Anticholinesterase and acaricidal activities of steroids isolated from Trianthema portulacastrum L. against Rhipicephalus annulatus tick

The anticholinesterase and acaricidal activities of two plants of family Aizoaceae; Trianthema portulacastrum L.and Aizoon canariensis L. against Rhipicephalus annulatus tick were performed. Acaricidal activity was evaluatedusing adult and larval immersion tests of different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 150 mg/ml). Antiacetylcholinesterase activity of plant extracts and isolated compounds were performed spectrophotometrically usingdifferent concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/ml). Trianthema portulacastrum crude hydroalcoholic (CH) extractshowed 100% adult and larval mortality, while A. canariensis L. showed only 20% and 25%, respectively (p ≥ 0.05).The bioassay-guided fractionation of T. portulacastrum hydroalcoholic extract was performed for the acaricidalactivity and both n-hexane fraction and the unsaponifiable matter (USM) retained a significant activity in immersiontests. Its column chromatography (CC) led to the isolation of a β-sitosterol (1)-stigmasterol (2) mixture (1:1). Ethylacetate (EA) fraction showed 70% adult mortality and the compound 20-hydroxyecdysone (3) was isolated as a majorcompound. The hydroalcoholic extract of T. portulacastrum, hexane fraction, and 20-hydroxyecdysone (3) producedthe most potent inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In conclusion, T. portulacastrum L. containssecondary metabolites with acaricidal activities that provide promising natural products for controlling bovine tick.These acaricidal effects may be mediated, at least in part, via AChE inhibitory activities.

Quality of Life of Diabetic Children in Public Diabetes Specialized Clinics, Khartoum State, Sudan

Background:Quality of life assessment can be a good baseline measures to determine the efficacy of health policies that are designed to reduce or eradicate the detrimental disease effect.Aim: This study aimed at assessing the different dimensions of quality of life in children with diabetes including physical, social, emotional and school function.Methods: Thestudy was conducted in Khartoum state -Sudan using a cross sectional design. Data was obtained in 2018 at three outpatient diabetes clinics, using systematic random sampling with sample size of 138 diabetic children aged between 2-18 years, via structured interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data and test the relationship between quality of life and other independent variables: demography ( age, gender, parents’ education, age, residency and occupation), type of diabetes, typeof treatment, duration of illness, control of diabetes and insurance statusResults:The mean age of children was 11.1±3.64 years. Most of them were females 63%. More than half of participants were not covered by any insurance scheme. Those with diabetes reported personal and adverse social effects, poor control; HA1C more than 6.5% in 90% of participants. Mean generic quality of life was 80.03 ± 27 and 80.84 ± 28 p-value =0.73 for parents and children respectively. Conclusion: Diabetes adversely affects the quality of life of diabetic children which is influenced by history of hospitalization. Further studies on Diabetes quality of life are recommended.

Seven Intracranial Aneurysms in One Patient: Treatment and Review of Literature

Before the advent of endovascular coiling, patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms were treated with surgical clipping; however, with the advancements in endovascular technology, intracranial aneurysms can be treated with surgical clipping and/or endovascular coiling. We describe a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a patient with 7 intracranial aneurysms. A 45-year-old female developed a sudden headache and left sided hemiparesis. Initial workup showed a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right Sylvian fissure. Further angiographic workup showed 7 intracranial aneurysms (left and right middle cerebral artery bifurcation, right middle cerebral artery, anterior communicating artery, left posterior communicating artery, right posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and left superior cerebellar artery). The patient underwent two craniotomies for surgical clipping of the anterior circulation aneurysms and endovascular stent-assisted coils for the posterior circulation aneurysms. The need for anti-platelet agents for endovascular treatment of the posterior circulation aneurysms and clinical presentation warranted surgical clipping of the anterior circulation aneurysms prior to endovascular therapy. We describe a case report and decision making for a patient with multiple intracranial aneurysms treated with surgical clipping and endovascular coiling.

