Phytochemical and biological study of petrea volubilis L. [verbenaceae]

Petrea volubilis L. was studied for its secondary metabolites and biological activities. The phytochemical screening of dried aerial parts revealed the presence of different constituents such as unsaturated sterols, triter pens, and flavonoids. The biological activities of the total extract and different fractions were evaluated in a series of bioassays [antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antibacterial], the majority of them showed significant activities in the applied test systems. Extensive purification of the ethyl acetate extract led to isolation of apigenin [1], quercetin [2], 4, 6-dimethylscutellarien [3], hypogallic acid [3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid] [4], trans-caffeic acid [5] vanillic acid [6] and acteoside [7]. The structure elucidation of 1-7, was carried out by [1]H-NMR, UV and MS analyses

Assessment of the activity of provitamin A against hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

The present work was performed to study the influence of chemoprotective and preventive activity of dietary carrot which was consumed daily on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by Dibutylnitrosamine [DBN] in male albino rats. Sixty six adult male albino rats [Sprague Dawley Strain] were randomly allocated in groups of eleven rats fed continuously for 60 days on six diets. The first three groups were served as control and put on the following diets throughout the experimental period, [GI] commercial diet; [G2] commercial diet with 50g of fresh carrot daily; [G3] commercial diet and treated with Dibutylnitrosamine [DBN] in drinking water as hepatocarcinogenie agent. The other experimental groups were fed on commercial diet +50g of fresh carrot, 30 days before [G4] or after treatment with DBN [G5] respectively, while G6 received commercial diet +50 g of fresh carrot daily and treated at the same time with DBN throughout the experimental period, 60 days. Fasting blood samples were taken on the day 60 for the determination of antioxidative state by measuring reduced glutathione [GSH]; complete blood picture [CBC] and blood indices; serum and liver malondialdehydc [lipid peroxidations marker]; liver GSH; serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, GOT, total and direct bilirubin; serum total protein and albumin; and pathologic evaluations were made. Fresh carrot administration revealed a protective and preventive effects on the rats hepatocyte treated with DBN which was reflected by the significant reduction in the liver function tests [AST, ALT, ALP, GOT, LDH and total bilirubin], while no significant improvement in either total protein or albumin could be detected. This reduction is ordered among the different treated groups as following G5, G6 and G4. The oxidative state was determined by measuring liver and whole blood GSH, exhibiting significant increase in blood GSH in contrast to significant reduction in liver GSH. While liver and serum MDA concentration as lipid peroxidation index, showed significant reduction in serum and liver MDA. Histopathologically, liver of rats fed carrot before, during or after hepatocarcinogensis, showed highly improvement on preneoplastic lesions, less fibrosis and oval cells development than positive control, but in different degree of lesions. It was concluded that, carrot consumption was very effective in preventing hepatocarcinogensis, when it is administrated daily after short exposure to hepatocarcinogen, while before or during the earcinogenesis carrot intake may have mild improvement effect on hepatocarcinogenesis which was revealed by decrease in the severity of illness

Comparative study between paratyphoid A and typhoid fever cases

Twenty eight positive blood culture paratyphoid A fever cases were studied. Forty two positive blood culture typhoid cases were taken as controls. Cases and controls were subjected to: 1] careful history, 2] thorough clinical examination, 3] two blood cultures for salmonella, 4] Widal agglutination test, 5] total and differential white blood count, 6] urine and stool cultures following therapy. There was no significant difference in the clinical picture between acute paratyphoid A fever and acute typhoid fever except the significant decrease of anorexia [57%], toxic look [54%], coated tongue [64%] in acute paratyphoid A cases when compared to acute, typhoid cases. The prevalence of extraintestinal symptoms in paratyphoid A cases may mimic viral infections. Three of the 4 classical signs namely; toxic look [54%], bronchitic chest [50%], splenomegaly [72%] and tympanitis [64%] were good bed side suggestive clinical diagnostic aids in paratyphoid A cases. Blood culture was the cornerstone of diagnosis of paratyphoid A cases. In 6 [21%], only the second blood sample was positive stressing the value of multiple cultures. Significant Widal antibody titre was elicited in only about half [57%] of paratyphoid A cases which was significantly lower than typhoid cases [83%]. Leucopenia was found in only 25% of paratyphoid A cases. Eosinopenia was constant and is considered as a diagnostic and prognostic aid. No correlation was elicited between either the height of antibody titre or the height of leucocytic count and the severity of illness. There was no significant difference in the response to therapy or the occurrence of complications between paratyphoid A cases and typhoid cases. Up to the current knowledge, this is the first report on comparative study between acute paratyphoid A fever and acute typhoid fever in Egypt from clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic points of view

