Evaluation of some imported and local wheats for spaghetti-making

FIVE IMPORTED wheats [Australian, French, Canadian, American and Pakistani], and three local wheat cultivars were subjected to physical, chemical, rheological and spaghetti quality evaluation. Results indicated that the local soft wheat grains had higher total physical defects. Flour yields were about 70% for all tested wheat samples except for the local durum wheat, which was as low as 65.5%. A wide range of protein content [8.30 - 13.70%] of flours was recorded. The Canadian wheat flour had the highest protein content and the French wheat flour was the lowest in protein content. Wet and dry gluten contents of wheat flour samples were consistent with their protein contents. Rheological evaluation data indicated that Australian, Canadian, American and Egyptian durum flours had more suitable properties for spaghetti- making than the French and Pakistani flours. Quality evaluation of the manufactured spaghetti samples from the different tested wheat flours indicated that those made from Egyptian durum wheat, Canadian wheat and American wheat flours were superior

Suppression of genotoxic effects of cyclophosphamid in mice by Nigella sativa seed extracts

The aim of this research is to study the genotoxic effects of Nigella sativa extracts [if any] in the lab animals and to test their capabilities as an antimutagens. Aquatic and ethanolic extracts were prepared from N. sativa seeds. Different doses [50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg] of their extracts were given orally to mice for 7 days to check their genotoxic activity by using mitotic index chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells and micronuclei formation as well as sperm head abnormalities. There was a significant reduction in spontaneous as well as MTX-induced chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei frequencies of bone marrow cells as an influence of N. sativa extracts-treatments. Significant increase in cellular division was also observed. Furthermore, significant protection of sperms from MTX-effects was achieved by using N. sativa extracts. The ethanolic extracts were more effective than aquatic extract in its suppression to MTX genotoxic effects. These results indicated the potency of N. sativa seeds in protection against genotoxic effects of carcinogens

Immunohistochemical localization of phosphorylated AMPA-type glutamate receptors in cerebellar Purkinje cell layer

Twenty adult albino rats were used in this work. The skull of each animal was opened carefully to obtain the cerebellum after killing the animal and the vermis was dissected. Each vermis was cut sagittally into many slices [200 mum in thickness]. The cerebellar slices were treated by different chemicals [AMPA, 8-bromo-cGMP and antibody against peptide 12 [12p3]] for 5-30 minutes and one of the protein kinase inhibitors [staurosporine] was added to some cerebellar slices. After a previous chemical treatment, the cerebellar slices were fixed in a suitable fixative for 72 hours before light and electron microscopic preparation and examination. The phosphorylation [staining of Purkinje cell bodies and their dendrites] of AMPA receptors was rapid after exposure to AMPA, but this phosphorylation was transient and disappeared within 20 minutes. 12p3 immunoreactivity in long-term desensitization persisted for more than 30 minutes after its application, which was demonstrated by an immunohistochemical study of Purkinje cells. Protein kinase inhibitor [staurosporine] application abolished the staining of Purkinje cell dendrites due to its inhibitory action. So, phosphorylation of AMPA- type glutamate receptors in Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum may be used in the potentiation or desensitization of this cell layer

Effect of the black seed oil [Nigella Sativa oil] on experimentally-induced gastric mucosal injury in albino rats

The present study was done to investigate the possible effect of Nigella sativa oil [NSO] on cold restraint [CR] and indomethacin [I] induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. Thirty-six adult male albino rats were used in this study; they were divided into six equal groups. Pyloric ligation was done in all rats to collect gastric juice. Gastric ulcer was induced by CR and I treatment. Oral treatment with NSO daily for two weeks was given to control [non-stressed] and to CR and I treated rats before ulcer induction. Gastric ulcer scores, gastric juice analysis for acidity, proteolytic activity and mucin, gastric mucosa1 histamine, glutathione [GSH], prostaglandin E2 [PGE2] and lipid peroxides as well as serum total antioxidant status [TAS] were determined and the mean levels were compared with control non treated parameters. It can be concluded that NSO imparted a protective action against CR- and I-induced ulcer in rats and can be recommended for prophylaxis and treatment of gastric mucosa1 injury

Urinary 5-hydroxy-3 indole acetic acid in infantile colic

This study included 21 cases with infantile colic and 14 apparently healthy controls, with age ranged from 143 +/- 147 days for cases and 300 +/- 248 days for controls. Urinary level of 5-hydroxy-3 indole acetic acid [5-OHIAA], a metabolite of serotonin, was studied in the 21 infants with infantile colic and the 14 control subjects. Urinary 5-OHIAA level was significantly higher in colicky infants than in the control group, but no significant difference was found regards the type of feeding pattern and the use of spasmolytics [natural and drugs]

Involvement of and 2 - adrenoceptors in the modulation of the hyperglycaemic action of lithium in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Intravenous lithium [4 mEq/kg] in streptozotocin-diabetic rats, increased serum glucose level but did not affect the basal serum concentration of insulin. After intravenous glucose [0.5 g/kg], lithium-treated diabetic rats showed a rise in serum glucose without any insulin response. Lithium treatment in diabetic rats also showed a significant rise in serum corticosterone, epinephrine and norepinephrine but did not affect serum dopamine. Moreover, it decreased significantly the brain concentration of norepinephrine and dopamine without any noticeable effect on brain epinephrine. The lithium-induced effects on serum glucose levels were reversibly blocked by pretreatment of the diabetic rats with the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine whereas the alpha 2-receptor antagonist prazosin and the non-selective Beta-receptor antagonist propranolol were ineffective in blocking these effects. The low insulin concentrations measured in the diabetic rats were not affected by such pretreatment. Lithium-induced rise in serum corticosterone was also inhibited by pretreatment with yohimbine but not with prazosin or propranolol