Study of serum levels and skin expression of S100B protein in psoriasis

Abstract Background: S100B protein was reported to be elevated in psoriatic patients' serum, with no previous evaluation of its skin expression, in contrast to the extensively studied S100 protein. Objective: To evaluate the serum level and skin expression of S100B in psoriasis to assess its possible involvement in its pathogenesis. Methods: Serum level of S100B protein was estimated in 40 psoriatic patients of different clinical varieties and 10 healthy controls. S100B protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients and in normal skin of controls. Relation to disease severity was also evaluated. Results: Serum level of S100B protein was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (0.15±0.03 µg/l) than in controls (0.03±0.007 µg/l) (P-value <0.001) with no significant correlation with PASI score. On comparing grades of S100B protein skin expression in lesional and non-lesional skin biopsies, a statistically significant difference was found (P=0.046) with higher percentage of strong S100B skin expression (60%) in non-lesional than in lesional (42%) skin. All the control biopsies showed negative expression. Study limitations: Relatively small sample size with a limited range of low PASI scores. Conclusion: This study points to a potential link between psoriasis and S100B protein with higher serum and skin expression in patients than in controls.

Flavonoid chemical composition and antidiabetic potential of Brachychiton acerifolius leaves extract

Objective To evaluate Brachychiton acerifolius leaf extracts as antidiabetic potential agent and to identify the main active constituents using bioactivity guided fractionation. Methods In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated for B. acerifolius different extracts using DPPH assay and vitamin C as control. Antidiabetic activity was then determined using STZ-induced rats treated daily with ethyl acetate and 70% ethanol leaf extracts for 4 weeks at a dose of 200 g/kg body weight against gliclazide reference drug. Blood glucose, α-amylase, lipid profile, liver function enzymes and oxidative stress markers were assessed along with histopathological study for liver and pancreatic tissues. Isolation and structural elucidation of active compounds were made using Diaion and Sephadex followed by spectral analyses. Results The results indicated that ethyl acetate and ethanol leaf extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity compared to that of vitamin C (IC

Diversity and comparative studies on bulinus snails collected from two localities in Egypt

A comparative study of the shell structure, seasonal temperature and Calcium content of Bulinus snails from two areas [Damietta and Giza] in Egypt was done and compared with laboratory snails from Schistosome Biological Supply Center [SBSC]. The shells of collected snails identified as Bulinus truncatus, showed a wide variation in shape. The results showed a significant differences were detected between the populations from SBSC and Damietta [p<0.05] for mean of measured shell width, aperture length, length of spire and number of whorls. The populations from Giza and Damietta governorates showed significant differences [P<0.05] in mean of measured length of diagonal, length of body whorl above aperture, length of spire and number of whorls. There were no statically significant differences between the populations from SBSC and Giza. The seasonal temperature affected on susceptibility of snails to infection with Schistosoma haematobium. The mean prepatent period was short in summer and long in winter. The shells of S. haematobium - infected B. truncatus snails showed hypocalcification from all localities

Cytokines and mother sporocysts in susceptible and resistant bulinus truncatus snails infected with schistosoma haematobium

The presence of immunoreactive interleukin [IL-2] interferon gamma [FN-y] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] in addition to the citation of mother sporscytes in cephalopodal musculature in the susceptible and resistance Bulinus truncatus the specific intermediate host for the trematode Schistosoma haematobium were investigated. Using ELISA tests, Results indicated that the concentration of IL-2-like activity in the susceptible and resistant snails decreased significantly after infection then persisted at low levels until the 4[th] week post exposure [WPE] in susceptible snails, while in resistant snails elevated during the second WPE, and returned to initial level at 3 and 4 WPE. Susceptible snails had low detectable levels of TNF-alpha and INF-y like-activity after infection. However, the resistant snails had significant low levels of TNF-alpha and INF-y like-activity from 3 WPE until the 4th WPE without any sign of normalization. Histological sections in the head- foot region of susceptible and resistance B, truncatus infected with S. haematobium, mother sporocysts exists froml to 7 [day post exposure] DPE, in the susceptible snail the mother sporocysts were found as single, multiple and mature types. No mother sporocysts were appear in the lip and mantle of the snail on 2, 5, 7 DPE and on 1-3, 6 DPE respectively. In the resistant snails few mother sporocysts were found in the lip, mantle and tentacles. The results showed that schistosome-resistant Bulinus can be an alternative strategy for the control of schistosomiasis

