Identification and estimation of leucine aminopeptidase activity in the serum and ascitic fluid of patients with schistosomiasis

The activity and electrophoretic mobility or leucine aminopeptidase [LAP] were assessed in the sera of 100 patients with different clinical stages of Schistosoma hacmatobium infestation as well as in 20 sample of ascctic fluids obtained from patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly associated with ascites matched with 20 healthy adult males sample as control. Generally LAP activity was significantly higher in all patients. The activity of serum LAP showed a progressive rise with the advance in the clinical condition. The highest level was encountered in the sera of patients with bladder carcinoma and liver metastasis, leucine aminopeptidase was considerably found in the ascetic fluid. The ratio of the activity or LAP in the ascetic fluid to its activity in the serum of the same patients was 1:4.5 where the enzyme diffuses from the blood to the ascetic fluid. The enzyme detected by electrophoresis, in serum or ascetic fluid LAP migrated as a single component in the alpha1 -globulin faction. The results are discussed and compared with those in the literature

Possible teratogenic effects of antiepileptics in albino rats: comparative study between old and new generations: part I

All of the antiepileptic drugs [AEDs] are either known or suspected of being teratogenic. The possible mechanism of teratogenicity is likely to be multiple for the same drug. This is of major concern for all women with epilepsy using these drugs are delicately balanced between seizure control and the adverse effects the AEDs. The use of conventional AEDs eg. Carbamazepine control more than two thirds of the epileptic patients. In recent years, the number of commercially available AEDs has steadily increased eg. lamotrgine and levetiracetam.160 pregnant female albino rats were used in this study. Animals were classified randomly into eight groups; each group contained 20 pregnant female rats. Negative control group received nothing and positive control group received normal saline. Treated groups: each group received either the therapeutic dose or 1/4 LD50 of carbamazepine, lamotrigine or levetriacetam. The drugs were given by gastric tube from 6[th] day up to the 19[th] day of gestation. Teratological evaluation:the fetuses [both living and dead] in each group were weighted their crown rump length measured and morphological examination included: Head size and shape, orofacial development, vertebral column tail and abdomen, umbilicus and external genitalia Maternal findings showed high death rate in 1/4 LD50 of lamotrigine treated group; weight gain was dose dependant with highest effect in the lamotrigine treated groups. The fetal findings showed highest embrolethality and least litter siza in lamotrigine treated groups; while the fetal growth determined by weight gain and crown rumplength was retarded more in carbamazepine and lamotrigine treated groups than in levetiracetam treated groups. The morphological findings revealed that the highest percentage of congenital anomalies were in the dose of 1/4 LD50 of lamotrigine followed by carbamazepine and levetiracetam. The AEDs are potentially teratogenic and in utero exposure can increase the risk of adverse outcomes in off springs born epileptic mothers. The new AED lamotrigine caused gross fetal retardation even in therapeutic dose. Levetiracetam caused growth retardation in the therapeutic dose more than carbamazepine in the corresponding dose although it had the best effect on maternalparameters. As regard the congenital anomalies lamotrigine was the safest durg in the therapeutic dose