GC/MS analyses, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities of the volatile constituents of three clematis species growing in Saudi Arabia

A comparative study of the volatile constituents of three Clematis species growing in Saudi Arabia namely Clematis hirsute Guillemin and Perr, C simensis Fresen and C wightiana Wallich was carried out using GC/MS technique. Protoanemonin, eugenol and butylated hydroxyltoluene were the most abundant common constituents in the three species. Volatiles of Clematis hirsute and C simensis showed closely similar MIC when tested against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. While those of C. wightiana were less active. Similarly, the anti-inflammatory activity of C. wightiana was less than that of the other two species

GC/MS analysis of the fatty acids of three Clematis species growing in Saudi Arabia and their anti-inflammatory activity

A comparative study of the fatty acid contents of three Clematis species growing in Saudi Arabia namely Clematis hirsuta, C. simensis and C. wightiana was carried out This comparison was preformed by GC/MS technique. Plamitic acid represented the major fatty acid in the three species. The anti-inflammatory activity of the three species was also conducted. The petroleum ether fraction of the ethanol extracts exhibited the highest activity

role of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in development of diabetic micro vascular complications

The aim of this study to determine serum level of VEGF in patients with Diabetic Micro vascular and macrovascular complication as Diabetic Nephropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular insufficiency mainly acute myocardial infarction. Fifty individuals were investigated. 10 apparently healthy persons [4 females and 6 males] as control group, 20 maturity onsets diabetic patients [non-insulin dependent] with diabetic nephropathy [8 females and 12 males], 10 maturity onset diabetic patients [non-insulin dependant] with diabetic retinopathy [4 female and 6 males] and 10 maturity onset diabetic patients [non-insulin dependant] with acute myocardial infarction [4 female and 6 male]. Serum level of VEGF was measured in those patients and correlated with different clinical and laboratory investigations. Serum level of VEGF was significantly high in diabetic patient with micro-vascular complication "629.75 +/- 317.07' compared with healthy control 139.75 +/- 12.97". Serum level of VEGF was significantly high in patients with Diabetic riephropathy "553 +/- 232.03", compared with healthy control "139.4 +/- 12.97". Serum level of VEGF was significantly high in patients with diabetic retinopathy "507 +/- 327" compared with healthy control "139.4 +/- 12.97". Serum level of VEGF was significantly high in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infaction "807 +/- 316.01" compared with healthy control "139.4 +/- 12.97". There was significant positive correlation between serum VEGF, serum creatinine and microablumjnuria. These Data suggest that VEGF plays control role in mediating micro vascular pathology in Diabetes. VEGF may be one of the markers and risk factors for micro-albuminuria and incipient diabetic Nephropathy. There was significant correlation between VEGF level and recent acute myocardial infarction, which may postulate that VEGF serve a salutary role in hypoxic myocardial tissue of coronary artery disease by promoting development of collateral circulation

Study of the relation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric interleukin [8] in patients with chronic liver disease

Helicobacter pylori [H pylori] is a gram negative spirally shaped bacterium. It is known to be the most common important cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer, non ulcer dyspepsia and gastric carcinoma. The frequency and importance of gastric mucosal lesion in patients with chronic liver disease [CLD] have been increasingly recognized in recent years. IL-8 a potent leukocyte chemo-attractant cytokine produced by H-pylori. It promotes polymorphnuclear leucocytes [PMNs] and mononuclear cells [MNCs] accumulation in gastric mucosa.This work aimed to clarify the relation between H pylori and IL-8 production in various chronic liver disease [CLD] lesions. Eighty patients were included in this study, 50 with CLD and 30 dyspeptic patients without CLD. Gastric mucosal biopsies were examined histopathologically for H pylori, cellular infiltration and associated pathology, together with culture of H pylori and assessment of IL-8 level in gastric tissue supernatant. 30/50 [60%] CLD patients,10/15 [66.6%] patients with non gastric dyspepsia, and 14/15 [93.3%] patients with gastric dyspepsia were positive for H pylori. There was no relationship between the prevalence of H pylori and the aetiology of CLD. No significant difference was observed in CLD patients' group as regard to H pylori and Child grading, degree of varices, gastric or liver histopathology. Statistical difference in H pylori prevalence between patients with CLD and those with gastric dyspepsia was significant. IL-8 showed significant increase in H pylori positive vs H pylori negative patients. Positive correlation was found between H pylori density and tissue IL-8 and cellular infiltration. In conclusion the liver status does not play a role in the prevalence of H pylori infection, further studies to investigate the relation between virulent H pylori and IL-8 are needed