Synthesis, spectroscopic and potentiometric studies on a silver [I] complex derived from a new BIS [thiosemicarbazone]

A new reagent, [2E, 2Z]2,2-[3[E]-[2-hydroxyphenyl] diazenyl] pentane-2,4-diylidene] bis [hydrazinecarbothioamide] [OPTS] was synthesized and studied. Acid-base, spectrophotometric properties of OPTS were studied in 50% ethanol-water mixture solutions at pH 3-11. Ionization constants of the reagent OPTS have been determined by a spectrophotometric and potentiometric titrations: pK[1]=9.60 +/- 0.02; pK[2]= 10.45 +/- 0.05 in its computational and graphical versions at an ionic strength 0.1 M Na10[4]. The stability constants of the Ag-OPTS are logK[1]=4.55 +/- 0.04 and 10gK[2]=3.92 +/- 0.05. The reaction of Ag [I] with OPTS gives a mononuclear complex in 50% ethanol water mixture solution with lambda[max]=462 nm at pH=8.1. The effects of foreign ions and masking agents on the determination of Ag [I] with the new reagent are studied. The mono complex obeys the Beer's law in the Ag [I] concentration range 1.1-17 mg/25ml. Molar absorption coefficients were determined. In this paper, we report the synthesis of the novel Ag [l] complexes with OPTS. The complexes were characterized by UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, molar conductivity and thermal decomposition

Effect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation on plasma homocysteine level and its prevalence in arterial diseases

Two common polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] gene, the thermolabile C677T and A1298C polymorphism may contribute to hyperhomocysteinemia, a known risk factor for vascular diseases. Twenty with coronary artery disease [CAD] and 20 patients with cerebro-vascular stroke [CVS] were compared with 20 controls. Using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] analysis, we studied C677T and A 1298C MTHFR genotypes and their combined effect on homocysteine, measured by chemiluminescent enzymatic immunometric assay. Homocysteine values were significantly higher in CAD [16.12 +/- 5.09 micromol/L] and in CVS [16.79 +/- 5.93 micromol/L] compared with controls [10.43 +/- 2.57 micromol/L, P<0.01]. In C677T genotype, homocysteine was significantly higher in TT [18.26 +/- 2.75 micromol/L] and in CT [17.60 +/- 7.22 micromol/L] than in CC genotype [12.94 +/- 4.16 micromol/L, P<0.01]. However, in A1298C genotype, no significant difference was found between the mean homocysteine level in AA genotype [14.14 +/- 4.32 micromol/L], AC genotype [14.25 +/- 5.50 micromol/L] and CC genotype patients [16.28 +/- 8.76 micromol/L, P>0.05]. A significant positive correlation between plasma homocysteine and cholesterol [r=0.37, P<0.01] and LDL-C levels was found [r=0.321, P<0.05]. The percentage of patients with high homocysteine level [>/-15 micromol/L] were significantly higher in CAD [50%] and CVS [55%] than controls [5%, P<0.01, odd ratio=21]. In contrast to the A1298C polymorphism, the MTHFR TT and CT genotypes were associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. The knowledge of the MTHFR mutation [C677T] status might represent a way to identify subjects at high risk for hyperhomocysteinemia

Vaccination against fascioliasis using homologous and Schistosoma mansoni derived glutathione S-transferases

Schistosoma mansoni glutathione S-transferase [SmGST] and Fasciola gigantica glutathione S-transferase [FgGST] were purified from adult worms homogenate by affinity chromatography. An assessment of both SmGST and FgGST as candidate vaccines was done by comparing vaccinated guinea pigs groups challenged with F. gigantica metacercariae with the control group in terms of worm load, pathological changes in liver tissue and the survival rate of the animals. A decrease in mortality rate was best reported with FgGST 15 ug dose, while no significant decrease in worm load was reported with any vaccination. The pathological changes in liver tissue of vaccinated and non- vaccinated animals were similar

antigenic fractions of strongyloides stercoralis filariform larval crude soluble antigen

This study was carried out on the sera of fifteen Strongyloidiasis patients, twenty-five cases with other helminthic infections and five cases free from parasitic infections [control]. Enzyme immunoblot transfer assay [EIBT] was used to assess IgG response against the different fractions of Strongyloides stercoralis filariform larval crude soluble antigen separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]. In the immunoblot, all sera of 15 strongyloidiasis patients disclosed IgG antibodies reactivity against immunogenic bands having molecular weights. Five immunodominant antigenic bands of 66, 50, 41, 38 and 31 KDa were commonly recognized by the strongyloidiasis sera IgG suggesting that these antigenic components may be suitable for specific immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis

Genucephalic nailng of supraccondylar femoral fractures

From April 1997, 12 patients with 13 supracondylar femoral fractures were treated with a retrograde intramedullary nail. The average follow-up 13.8 months [range, 4-23 months]. All fractures healed by 4 months. Average knee range of motion was 104°. There were 3 excellent, 8 good, and 2 fair results. The supracondylar retrograde intramedullary nail gives rigid internal fixation and rapid healing compared to lateral fixation devices with significant less soft tissue dissection