Radioprotective role of some bacteria belonging to actinomycetales against gamma irradiation-induced oxidative stress in male albino rats

Background: Radiation protection concepts and philosophy have been evolving over the past several decades. The inadvertent exposure of human from various source of radiation causes ionization of molecules, setting off potentially damaging reactions via free radicals production. Development of radioprotectants and mitigators is the therapeutic approach to ameliorate the negative health impact of radiation exposure. The majority of substances with biological activity used in medicine are produced by actinomycetes and fungi

Aim: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the radioprotective role of the antimicrobial active metabolite of Streptomyces atrovirens Rahman as antioxidant against gamma irradiation that induced some biochemical alterations in rats

Material and Methods: Animals were pretreated with antimicrobial active metabolite of Streptomyces atrovirens Ab1 using suitable stomach tube for two weeks prior to radiation exposure. The levels of malondialdhyde [MDA], glutathione content [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [ALT], glutamic aspartate transaminase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT] activities, also total cholesterol [TC], triglyceride [TG], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL- C] were estimated

Results: The results revealed that exposure to ionizing radiation resulted in significant elevation in the levels of MDA content, ALT, AST, ALP and GGT activities and concentration of TC, TG and LDL-C, meanwhile, showed significant depletion in GSH content and SOD, CAT and GPx activities and HDL-C concentration

Conclusion: It could be concluded that, the administration of the antimicrobial active metabolite of Streptomyces atrovirens Ab1 pre-whole body gamma irradiation resulted in sufficient amelioration against radiation effects on the biochemical aspects examined in the present study

Proactive role of garlic and lycopene extract against gamma irradiation-induced alterations in antioxidant defense systems in the brain of rats

Radiation protection concepts and philosophy have been evolving over the past several decades. The inadvertent exposure of human from various source of radiation causes Ionization of molecules, setting off potentially damaging reactions via free radicals production. Garlic, Allium sativun, is a member of the lily family that has been cultivated by humans as a food plant for over 10,000 years. Ancient Egyptian used garlic as a remedy for a variety of diseases. Lycopene is a naturally occurring carotenoid found almost exclusively in tomatos and tomato products and the red pigments of the tomato. Lycopene is one of the most potent antioxidants among dietary carotenoids, it exhibits the highest antioxidant activity and singlet oxygen quenching ability of all dietary carotenoids. The present study aims to investigate the antioxidative activity of garlic and lycopene extract on the oxidative stress in the damaged brain tissue, irradiated with a single dose of 15 Gy. Animals were pretreated with garlic or lycopene by orally administration using suitable stomach tube for one month prior to radiation exposure. The levels of malondialdhyde [MDA], glutathione content [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT] and glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] were estimated in brain tissue. The results revealed that exposure to ionizing radiation resulted in significant elevation in the levels of MDA and [GSH-Px] as well as, significant reduction in SOD, CAT activities and GSH content. Administration of garlic or lycopene by using suitable stomach tube pre-irradiation has significantly ameliorated the radiation induced disturbances in all of the investigated parameters

Fluoride levels of mothers' breast milk in Egypt

Fluoride exists naturally in water sources and is derived from fluorine. It is well known that fluoride helps, prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay. The aim of the present study was to determine the fluoride levels in plasma and breast milk of lactating mothers in Egypt [Cairo and Giza Governorate]. Two hundred healthy lactating mothers aged between 20-40 years old were asked to give plasma and milk samples voluntary. Breast milk samples were directly refrigerated until measurements. The fluoride concentrations of plasma, milk and drinking tap water were assessed using an ion-selective fluoride electrode combined with an ion analyzer. The fluoride levels of plasma, breast milk and drinking tap water samples were 0.0207+/-0.012, 0.0111+/-0.0044 ppm, and 0.482+/-0.117 ppm, respectively. A significant direct correlation between fluoride content in breast milk and drinking tap water was found [r=0.858, p< 0.01]