Comparative study between different diagnostic techniques in huge splenomegaly cases in El-Minia province

Fifty four patients presenting by huge splenomegaly were admitted to Tropical Medicine Department, El-Minia University Hospital. Tissue biopsy revealed pure bilharziasis due to S. hematobium in 10 [19%] cases, liver cirrhosis in 23 [42%], mixed schistosomiasis and cirrhosis in 8 [15%], hepatoma in 3 [6%], lymphoma in 6 [11%] and hematological diseases in the form of chronic myeloid leukemia in 2 [3.5%] and thalassemia major in 2 [3.5%] cases. The sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography was 100% and 97% in cases of schistosomiasis 100% and 100% in cases of hepatoma, 87% and 100% in cases of liver cirrhosis, 33% and 100% in cases of lymphoma respectively. There was a positive significant correlation between endoscopic variceal grading, portal vein diameter, splenic vein diameter, size of the spleen and the grading of the portal tract thickenings. The pathological and ultrasonographic diagnosis was the same in 38 [70%] cases. Splenogram was characteristic but not diagnostic in cases of schistosomiasis and liver cirrhosis. It was diagnostic and similar to peripheral blood picture in the 2 cases of chronic my loid leukemia and was normal in cases of thalassemia major. Splenic aspiration was able to diagnose all cases of lymphomas. It can be considered as a useful adjunct to the usual diagnostic procedure, both in staging and follow up, especially in cases presenting only by splenomegaly

frequency of hepatitis C infection in dialysis patients: Risk factors and hepatic affection

Anti -HCV was detetced by EIA [2nd generation] in 36 / 78 patients [46%] on haemodialysis compared to 22% in healthy subjected. As regards risk factors, both tyhe number of blood units [> 20 units] and the duration of dialysis [> 2 years] were significantly associated with higher frequency of anti-HCV [68%] and [64%] respectively. However there was no significant relation between anti-HCV and the presence or abscence of HBSAg and anti-HBC. Other factors as age, sex, history of injections operations, and contact with jaundiced patients has no definit relation to anti-HCV seropositivty. Hepatic affection was significantly higher [47%] in anti- HCV seropositive patients compared to 19% in seronegatives. Normal levels of ALT were detected in a good number of seropositive patients and controls. This means that ALT cannot be used as a surrogate marker of HCV infection and direct test for HCV is mandatory

Alpha fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma, and it's relation to tumour size, pathological grading and underlying liver diseases

APP was estimated in the serum of 60 patients with HCC either pure or associated with chronic liver diseases including schistosomal periportal fibrosis, chronic viral hepatitis and /or cirrhosis. Only 36.6% of cases were having values above the cutoff value [500 ng/ml], while 35% were having normal values [<20 ng/ml], and 28.4% had intermediate values. No significant relation was found between AFP and the size of tumors measured ultrasonographically, or the grade of malignancy as detected histologically. No statistically significant differences were found between various associated liver diseases including schistosomiasis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, or mixed etiologies

Clinicopathological and ultrasonographic study of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt

This work was done on 60 patients diagnosed on clinical and ultrasonographic bases to have HCC. For each patient clinical assessment, laboratory, ultrasonographic examination, ultrasonic guided biopsies and pathological studies were done. The main symptoms and signs included abdominal pain, distension, loss of weight, hard irregular hepatomegaly, jaundice and ascites. Laboratory results were not conclusive. Main changes observed were increased ESR, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and SGOT. Ultrasonic results showed that the main lesions were nodular lesions [91.7%] and the commonest echo pattern was hyperechoic [57.7%]. Different associated lesions as portal vein thrombosis, and Budd Chiari syndrome were found. Histological and cytological results showed that the commonest tumors were grade II [60%] and the main tumor pattern was trabecular [86.7%]. No correlation was found between ultrasonic findings and pathological grading. Different chronic liver diseases were found in 87% of cases, mainly chronic active hepatitis and/or cirrhosis

Important risk factors related to hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt

60 patients of previously diagnosed HCC were classified according to the underlying liver disease into 4 groups. For each patient the following was done: Full clinical assessment, rectal snips for schistosome ova, ultrasonography and biopsies from the liver away from HCC, pathological studies, serology for HBV markers and HDV. Results revealed that chronic liver diseases were found in 83.4%, schistosomiasis in 26.6%, chronic viral B hepatitis and/or cirrhosis in 78.6%. HBV infection rate was 93.3%, and HBsAg carrier rate was 26.7%. One patient had prolonged exposure to aflatoxin and another one had prolonged use of contraceptive pills

toxicity of the insecticide propetamphos in mice

The toxicity of the organophosphorus insecticide propetampos-labelled with C[14] [PTP] was studied in swiss mice. The toxicological studies carried out included the effect of [PTP] on three enzymes namely: Choilnesterase SGOT and SGPT. The three doses were 4,8,12 mg/kg used. Samples of RBC and brain, tissue were taken at different time intervals, following intraperitonial [ip] injection of the insecticide. Effect on plasma enzymes was noticed with the highest dose [12 mg/kg], while in RBC an inhibition of the cholinesterase activity was found to increase with increase of dose reaching its maximum the highest dose. On brain cholinesterase the three doses showed a continuous increase in the relative inhibition with the increase of time reaching its maximum value after 48 h. The effect of the three different doses of [PTP] on SGOT and SGPT activities, at different time intervals, was recorded at 24 h intervals, using 8 and 12 mg/kg [PTP] concentration, insignificant effect when applying 4 mg/kg PTP doses

Comparative study between recent diagnostic techniques in undetermined lymphadenopathies

One hundred patients presenting with prolonged unexplained lymphadenopathy undiagnosed either on clinical grounds or simple investigations during 3 years period were studied [1989-1991]. Besides thorough clinical examination, complete blood picture, the patients were subjected to sonographic examination of the lymph nodes, serological tests for detection of T. gondii, EBV, CMV, cytological and histopathological examination of lymph nodes. Histopathological and serological classification of the cases revealed that the majority [58 percent] of the cases proved to be infectious or benign conditions [toxoplasmosis: 20 percent, infectious mononucleosis: 9 percent, SLE: 1 percent, tuberculosis: 21 percent, sarcoidosis: 4 percent, cat scratch disease: 2 percent and angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: 1 percent] while lymphomas represented 42 percent of the cases. Histopathology of the lymph nodes was the corner stone of the diagnosis of the cases. Inspite of its overall 78 percent sensitivity rate, it gave conclusive diagnosis with 100 percent sensitivity rate in cases of granulomatous lymphadenitis, angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and lymphomas. In cases of reactive lymphadenitis, serology was an easy, rapid, non-invasive and sensitive technique for diagnosis. Ultrasonography of the lymph nodes [81 percent sensitivity rate] and the abdomen proved to be an important tool in suggesting the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy whether benign [74 percent] or malignant [90 percent] and was useful in proper staging of the lymphomas. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the lymph nodes was found to be a simple, easy, rapid and sensitive [68 percent] procedure which offers a preliminary idea of facing a benign condition which could be verified serologically. The technique efficiently diagnosed tuberculous lymphadenitis [91 percent], Hodgkin [90 percent] and non-Hodgkin [87 percent] lymphomas

Clinical, endoscopic, immunological and therapeutic findings in Egyptian cases of familial Mediterranean fever

Ninety seven Egyptian individuals were studied. They were divided to 4 groups: Group I [Healthy controls] included 20 healthy individuals. Group II [Diseased controls] comprised 24 patients complaining of abdominal symptoms with negative symptoms and signs of F.M.F. Group III [Definite F.M.F] included 40 selected uses of F.M.F. Group IV [Probable F.M.F.] included 13 cases. careful history, thorough clinical examination, routine investigations s exclude other diseases, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, ismoidoscopy, screening for amyloidosis, immunological tests [C3, C4, circulating immune complexes, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin], metaraminol provocative test and colchicine therapeutic trial were performed for every case and controls. In the 40 definite F.M.F cases, the male: female ratio was 1.9:1 family history was elicited in 24 [60%] cases. Prodromal symptoms we found in 34 [85%] cases and precipitating factors were elicited In 32 [80%] cases. The attacks were febrile in all [100%] the cases and were manifested as peritonitis in 37 [92%] caes, pleuritis in 22 [55%], synovitis in 11 [28%] and skin rash in 4 [10%] cases. ftmteen [43%] cases were paucisymptormatic. Thirty seven surgical Wtocedures were performed in 25 [63%] cases. Upper gastrointestinal aioscopy revealed abnormal findings in 6 [27%] out of 22 F.M.F. m. No evidence of amyloidosis was elicited in any case. The mean value of C3 [1.05 +/- 0.20 gmIL] and C4 [0.46 +/- 0.17 gm/L] showed no significant difference when compared to controls. Circulating immune complexes were increased in all cases. The positivity of serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein was nearly equal during the attacks [35%] and in between [33%] them while the positivity of serum haptoglobin was 29% during the attacks and 16% inbetween the attacks. Metaraminol provocative test had a 68% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Long term colchicine therapy was recommended for all the cases. Twenty four [71%] out of 34 F.M.F cases reported good response, 3 [9%] reported failure after initial successful trial and 1 [20%] reported no response. It is concluded from this study that there is no specific diagnostic test in F.M.F and that the diagnosis of the disease is still by exclusion

