Lethality and Antioxidant Activity of some Sudanese Medicinal Plants’ Fixed Oils.

The objective of the undergoing work is investigating antitumor therapy potential and antioxidant capacity of Sudanese medicinal plants Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae), Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae), Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae), Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) and Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del (Zygophyllaceae) by studying the plants seeds fixed oils for their cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity. This study was conducted at the Sudan National Research Center, Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research Center, Khartoum, Sudan, in June-August, 2013. The five fixed oils cytotoxicity was studied using Brine Shrimp Lethality and antioxidant activity by DPPH and Iron Chelating Assays. Obtained results showed that Ricinus communis fixed oil has the highest toxicity with LC50 1.7014, followed by Nigella sativa with LC50 606.2, when analyzed by Finney Probit Analysis. Antioxidant activity results of the five fixed oils measured using DPPH showed that Nigella sativa fixed oil showed high antioxidant potential (85%), while Ricinus communis and Helianthus annuus fixed oils showed moderate antioxidant activity (52%) and (51%) respectively. All of the fixed oils showed no activity when using Iron Chelating Assay. Results justify the plants use in folkloric medicine although dosages should be monitored for its safe use. Studies directed towards identification of bioactive compounds are recommended.

role of intramuscular injection of methotrexate in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria

Chronic idiopathic urticaria can be extremely disabling in it's severe form and may respond poorly to antihistamines or systemic corticosteroids, so immunomodulatory treatment had been tried for those severe cases. To determine the beneficial effect and safety of methotrexate in Chronic idiopathic urticaria patients compared with loratadine. Forty patients with severe Chronic idiopathic urticaria were included in this study. Twenty of these patients received methotrexate in a dose of 12 mg once a day/week IM injection, after performing baseline investigations. The other 20 patients received loratadine 10 mg orally once daily. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks and were followed up for 8 weeks after treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment there was a significant improvement in both frequency of episodes and duration of episodes in patients treated with methotrexate. At the end of treatment and after 8 weeks follow up assessment, patients treated with methotrexate showed a significant improvement regarding frequency of episodes [P value <0.0001] and duration of episodes [P value<0.0001] compared with those treated with loratadine. It is concluded that methotrexate was not only significantly more effective than loratadine in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria but also had a significantly sustained effect after discontinuation of therapy

Effect of estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) gene polymorphism on high density lipoprotein levels in response to hormone replacement therapy

Studies have shown that estrogen replacement therapy and estrogen plus progestin replacement therapy alter serum levels of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. However, HDL cholesterol levels in women vary considerably in response to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A significant portion of the variability of these levels has been attributed to genetic factors. Therefore, we investigated the influence of estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) gene polymorphisms on HDL levels in response to postmenopausal HRT. We performed a prospective cohort study on 54 postmenopausal women who had not used HRT before the study and had no significant general medical illness. HRT consisted of conjugated equine estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate continuously for 1 year. The lipoprotein levels were measured from blood samples taken before the start of therapy and after 1 year of HRT. ESR1 polymorphism (MspI C>T, HaeIII C>T, PvuII C>T, and XbaI A>G) frequencies were assayed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. A general linear model was used to describe the relationships between HDL levels and genotypes after adjusting for age. A significant increase in HDL levels was observed after HRT (P = 0.029). Women with the ESR1 PvuII TT genotype showed a statistically significant increase in HDL levels after HRT (P = 0.032). No association was found between other ESR1 polymorphisms and HDL levels. According to our results, the ESR1 PvuII TT genotype was associated with increased levels of HDL after 1 year of HRT.

Ovarian activity before and after gonadal suppression by GnRH-a in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinism and acanthosis nigricans

Objective. To investigate the ovarian activity before and after gonadal suppression with GnRH-analog in patients with PCO, hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinism and ancathosis nigricans. Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: Tertiary academic medical center. Patients: Six patients with clinical findings of PCO, hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans. Interventions. Morning blood samples in the follicular phase to determine the seteroid levels, glucose and insulin curve, comparing to a control group. Administration for 2 consecutive months of a GnRH-analog, comparing, in the study group, the free testosterone levels before and after ovarian suppression. Main Outcome Measure. Determination of insulin levels in PCO, hirsutism and acanthotic patients and the free-testosterone levels before and after gonadal suppression. Results. Insulin levels were significantly higher in the study group when compared to normal women during the glycemic test. We also found a significant decrease in the free-testosterone levels after 2 months of gonadal suppression with GnRH-analog when compared to the initial time. Conclusions. Patients with PCO, hirsutism and acanthosis nicrigans present high levels of in sulin, suggesting an ovarian hyperesponsiveness, which is not sustained when gonadotrophic blockage was achieved.

