Effect of larval trematodes on the gonads and antibody response of the freshwater snails, biomphalaria Alexandrina and bulinus truncatus

Infection of hermaphroditic freshwater snails with digenetic trematodes causes a strong reduction in gamete production and sexual maturation. The reduction in gamete production in infected snails coincides with the migration and establishment of larval stages of parasite in the gonad acini. The acini were abserved to be invaded with large numbers of rediae and cercariae and consequently the gonad of B, alexandrina [Ehrenberg, 1831] and B. truncatus [Audouin, 1827] following exposure to infection were investigated, to characterize the parasite-induced response and to understand its functional relevance. Infection provoked significant elevations in titres, but this elevation doesn't interfere or stop the fate of parasite. Thus, the functional relevance of the response remains enigmatic

Estimation of serum digoxin in patients with heart failure

This study included 15 patients with rheumatic heart failure under the classic antifailure methods [digoxin and diuretics]. A good history and thorough clinical examination especially for manifestations of right and left sided heart failure were done. Laboratory investigations such as Hb level, ESR, CRP and ASOT were done. Serum digoxin level was 0.51-1.9 mg/ml, mean 1.039 in the controlled group, while it was 0.97-2 ng/ml, mean 1.30 in uncontrolled group. Comparing this to the therapeutic level 1.2 ng/ml most of the cases of controlled and uncontrolled groups showed low digoxin level and not showed toxic digoxin level

electrochemical technique to study sealability of five root canal sealers

An in-vitro study was undertaken to investigate the sealing ability andleakage of five different commercial endodontic sealers by an electrochemicaltechnique. The roots of freshly extracted single rooted teeth were selectedand the root canals were biomechanically prepared. The roots were dividedinto five groups, six roots for each group. For group VI, only two roots wereused as positive control with no gutta-percha and no sealer. The degree ofmicroleakage was tested over a period of 30 days by an electrochemicaltechnique, depending on the flow of an electric current between two pieces ofmetal immersed in an electrolyte. The magnitude of the followed current wasdirectly proportional to the degree of the leakage. The study concluded that the large variation in leakage currents in case of positive controls can be attributed to the variation in root surfaces. There is a variation of leakage within the different five root canal sealers not only due to the different physical properties of the root canal sealers but also due to the variation between teeth roots

Effects of interaction between gliclazide and some calcium channel blockers on serum glucose, insulin and cortisol levels in non-diabetic and diabetic albino rats

The present work was conducted to study the effects of some calcium channel blockers[nifedipine and verapamil] on fasting serum glucose, insulin and in alloxan diabetic rats. Also the interactions between these calcium channel blockers and the oral hypoglycaemic sulfonylurea [gliclazide] were studied following the same parameters. It was found that oral administration of verapamil 20 mgm/kgm/day or nifedipine 1 mg/kgm/day for 15 succes sive days produced a significant elevation of serum glucose level accompanied by a significant reduction of serum insulin level in non diabetic rats, meanwhile in diabetic rats although they had significant reduced serum insulin level they did not elevate serum glucose level. This is probably due to some potential hypoglycaemic effects of calcium channel blockers that are only working in diabetic rats e.g. reduction of intestinal glucose absorption in diabetic rats and/ or blockade of the effects of hyperglucagonaemia that often prevails in type ll diabetes mellitus. Gliclazide 18 mg/kgm/day for 15 successive days produced a highly significant reduction of serum glucose level, accompanied by significant elevation of serum insulin in both non diabetic and diabetic rats. Coadministration of either calcium channel blockers with gliclazide significantly reduced it's hyperinsulinaemic effect in both groups of rats, whereas the gliclazide hypoglycaemic effect was abolished in non diabetic rats but in diabetic rats it was not signigicantly affected. As regards serum cortisol level neither verapamil nor nifedipine could produce any significant changes. Gliclazide elevated serum cortisol in nondiabetic rats only, such an effect that was abolished by coadministration of verapamil of nifedipine. Therefore, until a further detailed clinical study is available, it may be justifiable to follow up blood glucose level in patients under calcium channel blockers therapy and care should be exercised in using these drugs in potentially diabetic individuals. As regards the use of calcium channel blockers in diabetic patients under treatment with oral sulfonylurea, although they did not seem to adversely affect the control of diabetic state inspite of their hypoinsulinaemic effect as the present animal study proved, yet further evaluation of such interaction in human is still needed

Interaction between butorphanol, pentazocine and digitalis on the cardiovascular system, experimental study

In the present work, an experimental study of the possible interactions between digoxin and two opioids [pentazocine and butourphanol] on the cardiovascular system was conducted both in vivo and in vitro. l. V. injection of pentazocine or butorphanol produced a significant hypodigitalised as well as in intravenously or orally digitalized dogs, with no effect on electrocardiographic tracings. Each of these opioids when administered alone or with digoxin infusion to the isolated rabbit heart was found to induce significant decrease of the myocardial contractility but no changes in the mean coronary flow. The possible mechanisms underlying these interactions were discussed, and it could be concluded that pentazocine or butorphanol must be used cautiously during digitalis therapy owing to their potential negative inotropic and hypotensive effects

Glycemic index of some common Egyptian foods

Glycemic index of beans, lentils and bread which represents some of the common Traditional Egyptian foods was done. Fifteen healthy adults were chosen for the study. They are classified into 3 groups of five. Blood sugar curve for every person in the 3 groups following 100 gm glucose and either of foods containing an equivalent amount of carbohydrate to 100 gm glucose was done. The blood sugar responses to the tested foods [Beans, Lentils and Bread] were much lower than that of the liquid glucose after 1/2, 1, and 2 hours post prandial. On the other hand the tested foods gave slightly higher blood sugar responses after 3 hours. This means that blood sugar curves of the tested foods are much more flat than those of the liquid glucose formula containing equivalent amount of carbohydrates. The glycemic index for beans was 27.4 +/- 3.07%, for lentils was 35.3 +/- 2.42% and that for bread was 67.2 +/- 2.87%. These results showed the importance of Legumes [beans and Lentils] to be much involved into the diabetic diets replacing other carbohydrate foods with higher glycemic indices [bread and simple sugars]. In addition these foods are cheap, available, palatable and of high nutritive value

Effect of halothane on serum lipids

Thirty healthy adult patients scheduled for elective surgery were studied. They were divided into two groups: The first group was maintained on nitrous oxide/oxygen, pethidine, pancuroniumwith controlled respiration, while in the second group nitrous oxide was substituted by 1% halothane. Four venous blood samples were taken to study the effect of halothane on serum total lipids

Evaluation of intra-venous diazepam anaesthesia on liver functions

Diazepam has been based as premedication and main intravenous anesthetic agent in 60 patients subjected to different minor and major surgical interventions. A battery of liver function tests was applied on blood samples collected before, immediately after, 21 hr, 48 hr, and one week after operation. By using this battery of tests, the immediate and delayed effects of diazepam on liver functions could be evaluated. Diazepam was used in some cases with impaired liver functions, but no statistically significant changes could be detected. Thus intra-venous diazepam anaesthesia can be safely used in the presence of liver disease provided other factors i.e. hypoxia, hypercabia, etc., which affect liver functions are avoided. We would like to thank Dr. A.S. Ibrahim [M.D.], Lecturer of Statistics, Cancer Institute, Cairo University for his kind help in the statistical analysis of the results