Clinical, endoscopic and ultrasonographic findings in portal hypertension of different causes

Fifty six patients were divided according to careful history, thorough clinical examination, laboratory, endoscopic and abdominal ultrasonographic findings into 4 groups. Group I included 13 patients with liver discase with no evidence of portal hypertension and they were considered as a control for the other groups. Group II comprised 17 patients with bilharzial hepatospenomegaly. Group III included 13 posthepatitic cases. Group IV comprised 13 mixed schistosomal and posthepatitic cases. Endoscopic examination revealed osophageal varices in 0%, 71%, 46% and 62% of the 4 groups respectively. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a significant increase of the diameters of the portal, splenic and superior mesenteric veins in all groups when compared to group I. Coronary vein more than 4 mm diameter was found in 0%, 18%, 0%, and 16%, umbilical collaterals were visualized in 0%, 6%, 8% and 0% and lienorenal collaterals in 0%, 12%, 16% and 8% of the 4 groups respectively. It was concluded, therefore, that the ultrasonographic visualization of portal splenic, superior mesenteric and coronary veins and also umbilical and lienorenal collaterals is a sensitive indicator of portal hypertension

Ultrasonography of pancreas in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

This study was peformed on 30 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis as well as to normal controls. 27 males and 13 females with ages ranging from 13 to 50 years. All cases were examined clinically and sonographically both dynamic linear array and static gray scale. The pancreas was well identified due to hepatosplenomegaly acting as acoustic window. The presence of ascitis acts as obstacle for pancreatic visualisation. The presence of bilharzial fibrosis of the pancreas is responsible for better visualisation where the pancreas was more echogenic than the liver in almost all the cases. An approach to pancreatic tail visualisation in the hepatosplenic patients was achieved through the enlarged spleen where the tail appears wedged between spleen and left kidney

Pathogenesis of hydrocele in Egypt

Out of 50 patients having idiopathic hydrocaele, 34 [68%] had bilharzial infection and all had negative intradermal test for filaria. Circumoval precipitin test [C.O.P.T.] was positive in the sera of 34 [68%] patients and hydrocaele fluid of 28 [56%] ones. Double gel diffusion test [D.G.D.T.] was positive in the sera of 25 [50%] cases and hydrocaele fluid of 19 [38%] ones. Histopathological examination of the tunica vaginalis revealed bilharzia ova in only one case [2%] while tissue digestion technique showed bilharzia ova living or dead in 34 [68%] ones. All cases with positive C.O.P.T. in the hydrocaele fluid [56%] had living bilharzia ova by tissue digestion technique [56%].The 26 cases having secondary hydrocaele and presenting with local inflammation of the scrotum, had positive intradermal test for filaria. Intradermal test for bilharziasis was positive in 9 cases [35%]. C.O.P.T. and D.G.D.T. were positive in the sera of 4 [15%] patients and in none of hydrocaele fluids. Histopathological examination of the tunica vaginalis revealed chronic inflammatory cells with prevelance of eosinophils. Tissue digestion showed no bilharzia ova. Out of fifty hamsters infected with S. mansoni, 12 [24%] showed varying degrees of congestion of the tunica vaginalis with no bilharzia ova

Evaluation of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis comparing egg and worm antigens

Forty five bilharzial patients divided into 4 clinical groups were studied. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] using egg and worm antigens was evaluated for all the patients. The positivity rate of ELISA in our bilharzial patients was 84% using egg antigen and 91% using worm antigen. The mean values of ELISA using egg and worm antigens were significantly higher in all our groups of patients when compared to controls. The mean value of ELISA using egg antigen showed no significant difference between urinary and intestinal bilharzial cases. Significant difference was elicited when worm antigen was used. The humoral antibodies detected by ELISA using worm antigen showed significant increasing values with the progress of the disease. No such correlation was found using egg