Eficácia e segurança de um novo sistema matricial para liberaçäo transdérmica de stradiol comparativamente ao sistema clássico de reservatório / An open, randomized assessment of the efficacy and safety of two transdermal estradiol patches for relief of climacteric symptoms

Estudo comparativo, aberto, randomizado, foi conduzido em 10 centros da América Latina (oito no Brasil, um na Argentina e um no Chile), para avaliar a eficácia e segurança de dois sistemas transdérmicos para liberação de estradiol. Um total de 182 pacientes foi aleatoriamente distribuído para receber o sistema matricial (Climaderm-Wyeth-Ayerst) ou sistema clássico do tipo reservatório (Estraderm TTS 50 - Ciba-Geigy). Os sistemas foram aplicados na região inferior do abdome em áreas alternadas, durante seis ciclos consecutivos de 28 dias. Os sistemas liberavam aproximadamente, 50gr de estradiol por dia. Em ambos os grupos houve, em relação ao pré-tratamento, decréscimo significativo do número diário de fogachos nos ciclos de um a seis, porém houve, em relação ao sistema matricial, melhora significativa nos ciclos 4 (p = 0,033) e 6 (p = 0,046). Houve também diferença significativa entre os grupos com relação à fraqueza nos ciclos 2 (p = 0,019) e 3 (p + 0,015), fadiga no ciclo 2 (p = 0,033), interrupções do sono no ciclo 6 (p + 0,048), nervosismo no ciclo 3 (p = 0,045) e escore total nos ciclos 2 (p = 0,030) e 3 (p = 0,041), a favor do sistema matricial e 18 ( 21,2 por cento) do grupo medicado com o sistema reservatório abandonaram o tratamento

Prescribing rates of various antihypertensive drugs in Baghdad

The rate of prescribing various antihypertensives was evaluated. Of 230 prescriptions, 180 contained single drug therapy while 50 contained combined therapy. Methyldopa [21%], atenolol [12.9%], frusemide [12.9%], propranolol [11.5%], hydrochlorothiazide+ amiloride [11.2%] and chlortalidon [8.7%] were the most commonly prescribed agents, whether used single or in combination. Betaadrenoceptor blockers [B-blockers] [34.4%], diuretics [33.3%], and centrally acting drugs [C.N.S. acting drugs] [18.3%] were the most commonly prescribed groups when used as monotherapy. Regarding combined therapy combining a diuretic with a C.N.S. acting drug [52%]or aB-blocker[36%] was preferred. of the various groups of antihypertensives analyzed whether used singly or in combination, diuretics [37.8%], B-blockers [30.8%] and C.N.S. acting drugs [21%] attend the highest prescribing rates. It is concluded that the prescribing rate of antihypertensive drugs in Baghdad is influenced by the step care program as well as other factors which include; experience of the physician, availability of the drug, associated diseases, cost of the drug, and patient compliance

effects of indomethacin-prednisolone combination on carcinoma of the urinary bladder

The effects of indomethacin-prednisolone on urinary bladder carcinoma was investigated All patients underwent full clinical evaluation including cystoscopy and clinical staging of the tumour. The mean tumour diameter was determined and a biopsy material was obtained. Patients were instructed to take prednisolone 15 mg/day orally and indomethacin 200mg/day rectally for four weeks. At the end of treatment, the intravenous urogram and cystoscopy were repeated. Nine patients had completed the study. A significant reduction [P < 0.05] in the mean tumour diameter was observed. Furthermore, a tendency for symptomatic and radiological improvement was noted. It is concluded that indomethacin-prednisolone combination has a beneficial effect on carcinoma of the bladder

Hemorrhagic shock in deoxycortisone [Doc] -saline hypertensive rats: the effect of naloxone

The hemodynamic changes and metabolic alterations during hemorrhagic shock were determined in deoxycorticosterone-saline hypertensive [DOC-saline] rats and compared with those of normotensive control rats. The shocked DOC-saline rats showed more drop in the arterial pressure, an early rise and subsequent decline in plasma glucose and lower plasma triglyceride than the normotensive control rats. Survival rats were equal. Treatments with naloxone 1 mg/kg/hr produced a more dramatic rise in the arterial pressure of the normotensive than the DOC- saline rats; survival rates of both groups were greatly improved. naloxone reduced the decline in plasma glucose during the late hours of hemorrhagic shock and increased plasma triglycerides in DOC-saline rats. It is concluded that naloxone is less effective in shocked DOC-saline hypertensive rats than in shocked normal control rats