Antioxidant lipoxygenase inhibitors from the leaf extracts of Simmondsia chinensis

OBJECTIVE@#To isolate and identify chemical constituents with antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects of the ethanolic extract of Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) leaves.@*METHODS@#The alcoholic extract was subjected to successive solvent fractionation. The antioxidant active fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions) were subjected to a combination of different chromatographic techniques guided by the antioxidant assay with DPPH. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and correlated with known compounds. The antioxidant activity was assessed quantitively using DPPH and β-carotene methods. The inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase was assessed on soybean lipoxygenase enzyme.@*RESULTS@#Ten flavonoids and four lignans were isolated. Flavonoid aglycones showed stronger antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects than their glycosides. Lignoid glycosides showed moderate to weak antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A total of 14 compounds were isolated and identified from Simmondsia chinensis; 12 of them were isolated for the first time. This is the first report that highlights deeply on the phenolic content of jojoba and their potential biological activities and shows the importance of this plant as a good source of phenolics in particular the flavonoid content.

Antioxidant lipoxygenase inhibitors from the leaf extracts of Simmondsia chinensis

Objective: To isolate and identify chemical constituents with antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects of the ethanolic extract of Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) leaves. Methods: The alcoholic extract was subjected to successive solvent fractionation. The antioxidant active fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions) were subjected to a combination of different chromatographic techniques guided by the antioxidant assay with DPPH. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and correlated with known compounds. The antioxidant activity was assessed quantitively using DPPH and β-carotene methods. The inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase was assessed on soybean lipoxygenase enzyme. Results: Ten flavonoids and four lignans were isolated. Flavonoid aglycones showed stronger antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects than their glycosides. Lignoid glycosides showed moderate to weak antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects. Conclusions: A total of 14 compounds were isolated and identified from Simmondsia chinensis; 12 of them were isolated for the first time. This is the first report that highlights deeply on the phenolic content of jojoba and their potential biological activities and shows the importance of this plant as a good source of phenolics in particular the flavonoid content.

Lymphangioma circumscriptum A rare form Of lymphangiomas

Superficial lymphangiomas are either cavernous type, diffuse or circumscribed [circumscriptum]. Lymphangima circumscriptum [LC] is a rare benign condition characterized by the appearance of persistent clusters in the skin and subcutaneous tissue which may contain fluctuant cysts[1]. The first reported description of LC was done by Fox and Fox[2] in1878. They named it as lymphangiectodes[2]. The term LC is first used by Morris[3]in1889. Complete surgical excision is the main treatment. Here we are reporting a case of lymphangioma circumscritum of the thigh in a six-year old girl

Preparation and evaluation of low and free gluten formulas for bakery products

This study was conducted to prepare and evaluate low [LG] and free gluten [FG] formulas for bakery products [pan bread and shortening cake].. Flour formulas mixture were consisted of: wheat flour [WF], rice flour [RF], corn flour [CF], potato flour [PF], and soybean flour [SF] with addition of Arabic gum [AG] as [%/ wt] The rheologyical properties of different formula mixtures [farinogragh and viscoamylogragh test] and gluten content were determined. In this study the prepared formulas were tested biologically using 30 male albino rats [95 +/- 5g].Rat were divided into five groups [6 rats each] Group [1] fed on basal diet [control group], group [2] fed on basal diet [Casein free], group [3] fed on basal diet [with wheat flour], group [4] fed on basal diet [with LG formula] and the last group [5] was fed on basal diet [with FG formula] for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period rats were scarified for blood and organ collections. Blood samples were subjected to several determinations: glucose, hemoglobin, albumin as well as total protein level. Results revealed that the most acceptable formulas for low and free gluten bakery products were 35%WF+28%RF-M5%CF+15%PF+ 7%SF with 5% AG and 40%RF+30%CF +20%PF+10%SF with 5%AG, respectively for bread while the cake had the same formulas without adding Arabic gum.. The biological results showed no significant differences between the two formulas with regard to all the investigated parameters. This study recommended the use of the prepared low and free formulas mixture in production of low and free gluten products due to its beneficial effects to the celiac disease individuals