizide significantly reduced, while tiaprofenic acid significantly elevated serum AST level after the second week of treatment. Insulin, naproxen, glipizide or their combinations did not change serum ALT level. Tiaprofenic acid significantly elevated serum ALT level after two weeks. In conclusion, both naproxen and tiaprofenic acid have hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats and naproxen potentiated the action of insulin on blood glucose. Caution must be taken when using each of them in diabetics on insulin therapy and dose adjustment may be necessary to obtain the best results. Tiaprofenic acid causes a significant hepatic disturbance shown by elevated bilirubin, AST and ALT levels in diabetic rats. Human studies may be required to confirm these Findings