Effect of cynara scolymus L. [artichoke] extraction on hyperlipidemic induced by gamma radiation in male rats

Excessive free radicals are caused by unnatural environmental influences such as air pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, factories, pesticides, food contaminants and a myriad of other factor that are part of our modern life. Hypercholesterolaemia is directly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease [CHD]. Cynara scolymus L. [Artichoke] grows in Egypt and other countries. It is used as foods and has medicinal properties. Artichoke extracts have been shown to produce various pharmacological effects, such as the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis and low density lipoprotein [LDL] oxidation. The present study aims to evaluate the antioxidative activities and radioprotector role of cynara scolymus L. [artichoke] against hyperlipidemic induced by gamma- irradiation in male rats. Male Swiss albino rats were orally administrated by artichoke [head or leaves] [10% mg/rat/day] using suitable stomach tube [6weeks, 45 days] before exposure to a single dose [6.5 Gy] of whole body gamma radiation. Levels of lipids peroxides [MDA], reduced glutathione content [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], total cholesterol [TC], triacylglycerol [TG], high density lipoprotein [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotein [LDL-C] were investigated in serum. The results revealed that gamma radiation led to significant increase in MDA, TC, TG and LDL, Meanwhile, significant decrease in GSH and SOD, but groups administrated with Artichoke [head and leaf] before whole body gamma irradiation, artichoke exerted noticeable amelioration against the radiation induced changes in most of the biochemical tested parameters

Evaluation of services offered by the school for the deaf in Assiut

The study of 231 students who attended the school for the deaf in Assiut has revealed shortages and deficiencies in many aspects; namely, there were no admission criteria nor regulations to be followed. The students had not been subjected to any audiological assessment at the time of admission or at any time following it. There were no methods of classification of children according to their degree of hearing loss. There was too high prevalence of middle ear pathology. Psychometric evaluation was totally out of consideration in the school, although it does help in subject classification and requirement. This school for the deaf is still depending on the traditional sign language as the only method of rehabilitation. There were limitations of the students abilities in language development, 78.4% were non-verbal. The reading and writing abilities of the students started at the third primary grade, but with no significant progress in the following grades. About 92% of the students had poor speech-reading ability. While 62% of the students showed effective sign language with significant progress in advanced school grades. The school placement and its building are not suitable for applying rehabilitation program for the hearing-impaired children. Most of the school personnel are neither qualified nor trained for teaching the hearing impaired children

Central auditory tests in dyslexic subjects

Central auditory functions was evaluated in 20 dyslexic subjects. Three central auditory tests were used, viz. low pass filtered speech test [LPSEF], and pitch pattern sequence test [PPS], and the staggered spondaic ward test [SSW]. The performance of the dyslexic subjects was compared with that of an equivalent control group. Results showed no statistically significant difference in performance in pitch pattern sequence test [PPS]. In the other two tests, there was a statistically significant difference in the score of the two groups at p <0.05. These results indicate that dyslexic subjects suffer from central auditory processing deficits, which at least partially contribute to their learning disability. The sit of dysfunction is most probably at the cortical level, and may also involve interconnecting hemispheric fibers

convenient route for butyrolactone synthesis

It has been reported that gamma, gamma-diary l-gamma-butyrolactones have chemo-therapeutic activity on pathogenic viruses. This reported activity coupled with our interest in the chemistry of butyrolactones prompted us to report a convenient method for the synthesis of gamma, gamma-diary l-gamma-butyrolactones [VI alpha-c] This method involves ring opening of the diarylethylene oxide [la-c] followed by ring closure [a/, scheme. 1]. Hydrolysis of the products followed: by decarboxylation give gamma, gamma-diary l-gamma-butyrolactones in a better yield than their synthesis via stobbe condensation method .When ethyl chloroacetone is allowed to react with aryl magnesium-halides [Ar= Ph-,PhCH[2]-,m-tolyl], followed by dehydrohalogenation, 1,1-diarylethylene oxides [la-c] are formed