Triterpenoids from Kleinia Odora growing in Saudi Arabia

Three main triterpenoids were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Kleinia odora, namely, lupeol acetate, lupeol and lupenone. Identification of these triterpenoids was attained by the use of 1 D, 2 D NMR as well as other spectra

Evaluation of transforming growth factor-, procollagen III and tissue polypeptide antigen in carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder

Carcinoma in bilharzial bladder is among the most important health problems. The development of the tumor and its biological behavior needs to be well predicted. To approach this problem, this study determined cytosolar levels of transforming group growth factor beta [TGF-beta], procollagen III [PIIINP] and tissue polypeptide antigen [TPA] in cytosols of 27 patients with carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder as well as 18 patients with benign bilharzial lesions. The results were compared with the corresponding values in eight bilharzial control tissues obtained 5 cm apart from benign bilharzial lesions and seven healthy bladder tissues. The study revealed significantly increased levels of TGF-beta, PIIINP and TPA compared with benign bilharzial controls and healthy controls. Also, the levels in benign bilharzial lesions were significantly higher than bilharzial or healthy controls. Despite the higher levels of TGF- beta, PIIINP and TPA in bilharzial compared with healthy controls, the difference was significant only in case of TPA. This data clarify the importance role played by TGF-beta in the pathophysiology of carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder, where it is increased in bilharzial infestation and benign bilharzial lesions reaching its highest concentrations in malignant lesions. Moreover, it seems to act as an angiogenic factor, immunodepressant as well as stimulator of collagen synthesis

Insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-link growth factor binding protein-3 and insulin in normal and high risk neonates

This study included ten preterm infants, ten infants with respiratory distress [RD], eight infants of deliveries with premature rupture of membrane [PROM] and septicemia, eight infants with intrauterine growth retardation [IUGR] and sixteen infants of diabetic mothers together with ten normal full term infants representing the control group. Blood sample was obtained within 12 hours after delivery, sera were used for determination of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and insulin. The study revealed significantly decreased levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and insulin in preterm infants, infants with RD, PROM and septicemia compared with control group. However, in infants with IUGR IFF-I showed slight increase, while IGFBP-3 exhibited slight decrease and insulin was significantly decreased compared with controls. In infants of diabetic mothers, both IGF-I and insulin levels were significantly increased compared with control infants

Clinical and biochemical evaluation of growth hormone/insulin like growth factor I axis in chronic renal failure

This study was conducted to determine the plasma levels of GH, IGF- I tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], NO, hyaluronan and fibronectin in plasma of 40 patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] of various clinical causes at presentation and after dialysis. Their levels were correlated with degree of renal impairment and the type of underlying pathology. The study also included 15 healthy controls with comparable age. The study revealed insignificant change in GH levels, significant decrease of IGF-I and fibronectin associated with significant increase in TNF-alpha, NO and hyaluronan in patients with CRF compared with healthy controls

Oxidant stress in children with iron deficiency anemia

The susceptibility to oxidant stress was evaluated in forty-one children with iron deficiency anemia [IDA] as well as ten healthy children as a control group. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] as a measure of lipid peroxides, the antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase [GPX] in red blood cells [RBCs] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] in both RBCs and plasma together with the non-enzymatic antioxidants glutathione in both RBCs and plasma, vitamin C and beta-carotene in plasma were measured in all patients and controls. The study revealed significant decrease in the levels of catalase [7.6 +/- 2.3], GPX [14.4 +/- 2.0], glutathione in both RBCs and plasma [435.4 +/- 56.5, 368.8 +/- 123.7], vitamin C [0.24 +/- 0.15] and beta-carotene [78.1 +/- 25.2] in children with IDA compared with the healthy control group [11.34 +/- 3.0, 19.9 +/- 2.7, 636.4 +/- 54.3, 640 +/- 94.9, 1.4 +/- 0.3, 118.5 +/- 22.9, respectively]. Consistent with the reduced levels of enzymatic and non- enzymatic antioxidants is the significant increased levels of the lipid peroxidation marker [TBARS]in both plasma and RBCs in children with IDA compared with the control group. The study revealed increased vulnerability to oxidant stress in children with IDA

Involuntary smoking in infancy and childhood

The aim of this study was to identify the size of the problem of involuntary smoking in infancy and childhood and to assess the prevalence, severity, chronicity and the rate of recurrence of chest problems in infants and children with or without involuntary smoking. The study was conducted at the out patient clinic of Children's Assiut University Hospital. It included 200 infants and children 133 males and 67 females giving a ratio of 2: 1, aged from 1 month to 5 years suffering from lower respiratory tract infections in the form of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia. It was concluded that smoking adults produce a lot of harm to the respiratory tract of their children and infants. Parents should be advised, to refrain from smoking or at least not to smoke inside their homes

