Role of pH on antioxidants production by Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis

Abstract Algae can tolerate a broad range of growing conditions but extreme conditions may lead to the generation of highly dangerous reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may cause the deterioration of cell metabolism and damage cellular components. The antioxidants produced by algae alleviate the harmful effects of ROS. While the enhancement of antioxidant production in blue green algae under stress has been reported, the antioxidant response to changes in pH levels requires further investigation. This study presents the effect of pH changes on the antioxidant activity and productivity of the blue green alga Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. The algal dry weight (DW) was greatly enhanced at pH 9.0. The highest content of chlorophyll a and carotenoids (10.6 and 2.4 mg/g DW, respectively) was recorded at pH 8.5. The highest phenolic content (12.1 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW) was recorded at pH 9.5. The maximum production of total phycobiliprotein (159 mg/g DW) was obtained at pH 9.0. The antioxidant activities of radical scavenging activity, reducing power and chelating activity were highest at pH 9.0 with an increase of 567, 250 and 206% compared to the positive control, respectively. Variation in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) was also reported. While the high alkaline pH may favor the overproduction of antioxidants, normal cell metabolism and membrane function is unaffected, as shown by growth and chlorophyll content, which suggests that these conditions are suitable for further studies on the harvest of antioxidants from S. platensis.

Detection of some pain managing drugs in bone, bone marrow and hair [human and experimental study]

Detection of morphine, fentanyl, and tramadol in human hair and in hair, bone and bone marrow of rats was done using high pressure liquid chromatography [HPKC]. Forty participants were divided into 4 groups control, morphine, tramadol, and fentanyl group. Hair samples were taken after 7 days of exposure to the tested drugs. The animal pat of the experiment consisted of 80 rats. The first 40 rats were divided into 4 subgroups [10 rats each]. The first subgroup was injected with saline IP as a control group, the second subgroup was injected with morphine 20mg/kg SC. The 3[rd] subgroup was injected with fentanyl 60micro g/kg IP and the 4[th] one was injected with tramadol 20mg/kg IP. Hair specimens were collected ten days after injection. The other forty rats were divided into 4 subgroups treated with the same drug doses of the first 40 rats, but morphine and tramadol groups were scarificed after 1 hour and fentanyl group was scarificed after 20 minutes. Femora diaphysis and bone marrow were collected from each sacrificed rat and frozen. After extraction; HPLC was used to evaluate if these drugs could be detected in these tissues after exposure to single therapeutic doses or not. Results showed that all control groups gave negative results. Morphine, fentanyl and tramadol were detected in human hair at levels 20-123pg/mg, 0.6-1.3 and 1.23-4.23 ng/mg respectively. In rats; morphine was detected at level 0.03-0.53, 4.39-12.31 and 9.31-31.20 ng/mg in hair, bone and bone marrow of rats respectively. Fentanyl was detected at level 1.9-6.20, 5.35-22.36 and 18.22-53.49 ng/mg while tramadol was detected at level 1.27-3.92, 9.6-21.6, and 22.62 to 51.31 ng/mg in hair, bone and bone marrow respectively. This study confirmed that morphine, fentanyl and tramadol are detectable even after single use in hair, bone and bone marrow

Congential t-cell immunodeficiency with post BCG systemic TB infection

Objectives and important to report a case of congenital T-ceIl immunodeficiency with post BCG vaccination systemic TB infection. clinical presentation 6 months old infant presented by respiratory symptoms, light coma, FTT and HSM. Initial investigation CXR showed miliary opacities in both lungs, abdominal U/S showed hepatosplenomegally [HSM] with homogenous echogenicity. CT brain W out contrast showed ventricular dilatation and encephalomalacia and brain distortion, immunological study showed total immunoglobins and IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE were within normal range. T-lymphocytes showed decrease in total lymphocytes and decease in T4 [T-helper] T8 [T-suppressor] NK [Natural killer] suggests T-cell immunodeficiency. CBC showed microcytic hypochromic anemia[HB 8.5gm/dl] anemia of chronic illness, Screening for IIIV infection negative