Co-existence of pests and their associated predators inhabiting cantaloupe plants, cucumis melo L. in Assiut, Egypt

The present study was carried out during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons of cantaloupe. Faunistic composition of pests and their associated predators inhabiting cantaloupe plants Cucumis melo L. revealed the presence of 22 insect species belonging to 17 families and 10 orders. The serious pest species were represented by 14 species with 7 predaceous species. The most abundant sucking insect pest was whitefly; Bemisia tabaci Genn. It was the most abundant and seemed to be the major pest infesting cantaloupe, followed by the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch:, and some piercing sucking insects such as cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glov.; onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lind. and jassids, Empoasca spp. Orius sp, Chrysoperla carnea Steph. and Coccinella undecimpunctata L. were the most numerous predators. In all cases the dominance degrees of the pests were higher than those of the predators

Population age structure of the green beach aphid, Myzus Persicae [Sulzer] [Homoptera: Aphididae] in Cumin fields in Assiut Upper Egypt

The present studies were carried out during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 on cumin growing seasons. The main objective was to study population age structure of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae [Sulzer] infesting cumin plants in Assiut, Upper Egypt. When using beginning of cumin planting as a starting date, data show that the migration of the green peach aphid from overwintering site into cumin fields occurred after about 50 days [nearly during the end of December]. The population then increased to become 10% of the maximum number after 66 days [nearly during the first half of January]. Maximum population density of the green peach aphid occurred after about 95 days. Therefore, the peak of abundance could be expected around the first half of February. After the population reached it's the highest level, it generally declined and reached 10% of the maximum after 121 days. The population then vanished from the cumin field in about 132 days [toward the middle of March]. The present results indicate that the number of green peach aphid was significantly higher in the second season 2013 [421.3 aphids / 10 plants], than that of the first season 2012 [249.30 aphids / 10 plants]. The differences in levels of infestation between the two seasons might be attributed to the differences in weather factors [temperature, relative humidity] and /or the effect of the common natural enemies in each season

Therapeutic effect of pentoxifylline versus losartan on experimentally induced acute pancreatitis in adult albino rats: light and electron microscopic study

To study the therapeutic benefit of pentoxifylline versus losartan on L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis in adult albino rats. Forty adult male albino rats were used and divided into a control group I, group II which received L-arginine, group III which received L-arginine followed by pentoxifylline and group IV which received L-arginine followed by losartan. Serum amylase and lipase assay was carried out and subjected to statistical analysis. Pancreatic tissue samples were taken and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic examination. Rats that received L-arginine [group II] showed loss of acinar architecture, edema, and zonal degenerative changes. Pentoxifylline-treated animals [group III] revealed apparent small-sized acini with a small amount of electron-lucent secretory granules and the edema was still present in some areas. Rats treated with losartan [group IV] showed an almost normal pancreatic architecture. Most of the acinar cells had normal apical electron-dense zymogen granules, normal rough endoplasmic reticulum, and apparently normal mitochondria. Moreover, there was significant reduction in serum amylase and lipase levels in the losartan-treated group compared with the pentoxifylline-treated group. Losartan was more efficient than pentoxifylline in the treatment of acute pancreatitis induced by L-arginine as indicated by histological and biochemical results

Formulation and evaluation of rofecoxib capsules

Rofecoxib [ROF] is an analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug. It is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase enzyme [Cox-2 inhibitor]. The aim of this work was to formulate and evaluate ROF capsules and compare them with a commercial ROF product. The ROF capsules were prepared using different excipients namely: Sta-Rx starch 1500, cellactose, anhydrous lactose and tablettose. Compatibility of the drug with the used excipients was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of cogrinding of ROF with either PVP 40000 or Avicel PH 101 in the ratio of 1:5 w/w on the drug release from the prepared capsules was also studied. Differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction studies showed reduction in crystallinity or conversion of the drug to an amorphous form upon grinding with either PVP 40000 or Avicel PH 101 respectively. All formulae of ROF capsules complied with the USP XXV requirements for uniformity of dosage units. Formulae No. 6 and 7 containing ground mixture of the drug with either PVP 4000 or Avicel PH 101 in a ratio of 1:5 drug to carrier and Sta-Rx starch 1500 as diluent gave a higher dissolution rate of ROF [t[50%] = 5 and 9 min., respectively] in comparison with the commercial ROF product Rhumacure [t[50%] = 25 min.] Moreover; the anti-inflammatory activity was studied in rats using paw-edema method and the results obtained were analyzed using ANOVA test at the level of significance [P