Intracellular distribution of some enzymes in the normal cardiac muscle and under the effect of thyroxine injection in adult albino rat

The present study was carried out on 32 adult male albino rats, eight of them were used as control and the rest were divided into three groups [eight rats each], that injected daily intraperitoneally with proper dose of thyroxine and sacrificed after 7, 10 and 15 days. The heart was removed and the left ventricle was examined histochemically for succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase enzymes. Succinic dehydrogenase was found to be apparently strong in activity in the normal myocardium and were more distributed subsarcolemmally in the muscle fibers specially concentrated near the epicardium and subendocardium. Alkaline phosphatase was moderate in activity and were distributed equally in the sarcoplasm of the muscle fiber and specially strong around the blood vessels. Acid phosphatase was found to be weak in activity in myocardium and present in both sarcoplasm and nuclei. After thyroxine injection, there was progressive increase in succinic dehydrogenase activity [denoted increased aerobic oxidation], alkaline phosphatase [denoted increased demands for absorption of nutrient] and acid phosphatase [denoted cell injury and autolysis]. The distribution of the mentioned enzymes after thyroxine was found to follow the same manner as that of the control. Also, some areas of the myocardium showed more activity than the others i.e. Patchy in distribution

volatile constituents of boswellia sacra frankincense

The volatile oil of the oleogumresin [Arabian olibanum] or Omani frankincense produced from the tree of Boswellia sacra, Fluek Lehrb. family Burseraceae was investigated by GLC-mass spectrometry [GLC-MS] and yield 22 terpenes of which alpha pinene was the most abundant

Sex hormone profile in male diabetics, its relationship with sexual dysfunction

To investigate endocrinological changes associated with diabetes mellitus, serum total and free testosterone [T], estradiol [E [2]], lutenizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and prolactin [Prl] were determined in 39 male diabetic subjects [7 with type I and 32 with type II diabetes]. In addition to 14 healthy males of comparable age. Serum total and free T were significantly reduced but serum E [2], LH and Prl were significantly increased while FSH exhibited non-significant increase in diabetic subjects compared with healthy males. Neither did the type of diabetes nor its duration affect the hormonal levels. Similarly, no significant differences could be observed in the hormonal profiles between complicated and non-complicated diabetics. However, serum total and free T were significantly decreased in impotent compared to non-impotent diabetics. Serum total T levels exhibited a significant inverse correlation with blood glucose levels, but were not correlated with the age of the patients or with the duration of disease. The results of the present work demonstrated the presence of changes in sex hormone levels in male diabetics that could contribute to sexual dysfunction. Hyperglycaemia seems to be one of the causative factors for such changes and the use. of oral antidiabetic agents may be an added factor

Investigation of tannin in some Labiatae species

In the present study, tannin content of Melissa officinalis L., Origanum majorana L., Origanum vulgare L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Saturja montana L. was found to be 3.1%, 6.8%, 9.7%, 5.5% and 13%, respectively, as determined by hide powder method. Catechin, gallic acid and ellagic acid were absent. Caffeic, chlorogenic, and rosmarinic acids were found. The presence of these three phenol carboxylic acids were verified by TLC, TFG, MP determination, UV and IR spectra of the isolated compounds

Macro-and micromorphological study of stem and leaf of Eugenia supraciliaris spring growth in Egypt

The macro- and micromorphological characters of the stem and leaf of Eugenia supraxillaris Spring are described and illustrated with the aim to aid in their identification in the entire and powdered forms

prognostic value of phosphohexose isomerase in childhood leukemia and lymphomas

Serum phosphohexose isomerase [P.H.I.] activity was measured in 12 children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia [A.L.L.], 8 children having acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia [A.N.L.L.], 17 children suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [N.H.L.] and 20 aparently healthy children of comparable age and sex as controls. Significantly increased activity of P.H.I. was observed in children with leukemias and lymphomas compared to controls. Children with A.N.L.L. had significantly higher P.H.I. activity than those with A.L.L. Follow up of the children during various stages of therapy showed significant decrease of P.H.I. after induction of remission. The levels were evidently elevated again several months before clinical and/or hematological relapses. It could be concluded that P.H.I. can be helpful adjuvant marker in childhood leukemias and lymphomas. Also, it can of therapy and to detect the early relapse