THE CURATIVE EFFECT OF SOME ANTIOXIDANTS ON gamma-IRRADIATED RATS

The current investigation was conducted aiming at throwing some light on the deteriorative effect of gamma-irradiation on the biochemical and hematological parameters as well as the tissues of liver and kidney of male albino rats. Furthermore, the study dealt with increasing the protectivity of rats against gamma-irradiation through examining the curative effect of some antioxidants besides the ethanolic extract of beans hull [phenolic compounds]. The ethanolic extract of beans hull represented 13.02% of the weight of hulls, while the total phenolic content represented 26.45 micro g/g of beans hull weight. Results showed that the ethanolic extract of beans hull contains some important compounds include; iso-butyl protocatecolate, beta-carotene, flavonoid glycoside and alpha-tocopherol which are effective as antioxidants. Results indicated that the whole body gamma-irradiation of rats at a dose of [6 Gy] caused significant diminish in haemoglobin, [RBC's] count, serum albumin and glutathione enzyme in serum. On the other hand, irradiation led to significant increases in total lipids, cholesterol, glucose, lipoproteins, LDL-cholesterol, urea and creatinine. Likewise, gamma-irradiation caused significant elevation in the activity of liver enzymes [ALT, AST] and kidney function tests [creatinine and urea]. The histological examination showed some changes in liver and kidney tissues. Giving antioxidants to rats improved significantly blood antioxidant markers and liver enzymes, besides of the kidney and liver functions. The ethanolic extract of beans hull given to the rats at a dose of 40 micro g/100g b.w. showed a positive effect on biochemical parameters and also on histological ultrastructure compatable with the melatonin effect

Detection of the prevalence and pathogenicity of clostridium perfringens and clostridium spiroforme associated diarrhoea in rabbits [with 5 tables]

A total of 140 rectal swabs, 20 of apparently healthy, 80 diarrhoeic rabbits and 40 freshly dead and sacrificed diarrhoeic rabbits 6-8 weeks old collected from EI-Minia and Assiut provinces. Collected samples were examined bacteriologically for prevalence and pathogenicity of clostridia. According to morphological characters and biochemical reactions. The incidence of C.perfringens and C.spiroforme were 55 [39.30%] and 10 [7.14%] respectively. There was variation between the prevalence rate of clostridia according to their general healthy condition, where was 3 [15%] in apparently healthy, 32 [40] in diarrhoeic rabbits while was 30 [75%] in dead and slaughtered diarrhoeic rabbits. For toxogenic and non-toxogenic type of C-perfringens, the incidence of toxigenic type was 45 [81.82%] while was 10 [18.18%] for nontoxigenic type. ToxIgenic type revealed that type "E" was the most predominant [71.11%], followed by type "A", "D" and "B" were [15.56%], [8.89%] and [4.45%] respectively. The pathogencity test of the isolates revealed high mortality of infected rabbits with C.perfringens type "E" reached to [75%] and [37.5%] for type "A", while reached to [62.5%] for C.spiroforme. All dead infected rabbits showed profuse watery diarrhoea and die within few first days after onset. Postmortem examination showed a varying degree of inflammation and ulcerative lesions on mucosal surface of caecum, colon and ileum while internal organs were congested and sometimes necrotic foci in liver. Sensitivity test of Clostridial strains against some antibiotics in vitro showed that, Ampcillin, Norfloxacin and Chloramphenicol were highly effective, while the strains were resistance to Streptomycin and Gentamycin

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in chronic haemodialysis patients

Symptomless bacteriuria could be considered as a dormant source of overt urinary tract infection [UTI] and possible bacteremia in maintenance haemodialysis [HD] population. The study was conducted to detemine the magnitude and pattern of asymptomatic bacteriuria among HD patients and show the effect of HD session on the bacterial counts. Forty-four patients with chronic renal failure on regular HD treatments [five hours twice weekly] for 5 to 57 months duration were included. Bacterial counts were performed twice for each patient before and after dialysis to determine the effect of HD on total viable bacteria [T.V.B.], Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus haemolyticus, E. coli, Proteus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas areuginosa. It was found that thirty patients [72.7%] showed positive urine cultures, 18% of the patients showed. an increase of the bacterial counts in the post-dialysis urine samples and 24% showed decrease of the bactrial counts in the post-dialysis samples. The difference was not statistically significant [P > 0.05]. Urine volume and haemoglobin level were found to be significantly lower, while serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase [AST and ALT] were significantly higher in bacteriuric group than those in nonbacteriuric group. Age, sex, clinical data and serum creatinine, urea, glucose, calcium, phosphorus and albumin did not significantly differ in the two comparison groups. The bacteria encountered in the asymptomatic bacteriuric HD patients were Staphylococcus aureus [86.8%], Streptococci spp. [52.7%], E. coli [37.2%], Klebsiella spp. [18.6%], Proteus [12.4%] and Pseudomonas spp. [12.4%]. There were no significant differences in bacterial counts of the various types of bacteria before and after dialysis. In vitro sensitivity to antibiotics showed that more than 80% of isolated strain; are sensitive to Norfloxacin